Segmented Soundproof Material Assembly for Air Conditioner Compressors

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing soundproof materials for compressors in outdoor air-conditioning units are prone to burning during brazing and fail to fully cover the compressor due to interference from refrigerant pipes and other components, leading to noise leakage.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves attaching a lower soundproof material to the compressor before brazing and connecting refrigerant pipes, and then attaching an upper soundproof material after pipe connection, ensuring complete coverage and preventing noise leakage. This method enhances workability and efficiency during assembly while maintaining effective noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If soundproof material is attached after brazing of compressor and refrigerant pipe, then burning of soundproof material is prevented, but soundproof material cannot fully cover compressor due to interference from refrigerant pipe and other components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of soundproof material burningVSAvoidcoverage completeness of soundproof material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The soundproof material is divided into multiple segments: a first soundproof material attached to the lower portion of the compressor before brazing, and a second soundproof material attached to the upper portion after brazing. This segmentation allows each part to be optimally positioned without interference from other components, achieving both complete coverage and protection from burning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first soundproof material is attached to the lower portion of the compressor before the brazing operation. This preliminary action ensures that the lower portion is protected from burning and establishes a foundation for subsequent attachment of the second soundproof material, enabling complete coverage that would be impossible if attachment waited until after brazing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If soundproof material is inserted in lateral direction of compressor, then attachment is possible, but other refrigerant circuit components become obstacles to the work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment feasibility of soundproof materialVSAvoidinterference from refrigerant circuit components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inserting the soundproof material only in the lateral direction, the solution utilizes vertical dimension by dividing attachment into lower portion (before brazing) and upper portion (after brazing). This dimensional approach bypasses the lateral obstacles posed by refrigerant circuit components and simplifies the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If soundproof material sits on compressor leg portions, then complete coverage of compressor is achieved, but it becomes difficult to visually confirm proper attachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage completeness of soundproof materialVSAvoidvisual confirmation of attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The soundproof material incorporates a protruding portion that extends beyond the compressor leg portions, creating a visible indicator. This protruding portion allows workers to easily confirm that the soundproof material is properly positioned and completely covering the compressor, solving the detection difficulty while maintaining complete coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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 approach improves the attachment workability and assembly efficiency of soundproof materials, ensuring complete coverage of the compressor and reducing noise leakage, while preventing the soundproof material from being damaged during brazing.

Implementation Method 1

a sound absorption layer on the inner side and single or multiple sound insulation layers on the outer side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

single or multiple sound insulation layers on the outer side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound insulation: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentEP3561400B1Air conditioner outdoor unit and method for assembling air conditioner outdoor unit
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3561400B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3561400B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3561400B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus enabling a soundproof material to correctly cover a compressor and having enhanced assembling efficiency and a method for assembling the outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus are provided. The outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes the compressor installed inside a casing and the soundproof material covering at least the compressor. The soundproof material includes a lower soundproof material surrounding a lateral periphery of a lower portion of the compressor and an upper soundproof material surrounding a lateral periphery of an upper portion of the compressor.