Air Conditioner Outdoor Unit Baffle Box for Fire Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing outdoor units of air conditioners are prone to burning due to the proximity of the electrical box components to the fan motor, which can cause the fan motor to catch fire and subsequently lead to the entire unit burning.

Innovation Solution

A baffle box is strategically placed between the electrical box and the fan motor to isolate the electrical box from the fan motor, preventing fires from spreading and protecting the outdoor unit from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the electrical box is placed next to the fan motor to save space and simplify structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because the fan motor can burn when electrical components catch fire

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidfire safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the housing into two separate compartments: an electrical box for housing electrical components and a fan motor compartment for housing the fan motor. This segmentation physically isolates the fan motor from electrical components, preventing fire spread while maintaining a compact overall structure. The housing includes an electrical box cover that closes the electrical box and a fan motor cover that closes the fan motor compartment, creating distinct fire zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a fireproof wall as an intermediary barrier between the electrical box and the fan motor compartment. This fireproof wall acts as a mediator that blocks fire and heat transmission from the electrical components to the fan motor, thereby protecting the fan motor from burning even when electrical components catch fire.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the electrical box is isolated from the fan motor using a fireproof wall, then the reliability improves by preventing fire spread, but the device complexity increases due to additional structural components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire safetyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fireproof wall function with the housing structure itself. The fireproof wall is integrated as an internal partition of the housing rather than being a separate附加 component. The electrical box cover and fan motor cover are designed to work together with the fireproof wall to create a complete fire isolation system, combining multiple functions into a unified structural design that minimizes additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2339254B1Outdoor unit of air conditioner
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INC OF ZHUHAI
  • EP2339254B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2339254B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2339254B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention provides an outdoor unit of air conditioner comprising a main body and an electrical component box, a fan motor, a compressor and a condenser which are all installed in the main body. The electrical component box comprises an electrical box cover, an electrical box, and a circuit board on which electrical components and a radiator are installed. The circuit board is disposed in the electrical box, the electrical box cover is installed on top of the electrical box, and a baffle box is disposed between the electrical box and the fan motor. In the outdoor unit of air conditioner of the present invention, the baffle box is disposed between the electrical box and the fan motor, and encloses the electrical box from the fan motor, which keeps the electrical box and the fan motor apart, prevents the fan motor from burning resulting from the fire source in the electrical box and further protects the outdoor unit of air conditioner from burning.