Modular Make-Up Air Assembly for Wall-Mounted Air Conditioners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems face limitations in their make-up air systems, which are often costly and have limited capacity due to restricted volume, resulting in fixed component positions and sizes, hindering flexibility and ease of maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner unit incorporates a modular make-up air system with slidably received components within brackets, allowing for easy removal, replacement, and repositioning, including a plenum attachable to a structure wall and a make-up air duct with brackets for flexible configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional internal make-up air systems are used, then the system is integrated within the air conditioner, but the limited volume results in limited capacity and fixed component positions
Solution Approach 1:
The make-up air system is divided into separate modular components (make-up air assembly, duct, plenum, brackets) that can be independently positioned and configured. This segmentation allows components to be located optimally without being constrained by the air conditioner's internal volume, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and volume limitations.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional internal make-up air systems are used, then the system is integrated within the air conditioner, but the limited volume results in limited capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The make-up air system extends outside the air conditioner housing into the wall cavity and building structure, utilizing three-dimensional space beyond the conventional two-dimensional internal configuration. This dimensional expansion allows significantly larger component sizes and greater air capacity without increasing the air conditioner's footprint.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional separate make-up air systems are used, then the system has sufficient capacity, but the system is costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the make-up air system with the air conditioner unit by integrating components such as the plenum, duct, and brackets that can be manufactured as part of the air conditioner assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate, costly make-up air systems while maintaining sufficient capacity through the modular design.
4Ease of repair
If conventional internal make-up air systems are used, then the system is integrated, but the fixed locations hinder ease of maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed, permanent installations to dynamic, reconfigurable components. Brackets allow components to be slidably positioned and repositioned along the duct, enabling easy maintenance and replacement without complex disassembly, thus improving ease of repair while managing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner unit includes a housing defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. An outdoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the outdoor portion and an indoor heat exchanger assembly is disposed in the indoor portion. The air conditioner unit also includes a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger assembly and the indoor heat exchanger assembly to circulate a refrigerant therebetween. The air conditioner unit further includes a plenum attached to the housing. The plenum is receivable within a wall channel defined by a structure wall along an axial direction. The air conditioner unit also includes a make-up air duct extending between the plenum and the indoor portion of the housing with a bracket fixed in place within the make-up air duct and a make-up air component slidably received in the bracket. The make-up air component is slidably removable from the bracket.