Annular Airflow Distribution Assembly for Uniform Air Conditioner Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air-conditioners supply air with low flow rate and non-uniform distribution, leading to uncomfortable indoor air circulation and limited user comfort due to direct blowing of heat-exchanged air, which lacks uniformity and mildness.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioner air supply apparatus with an airflow distribution assembly featuring annular guiding bodies and a bent airflow distribution assembly that mixes heat-exchanged and non-heat-exchanged air to enhance air intake volume and uniformity, using multiple annular air guiding bodies to form a through-duct and heat-exchanged air ducts for improved air distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If heat-exchanged air is directly blown out from the air outlet, then the air supply structure is simple, but the air flow rate is low and indoor air circulation is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair supply structureVSAvoidair flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the air supply system into multiple independent air guiding bodies (first, second, third annular air guiding bodies) with separate air inlets and air outlets. Each air guiding body can independently guide air flow, enabling parallel air supply paths that increase overall air flow rate while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested structure where multiple annular air guiding bodies are arranged concentrically with through-ducts running through their centers. The first, second, and third air guiding bodies are nested from inner to outer layers, with each containing a through-duct that serves as a shared air passage, achieving compact space utilization and simplified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If all supplied air is heat-exchanged air, then the air supply process is simple, but the supplied air is not mild enough and users feel uncomfortable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair supply processVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges heat-exchanged air and non-heat-exchanged air through the mixed air outlet. The first air guiding body receives both heat-exchanged air from the heat exchanger and non-heat-exchanged air from the air inlet, mixing them before discharge to create milder air that improves user comfort while maintaining a simple air supply process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different air sources to different air guiding bodies based on local requirements. The first air guiding body handles mixed air (heat-exchanged + non-heat-exchanged) for comfort, while the second and third air guiding bodies handle pure heat-exchanged air for cooling efficiency, optimizing both comfort and performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the fan supplies air from bottom to top, then the air supply direction is fixed and simple, but the heat-exchanged air is not uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair supply direction controlVSAvoidair distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from simple vertical air supply to three-dimensional air distribution by arranging multiple annular air guiding bodies in concentric layers with through-ducts running vertically through their centers. This spatial arrangement enables heat-exchanged air to be distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction while maintaining the bottom-to-top supply direction, achieving uniform air distribution without complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If the annular deflector and annular air outlet duct are formed on one annular cover body, then the structure is integrated and simple, but it is not convenient to flexibly select and control the structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure integrationVSAvoidstructural flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air guiding system into multiple independent annular air guiding bodies (first, second, third) that can be selectively configured and assembled. Each air guiding body is a separate component with its own through-duct and air guiding structure, allowing flexible selection and combination based on different application requirements while maintaining integrated functionality within each unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Increases air intake volume, accelerates indoor air circulation, and ensures a more comfortable air supply by mixing heat-exchanged and non-heat-exchanged air, providing uniform air distribution and improved user comfort while allowing flexible structure control and manufacturing options.

Implementation Method 1

an airflow distribution assembly for distributing heat-exchanged air that enters the at least one annular heat-exchanged air duct from a heat exchanger of an air-conditioner that has the air-conditioner air supply apparatus is disposed in at least one of the annular heat-exchanged air ducts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow distribution:

Implementation Method 2

The airflow distribution assembly comprises a plurality of airflow distribution plates, and the plurality of airflow distribution plates is bilaterally symmetrically arranged in a circumferential direction of the annular heat-exchanged air duct, and along an air supply direction of the heat-exchanged air. The plurality of airflow distribution plates are bent distribution plates of the same bending direction, and the bending direction of the plurality of airflow distribution plates is reverse to the air supply direction of the heat-exchanged air.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow redirection through bent surfaces:

Data Source

PatentEP3006852B1Air-conditioner air supply apparatus with airflow distribution assembly
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP LTD
  • EP3006852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3006852B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3006852B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An air-conditioner air supply apparatus (1) provided with an airflow distribution assembly is disclosed. The air supply apparatus (1) includes at least two annular air guiding bodies that are hollow and have front and rear openings. Each annular air guiding body is a single component. The rear opening of the annular air guiding body is an air inlet, and the front opening of the annular air guiding body is an air outlet. A plurality of annular air guiding bodies is arranged sequentially from front to rear, a through-duct which runs from front to end is formed in the middle, and an annular heat-exchanged air duct (14, 15) is formed between two adjacent annular air guiding bodies. An airflow distribution assembly (16) for distributing heat-exchanged air that enters the heat-exchanged air ducts (14, 15) from a heat exchanger (5) of an air-conditioner that has the air-conditioner air supply apparatus is disposed in at least one of the annular heat-exchanged air ducts (14, 15).