Heat Exchanger Side Plate Mounting Structure to Prevent Misassembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers in air conditioners often suffer from misassembly issues due to similar contours and structures of side plates, leading to confusion during assembly and increased material management costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed heat exchanger installation structure ensures identical structures for side plates by aligning first flanges in the same direction, incorporates second flanges for additional support, and utilizes threaded or snap-in connections with water receiving pans, along with pre-drilled hole areas for different models, to enhance assembly efficiency and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat exchanger is firmly fixed to the case by self-tapping screws, then the fixing reliability is improved, but the case surface is damaged and aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A mounting bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat exchanger and the case. The mounting bracket is fixed to the case using self-tapping screws, while the heat exchanger is attached to the mounting bracket. This mediator prevents direct contact between screws and the case surface, avoiding damage and maintaining aesthetic appearance while ensuring reliable fixing through the bracket structure.
2Strength
If self-tapping screws are used to fix the heat exchanger, then the fixing strength is improved, but metal shavings are generated and may enter the blower fan causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket serves as a mediator that separates the screw fixing operation from the heat exchanger attachment. Screws are driven into the mounting bracket (which can be designed with appropriate mounting holes or threaded inserts), and the heat exchanger is then secured to the bracket. This intermediary structure prevents metal shavings from being generated directly near the blower fan area, eliminating the risk of shavings entering the fan and causing malfunction.
3Reliability
If multiple parts are used for mounting, then the mounting reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting function is segmented into two distinct operations: (1) fixing the mounting bracket to the case using self-tapping screws, and (2) attaching the heat exchanger to the mounting bracket. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently - the bracket can be designed with appropriate mounting features for secure attachment to the case, while the heat exchanger connection is simplified through the bracket interface, achieving reliable mounting without excessive overall complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided are a heat exchanger mounting structure and an air conditioner. The heat exchanger mounting structure comprises: a heat exchanger (20), wherein the heat exchanger (20) comprises a heat exchanger body (210) and two side plates (220) respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the heat exchanger body (210), the same side of each of the two side plates (220) is folded in a first direction to form a first flange (221), two first flanges (221) are configured to be connected to an air duct (10) of the air conditioner, and the structures of the two side plates (220) are arranged in the same manner.