Outdoor unit fan, outdoor unit, air conditioning unit and control method

Abstract

This invention provides an outdoor unit fan, an outdoor unit, an air conditioning unit, and a control method, including: a fan motor and a rotating seat mounted on the output shaft of the fan motor; multiple foldable fan blades, arranged in layers and rotatably on the rotating seat; and a controller connected to the fan motor, used to determine whether to enter an anti-snow accumulation mode based on outdoor environmental information. If so, the controller controls the multiple foldable fan blades to overlap vertically to reduce the contact area for rain and snow. This invention solves the technical problem in related technologies where snow accumulates on the fan blades of top-discharge air conditioning units at low temperatures, and traditional snow removal and antifreeze measures affect airflow, especially in ultra-low temperature environments where the treatment effect is poor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning equipment technology, specifically to an outdoor unit fan, an outdoor unit, an air conditioning unit, and a control method. Background Technology

[0002] In existing top-discharge heat pump units, the fan blades are prone to snow and ice accumulation in low-temperature environments. When the fan blades are subjected to pressure from snow and ice for extended periods, their structure is susceptible to deformation. This deformation can lead to uneven fan blade rotation during motor operation, resulting in rotational deviation. The accumulation of rotational deviation can easily cause motor overload or damage, further affecting the normal operation of the unit and even shortening the equipment's lifespan.

[0003] To address the issues of snow accumulation and icing on fan blades, traditional solutions typically involve adding shrouds to block snow or using reverse circulation to defrost and de-ic the blades. However, while installing shrouds to prevent snow from falling directly onto the blades alleviates the problem to some extent, it also obstructs the air outlet, significantly reducing the unit's airflow efficiency. Furthermore, installing shrouds can increase manufacturing costs and structural complexity. In ultra-low temperature environments, reverse circulation defrosting and de-icing is not only time-consuming and inefficient, but also yields poor defrosting and de-icing results.

[0004] Therefore, existing technologies need further development. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned technical deficiencies and provide an outdoor unit fan, an outdoor unit, an air conditioning unit, and a control method to solve the technical problem in the related art where snow accumulates on the fan blades of top-discharge air conditioning units at low temperatures, and traditional snow removal and antifreeze measures affect airflow, especially in ultra-low temperature environments where the treatment effect is poor.

[0006] To achieve the above technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an outdoor unit fan is provided, including: a fan motor and a rotating seat sleeved on the output shaft of the fan motor; multiple foldable fan blades, which are arranged in layers and rotated on the rotating seat; a controller, connected to the fan motor, for determining whether to enter the anti-snow accumulation mode based on outdoor environmental information, and if so, controlling the multiple foldable fan blades to overlap vertically to reduce the contact area for receiving rain and snow.

[0007] Furthermore, the rotating base includes: multiple layers of fixed plates stacked sequentially on the output shaft of the fan motor from top to bottom; movable grooves arranged around the circumference of the output shaft of the fan motor between adjacent fixed plates; and a foldable fan blade slidably disposed in each movable groove.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes multiple unfolding limit pins and multiple folding limit pins. The unfolding limit pins are evenly distributed in the movable slots along the circumference of the rotating seat, used to restrict the foldable fan blades in each layer of the movable slots from being evenly distributed in the unfolded state. The folding limit pins are respectively set in each movable slot, and the straight line of the multiple folding limit pins is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating seat. The multiple folding limit pins are used to restrict the foldable fan blades from being stacked in the vertical direction in the overlapping state. When the rotating seat rotates forward with the output shaft of the fan motor, the foldable fan blades slide in the movable slots until they contact the unfolding limit pins, at which point the foldable fan blades stop sliding and remain in the unfolded state. When the rotating seat rotates in the reverse direction with the output shaft of the fan motor, the foldable fan blades slide in the reverse direction in the movable slots until they contact the folding limit pins, at which point the foldable fan blades stop sliding, thus allowing all the foldable fan blades to be stacked in the vertical direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the foldable fan blade includes a fixed shaft, an electric hinge assembly, and a folding blade. One end of the fixed shaft is disposed in a movable groove and slides within the movable groove, while the other end is connected to the folding blade via the electric hinge assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, the electric hinge assembly includes: a hinge motor and a first hinge member and a second hinge member respectively sleeved on the left and right sides of the output shaft of the hinge motor; the first hinge member is fixedly connected to the fixed shaft, and the second hinge member is fixedly connected to the flap. The second hinge member is driven to rotate relative to the first hinge member by the hinge motor, which causes the flap to bend relative to the fixed shaft, thereby further reducing the contact area for receiving rain and snow.

[0011] Furthermore, the structure of the unfolding limit pin is consistent with that of the folding limit pin.

