Indoor unit of air conditioner and blade unit applied to same

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Solution Overview

Problem

The indoor unit of ceiling-type air conditioners experiences vibrations and noise due to the rotation of the blade, which is exacerbated by misalignment of the connection axis when installed non-horizontally, leading to increased friction and vibration sounds.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a blade unit with a buffer member and a rotation transfer member that absorbs and redistributes the rotational force, allowing the blade to rotate smoothly even when the motor and blade are not aligned on a straight line, and includes a guide hole to maintain the rotation transfer member's position and reduce load when the unit is installed non-horizontally.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the blade is directly connected to the motor, then the structure is simple, but vibrations and noise are generated when the motor transfers rotatory force to the blade

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidvibrations and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A connection member is introduced as an intermediary component between the motor and the blade. This connection member includes a connection groove that receives the rotation shaft of the motor, and the blade is coupled to this connection member rather than directly to the motor shaft, thereby mediating the force transmission and reducing vibrations and noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection member is designed with a connection groove that allows for positional adjustment and alignment compensation. By changing the geometric parameters of the connection interface, the system can accommodate misalignment while maintaining smooth force transmission, thus reducing vibrations and noise during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the indoor unit is installed non-horizontally to the ceiling, then installation flexibility is improved, but the connection axis becomes misaligned causing vibration sound of the motor and friction sound of the blade to be loudly generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidvibration sound and friction sound
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection member is designed with a connection groove that provides dynamic alignment capability. When the unit is installed at non-horizontal angles, the connection groove allows the rotation shaft and blade connection to self-align, maintaining proper alignment during operation despite the tilted installation position, thus preventing misalignment-induced vibrations and friction sounds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection member acts as a mediator that compensates for installation angle variations. By introducing this intermediate component with a specially designed connection groove, the system can accommodate various installation orientations while maintaining proper alignment between the motor shaft and blade, thereby eliminating the harmful sounds associated with misalignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the blade rotates in both directions to adjust air discharge direction, then functional versatility is improved, but vibrations and noise are generated during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair discharge direction adjustmentVSAvoidvibrations and noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection member serves as an intermediary that smooths the transmission of rotatory force during bidirectional blade rotation. By introducing this intermediate component with its connection groove design, the system reduces the direct coupling between motor vibrations and blade rotation, thereby minimizing vibrations and noise while maintaining full bidirectional rotation capability for air discharge direction control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 vibrations and noise generated by the blade's rotation, ensuring smooth operation and reduced noise levels even when the installation is not horizontal, thereby enhancing the reliability and performance of the air conditioner.

Implementation Method 1

a blade unit with a buffer member and a rotation transfer member that absorbs and redistributes the rotational force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

a blade unit with a buffer member and a rotation transfer member that absorbs and redistributes the rotational force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce transmission: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

includes a guide hole to maintain the rotation transfer member's position and reduce load when the unit is installed non-horizontally

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPositional constraint: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3783273B1Indoor unit of air conditioner and blade unit applied to same
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3783273B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3783273B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3783273B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Disclosed are provided indoor unit of an air conditioner. A present invention is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner having an improved structure for preventing vibrations and noise of a blade due to vibrations of a motor when the blade rotates, and a blade unit applied to the indoor unit. The indoor unit of the air conditioner includes a main body including an outlet, and a blade unit configured to adjust a direction in which air discharged from the outlet is discharged, wherein the blade unit comprises, a blade coupled with the main body to be rotatable in the outlet, a motor including a rotation transfer member, and configured to generate a rotatory force that is transferred to the blade; and a buffer member made of a material having a restoring force, coupled with the blade at one end, and surrounding a part of the rotation transfer member.