Refrigerator Modular Cooling Assembly for Easy Evaporator Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current refrigerator designs require disassembly of the cabinet for maintenance or repair of the cold air supply system, making it difficult and time-consuming to test cooling performance and perform maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a detachable cooling module that includes the evaporator, condenser, and compressor, allowing for easy access and maintenance, and a duct module that can be separated through a storeroom for efficient repair and maintenance without disassembling the cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the cabinet is disassembled for maintenance or repair of the cold air supply system, then the evaporator and other components can be accessed, but the maintenance process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cold air supply system is divided into modular components: the evaporator assembly, duct module, and cabinet. The duct module can be detached and removed through the storeroom via the duct opening, allowing the evaporator to be accessed without disassembling the entire cabinet. This segmentation enables independent maintenance of the cold air supply system components.
2Reliability
If all components are installed at the cabinet for cooling performance testing, then the system can be tested, but the testing process requires complete assembly which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator and duct module can be assembled and pre-tested as a separate unit before being installed in the cabinet. The detachable design allows the cold air supply system components to be prepared in advance, enabling cooling performance testing to be conducted on the evaporator assembly independently before final cabinet integration, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency.
3Ease of repair
If the duct module is made detachable for easy maintenance, then repair accessibility is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The duct module is extracted as a separate, detachable component from the cabinet structure. It includes the evaporator, duct openings, and associated components that can be removed through the storeroom. This extraction simplifies the overall system by creating a self-contained module that can be independently maintained without increasing excessive structural complexity.
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 easy maintenance and repair of the cold air supply system, enhances manufacturing productivity, and allows for pre-installation cooling performance testing without disassembling the cabinet.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a module body having a space in which the evaporator is accommodated
Implementation Method 2
a fan configured to circulate air in the storeroom
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator including a cabinet in which a storeroom is formed and including a duct opening; a cooling module detachably coupled to the cabinet and including an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a module body having a space in which the evaporator is accommodated, and a duct module detachably coupled to the module body to guide cold air produced from the evaporator to the storeroom, wherein the duct opening, the duct module and the storeroom are arranged so that, when the duct module is detached from the module body, the duct module is passable through the duct opening to be removed through the storeroom.