EP2159503A2 - Dehumdifier - Google Patents
Dehumdifier Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2159503A2 EP2159503A2 EP09250597A EP09250597A EP2159503A2 EP 2159503 A2 EP2159503 A2 EP 2159503A2 EP 09250597 A EP09250597 A EP 09250597A EP 09250597 A EP09250597 A EP 09250597A EP 2159503 A2 EP2159503 A2 EP 2159503A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- main body
- front panel
- unit
- dehumidifier
- filter
- 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- Withdrawn
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Classifications
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- 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
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
- F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
- F24F3/14—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
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- 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
- F24F13/28—Arrangement or mounting of filters
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
- F24F3/12—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
- F24F3/14—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
- F24F3/1411—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification by absorbing or adsorbing water, e.g. using an hygroscopic desiccant
- F24F3/1423—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification by absorbing or adsorbing water, e.g. using an hygroscopic desiccant with a moving bed of solid desiccants, e.g. a rotary wheel supporting solid desiccants
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2203/00—Devices or apparatus used for air treatment
- F24F2203/10—Rotary wheel
- F24F2203/1012—Details of the casing or cover
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2221/00—Details or features not otherwise provided for
- F24F2221/12—Details or features not otherwise provided for transportable
- F24F2221/125—Details or features not otherwise provided for transportable mounted on wheels
Definitions
- the locking unit may be coupled to each of the locking projections by the elastic force and released from each of the locking projections by deformation of the elastic unit due to the external force.
- the locking unit may be placed between the button unit and the elastic unit. A part of the button unit may be exposed outside of the main body.
- the air intake units may be formed on respective side faces of the main body, and the front panel comprises a filter duct for introducing the indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units into the filter placed in the front panel. Further, the front panel comprises a filter placement unit to which the filter is coupled, and the filter is detachably, slidingly coupled to the filter placement unit.
- the desiccant 44 may have a variety of shapes and materials.
- the desiccant 44 according to the present exemplary embodiment may have a shape in which paperboard and corrugated paper, made of ceramics fiber, are alternately wound up in a cylindrical shape.
- the desiccant 44 may also be made of meso-silica (SiO 2 ), such as nano-carbon balls (NCBs). NCBs have excellent hygroscopic properties owing to well-developed pores and surface area, and are capable of being reconditioned at a low temperature of about 60°C or less.
- a control box placement unit on which a control box 22 for controlling the dehumidifier is mounted is formed over the rotor frame 47.
- the condensing heat exchanger 100 includes a plurality of heat exchange plates which enable it to maximize the heat exchange area of reconditioning air and indoor air.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Drying Of Gases (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a dehumidifier and, more particularly, to a dehumidifier including a detachable member, enabling a user to conveniently detach a front panel from a main body.
- In general, dehumidifiers can be classified according to their operation method as dehumidifiers using a cooling cycle and dehumidifiers using a desiccant rotor.
- Dehumidifiers using a cooling cycle are problematic in that a compressor must be provided, and the compressor generates noise and occupies space. Accordingly, dehumidifiers using a desiccant rotor are more common nowadays.
- The desiccant rotor has the property of absorbing moisture in the air and dehumidifies while passing indoor air. The desiccant which has absorbed the moisture is reconditioned using hot air.
- The air that has been used to recondition the desiccant rotor has high temperature and high humidity and is discharged to the outside. Here a problem arises because the dehumidifier must be placed outside a building or, if placed indoors, an additional exhaust duct must be provided.
In the case where the hot, moist air that has reconditioned the desiccant is circulated within the dehumidifier, there is no need to provide the additional exhaust duct. There is another advantage in that the dehumidifier may be placed at a position desired by a user. - In order to circulate the hot, moist air, the moisture needs to be removed. Accordingly, a condensing heat exchanger for removing the moisture from the hot, moist air is generally provided in a space between an indoor air intake port and the desiccant rotor. That is, the humidity is lowered based on the principle that moisture within the hot, moist air is condensed through heat exchange between the hot, moist air and normal-temperature air.
