Ceiling-Suspended Indoor Unit Airflow Passage for Wider Air Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ceiling-suspended indoor units of air conditioners have difficulty in circulating conditioned air effectively over wider areas due to the air outlet's location immediately behind the heat exchanger and the limited adjustable range of the airflow direction, making it hard for air to reach regions far away from the unit.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a blow-out passage extending from the heat exchanger with a second lower end located below the first lower end, featuring an inclined portion and a horizontal blow-out surface, and an airflow direction adjusting flap capable of directing air upward, allowing for better airflow direction adjustment and increased coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the air outlet is located immediately behind the heat exchanger with a downward-curved flap, then the structure is simple and compact, but the air cannot reach regions far away from the indoor unit and circulation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blow-out passage that extends in the vertical dimension, with the second lower end positioned below the first lower end. This vertical extension allows air to be directed downward initially, then redirected by the inclined portion to travel horizontally across the room, significantly expanding the air coverage area beyond what a simple horizontal outlet could achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The blow-out passage acts as an intermediary structure between the heat exchanger and the air outlet. It includes an inclined portion that serves as a mediator to redirect airflow from vertical downward direction to horizontal direction, enabling air to reach distant regions while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Device complexity
If the airflow direction adjusting flap is positioned immediately behind the heat exchanger, then the structure is compact, but the air is diffused and direction adjustment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The blow-out passage performs preliminary action by straightening the air flow before it reaches the airflow direction adjusting flap. The passage configuration preconditions the airflow to be more uniform and directed, making subsequent direction adjustment by the flap more effective and easier to control.
Solution Approach 2:
The blow-out passage with its inclined portion serves as an intermediary that facilitates smooth transition and adjustment of airflow direction. It mediates between the heat exchanger outlet and the adjustable flap, improving the ease of operation for airflow direction control.
3Area of stationary object
If the blow-out passage extends downward with second lower end below first lower end, then air can be blown over wider areas, but the passage length and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blow-out passage utilizes the vertical dimension by extending downward with the second lower end below the first lower end. This vertical arrangement allows the passage to achieve greater air coverage area while keeping the horizontal footprint compact, effectively trading vertical space for expanded air distribution coverage.
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 enables the air conditioner to blow air over wider areas, ensuring conditioned air can easily circulate through the room, improving temperature uniformity and reducing the risk of air striking the ceiling, which helps maintain cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom surface (78) of the blow-out passage (73) includes an inclined portion (83) formed on a downstream end portion and inclined in a direction in which an area of an opening of an air outlet (75) increases
Implementation Method 2
The airflow direction adjusting flap (85) is capable of directing air flowing out of the blow-out passage (73) upward relative to a horizontal plane
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A ceiling-suspended indoor unit includes a casing (33) having a blow-out passage (73) that extends from a heat exchanger (31) toward an air outlet (75). The blow-out passage (73) has a first lower end (76) representing a lower end of one of end portions of the blow-out passage (73) near the heat exchanger (31) into which air flows, and a second lower end (77) representing a lower end of the other end portion near the air outlet (75) out of which air flows. The height of a second lower end (77) is less than that of a first lower end (76). The indoor unit further includes an airflow direction adjusting flap (85) configured to be capable of directing air blown out of the air outlet (75) upward relative to a horizontal plane.