Refrigerator Rotatable Shelf Design for Ice Maker Space Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face challenges in efficiently utilizing storage space in the cooling chamber due to the presence of an ice maker, making it difficult to store products of great height and resulting in low storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A folding shelf that can be rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position is integrated into the refrigerator, supported by a shelf supporting member and connected via a hinge mechanism, allowing for efficient use of space next to the ice maker by being folded vertically when not in use and unfolded horizontally to match the height of adjacent shelves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a shelf is installed next to the ice maker, then storage space for products of great height is improved, but the space next to the ice maker cannot be efficiently used
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is designed to be rotatable between a horizontal position (parallel to the ice maker) and a vertical position (perpendicular to the ice maker), allowing the storage configuration to dynamically adapt to different storage needs and efficiently utilize the space next to the ice maker
2Productivity
If the shelf is not installed next to the ice maker, then storage efficiency is improved, but it is difficult to store products having a great height
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable shelf can be positioned vertically when needed to accommodate tall items, while maintaining high storage efficiency when positioned horizontally, providing flexibility to address both requirements at different times
3Device complexity
If a fixed shelf is installed, then structural simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different storage needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf incorporates a rotation mechanism that allows it to change orientation between horizontal and vertical positions, providing adaptability to different storage needs while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The same shelf structure serves multiple functions by rotating to different positions - storing tall items when vertical and storing multiple smaller items when horizontal, eliminating the need for multiple specialized shelves
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 folding shelf enhances storage space utilization by allowing for the storage of taller items when folded vertically and providing additional horizontal space for smaller items when unfolded, improving the overall efficiency of the cooling chamber's storage capacity.
Implementation Method 1
A folding shelf that can be rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position is integrated into the refrigerator, supported by a shelf supporting member and connected via a hinge mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a storage chamber for storing food; an ice making compartment provided at an upper side corner of the storage chamber; and two shelves provided between a sidewall of the ice making compartment and a sidewall of the storage chamber opposite to the sidewall of the ice making compartment. The two shelves include a rotatable shelf and a horizontal shelf mounted between the sidewall of the storage chamber and the rotatable shelf and configured to be adjustable vertically upwards and downwards independently of the rotatable shelf. The rotatable shelf, while maintaining the vertical position, forms a vertical space for keeping food having a great height and stored on a shelf provided below the rotatable shelf. The rotatable shelf and the horizontal shelf form a horizontal space for keeping food having a great width when the horizontal shelf and the rotatable shelf in the horizontal position are horizontally aligned.