Air Conditioner Swing Assembly Fixing and Rotation Limit Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air conditioner swing assemblies face difficulties in easy detachment, inaccurate mounting, and lack of stability due to unreasonable fixing mechanisms and the absence of limit adjustment mechanisms, leading to reduced service life and labor-intensive adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A swing assembly with a fixing mechanism featuring a deformable conical head and grooves for secure assembly and disassembly, combined with a limit adjustment mechanism to prevent excessive rotation and ensure stable positioning of the swing blades, facilitating easy and accurate mounting and adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If snaps and snapping slots are used for fixing the swing assembly to the air outlet, then the mounting is easy, but the detachment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting easeVSAvoiddetachment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing mechanism is divided into separate components: a fixing structure with snapping slots on the air outlet and corresponding snaps on the swing assembly. This segmentation allows independent optimization of mounting and detachment functions, resolving the contradiction between easy mounting and easy detachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the swing assembly is fixedly connected to the air outlet, then the mounting is simple, but the mounting position becomes inaccurate and the connection is not firm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting simplicityVSAvoidmounting position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing structure acts as an intermediary component between the air outlet and swing assembly. It provides precise positioning features (snapping slots with specific geometries) that guide the swing assembly into the correct position, while the snap-fit mechanism ensures firm connection, thus resolving the contradiction between simple mounting and precise positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If no limit adjustment mechanism is provided between the swing assembly and air outlet, then the structure is simple, but the swing blade collides with other components after excessive rotation, reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The limit adjustment mechanism prevents excessive rotation of the swing blade by providing mechanical stops or limits before collision can occur. This preliminary protective action prevents damage to components, extending the service life of the swing assembly while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Device complexity

If no limit adjustment mechanism is provided, then the structure is simple, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming and laborious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The limit adjustment mechanism pre-establishes the correct rotation limits and positioning points for the swing blade. During adjustment, the operator only needs to rotate the swing assembly to the predetermined limits indicated by the mechanism, rather than manually finding the correct position. This preliminary preparation of adjustment references significantly reduces adjustment time and labor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3957918B1Indoor unit for air conditioner and air conditioner
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3957918B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3957918B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3957918B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an indoor unit for an air conditioner and an air conditioner. The indoor unit includes a swing assembly and an air conditioner housing. The air conditioner housing is provided with an air outlet. The swing assembly includes a plurality of swing blades, a first link, and a first mounting plate. The plurality of swing blades are spaced apart in a length direction of the first mounting plate, parallel to each other, and all connected to the first link. The first link is configured to drive the plurality of swing blades to rotate about an axial direction, and the first mounting plate is fixedly connected to the air outlet through a fixing mechanism.