Ceiling Cassette Air Outlet Layout for Uniform 4-Way Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ceiling-embedded air conditioners fail to distribute air evenly, leading to temperature disparities and require complex maintenance due to motor placement, which hinders ventilation.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner features wind direction plates longer than the blowoff openings, plate-like bearing support columns with ventilation holes, and motor covers that allow maintenance from the front, ensuring air can be blown in all directions without resistance and reducing dew condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If motors are installed at corner portions of the back surface of the decorative panel, then wind direction plates can be driven, but motor maintenance becomes difficult and ventilation is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing motors at the back surface corner portions, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing motors at the center of each side of the decorative panel, facing the blowoff openings. This allows motor maintenance from the front while improving ventilation efficiency by positioning motors directly adjacent to the blowoff openings they drive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of motor installation from the back surface (z-dimension relative to panel) to the front surface plane (x-y dimension), allowing motors to be accessed from the front while maintaining functional connection to wind direction plates through the panel structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If wind direction plates are made longer than blowoff openings to cover the blowoff path, then air distribution in all directions is achieved, but complex structures are required to support the plates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portions serving as support structures perform multiple functions: they mechanically support the extended wind direction plates, provide pivot points for rotation, and guide airflow. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized support components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection portions between outer and inner frame structures serve their own structural purpose while simultaneously functioning as support mechanisms for the wind direction plates. The system uses its existing structural elements to support the extended plates without requiring separate complex support structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional support holes are used in wall surfaces, then wind direction plates can be mounted, but air distribution is uneven and temperature disparities occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using single support holes in wall surfaces, the patent segments the support function across multiple connection portions located at corner portions of the decorative panel. This distributed support arrangement enables better air distribution across different directions, reducing temperature disparities in the air-conditioned space.
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling-embedded air conditioner includes: a main unit; a decorative panel having an outer frame portion, an inner frame portion disposed more inside than the outer frame portion, and connection portions connecting the outer frame portion and the inner frame portion at corner portions; a blowoff path disposed between the outer frame portion and the inner frame portion; blowoff openings formed between the adjacent connection portions in the blowoff path; and wind direction plates covering the blowoff path. The wind direction plates include shaft portions. Plate-like bearing support columns are erected from the connection portions. The bearing support columns include at the tips shaft holes for supporting pivotally the shaft portions and include ventilation holes between the shaft holes and the connection portions.