Indoor Heat Exchanger Air Shield Mounting to Prevent Fin Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional method of installing air shield members in air conditioners, where claws are fixedly attached to heat transfer tubes, often results in incomplete installation due to positional deviations, leading to deformation of plate fins and reduced heat exchanging performance.
Innovation Solution
The air shield members are detachably installed using pairs of claws arranged at positions deviating from each other by a multiple or single pitch between plate fins, with thinner front ends to absorb positional deviations, ensuring correct insertion and preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If claws are arranged at the same position to be inserted into the same pitch between plate fins, then the air shield member can be fixedly installed to the indoor heat exchanger, but positional deviation during insertion causes incorrect insertion into wrong pitch, leading to incomplete installation and deformation of plate fins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging the two claws of each pair at different positions along the longitudinal direction of the air shield member, specifically at positions deviating by a multiple of the pitch between adjacent plate fins. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that even if positional deviation occurs during insertion, the claws will not both incorrectly insert into the same wrong pitch, thereby preventing incomplete installation and plate fin deformation while maintaining reliable fixation.
2Ease of manufacture
If claws are made with thin aluminum plate structure to match plate fins, then the air shield member can be detachably installed, but the thin plate fins are easily deformed or bitten by the claws during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the claws asymmetrically at different longitudinal locations, the patent reduces the probability that both claws will simultaneously exert force on the same plate fin during insertion. This asymmetric distribution of insertion points minimizes localized stress concentration on the thin aluminum plate fins, preventing deformation and biting while maintaining the detachable installation capability.
3Reliability
If multiple pairs of claws are disposed at plural positions on the air shield member, then the air shield member can be securely fixed, but the complexity of precise positioning increases, making installation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric arrangement of claws at positions deviating by a multiple of the pitch simplifies the positioning requirement. Instead of requiring all claws to align with the same pitch (which would demand high precision), the asymmetric design allows each claw to target different pitches, reducing the overall positioning complexity while maintaining secure fixation through multiple attachment points.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an indoor unit (1) of an air conditioner capable of facilitating installation of air shield members (14,15) at folded or divided portions of an indoor heat exchanger, and capable of enhancing workability in this installation as well as preventing deterioration of performance of the indoor heat exchanger due to deformation or the like of plate fins. The indoor unit of an air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger (4) folded or divided into plural heat exchangers; and air shield members (14,15) disposed at folded or divided portions of the indoor heat exchanger, wherein each air shield member is detachably installed to the indoor heat exchanger through pairs of claws for holding heat transfer tubes of the indoor heat exchanger, and the claws of each pair are arranged at positions deviating from each other by a multiple of a pitch (P) between two adjacent plate fins.