Indoor Unit Vane Shaft Locking Structure to Prevent Louver Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bathroom heaters, when one pivot shaft of the wind-direction-adjusting louver breaks, it cannot support the weight of the vane, causing it to fall into the indoor space, leading to operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus features vane shafts with engagement portions that restrict movement when one shaft breaks, preventing the vane from falling by engaging with the corresponding vane bearing engagement portions, thus maintaining operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pivot shafts are used to support the vane, then the vane can rotate smoothly for wind direction adjustment, but if one pivot shaft breaks it cannot support the weight of the vane causing the vane to fall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a preventive mechanism (engagement portion) that activates before complete failure occurs. When one pivot shaft breaks, the engagement portion automatically engages with the bearing housing to prevent the vane from falling, thus counteracting the harmful effect in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by designing the engagement portion that acts as a safety backup. This engagement portion is prepared in advance and automatically engages when the primary support (pivot shaft) fails, cushioning the impact and preventing the vane from falling into the indoor space.
2Reliability
If engagement portions are added to vane shafts and bearings, then vane falling is prevented when a shaft breaks, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the engagement portion directly into the existing pivot shaft structure, and the corresponding engagement feature into the bearing housing. This integration approach adds the safety function without requiring completely separate components, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement portion serves multiple functions: it acts as a normal structural component during operation and automatically becomes a safety support mechanism when the pivot shaft breaks. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated safety components.
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes vanes, vane shafts and, which are disposed at the ends of the vanes, vane bearings and, which hold the vane shafts and, and motors, each of which is mounted on a corresponding one of the vane shafts and each of which causes a corresponding one of the vanes to rotate. Each of the vane shafts is provided with a rib, and each of the vane bearings, which hold the corresponding vane shafts, is provided with a hook portion. When one of the vane shafts moves by a reference movement amount in a direction toward the corresponding vane shaft, the corresponding rib and the corresponding hook portion engage with each other, so that movement of the vane shaft is restricted.