US20190072295A1

US20190072295A1 - Air-guiding structure and air conditioner

Info

Publication number: US20190072295A1
Application number: US16/077,883
Authority: US
Inventors: Hui Zhang; Jun Xiong; Dawei Li; Junhong Wu; Caiyun Lian; Bo Peng; Yasong Tian; Zhihui Liang; Zhi Meng; Jiebin Yu; Shuangjin LI; Qilong Wang; Zhilin WANG; Baoyuan Pan
Original assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Current assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Priority date: 2016-02-15
Filing date: 2017-01-23
Publication date: 2019-03-07
Also published as: CN105509281B; CN105509281A; WO2017140207A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an air-guiding structure, including an air duct provided with an air outlet and a movable unit. The movable unit is provided in the air duct and adjacent to the air outlet, and is able to move in a radial direction of the air outlet. The movable unit is provided with an air-guiding face which is used for changing a flow direction of air in the air duct passing through the air-guiding face. Also disclosed is an air conditioner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of China Patent Application No. 201610086427.7, filed on Feb. 15, 2016 and entitled “Air-guiding structure and air conditioner”, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and more particularly to an air-guiding structure and an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND

The installation of a patio or ceiling type air conditioner is relatively complicated, and the installation thereof is easily affected by an installation height and an air output structure, and an air output direction cannot be controlled flexibly. As shown in FIG. 1, the air output direction is relatively single and cannot be adjusted according to changes in the environment and an air conditioner working mode. The patio or ceiling type air conditioner does not occupy an indoor human activity space, and is generally installed in the center of a room. When refrigerating or heating, cold/hot air is often sent to the ground by using a higher air output speed, and a person will feel very uncomfortable under this high-air-speed condition for a long time. Especially when heating, due to the restrictions on the air output direction, hot air cannot be sent to the ground, and the comfort is poor.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present disclosure is directed to an air-guiding structure and an air conditioner, intended to solve the problem in the prior art that an air output direction of an air conditioner is relatively single.
To this end, an exemplary embodiment provides an air-guiding structure, including an air duct provided with an air outlet and a movable unit. The movable unit is provided in the air duct and adjacent to the air outlet, and is able to move in a radial direction of the air outlet. The movable unit is provided with an air-guiding face which is used for changing a flow direction of air in the air duct passing through the air-guiding face.
In an exemplary embodiment, the movable unit is provided with a top air-guiding face and a bottom air-guiding face in the radial direction of the air outlet, and the top air-guiding face and the bottom air-guiding face are provided with differently oriented surfaces so as to form different air-guiding directions.
In an exemplary embodiment, the top air-guiding face is able to guide air in the air duct to be discharged in a horizontal direction or an oblique upward direction.
In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom air-guiding face is able to guide air in the air duct to be discharged in a downward direction.
In an exemplary embodiment, the surface of the top air-guiding face is horizontal.
In an exemplary embodiment, the surface of the bottom air-guiding face is inclined downward.
In an exemplary embodiment, an auxiliary air channel is provided in the movable unit, and two ports of the auxiliary air channel communicate with the air duct and an indoor environment respectively.
In an exemplary embodiment, an air-guiding direction of the auxiliary air channel is different from air-guiding directions of the top air-guiding face and the bottom air-guiding face.
In an exemplary embodiment, a stopper is provided at the air outlet, and when the movable unit moves at the air outlet in the radial direction, the stopper is able to block the auxiliary air channel.
In an exemplary embodiment, at least two air channels are arranged at the air outlet, the at least two air channels have different air-guiding directions, and the movable unit is able to block one of the at least two air channels during the movement.
In an exemplary embodiment, a driving mechanism is also included for driving the movable unit to move.
To this end, the present disclosure also provides an air conditioner, including the above air-guiding structure.
In an exemplary embodiment, the air conditioner has a refrigerating mode and a heating mode, under the refrigerating mode, the air outlet is set to horizontal air output, and under the heating mode, the air outlet is set to downward air output.
In an exemplary embodiment, the air conditioner has a refrigerating mode and a heating mode, and under the refrigerating mode and heating mode, the air outlet is able to be set to simultaneously achieve horizontal air output and downward air output.
Based on the above technical solution, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air duct provided with an air outlet and a movable unit capable of moving in the radial direction of the air outlet of the air duct. The movable unit is provided with an air-guiding face, so that air in the air duct is able to be guided along the air-guiding face. When the air in the air duct passes through different air-guiding faces, the flowing direction of the air is able to be changed, the problem in the prior art that an air output direction is single is solved, the adaptability is better, and the requirements of various working modes is able to be met.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and constitute a part of the present application. The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and descriptions thereof are used to explain the present disclosure, and do not constitute improper limitations to the present disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of an air outlet of an air conditioner in the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a theoretical air output direction under a heating mode of an air conditioner;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a theoretical air output direction under a refrigerating mode of an air conditioner;

