A split air conditioner indoor hanging machine convenient to disassemble and wash and a water pan cleaning method

Abstract

The application relates to a split air conditioner indoor hanging machine convenient to disassemble and clean and a water pan cleaning method. A support sliding groove with two ends or a single end opening is arranged, so that the water pan body can be directly pulled out from the left side or the right side of the air conditioner hanging machine body like a drawer. The pull-out type structure breaks the limitation that the traditional air conditioner water pan is deeply hidden in the machine body and is difficult to reach. When cleaning, a user or a maintenance personnel does not need to complexly disassemble the air conditioner as a whole, but only needs to pull out the water pan to completely clean, so that the cleaning difficulty and the after-sales maintenance cost are greatly reduced. In addition, the left and right side walls of the water pan body are each provided with a water outlet, and the unused water outlet can be sealed by a sealing piece. The design makes the water pan assembly have the flexibility of bidirectional drainage, can perfectly adapt to the installation requirements of different users, improves the universality and installation convenience of the product, and has the beneficial effect of flexible adaptation to various installation environments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning design technology, and more specifically, to a method for cleaning the indoor unit and drip tray of a split air conditioner that is easy to disassemble and clean. Background Technology

[0002] Water leakage from the indoor unit of a split-type air conditioner is a very common air conditioner malfunction. This is usually not a major problem with the machine itself, but rather caused by improper installation, maintenance, or use. When the air conditioner is cooling, a large amount of water droplets condense on the surface of the evaporator (the heat exchanger in the indoor unit). These droplets are called condensate. Under normal circumstances, the condensate will collect in the drip tray under the evaporator and drain outdoors through the drain pipe. During this process, due to long-term use, dust, mold, and algae will accumulate inside the drip tray and drain pipe, causing blockages.

[0003] The drain outlet of the existing indoor wall-mounted air conditioner's drip tray is usually located on the back of the unit against the wall, and the drain pipe is bundled together with copper pipes, power cords, etc. To clean and unclog the drain pipe separately, the indoor unit needs to be removed to access the drip tray drain outlet on the back of the unit. However, during cleaning, opening the indoor unit's control panel and removing the filter reveals part of the evaporator and the front of the drip tray below, severely limiting visibility and operating space, allowing only a very small portion to be cleaned. For a thorough cleaning of the drip tray and drain outlet, the entire casing of the indoor unit, the air guide plate, the stepper motor, and the evaporator must be completely removed before the drip tray can be fully extracted.

[0004] It is evident that the existing air conditioner indoor unit drainage system is difficult to disassemble during cleaning due to the complex structure of the indoor unit, which involves a large number of clips, screws, and circuit connections (such as display screen wires, sensor wires, stepper motor wires, etc.). Furthermore, if the disassembly and assembly sequence is incorrect, the unit is very likely to be damaged. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is how to overcome the technical defects of existing air conditioner indoor unit drainage systems that are difficult to clean. In order to overcome the above technical defects, the present invention provides a method for cleaning split air conditioner indoor units and water trays that are easy to disassemble and clean.

[0006] This invention provides a split-type air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean, comprising: A water receiving tray assembly includes a water receiving tray body, a drainage connector, a sealing member, and a support groove. The water receiving tray body has drainage outlets on both its left and right side walls. One drainage outlet of the water receiving tray body is connected to one end of the drainage connector, and the other end of the drainage connector is used to connect to a drainage pipe. The sealing member is detachably sealed at the drainage outlet of the water receiving tray body that is not connected to the drainage connector. The water receiving tray body is slidably installed in the support groove. The support groove is a groove with an opening at least at one end along its length. The opening is located on the left or right side of the water receiving tray body, and the opening is sufficient for the water receiving tray body to enter and exit through it. The air conditioner wall unit body is provided with a mounting position for installing the support slide groove so that the water receiving tray body is located below the evaporator.

