Outdoor Unit Bottom Plate Heater Fixing Around the Drain Hole
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional air-conditioning apparatus outdoor units, the tip of a screw is covered by a leg portion, causing the screw's fixing position to be away from the drain hole, resulting in ineffective heating around the drain hole area due to the heater's displacement.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor air-conditioning unit design where a protective cap covers the screw tip, allowing the screw to be positioned around the drain hole, and a method involving caulking to secure the cap and leg portions to the bottom plate, enabling the heater to be fixed effectively around the drain hole area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screw tip is covered by a leg portion, then safety is improved, but the heater cannot be fixed around the drain hole
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented from the leg portion to a separate protective cap, allowing the screw to be positioned independently near the drain hole while the cap provides protection. This separation enables the heater to be fixed around the drain hole without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective cap is introduced as an intermediary element between the screw tip and the external environment. This cap provides the necessary protection while allowing the screw to be positioned optimally for heater fixation around the drain hole, resolving the conflict between safety and operational effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the screw fixing position is at the end portion of the bottom plate, then the screw tip can be covered by the leg portion, but the heater cannot be fastened around the drain hole
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is separated from the structural leg portion, creating an independent protective cap that can be positioned anywhere on the bottom plate. This allows the screw to be located precisely around the drain hole for accurate heater positioning, while the cap maintains protection independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the protective element from a fixed structural component (leg portion) to a movable protective cap that can be repositioned. This parameter change enables flexible positioning of the screw around the drain hole while maintaining the protective function, thereby improving heater positioning accuracy.
3Reliability
If the heater is displaced from the drain hole area, then screw tip protection is ensured, but heating effectiveness around the drain hole is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap serves as an intermediary that provides screw tip protection without constraining the heater's position. This allows the heater to be positioned directly around the drain hole for maximum heating effectiveness, while the cap independently provides the necessary protection.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the protective function into a separate cap, the heater can be positioned optimally around the drain hole for effective heating, while the cap provides protection independently. This resolves the conflict between protection and heating effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a bottom plate having a drain hole formed therein to discharge drain water generated in a heat exchanger; a heater provided at an upper surface of the bottom plate; a heater fixing tool provided to fix the heater to the bottom plate, with the heater interposed between the heater fixing tool and the upper surface of the bottom plate; a screw fastened after inserted into a screw hole from above to fix the heater fixing tool to the bottom plate, the screw hole being provided in overlapping portions of the heater fixing tool and the bottom plate; and a protective cap configured to cover a tip of the screw from below, which projects downwards from a lower surface of the bottom plate. The screw hole is located in a surrounding area which surrounds the drain hole, and the heater fixing tool is fixed to the bottom plate in the surrounding area.