[0012] Furthermore, each layer of foldable fan blades is equipped with copper contacts, and when all layers of foldable fan blades are folded, the copper contacts of adjacent layers abut against each other.

[0013] Furthermore, the copper contacts of the uppermost foldable fan blade are located on the lower surface of the foldable fan blade; the copper contacts of the lowermost foldable fan blade are located on the upper surface of the foldable fan blade; and the copper contacts of the other layers of foldable fan blades are located on the upper and lower surfaces of their respective foldable fan blades.

[0014] Furthermore, the copper contacts of all layers are located at the end of the corresponding layer's foldable fan blades away from the output shaft of the fan motor.

[0015] Furthermore, the foldable fan blade is made of metal material, and the surface of the foldable fan blade is coated with an insulating coating; a copper core conductor connected to copper contacts is installed inside the foldable fan blade; and an AC power supply connected to the copper core conductor is installed inside the rotating base.

[0016] Furthermore, the foldable fan blades of two adjacent layers form an electrical circuit through copper contacts, corresponding to an AC power supply and a control switch. Eddy current heating is achieved by forming an electrical circuit to remove ice and snow from the surface of the foldable fan blades. A voltage detector is connected to each electrical circuit, and the voltage detector is connected to the controller.

[0017] Furthermore, it also includes a weight detection sensor, which is installed on the foldable fan blade and connected to the controller to detect the weight of the foldable fan blade.

[0018] An outdoor unit, comprising an outdoor unit fan as described above.

[0019] Furthermore, it also includes an environmental sensor, which is installed at the air outlet of the outdoor unit fan and connected to the controller of the outdoor unit fan, for detecting outdoor environmental information.

[0020] An air conditioning unit includes an outdoor unit as described above.

[0021] Furthermore, the air conditioning unit is a heat pump unit.

[0022] A method for controlling an outdoor unit fan includes: acquiring outdoor environmental information; determining, based on the outdoor environmental information, whether it is necessary to enter the snow-proof mode; if so, controlling the foldable fan blades to overlap and arrange themselves vertically.

[0023] Furthermore, outdoor environmental information is acquired, including outdoor temperature information and outdoor humidity information; the outdoor temperature information and outdoor humidity information include the temperature and humidity information at the location of the fan outlet.

[0024] Furthermore, based on outdoor environmental information, it is determined whether to enter the snow prevention mode, including: if the temperature information shows that the outdoor temperature is less than or equal to the first threshold, and the humidity information shows that the outdoor humidity is greater than or equal to the second threshold, it is determined that the snow prevention mode needs to be entered.

[0025] Furthermore, controlling the foldable fan blades to overlap vertically includes: controlling the fan motor to reverse so that the foldable fan blades in the movable slot slide to the position of the folding limit pin; acquiring the voltage signal between two adjacent layers of foldable fan blades; if the voltage signal is zero, determining that the foldable fan blades of the corresponding layer have completed overlapping; if all voltage signals are zero, determining that all layers of foldable fan blades have completed overlapping, controlling the fan motor to stop rotating, and controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to bend.

[0026] Furthermore, before controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to bend, the process also includes: detecting the weight of the current foldable fan blades; comparing whether the currently detected weight is greater than a preset value; if so, determining that there is ice residue on the foldable fan blades, turning on the control switch, and connecting the AC power supply; the preset value is related to the initial weight value of the foldable fan blades when they leave the factory.

[0027] Furthermore, controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to bend includes: first controlling the bottom layer of foldable fan blades to bend, and then controlling the other layers of foldable fan blades to bend sequentially from bottom to top; or, controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to bend and fold simultaneously at the same speed.

[0028] Furthermore, the bottommost foldable fan blade is first controlled to bend, and then the other layers of foldable fan blades are controlled to bend sequentially from bottom to top. Specifically, the hinge motor of the bottommost foldable fan blade is first controlled to rotate in the first direction by a preset angle, or rotate in the first direction for a preset duration, and then the hinge motors of the other layers of foldable fan blades are controlled to perform the same action sequentially from bottom to top. All layers of foldable fan blades are controlled to bend and fold simultaneously at the same speed. Specifically, the hinge motors of all layers of foldable fan blades are controlled to rotate in the first direction at the same frequency by a preset angle, or rotate in the first direction for a preset duration.

[0029] Furthermore, the preset angle is 90°; the preset duration is the standard time required for the foldable fan blades to rotate from a horizontal state to a vertical state.

[0030] Furthermore, it also includes controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to return from a bent state to a flat state when the unit receives a start-up command.

