Drainage device for air conditioning device capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operation condition
By introducing current detection and microcontroller monitoring of current changes in the air conditioning unit, and controlling the motor to reverse the drainage impeller, the problem of abnormal operation of the air conditioning unit's drainage device caused by dirt was solved. It can automatically eliminate abnormal operating conditions and restore normal operation and drainage efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DONGGUAN DONGKENG HELIMEI ELECTRONIC APPLIANCE CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing air conditioning units' drainage systems are prone to malfunction after prolonged operation due to dirt entering them, such as reduced drainage efficiency or blockage. There is a lack of technology to automatically resolve abnormal operating conditions.
It adopts a structural design that includes a drive motor, a control module, a drainage impeller and a lower housing. The current detection unit and microcontroller monitor current changes and control the drive motor to reverse the drainage impeller in abnormal conditions to eliminate the abnormality. The control logic includes forward rotation, reverse rotation and stop operation logic.
It enables the drainage impeller to reverse automatically under abnormal operating conditions, effectively remove dirt, restore normal operation, and ensure that drainage efficiency is not reduced.
Smart Images
Figure CN122015279A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a drainage device for an air conditioning unit, and more particularly to a drainage device for an air conditioning unit that can automatically eliminate abnormal operating conditions. Background Technology
[0002] Currently known drainage devices for air conditioning units, being installed on or near the unit, are susceptible to malfunction after prolonged operation due to the accumulation of dirt. This can manifest as reduced drainage efficiency due to dirt becoming stuck in the impeller, or blockage caused by foreign objects preventing rotation. While some detection methods exist, none utilize reverse rotation of the impeller to automatically eliminate these abnormalities.
[0003] Taiwan Patent No. M423752 discloses a direction control structure for submersible motor blades. The structure is based on the fact that the blades are movable relative to their axis. Therefore, when the submersible motor rotates counterclockwise, these blades can be pushed outward to form a resistance braking effect, causing the motor to rotate in the opposite direction to clockwise and retracting the blades into the fixed base, thereby controlling the correct rotation direction of the submersible motor blades.
[0004] While the aforementioned technology involves reversing the blades, it primarily addresses the issue of the blades being movable and the correction being applied to the blades themselves, rather than eliminating the aforementioned abnormal conditions. Therefore, it cannot resolve these abnormal conditions. Consequently, current air conditioning drainage systems lack the technology to automatically eliminate these abnormal conditions, which is the problem this invention aims to solve. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a drainage device for an air conditioning unit that can automatically eliminate abnormal operating conditions. When abnormal operation or stalling occurs, the drainage impeller can automatically reverse to attempt to eliminate the abnormal condition.
[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this invention proposes a drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions, comprising: a main housing; a drive motor disposed within the main housing; a control module located within the main housing and electrically connected to the drive motor, the control module storing control logic and executing the control logic to control the operation of the drive motor; a drainage impeller connected to the drive motor and driven to rotate; and a lower housing covering the lower part of the main housing, forming a sealed drainage chamber between the lower housing and the main housing, the lower housing extending downwards with an inlet, and the lower housing extending laterally outwards from one side with an outlet pipe, both the inlet and the outlet pipe communicating with the drainage chamber; wherein, the control module includes a current detection unit and a microcontroller (MCU). The control module uses the current detection unit to detect the electrical energy consumed by the drive motor during operation. The control module uses the microcontroller to drive the drive motor. The control logic includes the following three points A, B, and C for the control module to execute: A: During normal operation, the drive motor is controlled to run in a first direction, i.e., forward rotation; B: When the current value detected by the current detection unit is greater than a predetermined threshold, the microcontroller controls the drive motor to run in the opposite direction of the first direction, i.e., reverse rotation, and after a predetermined time or number of reversals, the drive motor is controlled to return to normal operation. This situation refers to one reversal; and C: The control module calculates the number of times the drive motor is controlled to reverse. After accumulating a predetermined number of reversals, the microcontroller controls the drive motor to stop operating.
