Air-conditioning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The refrigerant cooling method in air-conditioning apparatuses poses challenges in maintaining thermal connection during control box replacement, leading to potential refrigerant leakage and damage, and creates awkward working conditions due to the obstructive cooler position.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus design with a refrigeration cycle, including a compressor, heat exchangers, and a refrigerant flow control system, where the pipe-side plate is positioned between the control box and the positioning element, allowing for easy access and attachment/removal of the control box even when the cooler is behind it, using a positioning element with a bent portion fixed by a fastening element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cooler is disposed on the front side of the control box, then the control box can be easily accessed, but the cooler becomes an obstacle when removing the control box, creating safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement from placing the cooler on the front side to placing it on the rear side of the control box. This dimensional repositioning allows the control box to be easily removed from the front without encountering the cooler, while the cooler remains in contact with the control box's rear surface for thermal connection.
2Volume of stationary object
If the cooler is disposed on a side surface, top surface, or bottom surface of the housing, then space is utilized, but sufficient work space for attaching or removing the control box cannot be ensured due to the fixing element direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the cooler on the rear side of the control box, which is closer to the rear surface of the housing. This allows the fixing elements to be arranged vertically (in the up-down direction) rather than horizontally, creating sufficient horizontal work space for operators to access and manipulate the control box from the front without unnatural arm extension.
3Ease of operation
If the cooler is positioned behind the control box, then work space is improved, but the control box cannot be easily attached to or removed from the cooler due to visual blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thermal connection interface by providing a dedicated cooler contact surface on the rear side of the control box. This separate contact surface allows the cooler to be positioned behind the control box while maintaining clear thermal coupling, and the segmented structure enables independent positioning of the cooler relative to the control box assembly.
4Volume of stationary object
If refrigerant cooling method is used instead of air cooling, then apparatus size can be reduced and control box arrangement is less limited, but thermal connection must be reestablished during control box replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a cooler and cooler contact surface as a preliminary, integrated component of the control box assembly. The cooler is pre-positioned to contact the rear surface of the control box, so that when the control box is removed and reinstalled, the thermal connection is automatically reestablished without requiring separate manual reconnection steps.
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
Facilitates easy attachment and removal of the control box without obstructive issues, reducing the risk of refrigerant leakage and damage, while maintaining efficient thermal connection.
Implementation Method 1
a pipe-side plate thermally connected to the refrigerant pipe
Implementation Method 2
a control box thermally connected to the pipe-side plate and containing an electric component including a heating element
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant pipe through which refrigerant that flows through the refrigeration cycle passes; a pipe-side plate thermally connected to the refrigerant pipe; a control box thermally connected to the pipe-side plate and containing an electric component including a heating element; a housing of an outdoor unit, the housing containing the pipe-side plate and the control box; a positioning element fixing the pipe-side plate and the control box to each other; and a fastening element fixing the control box and the positioning element to each other. At least one side surface of the housing has a work opening. A front portion of the control box is positioned closer to the work opening in the housing, and a rear portion of the control box is positioned closer to a rear surface of the housing, the rear surface facing the side surface having the work opening.