Air Conditioner Indoor Unit Sensor Protection Using Regulating Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
The indoor unit of air conditioners using flammable refrigerants faces the challenge of accidental detachment and potential breakage of the refrigerant gas sensor during maintenance, leading to malfunction.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit incorporates a regulating member, such as communication pipes or an electronic component box, strategically positioned to prevent easy detachment of the refrigerant gas sensor by requiring removal of refrigerant from the circuit and detachment of these pipes, thus ensuring the sensor is not easily removed during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the refrigerant gas sensor is detachably attached to the sensor mounting portion, then the sensor can be removed for replacement or maintenance, but the sensor may be accidentally detached or broken during maintenance operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a regulating member that prevents detachment of the refrigerant gas sensor before accidental detachment can occur. The regulating member is positioned to physically block the sensor from being removed, thereby preempting the harmful action of accidental detachment during maintenance operations while still allowing intentional replacement when needed.
2Reliability
If the regulating member is positioned to prevent sensor detachment, then the sensor is protected from accidental detachment, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the regulating member with existing components within the indoor unit, such as positioning it to utilize the space between the sensor mounting portion and other structural elements like the electronic component box or communication pipes. This integration approach adds the protective function without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the regulating member shares the internal space with existing components.
3Reliability
If the regulating member is placed in the sliding range of the sensor, then detachment is prevented, but the space required in the mounting portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by positioning the regulating member within the existing spatial configuration of the sensor mounting portion. The regulating member is placed in the sliding range of the sensor but utilizes the same internal volume, effectively nesting the protective element within the existing structure rather than adding external bulk to the mounting portion.
Data Source
AI summary
When a service technician or the like performs maintenance of a mechanism in an indoor unit, the service technician may accidentally detach a refrigerant gas sensor and the refrigerant gas sensor may be broken. To prevent this, communication pipes (regulating members) configured to regulate the detachment of a refrigerant gas sensor are provided on the side toward which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached (front side) when a casing provided on the side toward which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached (front side) is open.