Refrigerator Vegetable Container Sealing Without Dew Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vegetable containers for refrigerators face issues with maintaining a low vacuum state and dew accumulation, leading to deformation and loss of freshness due to pressure differences and dew contact with stored foods.
Innovation Solution
A vegetable container design featuring a double-structured case with a reinforcing flange and arch-shaped edge to prevent deformation, combined with guide channels and an opening and closing valve in the discharge port to manage dew and maintain a low vacuum state, ensuring optimal storage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drawer hermetically seals the case to maintain low vacuum state, then the freshness of stored vegetables is improved, but the opening of the case deforms inward due to pressure difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing reinforcing ribs at specific locations on the case where deformation is most likely to occur. The reinforcing ribs are strategically positioned to provide localized structural support against the pressure difference, rather than uniformly strengthening the entire case. This allows the case to maintain hermetical sealing while preventing opening deformation through targeted reinforcement.
2Reliability
If the case is hermetically sealed to maintain low vacuum state, then vegetable freshness is improved, but dew accumulates inside the case and cannot be discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a discharge port as an intermediary element that allows dew to be removed from the case while maintaining hermetical sealing for vacuum preservation. The discharge port acts as a mediator between the sealed interior and exterior environments, enabling selective passage of condensed water vapor without compromising the overall sealing integrity or allowing air ingress that would destroy the vacuum state.
3Reliability
If the opening is reinforced to prevent deformation, then hermetical sealing is maintained, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the case into multiple modular components including the case body, drawer, reinforcing ribs, and discharge port assembly. This modular structure allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, simplifying production while maintaining the overall structural integrity needed for hermetical sealing. The segmented design also facilitates easier maintenance and replacement of individual parts.
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 solution effectively maintains a low vacuum state and directs dew away from visibility, preventing food softening and enhancing storage freshness by preventing external air entry and facilitating easy water discharge.
Implementation Method 1
the interior of the vegetable container is hermetically sealed such that the interior of the vegetable container is in a low vacuum state to improve freshness of the vegetables stored in the vegetable container
Implementation Method 2
guide channels formed in a case to guide water formed in the case toward a discharge port
Data Source
AI summary
A vegetable container for a refrigerator includes a case having an opening formed at a front thereof, the case being provided with a receiving space to receive objects to be stored, a drawer to seal an interior of the case, a discharge port formed through a bottom surface of the case to discharge water from the case, a negative pressure part to lower pressure in the case, and an opening and closing valve to open and close the discharge port.