Air Conditioner Cover Hook Mounting With Water-Jet Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing covers for air conditioning devices in control cabinets are complex to assemble and disassemble, require significant space, and do not provide adequate sealing against moisture and water jets, especially when exposed to environmental conditions like dust and rain.

Innovation Solution

A cover design with a holder attached directly to the cladding element, featuring hook receptacles with transverse profile sections and angled ends for easy assembly, and a U-shaped support with legs that provide stable fastening and sealing, using a sealing element that compresses upon hook engagement to ensure a tight seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If mounting screws and nuts are used to attach the cover housing to the cladding element, then the cover can be securely fastened, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes complex and requires multiple persons

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening securityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is segmented into separate components: the holder with hook elements attached to the cladding element, and the cover housing with corresponding hook receptacles. This segmentation allows the cover to be simply hung onto the holder by gravity, eliminating the complex multi-person assembly process while maintaining secure fastening through the hook-hook receptacle engagement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of actively fastening the cover to the cladding element using screws that must be threaded and locked, the solution inverts the approach by having the cover passively hang onto the holder through gravity. The holder protrudes from the cladding element and the cover simply engages with it, reversing the active-fastening concept into a passive-engagement system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If guides are used to attach the cover housing to the cladding element, then the cover can be securely mounted, but significant space above the guides is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidspace requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is designed with a U-shaped support structure that extends vertically along the cladding element, distributing the mounting function across multiple vertical positions rather than requiring a single large horizontal space. The hook elements are distributed along the vertical dimension, allowing the cover to be securely mounted while minimizing the space above the mounting point

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the cover housing is directly attached to the cladding element, then assembly is simplified, but adequate sealing against moisture and water jets cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidmoisture and water jet exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the cover housing and the cladding element. This sealing element is compressed when the cover housing is hung onto the holder, creating an effective seal that protects against moisture and water jets while maintaining the simple assembly process. The sealing element mediates between the simple mechanical attachment and the requirement for environmental protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution simplifies assembly and disassembly, reduces space requirements, and provides effective sealing against splashing water and strong water jets, ensuring the air conditioning device is securely protected from environmental contaminants.

Implementation Method 1

a sealing element (39) which is compressed when the cover housing (12) is hung with the hook receptacles (33a, 34a) on the hook elements (21a, 21b, 22a)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

The heat generated by the electronic components can no longer be adequately dissipated by convection alone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2559328B1Cover for an air conditioning device
Publication Date: 2013.12.25 RITTALWERK RUDOLF LOH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2559328B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2559328B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2559328B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cover for at least one air-conditioning device which is arranged on a cladding element, in particular of a switchgear cabinet. The cover has a cover housing with a front wall and side parts which are connected to said front wall. The side parts keep the front wall at a distance from the cladding element. At least one holder for the cover housing is fitted to the cladding element. According to the invention, the holder has vertical hook elements into which the cover housing can be suspended by hook receptacles in the direction of gravity.