Refrigerator Rotating Bar Structure for Frost Control and Insulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In FDR-type refrigerators, the gap between the pair of doors is not effectively sealed by traditional gaskets, leading to heat loss and reduced thermal efficiency due to heat conduction from the heat generating member through the rotating bar into the storage compartment.
Innovation Solution
A rotating bar with a heat conduction blocking part and a non-metallic cover to prevent heat from penetrating into the storage compartment, combined with a heat generating member like a heating cable for frost prevention, ensuring minimal heat transfer and enhanced insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heat generating member is installed on the rotating bar to prevent frost formation, then frost prevention is improved, but heat is conducted through the rotating bar into the storage compartment, reducing thermal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating bar is divided into multiple sections with different material properties. The first section (contacting the door) uses metal for effective heat conduction to prevent frost, while the second section (inside the storage compartment) uses heat-insulating material to prevent heat loss. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the rotating bar have different thermal conductivity properties tailored to their specific functions. The portion needing heat conduction (at the door interface) is made of metal, while the portion that should isolate heat (inside the compartment) is made of insulating material. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between needing heat conduction for frost prevention and heat insulation for energy efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If a traditional gasket is used to seal the gap between doors, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the gap between the pair of doors is not effectively sealed, leading to heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating bar is designed to rotate between two positions: horizontally to seal the gap between doors when closed, and vertically to allow door opening. This dynamic movement enables a single component to perform both sealing and door operation facilitation, improving sealing effectiveness without complicating the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating bar serves multiple functions: it acts as a sealing element to close the gap between doors, provides a structural support for the heat generating member, and enables door operation by rotating to vertical position. This multi-functionality improves sealing performance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a single integrated component.
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 effectively seals the gap between the doors, reduces heat loss, and enhances insulation performance by preventing heat from entering the storage compartment, thereby saving energy and maintaining refrigeration efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat generating member configured to radiate heat to prevent frost from forming at the metallic plate
Implementation Method 2
a heat insulation member configured to block cool air from being discharged from a storage compartment
Implementation Method 3
the heat of the heat generating member is heat-conducted through the plate to the both edges of the rotating bar
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a rotating bar configured to seal a gap between one pair of doors. The rotating bar includes a case provided with an accommodating space therein while having one surface thereof open, a heat insulation member accommodated in the accommodating space, a cover configured to cover the one surface of the case that is open, and a metallic plate being coupled to an outer side of the cover. The cover includes a heat conduction blocking part being protruded to both sides of the metallic plate while having a bent-shape cross section so as to prevent heat from being transmitted to both side surfaces of the rotating bar after being heat conducted along the metallic plate.