Combination of an elbow sheath and an elbow assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing elbow assemblies in air conditioners are prone to collapse and deformation due to poor impact resistance, leading to system leakage, blockage, and breakdown, and traditional rubber block protection methods are inadequate, causing product quality issues during transit and long-term use.
Innovation Solution
An elbow sheath with a receiving portion for the elbow assembly, an inwardly recessed second end with a through hole, and outwardly protruding corner portions to distribute external forces, providing enhanced buffering and protection against deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber blocks are used to protect copper pipe parts and elbow parts from collapsing during transit, then collision buffering is improved, but severe collapses and deformations still occur and rubber blocks age and deteriorate over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible foam material to form a protective sheath that envelops the elbow assembly. This flexible shell structure provides comprehensive protection against external forces during transit while avoiding the aging and deterioration problems of rubber blocks. The foam material maintains its protective properties over time and can be molded into shapes that precisely fit and protect vulnerable elbow positions.
2Force
If traditional rubber block protection is used, then collision buffering is provided, but the protection effect is insufficient and product quality problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The protective foam sheath is nested around the elbow assembly, creating a layered protection system. The foam material is molded to fit tightly around the elbow parts, providing direct contact protection. This nested structure ensures that external forces are distributed evenly across the protective layer rather than concentrating on specific vulnerable points, effectively preventing collapse and deformation.
3Ease of manufacture
If copper pipe parts are made with standard wall thickness, then manufacturing is simple, but impact resistance strength is low and parts are apt to collapse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies protective cushioning before the copper pipe parts are subjected to external forces during transit. The foam sheath is pre-formed and fitted around the elbow assemblies before shipping, creating a protective barrier that absorbs and distributes impact forces. This beforehand cushioning allows the copper pipes to maintain their standard wall thickness for manufacturing simplicity while gaining enhanced impact resistance through the external protective layer.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed are an elbow sheath, and an air conditioner and a heat pump water heater having same. The elbow sheath comprises: a first end (12) of the elbow sheath which has a receiving portion (20) configured to receive an elbow assembly, and a second end (10) which is opposite to the first end (12) of the elbow sheath and has an inwardly recessed portion (101). The inwardly recessed portion (101) is provided with a through hole (13). The elbow sheath effectively solves the technical problem that the existing elbow sheath has a poor protective effect on the elbow assembly, and helps to solve the technical problem that the copper pipe parts and small elbow parts are apt to collapse and be deformed.