Refrigerator Cold Air Duct Shutter for Manual Flow Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators lack user-controlled adjustment of cold air flow rate into the refrigerating chamber, leading to non-uniform air distribution, increased power consumption, and higher material costs due to electrically controlled dampers, which also require drawer detachment for adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A manual cold air flow rate adjustment system using a knob link mechanism that allows users to control the opening and closing of the cold air discharge opening without detaching drawers, utilizing a bent control case and shutter with a communicating portion to ensure uniform air distribution and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If an electrically controlled damper is used to adjust cold air flow rate, then the cold air flow rate can be automatically controlled, but power consumption increases and material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic cold air flow controlVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrically controlled damper system with a manual adjustment mechanism. A user manually adjusts the cold air discharge opening position, which mechanically controls the cold air flow rate into the refrigerating chamber. This eliminates the need for electric motors, sensors, and control circuits, thereby reducing power consumption and material costs while maintaining effective cold air flow control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Extent of automation

If an electrically controlled damper is used to adjust cold air flow rate, then the cold air flow rate can be automatically controlled, but material costs increase due to installation of damper and electric components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic cold air flow controlVSAvoidmaterial costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a simple manual adjustment mechanism instead of expensive electric components. The manual adjustment system uses basic mechanical elements that are cheaper to manufacture and install, reducing overall material costs while achieving the same functional goal of cold air flow control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Use of energy by stationary object

If the cold air discharge opening is adjusted manually, then power consumption and material costs are reduced, but the drawer must be detached for adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidadjustment convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the cold air discharge opening adjustment mechanism from a location requiring drawer detachment to a location accessible from the front of the refrigerator. The adjustment knob or slider is positioned on the refrigerator body or door, allowing users to control cold air flow into the refrigerating chamber without removing the drawer, thereby maintaining ease of operation while using a power-saving manual adjustment system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If conventional cold air supply structure is used, then the structure is simple, but cold air is not uniformly supplied through the cold air discharge opening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoiduniform cold air distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the cold air discharge opening into multiple smaller openings or segments arranged in a specific pattern. This segmentation allows cold air to be distributed more uniformly across the discharge opening, improving temperature uniformity in the refrigerating chamber while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3144610B1refrigerator

Publication Date: 2018.11.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC

Figure 1(a)~1(b)
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AI summary

A refrigerator (100) including a refrigerator main body (10) having a refrigerating chamber (11) therein, a cold air passage duct (20a) disposed within the refrigerator main body (10) and provided with a cold air passage (23) therein to discharge the cold air into the refrigerating chamber (11), a control case (30a) coupled to one surface of the cold air discharge duct (20a) and having a cold air discharge opening (31) through which the cold air is discharged, and a shutter (40) disposed between the cold air passage duct (20a) and the control case (30a), and reciprocally movable in one direction to open and close at least part of the cold air discharge opening (31), and a knob link (50a) rotatably connected to the cold air passage duct (20a) to press the shutter (40) such that the shutter (40) is reciprocally movable.