US20130035028A1

US20130035028A1 - Indoor Unit of Air Conditioner

Info

Publication number: US20130035028A1
Application number: US13/638,607
Authority: US
Inventors: Jianghong Zhu; Hui Zhang; Shaolin Chen; Huanlong Wu; Liang Li; Zhen Huang; Jianqun Yang; Wenwei Ji; Zhi Meng; Jian Li; Liu Cao
Original assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Current assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Priority date: 2010-04-02
Filing date: 2011-03-25
Publication date: 2013-02-07
Also published as: EP2554920A4; ES2784127T3; JP2013524141A; CN102213482A; RU2012146390A; EP2554920B1; WO2011120405A1; CN102213482B; JP5639257B2; KR20130093480A; KR101657739B1; RU2541287C2; EP2554920A1

Abstract

An indoor unit of air conditioner comprises a panel body (2) enclosing side portions and a top portion of the air conditioner, a rear shell enclosing a rear portion of the air conditioner, and the front panel (1) arranged in the front of the air conditioner and closely connected to the panel body (2). The rear shell, the panel body (2) and the front panel (1) form an inner chamber of the air conditioner in which a heat exchanger, a control element and a fan component are provided. Side surfaces of the indoor unit of air conditioner are of a U shape structure, and the front, the rear and the bottom surfaces of the lower portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner are formed by more than one curved surface.

Description

The invention claims the benefit of priority to Chinese patent invention No. 201010142896.9 titled “INDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONER”, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on Apr. 2, 2010, the entire disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an indoor unit of air conditioner, and particularly, to an indoor unit of air conditioner having a distinct personalized effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, an air conditioner is an apparatus which utilizes an air cooler, a heater or an air purifier to cool, warm or purify a room, such that an internal environment of the room is more comfortable. The air conditioner is provided with a ventilating device, an air cooling and heating device and an air purifier. The ventilating device makes the air forcibly circulated in the room, that is, absorbs air for the room, performs heat exchanging or purifies the air, and then discharges the air into the room. Improvements have been continually made to the air conditioner in the prior art. Generally, an indoor unit of air conditioner comprises a rear shell enclosing side portions and a rear portion of the air conditioner, and a panel body arranged in front of the air conditioner and closely connected to the rear shell. The rear shell and the panel body form an inner chamber of the air conditioner in which a heat exchanger, a control element and a fan component are provided. The panel body is usually fixedly connected to the rear shell in the manner of screw or clip. As air conditioner market becomes increasingly mature, consumers have more and more requirements on the air conditioner. Thus, manufacturers exhaustively improve the panel of the air conditioner. Accordingly, panels with color plates, decorative pictures or double-layer structures are developed. However, indoor units with such structures have following disadvantages: since the overall contour and the molding structure of the air conditioner are not changed at all, the lower portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner is still of a cuboid or polyhedron structure with edges and corners, the above improved solutions have no apparent effects on the improvements of aesthetics of the air conditioner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An purpose of the invention is to provide an indoor unit of air conditioner having a simple structure, being compatible with the overall environment indoors, and changing the decorative style of the appearance of the indoor unit of air conditioner.
In order to achieve the above purpose, the invention provides the following technical solutions.
An indoor unit of air conditioner comprising: a panel body enclosing side portions and a top portion of the air conditioner for installing a front panel, a rear shell enclosing a rear portion of the air conditioner, and the front panel arranged in the front of the air conditioner and closely connected to the panel body; the rear shell, the panel body and the front panel form an inner chamber of the air conditioner in which a heat exchanger, a control element and a fan component are provided; wherein, side surfaces of the indoor unit of air conditioner are of a U shape structure, and the front, the rear and the bottom surfaces of the lower portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner are formed by more than one curved surface.
To sum up, the invention has the following advantageous effects:
In the indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention, since the side surfaces of the indoor unit of air conditioner are of a U shape structure, and the front, rear surfaces of the lower portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner comprise more than one curved surface, the overall contour of the indoor unit of air conditioner has a unique visual effect, and the indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention becomes a new model with a distinct personalized feature. Thus, the invention plays an important role in improving the aesthetics of the air conditioner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side structural schematic view of an indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective structural schematic view of an indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a skirt structure of an indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a structural schematic view of a panel body of an indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a front panel of an indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention in an installed state;

FIG. 6 is a structural schematic view of a rear boss of an indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a structural schematic view of an indoor unit of air conditioner according to the invention after being cut a half off; and

FIG. 8 is a structural schematic view of the indoor unit of air conditioner shown in FIG. 7, without the front panel.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1. front panel; 2. panel body; 10. front panel skirt structure; 20. panel body skirt structure; 11. first combining surface; 12. second combining surface; 13. third combining surface; 21. fourth combining surface; 22. fifth combining surface; 23. sixth combining surface; 24. seventh combining surface; 25. convex surface; 26. rib; 27. rear boss; 28. side plate; 29. rear frame; 291. opening; 221. notch