FIG. 4 is a structural schematic view of an embodiment of an air-guiding structure of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a structural schematic view of a movable unit in an embodiment of an air-guiding structure of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a first air output state in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a second air output state in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a third air output state in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a fourth air output state in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a first air output state in an embodiment of an air conditioner of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a second air output state in an embodiment of an air conditioner of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a third air output state in an embodiment of an air conditioner of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a structural schematic view of a movable unit in another embodiment of an air-guiding structure of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a structural schematic view of another embodiment of an air-guiding structure of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a structural schematic view of a driving mechanism in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a first air output state in the embodiment of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a second air output state in the embodiment of FIG. 14.

In the drawings, 1—first stationary member, 2—second stationary member, 3—rack, 4—gear, 5—motor, 6, 6′—movable unit, 7—installation plate, 8—stopper, 9—lower fixed member, 10—air outlet, 11—auxiliary air channel, 12—top air-guiding face, 13—bottom air-guiding face, 14—upper fixed member, 21—water tray, 22—heat exchanger, 23—air inlet passage, 24—blade, 25—main motor, 26—air inlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.
In the description of the present disclosure, it will be appreciated that orientations or position relationships indicated by the terms “center”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, and “outer” are orientations or position relationships shown in the drawings and are simply for convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that a device or element referred to must have a particular orientation and must be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore it should not be construed to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.
The inventor has found from a large amount of research on the comfort of a user when using an air conditioner that, in order to make air output in the most comfortable manner for a human body during refrigerating and heating of the air conditioner, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an air outlet is adjusted to downward air output theoretically during heating. Hot air is blown directly to the ground, and the heating is faster. The air outlet is adjusted to horizontal air output during refrigerating, and the air supply is even longer.
Based on the above inventive concept, an exemplary embodiment firstly provides an air-guiding structure. As shown in FIG. 4, the air-guiding structure includes an air duct provided with an air outlet 10 and a movable unit 6. The movable unit 6 is provided in the air duct and adjacent to the air outlet 10, and is able to move in a radial direction of the air outlet 10. The movable unit 6 is provided with an air-guiding face which is used for changing a flow direction of air in the air duct passing through the air-guiding face.
An air duct provided with position-movable's a movable unit 6 and an air outlet 10 are provided. The movable unit 6 is able to move in a radial direction of the air outlet 10. The movable unit 6 is provided with an air-guiding face which is used for guiding air in the air duct to be discharged along the air-guiding face. When the air in the air duct passes through different air-guiding faces, the flowing direction of the air is able to be changed, the problem in the prior art that an air output direction is single is solved, the adaptability is better, and the requirements of various working modes is able to be met.
As shown in FIG. 5, the movable unit 6 is of a sliding block type structure. The movable unit 6 is provided with a top air-guiding face 12 and a bottom air-guiding face 13 in the radial direction of the air outlet 10, and the top air-guiding face 12 and the bottom air-guiding face 13 are provided with differently oriented surfaces so as to form different air-guiding directions. By means of the movement of the movable unit 6, the top air-guiding face 12 and the bottom air-guiding face 13 is able to fit the inner wall of the air outlet 10 respectively to form two air channels with different air output directions.
The top air-guiding face 12 is able to guide air in the air duct to be discharged in a horizontal direction or an oblique upward direction, and the bottom air-guiding face 13 is able to guide air in the air duct to be discharged in a downward direction. In this way, by means of the movement of the movable unit 6, air in the air duct is able to be guided horizontally, oblique upward or downward.
The specific implementation of the guiding action of the top air-guiding face 12 and the bottom air-guiding face 13 may be in various forms. For example, the surface of the top air-guiding face 12 is horizontal, or inclined oblique upward, and the surface of the bottom air-guiding face 13 is inclined downward. As shown in FIG. 5, the top air-guiding face 12 is horizontal, so that the air in the air duct is able to be output horizontally or upward; and the bottom air-guiding face 13 is inclined downward, so that the air in the air duct is able to be output downward. Here, “upward” includes oblique upward and vertically upward. Here, “downward” includes diagonally downward and vertically downward.
In addition, the movable unit 6 of the sliding block type structure may also have other structural forms. As shown in FIG. 13, the top air-guiding face 12 is inclined downward, so that the air in the air duct is able to be output downward; and the bottom air-guiding face 13 is horizontal, so that the air in the air duct is able to be output horizontally.
