Ceiling Air Outlet Flap Layout for Draft-Free Directional Airflow
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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 unpleasant cold drafts during cooling operations.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner features a main flap and a sub-flap with a second guide part that extends from the first guide part, allowing air to be directed downward and laterally, with a heat insulating member on the flaps to prevent dew condensation, and a driving mechanism that rotates the flaps to adjust airflow direction and speed without being visible during operation.
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 formed by 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 in its closed position, eliminating visible parting lines and maintaining a clean appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The main flap and sub-flap are designed with different lengths in the air flow direction, allowing them to rotate independently to different angles. This dynamic configuration enables precise air direction control while allowing the shorter sub-flap to be concealed within the main flap's contour when needed, resolving the appearance issue.
2Ease of operation
If flaps are designed to guide air in preset directions, then air direction control is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple rotating components
Solution Approach 1:
The air direction control is segmented into two independent rotational movements: the main flap rotates about a first rotation shaft to control primary air direction, while the sub-flap rotates about a second rotation shaft to control secondary air direction. This segmentation allows each flap to be controlled independently, simplifying the overall control logic while achieving precise air direction management.
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.