Indoor Unit Pipe Layout to Reduce Air Conditioner Installation Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air conditioning devices require increased space for installing liquid-side and gas-side pipes, which interferes with other devices and enlarges the overall size of the indoor unit.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit design incorporates a gas-side pipe with a header body, vertical tube portion, and bent tube portion, allowing part of the liquid-side pipe to be placed in the space between these components, reducing the installation space needed for the liquid-side pipe and optimizing the layout to minimize the overall unit size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate spaces are provided for liquid-side pipe and gas-side pipe, then each pipe can be installed independently, but the overall size of the indoor unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the liquid-side pipe and gas-side pipe into a single integrated pipe assembly. The liquid-side pipe is positioned within the space formed by the gas-side pipe components (header body, vertical tube portion, and bent tube portion), merging two separate pipe installation spaces into one compact structure. This reduces the overall volume of the indoor unit while maintaining independent installability of both pipe systems.
2Ease of operation
If spaces for installing pipes are widened, then pipe installation becomes easier, but the indoor unit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional side-by-side pipe arrangement to a three-dimensional nested configuration. The liquid-side pipe is installed within the vertical space created by the gas-side pipe's L-shaped structure, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than expanding horizontal footprint. This maintains installation accessibility while minimizing the indoor unit's horizontal area.
3Volume of moving object
If pipe installation space is reduced, then the indoor unit becomes more compact, but pipe installation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-side pipe is segmented into distinct components: header body, vertical tube portion, and bent tube portion. This segmentation creates a natural L-shaped space that accommodates the liquid-side pipe while maintaining clear access points for installation. The segmented structure allows workers to install pipes in a logical sequence without requiring excessive space, as each component can be positioned and connected systematically.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas-side pipe (70) is provided with a header body (71 a) extending vertically along a side end portion (32a) of an indoor heat exchanger (32), a vertical tube portion (74) facing the header body (71a), and a bent tube portion (73) connecting a lower end portion of the header body (71 a) and a lower end portion of the vertical tube portion (74) together. Part of a liquid-side pipe (80) is provided in a space (S1) between the header body (71 a), the vertical tube portion (74), and the bent tube portion (73).