Outdoor Unit Electric Box Positioning With Dual Alignment Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air-conditioning apparatus outdoor units face difficulties in accurately and efficiently positioning the electric component box due to its weight and the lack of effective fixing mechanisms, leading to unsatisfactory workability during installation and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit incorporates a first positioning member on the electric component box and a second positioning member on the bottom surface, which determine the vertical, front-rear, and lateral positions relative to the heat exchanger and separator, respectively, enhancing the accuracy and ease of positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electric component box is fixed using a claw and window portion configuration, then the fixing mechanism is simple, but the positioning accuracy and workability are unsatisfactory due to the need for manual searching and supporting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-providing positioning protrusions on the electric component box and corresponding positioning grooves on the heat exchanger and separator before installation. This allows the component box to be automatically positioned at the correct location without requiring workers to manually search for the set position, thereby improving both workability and positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses positioning protrusions and positioning grooves as intermediary elements that mediate between the electric component box and the heat exchanger/separator. These intermediaries guide the component box into the correct position during installation, eliminating the need for manual searching and supporting while ensuring accurate positioning.
2Ease of operation
If the electric component box is supported by hand during positioning, then no additional positioning mechanism is needed, but the heavy weight makes stable support difficult and reduces workability
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning protrusions and grooves are pre-configured on the components before installation, creating a self-positioning system that eliminates the need for manual support during positioning. The heavy electric component box automatically guides itself into the correct position through the protrusion-groove interface, making the installation process easier despite the weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric component box performs self-positioning through its own positioning protrusions that engage with the positioning grooves on the heat exchanger and separator. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external manual support, allowing the heavy component to be positioned easily without requiring workers to hold or stabilize it during installation.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple positioning members are provided to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning function into two independent parts: a first positioning member that determines vertical and front-rear position relative to the heat exchanger, and a second positioning member that determines lateral position relative to the separator. This segmentation allows each positioning member to focus on specific directional control, achieving comprehensive three-dimensional positioning accuracy while keeping each individual positioning mechanism simple and easy to implement.
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a housing; a heat exchanger provided in the housing; an electric component box provided in the housing; and a separator that partitions the inside of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. The separator is provided on a front surface of the heat exchanger. The first chamber and the second chamber are provided side by side in a lateral direction as viewed in a side-on view of the outdoor unit. The electric component box is provided on the front surface of the heat exchanger and above the separator. The outdoor unit includes a first positioning member and a second positioning member. The first positioning member is provided on the electric component box, and determines the position of the electric component box in a vertical direction and a front-rear direction relative to the heat exchanger. The second positioning member is provided on a bottom surface of the electric component box, and determines the position of the electric component box in the lateral direction relative to the separator.