refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerator hinge design limits the opening angle of the door due to a ridge portion that protrudes beyond the side wall, causing inconvenience when opening the door, especially in tight spaces.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a guide block and hinge body with specific positioning and guiding grooves and shafts that allow the door to pivot away from the hinge side, increasing the opening angle and preventing the ridge from protruding beyond the side wall, enabling the door to open further without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-shaft hinge is used with the door circumferentially moved around a fixed shaft, then the hinge structure is simple, but the ridge portion formed by the side wall and front wall of the door exceeds the extension line of the cabinet side wall, limiting the opening angle
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge system is divided into two functional components: a fixed shaft for rotation and a guide block for translational guidance. This segmentation allows the door to first move linearly away from the cabinet via the guide block, then pivot around the fixed shaft, achieving a larger effective opening angle without complicating the overall hinge structure
Solution Approach 2:
The guide block acts as an intermediary element between the door and the fixed shaft. It temporarily holds the door in a translated position before pivoting, mediating the transition from linear movement to rotational movement and enabling the door to clear the cabinet side wall extension line
2Ease of operation
If the door is opened wider to improve accessibility, then user access is improved, but the ridge portion protrudes beyond the side wall causing interference with adjacent components
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening motion is transformed from a single circular arc path to a two-stage path: first translational movement in one dimension (away from cabinet), then rotational movement in another dimension (pivoting). This dimensional change allows the door to clear the cabinet side wall extension line and achieve wider opening without interfering with adjacent components
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~3d
AI summary
The present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising a cabinet, a door and a hinge body, wherein a positioning shaft and a guiding shaft are provided on the hinge body, and a positioning groove and a guiding groove are provided on the door; the door of the refrigerator according to the present invention may be moved by a distance in a direction away from a pivoting side when being opened, thereby avoiding inconvenience of opening the door due to the protrusion of the side wall of the door.