Refrigerator Slide Rail Cabling Layout for Drawer Door Cable Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slide rail cabling mechanisms in refrigerators often lead to cable entanglement, wear, and failure due to high stress and limited constraint, affecting the operation of electrical components in drawer-type doors.

Innovation Solution

A slide rail cabling mechanism featuring a first and second cabling box with specific receiving portions and a guide section, positioned to reduce cable stress and prevent deformation, with a support frame and base configuration that allows the cable to move freely between the drawer box and bottom wall, minimizing interference with other components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cable is movably disposed between the drawer-type door and the cabinet to allow door movement, then the operational convenience is improved, but the cable is liable to entangle with components, wear, and break

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor movementVSAvoidcable durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cable path is segmented into multiple controlled sections: a first receiving portion for initial cable routing, a second receiving portion for additional routing control, and a fixed receiving section. This segmentation allows the cable to move in a controlled manner while preventing entanglement and wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary structures (cabling boxes with receiving portions) between the cable and the moving components. These intermediaries guide and constrain the cable movement, preventing direct contact with moving parts that would cause wear and entanglement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cable extends through the linkage assembly to power electrical components, then the electrical functionality is improved, but the cable is subject to large stress at bent positions, causing wear and failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical component power supplyVSAvoidcable stress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different structural qualities to different parts of the cable path. The first and second receiving portions provide flexible routing with reduced bending stress, while the fixed receiving section provides stable anchoring. This local differentiation ensures that no single section bears excessive stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of stationary object

If the cable is constrained within a compact space between the drawer box and cabinet, then the space utilization is improved, but the cable is pressed to wear due to limited movement freedom

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable routing spaceVSAvoidcable wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning receiving portions at different heights (first receiving portion above the groove, second receiving portion below the drawer box). This three-dimensional cable routing approach provides sufficient movement freedom while maintaining compact horizontal space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3904800B1Refrigerator having a slide rail cabling mechanism
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 HAIER SMART HOME CO LTD
  • EP3904800B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3904800B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3904800B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A refrigerator (100) having a slide rail cabling mechanism (50) comprises a compartment (10) provided with a front-facing opening and a drawer-type door (20). The compartment (10) has a bottom wall (111), a rear wall (112), and two side walls (113). An electrical component is provided on the drawer-type door (20). The slide rail cabling mechanism (50) comprises a cable (53) for supplying power to the electrical component, a first cabling box (54), and a second cabling box (55). A first accommodation portion (541) and a second accommodation portion (542) located below a drawer box are formed in the first cabling box (54). The cable (53) has a fixed section (531) fixed in the first accommodation portion (541) and a movable section (532) extending from the fixed section (531) to the second cabling box (55). The second accommodation portion (542) is used to accommodate part of the movable section (532). A fixed accommodation portion (551) extending in a front-rear direction is formed in the second cabling box (55). The slide rail cabling mechanism (50) avoids cable damage while operating safely and reliably.