Wall-Mounted AC Filter Access Through a Front Insertion Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor air conditioner units require increased time and workload for filter maintenance due to the need to open and close a front surface panel for cleaning and maintenance, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A wall-mounted indoor air conditioner unit with a filter that is detachable via an insertion port on the top side, featuring a handle portion and protrusions for secure attachment and easy removal, allowing for maintenance without opening the housing, thus reducing the time and effort required for filter maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front surface panel is made openable for filter maintenance, then the filter can be accessed for cleaning, but the time and workload for maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is segmented from the housing structure and made detachable as a separate component. The filter can be removed through the insertion port without opening the front surface panel, allowing maintenance without disrupting the overall housing structure. This segmentation enables independent access to the filter while maintaining the integrity of the front panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion port serves as an intermediary access point between the external environment and the filter. Instead of requiring direct access through opening the front panel, the insertion port provides a dedicated channel for filter removal and installation, mediating the maintenance process and reducing the operational steps required.
2Ease of operation
If the filter is made detachable via insertion port, then maintenance workload is reduced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is segmented to include a dedicated insertion port separate from the front surface panel. This segmentation allows the filter to be accessed through a specific opening without requiring the entire front panel to be openable, thus adding minimal structural complexity while achieving easy maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing front access to the filter through an openable panel, the insertion port provides access from the top dimension of the housing. This dimensional change allows the filter to be inserted and removed vertically through the insertion port, avoiding the need for front panel movement and reducing structural complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the handle portion is exposed to outside, then filter attachment and detachment is easier, but the filter structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The handle portion with the protrusion provides a self-service mechanism for filter attachment and detachment. The protrusion automatically engages with the mounting portion during insertion, and the exposed handle allows easy grasping and removal without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms. The structure serves itself by providing built-in handling features.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle portion is extracted as a distinct functional element from the filter main body. By separating the handling function (handle with protrusion) from the filtering function (filter main body), the design simplifies both components. The handle can be easily grasped and manipulated independently, while the filter main body maintains its filtering function without unnecessary complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which is the indoor unit of an air conditioner, and is the indoor unit that is a wall-mounted type which is mounted on a wall that includes: a heat exchange device; a blower; a housing that has an intake port, and that houses the heat exchange device and the blower therein, and a filter that is disposed between the intake port and the heat exchange device, wherein the housing has an insertion port through which the filter is inserted, the insertion port opens to a front, and the filter is attached to the housing so as to be detachable from an outside of the housing via the insertion port.