[0031] Furthermore, controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to return from a bent state to a flat state includes: first controlling the hinge motor of the bottom layer of foldable fan blades to rotate in the second direction by a preset angle, or to rotate in the second direction for a preset duration, and then controlling the hinge motors of other layers of foldable fan blades to perform the same action sequentially from bottom to top; or controlling the hinge motors of all layers of foldable fan blades to simultaneously rotate in the second direction by a preset angle, or to rotate in the second direction for a preset duration at the same frequency; the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

[0032] Furthermore, it also includes: acquiring the voltage signal between two adjacent layers of foldable fan blades; if the voltage signal is not zero, determining that the foldable fan blade of the corresponding layer has completed the reset, and the foldable fan blade of the corresponding layer slides to the position of the unfolding limit pin; if all voltage signals are not zero, determining that the foldable fan blades of all layers have completed the reset, and the foldable fan blades of all layers return from the overlapping state to the unfolded state, and controlling the fan motor to rotate forward to resume normal operation.

[0033] Beneficial effects:

[0034] 1. The foldable fan blades of the outdoor unit fan of the present invention, after detecting the need to enter the anti-snow accumulation mode, are arranged in an overlapping manner along the vertical direction to minimize the exposed area of ​​the fan blades and significantly reduce the pressure risk caused by rain and snow accumulation; after overlapping and bending, the fan blades are prevented from being deformed by long-term heavy pressure from rain and snow, thus improving the durability of the fan blades and motor.

[0035] 2. The multi-layer fixed plate and movable groove structure on the outdoor unit fan rotating seat of the present invention, combined with the limiting pin, ensures that the fan blades operate reliably and occupy little space when unfolded, overlapped and bent; the fan blades overlap first and then bend, which not only reduces the space occupied but also further prevents rain and snow from adhering.

[0036] 3. The air conditioning unit of the present invention controls the overlapping arrangement of the fan blades to ensure that the fan blades stop bearing force in the anti-snow accumulation mode, preventing motor overload or damage due to rotational deviation and ensuring the stability of unit operation; the overlapping and bent fan blades automatically return to the unfolded state after receiving a reset command, ensuring that the air output efficiency of the unit under normal operating conditions is not affected.

[0037] 4. The foldable fan blades have built-in copper contacts and copper core conductors, which form an electrical circuit to achieve eddy current heating, effectively removing ice and snow from the surface of the fan blades, making them particularly suitable for ultra-low temperature environments.

[0038] 5. The environmental sensor, combined with the controller, automatically determines whether to enter the snow-proof mode based on outdoor temperature and humidity information, without the need for manual intervention, and adapts to complex weather conditions; through voltage detectors, weight sensors, etc., it realizes precise monitoring of the overlapping and bending state of the wind blades, ensuring the reliability of the action sequence and effect. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the outdoor unit fan blades in the deployed state as used in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the outdoor unit fan with the blades overlapping, as used in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 3 This is a front view of the outdoor unit fan blades in an overlapping state, as used in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 4 This is a front view of the rotating base of the outdoor unit fan used in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 5 This is a rear view of the rotating base of the outdoor unit fan used in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 6 yes Figure 3The top view of the outdoor unit fan blades in the overlapping state used in the embodiment;

[0045] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 The example shown is a bottom view of the outdoor unit fan with the blades overlapping.

[0046] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 A top view of the fixed shaft and electric hinge assembly of the outdoor unit fan with the blades overlapping in the embodiment.

[0047] Figure 9 yes Figure 3 A bottom view of the fixed shaft and electric hinge assembly of the outdoor unit fan with the blades overlapping in the embodiment.

[0048] Figure 10 yes Figure 3 The front view of the outdoor unit fan blades after overlapping and bending in the embodiment;

[0049] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of the control method used in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0051] 1. Fan frame; 11. Fan motor output shaft; 2. Rotating seat; 21. Fixed plate; 22. Movable slot; 231. Unfolding limit pin; 232. Folding limit pin; 3. Foldable fan blade; 31. Fixed shaft; 32. Electric hinge assembly; 321. First hinge; 322. Second hinge; 33. Folding blade; 41. Copper contact; 5. Weight detection sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0052] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0053] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an outdoor unit fan is provided; please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 1 to 11The system includes: a fan motor and a rotating seat 2 mounted on the output shaft 11 of the fan motor; multiple foldable fan blades 3, arranged in layers on the rotating seat 2; and a controller connected to the fan motor, used to determine whether to enter the anti-snow accumulation mode based on outdoor environmental information. If so, the controller controls the multiple foldable fan blades 3 to overlap vertically to reduce the contact area for rain and snow. Dynamically controlling the fan blade movement based on environmental information, the overlapping of the foldable fan blades 3 in the vertical direction effectively reduces the risk of rain and snow accumulation and prevents deformation or damage caused by long-term pressure on the fan blades. The outdoor unit fan of this embodiment solves the technical problem in related technologies where snow accumulates on the fan blades of top-discharge air conditioning units at low temperatures, and traditional snow removal and antifreeze measures affect airflow, especially in ultra-low temperature environments where the treatment effect is poor.

