Refrigerator Drawer Rail Structure to Prevent Wide-Bin Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration devices face challenges in easily moving refrigerated goods containers with a wide-to-depth ratio, as they tend to jam due to uneven friction distribution, especially when pulled out of a lower compartment, and require precise parallel alignment for smooth operation.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a refrigeration device with two refrigerated goods containers mounted next to each other, supported by drawers with a longitudinal member extending between them, where one end of the longitudinal beam is fixed to the rear wall and the other end is loosely supported on a bearing surface, ensuring vertical support and preventing lateral movement, allowing for easy parallel alignment and reduced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a refrigerated goods container with a wide-to-depth ratio is pulled out of a lower compartment, then the container can be accessed, but uneven friction distribution causes the container to jam and move inclined between side walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate rail structure with channels that acts as a mediator between the container and the compartment side walls. This intermediate structure guides the container during extraction, distributing friction evenly and preventing the container from tilting or jamming between the side walls, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The rail structure is segmented into multiple channels formed in an intermediate rail, with each channel providing a dedicated guidance path. This segmentation allows precise control of container movement and ensures stable extraction even for containers with wide-to-depth ratios, preventing jamming while maintaining ease of operation
2Ease of operation
If two refrigerated goods containers are arranged next to one another in a compartment, then each container has a favorable width-to-depth ratio, but extensions for guiding them must be held permanently parallel requiring precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustable and adaptable rail extensions that can accommodate manufacturing tolerances. The extensions are designed with flexibility to adjust to slight misalignments, allowing two containers to be guided properly without requiring extremely precise parallel alignment during manufacturing, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and manufacturing precision
3Ease of operation
If extensions carrying a refrigerated goods container are mounted on the side walls, then good mobility of the rails is ensured, but the extensions must be mounted exactly parallel to one another
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the rail extensions with adjustable parameters and tolerance ranges that allow for easy mounting while maintaining good mobility. The extensions can be positioned within a range of acceptable parallelism, and the system still functions smoothly, resolving the contradiction between ensuring mobility and requiring precise parallel mounting
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables easy and safe movement of refrigerated goods containers, reducing the risk of jamming and allowing for efficient use, even when partially filled, with the option for a transparent cover plate for visibility and easy cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
one of the two ends of the cross member rests loosely on a bearing surface of the side wall
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator comprising a heat-insulated housing (1, 4, 5) that surrounds an interior (2) inside which two receptacles (38) for chilled goods are extractably mounted next to each other at a distance from a bottom of the interior (2) Said receptacles (38) for chilled goods are guided by means of extractable elements (8). A longitudinal beam (31) which extends between the receptacles (38) and on which one of the extractable elements (8) of each receptacle (38) is mounted, respectively, is supported on sidewalls (6, 7) of the housing (1, 4, 5) via at least one crossbeam (9).