Air Vent Hose Double-Wall Structure for Stable Indoor AC Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air-conditioning apparatuses, the air vent hose is prone to deformation when bent around irregularly arranged branch pipes, leading to uncontrollable movement of its distal end, which obstructs the flow of the heat medium and requires additional space for fixing, increasing the number of components.
Innovation Solution
The air vent hose is designed with a double-pipe structure, where the inner pipe is fixed to the air vent valve, and the outer pipe is flexible, allowing it to maintain a necessary cross-section for air and water flow without additional components or complex structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hose is made flexible to circumvent irregularly arranged branch pipes, then the hose can be installed in limited space, but the distal end moves uncontrollably and the hose may be blocked up
Solution Approach 1:
The hose is divided into multiple segments (first hose, second hose, third hose) connected in series. Each segment can bend and move independently, allowing the distal end to adapt to irregular branch pipe arrangements while maintaining overall position stability through the segmented structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose segments are arranged in a nested configuration where each segment can be positioned within or alongside the others. This nesting allows the hose to compactly accommodate irregular branch pipe layouts while the segmented design prevents uncontrolled movement of the distal end.
2Reliability
If a fixing member is added to prevent distal end movement, then the hose position is stabilized, but the number of components and required space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented hose structure serves its own positioning function without requiring external fixing members. The segments naturally stabilize each other through their interconnected design, allowing the hose to maintain position while navigating irregular branch pipe arrangements, thus eliminating the need for additional components.
3Volume of moving object
If the hose is bent around branch pipes, then installation in limited space is achieved, but the cross section is deformed and air escape is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the hose into multiple rigid segments connected by joints allows each segment to maintain its predetermined cross-sectional shape while the joints provide flexibility for installation. This segmentation enables the hose to bend around branch pipes without deforming the critical cross-section that ensures proper air escape.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose segments are designed with specific geometric parameters (cross-sectional dimensions, wall thickness) that are optimized to maintain structural integrity during bending. By carefully controlling these parameters, the hose can be installed in limited space while preserving the necessary cross-sectional shape for air escape function.
Data Source
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AI summary
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat-medium heat exchanger, an air vent valve, a drain pan, and a hose. The heat-medium heat exchanger is provided in a housing to cause heat exchange to be performed between a heat medium and indoor air. The air vent valve allows air to escape from a heat medium passage that allows the heat medium to flow in the heat-medium heat exchanger. The drain pan is provided below the heat-medium heat exchanger to receive condensation water generated at a surface of the heat-medium heat exchanger. The hose has flexibility, and is attached to the air vent valve, and provided to let out the air along with the heat medium from the heat medium passage to the inner space in the drain pan. The hose has a double-wall structure and an upper end portion of the hose is fixed to the air vent valve.