Rotatable Ice-Making Chamber for Space-Saving Refrigerators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs either waste space behind the ice maker or increase the weight and reduce the service life of the door joint, and result in energy loss when opening the door to access articles.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a rotatable ice-making chamber that allows for efficient use of space behind the ice maker, reducing door weight and minimizing cold air loss by using a cold air loop and movable supporting mechanisms to facilitate article placement and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the ice maker is placed in the refrigerating chamber, then the ice making function is achieved, but the space behind the ice maker cannot be effectively used and accessing articles behind it is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making chamber is designed to be rotatable relative to the shell body through movable supporting mechanisms, allowing the chamber to rotate between a first position (ice maker facing rear wall) and a second position (ice maker facing front wall). This dynamic configuration enables the space behind the ice maker to be effectively utilized while facilitating easy access to articles stored in the refrigerating chamber.
2Ease of operation
If the ice maker is integrated into the door body, then the ice maker is easily accessible, but the door body weight increases and the service life of the door joint is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice-making chamber is segmented from the door body and shell body, forming an independent rotatable component. The movable supporting mechanisms enable the ice-making chamber to rotate independently, separating the ice maker from both the door body and the fixed shell body structure. This segmentation reduces the door body weight while maintaining ice maker accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If the door body is opened to access articles, then articles can be taken out and placed, but cold air is lost and energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable ice-making chamber provides dynamic access control. By rotating the ice-making chamber to the second position, the ice maker faces the front wall allowing easy access to the refrigerating chamber without requiring full door opening. This reduces the volume of cold air exposed to ambient temperature, minimizing energy loss.
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 utilizes space behind the ice maker, reduces door weight, and minimizes energy loss by allowing easy access and storage, while maintaining efficient ice production.
Implementation Method 1
the ice-making chamber is capable of rotating from a first position, in which the ice maker faces the rear wall, to a second position, in which the ice maker faces the front wall
Implementation Method 2
a cold air loop of the ice-making chamber is formed
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A refrigerator comprises a shell body (1) divided into a refrigerating chamber (2) and a freezing chamber (3), and a door body (20) selectively opening and closing the refrigerating chamber (2) and the freezing chamber (3), and further comprises an ice-making chamber (21) and movable supporting mechanisms (213, 214) connecting the ice-making chamber (21) and the inner wall of the shell body (1).