[0007] The split-type air conditioner indoor unit disclosed in this invention features a support groove with openings at both ends or one end, allowing the drain pan to slide out directly from the left or right side of the air conditioner unit like a drawer. This pull-out structure overcomes the limitations of traditional air conditioner drain pans being deeply hidden inside the unit and difficult to access. Users or maintenance personnel can clean the unit without complex disassembly; simply pulling out the drain pan allows for thorough cleaning. This eliminates the need to remove the indoor unit's air guide plate, the entire outer casing, or the evaporator. The drain pan can be completely removed for cleaning and unclogging the drain pipes, and the entire indoor unit can be removed, significantly reducing cleaning difficulty and after-sales maintenance costs. Furthermore, drain outlets are located on both the left and right side walls of the drain pan, and unused outlets can be sealed with plugs. This design provides the drain pan assembly with bidirectional drainage flexibility, perfectly adapting to different user installation needs (e.g., freely choosing left or right drainage based on the location of pre-drilled holes in the wall), improving product versatility and installation convenience, and offering the beneficial effect of flexible adaptation to various installation environments. Furthermore, the drip tray is slidably installed in a support groove, which provides a smooth guide for its removal and retraction, ensuring smooth operation during repeated assembly and disassembly. Simultaneously, the fit between the drain connector and the drain outlet, along with the detachable design of the sealing component, ensures the tightness of condensate drainage during air conditioner operation, preventing leaks, and also provides a structural basis for quick assembly and disassembly of the drip tray. Finally, because the drip tray can be easily removed, users or after-sales personnel can perform regular deep cleaning, effectively preventing the accumulation of dust, bacteria, odors, and even the formation of toxic and harmful substances due to the drip tray being in a damp environment for extended periods. This ensures the cleanliness of the air blown out by the air conditioner, improves user health, and enhances both indoor air quality and user experience efficiency.

[0008] In one possible implementation, all drain ports of the water tray body are connected to female threaded interfaces, and one end of the drain connector is provided with a male threaded connector. The female threaded interface of one drain port of the water tray body is threadedly connected to the male threaded connector of the drain connector. The threaded connection structure has self-locking and guiding characteristics. Before removing the water tray, the user only needs to perform a simple twisting action to quickly separate the drain connector from the water tray body. Compared with traditional snap-fit ​​or adhesive connections, threaded connections are not only more intuitive and labor-saving to operate, but also effectively avoid the problem of component damage caused by violent disassembly, making the cleaning and reinstallation process smoother and more efficient.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the inner bottom surface of the drip tray body is provided with a guiding slope, which slopes downwards from the middle of the drip tray body towards the left and right drain outlets. Traditional flat-bottomed or single-sidedly inclined drip trays tend to form low-lying areas inside, causing condensate to not drain properly. The above solution adopts a symmetrical guiding slope design with a high center and low sides, utilizing gravity to allow the condensate dripping from the evaporator to quickly and smoothly flow to the drain outlets on the left and right sides. This bidirectional guiding mechanism significantly improves drainage efficiency and effectively avoids water accumulation or stagnant areas inside the drip tray.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the drainage connector is a tapered T-shaped joint to facilitate the connection between the drain pipe and the drip tray body, thus preventing leakage.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the end of the drain connector away from the female threaded interface is a tapered T-shaped head, so that the drain hose can be fitted onto the tapered T-shaped head, thereby improving water delivery efficiency.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the outer side of the sealing element is covered with a decorative panel, which covers the side wall surface of the water receiving tray body for both decorative and protective purposes.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the support groove is an inverted trapezoidal structure. The inverted trapezoidal structure of the groove supporting the water receiving tray prevents the tray from rotating after it is installed in place.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the bottom of the water receiving tray body is provided with a flange that mates with the support groove, and the flange is slidably embedded in the support groove.

[0015] Another technical solution of the present invention is to provide a method for cleaning the water tray of a split air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean, comprising the following steps: S1: Pull the water receiving tray body out of the support groove and remove the sealing piece on the water receiving tray body; S2: Clean the removed drip tray body with cleaning solution, dry it, and then reinstall the drip tray body.

[0016] This invention provides a method for cleaning the drain pan of a split-type air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean. The drain pan can be completely removed without removing the air guide plate and the entire outer casing of the indoor unit, or even without removing the evaporator. This allows for cleaning and unblocking of the drain pipe without disassembling the entire indoor unit, thus achieving a highly efficient cleaning effect.

[0017] In one possible implementation, in step S1, after the water receiving tray body is pulled out from the opening along the length extension direction of the support groove, it is also necessary to unscrew the water outlet on the water receiving tray body from the drain connector and remove the cover of the decorative panel in order to clean it thoroughly. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a split-type air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean, as disclosed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the water receiving tray assembly structure disclosed in Embodiment 2 or 3 of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Drain tray assembly; 11. Drain tray body; 12. Drain connector; 13. Sealing component; 14. Support groove; 15. Female threaded connector; 16. Male threaded connector; 2. Drain pipe; 3. Air conditioner unit body; 4. Decorative panel. Detailed Implementation

[0020] First, those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely used to explain the technical principles of the embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific application scenarios.

