Ceiling Cassette Air Outlet Flaps for Draft-Free Air Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ceiling-embedded type air conditioners with visible main and sub-flaps mar the appearance while attempting to control air direction and speed, and they fail to prevent cold drafts and dew condensation effectively during cooling operations.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner features a main flap and a sub-flap with a second guide part that rotates to change air direction, a heat insulating member on the flaps, and a driving device to adjust the flaps' positions, allowing air to be directed laterally and preventing visibility during operation, thus enhancing designability and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If main flap and sub-flap are installed to control air direction, then air direction control is improved, but appearance is marred due to visible flaps and parting lines
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-flap is nested within the main flap structure, with the sub-flap positioned inside the contour of the main flap. This nesting arrangement allows both flaps to function for air direction control while the sub-flap remains hidden when the main flap is closed, eliminating visible parting lines and maintaining a clean appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The main flap and sub-flap are designed with independent rotational capabilities around different axes. The main flap rotates horizontally to control primary air direction, while the sub-flap rotates vertically to adjust secondary air direction. This dynamic multi-axis rotation system provides precise air direction control while maintaining aesthetic appearance when flaps are in closed position.
2Productivity
If flaps are designed to guide air downward during heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but cold drafts occur during cooling operations
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-axis rotation system allows the flaps to dynamically adjust air direction based on operational mode. During heating, the main flap guides air downward for efficient heating. During cooling, the sub-flap can rotate to redirect air laterally or upward, preventing cold drafts while maintaining heating efficiency when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the flaps based on heating or cooling mode. The rotation angles and positions of both main and sub-flaps are adjusted according to the operational requirements, allowing optimal air distribution for heating while preventing harmful cold drafts during cooling operations.
3Shape
If sub-flap is made smaller to improve appearance, then appearance is improved, but air flow control capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-flap is positioned in a different spatial dimension (nested within the main flap's contour) rather than extending outward. This dimensional arrangement allows the sub-flap to maintain adequate size for effective air flow control while remaining hidden when the main flap is closed, thus preserving both appearance and functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an air conditioner capable of guiding air in a desired direction with an adjusted speed without marring the appearance to solve the above-described problems. An air conditioner comprising a ceiling-embedded type indoor unit configured to discharge air into an indoor room through an air outlet simultaneously sucking indoor air through an air inlet, wherein a air conditioner comprises, a main flap configured to guide a direction of air discharged from a air outlet in a preset direction, and a sub-flap configured to guide the direction of air between the main flap and the sub-flap in the preset direction, wherein a length of a main flap in a direction where air flows is longer than that of the sub-flap in the direction where air flows.