Pivotable Air Wing for Air Conditioner Draft Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioners with additional air wings for draft suppression are costly, difficult to adjust, and compromise the visual design, while also limiting user preference for air-flow direction control and smooth operation.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner with a pivotable air wing that can be positioned to either integrate with the panel body or face the air-flow to adjust the air direction, using a wire-based or gear-based pivot mechanism for smooth operation and independent control of each outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an air wing is additionally installed as an option to suppress draft perception, then draft perception is avoided, but the device complexity increases and the visual impression of the panel body is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The air wing is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned in different states (extended to suppress draft, retracted to maintain aesthetics). This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt between conflicting requirements of draft suppression and visual appearance, resolving the contradiction by making the air wing configuration changeable based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The air wing serves multiple functions: it can be extended to suppress draft perception when needed, and retracted to maintain the visual impression of the panel body. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address both the harmful effect of draft and the aesthetic requirement, eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an air wing is fixed at a high position near the ceiling to suppress draft, then draft perception is avoided, but the ease of operation deteriorates as it cannot be readily adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The air wing is designed with movable capability, allowing users to adjust its position between extended and retracted states. This dynamic design enables easy operation when draft suppression is needed, while maintaining aesthetic appearance when not needed, thus resolving the contradiction between fixed position effectiveness and operational flexibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If priority is given to suppressing draft perception with a wide air-flow-direction control louver, then draft perception is avoided, but the adaptability deteriorates as it cannot allow both draft suppression and draft perception enjoyment according to user preference
Solution Approach 1:
The air wing's movable design allows it to be positioned dynamically based on user preference. When extended, it suppresses draft perception; when retracted, it allows draft perception to occur. This adaptability enables the system to accommodate different user needs and preferences, resolving the contradiction between draft suppression and user choice.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the air wing between extended and retracted states to adapt to different operational requirements. This parameter change enables the system to switch between draft suppression mode and aesthetic mode, providing versatility and adaptability to different user preferences.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is an air conditioner with which the controllability of an air-flow direction by means of a dedicated louver and suppression of draft perception at the louver position can be achieved simultaneously and that includes an air wing that has a simple configuration, that operates smoothly, and that does not detract from the external design. The air conditioner includes an outlet (14) that is provided on a panel body (3) and is open in the downward direction and also includes a louver (15) that is provided pivotally at the outlet (14). The air conditioner further includes an air wing (17) that is provided outside the outlet (14) of the panel body (3) and that is pivotable between a withdrawn position, at which the air wing (17) constitutes a common plane with the panel body (3), and a louver-direction position, at which the air wing (17) faces the air-conditioning air flow blown out from the outlet (14). The air conditioner also includes a pivot mechanism for pivoting the air wing (17) between the two positions. Thus, it is possible to pivot the air wing (17) selectively between the withdrawn position and the louver-direction position at which draft perception caused by the air-conditioning air flow will be avoided.