Ceiling AC Indoor Unit With Blade-Free Outlet Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ceiling-type air conditioner indoor units with blade-controlled outlets face issues of reduced air discharge due to blade interference and increased noise from turbulence, and are limited to straight outlet shapes.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit features a track-shaped or oval-shaped outlet with an auxiliary flow path and blower fans to control air current direction without blades, using auxiliary fans to guide air currents and reduce noise and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a blade is used to control the discharged air current, then the direction of air flow can be controlled, but the amount of discharged air is reduced due to blade interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the blade component from the outlet and extracts its air direction control function, implementing it instead through a separate auxiliary flow path system with auxiliary fans. This eliminates the interference of blades with the main air flow while preserving direction control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an auxiliary flow path as an intermediary system that uses auxiliary fans to generate control air currents. These control currents interact with the main discharged air to change its direction without requiring physical blades in the main flow path.
2Ease of operation
If a blade is used to control the discharged air current, then the direction of air flow can be controlled, but circulating noise increases due to turbulence around the blade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the blade component that generates turbulence and noise, transferring the direction control function to an auxiliary flow path system that operates separately from the main air flow, thereby eliminating noise-generating turbulence.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary flow path acts as an intermediary that controls air direction through controlled air currents rather than physical obstruction, avoiding the turbulence and noise that would be generated by blades in the main flow path.
3Ease of operation
If a straight pivot axis for the blade is used, then the blade can be driven to turn, but the outlet shape is restricted to straight shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the blade and its straight pivot axis mechanism, freeing the outlet from straight shape constraints. The outlet can now be designed in curved or oval shapes while air direction control is achieved through the auxiliary flow path system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables curved or oval outlet shapes by replacing the straight blade mechanism with an auxiliary flow path system that can accommodate and adapt to curved geometries, allowing the outlet to have non-linear shapes without functional compromise.
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
This design enhances air discharge efficiency and reduces noise by eliminating blade interference, allowing for more flexible outlet shapes and improved cooling or heating performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger provided inside the housing and arranged in a main flow path between the inlet and the outlet
Implementation Method 2
a blower fan configured to suck in air through the inlet, allow the air to exchange heat with the heat exchanger, and discharge the air through the outlet
Implementation Method 3
an auxiliary flow path guiding an auxiliary air current to change a direction of an air current discharged from the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an air conditioner (AC) indoor unit including a housing installed on the ceiling and having an inlet and an outlet provided around the inlet and having a pair of straight sections facing each other and a pair of curved sections facing each other; a heat exchanger provided inside the housing and arranged in a main flow path between the inlet and the outlet; a blower fan configured to suck in air through the inlet, allow the air to exchange heat with the heat exchanger, and discharge the air through the outlet; and an auxiliary flow path guiding an auxiliary air current to change a direction of an air current discharged from the outlet. The direction of the discharged air current may be controlled by sucking in air around the outlet or blowing air to the periphery of the outlet through the auxiliary flow path without a blade.