Refrigerator Side-Mounting Bracket to Preserve Vacuum Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing appliance mounting systems fail to securely and efficiently integrate refrigerators into cabinet structures without compromising the vacuum insulation, leading to potential loss of cold temperatures and reduced insulation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A side-mounting bracket system comprising a mounting bracket and a trim member, where the mounting bracket is welded to the refrigerator's sidewall and the trim member is mounted to the bracket using aligned apertures and fasteners, ensuring secure attachment without piercing the external wrapper and maintaining the vacuum seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fasteners are used to secure the refrigerator to the cabinet structure, then the refrigerator is firmly fixed, but the vacuum insulation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A mounting bracket system serves as an intermediary component between the refrigerator and cabinet structure. The bracket is welded to the refrigerator's external wrapper at specific mounting points, providing secure attachment without requiring fasteners that would pierce the vacuum seal. This mediator allows mechanical fixation while preserving the vacuum insulation integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is segmented into discrete mounting points distributed around the refrigerator perimeter. Instead of a continuous attachment method that would compromise the vacuum seal, the system uses localized welding at specific segments or zones, allowing the majority of the external wrapper to remain intact and maintain vacuum insulation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the refrigerator is securely mounted to the cabinet structure, then stability is improved, but the vacuum seal may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket acts as a mediator that transfers mechanical loads between the refrigerator and cabinet structure without compromising the vacuum seal. The bracket is welded to the external wrapper at mounting points positioned away from critical vacuum seal areas, providing structural stability while preserving seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The external wrapper has different local properties: regions designated for mounting points have enhanced structural characteristics to accommodate welding, while the majority of the surface maintains optimized vacuum seal properties. This local differentiation allows stable mounting without compromising overall seal integrity.
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 system securely fastens the refrigerator to the cabinet structure while preserving the vacuum insulation, enhancing temperature retention and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the mounting bracket is welded to the refrigerator's sidewall
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A bracket system (82) for coupling an appliance (10) to a cabinet structure (60) includes a mounting bracket (90) having an inner wall (94) spaced-apart from an outer wall (96) and a plurality of apertures (102) provided through the outer wall (96). The inner wall (94) couples to the outer surface (47) of the appliance (10) in assembly. A trim member (92) includes first and second mounting portions (126, 128) and an abutment portion (130) disposed therebetween. The first and second mounting portions (126, 128) each include a plurality of apertures (132, 142). The first mounting portion (126) abuts the outer wall of the mounting bracket (90), and the respective apertures (132, 102) disposed therebetween are then aligned. The second mounting portion (128) is configured to abut an inner surface (67) of the cabinet structure (60) for mounting thereto via the plurality of apertures (142) thereof.