Ceiling-Installed Heat Source Unit with Side-Extraction Fan Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance of fan assemblies in heat source units installed in ceilings with limited space is challenging due to constraints in ceiling dimensions, particularly when the ceiling is made of concrete, and existing solutions compromise the structural integrity of the housing by requiring openings that reduce strength.
Innovation Solution
A heat source unit configuration with an openable extraction port and slide mechanism on a side surface allows the fan assembly to be extracted and maintained without detaching the unit from the ceiling, using guide rails and a mounting member to slide the assembly outside for maintenance, ensuring the unit's integrity is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the heat source unit is installed into a ceiling to hide it, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the maintenance of the fan assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple detachable side surfaces, allowing the fan assembly to be accessed by removing only the necessary side surface rather than the entire housing. This segmentation enables maintenance while keeping the unit installed in the ceiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan assembly is extracted from the housing through a detachable side surface, allowing maintenance to be performed on the fan assembly while the heat source unit remains installed in the ceiling. The side surface can be removed and reattached without detaching the entire unit.
2Ease of repair
If an opening is provided in the bottom surface to extract the fan assembly, then the maintenance access is improved, but the structural strength of the housing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing an opening in the bottom surface, the housing is segmented into detachable side surfaces. The fan assembly is accessed by removing a side surface, which maintains the structural integrity of the bottom surface and overall housing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance access is provided through a side surface rather than the bottom surface, changing the dimensional approach from vertical (bottom) to lateral (side) access. This allows fan assembly extraction without compromising the bottom surface structural strength.
3Volume of moving object
If the ceiling space is narrow, then the installation compactness is improved, but the maintenance operation space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into detachable side surfaces that can be removed to provide maintenance access. This allows the unit to maintain a compact installation size while providing sufficient operation space during maintenance by temporarily removing the side surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The side surface transitions from a fixed state during installation to a detachable state during maintenance. This dynamic configuration allows the unit to be compact when installed but provides access space when needed for maintenance operations.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A heat source unit, for facilitating the maintenance of a fan assembly even in a ceiling having a limited space, including: a rectangular housing (12); an air inlet (24) and an air outlet (26) which are provided in the same side surface of the housing; a fan assembly (18) which includes a sirocco fan (28) disposed in the housing and a fan motor (30) driving the sirocco fan; a heat exchanger (16) which performs a heat exchange using air sucked from the air inlet; and a compressor (14). Particularly, on a side surface (36) (rear side surface) opposed to a side surface (22) (front side surface) on which the air inlet of the housing is provided, there is provided an openable extraction port which is used to extract the fan assembly. In addition, on a separation plate (38) of the housing is provided a pair of guide rails (58) which are disposed in a direction along left and right side surfaces (32 and 34) of the housing, and a mounting member (43) to which the fan assembly is fixed is guided by the guide rails so as to be extracted to the outside of the housing in a sliding manner.