[0054] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, the outdoor unit fan, rotating base 2, includes: multiple layers of fixing plates 21 stacked sequentially on the output shaft 11 of the fan motor from top to bottom; movable grooves 22 are formed between adjacent fixing plates 21 around the circumference of the output shaft 11 of the fan motor; a foldable fan blade 3 is slidably disposed in each layer of movable groove 22. The multiple layers of fixing plates 21 are spaced apart to form movable grooves 22 for the fan blades to slide, and the smooth switching between fan blade unfolding and overlapping is achieved by sliding through the movable grooves 22, resulting in high reliability of operation.

[0055] See Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The outdoor unit fan in this embodiment also includes multiple unfolding limit pins 231 and multiple folding limit pins 232. The unfolding limit pins 231 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the rotating seat 2 within the movable slots 22, used to restrict the foldable fan blades 3 within each movable slot 22 from being evenly distributed in the unfolded state. The folding limit pins 232 are respectively disposed within each movable slot 22, and the straight line of the multiple folding limit pins 232 is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating seat 2. The multiple folding limit pins 232 are used to restrict the foldable fan blades. 3. In the overlapping state, the foldable blades can be arranged sequentially in the vertical direction. When the rotating base 2 rotates forward with the output shaft 11 of the fan motor, the foldable blades 3 slide within the movable groove 22 until they contact the unfolding limit pin 231, at which point the foldable blades 3 stop sliding and remain in the unfolded state. When the rotating base 2 rotates in the reverse direction with the output shaft 11 of the fan motor, the foldable blades 3 slide in the reverse direction within the movable groove 22 until they contact the folding limit pin 232, at which point the foldable blades 3 stop sliding, thus allowing all the foldable blades 3 to be arranged sequentially in the vertical direction. The pins provide limiting support for both the unfolded and overlapping states, preventing the blades from sliding out of bounds. Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, each movable slot 22 is provided with an unfolding limit pin 231 and a folding limit pin 232. When the motor rotates forward, the fan blade is driven until it slides to the unfolding limit pin 231. The unfolding limit pin 231 stops the fan blade from moving further, thus positioning the fan blade. When the motor rotates in reverse, the fan blade moves in the opposite direction in the movable slot 22 until it slides to the folding limit pin 232. The folding limit pin 232 stops the fan blade from moving further, thus positioning the fan blade.

[0056] In this embodiment, one of the movable slots 22 contains only one locking pin. This locking pin can serve as a limiting component both when the fan blade is in the unfolded state and when the fan blade is in the folded state. Figure 5 As shown, the folding limiting pin 232 forms a straight line in the vertical direction, and the other side of the folding limiting pin 232 in the first layer of movable groove 22 is provided with an unfolding limiting pin 231 (that is... Figure 4 The presented view shows that the first layer of the movable slot 22), the second layer of the movable slot 22 has an unfolding limiting pin 231 at the three o'clock position of the folding limiting pin 232, and the third layer of the movable slot 22 has pins that can serve as limiting components for both the unfolded and folded states of the fan blades. The fourth layer of the movable slot 22 has an unfolding limiting pin 231 at the nine o'clock position of the folding limiting pin 232. With this design, when the four fan blades are unfolded, the fan blades are respectively limited by the unfolding limiting pins 231 at the four cardinal directions of the rotating seat 2 (e.g., ...). Figure 1 (As shown); when the four fan blades overlap, each of the four fan blades is limited by a folding limiting pin 232 located on the same straight line (as shown). Figure 2 and Figure 3 (As shown).

[0057] See Figure 3 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 The outdoor unit fan in this embodiment includes a foldable fan blade comprising a fixed shaft 31, an electric hinge assembly 32, and a folding blade 33. One end of the fixed shaft 31 is disposed within a movable groove 22 and slides within the groove, while the other end is connected to the folding blade 33 via the electric hinge assembly 32. The folding blade 33 is further bent on top of the overlapped state to minimize the exposed area and improve snow and frost protection.

[0058] See Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10In this embodiment, the outdoor unit fan has four blades with different fixed shaft lengths 31. When all the blades overlap vertically, the folding blades 33 can be staggered sequentially to form a misaligned structure, preventing interference between the folding blades 33 when the blades bend. To ensure that the four blades remain balanced during rotation, the fixed shaft 31, electric hinge assembly 32, and folding blade 33 of each blade have the same mass.

