Abstract: The flip beam is the important component of the side-by-side refrigerator, the flip beam seals the gap between the two door bodies in cold storage room avoiding leakage of cooling capacity in it. Excessive or insufficient self-locking force of the flip beam is the typical design defect, excessive self-locking force leads to high resistance during opening or closing the door; insufficient self-locking force leads to a clear gap between the flip beam and the door seal, which increases the risk of cooling capacity leakage. In view of the problem that the insufficient self-locking force of the flip beam of a side-by-side refrigerator, analyzes the kinematics behavior of the articulated shaft in the process of flip beam rotating with the help of simulation software, combines the technical requirement of the compression spring to obtain the original rigidity coefficient. During the optimization process, analyzes the amount of change in self-locking force of the flip beam caused by compression spring with different rigidity coefficient using simulation method, chooses two representative compression springs based on simulation analysis results. Finally, makes the compression spring samples to verify the actual self-locking force effects of flip beam. It is found that the definitive compression spring eliminates the gap between the flip beam and the door seal. At the same time, the user has a good force experience during the left door closing process.

Key words: Flip beam, Compression spring, Rigidity coefficient, Kinematic and dynamic simulation, Self-locking force