Air Outlet Flap Linkage for High-Flow Air Direction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner designs face challenges in optimizing flap positions for upward and downward air direction adjustments, leading to reduced airflow levels and increased complexity due to the need for gear trains and multiple parts, which complicates assembly and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design where the flap's widthwise front edge is pivotably supported via spindles connected to a motor-driven rotation shaft, and the rear edge is slidably supported along a guiding pathway, allowing the flap to be adjusted to optimal positions without requiring gear trains, thus enhancing air-direction controllability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rotation shaft of the flap is fixed at one point in the air duct at the blow-out opening, then the blow-out opening can be closed when the air conditioner is stopped, but it is difficult to set the flap positions at optimum positions when blowing downward or upward, causing the air duct to narrow and reducing airflow level
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the rotation shaft movable along the air duct instead of fixed at one point. The rotation shaft can be positioned at different locations depending on whether the air conditioner is blowing upward or downward, allowing optimal flap positions for each mode while maintaining the ability to close the blow-out opening when stopped.
2Ease of operation
If the rotation shaft of the flap is made movable via a multi-joint linkage mechanism or cam gears, then the flap can be positioned outside the air duct for optimal upward and downward blowing, but the number of parts increases and the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complexity from the linkage mechanism by making the rotation shaft itself movable along the air duct. Instead of using complex multi-joint linkages or cam gears to achieve movement, the rotation shaft is directly made movable, significantly reducing the number of parts and simplifying the overall configuration.
3Ease of operation
If gear trains are employed to drive the flap, then the flap can be positioned optimally, but it is necessary to install gear trains at both ends of the flap and synchronize their timing, increasing the production process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the gear trains entirely from the system. Instead of using gear trains at both ends of the flap that require synchronization, the movable rotation shaft approach eliminates these complex transmission mechanisms, greatly simplifying the assembly process and reducing production complexity.
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
This design allows for precise adjustment of air direction without decreasing airflow levels, simplifies the configuration, reduces production complexity, and prevents air duct narrowing, thereby improving air-direction controllability and reducing assembly costs.
Implementation Method 1
a widthwise front edge of the flap is pivotably supported at both ends in a length direction thereof via first spindles and by second ends of linkages whose first ends are connected to a rotation shaft driven by a motor
Implementation Method 2
a widthwise rear edge of the flap is slidably supported via a second spindle and by a guiding pathway which is provided to extend in a top-to-bottom direction of the blow-out opening
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
In this air conditioner, a flap (17) that adjusts an air direction is provided at a blow-out opening (8) for temperature conditioned air, a widthwise front edge of the flap (17) is supported at both ends in a length direction thereof in a freely pivotable manner via first spindles (22) at second ends of linkages (21) whose first ends are coupled with rotation shafts (20) that are driven by a motor, and a widthwise rear edge of the flap (17) is supported in a freely slidable manner by a guiding pathway (24), which is provided so as to extend in a top-to-bottom direction of the blow-out opening (8), via a second spindle (23).