Wall-mounted air conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wall-mounted air conditioners face challenges in improving workability during installation, reducing depth size, and enhancing energy saving performance due to space constraints and interference between installation members and the heat exchanger, which limits the size and volume of the heat exchanger.

Innovation Solution

A wall-mounted air conditioner design featuring a holding member that rotates upward and is stored within the main body casing, allowing for an inclined installation state without interfering with the piping space, enabling a larger heat exchanger cross-sectional area and efficient use of depth storage space, while reducing the unit's depth size and improving installation workability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a holding member is provided on the back side of the heat exchanger to support the interior unit during installation, then installation workability is improved, but the heat exchanger cross-sectional area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation workabilityVSAvoidheat exchanger cross-sectional area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The holding member is positioned in the second side end portion of the main body casing, utilizing the lateral dimension rather than the depth dimension behind the heat exchanger. This spatial repositioning allows the holding member to support the unit during installation without encroaching on the heat exchanger's cross-sectional area, thereby resolving the contradiction between installation workability and heat exchanger size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the holding member is fixed in an extended position to facilitate piping work, then installation workability is improved, but the depth size of the interior unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiping workabilityVSAvoiddepth size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The holding member is designed to be rotatable about a horizontal shaft, transitioning between an extended position during installation that facilitates piping work, and a retracted position within the main body casing for the final installed state. This dynamic capability allows the holding member to provide installation support without permanently increasing the depth size of the interior unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The holding member is contained within the main body casing when not in use, with the casing serving as a storage space for the holding member. This nesting arrangement allows the holding member to be stored inside the main body, preventing any permanent increase in the depth size of the interior unit while still providing support functionality during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the locking unit is disposed at the upper portion of the mounting plate for stable locking, then installation stability is improved, but the holding member positioning becomes more constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation stabilityVSAvoidholding member positioning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is segmented between two distinct components: the locking unit disposed at the upper portion of the mounting plate for stable locking, and the holding member disposed at the second side end portion for lateral support during installation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, maintaining installation stability while simplifying the positioning requirements for the holding member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 workability during installation, reduces the depth size of the indoor unit, and improves energy saving performance by allowing a larger heat exchanger volume and easier piping work, while maintaining stability and reducing material costs.

Implementation Method 1

The holding member includes a rotational shaft unit using the horizontal shaft as an axis. The holding member rotates upward to be contained in the main body casing.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotation:

Data Source

PatentEP4040054B1Wall-mounted air conditioner
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4040054B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4040054B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~4
  • EP4040054B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A wall-mounted air conditioner includes: a main body casing including first and second side end portions disposed respectively on opposite sides to each other in a horizontal direction, and a central portion disposed between the first and second side end portions; a heat exchanger disposed in the central portion of the main body casing; a fan motor disposed in the first side end portion of the main body casing; a mounting plate having a locking unit for locking the main body casing, the locking unit being disposed at an upper portion of the mounting plate; and a holding member configured to hold main body casing in an inclined state where the main body casing is locked to the locking unit during installation. The main body casing includes a holding member containing unit configured to contain the holding member, and a rotational supporting unit having a horizontal shaft engaged with the holding member. The holding member is disposed in a position, the position being in the second side end portion of the main body casing and on a side of a back surface of the main body casing. The holding member includes a rotational shaft unit using the horizontal shaft as an axis. The holding member rotates upward to be contained in the main body casing.