Refrigerator Heating Assembly Design for Moisture Ingress Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face challenges in preventing moisture from entering the heating assembly, which can lead to safety issues and reduced heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A detachable heating assembly with a heater case that covers the connector mounted on the duct, preventing moisture from entering, and a guide rib that directs moisture downward, eliminating the need for a separate gasket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate gasket is used to prevent moisture from entering the heating assembly, then moisture protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater case is merged with the duct structure, where the heater case serves as both the housing for the heating assembly and the protective cover for the connector. This integration eliminates the need for a separate gasket while maintaining moisture protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater case acts as an intermediary structure between the heating assembly and the moisture-prone environment. By positioning the heater case to cover the connector and extend toward the duct, it creates a protective barrier that prevents moisture ingress without requiring additional sealing components.
2Ease of repair
If the heating assembly is made detachable for ease of maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but reliability may worsen due to potential connection issues
Solution Approach 1:
The heating assembly is segmented into detachable components including the heater case, heating element, and connector. This allows the heating assembly to be easily removed from the duct for maintenance while maintaining reliable electrical connections through properly designed connector interfaces.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If moisture prevention structures are added to the heating assembly, then safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The moisture prevention function is merged into the heater case structure itself. The heater case is designed to naturally cover the connector and extend toward the duct, creating a protective barrier against moisture without requiring separate gaskets or additional sealing components, thereby simplifying manufacturing.
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
The solution effectively prevents moisture from entering the heating assembly, enhancing safety and improving heating efficiency by maintaining the integrity of the heating assembly components.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to generate heat
Implementation Method 2
a guide rib that directs moisture downward
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator may include an inner case that forms a storage compartment, a duct facing along a rear wall of the inner case and configured to guide cold air into the storage compartment, a temperature control compartment within the storage compartment, the temperature control compartment to have a temperature independent of a temperature of the storage compartment, and a heating assembly configured to control the temperature of the temperature control compartment, the heating assembly including a heater, a connector configured to supply power to the heater and mountable on the duct so as to face the rear wall of the inner case, and a heater case accommodating the heater and configured to cover the connector mounted on the duct so that with the connector mounted on the duct, moisture which flows or condenses on the duct is prevented and/or reduced from entering the connector.