Refrigerator Modular Subframe Design for Simplified Electrical Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators and freezers with vacuum insulation are expensive to manufacture and require significant effort to supply electrical components, such as fans and lighting, due to the complexity of routing electrical lines through the insulated space.
Innovation Solution
A subframe with all refrigerant circuit components, including pipes and electrical contacts, is designed to be easily mounted and separated from the device body, allowing for automatic electrical connections and eliminating the need for complex cable routing through the insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If vacuum insulation is used to reduce heat loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity of electrical component supply increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a removable subframe containing all refrigerant circuit components (compressor, condenser, evaporator, throttle) and electrical components, which can be separated from the device body. This segmentation allows the subframe to be manufactured separately and installed as a complete unit, simplifying the overall assembly process and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining vacuum insulation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The subframe with all refrigerant and electrical components is extracted as a separate, removable unit from the device body. This extraction eliminates the need for complex cable routing through the vacuum insulation, as electrical connections are established externally when the subframe is installed. The subframe can be easily removed and reinstalled, simplifying both manufacturing and maintenance operations.
2Loss of energy
If vacuum insulation is used to reduce heat loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into a removable subframe and a device body, manufacturing can be optimized. The subframe can be pre-assembled with all refrigerant components and electrical connections in a controlled environment, then installed as a complete unit. This reduces manufacturing complexity and cost compared to integrating all components into the vacuum-insulated body, while still achieving low heat loss through the vacuum insulation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If components are installed inside the vacuum-insulated device body, then functionality is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The subframe containing all refrigerant circuit components and electrical components is extracted as a removable unit from the device body. This allows easy removal and replacement of the entire subframe assembly for repair or maintenance, without requiring disassembly of the vacuum insulation or other device components. The subframe can be quickly swapped out and reinstalled, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining full device functionality.
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 simplifies manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance by enabling a single work step for component installation and reducing the effort required for electrical and signal supply, while maintaining effective thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
geraetekorper (200) mit Waermeisolierungs waenden (223), die einen Innenraum (220) umschließen
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooling and/or freezing appliance with a housing having heat-insulating walls enclosing an interior space, and with a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator as components, wherein all components of the refrigerant circuit are mounted together on a unit carrier which can be mounted on and/or detached from the housing, wherein the unit carrier comprises at least one electrical contact which, when the unit carrier is installed in the housing, can automatically be contacted with at least one complementary contact mounted on the housing for the electrical supply of at least one component.