Refrigerator Inner Liner Protrusions to Reduce Seal Compression Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home refrigeration appliances face issues with seal compression leading to leakages and loss of sealing function due to excessive compression during the foaming process of the inner liner, affecting energy efficiency and durability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inner liner with protrusions that the seal abuts on, ensuring evenly distributed pressure force and a defined range of compression, along with a thermal insulation inlay element protected by a foil to prevent moisture damage and improve assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal is firmly attached to the inner liner in a foaming process, then the seal is compressed to create a seal, but the seal is excessively compressed resulting in leakages and loss of sealing function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protrusions at specific locations on the inner liner to create localized support points for the seal. These protrusions ensure that the seal is compressed only at designated areas rather than along the entire contact surface, preventing excessive compression while maintaining effective sealing at critical points.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are pre-formed on the inner liner before the foaming process. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when the seal is installed and compressed during foaming, the protrusions already provide the necessary support geometry to distribute compression forces appropriately and prevent seal damage.
2Reliability
If the seal is compressed between the functional unit and the inner liner, then a seal is formed, but the seal is excessively compressed resulting in leakages
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions create localized compression zones on the inner liner, ensuring that the seal is compressed only at specific predetermined locations rather than uniformly across the entire interface. This localized compression maintains sealing effectiveness while preventing excessive compression that would damage the seal material and reduce its durability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the thermal insulation inlay element is exposed during assembly, then it can be installed, but it is damaged by water and/or moisture and emits unwanted odors
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal insulation inlay element is pre-enclosed in a protective foil before assembly. This preliminary protective measure prevents the inlay element from being exposed to water, moisture, and other harmful environmental factors during the assembly process and subsequent operation, eliminating odor emission and damage risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective foil acts as an intermediary barrier between the thermal insulation inlay element and the external environment (water, moisture, air). This intermediate layer protects the sensitive inlay element during assembly and operation, preventing direct contact with harmful substances while allowing the assembly process to proceed easily.
4Strength
If the inner liner is foamed to attach components, then components are firmly attached, but the seal is excessively compressed resulting in energy efficiency loss
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions create localized support points on the inner liner that concentrate the attachment function at specific locations. This allows the foaming process to firmly attach components through these localized points without causing excessive compression of the seal along the entire interface, thereby maintaining both attachment strength and energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
For improving the energy efficiency of a home appliance device, in particular a home refrigeration appliance device, the appliance device has at least one inner liner defining at least one storage space, at least one functional unit which is in an assembled state is connected to the inner liner and is located in the storage space, and at least one seal which is in the assembled state compressed between at least one mating surface of the functional unit and the inner liner. The inner liner has at least one protrusion, which the seal abuts on in the assembled state.