Indoor Louver Shaft Retention Structure to Prevent Vane Falling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bathroom heaters, when one pivot shaft of the wind-direction-adjusting louver breaks, it cannot support the weight of the vane, causing it to fall into the indoor space, leading to operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus incorporates a vane shaft side engagement portion and a vane bearing side engagement portion that engage when one vane shaft moves, restricting movement and preventing the vane from falling, utilizing existing components to maintain operation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pivot shafts are used to support the weight of the vane, then the vane can be positioned and adjusted, but if one pivot shaft breaks it cannot support the weight and the vane falls into the indoor space
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement portion is designed to engage with the vane shaft in advance before the vane shaft breaks. When the vane shaft breaks, the engagement portion automatically engages with the broken end, preventing the vane from falling. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures safety without requiring additional active components.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement portion acts as an intermediary element between the vane shaft and the vane. It provides an additional support mechanism that activates when the primary support (pivot shaft) fails, preventing the vane from falling into the indoor space while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If additional components are added to prevent vane falling, then reliability improves, but operation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement portion is integrated into the existing vane shaft structure rather than being a separate component. This merging approach adds the safety function without introducing additional parts that would complicate the operation or reduce efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement portion automatically engages with the vane shaft when needed without requiring external control or additional energy input. This self-service mechanism maintains reliability improvement while avoiding any negative impact on operation efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An indoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus includes vanes 4, vane shafts 4a and 4b, which are disposed at the ends of the vanes 4, vane bearings 11 and 12, which hold the vane shafts 4a and 4b, and motors 9, each of which is mounted on a corresponding one of the vane shafts 4a and each of which causes a corresponding one of the vanes 4 to rotate. Each of the vane shafts 4b is provided with a rib 4c, and each of the vane bearings 12, which hold the corresponding vane shafts 4b, is provided with a hook portion 12c. When one of the vane shafts 4b moves by a reference movement amount in a direction toward the corresponding vane shaft 4a, the corresponding rib 4c and the corresponding hook portion 12c engage with each other, so that movement of the vane shaft 4b is restricted.