Outdoor device for an air conditioner

Solution Overview

Problem

The base of outdoor air conditioner units is prone to drooping or damage due to the weight of components, leading to increased material and weight costs when thickening the base to address this issue.

Innovation Solution

The base design includes a first seat for supporting compressors and a gas-liquid separator, connected to a second seat on an edge portion via a connection portion, which disperses stress and allows for efficient drainage, preventing concentration of load and enhancing rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the base thickness is increased to prevent drooping and damage from component weights, then the base strength and rigidity are improved, but the material cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase strengthVSAvoidbase weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The base is divided into multiple thickness regions: a first thickness in the central region where components are mounted, and a second thickness at the edges. This segmentation allows the base to have sufficient strength at critical locations while reducing material usage and weight in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base employs non-uniform thickness distribution, with increased thickness (first thickness) localized to the central region that requires higher strength to support component weights, while the edge regions have reduced thickness (second thickness). This local quality approach optimizes strength-to-weight ratio by placing material only where structurally necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the base thickness is increased to prevent drooping and damage from component weights, then the base rigidity is improved, but the material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase rigidityVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base is divided into multiple thickness regions: a first thickness in the central region where components are mounted, and a second thickness at the edges. This segmentation allows the base to have sufficient strength at critical locations while reducing material usage and weight in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base employs non-uniform thickness distribution, with increased thickness (first thickness) localized to the central region that requires higher strength to support component weights, while the edge regions have reduced thickness (second thickness). This local quality approach optimizes strength-to-weight ratio by placing material only where structurally necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10443902B2Outdoor device for an air conditioner

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

An outdoor device for an air conditioner is provided. The outdoor device may include a cabinet, and a base provided on or at a lower portion of the cabinet. The base may include a base body, on which at least one first seat that supports a first component may be provided, an edge portion provided along a circumference of the base body and on which at least one second seat that supports a second component may be provided, and at least one connection portion that connects the at least one first seat to the at least one second seat.