Refrigerator Door Hot Water Dispensing Through a Hollow Hinge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration appliances lack the ability to dispense hot water on demand without the need for a separate hot water tank, which occupies space and raises heat insulation concerns.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration appliance with a water heater mounted on its exterior surface, configured to heat water on demand, and a hot water dispenser positioned on the door, with a hot water conduit guiding heated water through a hollow hinge to the dispenser, allowing for instant hot water dispensing without a separate hot water tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate hot water tank is installed to provide hot water dispensing, then hot water supply capability is improved, but space utilization deteriorates and heat insulation problems arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hot water storage function from a separate tank and integrates it into the refrigerator's existing water system. Instead of adding an independent hot water tank, the system uses the refrigerator's cold water supply combined with an on-demand heating mechanism, thereby eliminating the need for additional space-d-consuming storage infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static hot water storage (tank-based) to dynamic on-demand heating. The water heater activates only when hot water is requested, heating water as it flows through the system. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for a large stationary hot water tank while maintaining continuous hot water availability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate hot water tank is installed, then hot water supply capability is improved, but heat insulation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water heater operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when hot water is dispensed. This on-demand periodic operation eliminates the need for continuous heat insulation that would be required to maintain temperature in a stationary tank, significantly reducing energy loss concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system heats water on-demand as it flows through the dispenser mechanism, using the existing water flow path and refrigerator infrastructure. This self-service approach eliminates the need for externally imposed heat insulation requirements that would be necessary for a separate hot water storage tank.
3Ease of operation
If conventional dispenser design is used, then water dispensing function is maintained, but hot water dispensing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The existing water dispenser mechanism is enhanced to perform multiple functions - it can dispense both cold water (using the existing cold water line) and hot water (using the newly integrated heater). The same dispenser interface and delivery mechanism serve dual purposes, maintaining ease of operation while adding hot water capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hot water heating function is merged with the existing cold water dispensing system. The water heater integrates with the current dispenser infrastructure, combining two functions (cold water storage/dispensing and hot water heating/dispensing) into a unified system that maintains the original ease of 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
Enables efficient space utilization and reduced heat insulation concerns by providing hot water on demand, improving user convenience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A water heater is mounted on an exterior surface of the cabinet about the hollow hinge and configured to heat water supplied from the refrigerator
Implementation Method 2
a hot water conduit is guided through the hollow hinge and extending from the water heater to the hot water dispenser to supply the hot water from the heater to the dispenser
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is provided, including a cabinet formed with at least one refrigerated compartment and a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet via a hollow hinge to selectively open and close at least a portion of the refrigerated compartment. A water heater is mounted on an exterior surface of the cabinet about the hollow hinge and configured to heat water supplied from the refrigerator. A hot water dispenser is positioned on the door that is configured to dispense hot water supplied from the water heater into a receiver vessel, and a hot water conduit is guided through the hollow hinge and extending from the water heater to the hot water dispenser to supply the hot water from the heater to the dispenser. A method of dispensing hot water is also provided. The method utilizes at least two distinct, user-initiated steps to permit the dispensing of hot water.