Refrigerator Door Hinge Assembly with Integrated Rotation Damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hinge assemblies for refrigerating compartment doors fail to effectively prevent hard impacts between the door and the frame during closure, leading to energy inefficiencies and potential deposition of frozen water on the evaporator due to uncontrolled air entry.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a rotation damper and self-closing mechanism, featuring a hinge pin with a pin connector part and a damper connector part that allow an initial closing angle before damping, and a tilting mechanism to prevent torque transfer, along with a gravity-driven self-closing mechanism using sloping surfaces to ensure efficient door closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotation damper is added to prevent hard impact during door closure, then the door closure speed can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the rotation damper, pin connector part, and damper connector part into an integrated hinge assembly. The damper is merged with the hinge pin structure, where the pin connector part and damper connector part work together as a unified mechanism to provide both connection and damping functions, thereby achieving door closure control without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge pin serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural connector between door and frame, provides rotational movement capability, and incorporates damping functionality through the integrated damper mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, balancing reliability improvement with device complexity management.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the damper connector part and pin connector part are tightly connected to prevent torque transfer, then alignment is maintained, but the initial closing angle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between pin connector part and damper connector part has non-uniform characteristics: it allows rotational movement up to the initial closing angle (3°-20°) while preventing torque transfer beyond this angle. The protrusion-recess geometry provides different degrees of freedom locally - free rotation within the initial angle range, then engagement to prevent further torque transfer, thus maintaining alignment stability without excessively restricting the initial closing angle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hinge pin is allowed to tilt independently to accommodate misalignment, then adaptability is improved, but torque transfer between connector parts may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is segmented into independent functional parts: the hinge pin can tilt independently within its mounting bracket to accommodate alignment variations, while the damper connector part remains separately positioned. This segmentation allows the pin to adapt to misalignment through tilting without necessarily transferring torque to the damper connector, as each segment can move independently within its designed degrees of freedom.
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 enables faster door closure, reducing energy consumption and minimizing hot air entry, while maintaining the door's alignment and preventing torque transfer, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and energy savings of refrigerating compartments.
Implementation Method 1
a rotational movement of said damper connector part about said second axis of rotation in at least a first rotational direction is dampened by said rotation damper
Implementation Method 2
the protrusion(s) are arranged to engage with the wall(s) of the connector part upon rotational movement of said hinge pin such that the connector part is forced into a rotational movement about said second axis of rotation
Implementation Method 3
a self-closing mechanism comprising a first sloping surface arranged to rotate with the door and a second sloping surface directed towards said first sloping surface and arranged to be stationary with respect to the refrigerating compartment
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Herein is disclosed a hinge assembly (3) for a door (2) arranged to facilitate opening and closing said door (2) when attached to a refrigerating compartment (1), wherein the hinge assembly (3) comprises : a hinge pin (8) of a substantially elongated shape, arranged to be fixed to the door (2) at one end and having a pin connector part (9) at an opposite second end, wherein a first axis (X1) comprises a longitudinal centre-axis of said hinge pin (8); a rotation damper (4) arranged to be fixed to a frame part (10) of the refrigerating compartment (1), wherein the rotation damper (4) is connected to a damper connector part (6) arranged to cooperate with the pin connector part (9) for transferring torque around a second axis of rotation (X2) between the damper connector part (6) and the pin connector part (9) throughout an opening angle of the door (2), such that a rotational movement of said damper connector part (6) about said second axis of rotation (X2) in at least a first rotational direction is dampened by said rotation damper (4), wherein the pin connector part (9) and the damper connection part (6) are arranged to allow an initial closing angle of rotation of the door (2) before the damper (4) acts on the rotation of the hinge pin (9), the initial closing angle being at least 2°, such as in the range of 3° to 20°, and the initial closing angle being an angle of rotation of the door (2) towards a closed position thereof immediately after an opening rotation of the door (2) in the opposite direction of rotation. Further is disclosed a refrigerating compartment (1 ) comprising at least one door (2) provided with such hinge assembly (3).