Ventilating Fan Switch Integration to Maintain Air Path Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilating fans with switches require additional components like switch boxes and lead wires, increasing costs and narrowing the air path area, which is not ideal for airflow adjustment.
Innovation Solution
The ventilating fan design integrates a switch directly into the junction box, eliminating the need for a separate switch box and lead wire by using protruded sheets, extension parts, and a recess to securely mount the junction box within the frame, allowing for convenient operation without narrowing the air path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate switch box and lead wire are added to mount a switch, then the switch can be disposed, but the cost increases and the air path area is narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the switch mounting function directly into the junction box structure. The junction box is designed with an integrated switch mounting surface and built-in lead wire routing channels, eliminating the need for a separate switch box and external lead wires. This consolidation maintains the air path area while enabling switch installation.
2Ease of operation
If a separate switch box and lead wire are added to mount a switch, then the switch can be disposed, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (junction box, switch mounting structure, and lead wire routing) into a single integrated junction box assembly. This reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, stored, and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while still providing switch mounting functionality.
3Device complexity
If the junction box is integrated with the frame, then the structure is simplified, but the junction box needs secure mounting within the frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the junction box to be nested within the frame structure. The junction box is positioned inside the frame's internal cavity and secured using mounting brackets that attach to the frame's inner surfaces. This nesting arrangement simplifies the overall structure while ensuring reliable mounting through the hierarchical integration of components.
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilating fan includes a frame, a casing in which a fan motor is mounted, an adapter connected to an air outlet of the casing, a switch, and a junction box for connection of electric wires, where the frame has a bottom surface formed with an air inlet and a side surface provided with an air outlet, wherein any one of surfaces of the junction box is formed with an opening for mounting of the switch and the switch is fixed directly to the opening of the junction box. With the ventilating fan according to the embodiments of the present invention, although a switch is disposed, the cost is not increased and the area of an air path is not narrowed, and the switch can also be conveniently operated.