Condensate Drain Valve Structure for Removable AC Water Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioning equipment faces issues with condensate management, including frequent emptying of water containers due to insufficient capacity, external discharge of remaining condensate, and user inconvenience when removing the water container.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a valve system within the air conditioning equipment that selectively opens and closes a discharge port for condensate, allowing it to flow into a water container, enhancing durability and reliability, and enabling easy removal of the water container with a single operation by using a sealing member, lid member, and cover mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the water container capacity is increased to store more condensate, then the frequency of emptying is reduced, but the device occupies more space and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The water storage system is segmented into two parts: an internal water container with smaller capacity that can be easily removed by users, and an external discharge port that can be selectively opened or closed. This segmentation allows the internal container to maintain small size for user convenience while the external port controls overall discharge, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and ease of emptying.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is configured to automatically close the discharge port before the user removes the water container. This preliminary action prevents condensate leakage during container removal, eliminating the need for large capacity containers and frequent manual intervention, thus reducing the loss of time without increasing container volume.
2Productivity
If the discharge port remains open to allow condensate flow, then condensate collection is efficient, but condensate may discharge externally when the water container is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge port is designed with a dynamic valve mechanism that can change its state between open and closed positions. During normal operation, the valve remains open to ensure efficient condensate collection. When the water container is removed, the valve automatically closes to prevent external discharge, thus resolving the contradiction between collection efficiency and prevention of harmful external discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve acts as an intermediary element between the condensate source and the water container. It mediates the flow of condensate by being open during collection and closed during container removal, preventing direct exposure of condensate to the external environment and eliminating the harmful effect of external discharge.
3Reliability
If the valve structure is made complex to ensure reliable sealing, then durability is improved, but the device becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted as a separate feature through the use of a sealing member that is integrated with the valve body. This sealing member is specifically designed to contact the discharge port and create a reliable seal without requiring complex valve mechanisms. By separating the sealing function from the overall valve structure, the patent achieves high reliability while maintaining simple device complexity and ease of manufacture.
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
The solution effectively manages condensate storage, reduces external discharge, and simplifies the removal process, improving user convenience and equipment durability by ensuring efficient condensate collection and storage within the air conditioning equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member arranged between the lid member and the cover, pressing the lid member toward a gravity direction
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning equipment includes a housing comprising a heat exchanger therein, a water container mounted to, and dismounted from a receiving portion of the housing and to collect a condensate generated by the heat exchanger, and a valve configured to selectively open and close a discharge port by being interfered with a portion of the water container according to the mounting and the dismounting of the water container to or from the receiving portion of the housing. The valve is inserted within the receiving portion of the housing through the discharge port in order to reduce a protruded length that is interfered by the portion of the water container.