Split air pathway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs face challenges in routing air to and from a remote ice making compartment without interfering with shelving in the fresh food compartment, while also ensuring efficient air supply and return from the freezer compartment.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a fresh food compartment duct riser that extends upwardly along the back, with an ice compartment supply duct having a split pathway positioned behind it, and an ice compartment return duct leading downwardly, allowing for separate air routing to and from the ice making compartment without interfering with shelving, and integrating a shelf support within the recess formed by the split ducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air is routed to and from the remote ice making compartment through the fresh food compartment, then the ice making compartment can be supplied with cold air, but the shelving in the fresh food compartment is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply duct is divided into multiple separate pathways: a first air supply duct routed through the freezer compartment wall to supply air to the ice making compartment, and a second air supply duct routed through the fresh food compartment. This segmentation allows air to reach the ice making compartment without obstructing shelving in the fresh food compartment, as the primary air supply path bypasses the shelving area.
Solution Approach 2:
The freezer compartment acts as an intermediary space through which the first air supply duct passes. By routing air through the freezer compartment wall rather than directly through the fresh food compartment shelving area, the system uses the freezer as a mediator to deliver cold air to the remote ice making compartment without interfering with fresh food compartment accessibility.
2Productivity
If air ducts are routed through the fresh food compartment to reach the ice making compartment, then air can be supplied to the ice maker, but the duct routing becomes complex and interferes with compartment air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is segmented into multiple independent ducts: a first air supply duct for primary air delivery routed through the freezer compartment wall, and a second air supply duct as a backup or supplementary path through the fresh food compartment. This segmentation simplifies the routing by providing clear, separate pathways that avoid complex intersections and interfere less with normal air flow patterns in either compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The first air supply duct utilizes the vertical dimension by routing through the freezer compartment wall at a height that allows it to connect to the ice making compartment without horizontal obstruction. This dimensional approach simplifies routing by using vertical space and wall penetration rather than complex horizontal routing through the fresh food compartment interior.
3Device complexity
If a single air supply duct is used for both fresh food and ice making compartments, then the system is simpler, but air flow to each compartment is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply system is divided into dedicated ducts for different compartments: a first air supply duct specifically for the ice making compartment and a second air supply duct for the fresh food compartment. This segmentation optimizes air flow efficiency by providing dedicated pathways for each compartment's specific air flow requirements, while the overall system remains relatively simple with only two main ducts.
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning system serves multiple functions through its duct configuration: it cools both the fresh food compartment and the remote ice making compartment simultaneously. The first air supply duct provides cold air to the ice making compartment while the second duct serves the fresh food compartment, allowing the system to perform multiple cooling functions with a coordinated duct system.
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 configuration maximizes usable space in the fresh food compartment by allowing shelf placement while maintaining efficient air supply and return, ensuring effective refrigeration and ice production without obstructing shelving.
Implementation Method 1
an ice compartment supply duct leading from the shroud to the ice making compartment
Implementation Method 2
an ice compartment return duct leading from the ice making compartment towards the freezer compartment evaporator
Implementation Method 3
a fresh food compartment duct riser extending upwardly along a back of the fresh food compartment
Implementation Method 4
a shroud associated with a freezer compartment evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice making compartment remote from the freezer compartment, and a fresh food compartment duct riser extending upwardly along a back of the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator further includes a shroud associated with a freezer compartment evaporator, an ice compartment supply duct leading from the shroud to the ice making compartment, and an ice compartment return duct leading from the ice making compartment towards the freezer compartment evaporator. The ice compartment supply duct has a split pathway and is positioned behind the fresh food compartment duct riser.