Refrigerator Fan Assembly with Air Blocking for Sensor Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs prevent sensors from accurately measuring ambient temperature due to direct exposure to accelerated cooling air, leading to inaccurate readings.
Innovation Solution
A fan casing with an air blocking element, such as a curtain, is positioned to deflect radial air flow away from the sensor, allowing indirect air circulation and minimizing turbulence, while maintaining efficient air distribution in both radial and axial directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fan is positioned close to the sensor on the inner lining to accelerate cooling air, then fan performance is improved, but the sensor cannot measure the real temperature of the inner environment due to direct exposure to accelerated cooling air
Solution Approach 1:
An air blocking element is introduced as an intermediary component between the fan and the sensor. This element selectively blocks the direct path of accelerated cooling air from the fan to the sensor, while still allowing the sensor to detect the ambient temperature of the refrigeration chamber. The air blocking element acts as a mediator that prevents the harmful direct exposure of cooling air to the sensor while maintaining the fan's cooling performance.
2Productivity
If the fan casing is designed with air passage openings to enable air flow, then air circulation is improved, but turbulence is generated when the fan starts operating
Solution Approach 1:
The fan casing is designed with differentiated local qualities: the front wall contains air passage openings to enable air circulation, while the rear wall is substantially closed to prevent turbulence generation. This local differentiation allows the system to achieve both air circulation and turbulence reduction by optimizing the structure in different locations of the fan casing.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor is positioned on the rear wall close to the side wall to avoid direct air flow, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the sensor cannot reach the openings through the rear wall
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is positioned in a different spatial dimension - on the side wall rather than the rear wall - to achieve both measurement accuracy and accessibility. This dimensional change allows the sensor to be located in a position where it can accurately measure ambient temperature while remaining accessible for installation and maintenance purposes.
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
Enables precise measurement of cooling air temperature and speed by the sensor, while maintaining fan performance and easy mounting on the rear wall, thus improving temperature monitoring in the refrigeration chamber.
Implementation Method 1
a fan is fixed on an inner lining in the body to accelerate the cold air and thus to provide heat transfer by means of forced convection
Implementation Method 2
an air blocking element that is provided on the section of the fan casing facing the sensor so as to at least partly block the cooling air accelerated by the fan
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a cabin (1) with thermal insulation; an inner lining (10) that surrounds the inner section of the cabin (1) so as to define a refrigeration chamber; a sensor (20) that is directly disposed on the inner lining (10); a fan casing (40) that covers a fan (50) positioned on a rear wall (11) of the inner lining (10) away from the sensor (20), so as to allow radial air flow, wherein an air blocking element (30) is provided in the part of the fan casing (40) facing the sensor (20) so as to at least partially block the cooling air that is accelerated by the fan (50).