WO2007081078A2

WO2007081078A2 - Vibration reducing structure of air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2007081078A2
Application number: PCT/KR2006/003672
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sung-Rok Ryu; Jeong-Hun Kim; Sang-Kyoung Park; Kyoung-Suk Lim; Jang-Woo Lee; Nae-Hyun Park
Original assignee: Lg Electronics, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-01-13
Filing date: 2006-09-14
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: CN101631991A; WO2007081078A3; KR20070075614A; CN101631991B; KR100867467B1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a vibration reducing structure of an air conditioner including: a casing (22) on which a suction hole (56a) and a discharge hole (54a) for sucking and discharging air have been formed and in which a heat exchanger (58) for exchanging heat with air has been built; a ventilating device (30) having a ventilating fan (12) for blowing air along the suction hole (56a), the heat exchanger and the discharge hole (54a) and a motor (14) for driving the ventilating fan (12), the ventilating fan (12) and the motor (14) being coupled to the casing (22) by a motor mount (16); and a vibration preventing unit (24) protruded from the surface of the casing (22), for preventing vibration generated by the ventilating device (30) from being diffused along the casing (22). Therefore, the vibration reducing structure of the air conditioner maximizes reduction of vibration by a simple process.

Description

Description VIBRATION REDUCING STRUCTURE OF AIR CONDITIONER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an air conditioner which includes a heat exchanger for circulating refrigerants and a ventilating device for circulating air in a casing, for cooling and heating indoor air, and more particularly, to a vibration reducing structure of an air conditioner which can reduce transmission and/or diffusion of vibration between a casing and a ventilating device. Background Art

[2] In general, an air conditioner which is an apparatus for maintaining indoor air pleasant controls a certain space in a temperature, humidity and air current distribution suitable for human activities, and removes dusts from the air.

[3] The air conditioner is classified into a split type air conditioner and a window type air conditioner by an installation type of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. In the split type air conditioner, in order to reduce an indoor occupying area and noise, an outdoor unit including a condenser and a compressor is installed outside and an indoor unit including a heat exchanger and a ventilating fan is installed inside.

[4] According to the installation position of the indoor unit, the split type air conditioner is classified into a stand type air conditioner standing in the indoor space, a wall type or frame type air conditioner hanging on the wall, and a ceiling type air conditioner built in the ceiling.

[5] Fig. 1 is a disassembly perspective view illustrating a ventilating device mounting structure of a general air conditioner.

[6] Referring to Fig. 1, in an indoor unit of the air conditioner, a suction hole and a discharge hole are formed on a casing 2 composing an external appearance, and a heat exchanger (not shown) and a ventilating device 10 are built in the casing 2. In the ventilating device 10, a ventilating fan 12 for blowing air is built in a fan housing (not shown), and a motor 14 for driving the ventilating fan 12 is coupled to the ventilating fan 12 and rivet or screw B fixed to the casing 2 by a motor mount 16.

[7] The ventilating fan 12 is driven by the motor 14, for sucking indoor air, supplying the air to the heat exchanger, and externally discharging cool air.

[8] In the ventilating device mounting structure of the general air conditioner, the ventilating fan 12 and the motor 14 are rivet or screw B fixed to the casing 2 by the motor mount 16. However, since the casing 2 and the motor mount 16 are fixed to contact each other in the horizontal direction, vibration generated by driving of the ventilating fan 12 and the motor 14 is transmitted to the casing 2 and diffused, to generate noise. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] The present invention is achieved to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration reducing structure of an air conditioner which can reduce vibration by preventing diffusion of vibration transmitted to a casing, when a ventilating device rivet or screw-fixed to the casing by a motor mount is driven.