[0007] Therefore, the present invention can reverse the drainage impeller to attempt to eliminate the abnormal situation when abnormal operation or stall occurs.
[0008] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but this is not intended to limit the present invention. Attached Figure Description
[0009] Figure 1 This is a front view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] Figure 3 This is an exploded view from below of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of some component combinations of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the arrangement of the blades of the drainage impeller and the outlet pipe.
[0013] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] Figure 7 This is another flowchart of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] Figure 8 This is another flowchart of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Figure 9 This is another flowchart of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Figure 10 This is a block diagram of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] In the attached figures, the following labels are used:
[0020] 10: Drainage device for air conditioning units that can automatically troubleshoot abnormal operating conditions.
[0021] 11:Main shell
[0022] 21: Drive motor
[0023] 31: Control Module
[0024] 32: Control Logic
[0025] 34: Current Detection Unit
[0026] 36: Microcontroller
[0027] 41: Drainage impeller
[0028] 42: Mandrel
[0029] 43: Leaf
[0030] 51: Lower housing
[0031] 511: Circular Wall
[0032] 52: Drainage Room
[0033] 54:Water inlet
[0034] 56: Water outlet pipe
[0035] 10': Drainage device for air conditioning units that can automatically troubleshoot abnormal operating conditions.
[0036] 21': Drive motor
[0037] 31': Control Module
[0038] 32': Control Logic
[0039] 34': Current detection unit
[0040] 36': Microcontroller
[0041] 99': Air conditioning unit Detailed Implementation
[0042] To illustrate the technical features of the present invention in detail, the following preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0043] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the present invention, through a first preferred embodiment, describes a drainage device 10 for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions. It mainly comprises a main housing 11, a drive motor 21, a control module 31, a drainage impeller 41, and a lower housing 51, wherein:
[0044] The drive motor 21 is located inside the main housing 11.
[0045] The control module 31 is located inside the main housing 11 and is disposed within the drive motor 21. The control module 31 is electrically connected to the drive motor 21 and stores a control logic 32. The control logic 32 is executed to control the operation of the drive motor 21.
[0046] The drainage impeller 41 is connected to the drive motor 21 and is driven to rotate. In this first embodiment, the drainage impeller 41 has a spindle 42 and a plurality of blades 43. The plurality of blades 43 are straight plates extending radially along the spindle 42, and the plurality of blades 43 are symmetrical about both sides with respect to the longitudinal section of the spindle 42.
[0047] The lower housing 51 covers the lower part of the main housing 11 and forms a sealed drainage chamber 52 between the lower housing 51 and the main housing 11. A water inlet 54 extends downward from the lower housing 51, and a water outlet pipe 56 extends laterally outward from one side of the lower housing 51. Both the water inlet 54 and the water outlet pipe 56 are connected to the drainage chamber 52. In this first embodiment, the lower housing 51 has an annular wall 511 surrounding the periphery of the drainage chamber 52. The water outlet pipe 56 extends radially outward along the annular wall 511, thus forming a symmetrical shape of the lower housing 51 with respect to the axis of the water outlet pipe 56.
[0048] Furthermore, the technical features of this first embodiment are as follows:
[0049] The control module 31 includes a current detection unit 34 and a microcontroller (MCU) 36. The control module 31 uses the current detection unit 34 to detect the electrical energy consumed by the drive motor 21 during operation, and the control module 31 uses the microcontroller 36 to drive the drive motor 21. Furthermore, the microcontroller 36 can detect the rotational speed of the drive motor 21 and whether it is rotating. Since existing chips can directly detect the number of rotations of a motor, the microcontroller 36 can be a chip capable of detecting the operating status of the drive motor 21.
[0050] The control logic 32 includes the following three points, A, B, and C, for the control module 31 to execute:
[0051] A: During normal operation, the drive motor 21 is controlled to rotate in a first direction, i.e., forward rotation.
