refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators face challenges in maintaining main body stiffness and uniform temperature distribution due to reduced insulation thickness, leading to increased deformation and compromised insulation performance, which affects energy efficiency and fire safety.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a reinforcement structure, including steel reinforcement plates and a redesigned cool air duct system with a barrier and fan mounting unit, along with improved insulation and a heat dissipation pipe, to maintain stiffness and uniform temperature distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the thickness of insulation is reduced to increase inner capacity, then the inner volume of the main body is increased, but the main body stiffness is weakened and deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining plastic inner casing, steel outer casing, and insulation material in a multi-layer structure. The steel reinforcement plate is integrated into the plastic casing to create a composite structure that maintains stiffness while allowing thinner insulation for increased inner capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The main body is segmented into distinct functional layers: inner plastic casing, insulation layer, steel outer casing, and reinforcement plate. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the reinforcement plate provides structural support while the insulation layer can be optimized for thermal performance.
2Volume of stationary object
If the thickness of insulation is reduced to increase inner capacity, then the inner volume of the main body is increased, but deformation of the main body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of plastic casing with integrated steel reinforcement plate provides enhanced dimensional stability. The steel reinforcement plate specifically counteracts thermal contraction deformation, maintaining the main body shape even when insulation thickness is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes material parameters by introducing a steel reinforcement plate with high structural stiffness into the plastic casing. This parameter change (adding high-stiffness material) allows the structure to resist deformation while permitting reduced insulation thickness for increased inner capacity.
3Volume of stationary object
If insulation thickness is reduced, then inner capacity is increased, but insulation performance is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite insulation structure combining foam insulation material with reflective barriers. This composite approach improves insulation performance per unit thickness, allowing reduced insulation thickness while maintaining thermal efficiency and increasing inner capacity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the main body is thermally contracted, then the center part of both sides is modified into a convex shape, but the deformation may be regularly reduced by insulation contacting the inner and outer casings
Solution Approach 1:
The steel reinforcement plate integrated into the plastic inner casing provides structural support that counteracts thermal contraction forces. This composite structure prevents the convex deformation that would otherwise occur when the center parts contract during cooling, maintaining flat surfaces.
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 enhances the refrigerator's stiffness, reduces deformation, maintains uniform temperature, and improves energy efficiency while preventing fire spread and dew formation.
Implementation Method 1
The insulation is foamed between the inner casing and the outer casing of the main body so as to prevent leakage of cool air from the storage chamber
Implementation Method 2
a heat dissipation pipe, such that the refrigerator can prevent dew formation
Implementation Method 3
an evaporator E to generate cool air in the storage chamber
Implementation Method 4
a blowing fan F to blow the cool air generated by the evaporator E into the storage chamber through the cool air duct D
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator having a cool air duct, provided on the storage chamber, forming a flow path such that cool air generated by the evaporator is supplied to the storage chamber. The cool air duct includes a front panel, a cool air flow passage unit, and a first blowing fan mounting unit. The refrigerator is configured to improve main body stiffness, which is decreased as thickness of an insulation material is reduced to increase inner capacity of the main body, using a reinforcement structure, resulting in reduction of deformation of the main body.