There may also be multiple air-guiding faces of the movable unit 6, and different air-guiding faces are able to be switched by rotation.
For the movable unit 6 of the sliding block type structure, the movable unit 6 may be located inside the air duct, or may be located outside the air duct or outside a housing of an air conditioner. The movable unit 6 of the sliding block type structure may be of an integrated annular structure, or may be of a segmented linear structure or the like.
In order to further guide the air output direction, the inner wall of the air outlet 10 may also be provided in a form adapted to the air-guiding face on the movable unit 6 to form an air duct with better guiding performance.
An auxiliary air channel 11 may be provided in the movable unit 6, and two ports of the auxiliary air channel 11 communicate with the air duct and an indoor environment respectively. The auxiliary air channel 11 is used for increasing the air supply area, and solving the problem of small air supply area of the existing air conditioner. The air output direction of the auxiliary air channel 11 may be the same as or different from the air-guiding directions of the top air-guiding face 12 and the bottom air-guiding face 13. The auxiliary air channel may realize multi-angle air supply and wide-angle air supply, making the air output mode more flexible and comfortable.
A stopper 8 is provided at the air outlet, and when the movable unit 6 moves at the air outlet in the radial direction, the stopper 8 is able to block the auxiliary air channel 11. The arrangement position of the stopper 8 may be selected according to actual situations. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 13, the stopper 8 is provided outside the auxiliary air channel 11.
Multiple auxiliary air channels 11 may also be provided to increase the air supply area. When there are more than two auxiliary air channels, air output directions thereof may be the same or different.
As shown in FIG. 4, the air duct is formed by fitting the movable unit 6 and the inner wall of the air outlet 10. When the movable unit 6 moves to different positions, air channels having different air output directions is able to be formed between the movable unit 6 and the inner wall of the air outlet 10. Of course, besides the structure that the inner wall of the air outlet 10 may be correspondingly configured to be able to fit the movable unit 6 to form air channels having different air output directions, the inner wall of the air outlet 10 may not be modified, but a fixed member is directly provided on the inner wall of the air outlet 10 so long as the structure of the fixed member is able to fit the movable unit 6, and air channels having different air output directions is able to be formed.
In another embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the movable unit 6′ is of a baffle type structure. In the present embodiment, at least two air channels are arranged at the air outlet, the at least two air channels have different air-guiding directions, and the movable unit 6′ is able to block one of the at least two air channels during the movement. In the present embodiment, the air duct is formed by one or more stationary members.
When one stationary member is provided, the stationary member may be provided with a top air-guiding face and a bottom air-guiding face similar to the movable unit 6. When the baffle-type movable unit 6′ blocks an air channel formed by the top air-guiding face of the stationary member and the wall face of the air duct, air is output along an air channel formed by the bottom air-guiding face of the stationary member and the wall face of the air duct. When the baffle-type movable unit 6′ blocks the air channel formed by the bottom air-guiding face of the stationary member and the wall face of the air duct, air is output along the air channel formed by the top air-guiding face of the stationary member and the wall face of the air duct.
When multiple stationary members are provided, air channels having different air output directions are formed between all the stationary members, so as to diversify the air output direction. As shown in FIG. 14, an air channel for horizontal air output is formed between the first stationary member 1 and the wall face of the air outlet, and an air channel for downward air output is formed between the second stationary member 2 and the wall face of the air outlet.
The movable unit 6′ enables some of the air channels to be closed due to being blocked and enables the remaining air channels to be opened due to being unblocked. When the baffle-type movable unit 6′ blocks a part of the air channels, air is output from the unblocked air channel and moves through the position of the movable unit 6′ to realize the selection of different air output directions. The baffle-type movable unit 6′ may be provided with an air-guiding face or may not be provided with an air-guiding face. By providing the air-guiding face on the stationary member, the effect of changing the flowing direction of air may also be achieved.
As shown in FIG. 14, there may be multiple air channels, capable of outputting air horizontally or downward to increase the air supply area.
The air-guiding structure may also include a driving mechanism. The movable unit 6 moves under the action of the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism enables the movable unit 6 to move diagonally or linearly as long as the movement position of the movable unit 6 is able to be driven, and the selection of different air channels is able to be realized during the position movement.
Preferably, the movable unit 6 moves linearly under the action of the driving mechanism.
The specific structural form of the driving mechanism may have more flexible options, such as a gear transmission mechanism or a connecting rod-type driving mechanism. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the driving mechanism includes a motor 5, an installation plate 7, a gear 4, and a rack 3. The motor 5 may be a stepping motor. The motor 5 and the gear 4 are both installed on the installation plate 7. The installation plate 7 is connected to the baffle-type movable unit 6, the motor 5 drives the gear 4 to rotate, and the gear 4 and the rack 3 mesh with each other to drive the installation plate 7 and the baffle-type movable unit 6 to move linearly along the rack 3. The structure of the driving mechanism in this structural form is simple, easy to implement, and high in reliability. The driving mechanism fits the baffle-type movable unit 6, and has a compact structure, an attractive appearance and a small size.