[0021] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "connection relationship," and "establishing a connection relationship" should be interpreted broadly, that is, they should be understood as two or more having a direct or indirect connection relationship, which can be an electrical connection, a mechanical connection, or a combination of both; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0022] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0023] The present application will be further described in detail below using four embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0024] Example 1: Structure of a split-type air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean.

[0025] See Figures 1-2 This embodiment provides a split-type air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean. Its core improvement lies in the detachable and sliding structure of the drip tray assembly, which solves the problem of difficult cleaning of the drip tray of traditional air conditioner indoor units. The split-type air conditioner indoor unit mainly includes a drip tray assembly 1 and an air conditioner body 3.

[0026] See Figure 1 The air conditioner unit 3 has a pre-installed mounting position for installing the support slide 14. When the support slide 14 is installed in place, the water tray body 11 can be located directly below the evaporator, thus effectively collecting the condensate generated on the surface of the evaporator.

[0027] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The drip tray assembly 1 is the core component of this invention, mainly comprising a drip tray body 11, a drain connector 12, a sealing member 13, and a support groove 14. Drainage outlets are provided on both the left and right side walls of the drip tray body 11 to facilitate the drainage of condensate. In actual installation, one drain outlet of the drip tray body 11 is connected to one end of the drain connector 12, and the other end of the drain connector 12 is used to connect to the drain pipe 2, thereby leading the condensate outdoors. For the other drain outlet on the drip tray body 11 that is not connected to the drain connector 12, a removable sealing member 13 is used to prevent leakage.

[0028] To facilitate easy disassembly and cleaning of the drip tray, the drip tray body 11 is slidably mounted in the support groove 14. At least one end of the support groove 14 extending along its length has an opening, located on the left or right side of the drip tray body 11. The opening is large enough to allow the drip tray body 11 to slide out and be inserted into it. During cleaning, the user or maintenance personnel can simply slide the drip tray body 11 along the length of the support groove 14 to thoroughly clean the drip tray without disassembling other complex components of the air conditioner unit 3.

[0029] Example 2: Drainage connection and sealing structure.

[0030] See Figure 2 Based on Embodiment 1, this embodiment further defines a preferred structure for the drainage connection. All drainage outlets of the water receiving tray body 11 are connected to (or integrally formed with) female threaded connectors 15, while one end of the drainage connector 12 is provided with a male threaded connector 16. During installation, the male threaded connector 16 of the drainage connector 12 is screwed into the corresponding female threaded connector 15 on the water receiving tray body 11 to achieve a threaded sealing connection. This threaded connection method not only provides good sealing performance, but also allows for quick disconnection by simply rotating in the opposite direction when the water receiving tray body 11 needs to be removed.

[0031] In addition, to optimize drainage efficiency, the bottom surface of the water tray body 11 is provided with a guide slope. This guide slope slopes downward from the middle of the water tray body 11 toward the drain outlets on the left and right sides, ensuring that condensate can flow smoothly to the drain outlets on both sides and avoid water accumulation.

[0032] In this embodiment, the drainage connector 12 is preferably a gradient T-shaped connector, such as... Figure 2 As shown. The end furthest from the female threaded interface is a tapered T-shaped head. This tapered structure facilitates the installation of the drain hose 2 and provides better clamping force to prevent the hose from falling off.

[0033] Example 3: Appearance and groove fit structure.

[0034] See Figure 2 Based on Embodiment 1 or 2, in order to improve the aesthetics of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the outer side of the sealing component 13 is covered with a decorative panel 4. The decorative panel 4 not only covers the sealing component 13 and the unused drain outlet, but also covers the side wall surface of the drip tray body 11, making the appearance of the indoor unit of the air conditioner smoother and more beautiful.

[0035] Regarding the sliding fit structure, the support groove 14 in this embodiment is preferably an inverted trapezoidal structure. Correspondingly, the bottom of the water receiving tray body 11 is provided with a flange that mates with the support groove 14. During installation, the flange slides into the inverted trapezoidal support groove 14. The inverted trapezoidal structure has a self-locking and guiding function, which not only ensures smooth sliding of the water receiving tray body 11, but also prevents the water receiving tray from falling downwards under the action of gravity, thereby improving the stability of the structure.

[0036] Example 4: Water tray cleaning method.

