Air conditioner indoor unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decorative panels in air-conditioning apparatuses made of resin materials face issues with thermal stress and molding variations, leading to backlash and reduced durability due to uneven stress distribution on plate springs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates plate springs with at least two spring support portions on the suction panel, positioned orthogonally to the sliding direction of the engagement member, which disperses the load and corrects shape variations, enhancing durability by providing additional supporting points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plate springs are used to enable the suction panel to open and close automatically, then ease of operation is improved, but durability deteriorates due to stress concentration at single supporting points
Solution Approach 1:
The single supporting point for the plate spring is segmented into multiple supporting points (first supporting point and second supporting point) positioned at different locations on the suction panel. This segmentation distributes the stress load across multiple points, preventing stress concentration and improving durability while maintaining the automatic opening and closing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting points are arranged in different dimensional positions on the suction panel, not just along a single line. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions provides better stress distribution and structural stability for the plate spring mechanism.
2Ease of manufacture
If resin materials are used for molding the decorative panel and engagement members, then ease of manufacture is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to thermal stress and flowability variation during die molding
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces engagement grooves with specific geometric parameters (width, depth, positioning) that compensate for molding variations. The grooves are designed with dimensions that provide tolerance absorption, allowing the engagement member to be properly positioned even when molding precision varies due to thermal stress and flowability changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement groove acts as an intermediary element between the decorative panel and engagement member. It provides a controlled interface that accommodates dimensional variations from molding processes, ensuring reliable engagement while maintaining the benefits of resin material molding.
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 effectively disperses the load applied to the plate springs, enhancing their durability and absorbing rattling, while maintaining operational efficiency and safety by securing the suction panel's operation.
Implementation Method 1
plate springs...configured to, when the engagement member slides in a retreating direction of the engagement member by the protruding piece, urge the engagement member toward the protruding piece
Data Source
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AI summary
An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a protruding piece protruding horizontally from a decorative panel toward an opening of an indoor-unit main body; an engagement member, which is provided on a back surface of a suction panel at a position of being opposed to the protruding piece to be slidable with respect to the protruding piece in a front-and-back direction of the indoor unit, and is configured to be guided by the protruding piece of the decorative panel to be locked to the protruding piece; plate springs, which are provided at both ends of the engagement member which are orthogonal to a sliding direction of the engagement member, and extend in directions opposite to each other to be orthogonal to the sliding direction; and at least two spring support portions, which are formed on the suction panel, and are configured to sandwich both end surfaces of each of the plate springs at different positions, in which, when the engagement member slides in a retreating direction of the engagement member by the protruding piece, the each of the plate springs urges the engagement member toward the protruding piece with the at least two spring support portions as supporting points.