Heat Pump Outdoor Unit with Integrated Valve and Filter Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioning apparatuses face poor workability due to the need for external mounting of electromagnetic valve units, including filters, during installation, which complicates the process.

Innovation Solution

The outdoor unit of the heat pump integrates the gas-side and liquid-side filters within its package, eliminating the need for external mounting and allowing for improved installation efficiency by optimizing the arrangement of valves and filters within the unit's chamber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the electromagnetic valve unit with built-in strainer or filter is provided outside the package of the outdoor unit, then the filter can be mounted separately, but the workability deteriorates due to the need to ensure a place for mounting the filter at the time of installation on site

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveworkabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the electromagnetic valve unit and the filter into a single integrated assembly that is pre-mounted within the outdoor unit package. This combination eliminates the need for separate filter mounting during installation, directly resolving the workability issue by reducing the number of discrete components that require separate installation steps and space allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter is pre-mounted within the outdoor unit package during manufacturing, rather than being installed separately on-site. This preliminary action of pre-assembly during production eliminates the need for installers to find and mount the filter separately during installation, thereby improving workability by reducing installation steps and requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the gas-side filter and liquid-side filter are mounted outside the package, then the filters are accessible, but the installation process becomes more complex requiring additional mounting space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter accessibilityVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Both the gas-side filter and liquid-side filter are integrated into the outdoor unit package as a unified assembly. This merging of multiple filters into a single package eliminates the need for separate mounting operations for each filter, reducing installation time while maintaining accessibility through the package structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filters are nested within the outdoor unit package structure, with the electromagnetic valve units and filters housed inside the package. This nesting arrangement allows the filters to be accessible through the package while eliminating the need for external mounting space, thereby reducing installation complexity and time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3734196B1Outdoor unit for a heat pump
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 YANMAR CO LTD
  • EP3734196B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3734196B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3734196B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An outdoor (50) of a heat pump comprises a package (80) that defines a chamber with a liquid stop valve (10) and a liquid filter (9) disposed in the chamber. The liquid filter (9) is connected to the liquid stop valve (10) and configured to be connected via a liquid pipe to an indoor unit (100) of the heat pump. The liquid stop valve (10) has a flow path that extends in an up-down direction, and the liquid filter (9) has a flow path that extends in a horizontal direction.