Refrigerator with surround illumination feature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum insulated refrigerator compartments pose a challenge for incorporating lighting features since they lack wire guides or apertures, compromising the vacuum seal and requiring a solution for modular and aesthetically pleasing illumination.
Innovation Solution
A thermal bridge interconnects the refrigerator liner and wrapper, creating a cavity for a concealed wiring system that powers a surround lighting assembly around the compartment opening, maintaining the vacuum seal while providing illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a vacuum insulated structure is used for the refrigerator compartment, then insulation performance is improved, but the ability to incorporate lighting features deteriorates due to lack of wire guides or apertures
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator structure is segmented into distinct components: the vacuum insulated compartment, the thermal bridge structure, and the wall covering assembly. This segmentation allows the lighting system to be installed in the wall covering assembly separate from the vacuum compartment, maintaining insulation while enabling lighting installation without apertures in the vacuum seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal bridge structure serves as an intermediary element between the vacuum insulated compartment and the wall covering assembly. It provides a pathway for wiring and structural support without compromising the vacuum seal, acting as a mediator that enables lighting installation while preserving insulation integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If access apertures are created in the metal liner for wiring, then lighting installation is facilitated, but the vacuum seal is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating apertures in the metal liner (one-dimensional solution), the wiring is routed through the thermal bridge structure in a different spatial dimension. The electrical components pass through the wall covering assembly and thermal bridge rather than penetrating the vacuum compartment liner, maintaining the seal while enabling installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical wiring and lighting components are nested within the wall covering assembly and thermal bridge structure, which themselves are nested within or adjacent to the vacuum compartment. This nested arrangement allows lighting installation without compromising the inner vacuum seal.
3Illumination intensity
If a surround lighting assembly is installed around the compartment opening, then illumination effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to concealed wiring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal bridge structure combines multiple functions: it provides structural support for the wall covering assembly, serves as a conduit for electrical wiring, and maintains the vacuum seal. This merging of functions reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal bridge structure is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously provides mechanical support, electrical conduit pathways, and vacuum sealing. This universal component reduces the number of separate parts needed, simplifying the overall wiring and lighting installation.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a vacuum insulated cabinet and a surround lighting feature. The vacuum insulated cabinet includes a liner disposed within a wrapper, which are interconnected by a thermal bridge to form a vacuum cavity therebetween. A wall covering assembly includes a top wall disposed adjacent to and spaced-apart from a top wall of the liner. The wall covering assembly also includes a rear wall disposed adjacent to and spaced-apart from a rear wall of the liner. In assembly, the liner and the wall covering assembly cooperate to define a refrigerator compartment. A cavity is formed between liner and the wall covering assembly. A surround lighting assembly is disposed around an opening into the refrigerator compartment and is powered by a wiring system concealed by the wall covering assembly.