Vacuum-Insulated Refrigerator Door With Recessed Functional Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household refrigeration appliance doors with vacuum insulation elements are assembly-intensive and thick due to multiple components, leading to enlarged device size or reduced interior volume.
Innovation Solution
A door design featuring a vacuum insulation element with a depression on its outer surface to embed functional components, allowing for accessibility and viewing even when closed, and using a full-vacuum configuration without additional thermally insulating foam, resulting in a more compact and multifunctional structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multiple components are used to create a vacuum insulation element door, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but device complexity and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vacuum insulation element with functional components (display, control unit, camera, sensor) directly integrated into its structure. The housing of the vacuum insulation element serves as the carrier for these functional components, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining thermal insulation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum insulation element is designed to serve multiple functions: thermal insulation, structural support, and mounting platform for functional components. By making the vacuum insulation element multifunctional, the patent reduces the total number of components needed while achieving both energy efficiency and functional requirements.
2Loss of energy
If multiple components are used to create a vacuum insulation element door, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but door thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges functional components into the vacuum insulation element housing, allowing them to be positioned within the existing thickness rather than adding separate mounting layers. This integration approach maintains the required thermal insulation thickness while accommodating functional components without increasing overall door thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the internal space and surface area of the vacuum insulation element housing to accommodate functional components. By arranging components in available spaces and on surfaces within the existing structure, the design avoids increasing the external dimensions (thickness) of the door while still providing necessary functionality.
3Ease of operation
If functional components are placed on the outside of the vacuum insulation element, then accessibility and viewing are improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines functional components with the vacuum insulation element housing, positioning them on the outer surface or in externally accessible chambers. This integration allows functional components to be easily accessible and viewable from the outside while using the housing structure itself as the mounting platform, avoiding the need for additional complex mounting mechanisms.
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 design enhances thermal insulation, provides a stable carrier for functional components, and increases usable interior volume by maintaining a thin profile while allowing for easy access and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum insulation element which has an inner shell and an outer shell and an insulating material pack arranged in a space between the shells
Implementation Method 2
The insulation material can be a highly porous solid, for example
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a door (5) for a household refrigeration appliance (1), comprising a vacuum insulation element (8) which comprises an enveloping (19) which surrounds an evacuated chamber which is filled at least partially with a support body (12). Said enveloping (19) comprises at least one recess (23, 25, 27) in which at least one functional component (24, 26) is arranged. At least one recess (23, 25, 27) is embodied on an outer side (8b) of the vacuum insulation element (8) facing a front part (18) of the door (5). The invention also relates to a household refrigerating appliance (1) comprising a vacuum insulation element (8).