Refrigerator Hinge Height Adjustment With Integrated Base Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator height adjusting mechanisms are cumbersome, inefficient, and prone to inconsistent mounting, leading to low assembly efficiency and stability issues due to the need to adjust multiple components and use of waist-shaped holes.
Innovation Solution
A height adjusting mechanism featuring a hinge shaft, an adjusting member, a constraining member, and a base, where the hinge shaft is threadedly connected to the base, allowing for simplified height adjustment by rotating the adjusting member to lift or lower the hinge shaft, with a supporting base part and hinge base part forming an integral assembly for improved mounting consistency and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conventional adjustable hinge uses multiple components (hinge, hinge base, bolts) that need to be mounted separately, then the height adjustment function is achieved, but the mounting efficiency is low and the process is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge and hinge base are merged into a single integrated component called the height adjusting mechanism. This integration eliminates the need to separately mount multiple components, reducing the mounting process to fixing only the integrated mechanism to the refrigerator body, thereby significantly improving mounting efficiency while maintaining the height adjustment function
Solution Approach 2:
The height adjusting mechanism is segmented into functional modules: the integrated hinge-hinge base unit, the adjustable member with thread, and the constraining member. This modular design allows for simplified assembly and disassembly while maintaining overall functionality, contributing to easier installation and maintenance
2Ease of operation
If the hinge base uses a waist-shaped hole to facilitate height adjustment, then the adjustment function is enabled, but the mounting consistency is poor and the overall strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cutting a waist-shaped hole in the hinge base to enable adjustment, the design inverts the approach by providing the adjustment capability through a separate adjustable member that threads onto the hinge shaft. This allows the hinge base to maintain its original circular hole shape, ensuring consistent mounting and full structural strength while still enabling height adjustment through the adjustable member
3Ease of operation
If the hinge base uses a waist-shaped hole for adjustment, then the adjustment function is achieved, but the overall strength of the hinge base is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The design inverts the traditional approach by moving the adjustment mechanism away from the hinge base structure itself. The adjustable member with its thread engages with the hinge shaft, providing the adjustment function without requiring any weakening of the hinge base. This preserves the full cross-sectional area and structural integrity of the hinge base while enabling height adjustment
4Adaptability or versatility
If the adjusting member is allowed to move freely in the axial direction, then the adjustment range is increased, but the stability of the mechanism is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The constraining member acts as an intermediary element between the adjustable member and the hinge shaft. It provides controlled engagement that allows the adjustable member to move axially within specific limits while preventing excessive movement. This mediator ensures both the necessary adjustment range and the stability of the entire mechanism during operation
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
Simplifies the height adjustment process, enhances mounting efficiency and stability by allowing only the hinge base part to be fixed, using circular fixing holes, and distributing pressure with a bottom plate to prevent damage, resulting in a more stable and efficient height adjustment mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the hinge shaft connected with the base is liftable in the axial direction of the hinge shaft under the driving of the adjusting member... the hinge shaft is threadedly connected to the base
Implementation Method 2
a constraining member for constraining a movement of the adjusting member in an axial direction of the hinge shaft
Implementation Method 3
The bottom plate may distribute the pressure applied to the base by the hinge shaft during the adjusting process, thus preventing the hinge shaft from directly impacting the hinge base part to damage the height adjusting mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A height adjusting mechanism comprises a hinge shaft, an adjusting member for driving the hinge shaft to rotate around an axis of the hinge shaft, a constraining member for constraining a movement of the adjusting member in an axial direction of the hinge shaft and a base with the constraining member fixedly connected thereto, in which the hinge shaft connected with the base can be lifted in the axial direction of the hinge shaft under the driving of the adjusting member. A refrigerator comprising the height adjusting mechanism is also provided.