Vehicle Air Conditioning Case Design for External Component Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air conditioning apparatuses require cumbersome processes for replacing components other than the evaporator, as they need to be accessed from within the vehicle interior, complicating maintenance and repair.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air conditioning apparatus design that includes a separating plate with an air conditioning opening, allowing the air conditioning case and fan unit to be accessed from the outside, enabling the evaporator, heater, fan motor, and air suction part to be attached or detached through this opening, simplifying the replacement process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If components are accessed from within the vehicle interior, then the air conditioning system can be maintained, but the replacement process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning case is divided into a body portion and a cover portion that can be separated. The cover portion is detachably attached to the body portion, allowing access to internal components (evaporator, heater, fan unit) from the vehicle exterior through the air conditioning opening, eliminating the need to access components from inside the vehicle interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion is extracted as a separate detachable component from the air conditioning case. This extraction creates an accessible opening from the exterior, allowing components to be removed and replaced without disassembling the entire instrument panel or accessing from the vehicle interior.
2Ease of operation
If the instrument panel is detached to access components, then maintenance can be performed, but the work process becomes complex and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning case is segmented into detachable cover and body portions. This segmentation allows the cover to be removed independently to access components, avoiding the need to detach the entire instrument panel and reducing the complexity of the maintenance process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion is taken out as a separate accessible element. By extracting this cover, direct access to the evaporator, heater, and fan unit is achieved from the exterior, eliminating the complex multi-step process of detaching the instrument panel.
3Reliability
If components are arranged in the air conditioning case, then the system functions properly, but external access for replacement is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning case is divided into a body portion that houses the components and a separate cover portion. This segmentation maintains the functional arrangement of components within the case while providing external accessibility through the detachable cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover portion is extracted as a removable element, creating an external access path to the components arranged in the case body. This allows the evaporator, heater, and fan unit to be accessed from the exterior without compromising their functional arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes an air conditioning case including a case body having a case opening that is open to an air conditioning opening, and a case cover that can open and close the case opening. The case cover can be attached/detached to/from the case body via the air conditioning opening outside of the vehicle interior. An evaporator and a heater can be attached/detached to/from the case body via the air conditioning opening outside of the vehicle interior, while the case cover is removed from the case body to open the case opening.