Indoor air-conditioning unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

The hollow structure of airflow direction adjustment louvers in air-conditioning indoor units is prone to thermal insulation degradation due to cold air intrusion and expansion/shrinkage issues, leading to dew condensation and deformation.

Innovation Solution

A hollow sealed structure with a vent hole located outside the airflow path, combined with a pivot shaft vent hole configuration and same-material plate members and sealing members to enhance airtightness and prevent cold air intrusion, while allowing air movement only through predetermined vent holes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the hollow structure is completely sealed to prevent cold air intrusion, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the airflow direction adjustment louver deforms by expansion and shrinkage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoiddeformation of airflow direction adjustment louver
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vent hole in the hollow structure of the airflow direction adjustment louver, allowing controlled air passage while maintaining overall sealing. This resolves the contradiction by enabling thermal insulation (reducing cold air intrusion) while preventing deformation through pressure equalization via the vent hole.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Shape

If the hollow structure is sealed to maintain aesthetic appearance, then appearance quality is improved, but cold air is sucked into the internal space causing thermal insulation degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidthermal insulation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The vent hole provides a minimal opening that does not compromise the aesthetic appearance of the hollow structure while enabling controlled air exchange to prevent thermal insulation degradation from cold air intrusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a thermal insulator is attached to the airflow direction adjustment louver to prevent dew condensation, then dew condensation prevention is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedew condensation preventionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the external thermal insulator attachment by incorporating thermal insulation functionality into the hollow structure itself, eliminating the need for additional components that would compromise aesthetic appearance while maintaining dew condensation prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow structure is designed to provide both aesthetic appearance and thermal insulation functionality in a single integrated component, merging the functions of the louver body and thermal insulator to eliminate the need for separate attachments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration maintains thermal insulation performance, prevents dew condensation, and reduces the risk of deformation by ensuring air movement is isolated from the airflow path, enhancing reliability and durability against thermal expansion.

Implementation Method 1

the hollow structure of the airflow direction adjustment louver is prone to thermal insulation degradation due to cold air intrusion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

it is avoided that cold air blown out in the cooling operation intrudes into the airflow direction adjustment louver through the vent hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

when the surface temperature of the airflow direction adjustment louver gets lower than the dew point, dew condensation occurs on its surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDew condensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentEP2891847B1Indoor air-conditioning unit
Publication Date: 2017.06.21 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP2891847B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2891847B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2891847B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

It is intended in an air-conditioning indoor unit to enhance airtightness of a hollow structure of an airflow direction adjustment louver and prevent expansion and shrinkage of the airflow direction adjustment louver itself. In the air-conditioning indoor unit (10), air movement is enabled between inside and outside of the airflow direction adjustment louver (31) only through a vent hole (312). Moreover, the vent hole (312) does not exist in a pathway of blown air. Hence, it is avoided that cold air blown out in a cooling operation intrudes into the airflow direction adjustment louver through the vent hole.