Automotive A/C Drain Cover Layout for Condensate Leak Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automobile air conditioning systems face issues with condensed water leakage and dispersion, leading to an unpleasant environment inside the vehicle and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for additional sealing members like rubber.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system design that connects drain parts on the air conditioning case and protective cover via a drain hose, with a condensed water discharge pipe on the protective cover to prevent leakage and dispersion, allowing for efficient drainage without the use of additional sealing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drain parts on air conditioning case and protective cover are connected via drain hose, then condensed water leakage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain structure is segmented into multiple drain parts: a first drain part on the air conditioning case and a second drain part on the protective cover. This segmentation allows condensed water to be drained through multiple pathways, preventing leakage while distributing the drainage function across separate components connected by a drain hose.
Solution Approach 2:
A drain hose acts as an intermediary component connecting the first drain part on the air conditioning case to the second drain part on the protective cover. This intermediary element enables fluid communication between the two drain parts, allowing condensed water to flow from the case through the hose to the cover's drainage system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If condensed water discharge pipe is formed on protective cover, then condensed water dispersion is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The condensed water discharge function is extracted from the air conditioning case and implemented separately through the protective cover's discharge pipe. This extraction allows condensed water to be discharged directly from the cover at a predetermined position, preventing dispersion into the passenger compartment while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system utilizes the vertical dimension by forming the discharge pipe on the protective cover, which is positioned below the air conditioning case. This dimensional arrangement allows condensed water to drain downward through the cover's discharge pipe, effectively preventing dispersion while using gravity-assisted flow.
3Reliability
If additional sealing members like rubber are used, then condensed water leakage is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged into the protective cover itself through its engagement structure with the air conditioning case. The cover's design incorporates sealing capabilities directly into its body, eliminating the need for separate rubber sealing members while maintaining effective prevention of condensed water leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover provides its own sealing function through its structural design and engagement mechanism with the air conditioning case. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional sealing components, as the cover's own structure creates the necessary seal to prevent condensed water leakage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents condensed water leakage and dispersion, reducing manufacturing costs and ensuring a comfortable air conditioning environment by effectively discharging condensed water outside the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
drain parts respectively formed on an air conditioning case and on a protective cover having a drain structure formed beneath the air conditioning case are connected and so connected as to communicate with each other via a drain hose
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system for an automobile prevents leakage of condensed water by locating two drain parts respectively on an air conditioning case and a protective cover having a drain structure beneath the air conditioning case. A drain hose, connected to and communicating with the drain parts, discharges the condensed water to the outside of the automobile without dispersion of the condensed water by forming a condensed water discharge pipe positioned on the protective cover. The protective cover, mounted on the bottom surface of the air conditioning case, surrounds the inflow and outflow pipes and has an auxiliary drain part formed at a side thereof. The drain hose connects the drain part of the air conditioning case with the auxiliary drain part of the protective cover.