Telescoping Air Plenum with Face Seal for Simplified Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning plenums face challenges in installation due to non-standard wall sizes, leading to difficulties in proper alignment and seal deformation, which affects the reliability of the sealing process.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping plenum design that includes an interior and exterior portion with a duct wall and flange-less outer surface, allowing for slidable engagement along an axial direction, and a sealing surface configuration for improved alignment and sealing engagement with the housing, facilitating easier installation and reliable sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional plenum with a wipe seal is used to seal against the housing, then sealing engagement is achieved, but installation difficulty increases due to alignment requirements and seal deformation resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The plenum is divided into multiple segments (first plenum segment and second plenum segment) that can be independently positioned and installed. This segmentation allows the plenum to be assembled in a manner that simplifies installation while maintaining sealing reliability through the dedicated sealing surface between segments and the housing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a multi-piece plenum is used to accommodate range of wall sizes, then adaptability to different wall sizes is improved, but installation difficulty increases due to alignment and seal deformation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The plenum incorporates a telescoping mechanism with sliding engagement between the first and second plenum segments along an axial direction. This dynamic structure allows the plenum to adjust its length to accommodate various wall thicknesses while maintaining proper alignment and sealing, thereby improving both adaptability and installation ease.
3Ease of manufacture
If the plenum extends through the wall with visible exterior portion, then functional requirements are met, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plenum utilizes a telescoping design where segments slide along the axial direction (length dimension) to adjust the visible exterior portion. This dimensional adjustment allows the plenum to minimize its visible extent through the wall while maintaining the necessary functional length for air flow and sealing, thereby improving aesthetic appearance without compromising functional performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning appliance may have a telescoping plenum attached to a housing of the air conditioning appliance. The telescoping plenum may be receivable within a wall channel defined by a structure wall along an axial direction. The telescoping plenum may include an interior portion and an exterior portion. The interior portion may include a duct wall and an outer flange extending radially outward from the duct wall. The interior portion may sealingly engage the housing along the axial direction in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction.