Air Conditioner End Cover Airflow Structure Without Scratch-Prone Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner designs face issues with heat exchange efficiency due to wall attachment effects and the structural weakness and short service life of flow guiding members, which are prone to scratching when the air deflector is opened or closed.
Innovation Solution
A housing assembly for air conditioners featuring end covers with extension parts that include spaced grooves on their front surfaces, enhancing structural strength and aesthetics, and a hook and snapping slot mechanism for easy assembly and disassembly, preventing scratching during deflector operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow guiding member is arranged on the end cover to guide air flow, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the structural strength is reduced and service life is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guiding member is merged with the end cover as an integrated structure. The end cover itself is designed with air outlet channels that serve as flow guiding structures, eliminating the need for separate attached flow guiding members. This integration maintains structural strength while achieving effective air flow guidance for heat exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The end cover is segmented into multiple air outlet channels (first air outlet channel, second air outlet channel, third air outlet channel) with different orientations. Each channel is strategically positioned and angled to guide air flow in specific directions, optimizing heat exchange efficiency while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the end cover.
2Reliability
If a flow guiding member is arranged on the end cover to guide air flow, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the aesthetics are affected due to scratching
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the flow guiding function into the end cover itself rather than using separate attached members, the design eliminates the rubbing and scratching problem. The end cover is a single piece that does not require relative movement with air deflectors, preventing surface damage and maintaining aesthetics while still guiding air flow effectively through its designed channel structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of attaching a separate flow guiding member to the end cover, the invention inverts the approach by making the end cover itself the flow guiding structure. The air outlet channels are formed directly in the end cover, reversing the traditional design paradigm and eliminating the interface between separate components that causes scratching.
3Reliability
If multiple air outlet channels are designed with different orientations, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple air outlet channels with different orientations are merged into a single integrated end cover structure. The first, second, and third air outlet channels are all formed within the same end cover component, each with specific angle ranges (30-60 degrees, 60-90 degrees, and 0-30 degrees respectively). This integration achieves complex multi-directional air flow guidance without requiring multiple separate components, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while optimizing heat exchange.
Data Source
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AI summary
A housing assembly (100) for an air conditioner and the air conditioner (1000), where the housing assembly (100) for air conditioner comprises the face frame (1) which is provided with the front air outlet (11); two end covers (2) which are set on the left end and the right end of the face frame (1) respectively, at least one of the end covers (2) is provided with the extension part (21) bending forwards and upwards at its bottom, the extension part (21) is located at the front side of the face frame (1), and defines the auxiliary air outlet channel with the latter, at least one of the end cover (2) is provided with the side air outlet (22) connected to the auxiliary air outlet channel, and there are multiple spaced grooves (211) on the front surface of the extension part (21).