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The invention provides an indoor unit of air conditioner. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indoor unit of air conditioner comprises: a panel body 2 enclosing side portions and a top portion of the air conditioner for installing a front panel 1, a rear shell enclosing a rear portion of the air conditioner, and the front panel 1 arranged in the front of the air conditioner and closely connected to the panel body 2; the rear shell, the panel body 2 and the front panel 1 form an inner chamber of the air conditioner in which a heat exchanger, a control element, and a fan component are provided; wherein, side surfaces of the indoor unit of air conditioner are of a U shape structure, and the front, the rear and the bottom surfaces of the lower portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner are formed by more than one curved surface.
The front panel 1 comprises, from top downwards in sequence, a first combining surface 11, a second combining surface 12 and a third combining surface 13. The sectional profile line of the first combining surface 11 is of a straight line or an arc line with a curvature approaching to zero. The sectional profile line of the second combining surface 12 is of a curve with a curvature gradually increased from top to bottom, and the maximum curvature is less than or equal to 0.025. The sectional profile line of the third combining surface 13 is of a curve with a curvature gradually decreased from top to bottom, and the minimum curvature is larger than 0.0005.
The rear shell is mounted at a rear portion of the panel body 2. A lower portion of a front portion of the panel body 2 is closely spliced to a bottom portion of the front panel 1.
A combination of the panel body 2 and the rear shell comprises, from front backwards in sequence, a fourth combining surface 21, a fifth combining surface 22, a sixth combining surface 23 and a seventh combining surface 24.
The sectional profile lines of the fourth combining surface 21, the fifth combining surface 22, the sixth combining surface 23 and the seventh combining surface 24 have different curvatures, respectively, such that a bottom of the air conditioner has an arc transition structure.
As shown in FIG. 3, the front panel 1 covers the front of the panel body 2, a width of the front panel 1 is larger than a width of the front portion of the panel body 2, and thus a front panel skirt structure 10 is formed at at least one side of joint between the front panel 1 and the panel body 2. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the panel body 2 comprises a rear frame 29 at a rear portion of the panel body 2, a left side plate 28 and a right side plate 28. At least one side of the rear frame 29 protrudes outside the side plate 28 and forms a panel body skirt structure 20. The front panel skirt structure 10 and the panel body skirt structure 20 are connected to form a U shape decorative edge of side portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner.
Preferably, the front panel skirt structure 10 is formed at each of a left side and a right side of joint of the front panel 1 and the panel body 2, and the panel body skirt structure 20 is formed at each of a left side and a right side of the panel body 2, such that each of a left side and a right side of the indoor unit has the decorative edge.
Top portions of the front panel 1 and the rear frame 29 are higher than the top surfaces of the rear shell.
The width of the front panel skirt structure 10 and the width L2 of the panel body skirt structure 20 are between 2 and 8 mm, and preferably are 4 mm. The thickness H1 of the front panel skirt structure 10 and the thickness H2 of the panel body skirt structure 20 are between 3 and 10 mm, and preferably are 8 mm.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a convex surface 25 is provided at the front lower portion of the panel body 2. The bottom portion of the front panel 1 is arranged on the convex surface 25, and the front panel 1 is fixedly connected to the panel body 2 via a fastening mechanism.
The fastening mechanism is a connecting mechanism of bayonet and groove.
Preferably, a width of the convex surface 25 is equal to a thickness of the front panel 1.
As shown in FIG. 6, an opening 291 for installing the rear shell is provided at a back portion of the panel body 2, and a rear boss 27 is provided at a lower edge of the opening 291. After the air conditioner is mounted, the rear boss 27 withstands a wall to form an installing space for a drain pipe and a refrigerant connecting pipe between the rear shell and the wall.
The rear boss 27 is arranged transversely, and has upward bending portions at left and right ends thereof. The size of the rear boss 27 in the horizontal direction is less than the size of the rear frame 29 in the horizontal direction.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a notch 221 is provided at one side of the panel body, an air supply passage is formed between the notch and the front panel skirt structure 10, which may increase air supply volume of the air conditioner and improve performance of the product. The best solution is to provide a notch 221 at the right side and the left side of the panel body so as to form a three-side air supply structure, in which a top air supply opening serves as a main air supply passage and auxiliary air supply passages are formed at the left and right sides, thereby the air volume is increased and thus the performance of the product is improved.
The above embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. Various improvements and variations made by the person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention, are deemed to fall into the protection scope of the invention. For example, the radius, curvature, number, and so on, of the combining surfaces of the front panel 1 and the panel body 2 may be varied.

