Indoor Unit Pipe Cover With Impact Absorption and Capacity Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pipe covers in air conditioner indoor units are prone to breakage and damage during transportation or conveyance due to direct impact loads, and require separate designs for different heat exchanger capacities, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A pipe cover design with an impact absorbing portion, such as a U-shaped curved section, and knockout portions that allow for adjustable fitting to accommodate various heat exchanger capacities, reducing the need for multiple pipe cover designs and enhancing protection against accidental electric shocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pipe cover is fixedly disposed between the end portion of the indoor heat exchanger and the unit body, then the pipe cover can prevent dew-condensed water from splashing to the surroundings, but the pipe cover is prone to breakage and damage when the indoor unit falls down during transportation or conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe cover incorporates a cushioning portion with a curved surface that can elastically deform to absorb impact energy. This beforehand cushioning structure is designed to mitigate damage from potential falls during transportation or conveyance, while the fixed disposal between the heat exchanger and unit body maintains the dew-condensed water prevention function.
2Reliability
If the pipe cover is designed to match the specific shape of the heat exchanger front end, then it can effectively cover the heat exchanger piping, but different pipe covers are required when the heat exchanger capacity is altered
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe cover is designed with a standardized shape that can universally accommodate different heat exchanger capacities. By making the pipe cover capacity-independent, a single design can be used across multiple heat exchanger sizes, improving adaptability while maintaining effective coverage through proper positioning and dimensions.
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
The impact absorbing portion effectively reduces damage from falls, and the adjustable design allows a single pipe cover to fit different capacity heat exchangers, reducing production costs and enhancing safety by eliminating the need for separate protective covers.
Implementation Method 1
an impact absorbing portion provided at an appropriate position between the end fixing portion and the counter-end fixing portion of the pipe cover... this impact load can be absorbed and reduced by the impact absorbing portion of the pipe cover
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Provided is an indoor unit (1) of an air conditioner capable of preventing breakage and damage to a pipe cover (13) and to other equipment when the indoor unit (1) falls down, and also capable of providing the pipe cover (13) commonly used for a change in capacity of the indoor heat exchanger (4). The indoor unit (1) of an air conditioner includes: a unit body (2) in which an indoor heat exchanger (4) is disposed; and a pipe cover (13) that covers a front of an exposed portion of heat exchanger piping (12) at an end portion of the indoor heat exchanger (4), and that prevents water drops dew-condensed on a surface of the heat exchanger piping (12) from splashing, wherein the pipe cover (13) includes an end fixing portion (15) fixedly disposed to the heat exchanger piping (12) of the indoor heat exchanger (4); a counter-end fixing portion (16) fixedly disposed to the unit body (2), or to other equipment fixedly disposed in the unit body (2); and an impact absorbing portion (17) provided at an appropriate position between the end fixing portion (15) and the counter-end fixing portion (16) of the pipe cover (13). Figure 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E