[0052] B: When the current value detected by the current detection unit 34 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the microcontroller 36 controls the drive motor 21 to rotate in the opposite direction to the first direction, i.e., reverses the rotation. After a predetermined time or number of cycles of reversal, the microcontroller controls the drive motor 21 to resume normal operation. This situation refers to one reversal. The aforementioned predetermined threshold is 0.5A (amperes) in this first embodiment, but the actual value depends on the manufacturer's requirements.
[0053] C: The control module 31 calculates the number of times the drive motor 21 is reversed. After accumulating a predetermined number of times, the microcontroller 36 controls the drive motor 21 to stop operating. In this first embodiment, the predetermined number of times is taken as three times, but it can also be only once, but the actual number is determined according to the manufacturer's needs.
[0054] The structure of this first embodiment and the contents of the control logic 32 have been described above. The operation state of this first embodiment will be described next.
[0055] During normal operation, the current value detected by the current detection unit 34 will not exceed the predetermined threshold value. Therefore, when the control module 31 executes the control logic 32, it will keep the drive motor 21 in the forward rotation state, and the operation of the drain impeller 41 can drive the water in the drain chamber 52 to the outlet pipe 56 to discharge it.
[0056] like Figure 6As shown, when the current value detected by the current detection unit 34 exceeds the predetermined threshold, it indicates that the load on the drive motor 21 has increased. This situation usually indicates that the drain impeller 41 is stuck with dirt, causing it to rotate slowly or even not at all. In this case, the control module 31 will control the drive motor 21 to reverse according to the content of the control logic 32, thereby causing the drain impeller 41 to reverse, and reverse for a predetermined time or number of cycles, and then control the drive motor 21 to resume normal operation. The aforementioned predetermined reversal time is 30 seconds as an example, and the aforementioned predetermined number of reversal cycles is 100 cycles as an example.
[0057] The multiple blades 43 of the drainage impeller 41 are radially extending straight plates and symmetrically arranged. Specifically, this ensures that the driving effect on the water in the drainage chamber 52 is the same regardless of whether the impeller rotates forward or backward. The structure of the outlet pipe 56 extending radially outward along the annular wall 511, forming a symmetrical structure of the lower housing 51, ensures that the efficiency of water flowing out of the outlet pipe 56 is the same regardless of whether the drainage impeller 41 rotates forward or backward. This same efficiency refers to the efficiency when the forward and reverse rotation speeds are the same under normal conditions. The aforementioned structural design and combination of the drainage impeller 41 and the outlet pipe 56 ensures that the efficiency of water flowing out of the outlet pipe 56 is the same regardless of whether the rotation is forward or reverse. Therefore, even if a reverse rotation is performed to eliminate an anomaly, the same drainage efficiency as forward rotation can still be achieved after the anomaly is resolved.
[0058] Under normal circumstances, reversing the drain impeller 41 can usually remove most of the dirt attached to it, allowing the dirt to be discharged from the drain chamber 52 with the water. Therefore, by means of the above-described technology, the present invention can achieve the effect of automatically detecting and eliminating abnormal operating conditions.
[0059] like Figure 7 As shown, further, in this first embodiment, the control logic 32 can be further added as needed: during the period when the microcontroller 36 controls the drive motor 21 to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit 34 is still greater than the predetermined threshold, the microcontroller 36 controls the drive motor 21 to stop operating. This part of the control logic 32 is mainly because when reversing cannot eliminate the aforementioned abnormal situation, it means that neither forward nor reverse rotation can eliminate the aforementioned abnormality, therefore the drive motor 21 can be directly controlled to stop operating. This technical content mainly sets that when neither forward nor reverse rotation can eliminate the abnormality, the drive motor 21 will stop operating.