[0059] See Figure 6 and Figure 7 In this embodiment, the outdoor unit fan's electric hinge assembly 32 includes: a hinge motor and a first hinge member 321 and a second hinge member 322 respectively sleeved on the left and right sides of the output shaft of the hinge motor; the first hinge member 321 is fixedly connected to the fixed shaft 31, and the second hinge member 322 is fixedly connected to the folding blade 33. The hinge motor drives the second hinge member 322 to rotate relative to the first hinge member 321, causing the folding blade 33 to bend relative to the fixed shaft 31, thereby further reducing the contact area for rain and snow. The electric hinge is not limited to the structure of this embodiment; any hinge that allows the second hinge member 322 to rotate relative to the first hinge member 321 is acceptable. The hinge motor ensures the controllability of the bending angle and duration, improving the adaptability and accuracy of the equipment.

[0060] See Figure 4 and Figure 5 In this embodiment, the outdoor unit fan has the same structure for both the unfolding limit pin 231 and the folding limit pin 232. The unfolding limit pin 231 and the folding limit pin 232 are protrusions set in the movable groove 22. When the fixed shaft 31 slides to the position of the corresponding pin, the fixed shaft 31 is blocked by the pin, thereby stopping the sliding.

[0061] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, each layer of the outdoor unit fan is equipped with a copper contact 41 on its foldable fan blades 3. When all layers of foldable fan blades 3 are folded, the copper contacts 41 of adjacent layers abut against each other. The copper contacts 41 form a stable circuit in the folded state, providing the necessary conditions for the de-icing function.

[0062] In this embodiment, the copper contact 41 of the uppermost foldable fan blade 3 is located on the lower surface of the foldable fan blade 3; the copper contact 41 of the lowermost foldable fan blade 3 is located on the upper surface of the foldable fan blade 3; and the copper contact 41 of the other layers of foldable fan blade 3 are respectively located on the upper and lower surfaces of their respective foldable fan blade 3.

[0063] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the copper contacts 41 of all layers of the outdoor unit fan are located at the end of the corresponding layer's foldable fan blade 3 away from the output shaft 11 of the fan motor.

[0064] In this embodiment, the outdoor unit fan has a foldable fan blade 3 made of metal material, and the surface of the foldable fan blade 3 is coated with an insulating coating. A copper core conductor connected to the copper contact 41 is provided inside the foldable fan blade 3. An AC power supply connected to the copper core conductor is provided inside the rotating base 2.

[0065] In this embodiment, the outdoor unit fan has two adjacent layers of foldable fan blades 3 forming an electrical circuit through copper contacts 41, corresponding to an AC power supply and a control switch, to remove ice and snow from the surface of the foldable fan blades 3; each electrical circuit is connected to a voltage detector, which is connected to the controller.

[0066] See Figure 10 The outdoor unit fan in this embodiment further includes a weight detection sensor 5, which is disposed on the foldable fan blade 3 and connected to the controller for detecting the weight of the foldable fan blade 3. The weight detection sensor 5 is disposed at the end of the foldable fan blade 33.

[0067] The outdoor unit of this embodiment includes the outdoor unit fan as described above, and also includes an environmental sensor, which is installed at the air outlet of the outdoor unit fan and connected to the controller of the outdoor unit fan, for detecting outdoor environmental information.

[0068] The air conditioning unit in this embodiment is a heat pump unit, including the outdoor unit as described above.

[0069] See Figure 11 The outdoor unit fan control method of this embodiment includes: acquiring outdoor environmental information; determining whether it is necessary to enter the anti-snow accumulation mode based on the outdoor environmental information; if so, controlling the foldable fan blades 3 to overlap in the vertical direction.

[0070] The control method of this embodiment acquires outdoor environmental information, including outdoor temperature information and outdoor humidity information; the outdoor temperature information and outdoor humidity information include: temperature information and humidity information at the air outlet of the fan.

[0071] The control method of this embodiment acquires outdoor environmental information, including outdoor temperature information or outdoor humidity information; the outdoor temperature information or outdoor humidity information includes: temperature information or humidity information at the air outlet of the fan.

[0072] The control method of this embodiment determines whether to enter the snow prevention mode based on outdoor environmental information, including: if the temperature information shows that the outdoor temperature is less than or equal to a first threshold and the humidity information shows that the outdoor humidity is greater than or equal to a second threshold, it is determined that the snow prevention mode needs to be entered.

