KR101356486B1

KR101356486B1 - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: KR101356486B1
Application number: KR1020070008490A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박현철; 양승훈
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2007-01-26
Filing date: 2007-01-26
Publication date: 2014-01-29
Also published as: KR20080070405A; EP1950500A2; EP1950500A3; CN101231025A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and in particular, the air inlet is selectively opened and closed by a plurality of separated front panels moved back and forth by the driving unit, and the air is discharged up and down, thereby sufficiently securing the amount of air in the room to be heat-exchanged and variously. The air conditioner is convenient for opening and closing control of the flow path according to the mode.

To this end, the present invention and the case is installed a heat exchanger and a blowing fan; A plurality of front panels formed at the front of the case to open and close the air intake port while being moved by the driving unit; A discharge unit for opening and closing an air discharge port formed on an upper surface and / or a lower surface of the case; It is configured to include a control unit for differently controlling the opening degree of the air discharge port of the upper and lower surface discharge unit during the heating and cooling operation.

Front panel, drive section, cooling operation, heating operation

Description

AIR CONDITIONER

1 is an exploded perspective view of an air conditioner according to the present invention;

2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an air conditioner according to the present invention;

3 is an assembled sectional view of an air conditioner according to the present invention;

4 is a front view showing an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention;

5 is an assembly sectional view showing an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention;

6 and 7 are perspective views showing the driving unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

8 to 10 are cross-sectional views showing a drive unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

11 is an exploded perspective view showing an air conditioner according to the prior art;

12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional air conditioner.

200: case 300: front frame

400: front panel 500: drive section

600: discharge unit 700: suction flow path

800: heat exchange passage 900: discharge passage

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner in which a plurality of front panels moved back and forth by a driving unit selectively opens and closes an air intake port to efficiently exchange indoor air, reduce flow resistance, and discharge up and down. will be.

Background Art [0002] Generally, an air conditioner is used for cooling or heating a room by using a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant composed of a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism and an indoor heat exchanger in order to create a more pleasant indoor environment. It is divided into separate type and integral type.

The separate type and the integral type are functionally the same, but in the separate type, the cooling / heat radiating device, the indoor fan and the indoor fan motor are installed in the indoor unit, the heat radiating / cooling device and the outdoor fan and the outdoor fan motor are installed in the outdoor unit, And the outdoor unit is connected with the refrigerant piping. In the integrated type, the functions of cooling and heat dissipating are integrated, and holes are formed in the wall of the house or the apparatus is installed directly on the window.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an air conditioner according to the prior art, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air conditioner according to the prior art.

A conventional air conditioner includes a case 102 and a front frame 108 coupled to a front surface of the case 102 and having an air inlet 104 and a suction grill 106 and having an air outlet 108 formed in a lower front or bottom surface thereof A suction grill 112 rotatably connected to the front frame 110; a motor 114 mounted on the case 102; a blowing fan 116 connected to the motor 114; And a heat exchanger 118 disposed between the air blowing fan 116 and the air inlet 104 and the suction grill 106.

The front frame 110 has a front air inlet 104 formed on its front surface and an intake grill 106 formed integrally on an upper surface of the front frame 110. The front frame 110 is inserted into the front air inlet 104 A pre-filter 105 for filtering foreign matter in the air is disposed.

The suction grill 112 protects the front air inlet 104 and the pre-filter 105, and the upper portion thereof is pivotally connected to the upper portion of the front frame 110.

A condensed water receiver 119 receiving the condensed water dropped from the indoor heat exchanger 118 is formed in an inner lower portion of the front frame 110 and a louver 118 changing the left and right air direction of the air discharged to the air outlet 108. [ A discharge grill 124 including a spool 120 and a vane 122 for changing the vertical direction is mounted.

In the conventional air conditioner configured as described above, when the blowing fan 116 is rotated by the driving of the motor 114, indoor air in front of the suction grill 112 flows through the suction grille 112 and the front air inlet The foreign matter is filtered by the filter 105 while being sucked into the space between the front frame 110 and the case 102. [

The indoor air above the front frame 110 is sucked into the space between the front frame 110 and the case 102 through the upper suction grille 106. [

The indoor air sucked as described above is cooled or heated by the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 118 while passing through the indoor heat exchanger 118. After passing through the air blowing fan 116, And the vane 122, and is discharged to the room through the air discharge port 108. [

