Water-receiving tray structure for indoor unit of air conditioner, indoor unit and air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air conditioners, the water-receiving tray located below the heat exchanger in a transverse arrangement configuration experiences issues with water drainage due to wind blowing the water, especially when the tray is full, leading to potential water collection and instability.
Innovation Solution
A water-receiving tray structure with an elevating member and a fixed member is introduced, where the elevating member, comprising a threaded hole and bolt, supports the water-receiving tray to incline it, and the fixed member, including a spring or buckle plate, stabilizes it, ensuring smooth water discharge and preventing wind from blowing the water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the water-receiving tray is arranged horizontally below the heat exchanger in transverse arrangement, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but water cannot be drained smoothly and wind blows water when the tray is full
Solution Approach 1:
The water-receiving tray is designed to be tiltable around a rotation axis, transforming from a static horizontal structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The tray can rotate between horizontal and inclined positions, allowing it to adapt between easy manufacturing (horizontal) and reliable drainage (inclined) requirements during different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the water-receiving tray is changed from 0 degrees (horizontal) to a positive angle (inclined) through the tilting mechanism. This parameter change enables the tray to achieve proper water drainage slope while maintaining structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and drainage reliability.
2Device complexity
If the water-receiving tray is arranged horizontally, then the structure is simple, but water accumulates and wind blows the water when a lot of water stores in the tray
Solution Approach 1:
The tiltable water-receiving tray provides a dynamic solution that maintains low device complexity while improving water stability. The simple rotation mechanism allows the tray to tilt and drain water before wind can blow it, preventing water accumulation and instability without adding complex drainage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-receiving tray tilts automatically or periodically to drain water before the wind blowing condition occurs. This preliminary drainage action prevents water accumulation that would otherwise lead to instability and wind-blown water, maintaining both simplicity and stability.
3Ease of operation
If the water-receiving tray is arranged horizontally below the heat exchanger, then the installation is simple, but the blowing direction is parallel to the tray arrangement causing poor water drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The water-receiving tray can dynamically adjust its inclination angle to optimize water drainage efficiency while maintaining simple installation. The tilting mechanism creates a slope that facilitates water flow toward the drainage outlet, resolving the contradiction between easy installation and drainage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the inclination angle parameter of the water-receiving tray from horizontal to inclined, the system achieves effective water drainage slope without complicating the installation process. The adjustable angle allows optimization of drainage efficiency while keeping the installation procedure relatively simple.
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
The inclined water-receiving tray facilitates easy water discharge, preventing serious water collection and wind-induced water movement, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and stability of the air conditioner's indoor unit.
Implementation Method 1
the fixed member includes a spring, a first end of the spring is connected to the air outlet side of the water-receiving tray
Implementation Method 2
The inclined water-receiving tray make the water easily discharged from a water outlet at the air outlet side
Data Source
AI summary
A water receiving in an air conditioner is disclosed. Further, a water-receiving tray structure for an indoor unit of an air conditioner, an indoor unit and an air conditioner. The water-receiving tray structure includes a water-receiving tray, an elevating member and a fixed member; the indoor unit having a casing with a first end defining a return-air inlet and a second end opposite to the first end and defining the air outlet, the water-receiving tray being arranged in a direction from the return-air inlet to the air outlet and being located below a heat exchanger of the indoor unit; the elevating member being arranged at an air outlet end of the indoor unit and supporting an air outlet side of the water-receiving tray; the fixed member being arranged in the indoor unit and being connected to an air outlet side of the indoor unit.