Refrigerator Sub-Door Hinge Cover for Wire Routing and Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators face challenges in guiding power supply and communication lines for electronic parts in the door, as the inner diameter of the hinge shaft is restricted by the door thickness, leading to exposure and potential damage of wires when the door is open.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a sub-hinge cover that shields both the sub-hinge shaft and the main hinge shaft, along with a wire entrance structure that allows wires to pass through, preventing exposure and interference during door operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the door thickness is reduced, then the refrigerator design becomes more compact and modern, but the inner diameter of the hinge shaft is restricted, making it impossible to guide all electric wires through the hinge shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wire guidance function into two separate paths: wires are guided through the hinge shaft for power supply lines, while communication lines are guided through a dedicated communication line guide structure. This segmentation allows the door to maintain thin thickness while accommodating multiple wire types through different routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication line guide structure as an intermediary component that provides a separate pathway for communication lines. This mediator structure includes a communication line guide hole and guiding members that direct communication lines from the door to the main body without requiring them to pass through the limited hinge shaft.
2Volume of moving object
If electric wires are not guided through the hinge shaft, then the door can be thinner, but the exposed wires may be moved, interfere with other elements, be damaged or disconnected when the door is open
Solution Approach 1:
The communication line guide structure acts as a protective intermediary that channels communication lines through a dedicated path. The guide structure includes positioning members and guiding members that prevent wires from moving freely, interfering with other elements, or becoming damaged during door operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible guiding members and protective coverings within the communication line guide structure that allow wires to bend and move with the door while maintaining protection. These flexible elements prevent wire damage while accommodating the thin door design.
3Reliability
If multiple electric wires are guided through the hinge shaft, then all power supply and communication lines can be routed internally, but the inner diameter of the hinge shaft becomes insufficient when door thickness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wire routing into two distinct systems: power supply lines are routed through the hinge shaft, while communication lines are routed through the separate communication line guide structure. This segmentation enables complete internal routing of all wires while maintaining thin door thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimensional pathway for wire routing by introducing the communication line guide structure as a separate spatial channel. This creates an additional routing dimension beyond the traditional hinge shaft path, allowing multiple wire types to be accommodated without increasing door thickness.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a control unit provided in the cabinet and controlling an operation of the refrigerator, a main door that opens or closes the cabinet and has an opening formed therein, a main hinge that couples the cabinet to the main door and allows the main door to be pivotably mounted, a sub-door formed on a front surface of the refrigerator and opens or closes the opening, a sub-hinge that couples the main door to the sub-door and allows the sub-door to be pivotably mounted, a sub-hinge cover that simultaneously shield a main hinge shaft of the main hinge and a sub-hinge shaft of the sub-hinge, and a wire disposed to extend from an inside of the sub-door, to be connected with the control unit, and to sequentially pass through the sub-hinge shaft and the main hinge shaft along an inside of the sub-hinge cover.