Technical Solution

[10] In order to achieve the above-described object of the invention, there is provided a vibration reducing structure of an air conditioner, including: a casing on which a suction hole and a discharge hole for sucking and discharging air have been formed and in which a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with air has been built; a ventilating device having a ventilating fan for blowing air along the suction hole, the heat exchanger and the discharge hole and a motor for driving the ventilating fan, the ventilating fan and the motor being coupled to the casing by a motor mount; and a vibration preventing unit protruded from the surface of the casing, for preventing vibration generated by the ventilating device from being diffused along the casing.

[11] Formula

[12]

[13]

[14] The above formula relates to a natural frequency f having a plate vibration property.

Here, 'c' represents a vibration transmission speed of normal steel, about 5.5X10 m/s, and 'a' and 'b' represent a horizontal length and a vertical length of a unit area. In the case that the vibration preventing unit is formed in the casing by considering that the natural frequency is inversely proportional to the transmission area according to the plate vibration property, the natural frequency is more reduced to restrict vibration and noise.

[15] In the vibration reducing structure of the air conditioner, the ventilating fan and the motor are rivet or screw-fixed in the casing by the motor mount, and the vibration preventing unit composed of narrow and long protruding units is formed in the coupling portion of the casing and the motor mount. Although vibration is transmitted to the casing, the natural frequency of vibration is reduced by the enlarged area of the casing. Accordingly, the vibration reducing structure of the air conditioner prevents diffusion of vibration along the casing, thereby efficiently reducing vibration and noise.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[16] The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

[17] Fig. 1 is a disassembly perspective view illustrating a ventilating device mounting structure of a general air conditioner;

[18] Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are disassembly perspective views illustrating examples of a vibration reducing structure applicable to an air conditioner in accordance with the present invention;

[19] Fig. 5 is a graph showing noise of the general air conditioner and the air conditioner of the present invention;

[20] Figs. 6 and 7 are a side-sectional view and a disassembly perspective view illustrating a stand type air conditioner using a vibration reducing structure in accordance with the present invention;

[21] Fig. 8 is a disassembly perspective view illustrating a vibration reducing structure of a frame type air conditioner in accordance with the present invention; and

[22] Fig. 9 is a side-sectional view illustrating a vibration reducing structure of a ceiling type air conditioner in accordance with the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[23] A vibration reducing structure of an air conditioner in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[24] Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are disassembly perspective views illustrating examples of the vibration reducing structure applicable to the air conditioner in accordance with the present invention.

[25] In the first example of the vibration reducing structure of the air conditioner, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a ventilating device 30 including a ventilating fan 32, a motor 34 and a motor mount 36 is rivet or screw B fastened to a casing 22. A long radial vibration preventing unit 24 protruded narrow and long is formed in the coupling portion of the casing 22 and the motor mount 36 to be extended to the outward direction.

[26] In the ventilating device 30, the ventilating fan 32 such as a sirocco fan or a turbo fan is coupled to the motor 34. The ventilating fan 32 and the motor 34 are rivet or screw B coupled to assembly holes 22h formed on the plane surface of the casing 22 by the motor mount 36.

[27] In more detail, the vibration preventing unit 24 is formed in a radial shape with its narrow and long protruding units extended from the center to the radial direction, and thus more extended in the radial direction than the motor mount 36. The vibration preventing unit 24 can be protruded in any one of the inward and outward directions of the casing 22. Preferably, the vibration preventing unit 24 is inwardly protruded from the casing 22 so that the casing 22 can be closely installed on the wall.

[28] In addition, the vibration preventing unit 24 serves as a reinforcing rib for improving intensity reinforcement effects of the thin flat plate shaped casing 22.

[29] Since the vibration preventing unit 24 is formed in the radial shape, the assembly holes 22h are formed on the plane surface of the casing 22 between the protruding units. The motor mount 36 is supported by the vibration preventing unit 24 and rivet or screw B coupled to the plane surface of the casing 22.

[30] Accordingly, the ventilating fan 32 and the motor 34 are rivet or screw B coupled to the assembly holes 22h formed on the plane surface of the casing 22 by the motor mount 36. Here, the center of the motor mount 36 corresponds to the center of the vibration preventing unit 24. Thereafter, when the ventilating fan 32 is rotated by operating the motor 34, even if vibration is transmitted to the casing 22 made of a relatively thin metal flat plate, vibration is not diffused along the casing 22 by the vibration preventing unit 24.

