Refrigerator Rear Panel Grooves for Water Hose Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing structure of refrigerators, where outer equipment such as water supply hoses and electric equipment are exposed and prone to damage from foaming pressure and external physical impact, leads to aesthetic degradation and space inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a rear plate with a base section and a formed section that protrudes inwardly to house outer equipment, including water supply hoses and electric equipment boxes, reducing exposure and providing a secure, space-efficient installation method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the water supply hose is disposed outside the rear plate, then the hose is protected from foaming pressure during insulator installation, but the hose becomes vulnerable to external physical impact and degrades appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply hose is nested within a dedicated groove structure formed on the rear plate. The groove provides internal accommodation that protects the hose from external physical impact while maintaining the benefits of external disposal regarding foaming pressure protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The rear plate is designed with a localized groove structure at specific positions to accommodate the water supply hose. This local modification provides targeted protection where needed while maintaining the overall flat appearance and functionality of the rear plate.
2Ease of manufacture
If the water supply hose is disposed outside the rear plate, then installation is simplified, but additional installation space is required and arrangement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure for hose accommodation is merged into the rear plate itself, forming an integrated design. This eliminates the need for separate external mounting structures and utilizes the existing rear plate area efficiently, avoiding additional installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove creates a third-dimensional accommodation space on the rear plate surface, allowing the hose to be arranged in a recessed manner rather than requiring additional external space. This dimensional approach enables neat arrangement within the existing footprint.
3Adaptability or versatility
If outer equipment is installed at the outer surface of the rear plate, then functionality is improved, but the equipment is exposed to damage and space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Outer equipment is nested within grooves formed on the rear plate, allowing functional components to be accommodated in recessed spaces. This maintains functionality while improving space efficiency by utilizing the rear plate's own structure rather than requiring external mounting volume.
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 protects outer equipment from external impacts, enhances appearance by neatly arranging components, and optimizes space usage by eliminating the need for additional installation space.
Implementation Method 1
a formed section formed to protrude from the base section toward the inner case through a foaming process
Data Source
AI summary
A rear plate of a refrigerator includes a base section formed at the outside of the rear plate while being flat, and a formed section formed to protrude from the base section toward the inner case through a foaming process. Outer equipment is installed at the formed section, to be disposed more inside than the base section and, as such, it is possible to protect the outer equipment from external impact. In addition, it is possible to achieve an improvement in rear appearance design of the refrigerator and an enhancement in space utility of the refrigerator.