EP3193086B1

EP3193086B1 - Upright air conditioner

Info

Publication number: EP3193086B1
Application number: EP16829713.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Benhua HAO; Jingping SUN; Xianqiang Wang; Tingting CAI; Zhenhong DA
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Air Conditioner Gen Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Air Conditioner Gen Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2015-07-30
Filing date: 2016-06-22
Publication date: 2018-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-22
Also published as: CN105091101B; KR101976193B1; EP3193086A4; CN105091101A; KR20170063652A; EP3193086A1; WO2017016346A1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology and, more particularly, to a vertical air conditioner.

Background of the Invention

With the advancement of technology and the improvement of living environment quality requirements, the function of air conditioners which are commonly used in home and office environment is increasing. The air conditioners are no longer simply to provide refrigeration and heating of indoor air, humidification, purification and other functions on the indoor air are added.
At present, the handling methods commonly used by the air conditioners to achieve the humidification, purification, etc. of the indoor air lie in not changing the original structure of the air conditioners, but providing additional air handling modules such as a humidification module and a purification module in the original air duct of the air conditioners. When the air conditioner is powered on to run the refrigeration or heating, these additional air handling modules also work to achieve the humidification, purification and other handling of the indoor air. For instance, CN 204 141 826 U provides a base of an air processing system and an air processing system for allowing multiple functions of appliances in combination.
The aforementioned handling method has the following disadvantages: firstly, the realization of the additional air handling functions is dependent on the original structure and operation of the air conditioners and can not be controlled separately. Secondly, once the air conditioner is shipped, the additional air handling functions have been determined, which cannot be changed by the user, so that it is difficult to achieve personalized needs. Thirdly, due to the increase of the additional air handling modules, they occupy the original space and air duct of the air conditioner, and affects the original air conditioning performance of the air conditioner; in order to achieve the coordination and matching of the normal air conditioning and additional air conditioning, there is a need to pay a lot of research and development costs on the design of the structure of the air conditioner and electronic control.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a vertical air conditioner, which has a base detachably fitted with an air conditioner body, wherein a separate air supply system and an air handling module are provided in the base to effect air handling, such that at least one of the above disadvantages existed in the existing air conditioners with additional air handling functions is solved.
In order to realize the above object of the present invention, the present invention uses the technical solution according to claim 1.
In particular, the used technical solution is based on a vertical air conditioner, comprising an air conditioner body, and further comprising a base detachably fitted with the air conditioner body, wherein the base comprises a base body which has a fitting part, a body air inlet and a body air outlet are formed on the base body, a cavity is formed in the base body, and a fan and an air handling module are formed in the cavity.
The fitting part is provided on the base body, so that the base can be detachably fitted with the air conditioner body. The air inlet and the air outlet are formed on the base body, and the fan and the air handling module are formed inside the base body, so that the base itself forms a separate air supply system, and the air handling module is used to handle air based on the air supply system. Therefore, after the base and the air conditioner body are fitted together, the additional air handling function achieved by the base is independent from the air conditioner body, which does not affect the original structure of the air conditioner body, and can run independently rather than relying on the operation of the original air conditioner body.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, in order to achieve a modular structure, an air outflow assembly is formed in the cavity, and the air outflow assembly comprises an air outflow frame in which the fan is formed; and the air outflow frame is formed with an air outflow frame air inlet and a first air outflow frame air outlet, the first air outflow frame air outlet being located between the air outflow frame air inlet and the fitting part, the air outflow frame air inlet is in communication with the body air inlet, and the first air outflow frame air outlet is in communication with the body air outlet.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, the first air outflow frame air outlet is formed on a side surface of the air outflow frame with a structure in which an air outflow angle is greater than 180°, so as to increase the air outflow range of the base.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, the air handling module is formed on the air outflow frame between the air outflow frame air inlet and the first air outflow frame air outlet.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, the air handling module is formed on the air outflow frame with a pullable structure, so as to facilitate the replacement of the air handling module to meet the personalized needs of users.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, in order to further increase the air outflow range and ways of the air conditioner, a fitting part air outlet is formed on the fitting part, the air outflow frame is formed with a second air outflow frame air outlet which is located between the first air outflow frame air outlet and the fitting part air outlet, the second air outflow frame air outlet being in communication with the fitting part air outlet, and a joint part air outlet is formed between the air conditioner body and the fitting part, the joint part air outlet being in communication with the fitting part air outlet.
