Removable Ice-Making Chamber Case for Easier Refrigerator Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with ice making chambers have complex inner case structures that complicate manufacturing, maintenance, and repair, as the ice making chamber is often integrated with the refrigerator body, making component replacement and repair difficult.
Innovation Solution
The design separates the ice making chamber case from the refrigerator body, using an inner case with engagement holes and fastening holes, and an ice making chamber case with corresponding protrusions and holes, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and includes a sealing member and reinforcing member for enhanced insulation and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ice making chamber is integrated with the refrigerator body, then the structure is compact and insulation is effective, but the inner case structure becomes complex and component replacement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making chamber case is separated from the refrigerator body as an independent removable component. The inner case includes engagement holes and fastening holes, while the ice making chamber case includes corresponding engagement protrusions and fastening holes, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly through engagement and fastening operations.
2Ease of repair
If the ice making chamber case is separated from the refrigerator body, then component replacement becomes easy, but cold air leakage may occur at the interface
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing member is pre-installed at the interface between the inner case and the ice making chamber case to prevent cold air leakage before the components are assembled together. The sealing member includes a sealing surface that engages with the ice making chamber case to maintain thermal isolation.
3Strength
If fastening members are used to secure the ice making chamber case, then structural integrity is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible fastening members
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator material is used as an intermediary to conceal the fastening members. The insulator is inserted into the inner case and positioned to cover the heads of the fastening members, thereby maintaining structural integrity while preserving the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator interior.
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 simplifies the inner case structure, facilitates easy replacement and repair of ice making chamber components, and prevents cold air leakage, while maintaining the refrigerator's aesthetic appeal by hiding fastening members within the insulator.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing member to seal the ice making chamber case to the inner case
Implementation Method 2
an insulator interposed between the inner and outer cases
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator in which an ice making chamber case including a horizontal wall, a vertical wall, a front opening and a front edge is coupled to an inside of an inner case, to form an ice making chamber. A case insulator is disposed in a wall space of the ice making chamber case. The case insulator is foamed separately from a body insulator which is foamed between inner and outer cases of a refrigerator body. Since the case insulator is foamed separately from the body insulator, it is possible to easily achieve foaming of the case insulator. It is also possible to prepare the ice making chamber case separately from molding of the inner case.