[0073] See Figure 11 The control method of this embodiment controls the foldable fan blades 3 to overlap vertically, including: controlling the fan motor to reverse so that the foldable fan blades 3 in the movable slot 22 slide to the position of the folding limit pin 232; acquiring the voltage signal between two adjacent layers of foldable fan blades 3; if the voltage signal is zero, determining that the corresponding layer of foldable fan blades 3 has completed overlapping; if all voltage signals are zero, determining that all layers of foldable fan blades 3 have completed overlapping, controlling the fan motor to stop rotating, and controlling all layers of foldable fan blades 3 to bend. The voltage signal clearly indicates whether the fan blades are overlapped in place, ensuring accurate operation. Combining sliding and overlapping actions, it quickly enters the snow protection state, improving protection efficiency.

[0074] The control method of this embodiment, before controlling all layers of foldable fan blades 3 to bend, further includes: detecting the current weight of the foldable fan blades 3; comparing whether the currently detected weight is greater than a preset value; if so, determining that there is ice residue on the foldable fan blades 3, turning on the control switch, connecting the AC power supply, and heating the fan blades to melt the ice and remove snow; when the weight detection sensor 5 detects that the fan blades are equal to the preset value, the control switch is closed. The preset value is related to the initial weight value of the foldable fan blades 3 when they leave the factory. Real-time feedback on changes in the weight of the fan blades accurately triggers the de-icing function.

[0075] The control method of this embodiment controls all layers of foldable fan blades 3 to bend, including: first controlling the bottom layer of foldable fan blades 3 to bend, and then controlling the other layers of foldable fan blades 3 to bend sequentially from bottom to top; or, controlling all layers of foldable fan blades 3 to bend and fold simultaneously at the same speed. Controlling the fan blades to bend after overlapping further reduces snow and rain accumulation.

[0076] The control method of this embodiment first controls the bottom layer foldable fan blade 3 to bend, and then controls the other layers of foldable fan blade 3 to bend sequentially from bottom to top. Specifically, the hinge motor of the bottom layer foldable fan blade is first controlled to rotate in the first direction by a preset angle, or rotate in the first direction for a preset time, and then the hinge motors of the other layers of foldable fan blade 3 are controlled to perform the same action sequentially from bottom to top. All layers of foldable fan blade 3 are controlled to bend and fold at the same speed at the same time. Specifically, the hinge motors of all layers of foldable fan blade 3 are controlled to rotate in the first direction at the same frequency by a preset angle, or rotate in the first direction for a preset time.

[0077] The control method of this embodiment has a preset angle of 90° and a preset duration of the standard time required for the foldable fan blade 3 to rotate from a horizontal state to a vertical state.

[0078] The control method of this embodiment also includes controlling all layers of foldable fan blades 3 to return from a bent state to a flat state when the unit receives the start-up command.

[0079] The control method of this embodiment controls all layers of foldable fan blades 3 to return from a bent state to a flat state, including: first controlling the hinge motor of the bottom layer of foldable fan blades 3 to rotate in the second direction by a preset angle, or to rotate in the second direction for a preset duration, and then controlling the hinge motors of other layers of foldable fan blades 3 to perform the same action in sequence from bottom to top; or controlling the hinge motors of all layers of foldable fan blades 3 to rotate in the second direction at the same frequency by a preset angle, or to rotate in the second direction for a preset duration; the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

[0080] The control method of this embodiment further includes: acquiring the voltage signal between two adjacent layers of foldable fan blades 3; if the voltage signal is not zero, determining that the foldable fan blade 3 of the corresponding layer has completed the reset, and the foldable fan blade 3 of the corresponding layer slides to the position of the unfolding limit pin 231; if all voltage signals are not zero, determining that the foldable fan blades 3 of all layers have completed the reset, the foldable fan blades 3 of all layers have returned from the overlapping state to the unfolded state, and controlling the fan motor to rotate forward to resume normal operation.

[0081] In this embodiment, the control method first reads the outlet temperature T1 and humidity H1 when the unit is in standby mode. When T1 ≤ 0℃ and H1 ≥ 50%, it is determined that there is a risk of icing and snow accumulation. At this time, the fan motor is reversed, and the rotating seat 2 rotates at a specific speed. Due to the limitation of the movable slot 22 and the inertia of the fan blades, the fan blades gradually begin to overlap. At this time, according to the data V1 read from the voltage detector, when V1 = 0, it is determined that the fan blades have completed overlapping, and the folding limit pin 232 locks the fan blades. When the voltage between all fan blades is 0, the fan motor stops rotating. Next, the weight of the fan blades is detected and compared with the initial fan blade weight M. When M1 > M, it indicates that there is residual ice on the fan blades. At this time, the AC power is connected and the fan blade surface begins to generate eddy currents, thereby heating up and melting the ice and snow on the fan blade surface. Next, the built-in small motor on the control hinge operates, slowly bending the fan blades downwards. Based on pre-testing, the fan blades reach the predetermined position, which in this design is vertically downwards. The motor operates for t seconds, and stopping after t seconds ensures the fan blades complete the required bending. Because the fan blades are vertically downwards, snow and rainwater will not accumulate on them. When the unit receives the start-up command: the built-in small motor near the control hinge operates in reverse, stopping after t seconds, and the fan blades return to normal operation. After the fan blades have reset, the fan motor starts rotating forward. At this time, the fan blades disperse to the designated position due to inertia. Based on the voltage detector data V1, if V1≠0, it is determined that the fan blades have dispersed. At this point, the fan motor stops rotating, and the limit pin 231 unfolds to lock the fan blades, ensuring normal operation.

