Showcase
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional showcases designed for both warming and cooling face challenges in visual recognition and air circulation, leading to reduced storage capacity due to the placement of coolers in the machine room, which obstructs the formation of necessary air inlets and outlets in the heat insulating bottom plate.
Innovation Solution
A showcase design with a circulating unit that includes a cooler in the machine room and a heat insulating bottom plate with non-overlapping air inlets and outlets, allowing for efficient air circulation between the storage and machine rooms, preventing the reduction in storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the cooler is arranged in the machine room, then the appearance of the showcase is improved and the storage room can be visually recognized, but the heat insulating bottom plate requires evacuating holes and flow channels that reduce the storage room area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the evacuating hole and flow channel in the heat insulating bottom plate at locations that do not overlap with the article mounting shelves in the vertical dimension. By utilizing the vertical space dimension, the air circulation path is established without encroaching on the horizontal storage area, thus resolving the contradiction between appearance improvement and storage room area preservation.
2Productivity
If the evacuating hole is formed in the heat insulating bottom plate according to the cooler position, then air circulation is enabled, but the opening may overlap with the lowermost article mounting shelf and be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the overlap issue by positioning the evacuating hole and flow channel such that their projection in the vertical dimension does not coincide with the article mounting shelves. This dimensional separation ensures that air circulation paths remain unobstructed while maintaining reliable access to the lowermost shelves.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat insulating bottom plate serves as an intermediary structure that houses the evacuating hole and flow channel in a position that mediates between the cooler's location in the machine room and the storage space above. This intermediary positioning allows air circulation without interfering with article storage.
3Productivity
If the machine room size is increased to accommodate the cooler and air circulation components, then cooling function is improved, but the storage room area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension for air circulation path planning, allowing the evacuating hole and flow channel to be positioned in the heat insulating bottom plate without occupying additional horizontal space in the machine room. This enables effective cooling function while preserving maximum storage room area.
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 maintains the storage capacity while ensuring effective cooling of articles and maintaining the visual recognition of the storage room, enhancing the cooling efficiency and appearance by optimizing air circulation without increasing the showcase's dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a circulating unit configured to circulate air from inside the storage room between the storage room and the machine room
Implementation Method 2
a cooler arranged in the machine room and configured to cool the air circulated by the circulating unit
Implementation Method 3
a heat insulating bottom plate configured to allow the circulation of air by the circulating unit and define the storage room and the machine room
Data Source
AI summary
A showcase includes: a box-shaped case main body sectioned into a storage room and a machine room by a heat insulating bottom plate; article mounting shelves arranged in a plurality of stages in an up-and-down direction in the storage room; a circulating fan configured to circulate air from inside the storage room between the storage room and the machine room; and a cooler arranged in the machine room and configured to cool the air circulated by the circulating fan. The heat insulating bottom plate includes a first air inlet formed in a face facing the storage room, a second air inlet formed at a position that is in a face facing the machine room and does not overlap with the first air inlet in the up-and-down direction, and an inlet flow channel formed so as to cause the first and the second air inlets to communicate with each other.