Air Conditioner Indoor Unit Filter Cartridge to Reduce Depth Dimension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing indoor air-conditioning units with automatic filter cleaning mechanisms face challenges in maintaining a compact design and avoiding size limitations of the heat exchanger due to the placement of the dust box in front of the heat exchanger, which increases the unit's depth and restricts the heat exchanger's shape.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit incorporates a cartridge system with a filter drive shaft and motor, allowing the dust box to be positioned above the heat exchanger, enabling the filter to be cleaned without increasing the unit's depth and maintaining a compact design, while the dust box is configured to collect dust effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the dust box is arranged in front of the heat exchanger to enable automatic filter cleaning, then the filter cleaning function is achieved, but the indoor unit depth dimension is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The dust box is repositioned from the fore-and-aft direction (in front of heat exchanger) to the vertical dimension (above heat exchanger). This dimensional change allows the filter cleaning function to be maintained while eliminating the increase in indoor unit depth, as the dust box now utilizes vertical space rather than horizontal space.
2Extent of automation
If the dust box is arranged in front of the heat exchanger, then the filter cleaning function is achieved, but the heat exchanger shape and size are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the dust box to the vertical dimension above the heat exchanger, the patent removes the spatial constraint that previously limited heat exchanger design. The heat exchanger can now be configured in various shapes and sizes within the available horizontal space, as the dust box no longer occupies the fore-and-aft space in front of it.
3Length of moving object
If the dust box is repositioned above the heat exchanger to maintain compact design, then the indoor unit depth is reduced, but the filter cleaning function must be reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cleaning mechanism is designed with dynamic components including a movable filter holder that can shift position and a brush assembly that can rotate or swing. This dynamic configuration allows the cleaning mechanism to effectively reach and clean the filter surface despite the changed spatial arrangement, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while adapting to the compact vertical layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a filter holder as an intermediary component between the dust box and the filter. This filter holder facilitates the transfer and positioning of the filter within the compact vertical arrangement, enabling the cleaning mechanism to access the filter surface effectively without requiring excessive horizontal space.
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 allows for efficient automatic filter cleaning without increasing the unit's fore-and-aft dimension or limiting the heat exchanger's size, ensuring effective dust collection and maintaining airflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a brush configured to clean the filter
Implementation Method 2
a fan and a heat exchanger provided inside the casing
Implementation Method 3
a fan and a heat exchanger provided inside the casing
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes a cartridge provided to an air inlet so as to be freely mountable and dismountable. The cartridge accommodates a filter so as to be freely movable in a right-and-left direction and has an opening port formed in one end portion in the right-and-left direction. A dust box is provided on a side of the end portion of the cartridge. The dust box includes a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the filter and a dust collecting portion configured to collect dust.