EP1813876A2 - Indoor unit of air conditioner - Google Patents
Indoor unit of air conditioner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1813876A2 EP1813876A2 EP06256299A EP06256299A EP1813876A2 EP 1813876 A2 EP1813876 A2 EP 1813876A2 EP 06256299 A EP06256299 A EP 06256299A EP 06256299 A EP06256299 A EP 06256299A EP 1813876 A2 EP1813876 A2 EP 1813876A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cabinet
- indoor unit
- air
- mounting member
- fan
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
- F24F1/0057—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in or on a wall
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0059—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by heat exchangers
- F24F1/0063—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by heat exchangers by the mounting or arrangement of the heat exchangers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0068—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by the arrangement of refrigerant piping outside the heat exchanger within the unit casing
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/20—Casings or covers
- F24F2013/205—Mounting a ventilator fan therein
Definitions
- the present invention relates to indoor units of air conditioners, and more particularly, to an indoor unit of an air conditioner which permits easy mounting both of an air guide and a refrigerant piping even if a direction of the refrigerant piping connected to a heat exchanger in the indoor unit is changed.
- the air conditioner serving as a room heater, a room cooler, or an air purifier for cooling/heating a room, or purifying room air, provides human being a better room environment.
- an air conditioner has been developed, which is provided with a turbo-fan to minimize a thickness of a cabinet thereof to permit the air conditioner to be mounted on a wall of the room like a picture frame.
- FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit of a related art air conditioner.
- the related art indoor unit is provided with a thin and rectangular cabinet 1 having an opened front, a fan 2 in the cabinet 1, a heat exchanger 5 in front of the fan 2, a front panel 6 in front of the heat exchanger 5 having suction openings 7 for drawing air, an orifice 8 between the fan 2 and the heat exchanger 5, and a front grill 9 mounted to be rotatable at a predetermined angle to a front plane of the front panel 6 for opening/closing the suction openings 7.
- the fan 2 has a turbofan 3 and a motor 4 for rotating the turbofan3, and the orifice 8 is between the heat exchanger 5 and the fan 2 for guiding the air from the suction openings 7 to the fan 2.
- the orifice 8 is between the heat exchanger 5 and the fan 2 for guiding the air from the suction openings 7 to the fan 2.
- a filter 10 for filtering air drawing thus, and there is a control box 11 of a control unit over the orifice 8.
- the cabinet 1 has outlets 13 in a lower side and left/right sides and an air guide 12 on a top for guiding the air being discharged to an upper side to the left/right side outlets 13.
- the air guide is fixedly secured to the cabinet 1 with bolts (not shown) or screws (not shown).
- the related art indoor unit has a problem in that exact placing of the air guide 12 in holes (not shown) in the cabinet 1 in securing the air guide 12 to the cabinet 1 requires the worker to pay close attention, which drops working efficiency, significantly.
- the related art indoor unit has another problem in that a particular direction of connection of the refrigerant piping at the front panel 6 required for the heat exchanger 5 impedes an easy connection of the refrigerant piping if the direction of the refrigerant piping is changed according to a condition of a site where the air conditioner is installed. Furthermore, the opened portion of the front panel 6 through which the refrigerant piping passes causes infiltration of foreign matters, inclusive of moisture, into the indoor unit.
- the invention provides an indoor unit of an air conditioner that includes a fan, a cabinet having the fan mounted therein, an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, and a guide portion for surrounding an one side of an outside circumferential surface of the fan, a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan, and air guides each in contact with, and supported on the guide portion for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.
- the outlets may be at opposite sides of the cabinet
- the guide portion is at a center of an upper portion of the cabinet
- the air guides may be at opposite sides of the guide portion.
- the cabinet may further include a first rib, and a second rib, and the air guide has one end portion supported on the guide portion, and an underside and the other end portion supported on the first rib, and the second rib, respectively.
- the air guides may be placed in, and held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively.
- the air guides may be formed of an elastic material and placed in, and elastically held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively.
- the cabinet may further include projections for supporting the air guides.
- the air guides may have recesses opposite to the projections, for receiving and supporting the projections, respectively.
- the indoor unit further includes at least one closing member at sides of the cabinet, for removing from the cabinet to form a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping in a case the refrigerant piping to be connected to the heat exchanger is mounted.
- the closing member may be connected to the cabinet with bridges.
- the indoor unit may further include at least one mounting member mounted to the cabinet for forming one side wall of the hole of the at least one closing member to open the hole along the side wall to an outside of the hole, selectively.
- the mounting member may be press fit in the cabinet.
- one of the cabinet and the mounting member has an inserting projection formed thereon, and the other one thereof has an inserting groove in conformity with the inserting projection, for inserting the inserting projection in the inserting groove, to secure the mounting member, fixedly.
- the inserting projection and the inserting groove may be extended in a direction the mounting member is to be inserted.
- the mounting member may be held at the cabinet.
- the mounting member may have one end portion rotatably connected to the cabinet, one of the other end portion of the mounting member or the cabinet may have a holding step, and the other one thereof may have a holding recess in conformity with the holding step, so that the holding step may be held at the holding recess.
- the mounting member may have an extension at one side portion for covering a portion of the hole of the closing member.
- the extension may have an end portion having a slot for pass through of the refrigerant piping.
- an indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a fan, an orifice having a guide portion surrounding an one side of an outside circumference of the fan, and projections spaced predetermined distances from the guide portion, a cabinet having the orifice and the fan mounted therein, and an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan, and air guides supported on the guide portion and the projections for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.
- the present invention permits, not only easy mounting of the air guide, but also easy mounting of the refrigerant piping even if a direction of the refrigerant piping is changed.
- the indoor unit of an air conditioner of the present invention is easy to install.
- the guide portion is formed as one body with the cabinet for guiding air from the fan, increasing strength of the cabinet compared to the related art cabinet, the indoor unit of an air conditioner of the present invention has lower vibration.
- the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the present invention not only can fix a mounting position of easily, but also can minimize vibration at the time of guiding discharge air because the air guide is supported on the projections.
- the possibility of mounting of the refrigerant piping according to a mounting direction of the refrigerant piping by using the closing member and the mounting member at a plurality of places of the cabinet enables to cope with a mounting environment of the indoor unit, more appropriately.
- the mounting member of the air conditioner of the present invention which is separated from the cabinet and press fit in the cabinet at the time of mounting of the refrigerant piping, the mounting member minimizes exposure of an opened area formed by the mounting of the refrigerant piping, and prevents foreign matters, water, or the like, from infiltrating into the cabinet.
