A filter cleaning device for an air-conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional filter cleaning devices for ceiling-mounted duct type air conditioners do not allow operators to easily perceive when the dust box is full, leading to inefficient particle evacuation and potential increased height issues due to protrusions, which complicates maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A filter cleaning device with a flat filter, a brush unit, a driving unit, and a controller, where the brush unit has a transparent storage member that moves horizontally along the filter, allowing direct observation of particle accumulation without the need for additional observation windows, and can be integrated into the air-conditioner without increasing its height.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a transparent observation window is added to the dust box, then operators can easily perceive particle accumulation, but the device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of perceiving particle accumulationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage member serves dual functions: storing particles removed from the filter and acting as a transparent observation window. This eliminates the need for a separate observation window structure, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability for operators to easily perceive particle accumulation levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the storage member and observation window into a single integrated component. The transparent storage member combines the particle storage function with the visual observation function, thereby simplifying the overall device structure and reducing production costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the dust box is made transparent to observe particles, then maintenance efficiency improves, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The storage member is designed to simultaneously serve as both a particle storage container and a transparent observation window. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate transparent window components, thereby maintaining improved maintenance efficiency while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the brush unit is positioned to close the first hole, then particle discharge efficiency improves, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle discharge efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brush unit is designed to be movable along the filter surface, allowing it to dynamically position itself to close the first hole during particle discharge operations. This dynamic positioning capability enables efficient particle discharge without requiring complex mechanical structures, as the movement is integrated into the existing brush unit mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy observation of particle accumulation, facilitating timely evacuation and maintaining air-conditioner performance without height increases, thus improving maintenance efficiency and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

a transparent storage member disposed under the brush, receiving particles falling from the brush

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransparency:

Data Source

PatentEP3360610B1A filter cleaning device for an air-conditioner
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3360610B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3360610B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3360610B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a filter cleaning device for an air-conditioner, comprising: a flat filter, a brush unit, a driving unit, a controller and a housing. The brush unit has a brush for the filter and a storage member of a transparent part (426) forming a bottom surface (642) of the brush unit. The housing (420) has a first hole (641) formed within a bottom surface (427) of the housing. The housing and storage member are formed such that the first hole of the housing is to be closed with the bottom surface of the storage member. The controller is configured to control the driving unit such that the relative position of the brush unit moves from one end side to the other end side of the filter and such that the storage member is located directly over the first hole in non-use state of the filter cleaning device.