WO2007086640A2

WO2007086640A2 - Indoor unit of air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2007086640A2
Application number: PCT/KR2006/005068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gwang Seok Kim; Seung Hoon Yang
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2006-01-26
Filing date: 2006-11-28
Publication date: 2007-08-02
Also published as: EP1813876A3; EP1813876A2; WO2007086640A3

Abstract

Indoor unit (100) of an air conditioner including a fan (26), a cabinet (20) having the fan (26) mounted therein, an outlet (22) for discharging the air from the fan (26) to an outside of the indoor unit (100), and a guide portion (80) for surrounding an one side of an outside circumferential surface of the fan (26), a heat exchanger (50) in the cabinet (20) for making heat exchange with the air from the fan (26), and air guides (60, 70) each in contact with, and supported on the guide portion (80) for guiding the air from the fan (26) to the outlet (22), thereby permitting easy mounting of the air guides (60, 70) to the indoor unit (100), and easy mounting of the refrigerant piping even if a mounting direction of the refrigerant piping to be connected to a heat exchanger (50) in the indoor unit (100) is changed.

Description

INDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to indoor units of air conditioners, and more particularly, to an indoor unit of an air conditioner which permits easy mounting both of an air guide and a refrigerant piping even if a direction of the refrigerant piping connected to a heat exchanger in the indoor unit is changed. Background Art

[2] In general, the air conditioner, serving as a room heater, a room cooler, or an air purifier for cooling/heating a room, or purifying room air, provides human being a better room environment. Recently, an air conditioner has been developed, which is provided with a turbo-fan to minimize a thickness of a cabinet thereof to permit the air conditioner to be mounted on a wall of the room like a picture frame.

[3] FlG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit of a related art air conditioner. As shown in FlG. 13, the related art indoor unit is provided with a thin and rectangular cabinet 1 having an opened front, a fan 2 in the cabinet 1, a heat exchanger 5 in front of the fan 2, a front panel 6 in front of the heat exchanger 5 having suction openings 7 for drawing air, an orifice 8 between the fan 2 and the heat exchanger 5, and a front grill 9 mounted to be rotatable at a predetermined angle to a front plane of the front panel 6 for opening/closing the suction openings 7.

[4] The fan 2 has a turbofan 3 and a motor 4 for rotating the turbofan3, and the orifice 8 is between the heat exchanger 5 and the fan 2 for guiding the air from the suction openings 7 to the fan 2. In the meantime, on a front surface of the front panel 6, there is a filter 10 for filtering air drawing thus, and there is a control box 11 of a control unit over the orifice 8.

[5] The cabinet 1 has outlets 13 in a lower side and left/right sides and an air guide 12 on a top for guiding the air being discharged to an upper side to the left/right side outlets 13. The air guide is fixedly secured to the cabinet 1 with bolts (not shown) or screws (not shown).

[6] In the meantime, the related art indoor unit has a problem in that exact placing of the air guide 12 in holes (not shown) in the cabinet 1 in securing the air guide 12 to the cabinet 1 requires the worker to pay close attention, which drops working efficiency, significantly.

[7] Moreover, the related art indoor unit has another problem in that a particular direction of connection of the refrigerant piping at the front panel 6 required for the heat exchanger 5 impedes an easy connection of the refrigerant piping if the direction of the refrigerant piping is changed according to a condition of a site where the air conditioner is installed. Furthermore, the opened portion of the front panel 6 through which the refrigerant piping passes causes infiltration of foreign matters, inclusive of moisture, into the indoor unit. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[8] An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies on providing an indoor unit of an air conditioner that enables easy mounting of a refrigerant piping connecting to a heat exchanger even if a direction of the refrigerant piping is changed. Technical Solution

[9] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a fan, a cabinet having the fan mounted therein, an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, and a guide portion for surrounding an one side of an outside circumferential surface of the fan, a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan, and air guides each in contact with, and supported on the guide portion for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.

[10] In the meantime, the outlets may be at opposite sides of the cabinet, the guide portion is at a center of an upper portion of the cabinet, and the air guides may be at opposite sides of the guide portion.

[11] The cabinet may further include a first rib, and a second rib, and the air guide has one end portion supported on the guide portion, and an underside and the other end portion supported on the first rib, and the second rib, respectively.

[12] The air guides may be placed in, and held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively. Preferably, the air guides may be formed of an elastic material and placed in, and elastically held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively.

[13] In the meantime, the cabinet may further include projections for supporting the air guides. Preferably, the air guides may have recesses opposite to the projections, for receiving and supporting the projections, respectively.

