Air-conditioning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning apparatuses require operators to return indoors to stop the indoor unit using a remote control during outdoor unit maintenance, which is time-consuming and impractical, especially when accessing the indoor unit is impossible.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with an outdoor unit that includes a maintenance manipulation unit with a stop switch and a return-to-operation switch, allowing the outdoor unit to control the indoor unit's operation, enabling remote deactivation and reactivation without indoor remote control intervention, and disabling remote control manipulation during maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conventional air-conditioning apparatus uses a remote control to stop the indoor unit during outdoor unit maintenance, then the operation can be stopped, but it requires the operator to return indoors which is time-consuming and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stop switch as an intermediary device installed on the outdoor unit, which serves as a mediator to stop the indoor unit without requiring the operator to return indoors. This intermediary device bridges the gap between the outdoor unit location and the indoor unit control function, eliminating the need to use the remote control from indoors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the air-conditioning apparatus allows remote control manipulation during maintenance, then user control is maintained, but unsafe operation may occur and reset operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by automatically disabling the remote control function before maintenance operations begin. The control unit detects when the stop switch is activated and preemptively prevents remote control manipulation, thereby eliminating the risk of unsafe operations and the need for subsequent reset operations.
3Device complexity
If the outdoor unit cannot control the indoor unit directly, then the control system remains simple, but maintenance efficiency is reduced due to required indoor access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control functions by placing a dedicated stop switch on the outdoor unit that directly communicates with the control unit to stop the indoor unit. This segmentation allows the outdoor unit to independently control the indoor unit without requiring complex bidirectional communication systems, maintaining relative simplicity while improving maintenance efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
There is provided an air-conditioning apparatus which can stop operation of an indoor unit through an outdoor unit while conducting maintenance of the outdoor unit and can resume the operation. The air-conditioning apparatus includes: an outdoor unit 1; and an indoor unit 11 that is connected to the outdoor unit 1 via a refrigerant pipe and performs air-conditioning of an indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit 1 based on manipulation of a remote control 16, wherein the outdoor unit 1 includes: a stop switch 4a and a return-to-operation switch 4b; and a microcomputer 3 that, when the stop switch 4a is turned on while the indoor space is being air-conditioned, stops operation of the indoor and outdoor units 11, 1 to stop performing air-conditioning of the indoor space, and that, when the return-to-operation switch 4b is turned on while the air-conditioning of the indoor space is inactivated by turning on the stop switch 4a, resumes the operation of the indoor unit 11 to perform air-conditioning of the indoor space in combination with the outdoor unit 1.