[0060] like Figure 8As shown, furthermore, in this first embodiment, the control logic 32 can also be modified as needed as follows: During the period when the microcontroller 36 controls the drive motor 21 to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit 34 is still greater than the predetermined threshold, the microcontroller 36 will control the drive motor 21 to first rotate forward for a predetermined time or number of cycles, and then reverse for a predetermined time or number of cycles. If the aforementioned current value is still greater than the predetermined threshold, the microcontroller 36 will control the drive motor 21 to stop operating. This technical content mainly sets that if the abnormality cannot be eliminated after changing from forward to reverse rotation, the drive motor 21 will try to rotate forward and reverse again to eliminate the abnormality. Only if the abnormality still cannot be eliminated will the drive motor 21 stop operating.
[0061] like Figure 9 As shown, in this first embodiment, the control logic 32 can also be supplemented as needed by increasing the rotational speed of the drive motor 21 when the microcontroller 36 controls the drive motor 21 to reverse. The increase in rotational speed can be determined according to requirements; for example, the rotational speed of the drive motor 21 can be increased in all reverse actions in the flowchart. If it is not necessary to increase the rotational speed in every reverse action, the rotational speed can be increased only in a certain reverse action. Furthermore, the control logic 32 also includes briefly increasing the rotational speed of the drive motor 21 for a period of time during certain forward rotation actions. This increase in rotational speed can sometimes be quite effective in eliminating abnormal conditions, and therefore can be added to the control logic 32 as needed.
[0062] like Figure 10 As shown, the present invention describes a drainage device 10' for an air conditioning unit that can automatically eliminate abnormal operating conditions through a second preferred embodiment. It is mainly the same as the first embodiment described above, except that:
[0063] The control module 31' is electrically connected to an air conditioning unit 99'. The control logic 32' further includes: after the control module 31' controls the drive motor 21' to stop running, it also sends an alarm signal (not shown in the figure) to the air conditioning unit 99', which allows the air conditioning unit 99' to notify the user of the abnormal operating status.
[0064] In this second embodiment, in addition to the current detection content of the first embodiment, the control logic 32' further includes the following: when it is detected that the driving motor 21' is not rotating, the microcontroller 36' controls the driving motor 21' to reverse, and after reversing for a predetermined time or number of cycles, controls the driving motor 21' to switch to normal operation.
[0065] Based on the above technical content, this second embodiment can determine that the current is too high or the drive motor 21' does not rotate, and then use the microcontroller 36' to control the drive motor 21' to reverse to eliminate the abnormal state.
[0066] Similar to the first embodiment described above, in this second embodiment, the control logic 32' can be further enhanced as needed by adding the following: during the period when the microcontroller 36' controls the drive motor 21' to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit 34' is still greater than the predetermined threshold or the drive motor 21' is detected to be not rotating, the microcontroller 36' controls the drive motor 21' to stop operating. The effect achieved by this technique is generally the same as that described in the first embodiment.
[0067] Furthermore, the control logic 32' can be further modified as needed to include the following: during the period when the microcontroller 36' controls the drive motor 21' to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit 34' is still greater than the predetermined threshold or the drive motor 21' is detected to be not rotating, then the microcontroller 36' controls the drive motor 21' to first rotate clockwise for a predetermined time or number of revolutions, and then reverse for a predetermined time or number of revolutions. If the aforementioned current value is still greater than the predetermined threshold or the drive motor 21' is still not rotating, then the microcontroller 36' controls the drive motor 21' to stop operating. The effect achieved by this technology is generally the same as that described in the first embodiment.
[0068] The remaining structures and effects of this second embodiment are the same as those of the aforementioned first embodiment, and will not be described in detail again.
[0069] It is worth noting that the drainage impeller 41 and the outlet pipe 56 of the present invention may not be designed radially as disclosed in the first embodiment. Instead, the blades may be arc-shaped (not shown in the figure) or the outlet pipe may be arranged tangentially (not shown in the figure). Such arrangements are existing technology and will not be shown in the figures again. However, such a design will result in lower drainage efficiency during reverse rotation compared to forward rotation. Therefore, users can decide on the arrangement method according to their needs.
