Outdoor Unit Partition Structure for Compressor Noise Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outdoor units of air-conditioning apparatuses suffer from noise leakage due to vibrations and noise generated by the compressor, as the mechanical and electric component chambers are not adequately isolated, leading to sound transmission through gaps between metal partitions.

Innovation Solution

The outdoor unit incorporates a housing with a compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, air-sending device, electric component box, and a dividing plate that separates the mechanical and electric component chambers, along with an electric component mount supported by a support part along the housing's outer circumference, reducing airflow and noise leakage by minimizing gaps and enhancing sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the mechanical chamber and electric component chamber are divided by separately formed metal plates, then the noise isolation between chambers is improved, but gaps between the metal plates cause noise leakage and vibration transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise leakage from mechanical chamberVSAvoidgap between partition plates
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the partition plate and the electric component box into a single integrated structure. The electric component box serves dual functions: housing electric components and acting as the partition wall between the mechanical chamber and electric component chamber. This eliminates gaps between separate metal plates while maintaining effective noise isolation and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple separately formed metal plates are used to divide chambers, then the noise isolation structure is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise leakage from mechanical chamberVSAvoidnumber of partition parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional elements into a single integrated electric component box structure that serves as both the housing for electric components and the partition wall. This reduces the number of separate parts from multiple metal plates to a single unified component, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining noise isolation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electric component box is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it houses electric components, acts as a partition wall between chambers, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while achieving the same noise isolation effect as multiple separate plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the electric component box contacts multiple surfaces of the outer box, then the noise isolation is improved, but the ease of installation and maintenance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise leakage from mechanical chamberVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the housing into separable sections with the electric component box positioned to contact only essential surfaces. This segmentation allows the electric component box to be accessed and removed independently for maintenance while maintaining noise isolation through controlled contact points with the outer box structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3425292B1Outdoor unit for air conditioner
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3425292B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3425292B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3425292B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a housing, a compressor disposed in the housing, an outdoor heat exchanger through which refrigerant supplied from the compressor flows, an air-sending device that sends air to the outdoor heat exchanger, an electric component box including an electric component that controls the compressor, a dividing plate that separates the compressor from an air-sending chamber accommodating the air-sending device, an electric component mount disposed above the compressor to partition a mechanical chamber accommodating the compressor from an electric component chamber accommodating the electric component box, and a support part for the electric component mount provided on an inner wall of the housing along an outer circumferential shape of the electric component mount to project toward an interior of the housing.