Outer surface panel, indoor unit of air conditioner, method of knocking out, and method of installing indoor unit of air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air conditioner indoor units face challenges in adjusting the opening diameter of the knockout portion to match the varying dimensions of piping, leading to exposure of the inner casing and degradation of the aesthetic appearance.
Innovation Solution
The outer surface panel features a recessed outer peripheral groove and an inner groove that enclose the knockout portion, allowing for adjustable removal based on piping diameter, with the inner groove optionally arranged in a lattice shape and having a smaller width to facilitate precise partitioning and easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the knockout portion is made large to accommodate various piping diameters, then the adaptability is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates because the inner casing is exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The knockout portion is divided into multiple regions by grooves (first groove, second groove, third groove) that extend from the front surface toward the rear surface. This segmentation allows selective removal of specific regions to match different piping diameters while preserving other regions that cover the inner casing, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the knockout portion have different removal characteristics. The grooves create zones with varying thicknesses and removal ease, allowing localized adaptation to piping diameters while maintaining coverage in other areas. This local differentiation enables both adaptability and aesthetic preservation.
2Shape
If the knockout portion is made small to maintain aesthetic appearance, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates because it cannot accommodate various piping diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The knockout portion is divided into multiple regions by grooves that create distinct zones. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different piping diameters by removing only the necessary regions while keeping other regions intact, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance even when accommodating various pipe sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The knockout portion transitions from a static, fixed-size opening to a dynamic, adjustable opening. By providing multiple grooves at different positions and orientations, the system can be configured to remove different regions based on the specific piping diameter required, making the opening size and shape adaptable while preserving aesthetic appearance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the groove width is reduced to facilitate easy removal, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single wide groove that would be easy to remove but weak structurally, the design uses multiple narrower grooves (first, second, and third grooves) positioned strategically. This segmentation provides sufficient structural strength while the grooves still facilitate removal by creating natural separation zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves are pre-formed during manufacturing to create predetermined removal paths. These grooves serve as preliminary preparation that guides the removal process, making it easier to remove specific regions without requiring excessive force or complex tools, while the grooves themselves maintain structural integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An outer surface panel includes a panel main body 10 that is provided on a surface of a casing of an indoor unit of an air conditioner accommodating a blower fan and a heat exchanger therein. The panel main body 10 is provided with an outer peripheral groove 15 that is recessed from an inside of the panel main body 10 and extends so as to enclose a knockout portion A1 that is one region on the panel main body 10, and an inner groove 20 that is recessed from the inside of the panel main body 10, is connected to the outer peripheral groove 15, and extends so as to partition the knockout portion A1.