Indoor Unit Gas Sensor Placement for Easy Attachment and Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioner indoor units do not have a gas sensor location that facilitates easy attachment and detachment, making maintenance difficult for users and service personnel.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus is designed with a gas sensor installed adjacent to a support member, allowing for easy detachment and attachment by shifting a plate-shaped member and detaching a filter, thereby enhancing maintainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gas sensor is installed in a fixed location within the casing, then the refrigerant leakage detection function is ensured, but the ease of repair deteriorates due to difficult access for users and service personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The gas sensor is segmented from the main control board assembly and mounted on a detachable support member. This allows the gas sensor to be accessed, removed, or replaced independently without disassembling the entire indoor unit, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining its refrigerant leakage detection function
Solution Approach 2:
The support member on which the gas sensor is mounted is designed to be movable or detachable. This dynamic design enables service personnel to easily access and maintain the gas sensor by simply removing the support member, transforming a previously fixed and hard-to-access component into a maintainable one
2Ease of repair
If the gas sensor is installed in an easily accessible location, then the ease of repair is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional structural components
Solution Approach 1:
The support member for the gas sensor is merged with existing structural elements of the indoor unit, such as the casing or heat exchanger framework. This integration approach provides easy access to the gas sensor without adding significant structural complexity, as the support function is combined with existing load-bearing or structural components
Solution Approach 2:
The support member serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the gas sensor, facilitates easy access and removal for maintenance, and integrates with the overall unit structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated complex support structures, thereby minimizing additional device complexity
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 design improves the maintainability of the indoor unit by allowing users or service personnel to easily attach and detach the gas sensor, ensuring efficient repair and replacement processes.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchanger allows a refrigerant larger in specific gravity than air to flow therein
Implementation Method 2
the gas sensor is configured to detect refrigerant leakage
Implementation Method 3
a drain pan installed below the heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present disclosure achieves an object of selecting a location of a gas sensor that can be easily attached and detached by a user or a service person. A gas sensor (55) configured to detect refrigerant leakage is installed at or adjacent to an electric component box (50), and the gas sensor (55) is positioned to be ejectable when a suction grill (60) is shifted. A user or a service person can thus easily attach and detach the gas sensor (55) by shifting the suction grill (60) with excellent maintainability.