[0082] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0083] Optionally, specific examples in this embodiment can refer to the examples described in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0084] The sequence numbers of the embodiments in this application are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments.

[0085] In the above embodiments of this application, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0086] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An outdoor unit fan, characterized in that, include: The fan motor and the rotating seat sleeved on the output shaft of the fan motor; Multiple foldable fan blades are arranged in layers on the rotating base; A controller, connected to the fan motor, is used to determine whether to enter the snow-proof mode based on outdoor environmental information. If so, it controls multiple foldable fan blades to overlap vertically to reduce the contact area for rain and snow. The rotating base includes: multiple layers of fixed plates stacked sequentially on the output shaft of the fan motor from top to bottom; movable grooves are formed between adjacent fixed plates around the circumference of the output shaft of the fan motor; one foldable fan blade is slidably disposed in each layer of the movable groove; it also includes multiple unfolding limit pins and multiple folding limit pins. The unfolding limit pins are evenly distributed in the movable grooves along the circumference of the rotating base to restrict the foldable fan blades in each layer of the movable grooves from being evenly distributed in the unfolded state; each folding limit pin is disposed in each of the movable grooves, and the straight line of the multiple folding limit pins is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotating base. The multiple folding limit pins are used to restrict the foldable fan blades from being stacked vertically in the overlapping state. When the rotating base rotates forward with the output shaft of the fan motor, the foldable fan blades slide within the movable groove until they contact the unfolding limit pin, at which point the foldable fan blades stop sliding and remain in the unfolded state. When the rotating base rotates in the reverse direction with the output shaft of the fan motor, the foldable fan blades slide in the reverse direction within the movable groove until they contact the folding limit pin, at which point the foldable fan blades stop sliding, thereby causing all the foldable fan blades to overlap and arrange themselves sequentially in the vertical direction.

2. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 1, characterized in that, The foldable fan blade includes a fixed shaft, an electric hinge assembly, and a folding blade. One end of the fixed shaft is disposed in the movable groove and slides within the movable groove, while the other end is connected to the folding blade via the electric hinge assembly.

3. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electric hinge assembly includes: a hinge motor and a first hinge member and a second hinge member respectively sleeved on the left and right sides of the output shaft of the hinge motor; the first hinge member is fixedly connected to the fixed shaft, and the second hinge member is fixedly connected to the flap. The second hinge member is driven to rotate relative to the first hinge member by the hinge motor, which causes the flap to bend relative to the fixed shaft, thereby further reducing the contact area for receiving rain and snow.

4. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 1, characterized in that, The unfolding limiting pin has the same structure as the folding limiting pin.

5. The outdoor unit fan according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Each layer of the foldable fan blades is provided with copper contacts. When all layers of the foldable fan blades are folded, the copper contacts of adjacent layers abut against each other.

6. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 5, characterized in that, The copper contacts of the uppermost foldable fan blade are located on the lower surface of the foldable fan blade; The copper contacts of the lowest foldable fan blade are located on the upper surface of the foldable fan blade; The copper contacts of the foldable blades of the other layers are respectively disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the respective foldable blades.

7. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 5, characterized in that, The copper contacts of all layers are located at the end of the foldable fan blade of the corresponding layer that is away from the output shaft of the fan motor.

8. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 5, characterized in that, The foldable fan blade is made of metal material, and the surface of the foldable fan blade is coated with an insulating coating; a copper core conductor connected to the copper contact is provided inside the foldable fan blade. An AC power supply connected to the copper core conductor is provided inside the rotating base.

9. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 5, characterized in that, The foldable fan blades of two adjacent layers form an electrical circuit through the copper contacts, corresponding to an AC power supply and a control switch. Eddy current heating is achieved by forming an electrical circuit to remove ice and snow from the surface of the foldable fan blades. Each power circuit is connected to a voltage detector, which is connected to the controller.

