Outdoor AC Fan Guard Height Adjustment for Compact Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The upward blow type outdoor air conditioner units face challenges in adjusting their height due to packing size restrictions, leading to potential air current contact and performance issues during delivery and installation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a height changing member between the fan guard and the bell mouth, featuring raised portions and a support frame that allows the fan guard to be adjusted in height, enabling the unit to be compact for delivery and expanded for optimal performance at the installation site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the packing size is reduced to meet freight elevator restrictions, then the outdoor unit can be delivered to the roof, but the distance between the outdoor heat exchanger and the blowing fan cannot be increased, causing air current contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking sizeVSAvoidair current contact prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fan guard is designed with a height changing member that allows it to be adjusted between a first height (compact for delivery) and a second height (expanded for operation). This dynamic adjustment enables the unit to meet packing size restrictions during delivery while maintaining proper air current separation during operation at the installation site.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the distance between the blowing fan and the fan guard is increased to prevent air current contact, then air flow stability improves, but the height of the outdoor unit exceeds the packing size restriction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair current contact preventionVSAvoidpacking size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The height changing member enables the fan guard to be positioned at a greater distance from the blowing fan during operation, preventing air current contact and ensuring stable air flow. During delivery, the fan guard is positioned closer to meet packing size restrictions. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between air current prevention and packing size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If the fan guard is positioned close to the blowing fan to reduce packing size, then the outdoor unit fits delivery restrictions, but air current contact occurs during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking sizeVSAvoidair flow stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The height changing member allows the fan guard to be repositioned to an optimal distance from the blowing fan after installation, ensuring stable air flow and preventing air current contact during operation. During delivery, the compact position is used to meet packing size restrictions, thus resolving the contradiction between compact packaging and operational performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the outdoor unit height is fixed to meet delivery requirements, then delivery is feasible, but the unit cannot be adjusted for optimal performance at the installation site

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The height changing member provides adjustable height positions for the fan guard, allowing the outdoor unit to be adapted to different installation requirements while maintaining a compact form for delivery. This dynamic adjustment capability enhances adaptability without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The height changing member is implemented as a separate, modular component that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation allows for height adjustment functionality to be added without redesigning the entire unit, thus improving adaptability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3376125B1Outdoor unit of air conditioner
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 FUJITSU GENERAL LTD
  • EP3376125B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376125B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3376125B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes: a housing including a bottom surface, a side surface, and an upper surface; an outdoor heat exchanger arranged along the side surface of the housing; a blowing fan arranged on the upper surface of the housing; a bell mouth arranged around the blowing fan; a fan guard provided to cover an upper portion of the blowing fan; and a height changing member provided between the fan guard and the bell mouth and configured to change a height of the fan guard with respect to the blowing fan.