Rear Filter Cleaning Rail for Indoor Air Conditioner Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indoor air conditioner units with rear-mounted filters face challenges in cleaning due to limited space and weight, requiring users to access filters from the back, which is inconvenient and inefficient, especially when filters need to be cleaned in multiple directions or when multiple filter types are used.
Innovation Solution
An indoor air conditioner unit with a filter cleaner that moves upward and downward, utilizing a guide rail system, mobile gear, guide rollers, and an agitator to separate and collect dust, allowing for easy cleaning of filters without repositioning them, and a dust container that can be easily inserted or drawn from the front for efficient dust management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is disposed at the air suction port in the rear of the cabinet, then the air suction function is improved, but the ease of cleaning the filter deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the filter to the front for easier cleaning, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the filter at the rear air suction port and bringing the cleaning mechanism to the filter. The filter cleaner assembly moves along the rear surface of the filter to perform cleaning operations, effectively reversing who moves - the filter stays fixed while the cleaner moves.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cleaner assembly acts as an intermediary between the user and the filter. It includes a dust container that collects dust, an agitator that loosens dust particles, and a suction fan that removes dust. This intermediary device simplifies the cleaning process by providing automated dust collection and removal mechanisms.
2Area of stationary object
If a filter cleaner capable of moving upward and downward is used, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cleaner assembly is designed to be movable along the rear surface of the filter in the upward and downward directions. The guide rail enables this dynamic movement, allowing the cleaner to cover different areas of the filter. This dynamic capability increases cleaning coverage while the guide rail provides structured guidance to manage the complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cleaner assembly is segmented into functional components: a dust container for collecting dust, an agitator for loosening dust particles, and a suction fan for removing dust. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while being integrated into a movable assembly that can service different areas of the filter.
3Ease of operation
If the filter arrangement is changed in the left and right direction, then the cleaning accessibility is improved, but the filter structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the filter arrangement to improve accessibility, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the filter in its fixed rear position and changing the arrangement of the cleaning mechanism. The filter cleaner assembly moves along the rear surface of the filter, providing accessibility without requiring filter repositioning or structural changes to the filter itself.
4Device complexity
If a suction method is used to remove foreign substances, then the cleaning process is simplified, but the cleaning effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Before the suction fan removes dust particles, the agitator performs a preliminary action by rotating against the filter surface to loosen and separate dust particles from the filter. This preliminary agitation action enhances the effectiveness of the subsequent suction process, ensuring that deeply embedded particles are loosened and can be effectively removed by the suction fan.
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 solution enables effective cleaning of filters in place, maintaining indoor air quality by removing dust and debris efficiently, simplifying the cleaning process, and allowing for easy maintenance without the need to reposition the unit or manually handle heavy cleaning equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a guide rail guiding the upward and downward movement of the filter cleaner
Implementation Method 2
a mobile gear for movement
Implementation Method 3
a guide roller bringing the filter cleaner into close contact with the filter
Implementation Method 4
an agitator for separating dust
Implementation Method 5
a suction fan for moving dust
Data Source
AI summary
The indoor unit for the air conditioner according to the present invention includes: a cabinet assembly forming an external appearance of the indoor unit and having an air suction port formed in a rear of the cabinet assembly; a filter module disposed at the air suction port to filter dust contained in air being introduced through the air suction port; a filter cleaner configured to move upward and downward in a rear of the filter module to remove foreign substances stuck in the filter module; a guide rail vertically disposed on one side of the filter module and configured to guide upward and downward movement of the filter cleaner.