Air Conditioner Blower Coupling Member to Reduce Resonance Noise

Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioners with multi-blade fans often experience noise due to resonance between the fan case and housing, which conventional thickening or reinforcement of metallic parts fails to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A blower device design that integrates a coupling member with arm sections and a bar-like section to securely couple the fan motor and fan case, enhancing rigidity and preventing vibration-induced noise by canceling out resonant vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the thickness of metallic plates constituting the fan case and housing is increased or reinforcement is added, then vibration resistance is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies vibration cancellation technology by generating counter-vibrations to offset the vibrations produced by the fan motor. This involves detecting the vibration characteristics and producing opposing vibrations that neutralize the harmful effects, thereby reducing noise without requiring thicker metallic plates or additional reinforcement structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Strength

If conventional reinforcement methods are used to prevent resonance, then vibration resistance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical reinforcement methods with a vibration cancellation system that uses active control mechanisms. Instead of physically strengthening the structure through thicker plates or reinforcement ribs, the system uses sensor-based detection and counter-vibration generation to achieve resonance prevention, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If fan case and housing are made thicker to reduce noise, then noise reduction is achieved, but device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful vibrations and noise into a controllable parameter by using sensors to detect vibration characteristics and then generating counter-vibrations. This approach transforms the noise problem from a structural deficiency into a controllable dynamic parameter, allowing noise reduction without increasing device weight through thicker materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10962238B2Air conditioner and blower device
Publication Date: 2021.03.30
  • US10962238B2 patent drawing
  • US10962238B2 patent drawing
  • US10962238B2 patent drawing

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an air conditioner includes a blower device and a heat exchanger. The blower device includes a fan motor, a fan, a fan case and a coupling member. The fan motor includes a first end section and a second end section separate from each other. The fan is coaxially fixed to a rotating shaft. The fan case accommodating the fan and for guiding air discharged from the fan toward the heat exchanger. The coupling member includes a pair of arm sections respectively coupled to the first end section and the second end section, and a bar-like section extending in the axial direction of the rotating shaft across the arm sections and coupled to the fan case. The fan motor and the fan case are integrally coupled to each other through the coupling member.