Outdoor Unit Heater Mounting Around the Drain Hole
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional air-conditioning outdoor units, the tip of the screw is covered by a leg portion, causing the screw fixing position to be away from the drain hole, resulting in ineffective heating around the drain hole area due to the heater being displaced.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor unit design where the screw tip is protected by a protective cap, and the screw hole is positioned around the drain hole, allowing the heater to be securely fixed to the surrounding area, with a method involving a protective cap and leg portions joined to the bottom plate using caulking for manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the screw tip is covered by a leg portion, then safety is improved, but the heater cannot be fixed to the area surrounding the drain hole
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented from the leg portion to a separate protective cap that covers only the screw tip, while the leg portion maintains its support function. This allows the heater to be fixed in the surrounding area without compromising safety.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective cap is introduced as an intermediary component between the screw tip and the external environment. This cap provides the necessary protection while allowing the heater fixing operation to proceed in the surrounding area without interference from the leg portions.
2Reliability
If the screw fixing position is set at the end portion of the bottom plate, then the screw tip can be covered by the leg portion, but the heater cannot be fastened to the surrounding area of the drain hole
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is separated from the structural support function by introducing a protective cap. This segmentation allows the heater to be positioned precisely in the surrounding area of the drain hole while the screw tip protection is provided by the separate cap component.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection mechanism is shifted from a horizontal constraint (leg portion position) to a vertical coverage (protective cap over screw tip). This dimensional change allows horizontal repositioning of the heater in the surrounding area while maintaining vertical protection of the screw tip.
3Reliability
If the heater is displaced due to improper fixing position, then the heater cannot effectively heat the surrounding area, but moving the fixing position exposes the screw tip
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap acts as an intermediary that decouples the heater positioning from the screw tip protection requirement. This allows the heater to be effectively positioned in the surrounding area for optimal heating while the cap simultaneously protects the exposed screw tip.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cap is a simple, inexpensive component that provides essential protection. Its addition allows the system to achieve both heating effectiveness and safety without requiring complex integrated designs.
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 ensures the heater can effectively heat the area around the drain hole, preventing water freezing and ensuring reliable operation by allowing the screw tips to be protected and the heater to be fixed in the optimal position.
Implementation Method 1
a protective cap configured to cover a tip of the screw below, which projects downward from a lower surface of the bottom plate
Implementation Method 2
at one of the pair of flange portions, a caulked joint is formed to fix the one of the pair of flange portions to the raised portion
Implementation Method 3
the heater can be fixed to the surrounding area which surrounds a drain hole... ensuring the heater can effectively heat the area around the drain hole, preventing water freezing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a bottom plate having a drain hole formed therein to discharge drain water generated in a heat exchanger; a heater provided at an upper surface of the bottom plate; a heater fixing tool provided to fix the heater to the bottom plate, with the heater interposed between the heater fixing tool and the upper surface of the bottom plate; a screw fastened after inserted into a screw hole from above to fix the heater fixing tool to the bottom plate, the screw hole being provided in overlapping portions of the heater fixing tool and the bottom plate; and a protective cap configured to cover a tip of the screw from below, which projects downwards from a lower surface of the bottom plate. The screw hole is located in a surrounding area which surrounds the drain hole, and the heater fixing tool is fixed to the bottom plate in the surrounding area.