Air Conditioner Outdoor Unit Grasp Portion Design for Compact Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing outdoor units of air-conditioning apparatuses have smaller regions for grasp portions due to increased component occupancy, making it difficult for workers to support the weight effectively, leading to poor workability and increased physical load during movement.
Innovation Solution
The design includes grasp portions with a finger hook protruding downwards and second and third openings at the end, allowing fingers to be inserted closer to the base, enabling support with middle or proximal phalanges, reducing the perceived weight and improving workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the occupancy rate of components in the casing is increased to achieve miniaturization, then the size of the outdoor unit is reduced, but the region for grasp portions becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The grasp portion extends in the lateral direction (width direction of the casing) to utilize the available space more effectively. By adding the lateral extension with second and third openings, the grasp portion creates additional insertion paths for fingers without increasing the front-to-back depth, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and graspability.
2Area of stationary object
If the width of grasp portions is reduced due to smaller region, then the outdoor unit fits better in compact spaces, but workers can only insert finger tips into the grasp portions
Solution Approach 1:
The grasp portion is segmented into multiple functional zones: the main body for initial grasping, and the laterally extending portion with second and third openings for additional finger insertion. This segmentation allows different parts of the hand to engage with different segments, enabling workers to insert fingers closer to the base even in compact designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The second and third openings act as intermediary structures that facilitate finger insertion. These openings provide alternative pathways for fingers to reach into the grasp portion, serving as mediators between the limited space and the need for deep finger insertion to support weight with middle or proximal phalanges.
3Reliability
If workers wear protectors such as gloves for safety, then hand safety is improved, but the ability to grasp small grasp portions effectively is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral extension of the grasp portion with second and third openings creates additional dimensional space for hand entry. This extra dimension accommodates the bulk of protective gloves, allowing workers to insert their gloved fingers deeper into the grasp portion and achieve effective grasping with middle or proximal phalanges despite wearing protectors.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3(e)
Figure 4
AI summary
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a casing, and grasp portions provided at at least two respective positions at corner portions of the casing as seen in plan view. The grasp portions each include an outer peripheral portion forming an outer periphery of each grasp portion, and a finger hook portion protruding downward from an upper part of the outer peripheral portion and extending in a lateral direction of the finger hook portion. The outer peripheral portion includes a first opening provided such that a lower end portion of the finger hook portion is exposed as seen in a horizontal direction and a direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, a second opening provided below the finger hook portion and continuous with the first opening, and a third opening provided behind the finger hook portion and continuous with the second opening, the second opening and the third opening being provided at one of end portions of the outer peripheral portion which are located ends thereof in the lateral direction.