[14] The indoor unit further includes at least one closing member at sides of the cabinet, for removing from the cabinet to form a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping in a case the refrigerant piping to be connected to the heat exchanger is mounted. In this case, the closing member may be connected to the cabinet with bridges.

[15] Moreover, the indoor unit may further include at least one mounting member mounted to the cabinet for forming one side wall of the hole of the at least one closing member to open the hole along the side wall to an outside of the hole, selectively. The mounting member may be press fit in the cabinet. Preferably, one of the cabinet and the mounting member has an inserting projection formed thereon, and the other one thereof has an inserting groove in conformity with the inserting projection, for inserting the inserting projection in the inserting groove, to secure the mounting member, fixedly. In this case, the inserting projection and the inserting groove may be extended in a direction the mounting member is to be inserted.

[16] In the meantime, the mounting member may be held at the cabinet. In this case, the mounting member may have one end portion rotatably connected to the cabinet, one of the other end portion of the mounting member or the cabinet may have a holding step, and the other one thereof may have a holding recess in conformity with the holding step, so that the holding step may be held at the holding recess.

[17] Preferably, the mounting member may have an extension at one side portion for covering a portion of the hole of the closing member. The extension may have an end portion having a slot for pass through of the refrigerant piping.

[18] In the meantime, in another aspect of the present invention, an indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a fan, an orifice having a guide portion surrounding an one side of an outside circumference of the fan, and projections spaced predetermined distances from the guide portion, a cabinet having the orifice and the fan mounted therein, and an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan, and air guides supported on the guide portion and the projections for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet.

[19] Thus, the present invention permits, not only easy mounting of the air guide, but also easy mounting of the refrigerant piping even if a direction of the refrigerant piping is changed. Advantageous Effects

[20] Since the air guide is placed in, and held between the guide portion and the ribs formed on the cabinet, the indoor unit of an air conditioner of the present invention is easy to install.

[21] Since the guide portion is formed as one body with the cabinet for guiding air from the fan, increasing strength of the cabinet compared to the related art cabinet, the indoor unit of an air conditioner of the present invention has lower vibration.

[22] Since the air guide is mounted as the projections are placed in the air guide, the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the present invention, not only can fix a mounting position of easily, but also can minimize vibration at the time of guiding discharge air because the air guide is supported on the projections. [23] The possibility of mounting of the refrigerant piping according to a mounting direction of the refrigerant piping by using the closing member and the mounting member at a plurality of places of the cabinet enables to cope with a mounting environment of the indoor unit, more appropriately.

[24] The mounting member of the air conditioner of the present invention, which is separated from the cabinet and press fit in the cabinet at the time of mounting of the refrigerant piping, the mounting member minimizes exposure of an opened area formed by the mounting of the refrigerant piping, and prevents foreign matters, water, or the like, from infiltrating into the cabinet.

[25] The connection of the connection pipe to the refrigerant piping only after separating the service cover without separating the front panel wholly in a case the connection pipe is positioned at a lower side of the cabinet permits to minimize an installation time period and efforts for mounting the air conditioner.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. [27] In the drawings:

[28] FlG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [29] FlG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cabinet of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [30] FlG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the cabinet in FlG. 2 having the fan and the air guide separated therefrom; [31] FlG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of FlG. 3 having the air guide mounted to the cabinet; [32] FlG. 5 illustrates a front view of the cabinet in FlG. 3 having the fan and the air guide mounted thereto; [33] FlG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a back side of an orifice in an indoor unit in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; [34] FlG. 7 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet in FlG. 3; [35] FlG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a state the mounting member in FlG. 7 is separated from the cabinet;

[36] FlG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the piping cover in FlG. 3;

[37] FlG. 10 illustrates a front view of a state the refrigerant piping in FlG. 3 is connected (though FlG. 3 does not show a heat exchanger, FlG. 10 shows the heat exchanger for convenience sake);

[38] FlG. 11 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet;

[39] FlG. 12 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and an mounting member at one side of the cabinet; and

[40] FlG. 13 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a related art indoor unit.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[41] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts, and repetitive description of which will be omitted.

[42] FlG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[43] Referring to FlG. 1, the indoor unit 100 of an air conditioner includes a fan 26, a cabinet 20 which is an exterior of the indoor unit 100 having the fan 26 mounted therein, a heat exchanger 50 in the cabinet 20 for heat exchange with room air, and air guides 60, and 70 for guiding air from the fan 26.

[44] In detail, the indoor unit 100 includes a front panel 30 at a front of the cabinet 20, and a picture frame panel 40 mounted to the front panel 30 with a predetermined space to form a gap with the front panel 30. Through the gap, room air is introduced into the indoor unit 100, to make heat exchange with the heat exchanger 50. In the meantime, the cabinet 20 is fixedly secured to a wall of the room with a bracket at a back side of the cabinet 20.

