Refrigerator Hinge Assembly with Pivoting Baffle for Dust Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator hinge assemblies are prone to dust and foreign matter entering through openings, which affects their functionality and attractiveness.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a baffle system, where a pivoting baffle is integrated to shield the driving groove, preventing dust and foreign matter from entering by rotating around a pivoting portion as the driving shaft moves, and includes a positioning system to manage the baffle's position and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a driving groove with an opening is provided in the hinge assembly, then the driving shaft can move in the driving groove to enable door opening and closing, but external dust, impurities, or foreign matter can enter through the opening and affect the functionality and appearance of the hinge assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on the door's opening state. When the door is closed, the baffle blocks the opening to prevent dust entry. When the door opens, the baffle moves to allow the driving shaft to pass through. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between protecting the hinge from dust and enabling operational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle is driven by the driving shaft's own movement, eliminating the need for an external actuation mechanism. As the driving shaft moves in the driving groove during door operation, it automatically drives the baffle to move, creating a self-powered dust protection system that resolves the contradiction without adding complex external control mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a baffle is added to shield the driving groove, then dust and foreign matter are prevented from entering the hinge assembly, but the structure becomes more complex and the driving shaft movement may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is merged with the driving shaft, forming an integrated component rather than a separate protective element. This combination allows the driving shaft to simultaneously perform its primary function of enabling door movement and its secondary function of driving the baffle to protect against dust, thereby reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining effective dust prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving shaft is given multiple functions: it serves as the primary actuator for door opening and closing, and simultaneously acts as the driver for the baffle mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dust protection mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between dust prevention and structural complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the baffle is designed to fully shield the driving groove, then dust protection is maximized, but the opening becomes blocked and the driving shaft cannot move in and out
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to shift between a closed position (when the door is closed) to maximize dust protection, and an open position (when the door opens) to allow the driving shaft to move freely. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between maximizing dust protection and enabling operational movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle undergoes periodic movement synchronized with the door's opening and closing cycle. During the closed state, the baffle blocks the opening for dust protection. During the opening cycle, the baffle moves to clear the path for the driving shaft. This periodic action pattern resolves the contradiction between dust protection and operational movement requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a hinge assembly with a baffle and a refrigerator having the same. The hinge assembly includes a first hinge part, a second hinge part and the baffle, a driving groove is provided in the first hinge part, a driving shaft is provided on the second hinge part, the baffle includes a pivoting portion, a shielding portion and an opening, the baffle is pivotally connected with the first hinge part by the pivoting portion, the driving shaft penetrates through the opening to move in the driving groove, and the driving shaft drives the baffle to rotate around the pivoting portion, such that the shielding portion shields at least part of the driving groove. In the present invention, the driving groove is shielded by the baffle, thus preventing dust, foreign matter, or the like, from entering the driving groove of the hinge assembly.