Preferably, an air outflow cover plate is provided at the joint part air outlet to open/close the joint part air outlet, so as to control the air outflow selection of the joint part air outlet.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, an air outflow grille is formed on the joint part air outlet on the inner side of the air outflow cover plate.
Preferably, the air outflow grille and the air outflow cover plate are both ring-shaped, so as to achieve a wide air outflow range.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, in order to facilitate fitting the air conditioner body with the base, the air conditioner body is detachably fitted with the base via a connector, and the joint part air outlet is formed between the fitting part and the connector.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, an electrical cabinet is further formed in the cavity, a wire opening and a connecting pipe opening are formed on the fitting part, the wire connected to the electrical cabinet extends out of the base body through the wire opening, and a connecting pipe of the air conditioner body extends into the base through the connecting pipe opening.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, in order to ensure the smooth air inlet and outlet of the base, the electrical cabinet is remote from the body air inlet, and the electrical cabinet, the body air inlet and the air handling module enclose an air inlet chamber.
In the vertical air conditioner as described above, the base body comprises a bottom seat and a base main body which are detachably connected, the fitting part is formed on the base main body at the end opposite to the bottom seat, a base support is formed between the bottom seat and the fitting part, an outer periphery of the base main body is formed with a housing surrounding the base main body, and the body air inlet and the body air outlet are both formed on the housing.
Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages and positive effects: in the present invention, the fitting part is provided on the base body, so that the base can be detachably fitted with the air conditioner body; and the air inlet and the air outlet are formed on the base body, and the fan and the air handling module are formed inside the base body, so that the base itself forms a separate air supply system, and the air handling module is used to handle air based on the air supply system. Therefore, after the base and the air conditioner body are fitted together to form the vertical air conditioner, the additional air handling function achieved by the base is independent from the air conditioner body, which does not affect the original structure of the air conditioner body, and can run independently rather than relying on the operation of the original air conditioner body.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer after reading the embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a vertical air conditioner of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a structural exploded view of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a base in one embodiment;
Fig. 4 is a structural exploded view of a base in one embodiment; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a connector in one embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order to make the purposes, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer and more comprehensible, the present invention is further illustrated in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
Reference is made to an embodiment of a vertical air conditioner as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vertical air conditioner of this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a structural exploded view of Fig. 1, Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a perspective view and a structural exploded view of a base in the embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a connector in the embodiment.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the vertical air conditioner of this embodiment comprises a base 1 and an air conditioner body 2 in the form of a cylinder as a whole, and the base 1 is detachably fitted with the air conditioner body 2. It is not limited to the cylindrical structure, but may be of other structures. For example, the air conditioner body 2 and the base 1 are both of a rectangular cubic structure and the like. In the vertical air conditioner, the base 1 serves as the overall bottom seat of the air conditioner body 2, is placed on the ground, and raises the air conditioner body 2 to a certain height. The air conditioner body 2 is an existing air conditioner that realizes basic functions such as air conditioning refrigeration, heating and dehumidification, and the structure, working principle and working process thereof can be found in the prior art, and will not be specifically illustrated and described herein.
The air conditioner base 1 comprises a base body 11, which has a fitting part 1121 on the base body 11, and the fitting part 1121 is used to enable the base 1 to be detachably fitted with the air conditioner body 2. Thus, the base 1 becomes a structure substantially independent from the air conditioner body 2. A body air inlet 1141 and a body air outlet 1151 are formed on the base body 11, a cavity is formed in the base body 11, and a fan 122 and an air handling module 13 are formed in the cavity. The air handling module 13 herein refers to a module for realizing a basic handling function other than the heating, refrigeration, dehumidification, etc. of air in the conventional air conditioners, that is, a module for realizing an additional function such as humidification, purification, or refreshing of air.
