Refrigerator Sub-Door Locking Device Embedded to Expand Opening Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with sub-door assemblies face issues of reduced opening area due to the width of the sub-door support part and thermal bridges that affect cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that embeds part of the locking device into the door adjacent to the upper portion of the opening, reducing the sub-door support part's width and increasing the opening size, while maintaining cooling efficiency by using a locking device with a sliding member, rotary hook, and guide member to securely close the sub-door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking assembly is absorbed in a recess of the auxiliary frame, then the locking function is achieved, but the auxiliary frame width increases and the sub-door opening area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is moved from the auxiliary frame to the main door body, utilizing the depth dimension of the main door to embed the locking device. This spatial relocation allows the locking function to be achieved without occupying lateral space that would reduce the sub-door opening area.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is extracted from the auxiliary frame structure and integrated into the main door body instead. This separation removes the conflict between the locking mechanism and the sub-door opening space, as the locking function is now provided by a different structural element (main door) rather than the auxiliary frame.
2Reliability
If the locking assembly is absorbed in a recess of the auxiliary frame, then the locking function is achieved, but a thermal bridge is formed that reduces cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is extracted from the auxiliary frame and relocated to the main door body. This removes the thermal bridge problem because the locking mechanism is no longer positioned within the insulated cavity space where it would create a direct thermal conduction path between the interior and exterior of the refrigerator.
Solution Approach 2:
The main door body acts as an intermediary structure that houses the locking device without creating a thermal bridge to the insulated cavity. The locking device embedded in the main door body is thermally isolated from the refrigerated space, preventing direct heat transfer while still providing the necessary locking function.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator including a main body provided with storage chambers, doors rotatably installed at sides of the main body to open and close the storage chambers, an opening provided on any one of the doors, a sub-door to open and close the opening, and a locking device (60) to maintain a state in which the opening is closed by the sub-door (50). At least a part of the locking device (60) is embedded in a region of the door adjacent to the upper portion of the opening, thereby minimizing the width of a sub-door (50) support part provided at the opening to support the rear surface of the sub-door (50).