[45] The front panel 30 has a central suction opening 32, and is fastened to the cabinet

20 with fastening means (not shown), such as bolts. The front panel 30 includes the central suction opening 32 and a service cover 34 detachably mounted to one side thereof for shielding a portion of an inside of the cabinet 20. The service cover 34, forming a portion of a front panel 30, is detachably attached to the front panel 30 fastened with fastening means, such as bolts (not shown), to the front panel 30.

[46] In front of the front panel 30, there is a front grill 36, and a filter 38 is supported on the front grill 36 and placed in the front panel 30, for filtering air being drawn.

[47] In the meantime, mounted between the front panel 30 and the cabinet 20 in succession, there are a heat exchanger 50 for making heat exchange with air from the suction opening 32 of the front panel 30 to heat/cool the room, an orifice 55 for guiding air being drawn, and a fan 26 for blowing the air. The cabinet 20 has at least one outlet 22 for discharging the air from the fan 26. [48] The fan 26 mounted between the cabinet 20 and the orifice 55 blows air from the suction opening 32 in the front panel 30 toward the cabinet 20, entirely. The fan 26 may be a centrifugal fan that discharges air from the orifice 55 in a circumferential direction.

[49] The outlet 22 may be formed on both sides of the fan 26, i.e., in both sides of the cabinet 20 for discharging the air from the fan 26 to an outside of the cabinet 20. An outlet unit 24 which is opened/closed by a control unit of the indoor unit 100 is mounted on the outlet 22 in a bottom of the cabinet 20 for discharging air to the room.

[50] In the meantime, the air guides 60, and 70 mounted on an upper side of the cabinet

20 guide the air from the fan 26 to the outlets 22 in the both sides of the cabinet 20, which will be described, later.

[51] The heat exchanger 50 mounted in front of the orifice 55 heat exchanges with the room air for cooling/heating the room air, and under the heat exchanger 50, there is a drain pan 52 for holding condensed water from the heat exchanger 50. The heat exchanger 50 is fixed to the front panel 30 or the orifice 55, and has a connection pipe 54 at one side for connection to a refrigerant piping (see 53 in FlG. 10) led from an outside of the indoor unit. In the meantime, the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50 is hidden under the service cover 34 in the front panel 30 so as not to be shown to an outside of the indoor unit. If it is intended to connect the refrigerant piping 53 to the connection pipe 54, the service cover 34 is removed from the front panel 30, to expose the connection pipe 54, which will be described in detail, later.

[52] In the meantime, mounted to a corner of the cabinet 20, there is a pipe cover 21 to form a portion of an exterior of the indoor unit 100. The pipe cover 21 is mounted to a plurality of places among four corners of the cabinet 20, wherein the embodiment suggests two covers mounted to two lower corners for leading external refrigerant piping therethrough. An unexplained reference numeral 90 denotes a control box of the control unit of the air conditioner mounted on the orifice 55.

[53] A structure of the cabinet 20 of the indoor unit 100 of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[54] FlG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cabinet of an indoor unit in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[55] Referring to FlG. 2, the cabinet 20 is square substantially, and includes a guide portion 80, first, and second ribs 82, and 83, and projections 84 for placing in and holding the air guides 60, and 70 (see FlG. 1).

[56] The guide portion 80 is projected from a center of an upper portion of an inside of the cabinet 20 toward the front panel 30. In the embodiment, the guide portion 80 is projected forward from an inside surface 23 on which the fan 26 (see FlG. 1) is mounted. Ends of the air guides 60 and 70 are in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of the guide portion 80, respectively.

[57] In the meantime, at a front of the cabinet 20, there are first ribs 82 projected from the inside surface 82 for holding the air guides 60 and 70. Accordingly, the air guides 60 and 70 at one ends thereof are in contact with, and supported on the air guide portion 80, with undersides thereof supported on the first ribs 82, thereby mounted in the cabinet 20, firmly and easily.

[58] There is a second rib 83 at an end of the first rib 82. The second rib 83 at the end of the first rib 82 is projected from the inside surface 23 of the cabinet 20 for supporting the other end of the air guide 60 or 70 and is in contact with the outlet unit 24 (see FlG. 1) for supporting the outlet unit 24. That is, the second rib 83 defines a space for mounting the outlet unit 24 therein in the cabinet 20, and the air guide 60 is seated on the first rib 82, with the other end supported on the second rib 83.

