Refrigerator Hinge with Slope-Driven Automatic Door Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator hinges are complex, leading to low production efficiency and poor sealing due to difficulty in controlling the spacing between the refrigerator body and door seal strips, resulting in inadequate door closure and cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a vertically arranged hinge shaft with a first and second hinge base, including slopes and limiting platforms, allowing the hinge sleeve to rotate and move between positions to ensure automatic door closure, reducing the need for multiple parts and assembly processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional hinge is formed by assembling spring, hinge shaft, shaft sleeve, hinge cover and other parts, then the hinge can achieve door opening and closing function, but the structure becomes complex and production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hinge components (hinge shaft, shaft sleeve, hinge cover) into an integrated structure where the hinge shaft is directly fixed to the refrigerator body and the hinge cover is mounted on the door, eliminating the need for separate springs and complex assembly mechanisms while maintaining door opening and closing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified hinge structure serves multiple functions: it provides door opening and closing, maintains proper spacing for seal compensation, and enables automatic door closure through the interaction between the hinge shaft and door seal strip, replacing the need for separate spring mechanisms
2Reliability
If the hinge shaft is provided inside the refrigerator body, then the hinge can support the door, but it becomes difficult to control the minimum spacing between the refrigerator body and door seal strips, leading to poor sealing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge shaft is designed to allow dynamic movement of the door seal strip during door closing. The interaction between the hinge shaft and the door seal strip enables the seal strip to perform compensation movement, automatically adjusting the spacing to ensure proper sealing without requiring precise manual control during manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure enables the door seal strip to self-adjust its position through compensation movement during door closing. The mechanical interaction between the hinge shaft and seal strip automatically maintains the minimum spacing requirement, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms or complex assembly procedures
3Ease of operation
If a conventional hinge is used, then the hinge can ensure basic opening and closing function, but it cannot meet the function of automatic closure of the door, affecting the low temperature effect
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure enables automatic door closure through the self-service mechanism where the door seal strip interacts with the hinge shaft during door closing. As the door approaches the closed position, the seal strip is pushed by the hinge shaft to perform compensation movement, and the mechanical geometry of the hinge structure naturally guides the door to complete closure without requiring additional springs or motorized mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure employs asymmetric geometry in the interaction between the hinge shaft and door seal strip. The specific configuration of the hinge shaft relative to the seal strip creates a mechanical advantage that generates closing force during the door closing process, enabling automatic closure while maintaining simple structure
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 hinge design improves production efficiency and ensures effective door sealing and cooling by enabling automatic door closure, enhancing the low temperature effect of refrigeration equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a lower end of the first sleeve is provided with a first slope sloping downwards... an upper end of the second sleeve is provided with a second slope sloping upwards, and the second slope is abutted against and cooperated with the first slope, to make the first sleeve being moved from a first position to a second position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a hinge and a refrigeration equipment. The hinge includes a vertical hinge shaft, a first hinge base and a second hinge base. The first hinge base includes a first installation plate and a first sleeve rotatably connected to the hinge shaft to make the first sleeve rotate around the hinge shaft. A lower end of the first sleeve is provided with a first slope sloping downwards. The second hinge base below the first hinge base includes a second installation plate and a second sleeve fixed on the hinge shaft. An upper end of the second sleeve is provided with a second slope sloping upwards. The second slope abuts against and cooperates with the first slope for the first sleeve to move from a first position to a second position along a direction away from the second sleeve or from the second position to the first position along a direction close to the second sleeve while being rotated around the hinge shaft.