- connection of the connection pipe to the refrigerant piping only after separating the service cover without separating the front panel wholly in a case the connection pipe is positioned at a lower side of the cabinet permits to minimize an installation time period and efforts for mounting the air conditioner.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the indoor unit 100 of an air conditioner includes a fan 26, a cabinet 20 which is an exterior of the indoor unit 100 having the fan 26 mounted therein, a heat exchanger 50 in the cabinet 20 for heat exchange with room air, and air guides 60, and 70 for guiding air from the fan 26.
- the indoor unit 100 includes a front panel 30 at a front of the cabinet 20, and a picture frame panel 40 mounted to the front panel 30 with a predetermined space to form a gap with the front panel 30. Through the gap, room air is introduced into the indoor unit 100, to make heat exchange with the heat exchanger 50. In the meantime, the cabinet 20 is fixedly secured to a wall of the room with a bracket at a back side of the cabinet 20.
- the front panel 30 has a central suction opening 32, and is fastened to the cabinet 20 with fastening means (not shown), such as bolts.
- the front panel 30 includes the central suction opening 32 and a service cover 34 detachably mounted to one side thereof for shielding a portion of an inside of the cabinet 20.
- the service cover 34 forming a portion of a front panel 30, is detachably attached to the front panel 30 fastened with fastening means, such as bolts (not shown), to the front panel 30.
- front grill 36 In front of the front panel 30, there is a front grill 36, and a filter 38 is supported on the front grill 36 and placed in the front panel 30, for filtering air being drawn.
- a heat exchanger 50 for making heat exchange with air from the suction opening 32 of the front panel 30 to heat/cool the room, an orifice 55 for guiding air being drawn, and a fan 26 for blowing the air.
- the cabinet 20 has at least one outlet 22 for discharging the air from the fan 26.
- the fan 26 mounted between the cabinet 20 and the orifice 55 blows air from the suction opening 32 in the front panel 30 toward the cabinet 20, entirely.
- the fan 26 may be a centrifugal fan that discharges air from the orifice 55 in a circumferential direction.
- the outlet 22 may be formed on both sides of the fan 26, i.e., in both sides of the cabinet 20 for discharging the air from the fan 26 to an outside of the cabinet 20.
- An outlet unit 24 which is opened/closed by a control unit of the indoor unit 100 is mounted on the outlet 22 in a bottom of the cabinet 20 for discharging air to the room.
- the air guides 60, and 70 mounted on an upper side of the cabinet 20 guide the air from the fan 26 to the outlets 22 in the both sides of the cabinet 20, which will be described, later.
- the heat exchanger 50 mounted in front of the orifice 55 heat exchanges with the room air for cooling/heating the room air, and under the heat exchanger 50, there is a drain pan 52 for holding condensed water from the heat exchanger 50.
- the heat exchanger 50 is fixed to the front panel 30 or the orifice 55, and has a connection pipe 54 at one side for connection to a refrigerant piping (see 53 in FIG. 10) led from an outside of the indoor unit.
- the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50 is hidden under the service cover 34 in the front panel 30 so as not to be shown to an outside of the indoor unit. If it is intended to connect the refrigerant piping 53 to the connection pipe 54, the service cover 34 is removed from the front panel 30, to expose the connection pipe 54, which will be described in detail, later.
- a pipe cover 21 mounted to a corner of the cabinet 20, there is a pipe cover 21 to form a portion of an exterior of the indoor unit 100.
- the pipe cover 21 is mounted to a plurality of places among four corners of the cabinet 20, wherein the embodiment suggests two covers mounted to two lower corners for leading external refrigerant piping therethrough.
- An unexplained reference numeral 90 denotes a control box of the control unit of the air conditioner mounted on the orifice 55.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cabinet of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the cabinet 20 is square substantially, and includes a guide portion 80, first, and second ribs 82, and 83, and projections 84 for placing in and holding the air guides 60, and 70 (see FIG. 1).
- the guide portion 80 is projected from a center of an upper portion of an inside of the cabinet 20 toward the front panel 30. In the embodiment, the guide portion 80 is projected forward from an inside surface 23 on which the fan 26 (see FIG. 1) is mounted. Ends of the air guides 60 and 70 are in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of the guide portion 80, respectively.
- the second rib 83 at an end of the first rib 82 is projected from the inside surface 23 of the cabinet 20 for supporting the other end of the air guide 60 or 70 and is in contact with the outlet unit 24 (see FIG. 1) for supporting the outlet unit 24. That is, the second rib 83 defines a space for mounting the outlet unit 24 therein in the cabinet 20, and the air guide 60 is seated on the first rib 82, with the other end supported on the second rib 83.
- the projections 84 are projected forward from the inside surface 23 of the cabinet 20 spaced predetermined distances from the ribs 82, and 83 respectively.
- a worker can place the air guide 60 or 70 in a space between the guide portion 80 and the first and second ribs 82 or 83.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the cabinet 20 in FIG. 2 having the fan 26 and the air guides 60 and 70 separated therefrom.
- the air guides 60 and 70 there are a plurality of air guides 60 and 70, for an example, two provided to the cabinet 20 placed in opposite sides of the guide portion 80 of the cabinet 20.
- the air guides 60 and 70 have one ends in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of the guide portion 80 respectively, undersides 67 and 77 thereof supported on the first ribs 82 respectively, and the other ends 63 and 73 thereof placed in spaces between the guide portion 80 and the first, and second ribs 82, and 83.
- the air guide 60 or 70 has a recess 65 or 75 formed therein. If it is intended to mount the air guide 60 or 70, the worker can mount the air guide 60 or 70 easily by placing the projection 84 in the recess 65 or 75 in the air guide 60 or 70. Moreover, the air guide 60 or 70 is not only supported on the first, and second ribs 82 and 83, but also on the projection 84 on the cabinet 20, doubly.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a state the air guide is mounted in FIG. 3.
- the air guide 60 or 70 has the underside 67 or 77 formed to have a surface opposite to an outside circumferential surface of the fan 26 continuous to an underside surface 81 of the guide portion 80.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the cabinet in FIG. 3 having the fan and the air guide mounted thereto.
- the fan 26 is mounted to rotate in a clockwise direction
- the air guides 60 and 70 are mounted such that the air guide 60 mounted on a left side of FIG. 5 has a large gap between the underside surface 67 of the air guide 60 and the outside circumferential surface of the fan 26, while the air guide 70 mounted on a right side has a small gap between the underside surface 77 of the air guide 70 and the outside circumferential surface of the fan 26.
- FIGS. 2 to 5 A process for mounting the air guide of an indoor unit of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.
- the worker places the air guides 60 and 70 in the cabinet 20 having the guide portion 80 formed thereon.
- the worker puts the other end 63 or 73 close to the second rib 83, to secure the air guide 60 or 70, fixedly.
