Air conditioner indoor unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning indoor units experience significant changes in product contour when transitioning between operational and non-operational states, leading to mounting restrictions and aesthetic issues, particularly when installed close to ceilings.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a front panel system with a first panel positioned lower than a second panel, allowing the first panel to shift forward and upward to open blow-in and blow-out ports while maintaining an integrated appearance, with the second panel being hidden by the first panel in a front view, and utilizing a simplified mechanism that does not require shifting two panels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front panel shifts to open the blow-in port, then the air conditioning unit can operate, but the product contour changes significantly in a front view
Solution Approach 1:
The front panel is divided into two separate panels: a first panel and a second panel. The first panel is responsible for opening the blow-in port, while the second panel remains stationary to maintain the product contour. This segmentation allows the opening function to be achieved without changing the overall shape of the air conditioning unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening function is extracted from the entire front panel and assigned specifically to the first panel. The second panel is retained as a fixed decorative element that preserves the product's external appearance. This extraction allows the functional requirement to be met while maintaining aesthetic consistency.
2Productivity
If the first panel shifts forward to open the blow-in port, then air flow is enabled, but the mounting restriction increases due to size change
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the front panel into movable and stationary parts, the invention enables air flow functionality while keeping the overall unit dimensions consistent. This allows the air conditioner to be mounted in various positions including locations close to ceilings, as the product contour does not change during operation.
3Device complexity
If a single panel shifts to open both blow-in and blow-out ports, then the mechanism is simplified, but the panel design becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The front panel is segmented into two independent panels with distinct functions. The first panel handles blow-in port opening while the second panel remains fixed. This segmentation simplifies the mechanism by eliminating the need for complex multi-panel coordination, as each panel has a dedicated, simple function.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
It is an object of the invention to provide an air conditioning indoor unit having suppressed change in size in a front view between before and after panel motion as well as having simplified and excellent appearance. An air conditioning indoor unit (1) includes a first panel (111) positioned in a lower side and configured to shift to open a front end of a front blow-in port (4B). The first panel (111) and the second panel (112) are positioned inside a product contour in a front view, or are exposed slightly even when being exposed from the product contour. This configuration has less mounting restriction and achieves excellent appearance.