[0070] The above description is merely illustrative of the present invention through embodiments and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims of the present invention. Any simple variations or equivalent implementations made in accordance with the scope of the claims of the present invention and the contents of the patent specification should be covered by the scope of the claims of the present invention.
[0071] Of course, the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. A drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions, comprising: One main shell; A drive motor is located inside the main housing; A control module is located inside the main housing and is electrically connected to the drive motor. The control module stores control logic and executes the control logic to control the operation of the drive motor. A row of impellers is connected to the drive motor and rotates under its drive; as well as A lower housing covers the lower part of the main housing and forms a sealed drainage chamber between the lower housing and the main housing. The lower housing extends downward to a water inlet and extends laterally outward from one side to a water outlet pipe. Both the water inlet and the water outlet pipe are connected to the drainage chamber. Its features are: The control module has a current detection unit and a microcontroller. The control module uses the current detection unit to detect the electrical energy consumed by the drive motor when it is running, and the control module uses the microcontroller to drive the drive motor to run. The control logic includes the following three points, A, B, and C, which the control module executes: A: During normal operation, the drive motor is controlled to rotate in a first direction, i.e., forward rotation; B: When the current value detected by the current detection unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, the microcontroller controls the drive motor to operate in the opposite direction to the first direction, i.e., reverses, and after a predetermined time or number of reversals, controls the drive motor to return to normal operation. This situation refers to one reversal; and C: The control module calculates the number of times the drive motor is reversed. After accumulating a predetermined number of times, the microcontroller controls the drive motor to stop operating.
2. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower housing has an annular wall surrounding the periphery of the drainage chamber, and the outlet pipe extends radially outward along the annular wall. The lower housing is symmetrical about both sides of the axis of the outlet pipe. The drainage impeller has a spindle and multiple blades. The multiple blades are straight blades extending radially along the spindle, and the multiple blades are symmetrical about both sides of the longitudinal section of the spindle.
3. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module is electrically connected to an air conditioning unit, and the control logic further includes: after the microcontroller controls the drive motor to stop running, it also sends an alarm signal to the air conditioning unit.
4. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control logic further includes the following: during the period when the microcontroller controls the drive motor to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit is still greater than the predetermined threshold, the microcontroller controls the drive motor to stop operating.
5. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control logic further includes the following: during the period when the microcontroller controls the drive motor to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit is still greater than the predetermined threshold, the microcontroller will control the drive motor to rotate forward for a predetermined time or number of cycles, and then reverse for a predetermined time or number of cycles. If the aforementioned current value is still greater than the predetermined threshold, the microcontroller will control the drive motor to stop operating.
6. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microcontroller detects the operating status of the drive motor; the control logic further includes: when the operating status of the drive motor is detected to be not rotating, the microcontroller controls the drive motor to run in the opposite direction to the first direction, that is, reverses, and controls the drive motor to return to normal operation after a predetermined time or number of cycles of reversal.
7. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 7, characterized in that: The control logic further includes the following: during the period when the microcontroller controls the drive motor to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit is still greater than the predetermined threshold or the drive motor is detected to be not rotating, the microcontroller controls the drive motor to stop operating.
8. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 7, characterized in that: The control logic further includes the following: during the period when the microcontroller controls the drive motor to reverse, if the current value detected by the current detection unit is still greater than the predetermined threshold or the drive motor is detected to be not rotating, the microcontroller will control the drive motor to first rotate forward for a predetermined time or number of cycles, and then reverse for a predetermined time or number of cycles. If the aforementioned current value is still greater than the predetermined threshold or the drive motor is not rotating, the microcontroller will control the drive motor to stop operating.
9. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control logic further includes increasing the rotational speed of the drive motor when the microcontroller controls the drive motor to reverse.
10. The drainage device for an air conditioning unit capable of automatically eliminating abnormal operating conditions according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control logic further includes increasing the speed of the drive motor for a period of time when the microcontroller controls the drive motor to rotate forward.