- the worker can mount the air guide 60 or 70 easily by placing the projection 84 of the cabinet 20 in the recess 65 or 70 in the air guide 60 or 70.
- the worker can place the air guides 60 or 70 in the cabinet 20 easily without any fastening member.
- the underside surfaces 67 and 77 of the air guides 60 and 70 continuous to the underside surface 81 of the guide portion 80 minimize a friction force in a case the air is guided from the fan 26 to the outlet 22.
- the air guides 60 and 70 may be formed of an elastic material, for close contact between the guide portion 80 and the second ribs 83 owing to the elasticity after placed in the cabinet 20.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a back side of an orifice in an indoor unit in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the guide portion 180 and the projections 184 are formed on the orifice 155, directly.
- the guide portion 180 and the projections 184 are projected from the back side of the orifice 155 toward the cabinet 20. Accordingly, one ends 62 and 72 of the air guides 60 and 70 (see FIG. 3) are in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of the guide portion 180, and the air guides 60 and 70 are fixed in positions as the projections 84 are placed in the recesses 65 and 75 in the air guides 60 and 70, respectively. Rest of the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, and description of which will be omitted.
- FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of preferred embodiments of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet in FIG. 3.
- a closing member 27 for forming a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping 53
- a mounting member 28 for selective opening of the hole formed with the closing member 27 to an outside of the hole in a case the refrigerant piping 53 (see FIG. 10) is mounted to the one side wall.
- the closing member 27 is formed as one body with the cabinet 20 so as to be flush with an outside surface of the cabinet 20, and connected to the cabinet 20 with bridges 29. It is preferable that there is at least one bridge, and the embodiment suggests forming three bridges 29 except a side where there is the mounting member 28. Accordingly, when it is intended to connect the refrigerant piping 53, the worker removes the bridges 29, to remove the closing member 27 from the cabinet 20 to form the hole, and then, the refrigerant piping 53 is connected through the hole.
- the mounting member 27 forms one side wall of the hole the closing member 27 forms, and selectively opens the hole of the closing member 27 to an outside of the hole along the one side. That is, in a case the refrigerant piping 53 is connected, the closing member 27 is removed, and the mounting member 28 is separated, to open the hole to the outside of the hole, and the refrigerant piping 53 is connected, and the mounting member 28 is closed again, to minimize an inside of the cabinet 20 exposed to an outside of the cabinet 20.
- the mounting member 28 may have a variety of structures for mounting to the cabinet 20, which will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
- FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a state the mounting member in FIG. 7 is press fit in, or separated from, the cabinet.
- the mounting member 28 may be press fit in one side of the cabinet 20.
- the mounting member 28 has an inserting projection 31, and the cabinet 20 has an inserting groove 25 in conformity with the inserting projection 31 at a position opposite to the inserting projection 31.
- the inserting projection 31 and the inserting groove 25 are extended in a direction slidably inserting to each other. Accordingly, the mounting member 28 may be slidably inserted in, or separated from the inserting groove 25 in an arrow direction, easily.
- the cabinet 20 has the inserting projection 31 and the mounting member 28 has the inserting groove 25.
- FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view showing the pipe cover 21 in FIG. 1 having the closing member 27 and the mounting member 28 mounted thereto.
- the closing member 27 is mounted to the pipe cover 21 with the bridges 29, and the mounting member 28 is slidably press fit in the pipe cover 21. Since such a structure is similar to the structure in FIG. 8, a detailed description of which will be omitted.
- the closing member 27 and the mounting member 28 may be at least one pair of the closing member 27 and the mounting member 28 along sides of the cabinet 20, and preferably four pairs in total at upper and lower portions of opposite sides of the cabinet 20.
- the closing member 27 and the mounting member 28 at the lower portions of opposite sides of the cabinet 20 are mounted on the pipe covers 21.
- FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of a state the refrigerant piping 53 is connected through the pipe cover 21 at a left side of a lower side of a drawing of the indoor unit of the present invention.
- the heat exchanger 50 has a square shape like the cabinet 20, and may be mounted at a position suitable to connect the refrigerant piping 53 from the outdoor unit (not shown) thereto.
- the heat exchanger 50 is mounted such that the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50 is directed to a direction the pipe cover 21 is mounted.
- the heat exchanger 50 is mounted such that the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50 is directed to a direction where the closing member 27 is at the upper portion of the cabinet 20.
- the worker fixedly secure the indoor unit 100 on a wall of a room, separates the picture frame panel 40 from the cabinet 20 to expose the front panel 30 on a front of the indoor unit 100.
- the refrigerant piping 53 connected to the outdoor unit (not shown) on an outside of the room is mounted on the wall of the room.
- the worker separates the service cover 34 from the indoor unit 100 fixedly secured to the wall of the room, to expose the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50.
- the worker slidably separates the mounting member 28 from the pipe cover 21, and cuts the bridges 29 with a tool, such as a cutter, to remove the closing member 27 to make a hole in the cabinet 20.
- connection pipe 54 is connected to the connection pipe 54 through the hole formed by removal of the closing member 27.
- the worker inserts the inserting projection 31 of the mounting member 28 in the inserting groove 25 in the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21, to mount the mounting member 28 to the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21, preventing the hole of the closing member 27 from exposing to an outside of the hole.
- FIG. 11 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at an upper portion of a right side of the cabinet 20.
- the embodiment is different in that the mounting member 128 has one side extended toward the closing member 27.
- the mounting member 128 includes a mounting portion 142 to be press fit in the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21, and an extension 143 extended toward the closing member 27.
- the extension 143 is projected toward a back side of the closing member 27. Therefore, if the closing member 27 is removed, the extension 143 of the mounting member 128 closes a portion of the hole, to minimize the exposure of the inside of the cabinet 20 to an outside of the cabinet 20. If the extension 143 closes the portion of the hole, the extension 143 has a slot 144 at an end portion, for pass of the refrigerant piping 53. There is a step between the mounting portion 142 and the extension 143 for seating a side end of the closing member 27 thereon when the mounting member 128 is mounted. On the other hand, since a case an inserting projection 145 is formed on the mounting portion 142 for inserting in the inserting groove 25 of the cabinet 20 is similar to the embodiment of the FIG. 7, detailed description of which will be omitted.
- FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet.
- a mounting member 228 has one end portion 230 rotatably connected to the cabinet 20, and the other end portion 240 to be held at the cabinet 20.
- the one end portion 230 of the mounting member 228 is rotatably connected to the cabinet 20 with a joining portion 260, and the other end portion 240 thereof has a holding step 242. Since the joining portion 260 is formed connected to the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21 which is formed by injection molding, the joining portion 260 can be rotatably folded/unfolded in up/down directions according to a property of the material.