[31] Here, the vibration preventing unit 24 is protruded from the plane surface of the casing 22, thereby more enlarging the vibration transmission area.

[32] In addition, the motor mount 36 line-contacts the vibration preventing unit 24, thereby reducing a contact area receiving vibration. It is thus possible to more efficiently reduce vibration transmission.

[33] As shown in Fig. 3, the second example of the vibration reducing structure is almost identical to the first example thereof. However, assembly holes 24h are formed directly on the vibration preventing unit 24, and the ventilating fan 32 and the motor 34 are directly rivet or screw B coupled to the vibration preventing unit 24 by the motor mount 36.

[34] The vibration preventing unit 24 is inwardly protruded from the casing 22, and the assembly holes 24h are formed on the vibration preventing unit 24. Although rivets or screws B are assembled from the outside direction of the casing 22, the rivets or screws B are hidden by the vibration preventing unit 24, to prevent interferences with the wall and improving the external appearance. Also, the rivets or screws B are coupled directly to the contact portion of the motor mount 36 and the vibration preventing unit 24, which results in tight assembly.

[35] The structure and operation of the second example are identical to those of the first example, and thus detailed explanations thereof are omitted.

[36] In the third example of the vibration reducing structure, as depicted in Fig. 4, the ventilating device 30 identical to that of the first example is rivet or screw B coupled to a casing 42, and a Ξi-shaped vibration preventing unit 34 protruded narrow and long is formed in the coupling portion of the casing 42 and the motor 36 to be outwardly extended.

[37] The ventilating fan 32 and the motor 34 are rivet or screw B coupled to assembly holes 42h and 44h formed on the plane surface of the casing 42 or the vibration preventing unit 44 by the motor mount 36.

[38] In more detail, in the vibration preventing unit 44, three narrow and long protruding units are aligned in the horizontal direction, and a narrow and long protruding unit is aligned in the vertical direction to cross the three protruding units. Accordingly, the vibration preventing unit 44 is more extended in the radial direction than the motor mount 36. The vibration preventing unit 44 can be protruded in any one of the inward and outward directions of the casing 42.

[39] The vibration preventing unit 44 can be formed in various shapes including the radial shape and the ΞE shape with its narrow and long protruding units crossing each other.

[40] Therefore, the ventilating fan 32 and the motor 34 are rivet or screw B coupled to the assembly holes 42h formed on the plane surface of the casing 42 and the assembly holes 44h formed on the vibration preventing unit 44 by the motor mount 36. The center of the motor mount 36 corresponds to the center of the vibration preventing unit 44. Thereafter, when the ventilating fan 32 is rotated by operating the motor 34, even if vibration is transmitted to the casing 42 made of a relatively thin metal flat plate, vibration is not diffused along the casing 42 by the vibration preventing unit 44.

[41] The vibration preventing unit 44 is operated in the same manner as the radial vibration preventing unit 24, for efficiently reducing vibration and noise. Thus, detailed explanations thereof are omitted.

[42] As described above, in order to prevent diffusion of vibration in the coupling portion of the casing 22 or 42 and the ventilating device 30, the vibration preventing unit 24 or 44 including narrow and long protruding units is installed in the casing 22 or 42. The vibration reducing structure can be applied to various types of air conditioners such as a stand type air conditioner, a wall type air conditioner, a frame type air conditioner and a ceiling type conditioner.

[43] Fig. 5 is a graph showing noise of the general air conditioner and the air conditioner of the present invention.

[44] In the general air conditioner, the ventilating device is rivet-fixed to the flat part of the casing, and in the air conditioner of the present invention, the ventilating device is rivet-fixed to the vibration preventing unit formed in the radial shape in the coupling portion of the casing. As shown in Fig. 5, the air conditioner of the present invention more reduces vibration in the whole frequency band than the general air conditioner, and considerably reduces vibration in 140Hz band. That is, the air conditioner of the present invention more reduces vibration and noise than the general air conditioner.

