Air Conditioner Rotatable Inlet Grille for Top-Mounted Filter Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioners with the air inlet and inlet grille only on the top surface, maintaining and replacing the air-purifying filter, located downstream of the pre-filter, is difficult due to its inaccessible location, especially when the unit is mounted high or its height is increased.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner design allows the inlet grille to be rotated upward, bringing the air-purifying filter to the air inlet opening, facilitating maintenance and replacement, while ensuring the filter does not obstruct airflow by positioning it diagonally between the pre-filter and heat exchanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the air inlet and inlet grille are provided only in the top surface of the main unit, then the height of the main unit can be increased or it can be mounted at a high place, but the air-purifying filter disposed in the air passage on the downstream side of the pre-filter becomes difficult to reach for maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet grille is configured to be rotatable about a rear end axis, transforming from a static structure to a dynamic one. When the front end of the inlet grille is rotated upward, the air-purifying filter attached to it moves from an inaccessible position deep in the air passage to an accessible position near the top surface opening, enabling easy maintenance and replacement while maintaining the compact vertical structure
Solution Approach 2:
The air-purifying filter is integrated with the inlet grille structure, combining the airflow intake function and the filter maintenance function into a single movable assembly. This merging allows the filter to be accessed through the same rotational movement that opens the grille, eliminating the need for separate access mechanisms
2Reliability
If the air-purifying filter is disposed in the air passage between the heat exchanger and the pre-filter, then it can effectively purify air, but it obstructs the airflow path and reduces air intake efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air-purifying filter is positioned diagonally across the air passage rather than blocking it linearly. This diagonal arrangement allows air to flow through the passage while still passing through the filter media, maintaining airflow efficiency while achieving effective air purification. The filter is oriented at an angle that permits simultaneous airflow and filtration
Data Source
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AI summary
An air conditioner that allows maintenance and replacement of an air-purifying filter disposed in an air passage to be easily performed at the position of an opening of an air inlet provided in the top surface of a main unit is provided. In an air conditioner (1) in which an air inlet (6) provided with an inlet grille (7) is formed in the top surface of a main unit (2) and in which a pre-filter (9), a heat exchanger (4), and a blowing fan (5) are disposed, in this order, in an air passage (12) extending from the air inlet (6) to an air outlet, the inlet grille (7) is disposed such that a front end thereof can be rotated upward about a rear end thereof, an air-purifying filter (14) is disposed in the air passage (12) between the heat exchanger (4) and the pre-filter (9) disposed on the rear side of the inlet grille (7), and the air-purifying filter (14) is joined to the inlet grille (7) so that it can be brought to the position of the opening of the air inlet (6) in response to the upward rotation of the front end of the inlet grille (7).