An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides an air conditioner, including the air-guiding structure in each embodiment. The air conditioner may be a patio or ceiling type air conditioner, which may be installed in combination with a lamp, thereby reducing the occupied room area.
In addition, the air conditioner further includes a water tray 21, a heat exchanger 22, an air inlet passage 23, blades 24, a main motor 25, and an air inlet 26. When the air conditioner starts working, under the driving of the main motor 25, the blades 24 starts rotating, air enters from the air inlet 26 to the lower ends of the blades 24 through the heat exchanger 22, flings from the edge as the blades 24 rotate, and enters the air outlet 10, and along with the movable unit 6, the air output direction is changed.
In order to provide a user with more excellent comfort, the air conditioner has a refrigerating mode and a heating mode, under the refrigerating mode, the air outlet 10 is set to horizontal air output, and under the heating mode, the air outlet 10 is set to downward air output. Of course, under the refrigerating mode and heating mode, the air outlet may be set to simultaneously achieve horizontal air output and downward air output, and it is only necessary to control the radial position of the movable unit 6.
For the movable unit 6 of the baffle-type structure, as shown in FIG. 17, under the heating mode, the movable unit 6 moves upward, the air channel for horizontal air output is blocked, and the air channel for downward air output is opened, so that air is output along the air channel for downward air output, hot air is able to reach the ground quickly, and the heating effect is better. As shown in FIG. 18, under the refrigerating mode, the movable unit 6 moves downward, the air channel for downward air output is blocked, and the air channel for horizontal air output is opened, so that air is output along the air channel for horizontal air output, the air is able to be supplied to a farther place, and the refrigerating effect is better.
For the movable unit 6 of the sliding block type structure as shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 6, under the refrigerating mode, the movable unit 6 moves to the lowermost position, and the lower surface of the movable unit 6 is attached to the upper surface of a lower fixed member 9, and the upper surface of the movable unit 6 fits the lower surface of an upper fixed member 14 to form the air channel for horizontal air output, so that air in the air channel is horizontally output and supplied to a farther place, and the refrigerating effect is better. As shown in FIG. 7, under the heating mode, the movable unit 6 moves to the uppermost position, and the upper surface of the movable unit 6 is attached to the lower surface of the upper fixed member 14, and the lower surface of the movable unit 6 fits the upper surface of the lower fixed member 9 to form the air channel for downward air output, so that air is output downward, hot air is able to reach the ground quickly, and the refrigerating effect is better.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the movable unit 6 moves a middle position, the movable unit 6 is attached to neither the lower surface of the upper fixed member 14 nor the upper surface of the lower fixed member 9, the upper surface of the movable unit 6 may fit the lower surface of the upper fixed member 14 to form the air channel for horizontal air output, and meanwhile, the lower surface of the movable unit 6 may also fit the upper surface of the lower fixed member 9 to form the air channel for downward air output. Thus, air may be output through the horizontal air channel and may also be output through the downward air channel, multi-angle and wide-angle air output may be realized, and the air output area may also be increased.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the stopper 8 moves to an opening position of the auxiliary air channel 11, air may also be output through the auxiliary air channel 11, the air output angle and the air output mode are more flexible and diverse, and the air output area is larger.
For the air conditioner, schematic views of an air output state thereof are as shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, respectively corresponding to air output structures shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The principle is the same as above and will not be repeated here.
Through descriptions of various embodiments of the air-guiding structure and the air conditioner of the present disclosure, it is able to be seen that the embodiments of the air-guiding structure and the air conditioner of the present disclosure solve the problem that an air output direction of the existing air output structure is single; the air output direction may be adjusted according to changes in the environment and an air conditioner working mode; the air supply area is increased; and the structure is compact, the appearance is attractive, and the occupied space is small.
Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure but not to limit the present disclosure; although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that it is still possible to modify the specific implementation of the present disclosure or to equivalently replace some technical features; and without departing from the spirit of the technical solutions of the present disclosure, they should all be covered by the technical solutions claimed in the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An air-guiding structure, wherein the air-guiding structure comprises an air duct provided with an air outlet and a movable unit, the movable unit is provided in the air duct and adjacent to the air outlet, and is able to move in a radial direction of the air outlet; and the movable unit is provided with an air-guiding face which is used for changing a flow direction of air in the air duct passing through the air-guiding face.

2. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable unit is provided with a top air-guiding face and a bottom air-guiding face in the radial direction of the air outlet, and the top air-guiding face and the bottom air-guiding face are provided with differently oriented surfaces so as to form different air-guiding directions.

3. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top air-guiding face is able to guide air in the air duct to be discharged from the air outlet in a horizontal direction or an oblique upward direction.

4. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bottom air-guiding face is able to guide air in the air duct to be discharged from the air outlet in a downward direction.

5. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the surface of the top air-guiding face is horizontal.

6. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the surface of the bottom air-guiding face is inclined downward.

7. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein an auxiliary air channel is provided in the movable unit, and two ports of the auxiliary air channel communicate with the air duct and an indoor environment respectively.

8. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein an air-guiding direction of the auxiliary air channel is different from air-guiding directions of the top air-guiding face and the bottom air-guiding face.

9. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein a stopper is provided at the air outlet, and when the movable unit moves at the air outlet in the radial direction, the stopper is able to block the auxiliary air channel.

10. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two air channels of the air duct are arranged at the air outlet, the at least two air channels have different air-guiding directions, and the movable unit is able to block at least one of the at least two air channels during the movement.

11. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a driving mechanism, configured to drive the movable unit to move.

12. An air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner comprises the air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 1.

13. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air conditioner has a refrigerating mode and a heating mode, under the refrigerating mode, the air outlet is set to horizontal air output, and under the heating mode, the air outlet is set to downward air output.

14. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the air conditioner has a refrigerating mode and a heating mode, and under the refrigerating mode and heating mode, the air outlet is able to be set to simultaneously achieve horizontal air output and downward air output.

15. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a driving mechanism, configured to drive the movable unit to move.

16. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a driving mechanism, configured to drive the movable unit to move.

17. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a driving mechanism, configured to drive the movable unit to move.

18. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a driving mechanism, configured to drive the movable unit to move.

19. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a driving mechanism, configured to drive the movable unit to move.

20. The air-guiding structure as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a driving mechanism, configured to drive the movable unit to move.