10. The outdoor unit fan according to claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: A weight detection sensor is installed on the foldable fan blade and is connected to the controller to detect the weight of the foldable fan blade.

11. An outdoor unit, characterized in that, Includes the outdoor unit fan as described in any one of claims 1-10.

12. The outdoor unit according to claim 11, characterized in that, Also includes: An environmental sensor is installed at the air outlet of the outdoor unit fan and connected to the controller of the outdoor unit fan to detect outdoor environmental information.

13. An air conditioning unit, characterized in that, Includes the outdoor unit as described in claim 11 or 12.

14. The air conditioning unit according to claim 13, characterized in that, The air conditioning unit is a heat pump unit.

15. A control method for an outdoor unit fan as described in any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, include: Obtain outdoor environmental information; Based on the outdoor environment information, determine whether it is necessary to enter the snow prevention mode. If so, control the foldable fan blades to overlap vertically.

16. The control method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The acquisition of outdoor environmental information includes Obtain outdoor temperature information, and / or outdoor humidity information; The outdoor temperature information and / or outdoor humidity information includes: temperature information at the fan outlet location, and / or humidity information.

17. The control method according to claim 16, characterized in that, The step of determining whether to enter the snow-prevention mode based on the outdoor environmental information includes: If the temperature information shows that the outdoor temperature is less than or equal to the first threshold, and the humidity information shows that the outdoor humidity is greater than or equal to the second threshold, it is determined that the snow accumulation prevention mode needs to be entered.

18. The control method according to claim 15, characterized in that, The control of the foldable fan blades to overlap vertically includes: Control the fan motor to reverse so that the foldable fan blade in the movable slot slides to the position of the folding limit pin; Obtain the voltage signal between two adjacent layers of the foldable fan blades; If the voltage signal is zero, it is determined that the foldable fan blades of the corresponding layer have completed overlapping. If all voltage signals are zero, it is determined that the foldable fan blades of all layers have completed overlapping, the fan motor is controlled to stop rotating, and the foldable fan blades of all layers are controlled to bend.

19. The control method according to claim 18, characterized in that, Before controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to bend, the following is also included: Detect the weight of the foldable fan blades currently described; If the detected weight is greater than a preset value, it is determined that there is ice residue on the foldable fan blade. The control switch is then turned on to connect the AC power supply. The preset value is related to the initial weight value of the foldable fan blade when it leaves the factory.

20. The control method according to claim 19, characterized in that, The control of all layers of foldable fan blades to bend includes: First, control the bottommost foldable fan blades to bend, then control the other foldable fan blades to bend sequentially from bottom to top; or, Control all layers of foldable fan blades to bend and fold at the same speed.

21. The control method according to claim 20, characterized in that, The process involves first controlling the bottommost foldable fan blade to bend, and then sequentially controlling the other foldable fan blades from bottom to top to bend, specifically as follows: First, control the hinge motor of the bottom layer of foldable fan blades to rotate in the first direction by a preset angle, or to rotate in the first direction for a preset time, and then control the hinge motors of other layers of foldable fan blades to perform the same action from bottom to top. The control of all layers of foldable fan blades to bend and fold simultaneously at the same speed is specifically as follows: The hinged motors controlling all layers of foldable fan blades can rotate simultaneously and at the same frequency toward a preset angle in the first direction, or rotate toward the first direction for a preset duration.

22. The control method according to claim 21, characterized in that, The preset angle is 90°; The preset duration is the standard time required for the foldable fan blades to rotate from a horizontal to a vertical position.

23. The control method according to any one of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that, It also includes controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to return from a bent state to a flat state when the unit receives a start-up command.

24. The control method according to claim 23, characterized in that, The control of all layers of foldable fan blades to return from a bent state to a flat state includes: First, control the hinge motor of the bottommost foldable fan blade to rotate in the second direction by a preset angle, or rotate in the second direction for a preset time, and then control the hinge motors of the other foldable fan blades from bottom to top to perform the same action; or... The hinged motors controlling all layers of foldable fan blades to rotate simultaneously and at the same frequency toward the second direction by a preset angle, or to rotate toward the second direction for a preset duration; The second direction is opposite to the first direction.

25. The control method according to claim 23, characterized in that, Also includes: Obtain the voltage signal between two adjacent layers of foldable fan blades; If the voltage signal is not zero, it is determined that the foldable fan blade of the corresponding layer has been reset, and the foldable fan blade of the corresponding layer slides to the position of the unfolding limit pin. If all voltage signals are non-zero, it is determined that the foldable fan blades of all layers have been reset, and the foldable fan blades of all layers have returned from the overlapping state to the unfolded state, and the fan motor is controlled to rotate in the forward direction to resume normal operation.

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