- the cabinet 20 has a holding recess 250 in conformity with the holding step 242.
- the holding step 242 at the other end portion 240 is engaged with, and held at the holding recess 250 at the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21. Accordingly, if it is intended to connect the refrigerant piping 53, the mounting member 228 is turned downward, the closing member 27 is removed, and then the refrigerant piping 53 is connected. Moreover, if the connection of the refrigerant piping 53 is finished, the mounting member 228 is turned upward, to engage the holding step 242 with the holding recess 250 again, thereby minimizing the exposure of the hole to an outside of the hole.
- the present invention is not limited to this, but the closing member and the mounting member may be formed at one side of the cabinet even if the guide portion is formed at the orifice.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to indoor units of air conditioners, and more particularly, to an indoor unit of an air conditioner which permits easy mounting both of an air guide and a refrigerant piping even if a direction of the refrigerant piping connected to a heat exchanger in the indoor unit is changed.
- In general, the air conditioner, serving as a room heater, a room cooler, or an air purifier for cooling/heating a room, or purifying room air, provides human being a better room environment. Recently, an air conditioner has been developed, which is provided with a turbo-fan to minimize a thickness of a cabinet thereof to permit the air conditioner to be mounted on a wall of the room like a picture frame.
- FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit of a related art air conditioner. As shown in FIG. 13, the related art indoor unit is provided with a thin and
rectangular cabinet 1 having an opened front, a fan 2 in thecabinet 1, aheat exchanger 5 in front of the fan 2, afront panel 6 in front of theheat exchanger 5 havingsuction openings 7 for drawing air, anorifice 8 between the fan 2 and theheat exchanger 5, and afront grill 9 mounted to be rotatable at a predetermined angle to a front plane of thefront panel 6 for opening/closing thesuction openings 7. - The fan 2 has a
turbofan 3 and a motor 4 for rotating the turbofan3, and theorifice 8 is between theheat exchanger 5 and the fan 2 for guiding the air from thesuction openings 7 to the fan 2. In the meantime, on a front surface of thefront panel 6, there is afilter 10 for filtering air drawing thus, and there is acontrol box 11 of a control unit over theorifice 8. - The
cabinet 1 hasoutlets 13 in a lower side and left/right sides and anair guide 12 on a top for guiding the air being discharged to an upper side to the left/right side outlets 13. The air guide is fixedly secured to thecabinet 1 with bolts (not shown) or screws (not shown). - In the meantime, the related art indoor unit has a problem in that exact placing of the
air guide 12 in holes (not shown) in thecabinet 1 in securing theair guide 12 to thecabinet 1 requires the worker to pay close attention, which drops working efficiency, significantly. - Moreover, the related art indoor unit has another problem in that a particular direction of connection of the refrigerant piping at the
front panel 6 required for theheat exchanger 5 impedes an easy connection of the refrigerant piping if the direction of the refrigerant piping is changed according to a condition of a site where the air conditioner is installed. Furthermore, the opened portion of thefront panel 6 through which the refrigerant piping passes causes infiltration of foreign matters, inclusive of moisture, into the indoor unit. - It would be desirable to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner that enables easy mounting of a refrigerant piping connecting to a heat exchanger even if a direction of the refrigerant piping is changed. Accordingly, the invention provides an indoor unit of an air conditioner that includes a fan, a cabinet having the fan mounted therein, an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, and a guide portion for surrounding an one side of an outside circumferential surface of the fan, a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan, and air guides each in contact with, and supported on the guide portion for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.
- In the meantime, the outlets may be at opposite sides of the cabinet, the guide portion is at a center of an upper portion of the cabinet, and the air guides may be at opposite sides of the guide portion.
- The cabinet may further include a first rib, and a second rib, and the air guide has one end portion supported on the guide portion, and an underside and the other end portion supported on the first rib, and the second rib, respectively.
- The air guides may be placed in, and held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively. Preferably, the air guides may be formed of an elastic material and placed in, and elastically held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively.
- In the meantime, the cabinet may further include projections for supporting the air guides. Preferably, the air guides may have recesses opposite to the projections, for receiving and supporting the projections, respectively.
- The indoor unit further includes at least one closing member at sides of the cabinet, for removing from the cabinet to form a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping in a case the refrigerant piping to be connected to the heat exchanger is mounted. In this case, the closing member may be connected to the cabinet with bridges.
- Moreover, the indoor unit may further include at least one mounting member mounted to the cabinet for forming one side wall of the hole of the at least one closing member to open the hole along the side wall to an outside of the hole, selectively. The mounting member may be press fit in the cabinet. Preferably, one of the cabinet and the mounting member has an inserting projection formed thereon, and the other one thereof has an inserting groove in conformity with the inserting projection, for inserting the inserting projection in the inserting groove, to secure the mounting member, fixedly. In this case, the inserting projection and the inserting groove may be extended in a direction the mounting member is to be inserted.
- In the meantime, the mounting member may be held at the cabinet. In this case, the mounting member may have one end portion rotatably connected to the cabinet, one of the other end portion of the mounting member or the cabinet may have a holding step, and the other one thereof may have a holding recess in conformity with the holding step, so that the holding step may be held at the holding recess.
- Preferably, the mounting member may have an extension at one side portion for covering a portion of the hole of the closing member. The extension may have an end portion having a slot for pass through of the refrigerant piping.
- In the meantime, in another aspect of the present invention, an indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a fan, an orifice having a guide portion surrounding an one side of an outside circumference of the fan, and projections spaced predetermined distances from the guide portion, a cabinet having the orifice and the fan mounted therein, and an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan, and air guides supported on the guide portion and the projections for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.
- Thus, the present invention permits, not only easy mounting of the air guide, but also easy mounting of the refrigerant piping even if a direction of the refrigerant piping is changed.
- Since the air guide is placed in, and held between the guide portion and the ribs formed on the cabinet, the indoor unit of an air conditioner of the present invention is easy to install.
- Since the guide portion is formed as one body with the cabinet for guiding air from the fan, increasing strength of the cabinet compared to the related art cabinet, the indoor unit of an air conditioner of the present invention has lower vibration.
- Since the air guide is mounted as the projections are placed in the air guide, the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the present invention, not only can fix a mounting position of easily, but also can minimize vibration at the time of guiding discharge air because the air guide is supported on the projections.
- The possibility of mounting of the refrigerant piping according to a mounting direction of the refrigerant piping by using the closing member and the mounting member at a plurality of places of the cabinet enables to cope with a mounting environment of the indoor unit, more appropriately.