- A filter for filtering foreign substances, etc. from the air is generally placed in the air intake duct for sucking the air into the dehumidifier. A user periodically detaches the filter from the main body and cleans out the foreign substances, etc.
- In order to replace the filter within the main body, a part of the main body must be detached, and the filter is detached from the main body by detaching, in general, the front panel.
- However, in the case where the front panel is detached from the main body, a fastening member for fastening the front panel and the main body must be detached, and an additional tool for detaching the fastening member is required. Consequently, it is complicated and time-consuming for a user to detach the front panel from the main body to periodically replace the filter.
- It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a dehumidifier which enables a user to conveniently detach a front panel from a main body.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifier in which the front panel and the main body can be conveniently coupled to each other without using an additional fastening member.
- To achieve the above objects, a dehumidifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a main body in which air intake units and an air discharge unit are formed, a front panel configured to include a filter for purifying indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units, and detachably coupled to the main body through locking projections formed in the front panel, a desiccant rotor for dehumidifying the indoor air passing through the filter, and detachable members provided in the main body and configured to couple to, or bind, the locking projections when the front panel is coupled to the main body.
- Each of the detachable members may include a button unit through which external force is transferred, an elastic unit deformed by the external force and configured to provide elastic force opposite to the direction of deformation, and a locking unit detachably coupled to each of the locking projections of the front panel by the elastic force.
- Further, the locking unit may be coupled to each of the locking projections by the elastic force and released from each of the locking projections by deformation of the elastic unit due to the external force. The locking unit may be placed between the button unit and the elastic unit. A part of the button unit may be exposed outside of the main body.
- The air intake units may be formed on respective side faces of the main body, and the front panel comprises a filter duct for introducing the indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units into the filter placed in the front panel. Further, the front panel comprises a filter placement unit to which the filter is coupled, and the filter is detachably, slidingly coupled to the filter placement unit.
- The dehumidifier having the above structure according to the present invention has the following advantages.
First, a user can detach the front panel from the main body by simply applying external force to the detachable members. Accordingly, a user can conveniently detach a filter placed in the front panel from the main body. - Second, the front panel can be coupled to the main body in one operation without using an additional fastening member. Accordingly, a user can conveniently replace the filter by detaching the front panel from the main body and coupling it to the main body again.
- The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of some exemplary embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; -
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing major elements of the dehumidifier shown inFig. 1 ; -
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when a front panel is detached from a main body; -
Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the front panel according to the present exemplary embodiment; -
Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when detachable members and fixing projections are detached from the main body; -
Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of a portion in which the detachable member and the fixing projections are coupled to each other in the present exemplary embodiment; -
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the portion shown inFig. 6 ; and -
Fig. 8 is an exploded plan view of the portion shown inFig. 7 . - Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that they can be readily implemented by those skilled in the art. In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same parts, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, andFig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing major elements of the dehumidifier shown inFig. 1 . - The overall structure of the dehumidifier according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