Since the body air inlet 1141 and the body air outlet 1151 are formed on the base body 11, and the fan 122 and the air handling module 13 are formed in the base body 11, the base 1 itself forms a separate air supply system. By means of the rational design of the structure, when the fan 122 works, the external air is sucked into base body 11 through the body air inlet 1141, passes through the air handling module 13 and is handled thereby, and then is blown out from the body air outlet 1151, such that the handling of air is achieved by using the air handling module 13. For example, if the air handling module 13 is a humidification module, the air will be humidified in the environment; if air handling module 13 is a purification module, the air will be cleaned in the environment; and if the air handling module 13 is an aromatherapy deodorization module, the air will be subjected to aromatherapy deodorization in the environment, and so on. In addition, since the base 1 is substantially independent from the air conditioner body 2, it can be individually controlled to realize the independent operation of the additional air handling function and the original basic function of the air conditioner. Since the base 1 does not rely on the original space and air duct structure of the air conditioner body 2, the original air conditioning performance of the air conditioner will not be affected, and there is no need to specially design the structure of the air duct of the air conditioner, thereby simplifying the structure and design for realizing multiple air conditioning functions.
Specifically, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the base body 11 comprises a bottom seat 111, a base main body 112, a base support 113, a rear shell 114, and a front shell 115. The bottom seat 111 is detachably connected to the base main body 112 as a chassis structure for the entire base 1. For example, the detachable connection is made by screws, fasteners, and the like. The fitting part 1121 of the entire base 1 is formed on the base main body 112 at the top end opposite to the bottom seat 111, so that the fitting part 1121 is located at the top of the entire base 1. The base main body 112 is internally formed with a cavity for accommodating the fan 122, the air handling module 13, and other structures to be fitted. In this way, it is bound to make the supporting strength of the base main body 112 become worse. In order to increase the supporting strength and supporting stability of the entire base 1, a base support 113 is formed between the bottom seat 111 and the base main body 112, and specifically between the bottom seat 111 and the fitting part 1121. An outer periphery of the base main body 112 is formed with a shell surrounding the base main body 112. Specifically, the housing surrounding the base main body 112 comprises a rear shell 114 and a front shell 115, and the front shell 115 is divided into left and right portions. The rear shell 114 and the front shell 115 are respectively fixedly connected to the bottom seat 111, the base main body 112 and the base support 113 via fasteners, screws or the like. The body air inlet 1141 is formed on the rear shell 114 for introducing external air; and the body air outlet 1151 is formed on the front shell 115 for delivering the air handled by the air handling module 13.
An air outflow assembly 12 is formed in the cavity formed by the base main body 112, which air outflow assembly 12 comprises an air outflow frame 121, and the fan 122 is formed in the air outflow frame 121. Specifically, the air outflow assembly 12 and the base main body 112 are fixed via a fastener, a screw or the like; and the fan 122 is a centrifugal fan and is fixed in the air outflow frame 121. Opening are provided at two ends of the air outflow frame 121, with one end facing the bottom seat 111 and the other end facing the fitting part 1121. The air outflow frame 121 forms an air outflow frame air inlet 1211 at the end of the bottom seat 111 and is in communication with the body air inlet 1141 on the base body 11; and the air outflow frame 121 forms a second air outflow frame air outlet 1213 at the end facing the fitting part 1121. A first air outflow frame air outlet 1212 is formed on the air outflow frame 121 between the air outflow frame air inlet 1211 and the second air outflow frame air outlet 1213. The first air outflow frame air outlet body air 1212 is in communication with the body air outlet 1131 on the base body 11. Preferably, the first air outflow frame air outlet body air 1212 is formed on a side surface of the air outflow frame 121 with a structure in which an air outflow angle is greater than 180°, thereby increasing the air outflow range. In this embodiment, the first air outflow frame air outlet body air 1212 comprises three outlet ports distributed on the side surface of the air outflow frame 121 at intervals, and an air supply angle of about 270° can be formed. The air handling module 13 is also formed on the air outflow frame 121, in particular, the air handling module 13 is formed between the air outflow frame air inlet 1211 and the first air outflow frame air outlet 1212. The air handling module 13 is formed on the air outflow frame 121 with a pullable structure to facilitate the after-sales service and the replacement of the air handling module of the same type by the user, and the air handling modules having different air handling functions can be mounted as required, so as to facilitate use of the air handling modules to meet the personalized needs of users.