- The mounting member of the air conditioner of the present invention, which is separated from the cabinet and press fit in the cabinet at the time of mounting of the refrigerant piping, the mounting member minimizes exposure of an opened area formed by the mounting of the refrigerant piping, and prevents foreign matters, water, or the like, from infiltrating into the cabinet.
- The connection of the connection pipe to the refrigerant piping only after separating the service cover without separating the front panel wholly in a case the connection pipe is positioned at a lower side of the cabinet permits to minimize an installation time period and efforts for mounting the air conditioner.
- The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.
- In the drawings:
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cabinet of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the cabinet in FIG. 2 having the fan and the air guide separated therefrom;
- FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of FIG. 3 having the air guide mounted to the cabinet;
- FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the cabinet in FIG. 3 having the fan and the air guide mounted thereto;
- FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a back side of an orifice in an indoor unit in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet in FIG. 3;
- FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a state the mounting member in FIG. 7 is separated from the cabinet;
- FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the piping cover in FIG. 3;
- FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of a state the refrigerant piping in FIG. 3 is connected (though FIG. 3 does not show a heat exchanger, FIG. 10 shows the heat exchanger for convenience sake);
- FIG. 11 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet;
- FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and an mounting member at one side of the cabinet; and
- FIG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a related art indoor unit.
- Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts, and repetitive description of which will be omitted.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Referring to FIG. 1, the
indoor unit 100 of an air conditioner includes afan 26, acabinet 20 which is an exterior of theindoor unit 100 having thefan 26 mounted therein, aheat exchanger 50 in thecabinet 20 for heat exchange with room air, andair guides fan 26. - In detail, the
indoor unit 100 includes afront panel 30 at a front of thecabinet 20, and apicture frame panel 40 mounted to thefront panel 30 with a predetermined space to form a gap with thefront panel 30. Through the gap, room air is introduced into theindoor unit 100, to make heat exchange with theheat exchanger 50. In the meantime, thecabinet 20 is fixedly secured to a wall of the room with a bracket at a back side of thecabinet 20. - The
front panel 30 has acentral suction opening 32, and is fastened to thecabinet 20 with fastening means (not shown), such as bolts. Thefront panel 30 includes thecentral suction opening 32 and aservice cover 34 detachably mounted to one side thereof for shielding a portion of an inside of thecabinet 20. Theservice cover 34, forming a portion of afront panel 30, is detachably attached to thefront panel 30 fastened with fastening means, such as bolts (not shown), to thefront panel 30. - In front of the
front panel 30, there is afront grill 36, and afilter 38 is supported on thefront grill 36 and placed in thefront panel 30, for filtering air being drawn. - In the meantime, mounted between the
front panel 30 and thecabinet 20 in succession, there are aheat exchanger 50 for making heat exchange with air from thesuction opening 32 of thefront panel 30 to heat/cool the room, anorifice 55 for guiding air being drawn, and afan 26 for blowing the air. Thecabinet 20 has at least oneoutlet 22 for discharging the air from thefan 26. - The
fan 26 mounted between thecabinet 20 and theorifice 55 blows air from thesuction opening 32 in thefront panel 30 toward thecabinet 20, entirely. Thefan 26 may be a centrifugal fan that discharges air from theorifice 55 in a circumferential direction. - The
outlet 22 may be formed on both sides of thefan 26, i.e., in both sides of thecabinet 20 for discharging the air from thefan 26 to an outside of thecabinet 20. Anoutlet unit 24 which is opened/closed by a control unit of theindoor unit 100 is mounted on theoutlet 22 in a bottom of thecabinet 20 for discharging air to the room. - In the meantime, the air guides 60, and 70 mounted on an upper side of the
cabinet 20 guide the air from thefan 26 to theoutlets 22 in the both sides of thecabinet 20, which will be described, later. - The
heat exchanger 50 mounted in front of theorifice 55 heat exchanges with the room air for cooling/heating the room air, and under theheat exchanger 50, there is adrain pan 52 for holding condensed water from theheat exchanger 50. Theheat exchanger 50 is fixed to thefront panel 30 or theorifice 55, and has aconnection pipe 54 at one side for connection to a refrigerant piping (see 53 in FIG. 10) led from an outside of the indoor unit. In the meantime, theconnection pipe 54 of theheat exchanger 50 is hidden under theservice cover 34 in thefront panel 30 so as not to be shown to an outside of the indoor unit. If it is intended to connect therefrigerant piping 53 to theconnection pipe 54, theservice cover 34 is removed from thefront panel 30, to expose theconnection pipe 54, which will be described in detail, later. - In the meantime, mounted to a corner of the
cabinet 20, there is apipe cover 21 to form a portion of an exterior of theindoor unit 100. Thepipe cover 21 is mounted to a plurality of places among four corners of thecabinet 20, wherein the embodiment suggests two covers mounted to two lower corners for leading external refrigerant piping therethrough. Anunexplained reference numeral 90 denotes a control box of the control unit of the air conditioner mounted on theorifice 55. - A structure of the
cabinet 20 of theindoor unit 100 of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. - FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cabinet of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Referring to FIG. 2, the
cabinet 20 is square substantially, and includes aguide portion 80, first, andsecond ribs projections 84 for placing in and holding the air guides 60, and 70 (see FIG. 1). - The
guide portion 80 is projected from a center of an upper portion of an inside of thecabinet 20 toward thefront panel 30. In the embodiment, theguide portion 80 is projected forward from aninside surface 23 on which the fan 26 (see FIG. 1) is mounted. Ends of the air guides 60 and 70 are in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of theguide portion 80, respectively. - In the meantime, at a front of the
cabinet 20, there arefirst ribs 82 projected from theinside surface 82 for holding the air guides 60 and 70. Accordingly, the air guides 60 and 70 at one ends thereof are in contact with, and supported on theair guide portion 80, with undersides thereof supported on thefirst ribs 82, thereby mounted in thecabinet 20, firmly and easily. - There is a
second rib 83 at an end of thefirst rib 82. Thesecond rib 83 at the end of thefirst rib 82 is projected from theinside surface 23 of thecabinet 20 for supporting the other end of theair guide outlet unit 24. That is, thesecond rib 83 defines a space for mounting theoutlet unit 24 therein in thecabinet 20, and theair guide 60 is seated on thefirst rib 82, with the other end supported on thesecond rib 83. - The
projections 84 are projected forward from theinside surface 23 of thecabinet 20 spaced predetermined distances from theribs projection 84 in arecess 65 or 75 (see FIG. 3) in theair guide air guide guide portion 80 and the first andsecond ribs - Structures of the
cabinet 20 and the air guide will be described in detail with reference to drawings. - FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the
cabinet 20 in FIG. 2 having thefan 26 and the air guides 60 and 70 separated therefrom. - Referring to FIG. 3, in the embodiment, there are a plurality of air guides 60 and 70, for an example, two provided to the
cabinet 20 placed in opposite sides of theguide portion 80 of thecabinet 20. In detail, the air guides 60 and 70 have one ends in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of theguide portion 80 respectively,undersides first ribs 82 respectively, and the other ends 63 and 73 thereof placed in spaces between theguide portion 80 and the first, andsecond ribs - In the meantime, the
air guide recess air guide air guide projection 84 in therecess air guide air guide second ribs projection 84 on thecabinet 20, doubly. - FIG. 4 illustrates a state the air guide is mounted in FIG. 3.