Figs. 1 and2 . - The dehumidifier according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured to suck in indoor air, absorb moisture from the indoor air, and discharge the dehumidified indoor air. To this end, a main body 1 includes
air intake units 34 for sucking in air and an air discharge unit for dehumidifying and discharging the sucked-in indoor air. In the present exemplary embodiment, theair intake units 34 are placed on the left and right sides of the main body 1 and over the air discharge unit. - A
front panel 10, the front surface of a bucket 2, right andleft panels upper panel 3, abase 8, an upperrear panel 7, and a lowerrear panel 6 constitute the external appearance of the main body 1. - The
rear panels rear panels rear panel 7 and the lowerrear panel 6. The lowerrear panel 6 is detachably coupled to the main body 1. A power cord fixing unit (not shown) for fixing a power cord supplying electric power to the main body 1 may be placed within the lowerrear panel 6. - The
base 8 forms the bottom of the main body 1. A wheel assembly is placed within thebase 8. The wheel assembly includes a wheel for helping the movement of the dehumidifier and a wheel support to which the wheel is rotatably coupled. The top surface of thebase 8 is open, and adrain fan 5 is placed on the top surface of thebase 8. The bucket 2 is slidingly and detachably coupled to thebase 8. - The
drain fan 5 forms the top surface of thebase 8. Acondensing heat exchanger 100, arotor frame 47, aventilator 9, and so on are placed over thedrain fan 5. One or more holes through which condensed water discharged from the condensingheat exchanger 100 is discharged to the bucket 2 under thedrain fan 5 are formed in thedrain fan 5. - The bucket 2 forms a space for collecting the condensed water introduced via the
drain fan 5. In the case where the bucket 2 is slidingly coupled to thebase 8 and condensed water is collected in the bucket 2, a user detaches the bucket 2 from thebase 8 and empties it outside. The right and leftpanels front panel 10, and theupper panel 3 are described later. - Meanwhile, a
ventilator 9, adehumidification rotor 45, a reconditioningfan 50, a reconditioningair heating member 60, and the condensingheat exchanger 100 are placed within the main body 1. - The
ventilator 9 is a kind of a dehumidification fan for sucking indoor air through the air intake units and discharging the indoor air to the air discharge unit via the main body 1. The rear surface of theventilator 9 is opened so that theventilator 9 together with the upperrear panel 7 forms a ventilation duct. An air intake hole is formed in the front surface of theventilator 9. An open outlet unit is formed on the top surface of theventilator 9. A fan motor and a fan coupled to the rotation shaft of the fan motor are included within theventilator 9. An outlet grill may be placed in the outlet unit. - The
dehumidification rotor 45 functions to adsorb moisture in the indoor air sucked in by theventilator 9 and to recycle the absorbed moisture at low temperature. Thedehumidification rotor 45 is placed between theventilator 9 and the condensingheat exchanger 100. - The
dehumidification rotor 45 includes adesiccant 44 and adesiccant wheel 43 to which thedesiccant 44 is fixed. Thedesiccant 44 adsorbs moisture within the indoor air while the indoor air passes through thedehumidification rotor 45 and recycles the absorbed moisture. Thedesiccant wheel 43 surrounds the circumference of thedesiccant 44. - The
desiccant 44 is generally configured to have a circular plate and is surrounded by thedesiccant wheel 43. A fixing hole for fixing thedesiccant 44 to the center of thedehumidification rotor 45 is formed in thedesiccant 44. - The
desiccant 44 may have a variety of shapes and materials. Thedesiccant 44 according to the present exemplary embodiment may have a shape in which paperboard and corrugated paper, made of ceramics fiber, are alternately wound up in a cylindrical shape. Thedesiccant 44 may also be made of meso-silica (SiO2), such as nano-carbon balls (NCBs). NCBs have excellent hygroscopic properties owing to well-developed pores and surface area, and are capable of being reconditioned at a low temperature of about 60°C or less. - NCBs have a spherical carbon structure 200nm to 500nm in diameter that includes a spherical hollow core unit and a mesoporous carbon cell unit. NCBs include fine pores each having a diameter of 2nm to 50nm. The pores of typical activated carbon have a wide surface area (BET), a wide mesoporous area, and do not clog.
