Refrigerator Pillar Rotation Mechanism to Prevent Drawer Interference
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with a pillar structure for enhancing tight closure of storage chambers can be uncomfortable to use and reduce storage capacity due to the pillar interfering with drawers and baskets, especially when one door closes the storage chamber, forcing the pillar to unfold and limiting drawer width and basket capacity.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a transmission member that guides the rotation of a pillar using magnetic forces, allowing it to fold when one door is open and unfold when the other is closed, ensuring the pillar does not interfere with drawers or baskets, maintaining consistent drawer widths and enhancing storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pillar is installed in one door to enhance tight closing of the storage chamber, then the tight closing degree is improved, but the pillar interferes with drawers and baskets when unfolded, reducing ease of operation and storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The pillar is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to change position between folded and unfolded states. When one door is closed, the pillar unfolds to provide tight closing; when the other door is opened, the pillar folds to clear the drawer passage. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining tight closing and avoiding interference with drawers.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillar rotation mechanism is driven automatically by the relative movement between the two doors without requiring external control. When the doors are in different states (one open, one closed), the pillar self-adjusts its position through the transmission member mechanism, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex control systems.
2Reliability
If the pillar is unfolded to contact with the first door for tight closing, then the storage chamber sealing is improved, but the drawer width has to be reduced to accommodate the pillar, decreasing storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The pillar position is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to be unfolded only when needed for sealing (when both doors are closed) and folded when one door is open to maximize drawer width. This temporal separation of functions resolves the contradiction between sealing requirements and storage space.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillar is positioned in advance based on the state of the two doors. When both doors are closed, the pillar is preliminarily unfolded to ensure proper sealing. When one door is opened, the pillar is folded in advance to clear the drawer passage, preventing any interference with drawer operation and maximizing available width.
3Ease of operation
If the basket corners are made gently curved to avoid contact with the unfolded pillar, then the ease of operation is improved, but the storage capacity of the basket decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of permanently curving the basket corners to avoid pillar contact, the pillar itself is made dynamic through rotation. When the basket needs to rotate smoothly, the pillar is folded to clear the path. When sealing is required, the pillar unfolds to contact the door. This eliminates the need for space-wasting curved corners while maintaining ease of operation.
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
The solution enhances user convenience by preventing pillar interference with drawers and baskets, maintaining consistent drawer widths, and increasing storage capacity by allowing the pillar to fold when one door is open, ensuring smooth operation and efficient use of space.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission member magnetic portion configured to generate a magnetic force interference in the pillar magnetic portion is provided in the transmission member
Implementation Method 2
a first door magnetic portion configured to operate the transmission member is provided in an upper area of the first door
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having a storage chamber; an inner case that forms the exterior of the storage chamber; a first door rotatably installed on the cabinet so as to expose/cover one side of the storage chamber; a second door having a pillar that rotates such that the same can contact the first door, the second door being rotatably installed on the cabinet so as to expose/cover the other side of the storage chamber; and a transfer member provided on the inner case so as to sense the rotation of the first door and to guide the rotation of the pillar.