Indoor Unit Drain Hose Access Through Front Cover Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The disassembly and assembly of the water outlet hose and drainage pipe in air conditioner indoor units are inconvenient due to obstructed connections and the need to remove the unit from the wall for access, making maintenance and repairs troublesome.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a panel with cover members that expose the water outlet hose connections, allowing easy separation of the drainage pipe and hose, and features an air guide assembly that can be opened with the panel, improving accessibility and preventing cold air entry when closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the air conditioner indoor unit is mounted on the wall with a compact structure, then the space utilization and aesthetic appearance are improved, but the accessibility to water outlet hose and drainage pipe connection portions deteriorates, making disassembly and assembly inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving cavity is integrated within the air outlet frame structure, and the panel with cover members is nested within the indoor unit housing. This nesting arrangement allows the connection portions to be accessible within the compact mounted structure without requiring additional external space, resolving the contradiction between compact installation and maintenance accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel is designed with cover members that can be opened to expose the receiving cavity containing the connection portions before any disassembly is needed. This preliminary accessibility design allows users to access the connection portions easily when maintenance is required, while maintaining the compact mounted structure during normal operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the housing structure blocks the connection portion between water outlet hose and drainage pipe, then the aesthetic appearance and structural integrity are improved, but the visibility and accessibility of the connection portion deteriorates, making repair troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is segmented into cover members that can be independently opened to expose the receiving cavity. This segmentation allows the connection portion to remain protected within the integrated housing structure for aesthetic and structural integrity, while enabling easy access when repair is needed by simply opening the relevant cover member.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover members act as intermediaries between the housing structure and the connection portion. They maintain the structural integrity and aesthetic appearance when closed, while providing access to the connection portion when opened, thus resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and ease of repair.
3Shape
If the drainage pipe is hidden at the back of the indoor unit, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the disassembly and assembly process becomes complicated, requiring removal of the indoor unit from the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is moved from the traditional rear location to a front-accessible location within the air outlet frame. The panel with cover members provides access to this relocated connection portion from the front, changing the spatial dimension of accessibility. This allows maintenance to be performed without removing the indoor unit from the wall, saving time while maintaining aesthetic appearance.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner indoor unit includes an air outlet frame, a front water receiving tray, and a panel. The air outlet frame includes an upper enclosure plate, a lower enclosure plate, and a side enclosure plate located between and connecting the upper enclosure plate and the lower enclosure plate. The front water receiving tray is above the upper enclosure plate and includes a protrusion section protruding out of the side enclosure plate and a water outlet hose at the protrusion section. The water outlet hose is configured to be received in a receiving cavity formed below the protrusion section and opening forward. The panel includes a cover member configured to cover the receiving cavity when the panel is in a closed state.