Ceiling Air Conditioner Filter Access Without Grill Removal

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioners installed on ceilings face difficulties in replacing inlet grills or filters due to their high position, requiring users to work at heights and often necessitating the separation of multiple components, which is cumbersome and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner design featuring a rotatable inlet grill and movably positioned filters, allowing for easy replacement and maintenance without separating the inlet grill, with filters capable of linear or rotational movement to facilitate access and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the air conditioner is installed on a ceiling, then it can provide climate control to the indoor space, but it becomes difficult for users to replace or repair filters due to the high position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of filter replacementVSAvoidinstallation height
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The air conditioner is divided into separable modules: the inlet grill can be detached from the main body, and filters can be individually removed from the case. This segmentation allows users to access and replace filters without needing to work at ceiling height or disassemble the entire unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inlet grill and filters are designed as extractable components. The inlet grill can be removed from the case, and filters can be taken out individually from the case interior, enabling easy access and replacement without requiring users to reach high ceiling installations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple fabrications are disposed in the air conditioner, then it can perform multiple functions, but it becomes cumbersome to individually separate each fabrication for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiple functionsVSAvoidseparation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each fabrication (inlet grill, filters, heat exchangers) is designed as an independent separable module. Users can access and remove specific components like filters or the inlet grill without needing to disassemble other parts of the air conditioner, simplifying maintenance despite having multiple functional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inlet grill and filters are designed to be extractable from the case without removing other fabrications. This allows selective access to specific components for maintenance while leaving other functional parts in place, reducing the complexity of separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the inlet grill is fixed to the case, then it provides structural stability, but it requires separation of the entire fabrication to replace filters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidfilter replacement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet grill is separated from the filters as distinct components. The inlet grill can remain attached to the case for structural stability, while filters can be individually removed from the case interior, allowing filter replacement without separating the inlet grill or other fabrications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Filters are designed to be extractable from the case without removing the inlet grill. This allows users to access and replace filters by opening the case while the inlet grill remains in place, maintaining structural stability while enabling easy filter replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4261465A1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4261465A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4261465A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4261465A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner. The air conditioner of the present disclosure includes a case; a base panel which is disposed in one side of the case, and has an inlet into which air flows; an inlet grill which is rotatably disposed in the base panel based on a first rotation shaft, and disposed in a lower side of the inlet; and a first filter which is movably or rotatably disposed in the base panel based on a second rotation shaft, and removes foreign substances in the air flowing into the inlet, wherein the second rotation shaft of the first filter is movably disposed in a front-rear direction in an upper side of the first rotation shaft of the inlet grill.