[45] Figs. 6 and 7 are a side-sectional view and a disassembly perspective view illustrating a stand type air conditioner using a vibration reducing structure in accordance with the present invention.

[46] The stand type air conditioner using the vibration reducing structure will now be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. A base 52a is coupled to a bottom surface of a cabinet 52, a discharge grill 54 having a discharge hole 54a and a suction grill 56 having a suction hole 56a are mounted on the upper and lower portions of the front surface of the cabinet 52, and a front panel 55 is mounted between the suction grill 56 and the discharge grill 54, thereby forming the external appearance. A ventilating device 60 for sucking indoor air is mounted inside the suction grill 56. Although the ventilating device 60 is bolt-coupled to the cabinet 52, a vibration preventing unit 53 composed of narrow and long protruding units is formed in the coupling portion, for preventing diffusion of vibration.

[47] A heat exchanger 58 for cooling the air sucked by the ventilating device 60 in the cooling operation is slantly installed at the upper portion of the ventilating device 60, and a heater 59 for heating the air sucked by the ventilating device 60 in the heating operation is horizontally installed at the upper portion of the heat exchanger 58.

[48] In detail, the cabinet 52 is formed by bending a thin metal plate. In order to reinforce intensity of the cabinet 52, vertical and horizontal reinforcing ribs 52H are formed on the rear surface of the cabinet 52. The reinforcing ribs 52H are formed in a narrow and long protruding shape and protruded in the inward or outward direction.

[49] The ventilating device 60 includes a sirocco fan 62 for blowing indoor air, a motor

64 for driving the sirocco fan 62, a fan housing 66 in which the sirocco fan 62 is installed, for guiding the sucked air to the heat exchanger 58, and a motor mount 68 for bolt-fixing the motor 64 to the rear surface of the cabinet 52.

[50] A control box 70 for controlling the whole operation of the air conditioner and a control box 72 for controlling the operation of the heater 59 in the heating operation are mounted on the front surface of the fan housing 66.

[51] Here, the heater 59 is installed inside the discharge hole 54a, the heat exchanger 58 is installed inside the front panel 55, and the ventilating device 60 is installed inside the suction hole 56a.

[52] The motor mount 68 formed in a flat plate shape is installed to contact the inside rear surface of the cabinet 52. In the coupling portion of the cabinet 52, the radial or ΞE-shaped vibration preventing unit 53 can be formed larger in the radial direction than the motor mount 68.

[53] The vibration preventing unit 53 can be formed in various shapes with its narrow and long protruding units crossing each other, and protruded in any one of the inward and outward directions of the cabinet 52. In addition, the vibration preventing unit 53 is more extended in the radial direction than the coupling portion with the motor mount 68.

[54] When the user selects the cooling operation, the signal is transmitted to the control box 70, and the heat exchanger 58 and the ventilating device 60 are operated to perform the cooling operation. When the user selects the heating operation, the signal is transmitted to the control box 70 and the control box 72 for the heater, and the heater 59 and the ventilating device 60 are operated to perform the heating operation.

[55] The ventilating device 60 is operated in the cooling and heating operations. When the sirocco fan 62 is driven, vibration is transmitted to the cabinet 52 through the motor mount 68. By forming the vibration preventing unit 53, the area of the cabinet 52 relatively increases and the natural frequency decreases. As a result, diffusion of vibration is prevented and vibration and noise are reduced.

[56] Fig. 8 is a disassembly perspective view illustrating a vibration reducing structure of a frame type air conditioner in accordance with the present invention.

