Indoor unit for air conditioners, and air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for temporarily hanging decorative panels on air-conditioning indoor units above ceilings often result in unintentional slippage of hanging levers from hooks during fine adjustments, compromising safety and stability, especially when dismounting or repositioning the panels.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves mounting temporary hanging levers on opposed sides of the air inlet edges of the decorative panel, which are inserted through holes and oriented perpendicular to the panel, allowing them to fall and hook onto hooks on the casing, maintaining a stable positional relationship even during adjustments and dismounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the decorative panel is temporarily hung using conventional temporary hanging levers, then the panel can be easily installed and removed, but the levers unintentionally slip out of the hanging hooks during fine adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed to rotate about a pivot point, transitioning from a horizontal state (engaged with hook) to a vertical state (disengaged). This dynamic rotation allows the lever to maintain engagement during normal use while enabling easy disengagement when needed, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The lever's geometry and pivot point are configured so that the lever naturally resists slipping out of the hook during fine adjustments. The preliminary design prevents the harmful slippage before it can occur, maintaining reliable temporary hanging while allowing easy installation and removal
2Manufacturing precision
If the decorative panel is moved for fine adjustment, then the position can be optimized, but the temporary hanging state is cancelled due to lever slippage
Solution Approach 1:
The lever's rotational mechanism allows it to remain engaged with the hook while accommodating small movements of the decorative panel during fine adjustment. The dynamic design maintains the temporary hanging state throughout the adjustment process, enabling positioning accuracy without losing hanging reliability
3Ease of repair
If the decorative panel is dismounted by unfastening fixing screws, then the panel can be removed, but the panel is not safely supported during dismounting
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is pre-configured in a horizontal engaged state that provides safety support before dismounting begins. This preliminary safe state ensures the panel is securely supported when fixing screws are unfastened, eliminating the safety risk while maintaining ease of dismounting
Solution Approach 2:
The lever's rotational mechanism allows it to transition from a safe engaged state during dismounting to a disengaged state after removal. This dynamic behavior provides safety support when needed (during screw unfastening) while allowing easy removal when the lever is rotated to the vertical position
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 ensures the decorative panel remains securely hung, preventing accidental disengagement of levers from hooks, enhancing safety and ease of fine adjustments without compromising the temporary hanging state.
Implementation Method 1
each lever is moved by the gravity to fall in the insertion hole portion of the decorative panel
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, and an air-conditioning apparatus. Levers of a decorative panel are operated through insertion hole portions, and then move vertically in the insertion hole portions by the gravity, to thereby be temporarily hung on the hooks. The levers are kept holed on hooks. The indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes a casing, a decorative panel mounted on a lower surface side of the casing and having an air inlet formed therein, the levers mounted so as to be opposed to each other on opposed two sides among four sides forming edges of the air inlet of the decorative panel, and the hooks mounted at an opening portion of the casing, to allow the levers to be hooked thereon, respectively. The decorative panel includes the insertion hole portions each formed in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the decorative panel at a position at which each of the levers is to be mounted, and bearing groove portions formed in a lower surface portion of the decorative panel so as to extend in parallel with the plane of the decorative panel and extend in directions away from each other with respect to each of the insertion hole portions. The levers are movable in the insertion hole portions, and each include a hook portion to be hooked on each of the hooks, and shaft portions formed at both ends of each of the levers, respectively. The hook portion protrudes upward from each insertion hole portion of the decorative panel. The shaft portions are received in the bearing groove portions of the decorative panel, respectively.