Outdoor Unit Foot Structure for Higher Rigidity Without Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The top-blown type outdoor unit of air conditioners suffers from rigidity insufficiency, leading to vibration and noise issues, and visual appearance problems due to a small contact area with the stand, which also results in increased costs when reinforcement members are added to improve rigidity, and potential airflow interference.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit incorporates a foot portion with a raised portion formed by bending upward the underside end, increasing the second moment of area without adding material, thereby enhancing rigidity and reducing vibrations and noise while maintaining cost-effectiveness and avoiding airflow interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcement members are added to improve rigidity, then strength and rigidity are improved, but cost increases due to increased material usage
Solution Approach 1:
The foot portion is bent upward at its rear end to form a raised portion, transforming the flat two-dimensional structure into a three-dimensional structure. This dimensional change increases the second moment of area and rigidity without adding reinforcement members, thereby avoiding increased material usage and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot portion itself is shaped to provide reinforcement functionality. By bending the rear end upward to form a raised portion, the foot portion serves dual purposes: maintaining contact with the stand and providing structural reinforcement, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement members.
2Strength
If reinforcement members are added to improve rigidity, then strength and rigidity are improved, but airflow is interfered with due to obstruction near the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement function is achieved by bending the foot portion upward in the vertical dimension, creating a raised portion that increases rigidity without extending into the horizontal space where airflow occurs. This avoids obstruction of air flow paths near the heat exchanger.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot portion is designed to provide both support and reinforcement functions through its own structure. The raised portion formed by bending the rear end upward reinforces the foot portion's rigidity without requiring additional components that could interfere with airflow.
3Ease of manufacture
If the contact area between foot portion and stand is small, then installation is simplified, but rigidity is insufficient leading to vibration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The foot portion is bent upward at the rear end to form a raised portion, transforming the flat structure into a three-dimensional structure. This increases the second moment of area and rigidity without increasing the contact area with the stand, thereby maintaining installation simplicity while improving rigidity to reduce vibration and noise.
4Quantity of substance
If the foot portion area is small, then material usage is reduced, but the foot portion sags under weight and visual appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The foot portion is bent upward at the rear end to form a raised portion, creating a three-dimensional structure from a two-dimensional base. This increases the second moment of area and structural stability, preventing sagging under the unit's weight and improving visual appearance without increasing material usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigeration and air conditioning device, which is an outdoor unit of a refrigeration and air conditioning device provided with a heat exchanger within a housing (2) and blowers (3) arranged on the housing, the housing (2) being provided with a side cover covering the sides, a base (9) covering the bottom and a foot portion (10) arranged below the base (9), the foot portion (10) being provided with a raised portion (10b) upwardly bending an end face (10c) of a lower surface of the foot portion. The refrigeration and air conditioning device increases rigidity without increasing costs.