Outdoor Unit Fan Mounting Design to Reduce Height and Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outdoor units that suck air from a lateral side and blow it upward are oversized due to the linear mounting of the fan unit, which increases the overall size of the unit.
Innovation Solution
The fan unit is mounted on a mounting member that retreats downward from the fixture portion, allowing the outdoor unit to be downsized by housing the fan unit in a fan-unit holding portion, which reduces the height and improves aerodynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the fan unit is mounted on a linear mounting member attached to the body casing, then the fan unit is securely fixed, but the outdoor unit size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting member transitions from a linear configuration to an L-shaped configuration, utilizing vertical space by extending upward from the body casing. This dimensional change allows the fan unit to be positioned higher, reducing the horizontal footprint and overall volume of the outdoor unit while maintaining secure fixation through the extended upward portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The L-shaped mounting member is integrated into the body casing structure, with the horizontal portion embedded or attached to the casing interior and the vertical portion extending upward. This nesting approach allows the mounting structure to occupy minimal additional space while providing reliable fan unit support, thereby reducing the required outdoor unit volume.
2Volume of moving object
If the fan unit is positioned higher to reduce horizontal space, then the outdoor unit is downsized, but the fan unit may become unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The L-shaped mounting member provides both horizontal support (from the body casing) and vertical support (extending upward), creating a stable two-dimensional mounting structure. This L-shape distributes the fan unit's weight and forces across both horizontal and vertical axes, ensuring stability at the elevated position while maintaining a compact horizontal footprint.
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 configuration results in a downsized outdoor unit with improved aerodynamic performance, reduced electric power consumption, and lower noise levels, while maintaining or enhancing cooling and heating capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a fan (22) and a fan motor (23), and the fan unit (24) is held in a fan-unit holding portion (94)
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger (18), and the air which has passed through the heat exchanger (18) is blown out
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An outdoor unit includes: a body casing in which an intake portion configured to suck air is formed in a lateral side, a blowout portion is formed in a top, the blowout portion being configured to blow out the air sucked through the intake portion, and an air path is formed between the intake portion and the blowout portion; a heat exchanger disposed in the air path; a fan unit disposed in the air path above the heat exchanger; and a mounting member mounting the fan unit on the body casing, wherein the mounting member includes a fixture portion fixed to the body casing and a fan-unit holding portion holding the fan unit, and the fan-unit holding portion retreats downward from the fixture portion.