Rotating Air Discharge Body Layout for Compact Air Conditioners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners face challenges in compact design due to complex internal structures, making them difficult to optimize space utilization and maintain components like cross flow fans and fan motors efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner features a compact design with a hollow cylinder discharge body, cross flow fans, and fan motors mounted on upper and lower plates, along with a control unit that allows differential rotation speeds and directions for the discharge body and cross flow fan, enabling easier maintenance and enhanced space utilization by separating the discharge body and cross flow fan for service access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the discharge body and cross flow fan are disposed together inside the main body, then the air conditioner can discharge air-conditioned air, but the internal structure becomes complicated and the main body cannot become compact
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge body is separated from the main body and disposed outside, allowing independent installation and maintenance of the cross flow fan while simplifying the main body structure. The discharge body includes a discharge hole and is positioned to extend outward from the main body, creating distinct functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge body is positioned in a different spatial dimension relative to the main body, extending outward rather than being contained within. This dimensional arrangement allows the cross flow fan to be accessed from the outside while maintaining a compact main body structure.
2Ease of repair
If the cross flow fan is disposed inside the main body with the discharge body, then air can be blown through the discharge hole, but maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cross flow fan is extracted from the main body and disposed in the discharge body, which is positioned outside the main body. This extraction allows the fan to be accessed, removed, and maintained independently without disassembling the main body structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge body serves as an intermediary structure that houses the cross flow fan separately from the main body. This intermediate positioning provides easy access to the fan for maintenance while maintaining the integrity and compactness of the main body.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the discharge body is fixed at an upper portion of the air conditioner, then air can be discharged to the interior of a room, but the discharge direction cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge body is made rotatable about a vertical axis, transforming it from a fixed structure to a dynamic one. This rotational capability allows the discharge direction to be adjusted to different angles while maintaining a simple operational mechanism through rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge body is designed to perform multiple functions: it houses the cross flow fan, provides air discharge, and enables directional adjustment through rotation. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without significantly complicating the overall structure.
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
This configuration allows for a more compact air conditioner design, improved space utilization between the discharge body and heat exchanger, and easier maintenance of the cross flow fan and fan motor, enhancing operational efficiency and serviceability.
Implementation Method 1
a cross flow fan 60 rotatably positioned in a discharge passage D
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger 4 with which air sucked into the air suction hole 1 is heat-exchanged
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An air conditioner includes: a suction body having an air suction hole formed therein; a heat exchanger in which air sucked into the air suction hole is heat-exchanged; and a pair of blow discharge units through which the air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger is passed and discharged. In the air conditioner, each of the pair of blow discharge units includes: a discharge body in which an air inflow hole and an air discharge hole are formed to be spaced apart from each other, and a discharge passage is formed between the air inflow hole and the air discharge hole; a rotation mechanism for rotating the discharge body about a vertical center axis; a cross flow fan rotatably positioned in the discharge passage, the cross flow fan being disposed vertically long in the discharge passage; and a fan motor having a vertical rotational shaft for rotating the cross flow fan. When the cross flow fan is mounted between the discharge body and the heat exchanger, the air conditioner can become more compact, and the utilization of space between the discharge body and the heat exchanger can be enhanced.