- The
desiccant 44 is partitioned into an area into which moisture within indoor air is absorbed while the indoor air passes through the desiccant 44 (hereinafter referred to as a 'dehumidification area'), and an area from which moisture evaporates into reconditioning air while the reconditioning air passes through the desiccant 44 (hereinafter referred to as a 'reconditioning area'). The respective areas alternate by rotation of thedesiccant 44 so that moisture is absorbed and evaporated. - The reconditioning area generally has a fan shape. The reconditioning area is placed to face a reconditioning
air heating member 60 to be described later. - The
desiccant wheel 43 includes an edge unit configured to have a ring shape and to surround the circumference of thedesiccant 44, a fixing unit configured to fix thedesiccant 44, and a connection unit configured to connect the edge unit and the fixing unit and radially formed between the edge unit and the fixing unit. - A
rotor supporter 41 for rotatably supporting the dehumidification rotor and arotor frame 47 on which therotor supporter 41 is mounted are placed within the main body 1. - A reconditioning
air distribution member 90 is coupled to the front surface of therotor supporter 41. The rear surface of the reconditioningair distribution member 90 is open, and reconditioning air passing through therotor supporter 41 is introduced into the reconditioningair distribution member 90. - The
rotor frame 47 functions as a kind of a barrier for partitioning the inside of the main body 1 into a rear space in which theventilator 9 is placed and a front space in which the condensingheat exchanger 100 is placed. The front surface of therotor frame 47 has an aperture formed therein, through which the indoor air and the reconditioning air passing through thedesiccant 44 pass. An aperture unit through which reconditioning air passing through anexhaust duct 80 to be described later passes is formed in therotor frame 47. - A control box placement unit on which a
control box 22 for controlling the dehumidifier is mounted is formed over therotor frame 47. - The reconditioning
fan 50 applies circulation force to induce circulation of reconditioning air within the main body 1. That is, the reconditioningfan 50 functions to suck in air passing through theexhaust duct 80 and discharge it to the reconditioningair heating member 60. - The reconditioning
air heating member 60 heats the reconditioning air discharged from the reconditioningfan 50 and supplies hot reconditioning air to thedehumidification rotor 45. The reconditioningair heating member 60 includesheaters 63, afirst heater cover 65 configured to cover theheaters 63 and communicate with the reconditioningfan 50, and asecond heater cover 61 placed between thefirst heater cover 65 and the dehumidification rotor and coupled to thefirst heater cover 65. - The second heater cover 61 functions as a kind of air guide for preventing the air heated by the
heaters 63 from leaking to the area between theheaters 63 and the dehumidification rotor so that the air moves towards the dehumidification rotor. - Meanwhile, the reconditioning air which has been heated while passing through the reconditioning
air heating member 60 is introduced into the reconditioningair distribution member 90 via the reconditioning area of thedesiccant 44. - The reconditioning
air distribution member 90 is placed between the reconditioning area of thedesiccant 44 and the condensingheat exchanger 100. Accordingly, the reconditioning air output from the reconditioning area enters the reconditioningair distribution member 90. The reconditioning air is then distributed and introduced into the condensingheat exchanger 100. - The condensing
heat exchanger 100 performs heat exchange between the reconditioning air passing through the reconditioningair distribution member 90 and the indoor air. That is, the condensingheat exchanger 100 condenses the reconditioning air which has absorbed moisture while passing through the reconditioning area of thedesiccant 44 using the indoor air, and then discharges the reconditioning air from which moisture has been removed to the reconditioningfan 50 through theexhaust duct 80. Condensed water is discharged to thedrain fan 5 through a discharge hole formed under the condensingheat exchanger 100. - Meanwhile, the condensing
heat exchanger 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of heat exchange plates which enable it to maximize the heat exchange area of reconditioning air and indoor air. - The reconditioning air from which moisture has been removed while passing through the condensing
heat exchanger 100 is again sucked into the reconditioningfan 50 through theexhaust duct 80 formed in communication with the condensingheat exchanger 100. -
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when thefront panel 10 is detached from the main body 1, andFig. 4 is a rear perspective view of thefront panel 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment. - Referring to
Figs. 3 and4 , thefront panel 10 forms an external appearance of the upper front portion of the main body 1. No additional devices are formed at the front surface of thefront panel 10 so that a variety of designs can be made on the front surface of thefront panel 10 to enhance the appearance of the dehumidifier. - Fixing
