Air Conditioner Vane Module Drive Link Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wall-mounted air conditioners require separate drive modules for each vane, leading to increased space and cost, noise, vibration, and dew condensation issues due to protruding drive components in the air passage.
Innovation Solution
A dual vane structure with a single drive motor system, utilizing a vane module with a drive link and motor coupling parts to rotate both vanes, minimizing the size of the drive module and reducing protrusion into the air passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate drive modules are provided for each vane, then each vane can be independently controlled, but the space required increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drive functions into a single integrated drive module that controls both the first vane and second vane. The drive module includes a motor, transmission mechanism, and control unit that work together to independently position multiple vanes, eliminating the need for separate drive modules for each vane while maintaining independent control capability.
2Ease of operation
If drive components protrude into the air passage, then vane control is achieved, but noise occurs and dew condensation happens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive components from the air passage area and relocates them to a dedicated drive module housing. The transmission mechanism and motor are positioned in a compartment separate from the airflow path, with only necessary control elements exposed. This extraction eliminates the source of noise and prevents dew condensation on drive components while maintaining full vane control functionality.
3Area of stationary object
If a single drive module controls multiple vanes, then space and cost are reduced, but the drive module complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drive module into functional sub-components: a motor unit, a transmission mechanism with gear train, a control unit with position sensors, and a housing structure. Each segment performs a specific function and can be independently designed, manufactured, and maintained. This segmentation manages complexity while achieving space and cost reductions through integration.
4Ease of operation
If physical components are disposed in the discharge flow path, then vane operation is enabled, but flow force of air is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transparent or translucent vane material that acts as an intermediary between the drive mechanism and the airflow. The vane transmits the mechanical motion from the drive module while being visually imperceptible in the airflow path, thus maintaining air flow force while enabling vane operation for flow direction control.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and the indoor unit includes: a case installed indoors and having an outlet formed in a front or bottom thereof; and a vane module disposed at the case and guiding a flow direction of air discharged from the outlet, and the vane module includes: a first vane disposed in the outlet and rotatably installed on a forward side of a discharge direction of discharged air; a second vane disposed in the outlet and rotatably installed; two motor coupling parts disposed at both ends of the first vane and the second vane, respectively, wherein two motors each have at least a portion of which is exposed to the outlet; a vane motor assembled with at least one of the two motor coupling parts and providing a driving force; a drive link assembled to be rotatable rotatably to the motor coupling part, rotated by the driving force of the vane motor, and transmitting the driving force to the first vane and the second vane; a first vane link assembled to be relatively rotatable with the drive link and the motor coupling part on a forward side of the drive link to thereby rotate the first vane; and a second vane link assembled to be relatively rotatable with the drive link and the motor coupling part on a forward side of the drive link to thereby rotate the second vane, and the first vane link and the second vane link are assembled in a line with the drive link on a forward side of the drive link. Accordingly, a size of the vane itself may be maximized by minimizing a space occupied by a drive module.