[57] The frame type air conditioner using the vibration reducing structure will now be described with reference to Fig. 8. The frame type air conditioner includes a thin casing 72 having a suction hole on its opened front surface and discharge holes on its both sides and bottom surface, an evaporator 80 built in the casing 72 for circulating refrigerants, and a ventilating device 90 disposed on the rear surface of the evaporator 80, for sucking indoor air from the suction hole, supplying the sucked air to the evaporator 80, and discharging the air through the discharge holes, the ventilating device 90 being comprised of a turbo fan 92 and a motor 94. Although the ventilating device 90 is bolt-coupled to the casing 72 by a motor mount 98, a vibration preventing unit 73 composed of narrow and long protruding units is formed in the coupling portion of the casing 72, to prevent diffusion of vibration.

[58] Here, the casing 72 is formed in a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape with its front surface opened. A housing space of various components is formed in the casing 72. A front panel P is installed to be opened and closed on the front surface of the casing 72, for hiding the inside components and intercepting noise. Discharge grills Gl, G2 and G3 are installed on both sides and bottom surface of the casing 72, for controlling an air discharge direction.

[59] When the front panel P is opened, indoor air is sucked into the casing 72, and cool air of the casing 72 is discharged through the discharge grills Gl, G2 and G3. [60] Furthermore, an orifice 74 is installed between the heat exchanger 80 and the turbo fan 92 of the casing 72, for guiding the cool air from the evaporator 80 to the axial direction of the turbo fan 92. An air filter 78 and a dust collector (not shown) are detachably installed on the front surface of the casing 72 to be positioned inside the front panel P, for removing dusts from indoor air. The air filter 78 and the dust collector are easily disconnected in cleaning.

[61] A guide hole (not shown) is formed on the center of the orifice 74 in a convex ring shape, for guiding the sucked air to the center of the turbo fan 92 to prevent generation of turbulent flow. The other portion of the orifice 74 is formed flat, for separating cool air sucked into the turbo fan 92 and cool air discharged from the turbo fan 92 in the radial direction.

[62] In addition, a control box 76a for controlling the operations of the turbo fan 92 and the front panel P is installed at the upper portion of the front surface of the orifice 74. The control box 76a controls power supplied to the motor 94 for driving the turbo fan 92, power supplied to a step motor (not shown) for opening and closing the front panel P at a set angle, and power supplied to the dust collector.

[63] The control box 76a is directly connected to various operation buttons 76b so that the user can directly control the operation of the air conditioner, or installed to receive operation control signals from a remote controller, for controlling the operations of various components. Moreover, the control box 76a is connected to a display unit (not shown) exposed to the external appearance, for displaying the operational state of the air conditioner through the display unit.

[64] The evaporator 80 is connected to a compressor, a condenser and an expansion means of the outdoor unit, for composing the freezing cycle. Here, the evaporator 80 is formed by installing a plurality of fins on a refrigerant tube, and installed inside the front surface of the casing 72. The refrigerants passing through the refrigerant tube exchange heat with the indoor air by the plurality of fins, thereby generating cool air.

[65] The evaporator 80 is formed in a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape to be installed inside the casing 72. Identically to the casing 72, the front surface of the evaporator 80 is formed in a square shape.

[66] A drain fan 82 for collecting condensation water running down from the surface of the evaporator 80 is installed at the lower portion of the evaporator 80. A drain hose (not shown) connected to the external space is installed on the drain fan 82, for externally discharging condensation water.

[67] The ventilating device 90 includes the turbo fan 92 having a relatively large diameter to increase a suction air volume in spite of a low axial direction height, and the motor 94 for driving the turbo fan 92. An elastic material 96 is positioned to buffer power transmission and absorb vibration, when the motor 94 is driven to transmit power to the turbo fan 92.

[68] The turbo fan 92 includes a disk-shaped hub having a peaked hood shaped center to be connected to the motor 94, an inclined ring-shaped shroud separated from the hub in the axial direction for guiding suction flow, and a plurality of blades disposed between the hub and the shroud in the circumferential direction at regular intervals. The shroud guides suction flow in the axial direction, and the hub and the blades guide discharge flow in the radial direction.

