French-Door Rotating Bar Sealing for Heat Loss Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In French Door Refrigerators, the gap between the pair of doors is not effectively sealed by traditional gaskets, leading to heat loss and reduced insulation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A rotating bar system is introduced, featuring a heat insulation member, metallic plate, and heat generating member, with an insertion protrusion that can rotate and guide into a groove to seal the gap between the doors, and a sealing member to prevent heat loss and frost formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a traditional gasket is used to seal the gap between doors, then the structure is simple, but the gap between the pair of doors cannot be effectively sealed leading to heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by designing a rotating bar that can change its orientation from horizontal to vertical. When the door is closed, the bar rotates to a horizontal position to seal the gap between doors. When the door is open, it rotates to a vertical position to avoid interference. This dynamic adjustment allows the sealing mechanism to adapt to different door states, effectively preventing heat loss while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating bar serves multiple functions: it acts as a sealing element to prevent heat loss between doors, and simultaneously functions as a mechanical component that rotates to accommodate door opening/closing operations. The integration of sealing and positioning functions into a single component reduces overall structural complexity while addressing the heat loss problem.
2Loss of energy
If a rotating bar is introduced to seal the gap between doors, then insulation performance is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components into the rotating bar assembly: the sealing element, the rotational mechanism, and the positioning features are integrated into a single unified structure. This consolidation reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies installation while maintaining the enhanced insulation performance provided by the sealing capability.
3Ease of operation
If the insertion protrusion is always inserted into the guide groove, then the rotating bar rotation is guided, but the door cannot be closed when the rotating bar is in certain positions due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion protrusion and guide groove are designed with dynamic engagement characteristics. The protrusion can enter and exit the groove depending on the rotational position of the bar. During door closing, when the bar rotates to a vertical position, the protrusion disengages from the groove to avoid interference. When the door is closed and the bar is horizontal, the protrusion engages with the groove to provide guidance and maintain sealing position.
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 rotating bar enhances insulation performance, prevents heat loss, and improves user convenience by ensuring complete door closure, reducing the risk of frost formation and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a heat generating member configured to radiate heat to prevent the frost from being formed at the plate
Implementation Method 2
a heat insulation member configured to block cool air from being discharged from a storage compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator provided with a rotating bar configured to seal a gap between one pair of doors, capable of preventing the door from being incompletely closed due to an erroneous operation of the rotating bar, the rotating bar capable of sealing a gap formed between the rotating bar and a body as well as a gap formed between one pair of doors, the rotating bar being elastically supported by an elastic member so as to move by receiving an external force from a guide part provided on the body, the rotating bar including a sealing member protruding from the rotating bar so as to seal a gap between the rotating bar and the body.