Indoor unit of air conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioner indoor units require users to remove large components for cleaning, which is difficult and poses a risk of refrigerant leakage, and does not allow for easy access to the blower fan for cleaning without exposing the user to rotating parts and potential dew formation.

Innovation Solution

The indoor unit design includes a display panel that can be hinged and positioned to expose the lower cabinet portion for cleaning, with a cover that can be removed to stop the blower fan and allow access through a bottom outlet, featuring a hanger system for secure placement and a control vane to prevent dew formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the front panel, heat exchanger, and orifice are removed to clean the blower fan, then the blower fan becomes accessible for cleaning, but the cleaning process becomes difficult and complex, and there is a risk of refrigerant leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of blower fan for cleaningVSAvoidNumber of components to remove
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cabinet is divided into multiple removable covers (front cover, side covers, rear cover) that can be selectively removed. The blower fan is accessed by removing only the necessary covers rather than the entire front panel and heat exchanger assembly, simplifying the cleaning process while maintaining system integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blower fan is extracted from the cabinet structure by providing dedicated access paths through removable covers. This allows the blower fan to be accessed and cleaned independently without removing the heat exchanger or orifice, reducing the number of components that need to be handled

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the blower fan is exposed for cleaning, then the fan becomes accessible, but the user may be injured by the rotating blower fan

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibility of blower fanVSAvoidRisk of injury from rotating fan
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is programmed to automatically stop the blower fan before the cover is fully removed or during the cleaning process. This preliminary action of stopping the fan eliminates the rotating blade hazard while maintaining accessibility for cleaning operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors the state of the cover (attached or removed) and provides feedback control to the blower fan operation. When the cover is removed, the system detects this state and automatically stops the fan to prevent injury, while allowing the fan to operate normally when the cover is attached

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the display panel is fixed in one position, then the structure is simple, but the display panel cannot be positioned differently for cleaning access and operation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePositioning flexibility of display panelVSAvoidHanger and connecting link mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic one that can change positions. The hanger and connecting link mechanism allows the display panel to move between a first position (for normal operation) and a second position (for cleaning access), providing adaptability while maintaining structural integrity through controlled movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4394264A1Indoor unit of air conditioner
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4394264A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4394264A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4394264A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes: a cabinet provided with an inlet through which outside air is introduced and an outlet through which air is discharged; a heat exchanger disposed in the cabinet; a blower fan disposed in the cabinet; a display panel detachably attached to the cabinet; and a connecting link hingedly connected to each of the display panel and the cabinet, wherein the display panel comprises a hanger configured to be hung on a hanger support portion of the cabinet.