Indoor Air Outlet Vanes That Prevent Front Panel Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning apparatus indoor units face issues with condensation on the front panel due to cooled air, which degrades the design quality and restricts flexibility in appearance design, as traditional solutions either interfere with the up-down air-directing plate or require increased storage space or height.
Innovation Solution
An indoor unit with a rotatably supported up-down air-directing plate and an auxiliary air-directing plate that is retracted inside the casing in the off state, protruding only in the on state to direct cooled air away from the front panel, preventing direct and indirect cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a stationary protrusion is disposed on the upper wall of the air outlet to prevent cooled air exposure, then condensation on the front panel is prevented, but the protrusion interferes with the up-down air-directing plate operation and degrades design quality by being exposed in the off state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the protrusion movable rather than stationary. The protrusion is configured to move between a first position (protruding from the air outlet) and a second position (retracted inside the air outlet). This dynamic configuration allows the protrusion to prevent condensation when needed while being hidden during the off state, eliminating the interference and design quality issues associated with stationary protrusions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the air outlet structure by separating the protrusion from the main air outlet body. The protrusion is implemented as a distinct, movable component that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the protrusion to perform its condensation-prevention function without permanently affecting the overall design or interfering with other components like the up-down air-directing plate.
2Shape
If the air outlet is disposed to open to the bottom surface of the casing for improved appearance, then design quality is improved, but the front panel is exposed to cooled air causing condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the movable protrusion as an intermediary element between the air outlet and the front panel. This protrusion acts as a barrier that can be deployed to block cooled air from reaching the front panel, while allowing the air outlet to maintain its aesthetically pleasing bottom-surface opening configuration. The intermediary protrusion resolves the conflict between design quality and condensation prevention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the auxiliary air-directing plate is positioned to protrude in the on state to direct air away from the front panel, then condensation is prevented, but the storage space inside the air outlet is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary air-directing plate is designed as a movable component that transitions between a protruding position (when the air conditioner is on) and a retracted position (when off). This dynamic design allows the plate to prevent condensation during operation while minimizing its impact on storage space when not in use. The plate rotates about an axis, enabling it to occupy minimal space in the retracted position while effectively directing air flow when protruding.
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 configuration effectively prevents condensation on the front panel by blocking cooled air flow and maintaining design quality by ensuring the air outlet is not visible in the off state, while allowing for flexible design options.
Implementation Method 1
the front panel disposed next to the upper wall, cooled directly by the cooled air, of the air outlet is cooled by heat conduction
Implementation Method 2
part of cooled air blown from a fan flows along an upper wall of the air outlet
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that eliminates a possibility of condensation on a front panel without deteriorating a quality of design. The indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a casing having a rear surface to be mounted to an indoor wall, an air inlet provided in the casing, an air outlet that opens to a bottom surface of the casing, a heat exchanger and an air-sending device each arranged in an air passage extending from the air inlet to the air outlet, and an up-down air-directing plate disposed and rotatably supported in the air outlet. The up-down air-directing plate covers the air outlet in an off state. In an on state, the up-down air-directing plate is rotated and adjusted in angle to adjust a direction of air blown from the air outlet in an up-down direction. The indoor unit further includes an auxiliary air-directing plate disposed along a longitudinal direction of the air outlet and a rotating shaft about which the auxiliary air-directing plate rotates in a front-rear direction of the casing. The rotating shaft is disposed inside the air outlet and on a side of a front surface of the casing. In the off state, the auxiliary air-directing plate is positioned above the up-down air-directing plate inside the air outlet such that a free end of the auxiliary air-directing plate opposite from one end of the auxiliary air-directing plate fixed to the rotating shaft is positioned closer to the rear surface than is the rotating shaft. In the on state, the auxiliary air-directing plate is rotated in a direction from the rear surface to the front surface of the casing, and the free end is protruded from the air outlet to an outside of the casing.