Air Duct Drain Switching Structure for Easier AC Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The direct connection of the drainage pipe to the air duct components in air conditioners complicates the cleaning process, as the drainage pipe needs to be dismounted along with the air duct components, increasing disassembly workload and difficulty.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design featuring a water receiving structure with a housing, a lug, and a switch matching structure that allows the drainage pipe to remain connected while disassembling the air duct components, using a movable lug and elastic member to control the passage between the water catcher and the air duct component's water passage, enabling separate dismounting of the air duct without removing the drainage pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the drainage pipe is directly connected to the air duct components, then the water passage connection is simplified, but the disassembly workload and difficulty increase when cleaning the air duct components
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage pipe is separated from the air duct components into an independent water receiving structure. The water receiving structure includes a housing with a water catcher and drainage pipe, while the air duct components can be disassembled independently. This segmentation allows the air duct components to be removed without disconnecting the drainage pipe, reducing disassembly workload.
Solution Approach 2:
A switch matching structure with a movable lug acts as an intermediary between the water receiving structure and the air duct components. The lug can switch between an open position (allowing water passage connection) and a closed position (blocking the passage). This intermediary mechanism enables the drainage pipe to remain connected while the air duct components are disassembled for cleaning.
2Ease of operation
If the drainage pipe is disconnected during air duct component disassembly, then complete separation is achieved, but the operational workload and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The switch matching structure is pre-configured with the movable lug in the open position during normal operation, maintaining water passage connection. Before disassembly, the lug can be switched to the closed position to prepare the system for separation. This preliminary action ensures that when air duct components need to be cleaned, they can be removed quickly without needing to disconnect the drainage pipe, saving time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lug is made movable to control the passage, then the connecting passage can be switched, but the structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lug is designed as a movable component that can switch between an open position (allowing water passage) and a closed position (blocking the passage). This dynamic element provides adaptability - during normal operation the passage is open for water drainage, and during maintenance the passage can be closed to enable complete separation. The movable lug is guided by guide grooves and ribs to ensure stable movement between positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member (such as a spring) provides self-service by automatically pushing the movable lug to the open position after it has been moved to the closed position for cleaning operations. This eliminates the need for additional actuators or complex control mechanisms to return the lug to its normal position, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining switching capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air conditioner includes a base (200) and a water receiving structure, an air duct component is provided on the base (200); the water receiving structure is provided on the base (200), the air conditioner further includes a housing (10), a lug (20) and a switch matching structure, in which the housing (10) is provided with a water catcher (11) and a drainage pipe (12), and the drainage pipe (12) is in communication with the water catcher (11) and extends out of the housing (10); the lug (20) is fixedly mounted on the housing (10); a switch matching structure is arranged on a base (200), and a lug (20) matching with the switch matching structure to switch a connecting passage between the water catcher (11) and a water passage (300) of a bottom case of the air duct component. When the air duct component needs to be disassembled, the drainage pipe (12) does not need to be disassembled, and the air duct component can be disassembled separately only by closing the connecting passage through the switch matching structure.