Ceiling Air Conditioner Discharge Port Layout for Uniform Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing air conditioner designs face challenges in ensuring a regular and efficient discharge of air due to irregularly shaped discharge ports, which can lead to uneven airflow distribution and reduced cooling or heating performance.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner features a cylindrical housing with a protrusion portion that maximizes the discharge port area by positioning refrigerant and drain extraction units outside the cylindrical portion, using a coupling member for component assembly, and incorporating an opening and closing unit to manage airflow without a blade, ensuring uniform airflow and improved durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If components are arranged inside the cylindrical housing, then the housing structure is compact, but the discharge port becomes irregularly shaped causing uneven airflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing compactnessVSAvoiddischarge port shape
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerant pipe connecting unit and drain extraction unit are extracted from the interior of the cylindrical housing and positioned in the protrusion portion. This extraction allows the discharge port to maintain a regular circular shape while keeping the overall housing compact, as the components are relocated to an external extension rather than consuming internal space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing includes a protrusion portion that extends from the cylindrical body, creating an additional spatial dimension. By placing components in this protruding section, the design preserves the regular circular discharge port shape in the main housing while accommodating components externally, thus resolving the conflict between compactness and discharge port regularity.

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

2Stability of the object's composition

If discharge port is made regular, then airflow uniformity is improved, but component arrangement becomes constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow uniformityVSAvoidcomponent arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusion portion provides an additional spatial dimension for component arrangement. This allows the main cylindrical housing to maintain a regular circular discharge port for uniform airflow, while components are accommodated in the extended protrusion area, effectively decoupling the airflow requirements from component placement constraints.

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

3Ease of operation

If blade is used for discharge port control, then airflow direction is controllable, but durability is reduced due to moving parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow controlVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The blade mechanism is completely removed from the system. Instead of using a rotating blade to control airflow direction, the design relies on the fixed regular circular discharge port geometry and the coordinated operation of multiple discharge ports to achieve uniform airflow distribution, thereby eliminating moving parts and improving durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3159616B1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3159616B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3159616B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3159616B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In an air conditioner according to the present invention, a drain extraction unit and a refrigerant pipe connecting unit may be disposed in a blocking region in which a discharge port is not provided so that a size of the discharge port may be secured and the discharge port may be uniformly disposed, thereby generating uniform airflow in a room. In addition, in a lower housing formed in a circular shape, some of components inside an indoor unit of the air conditioner may be disposed in a protrusion portion that protrudes from the circular housing, so that the discharge port may be maximized and protrusion directions of a protrusion cover may coincide with each other, thereby facilitating the installation of the air conditioner. In addition, a condensate water collecting space that is disposed outside the housing may be provided in a drain tray, thereby efficiently preventing a leakage due to condensate water generated outside the housing. In addition, the housing, the drain tray, and the cover member of the air conditioner may be coupled by a coupling member coupled outside, thereby improving the durability of the indoor unit of the air conditioner.