Reinforcement assembly for an insulated structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulated structures for appliances face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and minimizing misalignment of doors under vacuum pressure, particularly due to uneven load distribution and potential bending of peripheral edges.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcement assembly is introduced, comprising a perimeter frame and central plate coupled to the mullion, which includes a top plate, side plates, and a bottom plate, along with hinges to support doors, ensuring even load distribution and maintaining the planar configuration of flanges, thereby stabilizing the insulated structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a reinforcement assembly is added to maintain structural integrity under vacuum pressure, then the strength and stability of the insulated structure is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement assembly is divided into distinct components: a perimeter frame with top, bottom, and side plates, and a separate central plate. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying manufacturing and assembly processes. The perimeter frame handles edge reinforcement while the central plate provides mid-structure support.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement assembly transitions from a two-dimensional wrapper structure to a three-dimensional framework by adding the perimeter frame and central plate. This dimensional enhancement provides structural support throughout the volume of the insulated structure, not just at the surface, thereby improving strength under vacuum pressure.
2Shape
If the perimeter frame is positioned at the peripheral edge to maintain planar configuration, then the shape stability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The perimeter frame is pre-assembled with the top, bottom, and side plates configured in the correct spatial relationships before attachment to the wrapper. This preliminary assembly ensures that when the frame is installed at the peripheral edge, the planar configuration is already established, reducing the precision requirements during final installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The perimeter frame provides localized reinforcement at the peripheral edge where it is most needed to maintain planar configuration under vacuum pressure. By concentrating structural enhancement at this critical location rather than uniformly throughout the entire structure, the design achieves shape stability with reduced overall manufacturing precision requirements.
3Reliability
If the reinforcement assembly is coupled to both the wrapper and mullion to distribute load, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The perimeter frame serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reinforces the peripheral edge, provides attachment points for the wrapper and mullion, distributes vacuum pressure loads, and maintains the planar configuration. This multi-functionality improves reliability by addressing multiple structural requirements with a single integrated component rather than requiring separate elements for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement assembly merges the perimeter frame and central plate into a unified structural system that works together to distribute loads. By combining these elements into a single reinforcement assembly that couples to both the wrapper and mullion, the design achieves improved load distribution and reliability while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate reinforcement components.
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance includes a vacuum insulated structure that has a peripheral edge including a wrapper and a liner. A mullion is operably coupled to the vacuum insulated structure. A reinforcement assembly is operably coupled to the vacuum insulated structure and the mullion. The reinforcement assembly includes a perimeter frame that is operably coupled to the peripheral edge of the vacuum insulated structure, and a central plate that is operably coupled to the mullion. A door is operably coupled to the reinforcement assembly.