Refrigerator Insulation Space Filling Element Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic refrigeration appliances face challenges in accommodating refrigeration units of smaller widths within wider compartments, leading to foam accumulation in insulation spaces, which results in visible indentations and reduced insulation effectiveness, necessitating custom adaptations and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a filling element, such as a vacuum insulation panel or foam-filled profiles, within the insulation space to prevent foam accumulation and allow for the use of standardized refrigeration units across different compartment widths, while ensuring effective insulation and minimizing production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the inner container is specially shaped to accommodate a smaller refrigeration unit, then the refrigeration unit can be accommodated in the refrigeration compartment, but large cavities develop in the insulation space leading to foam accumulation and reduced insulation effect
Solution Approach 1:
The filling element is pre-installed in the insulation space before the refrigeration unit is placed in the refrigeration compartment. This preliminary action prevents foam accumulation by occupying the cavity space in advance, thereby maintaining insulation effectiveness while allowing use of standardized refrigeration units across different compartment widths
Solution Approach 2:
The filling element acts as an intermediary component between the standardized refrigeration unit and the outer housing. It fills the gap created by the width difference, preventing harmful foam accumulation while maintaining the insulation space's thermal performance without requiring custom-shaped inner containers
2Adaptability or versatility
If the inner container is specially shaped to accommodate a smaller refrigeration unit, then the refrigeration unit can be accommodated, but additional development work and increased costs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The filling element is designed as a universal component that can be used across different refrigeration appliance models with varying compartment widths. This single standardized element replaces the need for custom-shaped inner containers for each application, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing development costs while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The filling element is prepared in advance as a standardized component and installed in the insulation space before final assembly. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex custom shaping of inner containers during manufacturing, thereby reducing production complexity and costs while enabling universal refrigeration unit compatibility
3Reliability
If foam is used to fill the insulation space, then insulation is provided, but foam accumulation in large cavities causes visible indentations in the outer housing
Solution Approach 1:
The filling element is installed in the insulation space before the refrigeration unit and foam insulation are added. This preliminary placement prevents foam from accumulating in cavity areas, thereby eliminating the cause of visible indentations in the outer housing while maintaining effective insulation through the foam in controlled areas
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
This solution enhances flexibility and cost efficiency by enabling the use of standardized refrigeration units in various compartments, maintaining high insulation effectiveness, and simplifying the manufacturing process, thereby reducing development efforts and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a filling element, in particular filling profile element, which is arranged in the insulation space and is intended in particular to minimize foam accumulation when the insulation space is foamed with a thermally insulating foam
Implementation Method 2
an insulating space which is created between the outer housing and the inner container is filled with foam using a thermally insulating foam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance (10a; 10b; 10c) with an outer casing (12a; 12c), with at least one inner container unit (14a; 14b; 14c) arranged inside the outer casing (12a; 12c), which has at least one inner container (16a; 16b; 16c) which forms at least one refrigeration compartment (18a; 18b; 18c), and with an insulating element (24a) which is arranged in an insulating space (26a) between the outer casing (12a; 12b; 12c) and the at least one inner container (16a; 16b; 16c). In order to provide a household refrigeration appliance with improved flexibility characteristics, it is proposed that the household refrigeration appliance (10a; 10b; 10c) shall have at least one filling element (28a; 28b; 28c) which is arranged in the insulation space (26a) and is particularly designed to minimize foam accumulation when the insulation space (26a) is filled with the insulation element (24a).