Outdoor Unit Electrical Box Mounting for Stable Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing method of setting an electrical component box in an outdoor air conditioner unit is unstable and labor-intensive due to the heavy weight of the component box, which requires support in a small area, leading to decreased workability during installation.

Innovation Solution

The outdoor unit design includes a partition plate with a receiving part that allows the electrical component box to be positioned and fixed more easily, using a flange on the box base plate that engages with the lower partition plate, increasing the support area and simplifying the fixing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electrical component box is supported only on the lower partition plate thickness area, then the structure is simple, but the stability is poor and workability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lower partition plate is segmented into a main body portion and a protruding portion that extends toward the blower chamber. This segmentation creates a dedicated receiving area on the protruding portion where the electrical component box can be stably supported, separating the support function from the structural body of the partition plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support area is extended from a two-dimensional surface on the partition plate to a three-dimensional recessed space formed by the protruding portion. This dimensional change creates a receiving part that provides both horizontal and vertical support surfaces, significantly improving stability without adding external structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the electrical component box is placed on a small support area, then the installation space is efficient, but the box becomes unstable and requires continuous holding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation efficiencyVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding portion and receiving part are pre-formed as integral parts of the lower partition plate structure. This preliminary action creates a ready-made stable support area before the electrical component box is installed, eliminating the need for continuous holding during installation and improving both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the receiving part is formed by bending the lower partition plate, then no additional parts are needed, but the bending process adds manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparts quantityVSAvoidforming process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lower partition plate is bent to change its geometric parameters, creating a protruding portion with specific dimensions and angles. This parameter change transforms a simple flat plate into a complex three-dimensional structure with a receiving part, achieving multiple functions without adding separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2481994B1Outdoor unit of air conditioner
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 FUJITSU GENERAL LTD
  • EP2481994B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2481994B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2481994B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner for facilitating setting of an electrical component box into the outdoor unit. A blower chamber 10 side of a box base plate 62 is similar in shape to the a lower partition plate 50 provided with a receiving part 50a formed by bending inward an upper end of the lower partition plate 50. When joining an electrical component box 60 to the lower partition late 50, the box base plate 62 is set onto the receiving 50a along a flange 62a, whereby positioning the electrical component box 60, which is fixed to the lower partition plate 50 by fastening with a screw, welding, or other suitable method. The positioning can be achieved only by putting the box 60 on the receiving part 50a along the flange 62a. Facilitated positioning and fixing leads to simplicity and enhanced workability.