Indoor Unit Decorative Panel Temporary Hanging for Stable Lifting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air-conditioning apparatuses face instability when temporarily hanging decorative panels due to the placement of temporary hanging levers on the same side or adjacent sides of the air inlet, making it difficult to lift the panels stably.

Innovation Solution

The indoor unit design features temporary hanging levers attached to positions shifted from the midpoints on opposed sides of the air inlet, parallelly toward the vertexes, with corresponding hooks on the case, allowing for stable and easy attachment of the decorative panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If temporary hanging levers are provided on the same side or two adjacent sides of the air inlet, then the decorative panel can be temporarily hung, but the opposed sides of the air inlet cannot be held and the decorative panel is lifted unstably

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemporary hanging operationVSAvoidlifting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary hanging levers are segmented and distributed to specific opposed sides of the air inlet rather than concentrated on one side or adjacent sides. This segmentation allows workers to hold both opposed sides simultaneously, providing balanced support and stable lifting during the temporary hanging operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The temporary hanging levers are strategically positioned on opposed sides of the air inlet, creating local quality differences in the support structure. This localized placement on specific sides enables workers to grip and support the panel at optimal points, ensuring stable lifting while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If temporary hanging levers are positioned at standard locations, then the structure is simple, but the levers may not be easily visible during installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelever positioning structureVSAvoidvisibility during installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary hanging levers are positioned and designed to be easily visible during installation, likely through strategic placement on opposed sides where they can be seen by workers approaching from different directions. This visibility enhancement does not require complex structural modifications, maintaining simplicity while improving operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the decorative panel is held by hooking the edges of two sides opposed to each other, then the panel can be stably lifted, but the temporary hanging levers cannot be provided on the same side or adjacent sides

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting stabilityVSAvoidlever placement configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary hanging levers are segmented and placed on opposed sides of the air inlet, matching the gripping pattern required for stable lifting. This segmentation allows workers to hook the edges of opposed sides simultaneously, achieving stable lifting without requiring complex or non-standard lever placement configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3023708B1Indoor unit and refrigeration cycle device
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3023708B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3023708B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3023708B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An indoor unit includes a case 2 having an opening part on a lower surface thereof when the indoor unit is installed, and a decorative panel 3 having a substantially rectangular air inlet being open to the opening part of the case 2 and being attached to the lower surface of the case 2. The decorative panel 3 has temporary hanging levers 8 attached to opposed positions shifted from midpoints on any opposed two of four sides on edges of the air inlet parallelly toward any opposed vertexes. The case 2 has temporary hanging hooks 9 corresponding to the temporary hanging levers 8 on edges of the opening part.