projections 11, lockingprojections 12, afilter placement unit 13, and afilter duct 15 are formed on the rear portion of thefront panel 10. - The fixing
projections 11 project toward the rear side of thefront panel 10. The number of fixingprojections 11 may be one or more, and the position of the fixingprojections 11 may vary depending on the shape of thefront panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, for example, two fixingprojections 11 are formed on an upper portion, which belongs to the rear side of thefront panel 10. The fixingprojections 11 are coupled to the respectivefixing projection grooves 3a of theupper panel 3 and are configured to fix thefront panel 10 to the main body 1. - The locking
projections 12 engage respectivedetachable members 20 to be described later and are coupled thereto, thereby fixing thefront panel 10 to the main body 1. The lockingprojections 12 project toward the rear side of thefront panel 10. The number of lockingprojections 12 may be one or more. In the present exemplary embodiment, two lockingprojections 12 are illustrated on the lower rear sides of the left and right sides of thefront panel 10. - The two
locking projections 12 have the same structure, so only the lockingprojection 12 formed on the right side of thefront panel 10 is described for simplicity. The lockingprojection 12 on the right side engages the lockingunit 23 of thedetachable member 20 through a lockingprojection hole 31 formed in theright panel 30. Accordingly, the lockingprojection 12 projects a specific length from the rear surface of thefront panel 10. A part of the end of the lockingprojection 12 projects in the left and right directions and is configured to engage and connect to thelocking unit 23. Aninclined plane 12a (refer toFig. 8 ) is formed at a part of the end of the lockingprojection 12. Theinclined plane 12a is inserted into the lockingprojection hole 31 of theright panel 30 and causes the lockingprojection 12 and the lockingunit 23 to be coupled to each other while sliding together with theinclined plane 23a of the lockingunit 23. Accordingly, the lockingprojection 12 and the lockingunit 23 are coupled to each other in one operation. In the same manner, the left-side locking projection 12 is also coupled to theleft panel 35. - The
filter placement unit 13 projects from the rear surface of thefront panel 10. Thefilter 14 is slidingly coupled to thefilter placement unit 13 or detached from thefilter placement unit 13. Thefilter 14 may be slidingly coupled to or detached from thefilter placement unit 13 in the right or left direction of thefront panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, thefilter 14 is illustrated as being slidingly coupled to or detached from thefilter placement unit 13 in upward and downward directions of thefront panel 10. Meanwhile, a plurality offilters 14 may be provided, andfilter placement units 13 are formed according to the number of filters. - The
filter duct 15 is formed in a space between thefilter placement unit 13 and the rear surface of thefront panel 10. Thefilter duct 15 functions to guide air entering through theair intake units 34 formed on both sides of the main body 1 through thefilter 14. That is, the air sucked into theair intake unit 34 on the sides of the main body 1 is introduced into the space between thefront panel 10 and thefilter 14 via thefilter duct 15 and then passes through thefilter 14. - The right and left
panels panels right panel 30 is described below for simplicity. - A hole is formed at a position where the bucket 2 to be described later is placed, which belongs to the bottom of the
right panel 30, so that an additional hose capable of discharging water collected in the bucket 2 to the outside can be coupled to the hole. - The locking
projection hole 31 through which the lockingprojection 12 of thefront panel 10 passes is formed in the front surface of theright panel 30. The lockingprojection 12 is coupled to or detached from the lockingunit 23 of thedetachable member 20 while entering or exiting from the lockingprojection hole 31. Abutton unit hole 33 through which thebutton unit 21 of thedetachable member 20 passes is formed on the side face of theright panel 30. Thebutton unit 21 is exposed to the outside of the main body 1 through thebutton unit hole 33 and is configured to move in the right and left directions in thebutton unit hole 33 by external force applied by a user and the elastic force of anelastic unit 25 to be described later. Further,grooves 38 to which therespective fixing units 27 of thedetachable members 20 are fixed are formed within theright panel 30. - The
upper panel 3 forms the top surface of the main body 1. An air discharge unit, and a display unit and a control unit for enabling a user to check the operation state of the dehumidifier and control the dehumidifier, are placed in theupper panel 3. The fixingprojection grooves 3a to which therespective fixing projections 11 of thefront panel 10 are coupled are formed in theupper panel 3. The fixingprojection grooves 3a are formed based on the positions and the number of the fixingprojections 11 of thefront panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, two fixingprojection grooves 3a formed on the front surface of theupper panel 3 are illustrated. -
Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when the detachable members and the fixing projections are detached from the main body,Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of a portion in which the detachable members and the fixing projections of the present exemplary embodiment are coupled to each other,Fig. 7 is a plan view of the portion shown inFig. 6 , andFig. 8 is an exploded plan view of the portion shown inFig. 7 . - The structure of the
detachable members 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment, a process of coupling the fixing projections of thefront panel 10, and a process of detaching thefront panel 10 from the main body 1 are described below with reference toFigs. 5 to 8 . - The
detachable members 20 are provided in the main body 1 and detachably coupled to therespective fixing projections 11 of thefront panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, thedetachable members 20 are respectively provided in the right and leftpanels detachable members 20 have the same structure and positions, so only thedetachable member 20 placed in theright panel 30 is described. Each of thedetachable members 20 includes thebutton unit 21, the lockingunit 23, theelastic unit 25, and the fixingunit 27. The above elements may be coupled separately, but, in the present exemplary embodiment, they are formed as one body. - The
button unit 21 is configured to penetrate thebutton unit hole 33 of theright panel 30 and be placed therein. Accordingly, a part of thebutton unit 21 is exposed to the outside of the main body 1. If a user applies external force to thebutton unit 21, thebutton unit 21 slidingly moves into thebutton unit hole 33. The external force enables the lockingunit 23 to be detached from the lockingprojection 12 while the lockingunit 23 moves into the main body. Theelastic unit 25 elastically contracts so that the user can detach thefront panel 10 from the main body. - If the user releases the external force applied to the
button unit 21 when thefront panel 10 has been detached from thefront panel 10, theelastic unit 25 that has contracted elastically returns to its original state before the external force was applied. Accordingly, thebutton unit 21 and the lockingunit 23 also return their positions. - When the
front panel 10 is coupled to the main body 1, the lockingunit 23 engages the lockingprojection 12 and connects thereto. One end of the lockingunit 23 is coupled to thebutton unit 21 and released from the lockingprojection 12 while moving into the main body due to external force applied by the user. In the same manner as the above-describedlocking projection 12, the other end of the lockingunit 23 projects right and left and is therefore coupled to the lockingprojection 12 while engaging the lockingprojection 12. Theinclined plane 23a is formed at a part of the end of the lockingunit 23. Accordingly, the lockingprojection 12 slides together with theinclined plane 12a, thereby causing the lockingprojection 12 and the lockingunit 23 to be coupled to each other. - One end of the locking
unit 23 is coupled to theelastic unit 25. Theelastic unit 25 functions to release thelocking unit 23 from the lockingprojection 12 while being deformed by external force applied by the user. If the external force is removed, theelastic unit 25 elastically returns to its original shape, thereby moving the lockingunit 23 and thebutton unit 21 to their original positions. - Meanwhile, the locking
unit 23 and the lockingprojection 12 may be detachably coupled to each other without using theelastic unit 25. However, in the present exemplary embodiment, theelastic unit 25 is used to detachably couple thelocking unit 23 and the lockingprojection 12. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the lockingprojection 12 and the lockingunit 23 can be detachably coupled to each other in one operation. In the state where the lockingprojection 12 and the lockingunit 23 are coupled to each other, theelastic unit 25 pushes the lockingunit 23 in a direction where the lockingunit 23 is elastically coupled to the lockingprojection 12. Accordingly, the lockingprojection 12 and the lockingunit 23 are firmly coupled to each other, so thefront panel 10 is also firmly coupled to the right and leftpanels - The fixing
unit 27 is formed at the end of theelastic unit 25 and configured to fix thedetachable member 20 to the inside of theright panel 30. That is, the fixingunit 27 is fixed to thegroove 38 formed in theright panel 30. Consequently, thebutton unit 21 and the lockingunit 23 are moved in the right and left directions by external force applied by the user and the elastic force of theelastic unit 25. Theelastic unit 25 elastically contracts and is restored. However, the fixingunit 27 does not move or deform, but functions to fix thedetachable member 20. - The detachment process of the
front panel 10 is described below. - The fixing
