Air Conditioner Wire Fastening Tool for Multi-Thickness Wire Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wire fastening structures for air-conditioning apparatuses are inefficient in consistently securing wires of different thicknesses, relying heavily on the skill of the worker and risking either wire dislodgment or breakage due to inconsistent fastening force.

Innovation Solution

The indoor unit incorporates a wire fastening tool with a wire attachment part, a wire retainer, and boss parts of varying heights, allowing for the secure fastening of wires of different thicknesses by adjusting the position of the wire retainer and screwing mechanism to apply a moderate retaining force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the fastening force is increased to secure wires of different thicknesses, then the wire may be broken, but if the fastening force is decreased, the wire may fall off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire fastening reliabilityVSAvoidwire integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The wire retainer features multiple retaining ribs with different heights (first retaining ribs and second retaining ribs) that create localized contact points adapted to different wire thicknesses. This local differentiation allows the same fastening structure to accommodate varying wire diameters while maintaining appropriate contact pressure for each wire type, preventing both wire breakage and wire dislodgment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If a single fastening method is used for all wire types, then the structure is simple, but it cannot consistently fasten wires of different thicknesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening structure simplicityVSAvoidfastening consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wire retainer is designed as a universal component that can fasten multiple types of wires with different thicknesses using a single structure. The multi-height retaining ribs provide multiple contact configurations, enabling the same retainer to accommodate various wire diameters (e.g., 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm) without requiring different fastening devices, thus achieving both simplicity and consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the fastening force is adjusted for each wire type, then different wire thicknesses can be fastened, but the worker's skill level becomes critical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire type adaptabilityVSAvoidoperation skill dependency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wire fastening structure is designed to automatically adapt to different wire thicknesses without requiring worker skill for adjustment. The multiple retaining ribs with different heights self-adjust to provide appropriate contact pressure based on the wire diameter inserted, eliminating the need for workers to manually adjust fastening force according to wire type, thus reducing skill dependency while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3401616B1Indoor unit for air conditioning device
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3401616B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3401616B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3401616B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes a wire attachment part on which a wire is placed, a wire retainer configured to retain the wire placed on the wire attachment part, a wall part provided on one lateral side of the wire attachment part, and having a plurality of opening ports each configured to receive a protrusion part formed at one end of the wire retainer, a plurality of boss parts provided on the other lateral side of the wire attachment part, and having heights different from each other, the wire retainer having the other end to be fastened to any one of the plurality of boss parts, and a fastener configured to fasten the wire retainer to the one of the plurality of boss parts.