In the cavity formed by the base body 112, an electrical cabinet 14 is formed below the air outflow assembly 12. A control panel of the base 1 can be placed in the electrical cabinet 14, and a control panel of the air conditioner body 2 fitted with the base 1 can also be placed. Preferably, the control panels of the base 1 and the air conditioner body 2 are both placed in the electrical cabinet 14. Moreover, the electrical cabinet 14 is remote from the body air inlet 1141 on the base body 11 and may form an air inlet chamber 15 between the electrical cabinet 14, the body air inlet 1141 and the air handling module 13 to ensure that the smooth air inlet and outlet of the base 1.
On the fitting part 1121, a fitting part air outlet (not marked in the figures), a wire opening 11211 and a connecting pipe opening 11212 are formed. The fitting part air outlet is in communication with the second air outflow frame air outlet 1213 on the air outflow assembly 12. Moreover, after the air conditioner body 2 is fitted with the base 1 via the fitting part 1121, a joint part air outlet 4 is formed between the air conditioner body 2 and the fitting part 1121, and the joint part air outlet 4 is in communication with the fitting part air outlet. Consequently, the air handled by the air handling module 13, in addition to being blown out from the first air outflow frame air outlet 1212 and the body air outlet 1151, is blown out from the second air outflow frame air outlet 1213, the fitting part air outlet and the joint part air outlet 4, that is, from the top of the base 1 and the bottom of the air conditioner body 2, to achieve multi-angle, multi-height all-round air supply, so that the air outflow range and ways of the vertical air conditioner are increased. The wire opening 11211 provides a channel for the wires electrically connected to the electrical cabinet 14, which allows the wires connecting live parts of the air conditioner body 2 and the electrical cabinet 14 to extend out of the base body 11 through the wire opening 11211 and into the air conditioner body 2. The connecting pipe opening 11212 provides a channel for a connecting pipe which connects the air conditioner body 2 and an outdoor unit of the air conditioner.
The vertical air conditioner formed by assembling the base 1 using the aforementioned structure with the air conditioner body 2 has a reasonable structure, a wider air outflow range and more air outflow ways, can achieve modular production and fitting, and facilitates personalized selection.
Moreover, an air outflow grille 5 is formed on the joint part air outlet 4, to sort out the air outflow directions. Moreover, an air outflow cover plate 6 is provided on the joint part air outlet 4 on the outer side of the air outflow grille 5, for opening/closing the joint part air outlet 4, so as to control whether air flows out from the joint part air outlet 4. For example, the air outflow cover plate 6 is formed at the joint part air outlet 4 with a structure in which the air outflow cover plate is connected to the base 1 or/and the air conditioner body 2 in a fastened manner, and the user can manually disassemble the air outflow cover plate 6. If it is desirable that the air flows out from the joint part air outlet 4, the air outflow cover plate 6 is detached to open the joint part air outlet 4, and after the fan 122 of the base 1 is powered on and operates, the air handled by the air handling module 13 is blown out from the joint part air outlet 4. If the air outflow cover plate 6 is fitted to the joint part air outlet 4, the air outflow of the air outlet is closed, and even if the fan 122 is powered on and operates, no air is blown out from the joint part air outlet 4, so that the air outflow range and ways are highly controllable. As a preferred embodiment, the air outflow grille 5 and the air outflow cover plate 6 are both ring-shaped, so that the annular air outflow can be realized, the air outflow angle is large and the air supply range is wide.
