Refrigerator Nested Door and Container Design to Reduce Cold Air Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators face challenges in enhancing user convenience while minimizing power consumption and preventing cold air leakage, especially when accessing auxiliary storage compartments without opening main doors.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a single door that can be rotated independently or together with a container, utilizing a fastening device with a seal and latch mechanism to prevent cold air leakage and reduce noise, allowing users to access both main and auxiliary storage regions conveniently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single door is used to access both main and auxiliary storage regions, then device complexity is reduced, but cold air leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is segmented into a main door and a nested container door, allowing independent access to auxiliary storage without opening the main door. This segmentation enables selective access that minimizes cold air loss while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The container door is nested within the main door structure, with the auxiliary storage region positioned inside the main storage region. This nesting arrangement allows the container to rotate independently while being contained within the main door's rotational path, reducing overall structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the container can be rotated independently from the door, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container's rotational capability is extracted as an independent function from the main door mechanism. The container rotates about its own axis independent of the door's rotation, allowing users to access auxiliary storage without rotating the entire door assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The door and container are merged in space such that the container is positioned within the door's rotational path, but their rotational mechanisms are combined in a way that allows independent operation. The fastening device merges the sealing function with the coupling mechanism.
3Loss of energy
If the fastening device couples the door and container, then cold air leakage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is localized to the fastening device where the door and container interface. The seal is positioned specifically at the coupling point between the fastening device and latch member, providing targeted sealing without requiring a complete sealing system around the entire container.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device performs multiple functions: it couples the door and container together, provides sealing to prevent cold air leakage, and interfaces with the latch member for secure fastening. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet (10) defining a first storage region (2) in which food is stored, a door (20) rotatably connected to a first rotating shaft (42), located at the front of the cabinet (10), via a first hinge member (40) to open or close the first storage region (2), a gasket (26) provided at the door (20), a container (100) defining a second storage region (52) received in the first storage region (2), the container (100) being rotatably connected to a second rotating shaft, located at the door (20), via a second hinge member (200), a latch member installed to the container (100), and a fastening device (600) provided at the door (20), the fastening device (600) being caught by the latch member to selectively couple the door (20) and the container (100) to each other. The fastening device (600) includes a seal (626) configured to prevent outward movement of cold air through the fastening device (600) in a coupled state of the door (20) and the container (100).