Refrigerator Dual-Shaft Hinge Design to Increase Door Opening Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerator hinge design limits the opening angle of the door due to a ridge portion that exceeds the side wall, causing inconvenience when the door is opened, especially in tight spaces.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a hinge body with a positioning shaft and guiding shaft, combined with a guide block and decoration strip, allows the door to rotate and move away from the pivoting side, avoiding interference by adjusting the positioning and guiding grooves to increase the opening angle and prevent protrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-shaft hinge is used in the refrigerator, then the hinge structure is simple, but the door ridge portion exceeds the side wall extension line when opened, limiting the opening angle
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism is segmented into two independent shafts: a positioning shaft that provides rotational pivot and a guiding shaft that controls the movement trajectory. This segmentation allows the door to follow a specific path during opening, preventing the ridge portion from exceeding the side wall extension line while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
A guide block with positioning groove and guiding groove is introduced as an intermediary component between the door and the hinge body. The guide block interacts with both shafts to translate the door's opening motion into a controlled trajectory, solving the conflict between simple hinge structure and restricted opening angle
2Stability of the object's composition
If the door is opened with a fixed shaft hinge, then the hinge structure is stable, but the ridge portion protrudes beyond the side wall, causing inconvenience in tight spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system transitions from a static fixed shaft to a dynamic two-shaft mechanism where the guiding shaft actively controls the door's movement path. This dynamic control allows the door to open in a specific trajectory that adapts to the cabinet's side wall position, preventing protrusion while maintaining structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening motion is changed from simple rotation in one dimension to a compound motion in multiple dimensions, combining rotation around the positioning shaft with lateral movement guided by the guiding shaft. This dimensional change allows the door to clear the side wall extension line during opening
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising a cabinet, a door and a hinge body. A guide block is provided on the door, a rotation shaft is provided on the hinge body, and rotation shaft grooves are provided on the guide block. With the structure of the hinge body, the gravity of the door and the friction force may be shared onto the first and second plate bodies of the hinge body, thereby reducing abrasion and prolonging the service life of the door of the refrigerator.