[69] The shroud of the turbo fan 92 is positioned to face the front surface of the casing

72, and the motor 94 is fixed to the inside rear surface of the casing 72 by the motor mount 98.

[70] In more detail, the center of the motor mount 98 presses the motor 94 to stably position the motor 94 on the inside rear surface of the casing 72, and the folded portions of both ends of the motor mount 98 are bolt-fixed to the inside rear surface of the casing 72. In a state where the motor 94 and the motor mount 98 contact the vibration preventing unit 73 formed on the inside rear surface of the casing 72, both ends of the motor mount 98 are bolt B fastened to the casing 72.

[71] The vibration preventing unit 73 can be formed in various shapes with its narrow and long protruding units crossing each other, and protruded in any one of the inward and outward directions of the casing 72. In addition, the vibration preventing unit 73 is more extended in the radial direction than the coupling portion with the motor 94 and the motor mount 98.

[72] Accordingly, power is supplied to the step motor and the motor 94 by the control box 76a, the front panel P is opened on the front surface of the casing 72 by the operation of the step motor, and the turbo fan 92 is rotated by the operation of the motor 94, thereby sucking air in the axial direction and discharging air in the radial direction.

[73] At the same time, the indoor air sucked into the front surface of the casing 72 passes through the evaporator 80, exchanges heat with refrigerants flowing in the evaporator 80, and becomes cool air. The cool air is guided by the guide hole of the orifice 74, sucked in the axial direction of the turbo fan 92, and discharged in the radial direction of the turbo fan 92. Here, the direction of the air is controlled through the discharge grills Gl, G2 and G3 installed on both sides and the bottom surface of the casing 72. The air is discharged to the indoor space.

[74] Since the forward/backward direction thickness of the casing 72 is thin, the motor

94 directly contacts the casing 72. To increase the air blowing volume, the turbo fan 92 installed in a restricted space of the casing 72 is rotated at a high speed. As the turbo fan 92 is rotated at a high speed, vibration is transmitted to the casing 72 through the motor 94 and the motor mount 98. [75] Although vibration is transmitted to the casing 72, since the vibration preventing unit 73 is formed in the coupling portion of the casing 72, the area of the casing 72 relatively increases and the natural frequency decreases. Therefore, diffusion of vibration is prevented and vibration and noise are reduced.

[76] In a state where the vibration preventing unit 73 is inwardly protruded from the casing 72, when the motor 94 and the motor mount 98 contact only the vibration preventing unit 73, the motor mount 98 is fastened. Accordingly, the contact area is also reduced to efficiently prevent transmission of vibration.

[77] Fig. 9 is a side-sectional view illustrating a vibration reducing structure of a ceiling type air conditioner in accordance with the present invention.

[78] The ceiling type air conditioner using the vibration reducing structure will now be described with reference to Fig. 9. A front panel 110 having a suction hole 112 and discharge holes 114 is installed on a bottom surface of a rectangular casing 102 having a housing space. A heat exchanger 116 for cooling indoor air is installed in the casing 102 to be supported by the front panel 110. A ventilating device 120 for sucking and blowing indoor air hangs on the inside top surface of the casing 102. A vibration preventing unit 103 having narrow and long protruding units is formed in the coupling portion of the top surface of the casing 102 and the ventilating device 120, for preventing diffusion of vibration.

[79] Here, the casing 102 is inserted into a hole H formed on the ceiling surface B, and fixed to the ceiling wall A by fastening anchor bolts 106 to four brackets 104 formed on the circumference. The front panel 110 is mounted to be exposed from the ceiling surface B to the indoor space, and thus positioned on the bottom surface of the casing 102.

[80] The suction hole 112 is formed on the center of the front panel 110, and the plurality of discharge holes 114 are formed outside the suction hole 112.

