Rotatable Wind Visor for Indoor Unit Airflow Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing indoor air conditioner units with wind visors have complex structures, are difficult to install and maintain, and can be aesthetically compromised when wind visors are removed, leading to inefficient air flow and potential noise issues due to the fixed nature of the visors and the need for separate fixing structures.

Innovation Solution

An indoor air conditioner unit design featuring a panel with suction and discharge holes, a rotatable vane for adjusting air flow, and a detachable corner cover with a wind visor that includes a guide plate and fixing parts for adjusting the discharge angle of air, allowing for improved air flow and easier installation and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wind visor is fixed to the indoor unit, then the air flow can be guided uniformly, but the exterior is deteriorated and the structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow guidanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wind visor is divided into a connection part and a wind visor plate that can be separated. The connection part includes a mounting part with mounting holes and a connection hole, while the wind visor plate is a separate component that attaches to it. This segmentation allows the wind visor to be easily installed or removed without damaging the main body, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining air flow guidance functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a wind visor is installed on an existing indoor unit, then air flow can be controlled, but the main body must be punched and deformed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow controlVSAvoidinstallation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connection part is designed with a mounting part that has mounting holes positioned to align with discharge holes in the main body. This allows the wind visor to be installed on existing indoor units without requiring punching or deformation of the main body, as the mounting holes can be aligned with existing discharge hole positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection part serves multiple functions: it provides mounting holes for attachment to the main body, includes a connection hole for attaching the wind visor plate, and can be installed on various existing indoor unit models without requiring modifications to the main body structure.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If a joint structure is provided for installing the wind visor, then the wind visor can be attached, but the indoor unit becomes complicated in structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind visor installationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection part is segmented into a mounting part with mounting holes and a connection hole. This simple segmented structure allows the wind visor to be attached without requiring complex joint structures, multiple fastening mechanisms, or elaborate connection systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection part is extracted as a separate, simple component with essential mounting features. By taking out only the necessary mounting functionality and eliminating unnecessary structural elements, the design achieves wind visor installation capability without adding structural complexity to the indoor unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the wind visor is rotatable without a fixing structure, then the connection is flexible, but the rotation angle may change due to wind strength or collision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation flexibilityVSAvoidrotation angle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection hole in the connection part allows the wind visor plate to rotate freely for adjustment purposes. This dynamic capability enables users to change the rotation angle according to their needs while maintaining the ability to fix the angle when desired.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The connection hole acts as an intermediary mechanism that provides both rotation freedom and potential for angle fixation. This simple intermediary structure allows the wind visor to be rotated for adjustment while maintaining the ability to stabilize at desired angles, balancing flexibility and reliability without requiring complex fixing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design enhances air flow efficiency by guiding discharged air laterally, reduces noise, and maintains a clean aesthetic by allowing the wind visor to be easily installed or removed without damaging the unit's exterior.

Implementation Method 1

a guide plate disposed, in a state of the indoor unit being mounted to the ceiling, under the discharge hole and having a rounded inner surface to guide the air discharged from the discharge hole in a lateral direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance:

Implementation Method 2

a vane mounted on the panel and a motor assembly disposed on at least one end of both sides of the vane for rotating the vane to open or close the discharge hole or adjust a flow of discharged air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Data Source

PatentEP2899472B1Indoor unit for air conditioner having wind visors
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2899472B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2899472B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2899472B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided are a wind visor and an indoor unit for an air conditioner having the wind visor. The wind visor has a shape corresponding to that of a discharge hole and is directly rotatably mounted on a bottom surface of the indoor unit to guide discharged air, thereby providing a more simplified structure. A fixing part on which the wind visor is installed is provided in the indoor unit, and the wind visor is rotatably coupled to the fixing part through the simplified structure.