Air conditioner indoor unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioner indoor units have low general assembly efficiency and inconvenient disassembly, making cleaning and overhaul difficult, with the air duct and water duct structures being hard to clean due to their fixed positions.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner indoor unit is designed with a modular structure comprising a base module, a heat exchange module, and an air and water duct module, where the heat exchanger and connection pipeline are on the same side, and the air and water duct module can be detached without removing the fan motor, allowing for easier assembly, disassembly, cleaning, and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the air conditioner indoor unit uses a conventional fixed structure with numerous parts assembled in order, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the general assembly efficiency is low and the assembly line occupies large space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeneral assembly efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of parts and assembly steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The indoor unit is divided into three independent modules: base module, heat exchange module, and air and water duct module. Each module can be assembled separately and then quickly combined, transforming a complex sequential assembly process into a simpler modular assembly process that improves productivity while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the air duct and water duct are fixed to the base part, then the structural stability is ensured, but the cleaning and maintenance become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning convenienceVSAvoidfixed structure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The air and water duct module is separated from the base module as an independent detachable unit. This allows the duct module to be easily removed for cleaning and maintenance while the base module remains stable and fixed during operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of cleaning and structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between modules uses a dynamic design that allows the air and water duct module to be easily detached and reattached. This dynamic connection mechanism enables quick removal for cleaning while maintaining stable fixed connection during normal operation, balancing cleaning convenience with structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of repair

If the fan motor is fixedly connected to the base part with the air duct, then the mechanical strength is sufficient, but the disassembly requires removing the fan motor which increases maintenance complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance simplicityVSAvoiddisassembly steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air and water duct module is designed as a separate detachable unit from the base module containing the fan motor. This segmentation allows the duct module to be removed and maintained independently without requiring disassembly of the fan motor or electrical components, simplifying maintenance while preserving mechanical strength through proper connection design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of repair

If the electrical box is fixedly mounted at the right side of the evaporator, then the electrical stability is maintained, but the overhaul requires disassembling air guide plate, panel and panel body in reverse order

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical component overhaul easeVSAvoidoverhaul time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical box is integrated into the base module as a separate detachable unit. This allows electrical components to be overhauled by simply removing the base module without needing to disassemble the air guide plate, panel, and panel body in reverse order, significantly reducing overhaul time while maintaining electrical stability through proper mounting design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3575696B1Air conditioner indoor unit
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INC OF ZHUHAI
  • EP3575696B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3575696B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3575696B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An air conditioner indoor unit is provided. The air conditioner indoor unit includes: a base module (i100), having a base part (i101) which is arranged with a fan motor (i141); a heat exchange module (i200) having a heat exchanger (i220) and a connection pipeline for connecting the heat exchanger (i220) to an air conditioner outdoor unit; the heat exchanger (i220) and the connection pipeline are arranged in such a way that in a mounted state, the heat exchanger (i220) and the connection pipeline are entirely located at a front side of the base module (i100); an air and water duct module (i300) having an air duct assembly (i320); the air duct assembly (i320) is suitable to be entirely disassembled from the base part (i101) without disassembling the fan motor (i141) in the base part (i101). During mounting, pre-assembly is first performed and then general assembly is performed; in such manner, the time needed to assemble the whole unit may be reduced, and assembly efficiency may be improved; in addition, it is possible not only to clean the air duct assembly (i320), but also to separate the air duct assembly (i320) from the fan motor (i141) when the air duct assembly (i320) is disassembled from the base module (i100), thereby preventing the fan motor (i141) from being damaged by wetting.