Refrigerator Cabinet Layout With Top Evaporator for More Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have a thick cabinet due to the placement of storage and cold air generating compartments in a forward-and-rearward direction, which reduces the storage space and requires a lower machine compartment, limiting air circulation and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator design positions the machine compartment in the upper portion of the cabinet, allowing for a slimmer profile and increased storage space, with part of the cold air generating compartment also in the upper portion, enabling efficient temperature regulation and air circulation by using a single evaporator to supply cold air to multiple compartments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the storage compartment and cold air generating compartment are placed in forward-and-rearward direction, then the refrigerator structure is simple, but the cabinet thickness increases and storage space decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the cold air generating compartment from the rear (depth direction) to the upper portion (vertical direction), changing the spatial arrangement from horizontal to vertical dimension. This allows the storage compartment to extend further forward without being blocked by the cold air generating compartment, thereby increasing storage space while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If the machine compartment is installed in the lower portion of the rear surface, then the structure is conventional, but the storage compartment space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The machine compartment is relocated from the lower rear portion to the upper portion of the cabinet, utilizing the vertical space above the storage compartment. This vertical repositioning frees up the lower and rear storage areas, significantly increasing the storage compartment volume while maintaining a conventional overall structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cabinet is made thicker to accommodate all compartments, then all components can be housed, but the area occupied in the installation room increases
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the cold air generating compartment and machine compartment in the upper portion (vertical dimension) rather than extending the cabinet backward (depth dimension), the patent reduces the cabinet's depth while maintaining all necessary components. This results in a slimmer profile that occupies less floor space in the installation room.
4Device complexity
If cold air is supplied to multiple compartments using a single evaporator, then the system is simplified, but temperature regulation precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single cold air source into multiple directed outlets, with separate air guiding ducts leading to different storage compartments. This segmentation allows each compartment to receive cold air through dedicated pathways, improving temperature regulation precision while maintaining the simplicity of having a single evaporator 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 results in a more efficient and quick refrigeration process, with the ability to intensively supply cold air to compartments with abnormal temperature changes, enhancing storage capacity and energy efficiency while reducing the overall indoor space occupied by the refrigerator.
Implementation Method 1
a cold air generating compartment (100) provided in an upper portion of the cabinet (1) and configured to supply cold air to each of the freezing compartment (10) and the refrigerating compartment (20)
Implementation Method 2
guiding ducts (130a, 130b) which guide air from inside the freezing and refrigerating compartments (10, 20) into the cold air generating compartment (100)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet comprising a storage compartment An evaporator is positioned at an upper portion of the cabinet and generates cold air supplied to the storage compartment. A unit (e.g., closable damper) controls supply of cold air generated by the evaporator to the storage compartment.