In order to facilitate fitting the base 1 with the air conditioner body 2 and to increase the fitting strength of them, the air conditioner body 2 will be detachably fitted with the base 1 via a connector 3. Specifically, the connector 3 is a round or square disk having a similar structure to the base 1 and the air conditioner body 2, and during fitting, the connector 3 is first fixed to the fitting part 1121 of the base 1 via a connector fixing plate 33, and then the air conditioner body 2 is fixed to the connector 3. The joint part air outlet 4 will be formed between the fitting part 1121 and the connector 3 when the air conditioner body 2 is fixed to the base 1 via the connector 3. Furthermore, a wire opening 31 corresponding to the wire opening 11211 on the fitting part 1121 and a connecting pipe opening 32 corresponding to the connecting pipe opening 11212 on the fitting part 1121 are provided on the bottom surface of the connector 3. In addition, a sealing structure is provided at the wire opening 31 and the connecting pipe opening 32 to prevent the air at the joint part air outlet 4 from leaking from the connector 3.

Claims

A vertical air conditioner, comprising an air conditioner body (2), the vertical air conditioner further comprising a base (1) detachably fitted with the air conditioner body (2), wherein the base (1) serves as the overall bottom seat of the air conditioner body (2) and comprises a base body (11) which has a fitting part (1121), a body air inlet (1141) and a body air outlet (1151) are formed on the base body (11), a cavity is formed in the base body (11), and a fan (122) and an air handling module (13) are formed in the cavity;
wherein an air outflow assembly (12) is formed in the cavity, and the air outflow assembly (12) comprises an air outflow frame (121) in which the fan (122) is formed; and the air outflow frame (121) is formed with an air outflow frame air inlet (1211) and a first air outflow frame air outlet (1212), the first air outflow frame air outlet (1212) being located between the air outflow frame air inlet (1211) and the fitting part (1121), the air outflow frame air inlet (1211) is in communication with the body air inlet (1141), and the first air outflow frame air outlet (1212) is in communication with the body air outlet (1151);
wherein the air handling module (13) is formed on the air outflow frame (121) between the air outflow frame air inlet (1211) and the first air outflow frame air outlet (1212), and, when the base (1) and the air conditioner body (2) are fitted together, the air handling module (13) realizes an additional air handling function independent from the air conditioner body (2);
characterized in that
the air handling module (13) is formed on the air outflow frame (121) with a pullable structure adapted to facilitate the replacement of the air handling module (13).
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the first air outflow frame air outlet (1212) is formed on a side surface of the air outflow frame (121) with a structure in which an air outflow angle is greater than 180°.
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a fitting part air outlet is formed on the fitting part (1121), the air outflow frame (121) is formed with a second air outflow frame air outlet (1213) which is located between the first air outflow frame air outlet (1212) and the fitting part air outlet, the second air outflow frame air outlet (1213) being in communication with the fitting part air outlet, and a joint part air outlet (4) is formed between the air conditioner body (2) and the fitting part (1121), the joint part air outlet being in communication with the fitting part air outlet.
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that an air outflow cover plate (6) is provided at the joint part air outlet (4) to open/close the joint part air outlet (4).
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 4, characterized in that an air outflow grille (5) is formed on the joint part air outlet (4) on the inner side of the air outflow cover plate (6).
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that the air outflow grille (5) and the air outflow cover plate (6) are both ring-shaped.
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that the air conditioner body (2) is detachably fitted with the base (1) via a connector (3), and the joint part air outlet is formed between the fitting part (1121) and the connector (3).
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that an electrical cabinet (14) is further formed in the cavity, a wire opening (31) and a connecting pipe opening (32) are formed on the fitting part (1121), the wire connected to the electrical cabinet (14) extends out of the base body (11) through the wire opening (31), and a connecting pipe of the air conditioner body (2) extends into the base (1) through the connecting pipe opening (32).
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that the electrical cabinet (14) is remote from the body air inlet (1141), and the electrical cabinet (14), the body air inlet (1141) and the air handling module (13) enclose an air inlet chamber (15).
The vertical air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the base body (11) comprises a bottom seat (111) and a base main body (112) which are detachably connected, the fitting part (1121) is formed on the base main body (112) at the end opposite to the bottom seat (111), a base support (113) is formed between the bottom seat (111) and the fitting part (1121), an outer periphery of the base main body (112) is formed with a housing surrounding the base main body (112), and the body air inlet (1141) and the body air outlet (1151) are both formed on the housing.