Outdoor Unit Fan Guard Mounting for Easier Temporary Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing outdoor unit for air-conditioning apparatus requires a separate component for temporary fixing of the fan guard, increasing assembly steps and making the process difficult, and the bolt-fixing positions are located at a lower portion, making it hard for operators to visually recognize screw holes, thus poor workability.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit incorporates upper and lower temporary fixing holes in the casing, allowing the fan guard to be temporarily fixed by inserting lower locking portions into lower holes and upper locking portions into upper holes, with bolt-fixing positions moved to an upper portion for easier access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate component (eaves) is provided for temporary fixing of the fan guard, then the fan guard can be temporarily fixed before bolt fixation, but the number of assembly steps is increased and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the temporary fixing function directly into the casing structure by providing temporary fixing holes in the casing, eliminating the need for separate eaves components. This merging of functions reduces the number of parts while maintaining the temporary fixing capability during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the temporary fixing function from a separate component (eaves) and incorporates it directly into the casing through dedicated temporary fixing holes, simplifying the overall structure while preserving the necessary assembly-stage functionality.
2Reliability
If the distal ends of vertical rails are inserted through temporary fixing holes from below and horizontal rail is caught on protrusions from above, then temporary fixing is achieved, but the temporary fixing work becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having locking portions inserted from below and caught from above as in the prior art, the patent inverts the approach by having both upper and lower locking portions inserted from the same side (front side) into corresponding holes in the casing, making the operation easier and more consistent.
3Reliability
If bolt insertion holes are located at the lower portion of the fan guard, then the fan guard can be fixed with bolts, but the operator cannot visually recognize screw holes without stooping down, resulting in poor workability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the vertical dimension of the bolt fixation location by providing bolt insertion holes at the upper portion of the fan guard instead of the lower portion. This dimensional change allows operators to work at a comfortable height without stooping, significantly improving ergonomics and workability while maintaining fixation strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aiming at providing an outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, which facilitates work for temporarily fixing a fan guard to a main body of the outdoor unit, and improves workability when the fan guard is to be fixed to the main body of the outdoor unit with bolts. Provided is an outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, including: a casing having an opening portion of an air passage formed in a front panel; and a fan guard, which includes a plurality of vertical rails and a plurality of horizontal rails that are combined with each other, and is configured to cover the opening portion. The fan guard includes: an upper locking portion formed on an upper end portion of a vertical rail at one position at a center portion among the vertical rails, or formed on each of upper end portions of at least two vertical rails located so as to be separated away from each other in a right-and-left direction of the casing among the vertical rails; and lower locking portions formed on lower end portions of a plurality of vertical rails located so as to be separated away from each other in the right-and-left direction of the casing among the vertical rails. The upper locking portion is formed by bending the upper end portion toward the casing so as to be inclined in a downward direction. The lower locking portions are formed by bending the lower end portions toward the casing, and lower-locking-portion distal end portions being portions on distal ends of the lower locking portions are bent so that the distal ends are directed in the downward direction. The front panel has: an upper temporary fixing hole configured to receive the upper locking portion to be inserted thereinto and restrict movement of the fan guard in a forward direction; and lower temporary fixing holes configured to receive the lower locking portions to be inserted thereinto and restrict movement of the fan guard in the forward direction and the downward direction.