Ceiling Air Conditioner Panel Lifter for Filter Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance of filters in ceiling-type air conditioners is difficult due to their installation on ceilings, especially for electrostatic precipitator filters that require power and have a heavy load, making it hard to lift and lower them for cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A lifting and lowering mechanism for the panel and filters, including a power supply that maintains electrical connection with an electrostatic precipitator filter, allowing easy access and maintenance by lifting and lowering the panel assembly with integrated filters, and ensuring stable power supply during movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the panel and filters are fixed in the housing, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The panel assembly is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be lifted and lowered along guide rails. This dynamic structure enables maintenance personnel to easily access and remove filters for cleaning while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
2Reliability
If the electrostatic precipitator filter is made heavy for effective filtration, then the filtration performance is improved, but the ease of lifting and lowering deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail system provides support and guidance for the heavy panel assembly during lifting and lowering operations. The guide rails distribute the weight and provide a stable pathway, making it easier to maneuver the heavy electrostatic precipitator filter without compromising its filtration performance.
3Ease of repair
If the panel assembly is made movable for easy maintenance, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the reliability of electrical connection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A contact portion with an elastic member (such as a spring) serves as an intermediary between the movable panel assembly and the power supply. This elastic contact portion maintains reliable electrical connection during movement by automatically adjusting to position changes while ensuring continuous power supply to the electrostatic precipitator filter.
4Reliability
If the contact portion is made elastic for continuous contact, then the reliability of power supply is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member in the contact portion automatically adjusts to maintain contact between the movable panel assembly and the power supply. This self-adjusting mechanism ensures continuous power supply without requiring external control systems or complex adjustment mechanisms, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability.
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
Facilitates easy maintenance of both mesh and electrostatic precipitator filters by allowing them to be lowered to a user-friendly height, while maintaining a stable power connection, thus enhancing filter cleaning efficiency and reducing the need for ladder usage.
Implementation Method 1
a second filter installable to the panel to filter the introduced air and configured to further filter the introduced air using an electrostatic force
Implementation Method 2
The intermediate member may be a plate spring member
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a housing comprising an outlet, a panel attachable to or detachable from a lower side of the housing, the panel comprising an inlet to introduce air therethrough, a first filter installable to the panel to filter the introduced air, a second filter installable to the panel at an upper side of the first filter and configured to further filter the introduced air, and a lifter configured to detach the panel from the lower side of the housing by lowering the panel from an initial position to a maintenance position in a vertical direction, and to attach the panel to the lower side of the housing by lifting the panel from the maintenance position to the initial position in the vertical direction. By lowering the panel to the maintenance position, one or more of the first filter and the second filter are accessible for the maintenance.