projections 11 of thefront panel 10 are coupled to the respectivefixing projection grooves 3a of theupper panel 3, and the lockingprojections 12 of thefront panel 10 are coupled to therespective locking units 23 of thedetachable members 20 through the locking projection holes 31 and 36 formed in the right and leftpanels units 23 are closely adhered to the lockingprojections 12 by the elastic force of theelastic units 25 of thedetachable members 20. Accordingly, thefront panel 10 and the main body 1 can be firmly coupled to each other. When the user replaces thefilter 14, the user applies external force to thebutton units 21. The external force applied to thebutton units 21 enables thebutton units 21 to move, and also enables the lockingunits 23 coupled to therespective button units 21 to move. Accordingly, therespective locking units 23 are released from the lockingprojections 12. Accordingly, therespective locking projections 12 can exit from the locking projection holes 31 and 36 of the right and leftpanels respective fixing projections 11 of thefront panel 10 are coupled to the fixingprojection grooves 3a. - When the user detaches the
front panel 10 from the main body 1, therespective fixing projections 11 are detached from the fixingprojection grooves 3a, and the user can slidingly detach thefilter 14 from thefilter placement unit 13. - When the user has detached the
front panel 10 from the main body 1, the user's external force has been removed from thedetachable members 20. Accordingly, thedetachable members 20 are restored to their original positions before the external force was applied to thedetachable members 20 by the elastic force of theelastic unit 25. - After the
filter 14 is cleaned, the user slidingly couples thefilter 14 to thefilter placement unit 13 and then couples thefront panel 10 to the main body 1. - In this case, the user first couples the fixing
projections 11 to the respectivefixing projection grooves 3a. The user inserts the lockingprojections 12 into the respective locking projection holes 31 and 36 of the right and leftpanels front panel 10 to the main body 1. Accordingly, the lockingprojections 12 are coupled to therespective locking units 23 through the locking projection holes 31 and 36. - In more detail, the
inclined plane 12a formed at the end of each of the lockingprojections 12 slides into theinclined plane 23a formed at the end of each of the lockingunits 23, so the lockingprojections 12 are inserted into the right and leftpanels projections 12 are coupled to therespective locking units 23 while passing through the respective ends of theinclined planes 23a of the lockingunits 23. - A process of condensing reconditioning air, a process of dehumidifying indoor air, and a process of discharging condensed water and moisture within the main body 1 in the above-constructed dehumidifier according to the present invention are described below.
- First, reconditioning air circulates through a reconditioning duct when the reconditioning
fan 50 rotates. That is, the reconditioning air passing through the reconditioningfan 50 is heated in the reconditioningair heating member 60 making its temperature rise. The hot reconditioning air reconditions the reconditioning area of thedesiccant 44. The reconditioning air is then introduced into the condensingheat exchanger 100 via the reconditioningair distribution member 90. - The reconditioning air introduced into the condensing
heat exchanger 100 undergoes heat exchange with indoor air while flowing up and down through a plurality of heat exchange plates. During this heat exchange process, moisture within the reconditioning air is condensed. The condensed reconditioning air is reintroduced into the reconditioningfan 50 via theexhaust duct 80 and the aperture unit of therotor frame 47. That is, the reconditioning air circulates within the main body according to the above cycle. - Meanwhile, the indoor air is sucked through the air intake units of the main body and undergoes heat exchange with the reconditioning air flowing through the reconditioning air duct while passing through an indoor air duct of the condensing
heat exchanger 100. The moisture of the indoor air passing through the condensingheat exchanger 100 is absorbed by thedesiccant 44 while the indoor air passes through the dehumidification area of thedesiccant 44. The dehumidified indoor air is then discharged to the interior of a room through theblower fan 9 and the air discharge unit of the main body 1. - Meanwhile, water condensed in the condensing
heat exchanger 100 is collected in the bucket 2 via thedrain fan 5. The user detaches the bucket 2 from thebase 8 and empties it outside. - While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.
Claims (10)
- A dehumidifier, comprising:a main body in which air intake units and an air discharge unit are formed;a front panel configured to include a filter for purifying indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units, and detachably coupled to the main body through locking projections formed in the front panel;a desiccant rotor for dehumidifying the indoor air passing through the filter; anddetachable members provided in the main body and configured to bind the locking projections when the front panel is coupled to the main body.
- The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein each of the detachable members comprises:a button unit through which external force is transferred; an elastic unit deformed by the external force and configured to provide elastic force opposite to the direction of deformation; anda locking unit detachably coupled to each of the locking projections of the front panel by the elastic force.
