Refrigerator Wall Assembly With Interlocking Profiles for Thermal Insulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household refrigeration devices face challenges in achieving effective thermal insulation while maintaining simple assembly and cost-effectiveness, often resulting in complex connections and thermal bridges.
Innovation Solution
The refrigeration device features wall elements connected via form-fitting interlocking profiles made of the same material, eliminating the need for metal pins and screw holes, and utilizing a multi-layer composite material with polyurethane foam insulation, allowing for a seamless and efficient assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate wall elements are connected using metal pins and screw holes, then assembly is possible, but thermal bridges are created and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is merged with the wall elements by being made from the same composite material in one piece, eliminating separate metal components and their associated thermal bridges while maintaining structural connection functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element is made from the same multi-layer composite material as the wall elements, ensuring thermal insulation continuity while providing mechanical strength for assembly
2Loss of energy
If deep-drawing process with foaming is used, then thermal insulation is effective, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device body is segmented into separate wall elements that can be manufactured independently using simple sheet forming, then assembled using connecting elements, replacing the complex one-piece deep-drawing process
Solution Approach 2:
The wall elements are made from thin-walled materials that are easy to manufacture and replace, reducing production tooling costs while maintaining adequate thermal insulation through the composite structure
3Ease of manufacture
If wall elements are made from thin-walled materials, then production cost is reduced, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The wall elements use multi-layer composite construction with outer cover layers and intermediate insulating material, providing both structural strength and thermal insulation while keeping individual layers thin and cost-effective
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting elements are integrated with the wall elements as single-piece composite components, distributing mechanical loads across the composite structure to maintain strength while using thin-walled materials
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
This solution provides enhanced thermal insulation comparable to deep-drawn plastic containers, reducing production complexity and costs while avoiding thermal bridges, thus improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the refrigeration device.
Implementation Method 1
the thermal insulation material can preferably consist of a polyurethane foam
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator, having a basic structure (1), which defines a cooling chamber (4, 5) and has at least two wall elements (9, 11, 13, 15), which are connected to one another by means of connecting elements (38, 39). According to the invention, the connecting elements (38, 39) are formed integrally and/or in one piece on the two wall elements (9, 11, 13, 15), as connecting profiles which engage in a form-fitting manner one inside the other.