- Referring to FIG. 3, though not shown, the
air guide underside fan 26 continuous to anunderside surface 81 of theguide portion 80. - FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the cabinet in FIG. 3 having the fan and the air guide mounted thereto.
- Referring to FIG. 5, in the embodiment, for an example, the
fan 26 is mounted to rotate in a clockwise direction, the air guides 60 and 70 are mounted such that theair guide 60 mounted on a left side of FIG. 5 has a large gap between theunderside surface 67 of theair guide 60 and the outside circumferential surface of thefan 26, while theair guide 70 mounted on a right side has a small gap between theunderside surface 77 of theair guide 70 and the outside circumferential surface of thefan 26. - In the meantime, there are also air guides 69 and 79 at a lower portion of the
cabinet 20 having thefan 26 mounted thereto for guiding the air from thefan 26 to theoutlet 22 in the bottom. - A process for mounting the air guide of an indoor unit of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.
- At first, the worker places the air guides 60 and 70 in the
cabinet 20 having theguide portion 80 formed thereon. In this instance, after putting oneend air guide guide portion 80, the worker puts theother end second rib 83, to secure theair guide air guide projection 84 of thecabinet 20 in therecess air guide cabinet 20 easily without any fastening member. Moreover, the underside surfaces 67 and 77 of the air guides 60 and 70 continuous to theunderside surface 81 of theguide portion 80 minimize a friction force in a case the air is guided from thefan 26 to theoutlet 22. - In the meantime, in the embodiment, the air guides 60 and 70 may be formed of an elastic material, for close contact between the
guide portion 80 and thesecond ribs 83 owing to the elasticity after placed in thecabinet 20. - FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a back side of an orifice in an indoor unit in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- Referring to FIG. 6, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the
guide portion 180 and theprojections 184 are formed on theorifice 155, directly. - That is, in the embodiment, the
guide portion 180 and theprojections 184 are projected from the back side of theorifice 155 toward thecabinet 20. Accordingly, one ends 62 and 72 of the air guides 60 and 70 (see FIG. 3) are in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of theguide portion 180, and the air guides 60 and 70 are fixed in positions as theprojections 84 are placed in therecesses - FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of preferred embodiments of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet in FIG. 3.
- Referring to FIG. 7, at one side wall of the
cabinet 20, there are a closingmember 27 for forming a hole for pass through of therefrigerant piping 53, and a mountingmember 28 for selective opening of the hole formed with the closingmember 27 to an outside of the hole in a case the refrigerant piping 53 (see FIG. 10) is mounted to the one side wall. - It is preferable that the closing
member 27 is formed as one body with thecabinet 20 so as to be flush with an outside surface of thecabinet 20, and connected to thecabinet 20 withbridges 29. It is preferable that there is at least one bridge, and the embodiment suggests forming threebridges 29 except a side where there is the mountingmember 28. Accordingly, when it is intended to connect therefrigerant piping 53, the worker removes thebridges 29, to remove the closingmember 27 from thecabinet 20 to form the hole, and then, therefrigerant piping 53 is connected through the hole. - In the meantime, the mounting
member 27 forms one side wall of the hole the closingmember 27 forms, and selectively opens the hole of the closingmember 27 to an outside of the hole along the one side. That is, in a case therefrigerant piping 53 is connected, the closingmember 27 is removed, and the mountingmember 28 is separated, to open the hole to the outside of the hole, and therefrigerant piping 53 is connected, and the mountingmember 28 is closed again, to minimize an inside of thecabinet 20 exposed to an outside of thecabinet 20. - The mounting
member 28 may have a variety of structures for mounting to thecabinet 20, which will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. - FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a state the mounting member in FIG. 7 is press fit in, or separated from, the cabinet.
- Referring to FIG. 8, the mounting
member 28 may be press fit in one side of thecabinet 20. In detail, the mountingmember 28 has an insertingprojection 31, and thecabinet 20 has an insertinggroove 25 in conformity with the insertingprojection 31 at a position opposite to the insertingprojection 31. The insertingprojection 31 and the insertinggroove 25 are extended in a direction slidably inserting to each other. Accordingly, the mountingmember 28 may be slidably inserted in, or separated from the insertinggroove 25 in an arrow direction, easily. In the embodiment, though the mountingmember 28 has the insertingprojection 31 and thecabinet 20 has the insertinggroove 25, opposite to this, thecabinet 20 has the insertingprojection 31 and the mountingmember 28 has the insertinggroove 25. - FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view showing the
pipe cover 21 in FIG. 1 having the closingmember 27 and the mountingmember 28 mounted thereto. - Referring to FIG. 9, the closing
member 27 is mounted to thepipe cover 21 with thebridges 29, and the mountingmember 28 is slidably press fit in thepipe cover 21. Since such a structure is similar to the structure in FIG. 8, a detailed description of which will be omitted. - In the meantime, there may be at least one pair of the closing
member 27 and the mountingmember 28 along sides of thecabinet 20, and preferably four pairs in total at upper and lower portions of opposite sides of thecabinet 20. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, it is preferable that the closingmember 27 and the mountingmember 28 at the lower portions of opposite sides of thecabinet 20 are mounted on the pipe covers 21. - FIG. 10 illustrates a front view of a state the
refrigerant piping 53 is connected through thepipe cover 21 at a left side of a lower side of a drawing of the indoor unit of the present invention. - Referring to FIG. 10, the
heat exchanger 50 has a square shape like thecabinet 20, and may be mounted at a position suitable to connect the refrigerant piping 53 from the outdoor unit (not shown) thereto. - That is, referring to FIG. 10, if the shortest distance to the
refrigerant piping 53 is through thepipe cover 21 on a lower side of thecabinet 20, theheat exchanger 50 is mounted such that theconnection pipe 54 of theheat exchanger 50 is directed to a direction thepipe cover 21 is mounted. Though not shown, if the shortest distance to therefrigerant piping 53 is through an upper side of thecabinet 20, theheat exchanger 50 is mounted such that theconnection pipe 54 of theheat exchanger 50 is directed to a direction where the closingmember 27 is at the upper portion of thecabinet 20. - A process for connecting the refrigerant piping of the indoor unit of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
- At first, the worker fixedly secure the
indoor unit 100 on a wall of a room, separates thepicture frame panel 40 from thecabinet 20 to expose thefront panel 30 on a front of theindoor unit 100. - Then, the
refrigerant piping 53 connected to the outdoor unit (not shown) on an outside of the room is mounted on the wall of the room. - Then, the worker separates the service cover 34 from the
indoor unit 100 fixedly secured to the wall of the room, to expose theconnection pipe 54 of theheat exchanger 50. - Then, in order to connect the
