Refrigerator Screw Fastening Structure to Block Insulation Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators, the insulating material between the inner and outer cases can leak into the storage compartment through screw fastening portions, requiring an additional sealing process that increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates screw fastening portions with a blocking layer and flexible coupling grooves that prevent insulating material leakage by securely fastening screws with screw fixing members, which include a body portion, coupling portion, and fixing groove, ensuring the insulating material remains outside the storage compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If screw fastening portions are disposed to cut the inner case to form holes for screw fixation, then screws can be fastened to fix components in the storage compartment, but insulating material may leak into the storage compartment through these holes
Solution Approach 1:
The screw fastening portion is divided into two functional parts: the coupling groove for mechanical fastening and the blocking layer for sealing. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently - the coupling groove accommodates the screw fixing member while the blocking layer prevents insulating material leakage, resolving the contradiction between fastening capability and leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw fastening portion is formed as a composite structure integrating the blocking layer (made of insulating material) with the coupling groove (structural feature). This composite design allows the same component to provide both mechanical fastening function and sealing function, preventing insulating material leakage while maintaining screw fixation capability without requiring separate sealing operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional sealing operations including hot melt coating are performed on screw fastening portions, then insulating material leakage is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases due to the additional process
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged with the fastening structure by integrating the blocking layer directly into the screw fastening portion. This eliminates the need for separate sealing operations such as hot melt coating, as the blocking layer provides inherent sealing capability during the normal fastening process, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while effectively preventing insulating material leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw fastening portion with integrated blocking layer provides self-sealing functionality during the screw fastening process itself. The blocking layer automatically prevents insulating material leakage as the screw is inserted and tightened, without requiring additional sealing operations or interventions, thus simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator having an improved structure of screw fastening portions to which screws disposed in a storage compartment are fastened so that an insulating material with which a space between an inner case and an outer case is filled can be prevented from leaking into the storage compartment includes an inner case; an outer case; an insulating material with which a space between the inner case and the outer case is filled; screws that fix components disposed in the storage compartment to the inner case; screw fixing members that are coupled to an outer surface of the inner case; and screw fastening portions disposed in the inner case, the screw fastening portions having a blocking layer that blocks the storage compartment from the outside of the inner case and is penetrated by the screws when the screws are fastened to the screw fastening portions.