Air conditioner and blower device
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioners with multi-blade fans, vibrations between the fan case and housing often lead to noise due to resonance, and conventional thickening or reinforcement of metallic components has not effectively addressed this issue.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner design incorporates a coupling member with a bar-like section that integrates the fan motor and fan case, using rubber vibration insulators and a specific configuration to absorb and cancel out vibrations, enhancing the rigidity of the fan case and preventing resonance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the metallic plate constituting the fan case and the housing is increased or the fan case is reinforced, then the rigidity and strength of the fan case and housing are improved, but the weight and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fan case is constructed using a composite structure combining a resin material main body with metal reinforcement ribs embedded within. This composite approach provides the necessary rigidity and strength to prevent resonance and vibration while maintaining lightweight characteristics, as the metal ribs are strategically positioned only where structural support is needed rather than uniformly thickening the entire fan case
Solution Approach 2:
Metal ribs are locally embedded within the resin fan case at specific positions where reinforcement is required to prevent resonance. This localized reinforcement approach strengthens critical areas without increasing the overall weight of the fan case, allowing the majority of the fan case to remain made of lightweight resin material
2Strength
If the thickness of the metallic plate constituting the fan case and the housing is increased or the fan case is reinforced, then the rigidity and strength of the fan case and housing are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fan case employs a composite structure where metal ribs are embedded within a resin material during the molding process. This integration of materials simplifies manufacturing compared to traditional methods that would require separate assembly steps for reinforcement, as the composite structure can be formed in a single molding operation reducing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The metal ribs and resin fan case are merged into a single integrated component through the embedding process. This combination eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps for reinforcement elements, reducing manufacturing complexity while achieving the required structural rigidity
3Strength
If conventional reinforcement methods are used to prevent vibration, then the structural strength is improved, but the resonance noise is not effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of metal ribs embedded in resin material provides both the structural strength needed to prevent excessive vibration and the damping characteristics necessary to reduce resonance noise. The combination of materials with different damping properties effectively suppresses resonance while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The fan case design changes the structural parameters by embedding metal ribs at specific positions and orientations within the resin material. This alters the vibrational characteristics and natural frequencies of the fan case, moving them away from resonant conditions that would amplify noise, while still providing sufficient structural strength
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
This configuration effectively reduces noise by minimizing vibrations between the fan motor and fan case, even at resonant frequencies, while also reducing the number of components and weight, leading to a quieter operation and cost savings.
Implementation Method 1
a first vibration insulator made of rubber or the like is disposed between the fan motor and the fan case
Implementation Method 2
a multi-blade fan configured to blow air in the heat exchanging chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a blower device (31) for supplying air to a heat exchanger (22). The blower device (31) includes a fan motor (32), a fan (40), a fan case (41) and a coupling member (80). The fan motor (32) includes a first end section (37a) and a second end section (37b) separate from each other in an axial direction of a rotating shaft (36). The fan (40) is coaxially fixed to the rotating shaft (36) rotates following the rotating shaft (36). The fan case (41) accommodating the fan (40) and for guiding air discharged from the fan (40) toward the heat exchanger (22). The coupling member (80) includes a pair of arm sections (81a, 81b) respectively coupled to the first end section (37a) and the second end section (37b) of the fan motor (32), and a bar-like section (82) extending in the axial direction of the rotating shaft (36) across the arm sections (81a, 81b) and coupled to the fan case (41). The fan motor (32) and the fan case (41) are integrally coupled to each other through the coupling member (80).