Air Conditioner Indoor Unit Housing With Side Airflow Guide Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing housing assemblies for indoor air conditioner units primarily direct air output towards the front, limiting air supply efficiency at the side air outlets.
Innovation Solution
The proposed housing assembly includes a face frame with a front air outlet and end covers that create auxiliary air passages, guiding air from the front outlet to side outlets, enhancing air output and supply efficiency through strategically designed guide walls and protrusions for improved airflow and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air is supplied only through the front air outlet, then the structure is simple, but the air supply efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is segmented into multiple directions: front air outlet and side air outlets. The end covers are divided into first end covers and second end covers, each with dedicated side air outlets, enabling multi-directional air supply to improve air supply efficiency without requiring complete structural redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply direction is extended from one dimension (front) to three dimensions by adding side air outlets on the left and right ends. The guide walls direct airflow from the front outlet to the side outlets, creating spatial distribution of air supply across multiple dimensions
2Productivity
If end covers are positioned at the ends of the face frame, then the assembly is simple, but the air output from side outlets is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The end covers are pre-positioned to extend beyond the front surface of the face frame, creating auxiliary air passages in advance. This preliminary positioning enables the guide walls to effectively direct airflow from the front outlet to the side outlets, maximizing air output before final assembly is completed
Solution Approach 2:
The guide walls act as intermediaries between the front air outlet and the side air outlets. They redirect the airflow from the front direction toward the side directions, enabling efficient airflow transition and increasing air output from side outlets without complex mechanical adjustments
3Productivity
If guide walls are added to direct airflow, then air supply efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide walls are merged with the face frame structure, forming an integrated component. The auxiliary air passages are created by the combination of end covers and face frame, eliminating the need for separate guide wall components and reducing manufacturing steps while maintaining effective airflow direction
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 increases air output from side outlets, enhances air supply efficiency, and ensures reliable assembly and maintenance, reducing noise and the risk of external impurities entering the unit.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of an inner side wall of each of the auxiliary air passages defined by the face frame forms a guide wall, to direct air from the front air outlet to the side air outlet to supply air to the left and right of the housing assembly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
A housing assembly (100) and an indoor unit (1000) of an air conditioner having the same, where the housing assembly (100) is composed of face frame (1), which is provided with a front air outlet (111); two end covers (2), which are located in the left and right of the face frame (1) respectively. A part of at least one end cover (2) lies in front of the front surface of the face frame (1), and forms an auxiliary air passage (a) with the face frame (1). Moreover, side air outlet (21), connecting the auxiliary air passage (a), is mounted on at least one end cover (2). On the inner wall of the auxiliary air passage (a), the part limited by the face frame (1) forms the guide wall (112), which directs the air from front air outlet (111) to side air outlet (21).