Circular Air Conditioner Housing for Uniform Discharge Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air conditioner designs face challenges in ensuring a regular and efficient discharge port arrangement within the housing, leading to irregular airflow delivery due to components like a drain pump and refrigerant pipes, which can result in reduced cooling or heating performance and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner incorporates a cylindrical housing with protrusion portions to cover refrigerant and drain pipe units, a drain tray for condensate water collection, and a coupling member for component alignment, along with an airflow control fan to manage airflow and a bladeless discharge port mechanism for improved airflow distribution and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If components like drain pump and refrigerant pipes are disposed inside the housing, then the housing can accommodate all necessary components, but the discharge port arrangement becomes irregular and airflow delivery is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protrusion portion that extends from the housing in the radial direction, creating a new spatial dimension for component placement. This allows the refrigerant pipe connecting unit and drain extraction unit to be positioned on the protrusion portion rather than inside the main housing, thereby resolving the conflict between maximizing discharge port area and accommodating all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into a main housing and a protrusion portion, with different functional zones. The main housing contains the heat exchanger and blower fan, while the protrusion portion houses the refrigerant pipe connecting unit and drain extraction unit. This segmentation allows the discharge port to be regularly disposed in the main housing without interference from other components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the discharge port is formed into an irregular shape to accommodate components, then all components can be housed, but air discharged from the air conditioner is irregularly delivered to the interior of the room
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the housing radially to create a protrusion portion, the patent maintains a regular circular discharge port shape in the main housing while providing additional space on the protrusion portion for component placement. This dimensional change ensures uniform airflow delivery without compromising discharge port area.
3Shape
If the housing is extended radially to cover the refrigerant pipe connecting unit and drain extraction unit, then a regular discharge port can be maintained, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a main housing and a protrusion portion, with each serving distinct functions. The main housing maintains the regular circular shape for optimal airflow, while the protrusion portion provides necessary coverage for components. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between maintaining a regular discharge port shape and providing structural coverage.
4Reliability
If the discharge port is always open for airflow, then cooling or heating performance is maintained, but external substances like dust can enter the housing when the air conditioner is not operated
Solution Approach 1:
The opening and closing unit is extracted as a separate movable component that can cover the discharge port when not in use. This allows the discharge port to remain open during operation for optimal performance while being closable during idle periods to prevent dust entry, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
In an air conditioner, a drain extraction unit and a refrigerant pipe connecting unit may be disposed in a blocking region in which a discharge port is not provided so that a size of the discharge port may be secured and the discharge port may be uniformly disposed, thereby generating uniform airflow in a room. In a lower housing formed in a circular shape, some of components inside an indoor unit of the air conditioner may be disposed in a protrusion portion that protrudes from the circular housing, thereby facilitating the installation of the air conditioner. A condensate water collecting space disposed outside the housing may be provided in a drain tray, thereby efficiently preventing a leakage due to condensate water generated outside the housing. The housing, the drain tray, and the cover member of the air conditioner may be coupled by a coupling member coupled outside.