Wind direction adjustment mechanism, indoor unit of air conditioner, and air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wind direction adjustment mechanism in air-conditioning apparatuses requires excessive force to hold large angle positions due to significant elastic restoring forces, leading to unintentional changes in wind direction plate angles, necessitating additional force for manipulation and potential user discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A wind direction adjustment mechanism featuring a support plate with a holding protrusion, a fixed plate, a movable plate, and elastic wind direction plates, where the angle holding portion includes side wall portions and partition wall portions with integrated angle adjustment and restricting portions, allowing for secure angle holding and easy manipulation by guiding the movable plate's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protrusion portion is enlarged to increase holding force, then the angle holding reliability is improved, but the manipulation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is segmented into multiple recessed portions (first, second, third recessed portions) arranged in the left-and-right direction. This segmentation allows the protrusion portion to engage with different recessed portions at different angles, providing reliable holding at multiple positions without requiring a single large holding structure that would be difficult to manipulate.
Solution Approach 2:
Different recessed portions are positioned at different locations to provide localized holding points. The first recessed portion is positioned for small angles, the second for medium angles, and the third for large angles. This local quality approach ensures that each angle range has an optimized holding position, maintaining reliability while keeping the manipulation portion compact and easy to operate.
2Reliability
If the recessed portion is enlarged to prevent unintentional angle change, then the angle holding reliability is improved, but the user requires additional force for manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of one large recessed portion, the holding portion is divided into multiple smaller recessed portions. Each recessed portion is sized appropriately for its specific angle range, providing sufficient holding force without requiring the user to overcome a large structural barrier during manipulation. The segmented design reduces the force needed while maintaining reliability through multi-position engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulation portion is designed to dynamically transition between different recessed portions as the wind direction plates are rotated. The elastic deformation portion allows smooth transitions between holding positions, enabling the system to adapt to different angle requirements without requiring excessive force at any single position.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wind direction plates are inclined at a large angle, then the wind direction adjustment range is improved, but the elastic restoring force increases causing manipulation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The holding portion is divided into multiple recessed portions positioned to correspond to different angle ranges. When wind direction plates are inclined at large angles, the protrusion portion engages with the third recessed portion, which is specifically positioned to provide stable holding at large angles. This segmentation allows the system to achieve a wide adjustment range while maintaining controllability through appropriate engagement points.
Solution Approach 2:
Different recessed portions are optimized for different angle ranges. The third recessed portion is specifically positioned and sized to provide appropriate holding characteristics for large angle positions, where the elastic restoring force is greatest. This local optimization ensures that each angle range has a holding position designed for its specific force requirements, enabling large angle adjustment while managing the elastic restoring force effectively.
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 mechanism effectively restricts movement and maintains the angle of wind direction plates with certainty, enabling easy and precise adjustment of air direction, reducing user effort and preventing unintentional changes, while integrating components for reduced material costs and assembly complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of wind direction plates being made of an elastic material... the movable plate is biased, by an elastic restoring force of the plurality of wind direction plates
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind direction adjustment mechanism includes: a support plate having a holding protrusion; a fixed plate fixed to a surface portion of the support plate; a movable plate facing the surface portion of the support plate, and slidably held by the support plate; and a plurality of wind direction plates formed of an elastic material, and provided to extend between the fixed plate and the movable plate, wherein the movable plate has an angle holding portion into which the holding protrusion is inserted to maintain a sliding position of the movable plate, the angle holding portion includes a side wall portion and a plurality of partition wall portions, the side wall portion protruding in a direction opposite to a direction toward a portion where the support plate is disposed, thus forming a frame structure, the plurality of partition wall portions being formed in parallel, each of the plurality of partition wall portions is formed such that an angle adjustment portion and an angle restricting portion are integrally formed, the angle restricting portion coupling to the angle adjustment portion, and being formed to have a larger wall thickness than the angle adjustment portion, the movable plate is biased, by an elastic restoring force of the plurality of wind direction plates, in a direction opposite to a direction toward a portion where the fixed plate is disposed, the holding protrusion is disposed in a space surrounded by the plurality of partition wall portions and the side wall portion, and the angle restricting portion comes into contact with the holding protrusion.