Movable Air Guide Panel for Continuous Airflow in Air Conditioners
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioners with upwardly and downwardly opening panels, the air guide panel fails to effectively direct air blown out from the blow-out port due to its separation from the air flow path, leading to inefficiencies and the need for auxiliary flaps that increase air resistance and pressure loss.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design where the air guide panel, larger than the blow-out port, is configured to be upwardly and downwardly opened, with one of the shafts made movable to bring the panel's edge closer to the blow-out port, creating a continuous flow path and preventing dew condensation by guiding air over a long distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the air guide panel is positioned away from the blow-out port, then the panel can be structurally simplified and easier to install, but the air guiding function is insufficient requiring auxiliary flaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the shaft movable rather than fixed, allowing the air guide panel to dynamically adjust its position relative to the blow-out port. This dynamic configuration enables the panel to achieve optimal positioning for air guidance while maintaining structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and air guiding function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the air guide panel by making the shaft movable, allowing the panel to be positioned at different distances from the blow-out port. This parameter adjustment enables the panel to achieve both structural simplicity and effective air guidance function simultaneously.
2Measurement precision
If auxiliary flaps are added to improve air direction control, then air guiding precision is improved, but air resistance and pressure loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air direction control function from auxiliary flaps and transfers it to the main air guide panel by positioning the panel edge close to the blow-out port. This eliminates the need for separate auxiliary flaps, maintaining precise air direction control while reducing air resistance and pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the air direction control function into the main air guide panel structure by positioning it adjacent to the blow-out port. This integration eliminates the need for separate auxiliary flaps, combining multiple functions into a single structure and reducing energy loss from additional components.
3Productivity
If the air guide panel is made larger than the blow-out port, then the panel can serve as an extended blow-out port when opened, but the panel requires more material and occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a movable shaft to enable the air guide panel to dynamically change its position. When opened, the panel moves to a position where its edge is close to the blow-out port, effectively extending the blow-out port and improving air blowing efficiency without requiring the panel to be permanently large.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the air guide panel into functional zones: when closed, it serves as a cover; when opened, it extends the blow-out port. This segmentation allows the panel to perform multiple functions with optimized material usage, achieving high productivity without excessive material consumption.
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 enhances air blowing efficiency by ensuring air flows directly along the air guide panel, reducing the need for auxiliary flaps and minimizing pressure loss, while also preventing dew formation on the panel's outer surface.
Implementation Method 1
the air guide panel serves as a part of the blow-out port... the blow-out port is made continuous with the air guide panel, so that the blow-out port is extended. As a result, the air can be guided over a long distance, and hence the air can be sent in a desired direction by using the air guide panel
Implementation Method 2
The air blown out from the gap flows along with the air guide panel. The air blown out from the gap prevents the occurrence of dew condensation on the outer surface of the air guide panel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3~4
AI summary
To provide an air conditioner in which a blow-out port 5 is formed in the front surface of a cabinet 3, and an air guide panel 10 formed larger than the blow-out port 5 is provided in front of the blow-out port 5. The air guide panel 10 is configured to be upwardly and downwardly opened respectively about upper and lower shafts 11 and 12, and when the air guide panel 10 is closed, the air guide panel 10 is located in front of the blow-out port 5. The upper shaft 11 is made movable, and when the air guide panel 10 is opened about the upper shaft 11, the upper shaft 11 is moved so as to be close to the blow-out port 5. The end edge of the air guide panel 10, the end edge being located on the side of the upper shaft 11, is brought close to the blow-out port 5. The air guide panel 10 is made continuous with an upper wall 21 of the blow-out port 5, so as to serve as a part of the blow-out port 5. With the air conditioner according to the present application, it is possible to perform air blowing efficiently by using the air guide panel 10 which is configured to open and close the blow-out port 5.