Drain pan and refrigeration cycle device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drain pans in refrigeration cycle apparatuses fail to completely discharge dew water due to the discharge port being positioned higher than the water-receiving surface, leading to potential mold generation and component corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A drain pan design with an L-shaped intersection featuring a drain port on both water-receiving surfaces at the corner, with a water discharge socket covering the drain port on the outer side, ensuring the discharge socket is positioned lower than the drain port, allowing complete drainage regardless of the apparatus's installation orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the discharge port is positioned higher than the water-receiving surface to enable drainage in both vertical and horizontal installations, then the drain pan can be used in multiple orientations, but drain water remains on the water-receiving surface and cannot be completely discharged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-plane discharge approach to a three-dimensional discharge structure by adding a discharge socket that extends in multiple directions. The socket includes a discharge hole formed in multiple directions (upward, sideways, and downward), allowing water to be discharged from the L-shaped drain pan regardless of whether the apparatus is installed vertically or horizontally, thereby solving the contradiction between multi-orientation adaptability and complete drainage reliability
2Reliability
If the discharge port is positioned at the same height as the water-receiving surface to enable complete drainage, then drain water can flow completely out, but the discharge port cannot serve both vertical and horizontal installations effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge socket is designed with multi-directional discharge holes that serve multiple functions: the upward discharge hole handles vertical installation drainage, while the sideways and downward holes handle horizontal installation drainage. This multi-functional design allows a single discharge socket structure to effectively serve both vertical and horizontal installation orientations while maintaining complete drainage capability
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
This configuration ensures complete discharge of dew water, preventing mold generation and component corrosion by positioning the discharge socket lower than the drain port, allowing effective drainage in both horizontal and vertical installations.
Implementation Method 1
positioning the discharge socket lower than the drain port, allowing complete drainage
Data Source
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AI summary
A drain pan includes: a drain pan unit that includes a horizontal water receiving unit and a vertical water receiving unit intersecting with each other in an L shape and is used as horizontal and vertical types; and a water discharge socket for discharging, from the drain pan unit, drain water received on the drain pan unit. A drain port is opened through a water-receiving surface of each of the horizontal water receiving unit and the vertical water receiving unit at a corner of intersection of the drain pan unit. The water discharge socket entirely covers the drain port on an outer side of the corner, which is a major angle side.