However, in the air conditioner according to the related art, since the air in the room is sucked through the front and top suction grilles and cooled / heated in the heat exchanger 118, the air is discharged to the room only through the lower surface thereof. The time during which the cool air spreads evenly throughout the room during the cooling operation becomes long, and if the installation height is high, there is a problem that the unpleasant feeling is increased by being discharged to the user's face during the heating operation.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, the control according to the operation of the cooling / heating and various other modes is convenient and is not significantly limited by the installation height, cold air evenly throughout the room during cooling operation The purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of spreading and indirectly discharging warmth during heating operation to solve user's discomfort, lowering flow path resistance, and cooling / heating sufficient indoor air.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the heat exchanger and the blowing fan case is installed; A plurality of front panels formed at the front of the case to open and close the air inlet while moving by the driving unit; A discharge unit for opening and closing an air discharge port formed on an upper surface and / or a lower surface of the case; It is configured to include a control unit for differently controlling the opening degree of the air discharge port of the upper and lower surface discharge unit during the heating and cooling operation.

The control unit opens the upper and / or lower air outlets when the front panel moves forward, and closes the upper and / or lower air outlets when the front panel moves in its home position.

The control unit may operate the blower fan when the front panel moves forward, and stop the blower fan when the front panel moves home.

Preferably, the control unit moves forward the front panel located above the front panel during the cooling operation, and forward moves the front panel located below the front panel during the heating operation.

Preferably, the control unit operates the blower fan at a position corresponding to the front panel moving forward during various operations, and stops the blower fan at the remaining positions.

Meanwhile, the control unit moves forward the front panel located at the upper side of the front panel during the cooling operation, and replaces the front panel located at the lower side, and moves the front panel located at the lower side of the front panel forward at the heating operation, Move the front panel back.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit closes the lower air discharge port during the sleep operation.

Alternatively, the control unit controls the selective operation of the front panel, the blowing fan, and the driving unit according to the user's input through the input means.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the control unit closes the lower air outlet during the cooling operation and closes the upper air outlet during the heating operation.

On the other hand, the control unit controls the discharge unit so that the lower surface air discharge opening is opened more than the upper surface air discharge opening during heating, and controls the discharge unit so that the upper surface air discharge opening opens more than the air discharge opening when the upper surface air discharge opening is cooled. .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present embodiment, the same designations and the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and further description thereof will be omitted.

1 to 3, the air conditioner of the present invention includes a suction duct (not shown) formed by a case 200, a front frame 300, a front panel 400, a driving unit 500, and a discharging unit 600 700, a heat exchange passage 800, and a discharge passage 900.

The case 200 is partially opened in the inside, the front, the upper and the lower surface, the heat exchanger 210 is vertically arranged in parallel with the front surface of the case 200, and a blowing fan 220 is installed in the rear of the heat exchanger 210 And they are installed in a pair at upper and lower intervals.

The central portion of the heat exchanger 210 reduces the flow resistance of the air introduced from the inside of the room to induce an oblique movement

It is preferable to have a shape as shown in Fig. 5 for convenience of manufacturing.

One pair of the front frames 300 is vertically spaced from the front of the case 200 and a display unit 310 is disposed laterally between the two front frames 300.

An air inlet 320 for sucking room air from the front is formed on a front surface of the front frame 300 and a filter 325 is mounted on the air inlet 320.

The front panel 400 opens and closes the air intake port 320 formed in the front of the front frame 300 while moving back and forth so that the front panel 300 is vertically spaced with the display unit 310 interposed therebetween so as to correspond to the front frame 300 Are arranged in a pair.

The front panel 400 includes a flat surface portion 410 forming a front surface and a bent portion 420 forming both side surfaces of the front panel 400. The bent portion 420 is bent backward from both ends of the flat surface portion 410, And moves along the inclined opposite side surfaces of the front frame 300.

4, when the front panels 400 are formed as a pair at left and right intervals, the display unit 310 may include a pair of right and left front panels 400, As shown in Fig.

6 to 9, the driving unit 500 is for horizontally moving the front panel 400 from the front frame 300. The driving unit 500 includes a driving source unit 510 and a power transmission unit 520 .

The driving unit 500 may be installed at both side edges of each of the pair of front and rear panels 400 spaced apart from each other.

For example, a driving motor 511 may be used to generate the driving force, and the power transmission unit 520 may apply the driving force generated by the driving source 510 to the front panel 400. It may be configured with a pinion gear 521 and a rack rail 522 to transmit.

