Liquid storage container and mobile air conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile air conditioners produce loud noise due to the flow of condensed water into built-in water tanks, disrupting user experience, especially during lunch breaks or evening use.

Innovation Solution

A liquid storage container with a flow guide part that gradually increases in radial dimension from the top to the bottom, reducing noise by guiding the flow of condensed water and other liquids, and includes a tank with a liquid inlet at the top and outlet at the bottom, along with a drainage system to collect and discharge the liquids efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If condensed water flows directly into the water tank, then the water collection function is achieved, but loud noise is generated during the inflow process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater collection functionVSAvoidinflow noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flow guide part serves as an intermediary component between the liquid inlet and the tank body. It gradually increases in radial dimension from top to bottom, guiding the condensed water to flow smoothly along its inner wall rather than directly impacting the tank bottom, thereby reducing inflow noise while maintaining effective water collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The flow guide part changes its radial dimension parameter gradually from top to bottom, creating a tapered structure that transforms the water flow characteristics. This gradual parameter change allows the water to accelerate smoothly and follow the wall, reducing turbulence and noise generation during the inflow process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution significantly reduces the inflow noise of condensed water and other liquids, enhancing user comfort by minimizing noise disturbances and improving the operational efficiency of mobile air conditioners.

Implementation Method 1

The flow guide part is arranged in the tank, and has a bottom end connected with a bottom wall of the tank and a top end extending to the liquid inlet. A radial dimension of at least part of the flow guide part gradually increases along a direction from the top end of the flow guide part to the bottom end of the flow guide part.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance:

Data Source

PatentEP4438961A1Liquid storage container and mobile air conditioner
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 XIAOMI TECH (WUHAN) CO LTD
  • EP4438961A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4438961A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4438961A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A liquid storage container (100) includes a tank (1) and a flow guide part. The tank (1) has a liquid inlet (11) and a liquid outlet (12). The liquid inlet (11) is arranged at a top of the tank (1) and allows liquid to enter the tank (1), and the liquid outlet (12) is arranged at a bottom of the tank (1) and allows the liquid to be discharged from the tank (1). The flow guide part is arranged in the tank (1), and has a bottom end connected with a bottom wall of the tank (1) and a top end extending to the liquid inlet (11). A radial dimension of at least part of the flow guide part increases along a direction from the top end to the bottom end of the flow guide part (2).