Annular Air Outlet Water Pan for 360° Indoor Air Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional indoor air conditioner units with four-direction ventilation suffer from blind regions in air supply due to discontinuous air outlets, leading to poor comfort and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A water pan with an annular side wall and mounting groove body, featuring a water tray and annular air outlet that surrounds the tray, creating a continuous air outlet for enhanced air distribution, integrated into the indoor unit to achieve 360° air supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If four elongated air outlets are used in conventional indoor units, then the air outlet structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but blind regions are formed in air supply directions of four corners, leading to poor air distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is divided into multiple segments including a first air outlet segment, second air outlet segment, third air outlet segment, and fourth air outlet segment. These segments are arranged at different positions and orientations to collectively cover all four corners of the indoor unit, eliminating blind regions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
The air outlet segments are arranged in three-dimensional space rather than being confined to a single plane. The segments extend in different directions and at different angles, creating a spatial distribution pattern that ensures comprehensive air coverage throughout the room, including previously unreachable corner areas
2Device complexity
If four elongated air outlets are used in conventional indoor units, then the device structure is simple, but the air supply range is limited due to blind regions
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is segmented into multiple independent air outlet segments positioned at different locations. Each segment contributes to covering a specific directional zone, and together they expand the overall air supply range to reach all four corners of the indoor unit without significantly increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple air outlet segments are merged into a unified air outlet system that functions as a single integrated structure. The segments work together synergistically to provide comprehensive air distribution coverage, effectively expanding the air supply range while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a water pan and an indoor unit. The water pan includes: a frame including an annular side wall and a mounting groove body; and a water tray arranged in the mounting groove body. An annular air outlet surrounding the water tray is formed between the annular side wall and the water tray. The annular air outlet is continuously arranged, which reduces a blind region of an air supply at a partition of an air outlet, expands an air supply range, and enables the indoor unit using the water pan to realize a 360° air supply.