Ceiling-embedded air conditioner with airflow guide vane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ceiling-embedded air conditioners face issues with uneven room temperature distribution due to air blowoff openings being limited to the sides of the decorative panel, leading to increased parts count and assembly complexity, and low mechanical strength of air blowoff paths.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner features a cuboidal air blowoff path with airflow guide vanes that direct conditioned air towards the short sides of the air blowoff openings, allowing efficient air distribution to all directions with a simpler structure and enhanced mechanical strength by using foamed polystyrene resin for the drain pan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air blowoff openings are provided at four places along the sides of the decorative panel, then the structure is simple, but air does not flow into the corner portions and room temperature distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional arrangement of blowoff openings (only on sides) to a three-dimensional configuration by adding corner portions that extend airflow into previously unreachable areas. The airflow guide vanes create diagonal airflow paths that utilize the third dimension (corner spaces) to achieve comprehensive room coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The air blowoff system is segmented into multiple independent pathways: side blowoff openings and corner blowoff openings. Each segment serves a specific directional function, with side openings handling primary directional airflow and corner openings addressing previously neglected corner areas, collectively achieving uniform distribution.
2Ease of operation
If auxiliary blowoff openings are added at corner portions to form an octagonal ring shape, then air flows to all directions, but the number of parts and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of side blowoff openings and corner blowoff openings into a unified airflow system. The airflow guide vanes integrate multiple airflow streams (from sides and corners) into a coordinated pattern that achieves comprehensive coverage without requiring separate control mechanisms for each opening type.
Solution Approach 2:
The airflow guide vanes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they guide airflow from side openings, direct airflow into corner openings, and create the diagonal airflow patterns needed for corner coverage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
3Ease of operation
If wind direction plates are disposed at air blowoff openings to allow air to be blown to almost all directions, then airflow coverage is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the airflow guidance function from complex adjustable wind direction plates and implements it through fixed geometric structures (airflow guide vanes) integrated into the blowoff opening configuration. This extraction simplifies the system by removing movable or adjustable components while maintaining directional control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using adjustable plates to redirect airflow after it leaves the openings, the patent inverts the approach by pre-shaping the airflow paths through fixed vanes and opening geometries. The airflow is guided in the desired directions before reaching the openings, eliminating the need for post-opening directional adjustment mechanisms.
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 ensures even and efficient air blowing to all directions, reducing the complexity of the structure and maintaining mechanical strength, thereby improving temperature distribution and reducing assembly costs.
Implementation Method 1
an airflow guide vane is provided in the air blowoff path to direct part of the blown airflow of the conditioned air toward the short side of the air blowoff opening
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger disposed in the casing main body to surround the outer periphery of the turbo fan
Implementation Method 3
a turbo fan disposed in the casing main body
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling-embedded air conditioner includes a decorative panel, a turbo fan, a heat exchanger, a drain pan, an air suction path, air blowoff paths provided at four places along the sides of a virtual square surrounding the air suction path, and an air blowoff opening communicating with the air blowoff path. The air blowoff path is formed in a cuboidal shape having a pair of long side walls disposed with a predetermined space therebetween in parallel to the sides of the virtual square and a pair of short side walls connecting the ends of the long side walls. Airflow guide vanes are provided in the air blowoff paths to direct part of blown airflow toward the short side of the air blowoff opening.