Reliability Design of the Hinge Kit System (HKS)in a CommercialRefrigerator Subjected to Repetitive Impact Loading

Based on field data and a tailored set of accelerated life tests, the hinge kit system (HKS) of a closing door in arefrigerator was redesigned to improve its reliability. Using a force and moment balance analysis, the mechanicalimpact loads of HKS were calculated in closing the refrigerator door. At first ALT the HKS failure happened in thefracture of the kit housing, and oil damper was leaking in breaking up HKS. The failure modes and mechanisms foundin 1st ALT were similar to those of the failed samples obtained in the field. The missing design parameters of HKSincluded the corner rounding and rib of the housing hinge kit, the oil sealing way ofthe oil damper, and the material ofthe cover housing. Based on second ALTs, the fracturing occurred in the cover housing. The missing design parameterof the cover housing in HKS was the plastics material. After two rounds of parametric ALT with corrective actionplans, reliability of the new HKS is guaranteed to be over B1 life 10 years with a yearly failure rate of 0.1%.

کلیدواژه ها:

Reliability Design ، Hinge Kit System ، Fracture ، Parametric Accelerated Life Testing ، Missing Design Parameter