Switchable Hinge Assembly for Refrigerator Door Motion Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators have limited opening-closing freedom due to fixed hinge parts, making it difficult to adapt to various application scenarios, especially in embedded refrigerator applications where style integration is emphasized.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator with a switchable hinge assembly that includes multiple hinge parts and a switching assembly, allowing for sequential operation of the hinge parts to control the opening and closing motion of the door, thereby increasing the freedom of motion and adapting to different application scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed hinge part is used to connect the door and cabinet, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the opening-closing freedom degree of the door is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is divided into multiple independent hinge parts (first hinge part, second hinge part, third hinge part) that can operate sequentially. Each hinge part has its own rotation axis and can be independently controlled, allowing the door to follow different motion tracks by activating different sequences of hinge parts, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic, switchable configuration. The switching assembly enables the hinge parts to change their operational state and sequence based on requirements, allowing the door to adapt between different opening-closing modes (e.g., embedded mode vs. traditional mode), thereby increasing adaptability while maintaining manageable complexity through controlled dynamics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed hinge part is used, then the hinge assembly structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to embedded refrigerator applications
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly is designed with multi-functionality to serve different application scenarios. By incorporating multiple hinge parts that can operate in different sequences controlled by the switching assembly, the same hinge assembly can adapt to both embedded refrigerator applications (where the door needs to open sideways within limited space) and traditional refrigerator applications (where the door opens outward), thus achieving universality without requiring multiple separate hinge designs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hinge parts are introduced to increase motion freedom, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple hinge parts are merged into a single integrated hinge assembly with a unified switching mechanism. The first, second, and third hinge parts are combined with a switching assembly that coordinates their operation, allowing them to function as a cohesive unit. This merging approach enables motion track variability through sequential operation of the hinge parts while managing overall complexity by providing centralized control through the switching assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator with a switchable hinge assembly which includes a cabinet (10), a door (20) and the hinge assembly (30) for connecting the cabinet (10) and the door (20), wherein the hinge assembly(30) includes a plurality of hinge parts (31,32), and a switching assembly (40); when the door (20) is in an opening process, the switching assembly (40) controls the plurality of hinge parts (31,32) to successively operate in a first sequence, and when the door (20) is in a closing process, the switching assembly (40) controls the plurality of hinge parts (31,32) to successively operate in a second sequence, and the first sequence is opposite to the second sequence. An opening-closing freedom degree of the door (20) may be increased by the refrigerator with the switchable hinge assembly, and various motion tracks may be generated to adapt to different application scenarios.