The pinion gear 521 interlocks with the rotation axis 512 to receive the rotational force of the drive motor 511 and the rack rail 522 rotates to rotate the rotational force of the pinion gear 521 into a linear reciprocating motion. A guide portion 5222, and a connection portion 5223 are formed.

A rack gear 5221a for engaging with the pinion gear 521 is formed on a lower surface of the main body portion 5221. The guide portion 5222 is formed at a lower position spaced apart from the main body portion 5221, 5221, and the connection portion 5223 vertically connects one end of the guide portion 5222 with the body portion 5221. [

That is, the lane rail 522 composed of the main body portion 5221, the guide portion 5222, and the connecting portion 5223 is entirely

Form.

The rack rail 522 is provided with an induction hole for receiving the rack rail 522 in the case 200 so that the rack rail 522 can enter and leave the inside and the outside of the front frame 300 in accordance with the rotation of the pinion gear 521 Not shown) is drilled.

Particularly, a step 5221b is formed on the upper surface of the main body 5221, and the step 5221b contacts the main body supporter 240 formed on the upper part of the case 200 to smoothly move back and forth.

In addition, a hinge hole 5121c is formed at an upper end of the front end of the main body portion 5121, and is connected to the front panel 400 by a hinge pin 5121d, so that the main body portion 5121 is the front panel 400. Go back and forth with.

In addition, the lower surface of the guide portion 5222 is in contact with the guide portion supporter 245 formed at a position spaced apart from the main body supporter 240 of the case 200 while moving forward and backward smoothly the entire rack rail 522 Guide).

The rear portion of the main body 5221 is caught by the latching portion 250 formed on the upper portion of the case 200 so that the rack rail 522 can not advance further when the rack rail 522 moves to the forward limit position, The stopper 5221e is provided as a hook.

As another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the pinion gears 521 respectively installed on both sides of the front panel 400 are interlocked with each other by an interlocking portion, for example, a connecting shaft 530 arranged horizontally. It can be configured to.

In this case, the driving motor 511 may drive both side power transmission units 520 at the same time, provided with only one for each side of the front panel 400 is separated.

Although both pinion gears 521 may be interlocked by the connecting shaft 530 as described above, the two power transmission units 520 may be connected to each other by using transmission mechanisms such as pulleys, belts, sprockets, chains, and gearboxes. Of course, it can be linked.

Discharge unit 600 is the discharge panel 610 is hinged to the upper and lower surfaces of the case 200, respectively, and rotates the air discharge port 620 formed by the case 200 and the front frame 300 Open and close.

The discharge unit 600 is rotated toward the front and rear while the discharge panel 610 at a predetermined angle with the lower surface of the case 200 so as to indirectly blow the user without disturbing the inflow of air from the front To open and close the air outlet 620.

Although the discharging unit 600 is formed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the case 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is also possible to form the discharging unit 600 only on the upper surface or lower surface, if necessary.

The front panel 400 of the present invention is formed as a pair of upper and lower or left and right in the above embodiment, however, in other embodiments, three or more pairs may be arranged vertically or horizontally, As shown in FIG.

In the present invention, the suction passage 700 is disposed in front of the air inlet 320 so that the indoor air flows into the interior of the case 200 through the air inlet 320 when the front panel 400 is moved forward Indicates a passage for inducing indoor air.

The suction passage 700 is formed in a space between the front frame 300 and the front panel 400. Since the front panel 400 is formed as a plurality of separate pieces, A plurality of openings are opened and closed in accordance with the forward and backward movement of the door 400.

In particular, in an embodiment of the present invention, when the front panel 400 is formed with a pair of upper and lower spacings with reference to the intermediate display unit 310, And is formed at the middle portion and the upper and lower portions of the space between the case 200 and the front panel 400, respectively.

Specifically, the suction flow path 700 is formed by branching to both the upper and lower sides in the middle portion of the space between the case 200 and the front panel 400, a sufficient amount of indoor air between the front panel 400 Can be induced.

More specifically, the suction passage 700 is vertically branched from the middle portion (from the left end to the right end) of the space between the case 200 and the front panel 400 according to the movement of the front panel 400 And is formed over the entire upper and lower portions of the case 200 (left end to right end).

It is preferable that both side surfaces of the space between the case 200 and the front panel 400 are closed by the both side bent portions 420 of the front panel 400 when the front panel 400 is moved forward.

When the front panel 400 is formed as a pair at left and right intervals, the suction passage 700 is formed in the case 200 in accordance with the back and forth movement of the front panel 400, And the front panel 400, as shown in FIG.