Claims

1. An indoor unit of air conditioner comprising: a panel body (2) enclosing side portions and a top portion of the air conditioner for installing a front panel (1), a rear shell enclosing a rear portion of the air conditioner, and the front panel (1) arranged in the front of the air conditioner and closely connected to the panel body (2); the rear shell, the panel body (2) and the front panel (1) form an inner chamber of the air conditioner in which a heat exchanger, a control element and a fan component are provided, wherein, side surfaces of the indoor unit of air conditioner are of a U shape structure, and the front, the rear and the bottom surfaces of the lower portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner are formed by more than one curved surface.

2. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the front panel (1) comprises, from top downwards in sequence, a first combining surface (11), a second combining surface (12) and a third combining surface (13); the sectional profile line of the first combining surface (11) is of a straight line or an arc line with a curvature approaching to zero; the sectional profile line of the second combining surface (12) is of a curve with a curvature gradually increased from top to bottom, the maximum curvature is less than or equal to 0.025; and the sectional profile line of the third combining surface (13) is of a curve with a curvature gradually decreased from top to bottom, the minimum curvature is larger than 0.0005.

3. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the rear shell is mounted at a rear portion of the panel body (2), and a front lower portion of the panel body (2) is closely spliced to a bottom portion of the front panel (1); wherein a combination of the panel body (2) and the rear shell comprises, from front backwards in sequence, a fourth combining surface (21), a fifth combining surface (22), a sixth combining surface (23) and a seventh combining surface (24).

4. (canceled)

5. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the rear shell is mounted at a rear portion of the panel body (2), and a combination of the panel body (2) and the rear shell comprises, from front backwards in sequence, a fourth combining surface (21), a fifth combining surface (22), a sixth combining surface (23) and a seventh combining surface (24).

6. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the front panel (1) covers the front of the panel body (2), and a width of the front panel (1) is larger than a width of the front portion of the panel body (2), a front panel skirt structure (10) is formed at at least one side of joint of the front panel (1) and the panel body (2).

7. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the panel body (2) comprises a rear frame (29) at a rear portion of the panel body (2), a left side plate (28) and a right side plate (28), at least one side of the rear frame (29) protrudes outside the side plate (28) and forms a panel body skirt structure (20).

8. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the front panel (1) covers the front of the panel body (2), a width of the front panel (1) is larger than a width of the front portion of the panel body (2), and thus a front panel skirt structure (10) is formed at at least one side of joint of the front panel (1) and the panel body (2); the panel body (2) comprises a rear frame (29) at a rear portion of the panel body (2), a left side plate (28) and a right side plate (28), and at least one side of the rear frame (29) protrudes outside the side plate (28) and forms a panel body skirt structure (20); and the front panel skirt structure (10) and the panel body skirt structure (20) are connected to form a U shape decorative edge of the side portion of the indoor unit of air conditioner.

9. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the front panel skirt structure (10) is formed at each of a left side and a right side of joint of the front panel (1) and the panel body (2); the panel body skirt structure (20) is formed at each of a left side and a right side of the panel body (2), such that each of a left side and a right side of the indoor unit has the decorative edge.

10. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein top portions of the front panel (1) and the rear frame (29) are higher than the top surfaces of the rear shell, the left side plate and the right side plate.

11. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein the width of the front panel skirt structure (10) is between 2 and 8 mm, and a thickness of the front panel skirt structure (10) is between 3 and 10 mm.

12. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the width of the panel body skirt structure (20) is between 2 and 8 mm, and a thickness of the panel body skirt structure (20) is between 3 and 10 mm.

13. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the width of the front panel skirt structure (10) and the width of the panel body skirt structure (20) are between 2 and 8 mm, and the thickness of the front panel skirt structure (10) and the thickness of the panel body skirt structure (20) are between 3 and 10 mm.

14. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a convex surface (25) is provided at the front lower portion of the panel body 2, the bottom portion of the front panel (1) is arranged on the convex surface (25), and the front panel (1) is fixedly connected to the panel body (2) via a fastening mechanism.

15. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein the fastening mechanism is a connecting mechanism of bayonet and groove.

16. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein a width of the convex surface (25) is equal to a thickness of the front panel (1).

17. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein an opening (291) for installing the rear shell is provided at a back portion of the panel body (2), and a rear boss (27) is provided at a lower edge of the opening (291).

18. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 17, wherein the size of the rear boss (27) in the horizontal direction is less than the size of the rear frame (29) in the horizontal direction.

19. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 17, wherein the rear boss (27) is arranged transversely, and has upward bending portions at a left side and a right end thereof.

20. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein a notch (221) is provided at one side of the panel body to form an air supply passage between the notch and the front panel skirt structure (10).

21. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the sectional profile lines of the fourth combining surface (21), the fifth combining surface (22), the sixth combining surface (23) and the seventh combining surface (24) have different curvatures, respectively, such that a bottom of the air conditioner has an arc transition structure.

22. The indoor unit of air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the sectional profile lines of the fourth combining surface (21), the fifth combining surface (22), the sixth combining surface (23) and the seventh combining surface (24) have different curvatures, respectively, such that a bottom of the air conditioner has an arc transition structure.