[81] The heat exchanger 116 is formed by installing a plurality of fins on a refrigerant tube in which refrigerants flow. The heat exchanger 116 is installed inside the front panel 110. A drain fan 118 for collecting condensation water from the surface of the heat exchanger 116 is installed at the bottom end of the heat exchanger 116.

[82] The heat exchanger 116 and the drain fan 118 are formed in a rectangular ring shape, so that sucked air can flow into the center portions. The sucked air passes through the heat exchanger 116 in the radial direction, for exchanging heat.

[83] The ventilating device 120 includes a turbo fan 122 for sucking air in the axial direction and discharging air in the radial direction, a motor 124 for driving the turbo fan 122, and a motor mount 126 for fixing the turbo fan 122 and the motor 124 to hang on the top surface of the casing 102.

[84] The ventilating device 120 is fixed to the inside center portion of the casing 102 to be surrounded by the heat exchanger 116. The turbo fan 122 is installed to hang on the motor 124, and the motor 124 is bolt-fixed to the center of the inside top surface of the casing 102 by the motor mount 126.

[85] Because the vibration preventing unit 103 is installed at the center of the inside top surface of the casing 102, the motor mount 126 contacts the vibration preventing unit 103. The vibration preventing unit 103 can be formed in various shapes with its narrow and long protruding units crossing each other, and protruded in any one of the inward and outward directions of the casing 102. In addition, the vibration preventing unit 103 is more extended in the radial direction than the coupling portion with the motor mount 126.

[86] Accordingly, when the turbo fan 122 is operated, indoor air is sucked in the axial direction through the suction hole 112, flows in the radial direction, exchanges heat in the heat exchanger 116, and is discharged to the indoor space through the discharge holes 114.

[87] When the indoor air passes through the heat exchanger 116, condensation water is formed on the heat exchanger 116 by a temperature difference between the heat exchanger 116 and the ambient air. The condensation water runs down the heat exchanger 116, is collected by the drain fan 118 disposed at the lower portion of the heat exchanger 116, and is discharged.

[88] When the turbo fan 122 is rotated, vibration is transmitted to the casing 102 through the motor 124 and the motor mount 126. However, since the vibration preventing unit 103 is formed in the coupling portion of the casing 102 and the motor mount 126, the area of the casing 102 relatively increases and the natural frequency decreases. As a result, diffusion of vibration is prevented and vibration and noise are reduced.

[89] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these preferred embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

[1] A vibration reducing structure of an air conditioner, comprising: a casing on which a suction hole and a discharge hole for sucking and discharging air have been formed and in which a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with air has been built; a ventilating device having a ventilating fan for blowing air along the suction hole, the heat exchanger and the discharge hole and a motor for driving the ventilating fan, the ventilating fan and the motor being coupled to the casing by a motor mount; and a vibration preventing unit protruded from the surface of the casing, for preventing vibration generated by the ventilating device from being diffused along the casing. [2] The vibration reducing structure of claim 1, wherein the vibration preventing unit is formed in a predetermined shape by coupling a plurality of protruding units. [3] The vibration reducing structure of claim 2, wherein the vibration preventing unit is more outwardly extended than the fastening position of the motor mount to the casing. [4] The vibration reducing structure of claim 3, wherein the vibration preventing unit is formed in a radial shape. [5] The vibration reducing structure of claim 1, wherein the motor mount is rivet or screw-coupled to the surface of the casing between the protruding units of the vibration preventing unit. [6] The vibration reducing structure of claim 1, wherein the motor mount is rivet or screw-coupled directly to the vibration preventing unit. [7] The vibration reducing structure of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the vibration preventing unit comprises narrow and long protruding units protruded from the surface of the casing. [8] The vibration reducing structure of claim 7, wherein the protruding units are protruded in any one of the inward and outward directions of the casing. [9] The vibration reducing structure of claim 1, wherein one end of the motor mount is rivet or screw-coupled to the vibration preventing unit, and the other end of the motor mount is rivet or screw-coupled to the surface of the casing on which the vibration preventing unit is not formed.