In the present invention, the heat exchange passage 800 is formed in such a manner that the air in the room is introduced into the case 200 through the air inlet 320 after passing through the suction passage 700, 210 to pass through heat exchange.

The heat exchange channel 800 is formed by the front frame 300 and the case 200 behind the air inlet 320 when the front panel 400 advances and opens the suction channel 700.

Particularly, in the heat exchange passage 800, the heat exchanger 210 is vertically installed, and the central portion of the heat exchanger 210

So that the upward and downward discharge of the indoor air that has flowed in from the front and is heat-exchanged becomes more smooth.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the discharge passage 900 refers to a passage for discharging air ventilated through the heat exchange passage 800 to the room.

The discharge passage 800 is opened and closed by the discharge unit 600 provided at the upper and lower portions of the case 200 and is connected to the air discharge port 620).

The present invention further includes a general microcomputer-type control unit (not shown) to control the components such as the blower fan 220, the driver 500, and the discharge unit 600.

Looking at the operation according to the various modes of the air conditioner of the present invention configured as described above, in the cooling operation, the control unit is located in the front of the front of the plurality of front panel 400 separated to open the upper suction flow path (700) Move panel 400 forward.

In this case, the control unit moves the front panel 400 located in the lower position (retreat) of the plurality of front panels 400 separated so that the suction channel 700 of the lower part is closed (the front panel 400 is moved to the front frame). Close to the state (300)).

In addition, during the heating operation, the control unit moves the front panel 400 located at the lower portion of the plurality of front panels 400 separated to open the lower suction passage 700.

At this time, the control unit moves the front panel 400 located in the upper position (retreat) of the plurality of front panels 400 separated to close the suction flow path 700 of the upper portion (the front panel 400 is the front frame Close to the state (300)).

The control unit operates the blowing fan 220 located at the rear of the front panel 400 when the front panel 400 moves forward, and the front panel 400 when the front panel 400 moves to its original position (retreat). Blowing fan 220 located in the rear of the) can be stopped.

In addition, the control unit opens the discharge unit 600 at a position adjacent to the front panel 400 when the front panel 400 moves forward, and when the front panel 400 moves to its original position (retreat), the front panel ( The discharge unit 600 at a position adjacent to 400 may be closed.

By selectively controlling the plurality of front panels 400, the blowing fan 220, and the discharge unit 600 as described above, in the cooling operation, the indoor air is air-conditioned at the top to be discharged to the upper part, and in the heating operation. The indoor air is air-conditioned at the bottom to be discharged to the bottom to quickly cool / heat the indoor air evenly.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the sleep operation, the control unit may close the lower air outlet and open the upper air outlet in order to prevent air conditioning directly blown to the user despite the cooling / heating operation. .

On the other hand, the control unit advances the entire front panel 400 when only the front panel 400 selected to move forward among the upper and lower front panels 400 during the cooling / heating operation is not sufficient for indoor cooling / heating. You can move it.

When all the front panel 400 is moved forward, the control unit operates all the blower fans 220 disposed above and below, and the upper and lower discharge units may be selectively opened or closed.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the control unit controls the discharge unit 600 such that the lower air discharge port 620 is opened more than the upper air discharge port 620 during the heating operation, or the upper air discharge port when the upper air discharge port is opened during the cooling operation. The discharge unit can be controlled to open more than the discharge port.

At this time, the opening ratio of the lower surface air discharge port 620 and the upper surface air discharge port 620 is preferably 7: 3 during heating operation and 3: 7 during cooling operation, respectively.

The present invention can selectively operate the plurality of separated front panel 400, the blowing fan 220, and the discharge unit 600 according to various operation modes such as cooling, heating, and sleeping operation, as well as going out and exercising. The driving mode may be selected according to a user's input through a separate input means.

Reference numerals not shown in the drawings denote bearing portions 221 for a blowing fan, a seat 299, a fixing projection 523, a locking projection 524, a main frame 630 of the discharge unit, a discharge panel guide portion 650, The opening and closing guide 1000, the insertion groove 1010, the driving motor fixing hole 1100, the body 1110, the receiving portion 1120, the mounting leg 1150, and the drain pan 1700.

The air conditioner of the present invention configured as described above functions as follows.

The front panel 400 is horizontally moved forward and backward by the driving unit 500 and the air inlet 320 is formed on the front of the front frame 300 in accordance with the movement of the front panel 400. [ The indoor air is introduced into the case 200 through the air vent.

When the front panel 400 is moved forward, a plurality of suction passages 700 formed in the space between the front panel 400 and the front frame 300 inflow indoor air into the air suction port 320 It functions as a pathway for.

