Three section refrigerator with two freezer compartments
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF) type refrigerators have inefficient space utilization due to the placement of the ice maker and dispenser, which reduces the regular shape of the fresh food compartment and necessitates a passage for ice guidance, thereby minimizing space for a door guard on the rear surface.
Innovation Solution
The proposed BMF refrigerator design includes a center compartment with an ice making compartment and a second freezer compartment, accessible via separate doors, allowing for improved space utilization and enhanced ice storage capacity by integrating an ice home bar storage system and a dispenser with a reduced ice guide passage length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker and dispenser are provided in the conventional BMF refrigerator, then the ice making function is available, but the shape of the fresh food compartment becomes irregular and space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerator is divided into separate functional compartments: the ice making compartment is separated from the fresh food compartment and positioned in the center. This segmentation allows the fresh food compartment to maintain its regular shape and maximize storage space, while the ice making function is preserved in its dedicated compartment.
2Ease of operation
If a passage is provided to guide ice from the ice making compartment to the outlet, then ice delivery is enabled, but the space for door guard installation on the rear surface of the door is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice guide passage is repositioned to extend along the front surface of the door rather than the rear surface. This dimensional change in the passage location allows the door guard to be installed on the rear surface without interfering with the ice delivery function, thus preserving both ice delivery capability and door guard installation space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker is disposed in the ice making compartment in the upper corner of the fresh food compartment, then the ice making function is provided, but the space utilization of the fresh food compartment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker is extracted from the fresh food compartment and relocated to a dedicated ice making compartment in the center of the refrigerator. This extraction eliminates the space occupation in the fresh food compartment, allowing it to maintain its regular hexahedron shape and maximize storage capacity, while the ice making function is preserved in its new location.
4Ease of operation
If the outlet of the dispenser is placed at a lower height for ease of use, then user convenience is improved, but a longer passage is required to guide ice from the ice maker
Solution Approach 1:
The ice guide passage is repositioned to run along the front surface of the door, utilizing the horizontal dimension more effectively. This allows the outlet to be placed at an ergonomically convenient height while keeping the passage length manageable by routing it through the door's front surface rather than requiring a longer vertical or rear-surface path.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator comprises a body, a fresh food compartment provided in an upper portion of the body, a first freezer compartment provided in a lower portion of the body, a center compartment provided between the fresh food compartment and first freezer compartment and provided with an ice making compartment and a second freezer compartment, an upper door configured to open and close the fresh food compartment and the center compartment at a same time and a lower door configured to open and close the first freezer compartment, therefore the space utilization of the fresh food compartment may be enhanced.