Support Rail Assembly for Cooling Cabinets Without Welded Wall Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling devices require direct connection of metal walls through welding or adhering, which is time-consuming and costly, and often necessitate additional inner liners and fixing elements for support rails, increasing production costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A cooling device design featuring a support rail with an opening that allows edges of the walls to connect internally, eliminating the need for direct wall connections and additional liners, using a profiled support rail that can be foamed in place, with folded edges and a housing structure for secure penetration of support arms, allowing adjustable height settings and reducing material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If direct connection of walls through welding or adhering is used, then connection strength is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support rail serves as an intermediary element that connects the walls indirectly. Instead of directly welding or adhering walls to each other, the support rail mediates the connection by providing a common interface that both walls attach to, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and time while maintaining connection strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system is segmented into separate functional components: the support rail as a distinct element and the wall attachment points as separate features. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled more efficiently than a monolithic welded structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If additional inner liners and fixing elements are added for support rails, then support rail stability is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport rail stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support rail is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, serves as a mounting interface for shelves, and acts as a connection element between walls. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate inner liners and fixing elements, reducing complexity while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The functions of the inner liner, support rail, and fixing elements are merged into a single integrated support rail structure. This consolidation reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while providing equivalent or superior structural performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If edges of walls are folded inside the support rail, then connection ease is improved, but foaming leakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection easeVSAvoidfoaming leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wall edges are folded inside the support rail profile, creating a nested structure where the wall edges are contained within the support rail's hollow section. This nesting provides mechanical interlocking for easy assembly while the foam filling material can be injected through accessible pathways without leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Loss of substance

If support rail is disposed between walls and outer wall, then material usage is reduced, but structural strength may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial usageVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support rail is designed as a thin-walled profile that provides high strength-to-weight ratio. The optimized cross-sectional geometry and strategic placement allow the thin support rail structure to bear the required loads while minimizing material consumption compared to thicker traditional support structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 enables a strong, easy-to-assemble cooling device with reduced production costs and time, preventing foaming leakage and maintaining a seamless metal appearance while providing adjustable support and durability.

Implementation Method 1

The support rail is disposed between the walls of the inner container and an outer wall of the cooling device... preventing foaming leakage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS10126042B2Cooling device comprising a support base and a support rail

Publication Date: 2018.11.13 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A cooling device includes an inner container having a plurality of walls defining the inner container. A support rail has an opening at one side thereof for supporting a support base inside the inner container. At least two of the walls each have an edge extending inside the support rail through the opening of the support rail and being disposed inside the support rail, providing a connection of the walls to each other.