Operation and maintenance system for air conditioner production, and production method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioner production systems face challenges with large spatial layout and high layout costs due to separate production lines for indoor and outdoor units, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

An integrated operation and maintenance system that includes a heat exchanger general production system, indoor and outdoor unit production systems, material storage, conveying, and control systems, with a crane system and track layout to optimize material flow and production processes, along with a control system to manage production flows based on demand and adjust for quality control and equipment failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If separate indoor and outdoor unit production lines are used, then production specialization is improved, but spatial layout area and layout cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction specializationVSAvoidspatial layout area

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the previously separate indoor and outdoor unit production lines into an integrated production system. The heat exchanger production unit serves both indoor and outdoor units, while dedicated assembly lines handle final assembly. This consolidation reduces the total spatial footprint while maintaining production specialization through functional segmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat exchanger production unit is designed with multi-functionality to produce heat exchangers for both indoor and outdoor units. This universal production capability eliminates the need for separate specialized production lines, thereby reducing spatial requirements while preserving production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If separate indoor and outdoor unit production lines are used, then production specialization is improved, but layout cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction specializationVSAvoidlayout cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By combining production functions into a unified system with shared infrastructure (conveying systems, material storage, control systems), the patent reduces duplicate investments and lowers overall layout costs while maintaining specialized production capabilities through functional units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If integrated production system is used, then spatial layout area is reduced, but production flow complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial layout areaVSAvoidproduction flow complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated production system is segmented into distinct functional units (heat exchanger production, indoor unit assembly, outdoor unit assembly, packaging) that operate semi-independently. This segmentation manages complexity by creating modular, manageable sections while maintaining overall integration for space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveying system acts as an intermediary that coordinates material and component flow between different production units. This mediator manages the complexity of production flow by automating transportation and synchronization, reducing the need for complex manual coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Area of stationary object

If integrated production system is used, then spatial layout area is reduced, but material flow management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespatial layout areaVSAvoidmaterial flow management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying system serves as an intelligent intermediary that automatically manages material flow between storage, production, and packaging areas. This automated intermediary handles the complexity of coordinating multiple material streams, reducing the need for complex manual material flow management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system implements feedback mechanisms to monitor and adjust material flow in real-time based on production needs. This feedback loop simplifies material flow management by automatically responding to production demands without requiring complex manual coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12544867B1Operation and maintenance system for air conditioner production, and production method

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 QINGDAO HISENSE HITACHI AIR CONDITIONING SYST

AI summary

Some embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an operation and maintenance system for air conditioner production and a production method. The operation and maintenance system for air conditioner production includes: a heat exchanger general production system, an indoor unit production system, an outdoor unit production system, a material storage system, a conveying system, a packaging system, and a control system. The control system communicates with the heat exchanger general production system, the indoor unit production system, the outdoor unit production system, the material storage system, the packaging system, and the conveying system.