refrigerant piping 53 to theindoor unit 100, the worker slidably separates the mountingmember 28 from thepipe cover 21, and cuts thebridges 29 with a tool, such as a cutter, to remove the closingmember 27 to make a hole in thecabinet 20. - Then, the
refrigerant piping 53 is connected to theconnection pipe 54 through the hole formed by removal of the closingmember 27. Once the connection of theconnection pipe 54 and therefrigerant piping 53 is finished, the worker inserts the insertingprojection 31 of the mountingmember 28 in the insertinggroove 25 in thecabinet 20 or thepipe cover 21, to mount the mountingmember 28 to thecabinet 20 or thepipe cover 21, preventing the hole of the closingmember 27 from exposing to an outside of the hole. - Thus, by connecting the
refrigerant piping 53 and theconnection pipe 54, and mounting the mountingmember 28 to thecabinet 20 or thepipe cover 21 again, the exposure of the hole of the closingmember 27 to the outside of the hole is prevented, not only making an exterior of the indoor unit elegant, but also preventing water or dust from infiltrating into an inside of thecabinet 20. - FIG. 11 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at an upper portion of a right side of the
cabinet 20. - Referring to FIG. 11, comparing to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the embodiment is different in that the mounting
member 128 has one side extended toward the closingmember 27. - The mounting
member 128 includes a mountingportion 142 to be press fit in thecabinet 20 or thepipe cover 21, and anextension 143 extended toward the closingmember 27. - In the embodiment, if the mounting
member 128 is mounted to thecabinet 20 or thepipe cover 21, theextension 143 is projected toward a back side of the closingmember 27. Therefore, if the closingmember 27 is removed, theextension 143 of the mountingmember 128 closes a portion of the hole, to minimize the exposure of the inside of thecabinet 20 to an outside of thecabinet 20. If theextension 143 closes the portion of the hole, theextension 143 has aslot 144 at an end portion, for pass of therefrigerant piping 53. There is a step between the mountingportion 142 and theextension 143 for seating a side end of the closingmember 27 thereon when the mountingmember 128 is mounted. On the other hand, since a case an insertingprojection 145 is formed on the mountingportion 142 for inserting in the insertinggroove 25 of thecabinet 20 is similar to the embodiment of the FIG. 7, detailed description of which will be omitted. - FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet.
- Referring to FIG. 12, the embodiment is different from the embodiments of FIG. 7 and FIG. 11 in that a mounting
member 228 has oneend portion 230 rotatably connected to thecabinet 20, and theother end portion 240 to be held at thecabinet 20. - In detail, the one
end portion 230 of the mountingmember 228 is rotatably connected to thecabinet 20 with a joiningportion 260, and theother end portion 240 thereof has a holdingstep 242. Since the joiningportion 260 is formed connected to thecabinet 20 or thepipe cover 21 which is formed by injection molding, the joiningportion 260 can be rotatably folded/unfolded in up/down directions according to a property of the material. - In the meantime, the
cabinet 20 has a holdingrecess 250 in conformity with the holdingstep 242. When the mountingmember 228 rotates around the joiningportion 260, the holdingstep 242 at theother end portion 240 is engaged with, and held at the holdingrecess 250 at thecabinet 20 or thepipe cover 21. Accordingly, if it is intended to connect therefrigerant piping 53, the mountingmember 228 is turned downward, the closingmember 27 is removed, and then therefrigerant piping 53 is connected. Moreover, if the connection of therefrigerant piping 53 is finished, the mountingmember 228 is turned upward, to engage the holdingstep 242 with the holdingrecess 250 again, thereby minimizing the exposure of the hole to an outside of the hole. - In the meantime, even though the foregoing embodiment suggests that the closing member and the mounting member are formed at one side of the cabinet if the guide portion is formed at the
cabinet 20, the present invention is not limited to this, but the closing member and the mounting member may be formed at one side of the cabinet even if the guide portion is formed at the orifice. - It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims (31)
- An indoor unit of an air conditioner comprising:a fan;a cabinet having the fan mounted therein, an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, and a guide portion for surrounding an one side of an outside circumferential surface of the fan;a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan; andair guides each in contact with, and supported on the guide portion for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlets are at opposite sides of the cabinet, the guide portion is at a center of an upper portion of the cabinet, and the air guides are at opposite sides of the guide portion.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cabinet has a first rib, and a second rib at a lower end of the first rib, both projected from the cabinet, and the air guide has one end portion in contact with, and supported on the guide portion, and an underside and the other end portion supported on the first rib, and the second rib, respectively.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air guides are placed in, and held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the air guides are formed of an elastic material and placed in, and elastically held in spaces between the guide portion and the first, and second ribs, respectively.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet further includes projections for supporting the air guides.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the air guides have recesses opposite to the projections, for receiving and supporting the projections, respectively.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one closing member at sides of the cabinet, for removing from the cabinet to form a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping in a case the refrigerant piping to be connected to the heat exchanger is mounted.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closing member is connected to the cabinet with bridges.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one mounting member mounted to the cabinet for forming one side wall of the hole of the at least one closing member to open the hole along the side wall to an outside of the hole, selectively.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting member is press fit in the cabinet.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein one of the cabinet and the mounting member has an inserting projection formed thereon, and the other one thereof has an inserting groove in conformity with the inserting projection, for inserting the inserting projection in the inserting groove, to secure the mounting member, fixedly.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the inserting projection and the inserting groove are extended in a direction the mounting member is to be inserted.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting member is held at the cabinet.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the mounting member has one end portion rotatably connected to the cabinet, one of the other end portion of the mounting member or the cabinet has a holding step, and the other one thereof has a holding recess in conformity with the holding step, so that the holding step is held at the holding recess.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting member has an extension at one side portion for covering a portion of the hole of the closing member.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension has an end portion having a slot for pass through of the refrigerant piping.
