Refrigerator Pivot Bar Locking Design to Prevent Door Collision Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator doors with pivot bars often collide and cause damage and noise when one door is strongly pulled open, leading to issues with cold air leaks and reduced appliance quality.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a pivot bar that is pivotally installed at one door and includes a locking device with a first and second locking member, allowing the pivot bar to be securely locked in place when the door is opened, preventing collision and noise by ensuring the pivot bar remains attached to the door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pivot bar is mounted on one door to prevent cold air leaks, then sealing performance is improved, but the pivot bar may collide with the other door when strongly pulled open causing damage and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot bar is designed to be movable between a first position (when door is closed) and a second position (when door is open). The locking device dynamically changes the fixation state of the pivot bar based on door position, allowing it to be fixed to the door body when open and movable when closed, thus preventing collision while maintaining sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is configured to lock the pivot bar to the door body in advance before the door is fully opened, preventing the pivot bar from colliding with the other door. The locking mechanism engages when the door reaches a predetermined opening angle, proactively preventing the harmful collision effect.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a locking device is added to fix the pivot bar, then collision damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on door position without requiring external control. The gravitational force and door movement itself activate the locking mechanism, making the system self-regulating and reducing the need for additional actuators or control systems, thus minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the pivot bar and the door body. Instead of directly fixing the pivot bar or allowing free movement, the locking device mediates the relationship by providing conditional connection, simplifying the overall control while preventing collision damage.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator with an enhanced door includes a main body including a storeroom, first and second doors pivotally coupled to the main body to open or close the storeroom and a pivot bar pivotally installed at the first door. The pivot bar is movable between a first position between the first and second doors and a second position pivoted toward the first door to prevent cold air leaks from the storeroom. A locking device separably locks the pivot bar to the first door when the pivot bar is in the second position.