refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with auxiliary storage compartments face issues such as increased power consumption due to cold air leakage, deformation, and sagging, especially when a single door is used to open and close both the main and auxiliary storage regions, leading to reduced storage space and interference with the cabinet's inner surface.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a pivotally rotatable container with a metal frame that includes integrated horizontal and vertical parts, formed by bending hollow metal rods or plates, to minimize sagging and deformation, and a single door that seals both compartments efficiently, reducing the need for additional gaskets and heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a container with auxiliary storage compartment is received within the main storage compartment with a single door, then user convenience is enhanced and power consumption is reduced, but the container body requires reduced volume which causes sagging under food load
Solution Approach 1:
The container body is formed using a composite structure combining metal rods (for structural framework) and insulator materials (for thermal insulation). This composite construction provides both mechanical strength to prevent sagging and reduced volume compared to traditional full-insulator designs, while maintaining thermal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The container body is segmented into a metal rod framework structure rather than using solid insulator material throughout. The metal rods form a skeletal framework that provides structural support and prevents sagging, while the spaces between rods are filled with insulator material, achieving both strength and volume reduction.
2Area of stationary object
If the container body volume is reduced to prevent interference with cabinet inner surface, then interference is avoided, but great load is applied to the container causing sagging
Solution Approach 1:
The container body uses a composite structure of metal rods and insulator materials. The metal rod framework provides the necessary structural strength to support food load without sagging, while the insulator material fills the spaces between rods, achieving volume reduction and preventing interference with the cabinet inner surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The container body incorporates curved or bent metal rod configurations rather than straight rigid bars. This curvature allows the structure to better distribute loads and resist deformation under weight, while maintaining a compact volume that prevents interference with surrounding cabinet surfaces.
3Strength
If traditional insulator-filled container body is used, then sufficient strength is provided, but the volume is large causing interference with cabinet inner surface
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional solid insulator-filled body is segmented into a metal rod framework with insulator material placed only in necessary spaces. This segmentation removes unnecessary insulator material that contributed to volume, while the metal framework maintains structural strength. The result is a compact container that fits within the cabinet without interfering with the inner surface.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet (10) configured to define a first storage region in which food is stored, a door (20) rotatably connected to a first rotating shaft via a first hinge member (40) to open or close the first storage region, the first rotating shaft being located at the front of the cabinet (10), a gasket provided at the door (20) and a container (100) configured to define a second storage region, the second storage region being received in the first storage region, the container (100) being rotably connected to a second rotating shaft via a second hinge member (200), the second rotating shaft being located at the door (20).