Indoor Unit Casing Direct-Screw Fixing to Prevent Wall Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing indoor air conditioner units often form gaps between the casing and the wall surface due to loose fittings or recesses in the wall, leading to a deterioration in design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit design includes screw fixing portions outside the longitudinal end of the mounting board, with protrusions on the casing that support the casing to the wall, preventing warping and ensuring secure attachment, thereby preventing gaps from forming between the casing and the wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the mounting board is screwed onto the wall surface at upper and lower end portions and the casing is fixed to the mounting board at fitting portions, then the installation process is simplified and the structure is easy to assemble, but gaps may form between the casing and the wall surface when the lower part of the mounting board cannot be screwed onto the wall surface or when screwing is forgotten
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing structure is divided into two independent parts: the mounting board fixing portion that attaches the mounting board to the wall, and the casing fixing portion that attaches the casing to the mounting board. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, ensuring that the casing remains securely attached to the wall even if the mounting board fixing is insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing acts as an intermediary element that directly connects to the wall surface through its own fixing portions, bypassing the mounting board for the critical gap-prevention function. This intermediary connection ensures that the casing position is independently controlled relative to the wall, preventing gaps regardless of mounting board fixing status.
2Ease of operation
If the casing is loosely fitted to the mounting board, then the assembly process is easier and the structure is more flexible, but the casing may move away from the mounting board on account of the weight of the indoor unit and a gap may be formed between the casing and the wall surface
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system is segmented into mounting board-to-wall connection and casing-to-mounting-board connection, allowing loose fitting between casing and mounting board while maintaining stable casing-to-wall positioning through direct casing fixing portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing serves as an intermediary that directly engages with the wall surface, providing stable positioning independent of the mounting board-casing connection tightness. This intermediary connection ensures the casing maintains its position relative to the wall even with loose fitting to the mounting board.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mounting board has a notch portion at a lower part so as not to oppose the back surface of the casing, then the pipe can be connected with the outdoor unit, but the pipe may protrude toward the wall surface from the notch portion and the casing may move away from the wall surface
Solution Approach 1:
The casing's direct fixing portions act as an intermediary connection that maintains casing-to-wall attachment reliability independently of the mounting board configuration. This allows the mounting board to have notches for pipe passage without compromising the casing's secure attachment to the wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing function is segmented between the mounting board (which accommodates pipe routing with notches) and the casing (which maintains wall attachment through its own fixing portions), allowing pipe connection capability without sacrificing attachment reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
In a known indoor unit, a casing may move away from a wall surface and a gap may be formed between the casing and the wall surface, with the result that the design of the indoor unit may be deteriorated. An indoor unit includes a mounting board 2 fixed to a wall surface and a bottom frame 10 (casing) attached to the mounting board 2. The bottom frame 10 (casing) has screw holes 73 to 76 (screw fixing portions) for fixing the bottom frame 10 (casing) to the wall surface of the room.