Removable Freezer Frost Container with Filter and Conduit Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing freezers face issues with frost formation on the inner walls due to ambient humidity, with previous solutions either being inefficient or prone to clogging, requiring frequent defrosting and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A dedicated internal frost collecting container with a conical conduit and a heating device is used to manage frost accumulation, featuring a removable design and a filter to prevent clogging, with a heating resistance activated based on humidity levels to maintain efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is placed inside the conduit to absorb humidity, then frost formation is reduced, but the pipe clogs rapidly by frost on the filter when ambient humidity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is extracted from the conduit and placed inside a separate removable container (container 14) that connects to the conduit. This separation allows the filter to be easily removed and replaced when clogged, while the conduit remains clear and functional. The filter (19) is positioned in the container rather than in the conduit itself, solving the clogging problem while maintaining humidity absorption functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the conduit (18) for air flow, the filter (19) for humidity absorption, and the container (14) for housing the filter and collected frost. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy maintenance by allowing the container with the filter to be removed and replaced as a unit when the filter becomes clogged.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical compounds are used in bags to adsorb humidity inside the cavity, then frost formation is reduced, but regular replacement of depleted compound is required which is time consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service through the removable container design. When the filter becomes saturated or the container fills with frost, the user can easily remove the entire container (14) from the freezer and replace it with a fresh one, eliminating the need for manual handling of chemical compounds or complex replacement procedures. The container is designed for user-friendly removal and replacement without tools.
3Reliability
If a heating device is added to prevent conduit blocking, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device (22) is positioned to provide preliminary heating at the critical section of the conduit where frost formation is most likely to cause blocking. By applying heat proactively at this location, the system prevents frost accumulation before it can block the air flow, rather than reacting after blocking occurs. This targeted preliminary action minimizes energy consumption while ensuring reliability.
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
The solution effectively reduces frost formation on the inner liner, increasing the time between defrost operations and minimizing power consumption while maintaining appliance performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device is preferably associated with the conduit, preferably adjacent the end facing the cavity
Implementation Method 2
The first open end 18a of the conduit 18 is provided with a replaceable filter 19 (figure 6), for instance in the form of a sponge or the like, in order to retain powder and air impurities
Implementation Method 3
The second end 18b of the conduit 18 has a conical shape so that its cross section area is increasing towards the cavity of the freezer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7a~9
AI summary
A freezer (10) comprises a cabinet (10a) defining an inner cavity closable by a door (10b), and in which said cavity communicates with the ambient by means of a conduit (18), such conduit being provided with a frost collecting container (14) removably mounted at one end of the conduit in the cavity and having at least one opening (14a) for allowing air flow.