- The dehumidifier of claim 2, wherein the locking unit is coupled to each of the locking projections by the elastic force and released from each of the locking projections by deformation of the elastic unit due to the external force.
- The dehumidifier of claim 2, wherein the locking unit is placed between the button unit and the elastic unit.
- The dehumidifier of claim 2, wherein a part of the button unit is exposed outside of the main body.
- The dehumidifier of claim 5, wherein:the main body comprises right and left panels forming side faces of the main body, andbutton unit holes through each of which a part of the button unit is exposed are respectively formed in the right and left panels.
- The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:the air intake units are formed on respective side faces of the main body, andthe front panel comprises a filter duct for introducing the indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units into the filter placed in the front panel.
- The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:the front panel comprises a filter placement unit to which the filter is coupled, andthe filter is detachably, slidingly coupled to the filter placement unit.
- The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:a fixing projection is formed in the front panel, anda groove to which the fixing projection is coupled is formed in the main body.
- The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:the main body comprises right and left panels forming side faces of the main body, andlocking projection holes through which the respective locking projections passes are formed in the right and left panels.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020080084046A KR20100025332A (en) | 2008-08-27 | 2008-08-27 | Dehumidifier |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2159503A2 true EP2159503A2 (en) | 2010-03-03 |
EP2159503A3 EP2159503A3 (en) | 2012-04-11 |
Family
ID=41404499
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP09250597A Withdrawn EP2159503A3 (en) | 2008-08-27 | 2009-03-02 | Dehumdifier |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2159503A3 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20100025332A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101658753A (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103423287B (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2016-01-06 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Connecting device of machine body and panel and air purifier comprising same |
CN107762974A (en) * | 2017-11-24 | 2018-03-06 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Panel mounting structure and household appliance |
CN107906635B (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2023-11-28 | 芜湖美智空调设备有限公司 | Drainage structure of lower joint and dehumidifier |
CN110397998A (en) * | 2019-08-21 | 2019-11-01 | 无锡普爱德环保科技有限公司 | A kind of Split modular rotaring wheel structure skeleton, desiccant wheel and rotary dehumidifier |
CN111981574A (en) * | 2020-08-26 | 2020-11-24 | Tcl空调器(中山)有限公司 | Air outlet panel structure and air conditioner |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1092927A2 (en) * | 1999-10-14 | 2001-04-18 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Air conditioner and humidifying/dehumidifying apparatus attached thereto |
GB2360840A (en) * | 1999-12-27 | 2001-10-03 | Hitachi Ltd | Air conditioner |
EP1348448A1 (en) * | 2000-08-28 | 2003-10-01 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Air conditioning apparatus and ion generator used for the device |
JP2003314849A (en) * | 2002-04-19 | 2003-11-06 | Fujitsu General Ltd | Air conditioner |
JP2004092932A (en) * | 2002-08-29 | 2004-03-25 | Sharp Corp | Panel opening device and air conditioner using it |
US20060278085A1 (en) * | 2005-06-13 | 2006-12-14 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Dehumidifier |
-
2008
- 2008-08-27 KR KR1020080084046A patent/KR20100025332A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2009
- 2009-02-13 CN CN200910007204A patent/CN101658753A/en active Pending
- 2009-03-02 EP EP09250597A patent/EP2159503A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1092927A2 (en) * | 1999-10-14 | 2001-04-18 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Air conditioner and humidifying/dehumidifying apparatus attached thereto |
GB2360840A (en) * | 1999-12-27 | 2001-10-03 | Hitachi Ltd | Air conditioner |
EP1348448A1 (en) * | 2000-08-28 | 2003-10-01 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Air conditioning apparatus and ion generator used for the device |
JP2003314849A (en) * | 2002-04-19 | 2003-11-06 | Fujitsu General Ltd | Air conditioner |
JP2004092932A (en) * | 2002-08-29 | 2004-03-25 | Sharp Corp | Panel opening device and air conditioner using it |
US20060278085A1 (en) * | 2005-06-13 | 2006-12-14 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Dehumidifier |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2159503A3 (en) | 2012-04-11 |
CN101658753A (en) | 2010-03-03 |
KR20100025332A (en) | 2010-03-09 |
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