Therefore, since the plurality of suction flow paths 400 are opened and closed by movement of the separated front panel 400, a sufficient amount of indoor air can be air-conditioned, and the front panel 400 is selectively moved back and forth. This allows efficient control of the flow path during cooling or heating or in various other modes (sleeping, going out, etc.).

In other words, in the cooling operation, indoor air is air-conditioned and discharged from the upper part, and in the heating operation, indoor air is air-conditioned and discharged from the lower part, enabling even cooling / heating of the indoor area. Convenient control such as inducing safe and comfortable use is possible.

Particularly, since the driving unit 500 is formed by the combination of the pinion gear 521 and the rack rail 522 connected to the front panel 400, the front panel 400 can be stably As shown in FIG.

In addition, in the case of discharging the indoor air introduced through the suction flow path 700 in front of the case 200 through the air discharge port 620 above and below the case 200, the air conditioner is not significantly limited by the installation height of the air conditioner. It is possible to induce even diffusion of the discharged air during operation.

On the other hand, the central portion of the heat exchanger 210 installed in the case 200

The sucked indoor air is reduced in the flow resistance in the heat exchange passage 800, and the upward and downward discharge becomes more smooth.

Further, by opening and closing the discharge passage 900 along the rear surface of the discharge panel 610 while rotating the discharge panel 610 toward the front and rear sides of the case 200, the flow of air from the front is prevented, It is possible to eliminate the uncomfortable feeling of the user.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is self-evident to those who have.

Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive, so that the invention is not limited to the foregoing description, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

The air conditioner of the present invention configured as described above exerts the following effects.

First, it is easy to control the opening and closing of the flow path according to various modes by sufficiently ensuring the air volume of the room to be heat-exchanged, to induce the uniform diffusion of the discharged air during the cooling and heating operation without the front panel moving stably, can do.

Secondly, it is possible to reduce the flow resistance of the air sucked from the room to smooth the discharge in the vertical direction, and indirectly discharge the warmth during the heating operation without disturbing the inflow of air from the front.

Third, the driving unit is formed by a combination of the rack rail and the pinion gear connected to each of the separated front panels, so that the plurality of front panels can be selectively moved according to the corresponding mode so that the indoor air can be optimized within a short time.

Claims

A case in which a heat exchanger and a blowing fan are installed;

An air inlet is formed on the front surface, the front frame coupled to the front of the case;

A plurality of front panels formed in front of the front frame to open and close the air intake port while being moved back and forth by a driving unit;

A discharge unit for opening and closing an air discharge port formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the case; And

And a control unit configured to differently control the degree of opening of the air discharge ports of the upper and lower discharge units during the cooling and heating operation.

The controller opens one or more air outlets of the upper and lower surfaces during the forward movement of the front panel,

The suction passage is opened during the forward movement of the front panel,

And the suction passage is branched to both sides at an intermediate portion of the space between the case and the plurality of front panels as the front panels move.
delete
The method of claim 1,

The control unit is an air conditioner, characterized in that for closing the one or more air outlet of the upper surface and the lower surface when the home panel moves.
The apparatus of claim 1,

And operating the blower fan when the front panel moves forward, and stops the blower fan when the front panel moves home.
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that for moving forward the front panel located in the upper of the front panel during the cooling operation.
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that for moving the front panel located in the lower portion of the front panel in the forward movement.
The apparatus of claim 1,

Air conditioner, characterized in that for operating the blower fan of the position corresponding to the front panel moving forward during various driving and to stop the blower fan of the remaining position
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that during the cooling operation the front panel located in the upper portion of the front panel to move forward and the front panel located in the lower position.
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that during the heating operation to move the front panel located in the lower portion of the front panel forward and to move the front panel located in the upper position.
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that for closing the air discharge port on the lower surface.
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that for closing the lower air discharge port and opening the upper air discharge port.
The method of claim 1,

The control unit is an air conditioner, characterized in that for controlling the operation of the front panel, the blowing fan and the drive unit according to the user's input through the input means.
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that for closing the air discharge port when the cooling operation.
The apparatus of claim 1,

The air conditioner, characterized in that for closing the upper air discharge port during heating operation.
The apparatus of claim 1,

And the discharge unit is controlled so that the lower air discharge port is opened more than the upper air discharge port during heating operation.
The apparatus of claim 1,

And the discharge unit is controlled to open more than the air discharge port when the upper air discharge port is lowered during the cooling operation.