Vane Shaft Joint Flange for Dew-Safe Indoor Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air-conditioning apparatus indoor units, dew formation on the vane motor due to cool air flowing through a gap between the vane shaft and air passage wall can lead to malfunction when the flange portion and protruding end portion contact each other, as the gap is reduced to achieve a sealed state.
Innovation Solution
An annular gap is maintained between the vane shaft and air passage wall, with a flange portion on the shaft joint member radially extending outward from the center, diffusing air away from the vane motor, preventing dew adhesion without affecting the wind direction vane's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between the flange portion and protruding end portion of the air passage wall is reduced to achieve a sealed state, then dew formation on the vane motor is prevented, but the flange portion and protruding end portion may come into contact during rotation, causing malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
A seal member (elastomeric seal) is introduced as an intermediary component between the flange portion and the protruding end portion of the air passage wall. This seal member fills the gap and prevents cool air leakage without requiring the flange portion to contact the air passage wall, thereby preventing dew formation while maintaining reliable wind direction vane operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between the shaft and bearing portion of the air passage wall is sealed, then cool air flow to the vane motor is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex and may affect rotation smoothness
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member serves as an intermediary element that blocks the gap between the shaft and bearing portion, preventing cool air from reaching the vane motor without requiring complex structural modifications to the shaft joint member.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is made of elastomeric material that forms a flexible sealing barrier. This flexible seal effectively blocks cool air flow through the gap while maintaining simplicity in the overall structure and not interfering with the rotation smoothness of the wind direction vane.
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 prevents dew from adhering to the vane motor while ensuring the wind direction vane's functionality by diffusing air away from the motor, thus maintaining the unit's performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the flange portion radially extends outward from a center, thereby causing air that flows toward the vane motor through the annular gap to be diffused outward relative to a direction toward the vane motor
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a wind direction vane, a vane motor, an air passage wall, and a shaft joint member. Between a vane shaft and the air passage wall, an annular gap is provided. The shaft joint member includes a flange portion between the air passage wall and the vane motor. The flange portion radially extends outward from a center, thereby causing air that flows toward the vane motor through the annular gap to be diffused outward relative to a direction toward the vane motor.