Air Conditioner Indoor Unit Filter Cartridge to Reduce Depth Increase
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing indoor units for air-conditioning apparatus with automatic filter cleaning functions 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 dust box that can be mounted above the heat exchanger, featuring a filter drive shaft and brush drive shaft to move the filter laterally for cleaning, allowing the dust box to be positioned above the heat exchanger, thus maintaining a compact design and preventing size limitations.
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 depth dimension of the indoor unit is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The dust box is repositioned from the front (depth direction) to the upper side (vertical direction) of the heat exchanger. This dimensional change allows the filter cleaning function to be maintained while avoiding increase in the depth dimension of the indoor unit, as the dust box now utilizes the vertical space above the heat exchanger instead of occupying front space.
2Extent of automation
If the dust box is arranged in front of the heat exchanger, then automatic filter cleaning is enabled, but the shape and size of the heat exchanger are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the dust box to the upper side of the heat exchanger in the vertical direction, the patent eliminates spatial constraints that would otherwise limit heat exchanger design. The heat exchanger can now be configured with optimal shapes and sizes without needing to accommodate a front-mounted dust box, thereby improving adaptability and versatility in heat exchanger design.
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 enables automatic filter cleaning without increasing the unit's depth or restricting the heat exchanger's size, ensuring efficient airflow and effective dust collection while maintaining a compact and efficient design.
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
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An indoor unit (200) for an air-conditioning apparatus includes a cartridge (50) provided to an air inlet (2) so as to be freely mountable and dismountable. The cartridge (50) accommodates a filter (40) so as to be freely movable in a right-and-left direction and has an opening port (60) formed in one end portion in the right-and-left direction. A dust box (90) is provided on a side of the end portion of the cartridge (50). The dust box (90) includes a cleaning mechanism (110) configured to clean the filter (40) and a dust collecting portion (91) configured to collect dust.