Vertical Air Conditioner Sliding Panel Design to Prevent Dust Ingress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical air conditioners with front air outflow designs require separate panels and air guide plates, leading to aesthetic issues, dust ingress, and potential deformation affecting performance and lifespan due to the need for precise alignment and assembly.

Innovation Solution

A vertical air conditioner design featuring sliding panels driven by gear and rack mechanisms, eliminating the need for an air guide plate by forming and closing the air outlet through panel movement, ensuring accurate alignment and preventing dust ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate air guide plate is used to open and close the air outlet, then the air outlet can be controlled, but the appearance aesthetics deteriorates and dust ingress increases due to gaps between the air guide plate and panel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outlet controlVSAvoidappearance aesthetics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air guide plate function directly into the panel structure. The panel itself is designed with movable portions that can open and close the air outlet, eliminating the need for a separate air guide plate component. This integration ensures that when the air outlet is closed, there are no gaps between separate parts, maintaining appearance aesthetics while still enabling air outlet control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If a separate air guide plate is used to open and close the air outlet, then the air outlet can be controlled, but dust ingress increases due to gaps between the air guide plate and panel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outlet controlVSAvoiddust ingress
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air guide plate function directly into the panel structure. The panel itself is designed with movable portions that can open and close the air outlet, eliminating the need for a separate air guide plate component. This integration ensures that when the air outlet is closed, there are no gaps between separate parts, maintaining appearance aesthetics while still enabling air outlet control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a separate air guide plate is used to open and close the air outlet, then the air outlet can be controlled, but the service life deteriorates due to deformation from alternating hot and cold wind

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outlet controlVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air guide plate function directly into the panel structure. The panel itself is designed with movable portions that can open and close the air outlet, eliminating the need for a separate air guide plate component. This integration ensures that when the air outlet is closed, there are no gaps between separate parts, maintaining appearance aesthetics while still enabling air outlet control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If a separate air guide plate is used to open and close the air outlet, then the air outlet can be controlled, but the device complexity increases due to separate panel and air guide plate assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outlet controlVSAvoidpanel and air guide plate assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air guide plate function directly into the panel structure. The panel itself is designed with movable portions that can open and close the air outlet, eliminating the need for a separate air guide plate component. This integration ensures that when the air outlet is closed, there are no gaps between separate parts, maintaining appearance aesthetics while still enabling air outlet control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design enhances aesthetics, prevents dust entry, and extends the service life of internal components by eliminating gaps and deformation issues, while maintaining effective air supply performance.

Implementation Method 1

a motor (52), a gear (53) rotatably connected to the motor (52), and a rack (51) meshing with the gear (53)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a first rack (51) formed at one end of the first panel (2) close to the sliding groove (11); a motor (52) formed on the air conditioner main body (1); and a first gear (53) rotatably connected to the first motor (52) and meshing with the first rack (51)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear and rack mechanical transmission: Rack and Pinion

Data Source

PatentEP3193087B1Vertical air conditioner
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP LTD
  • EP3193087B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3193087B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3193087B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a vertical air conditioner, comprising an air conditioner body (100), which air conditioner body (100) comprises an air conditioner main body (1), an air supply duct being formed in the air conditioner main body (1), wherein the air conditioner further comprises a first panel (2) and a second panel (3), and a first panel driving mechanism (5) and a second panel driving mechanism for respectively driving the first panel (2) and the second panel (3) to slide away from each other to form an air outlet (4) between the first panel (2) and the second panel (3) and an air outflow end of the air supply duct when the air conditioner is powered on, and for respectively slide the first panel (2) and the second panel (3) to slide towards each other to close the air outlet (4) when the air conditioner is powered off. In the vertical air conditioner, there is no need to provide an air outlet directly on the panel, and there is also no need to additionally arrange an air guide plate on the air outlet, thereby preventing occurrence of problems such as poor appearance caused by the arrangement of the air guide plate, and ingress of dust due to likely generated gaps.