[0037] This embodiment provides a method for cleaning the drip tray of a split-type air conditioner indoor unit based on any of the above embodiments, specifically including the following steps: S1: Remove the water tray.

[0038] First, remove the cover of the decorative panel 4 (if a decorative panel 4 is provided); then, along the length of the support groove 14, slide the water tray body 11 out from the opening; next, unscrew the water outlet (female threaded connector 15) on the water tray body 11 from the drain connector 12 (male threaded connector 16); finally, remove the sealing piece 13 on the water tray body 11.

[0039] S2: Cleaning and reassembly.

[0040] Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the extracted drip tray body 11 with cleaning solution and water to remove dirt and mold. After cleaning, let it air dry or wipe it dry. Then, in the reverse order of disassembly, reinstall the drip tray body 11 into the support slide 14, tighten the drain connector 12, install the sealing piece 13, and cover it with the decorative panel 4 to complete the cleaning and maintenance.

[0041] Through the above structure and method, the present invention enables tool-free or simple tool-free quick disassembly of the water tray, which greatly reduces the difficulty and cost of air conditioner cleaning and maintenance, and improves the user experience.

[0042] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the terms "inner" and "outer" and other terms indicating direction or positional relationship are based on the direction or positional relationship shown in the drawings. This is only for the convenience of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or component must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0043] In the description of this application, the references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "in this embodiment," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0044] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A split-type air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean, characterized in that, include: A water receiving tray assembly (1) includes a water receiving tray body (11), a drainage connector (12), a sealing member (13), and a support groove (14). The water receiving tray body (11) has drainage ports on both its left and right side walls. One drainage port of the water receiving tray body (11) is connected to one end of the drainage connector (12). The other end of the drainage connector (12) is used to connect to a drainage pipe (2). The sealing member (13) is detachably sealed at the drainage port on the water receiving tray body (11) that is not connected to the drainage connector (12). The water receiving tray body (11) is slidably installed in the support groove (14). The support groove (14) is a groove with an opening at least at one end along its length extension direction. The opening is located on the left or right side of the water receiving tray body (11), and the opening is sufficient for the water receiving tray body (11) to enter and exit through it. The air conditioner wall unit body (3) is provided with a mounting position for installing the support slide (14) so ​​that the water receiving tray body (11) is located below the evaporator.

2. The easily disassembled and cleanable split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, All drain ports of the water receiving tray body (11) are connected to female threaded connectors (15), and one end of the drain connector (12) is provided with a male threaded connector (16). The female threaded connector (15) connected to one drain port of the water receiving tray body (11) is threadedly connected to the male threaded connector (16) of the drain connector (12).

3. The easily removable and washable split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bottom surface of the water receiving tray body (11) is provided with a flow guiding slope, which slopes downward from the middle of the water receiving tray body (11) toward the outlets on the left and right sides.

4. The easily disassembled and cleaned split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drainage connector (12) is a gradually tapered T-shaped joint.

5. The easily removable and washable split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The end of the drain connector (12) away from the female threaded interface is a tapered T-shaped head, so that the drain hose (2) can be fitted onto the tapered T-shaped head.

6. The easily disassembled and cleaned split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer side of the sealing element (13) is covered with a decorative panel (4), which covers the side wall surface of the water receiving tray body (11).

7. The easily removable and washable split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, 4, or 6, characterized in that, The support groove (14) has an inverted trapezoidal structure.

8. The easily disassembled and cleanable split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 7, characterized in that, The bottom of the water receiving tray body (11) is provided with a flange that cooperates with the support groove (14), and the flange is slidably embedded in the support groove.

9. A method for cleaning the water tray of a split-type air conditioner indoor unit that is easy to disassemble and clean, characterized in that, The method applicable to the easily removable and washable split-type air conditioner indoor unit according to any one of claims 1-8 includes the following steps: S1: Pull out the water receiving tray body (11) from the support slide (14) and remove the sealing piece (13) on the water receiving tray body (11). S2: Clean the extracted water tray body (11) with cleaning solution, dry it, and then reinstall the water tray body (11).

10. The method for cleaning the water tray of the indoor unit of a split air conditioner, which is easy to disassemble and clean, according to claim 9, is characterized in that... In step S1, after the water receiving tray body (11) is pulled out from the opening along the length extension direction of the support groove (14), it is also necessary to unscrew the water outlet on the water receiving tray body (11) and the drain connector (12), and remove the cover of the decorative panel (4).

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