- An indoor unit of an air conditioner comprising:a fan;an orifice having a guide portion surrounding an one side of an outside circumference of the fan, and projections spaced predetermined distances from the guide portion;a cabinet having the orifice and the fan mounted therein, and an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit;a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan; andair guides supported on the guide portion and the projections for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the outlets are at opposite sides of the cabinet, the guide portion is at a center of an upper portion of the orifice, and the air guides are at opposite sides of the guide portion.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the air guides are formed of an elastic material.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the air guides have recesses in conformity with the projections for placing the projections therein to support the air guides, respectively.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 18, further comprising at least one closing member at sides of the cabinet, for removing from the cabinet to form a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping in a case the refrigerant piping to be connected to the heat exchanger is mounted.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein the closing member is connected to the cabinet with bridges.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 22, further comprising at least one mounting member mounted to the cabinet for forming one side wall of the hole of the at least one closing member to open the hole along the side wall to an outside of the hole, selectively.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mounting member is press fit in the cabinet.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein one of the cabinet and the mounting member has an inserting projection formed thereon, and the other one thereof has an inserting groove in conformity with the inserting projection, for inserting the inserting projection in the inserting groove, to secure the mounting member, fixedly.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 26, wherein the inserting projection and the inserting groove are extended in a direction the mounting member is to be inserted.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the mounting member is held at the cabinet.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 28, wherein the mounting member has one end portion rotatably connected to the cabinet, one of the other end portion of the mounting member or the cabinet has a holding step, and the other one thereof has a holding recess in conformity with the holding step, so that the holding step is held at the holding recess.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the mounting member has an extension at an end portion for covering a portion of the hole of the closing member.
- The indoor unit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension has an end portion having a slot for pass through of the refrigerant piping.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020060008345A KR20070078256A (en) | 2006-01-26 | 2006-01-26 | Indoor unit of air conditioner |
KR1020060008349A KR20070078260A (en) | 2006-01-26 | 2006-01-26 | Indoor unit of air conditioner |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1813876A2 true EP1813876A2 (en) | 2007-08-01 |
EP1813876A3 EP1813876A3 (en) | 2011-01-05 |
Family
ID=37969765
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP06256299A Withdrawn EP1813876A3 (en) | 2006-01-26 | 2006-12-11 | Indoor unit of air conditioner |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1813876A3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007086640A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2015017740A (en) * | 2013-07-10 | 2015-01-29 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Outdoor unit for air conditioner |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP7202607B2 (en) * | 2018-11-12 | 2023-01-12 | 株式会社長府製作所 | Temperature controller |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5194043A (en) * | 1989-05-25 | 1993-03-16 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Air conditioner air deflector arrangement |
EP0930472A2 (en) * | 1998-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Cross flow fan |
EP1041351A1 (en) * | 1997-12-18 | 2000-10-04 | Daikin Industries, Limited | Indoor unit for air conditioner |
EP1248048A2 (en) * | 2001-04-05 | 2002-10-09 | Fujitsu General Limited | Air conditioner |
EP1522795A1 (en) * | 2003-10-09 | 2005-04-13 | LG Electronics Inc. | Indoor unit of an air conditioner |
EP1526339A2 (en) * | 2003-10-24 | 2005-04-27 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Indoor unit in air conditioner |
EP1580493A1 (en) * | 2002-10-31 | 2005-09-28 | Daikin Industries, Limited | Indoor apparatus for air conditioner |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3322180B2 (en) * | 1996-11-29 | 2002-09-09 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioner indoor unit |
JPH10267382A (en) * | 1997-03-19 | 1998-10-09 | Fujitsu General Ltd | Indoor unit for air conditioner |
JP2947236B2 (en) * | 1997-08-08 | 1999-09-13 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air outlet structure of air conditioner |
JP2001021169A (en) * | 1999-07-06 | 2001-01-26 | Fujitsu General Ltd | Integral air conditioner |
KR20020024709A (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2002-04-01 | 구자홍 | A blower support structure of air conditioner |
KR100517598B1 (en) * | 2002-08-14 | 2005-09-28 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | An air-conditioner |
-
2006
- 2006-11-28 WO PCT/KR2006/005068 patent/WO2007086640A2/en active Application Filing
- 2006-12-11 EP EP06256299A patent/EP1813876A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5194043A (en) * | 1989-05-25 | 1993-03-16 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Air conditioner air deflector arrangement |
EP1041351A1 (en) * | 1997-12-18 | 2000-10-04 | Daikin Industries, Limited | Indoor unit for air conditioner |
EP0930472A2 (en) * | 1998-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Cross flow fan |
EP1248048A2 (en) * | 2001-04-05 | 2002-10-09 | Fujitsu General Limited | Air conditioner |
EP1580493A1 (en) * | 2002-10-31 | 2005-09-28 | Daikin Industries, Limited | Indoor apparatus for air conditioner |
EP1522795A1 (en) * | 2003-10-09 | 2005-04-13 | LG Electronics Inc. | Indoor unit of an air conditioner |
EP1526339A2 (en) * | 2003-10-24 | 2005-04-27 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Indoor unit in air conditioner |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2015017740A (en) * | 2013-07-10 | 2015-01-29 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Outdoor unit for air conditioner |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1813876A3 (en) | 2011-01-05 |
WO2007086640A2 (en) | 2007-08-02 |
WO2007086640A3 (en) | 2009-05-22 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
AU2022202993B2 (en) | Ceiling type indoor unit of air conditioner | |
EP1816406B1 (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
CN112752928B (en) | Air conditioner | |
US20080188175A1 (en) | Air circulator with releasable air grille | |
JP4582818B2 (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
EP1816405A2 (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
EP1816407B1 (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
EP1780473B1 (en) | Air conditioner | |
EP1813876A2 (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
JP6524217B2 (en) | Recessed ceiling air conditioner | |
JP2015068550A (en) | Indoor machine of air conditioning device | |
KR20080052973A (en) | Indoor unit for air conditioner | |
EP1816403B1 (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
JPH08270978A (en) | Air conditioner | |
JP3109499B2 (en) | Outdoor unit of air conditioner | |
JP2000065385A (en) | Ceiling embedded air conditioner | |
CA2578329A1 (en) | Air circulation with releasable air grille | |
JP2597626Y2 (en) | Air conditioner | |
KR20110027509A (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
JP2001099481A (en) | Air conditioner flush with ceiling | |
KR20080052972A (en) | Indoor unit for air conditioner | |
KR100518416B1 (en) | Indoor unit for air conditioner | |
JPH08128670A (en) | Variable outlet type built-in air conditioner | |
KR20070078260A (en) | Indoor unit of air conditioner | |
JPH08233308A (en) | Air conditioner |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU |
|
PUAL | Search report despatched |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: AL BA HR MK RS |
|
AKY | No designation fees paid | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R108 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R108 Effective date: 20110907 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20110706 |