Refrigerator Water Supply Routing to Isolate Pump from Storage Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with direct water supply systems face installation limitations, require frequent filter replacements due to poor water quality, and pose safety risks due to exposed pumps within the storage space.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a cabinet with upper and lower storage spaces, a machine room housing the compressor and condenser, and a pump assembly located within the machine room to supply water to the dispenser and ice maker through a minimized water supply passage that extends externally along the cabinet's rear surface, avoiding interference with the evaporator and enhancing safety by keeping the pump inaccessible to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pump is provided inside the refrigerator storage space to supply water to the dispenser and ice maker, then water supply function is achieved, but user safety is compromised due to fire hazard and exposure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is extracted from the storage space and relocated to the machine room, separating the hazardous component from the user-accessible area. This extraction eliminates the fire hazard and exposure risk while maintaining the water supply function through extended piping.
2Ease of operation
If direct water supply piping is connected to the refrigerator to supply water to the ice maker and dispenser, then water supply is achieved, but installation flexibility is reduced due to piping work requirements
Solution Approach 1:
A built-in water tank serves as an intermediary between the external water source and the ice maker/dispenser. The tank can be filled manually or through a detachable hose, eliminating the need for permanent piping installation and enabling placement in locations without direct water access.
3Quantity of substance
If the water tank is placed inside the refrigerator storage space, then water storage is achieved, but the evaporator and water tank interfere with each other causing overcooling
Solution Approach 1:
The water tank is extracted from the storage space and relocated to the machine room, separating it from the evaporator. This prevents the evaporator from overcooling the water tank while maintaining water storage capacity and enabling proper temperature control for different storage compartments.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the pump assembly is located in the machine room to improve safety, then user safety is improved, but the water supply passage becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The machine room is designed to accommodate multiple components including the pump assembly, water tank, and evaporator through a unified spatial arrangement. This multi-functional space utilization simplifies the overall system configuration despite the pump's relocated position, as all components share the same access point and structural framework.
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 design improves user safety, reduces installation complexity, minimizes water supply passage length, and ensures clean water delivery to the dispenser and ice maker while preventing overcooling of the water tank, thus enhancing convenience and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a pump assembly provided inside the machine room and configured to forcibly supply, i.e. to pump, water from the water tank to the dispenser and the ice maker
Implementation Method 2
cooling the interior of the storage space using cold air generated through heat exchange with refrigerant circulating with freezing cycles
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an upper storage space and a lower storage space, a machine room provided at an lower end of the cabinet, a compressor and a condenser being disposed in the machine room, an upper door configured to open and close the upper storage space, a lower door configured to open and close the lower storage space, a dispenser provided in the upper door, water being dispensed from the dispenser, an ice maker provided inside the upper door and configured to make ice, a water tank provided in the upper storage space, a pump assembly provided inside the machine room and configured to forcibly supply water from the water tank to the dispenser and the ice maker, and a water supply passage configured to guide water from the water tank to the dispenser and the ice maker through the pump assembly, wherein the water supply passage extends downward from the water tank after passing through a rear surface of the cabinet to connect to the pump assembly inside the machine room, and extends upward from the pump assembly and passes through an upper surface of the cabinet to connect to the dispenser and the ice maker.