[59] The projections 84 are projected forward from the inside surface 23 of the cabinet

20 spaced predetermined distances from the ribs 82, and 83 respectively. By placing the projection 84 in a recess 65 or 75 (see FlG. 3) in the air guide 60 or 70, a worker can place the air guide 60 or 70 in a space between the guide portion 80 and the first and second ribs 82 or 83.

[60] Structures of the cabinet 20 and the air guide will be described in detail with reference to drawings.

[61] FlG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the cabinet 20 in FlG. 2 having the fan 26 and the air guides 60 and 70 separated therefrom.

[62] Referring to FlG. 3, in the embodiment, there are a plurality of air guides 60 and 70, for an example, two provided to the cabinet 20 placed in opposite sides of the guide portion 80 of the cabinet 20. In detail, the air guides 60 and 70 have one ends in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of the guide portion 80 respectively, undersides 67 and 77 thereof supported on the first ribs 82 respectively, and the other ends 63 and 73 thereof placed in spaces between the guide portion 80 and the first, and second ribs 82, and 83.

[63] In the meantime, the air guide 60 or 70 has a recess 65 or 75 formed therein. If it is intended to mount the air guide 60 or 70, the worker can mount the air guide 60 or 70 easily by placing the projection 84 in the recess 65 or 75 in the air guide 60 or 70. Moreover, the air guide 60 or 70 is not only supported on the first, and second ribs 82 and 83, but also on the projection 84 on the cabinet 20, doubly.

[64] FlG. 4 illustrates a state the air guide is mounted in FlG. 3.

[65] Referring to FlG. 3, though not shown, the air guide 60 or 70 has the underside 67 or 77 formed to have a surface opposite to an outside circumferential surface of the fan 26 continuous to an underside surface 81 of the guide portion 80.

[66] FlG. 5 illustrates a front view of the cabinet in FlG. 3 having the fan and the air guide mounted thereto.

[67] Referring to FlG. 5, in the embodiment, for an example, the fan 26 is mounted to rotate in a clockwise direction, the air guides 60 and 70 are mounted such that the air guide 60 mounted on a left side of FlG. 5 has a large gap between the underside surface 67 of the air guide 60 and the outside circumferential surface of the fan 26, while the air guide 70 mounted on a right side has a small gap between the underside surface 77 of the air guide 70 and the outside circumferential surface of the fan 26.

[68] In the meantime, there are also air guides 69 and 79 at a lower portion of the cabinet

20 having the fan 26 mounted thereto for guiding the air from the fan 26 to the outlet 22 in the bottom.

[69] A process for mounting the air guide of an indoor unit of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

[70] At first, the worker places the air guides 60 and 70 in the cabinet 20 having the guide portion 80 formed thereon. In this instance, after putting one end 62 or 72 of the air guide 60 or 70 close to one side of the guide portion 80, the worker puts the other end 63 or 73 close to the second rib 83, to secure the air guide 60 or 70, fixedly. In the meantime, in the process of placing the air guides 60 and 70, the worker can mount the air guide 60 or 70 easily by placing the projection 84 of the cabinet 20 in the recess 65 or 70 in the air guide 60 or 70. In conclusion, the worker can place the air guides 60 or 70 in the cabinet 20 easily without any fastening member. Moreover, the underside surfaces 67 and 77 of the air guides 60 and 70 continuous to the underside surface 81 of the guide portion 80 minimize a friction force in a case the air is guided from the fan 26 to the outlet 22.

[71] In the meantime, in the embodiment, the air guides 60 and 70 may be formed of an elastic material, for close contact between the guide portion 80 and the second ribs 83 owing to the elasticity after placed in the cabinet 20.

[72] FlG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a back side of an orifice in an indoor unit in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[73] Referring to FlG. 6, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the guide portion 180 and the projections 184 are formed on the orifice 155, directly.

[74] That is, in the embodiment, the guide portion 180 and the projections 184 are projected from the back side of the orifice 155 toward the cabinet 20. Accordingly, one ends 62 and 72 of the air guides 60 and 70 (see FlG. 3) are in contact with, and supported on opposite sides of the guide portion 180, and the air guides 60 and 70 are fixed in positions as the projections 84 are placed in the recesses 65 and 75 in the air guides 60 and 70, respectively. Rest of the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, and description of which will be omitted. [75] FlG. 7 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of preferred embodiments of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet in FlG. 3.

[76] Referring to FlG. 7, at one side wall of the cabinet 20, there are a closing member

27 for forming a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping 53, and a mounting member 28 for selective opening of the hole formed with the closing member 27 to an outside of the hole in a case the refrigerant piping 53 (see FlG. 10) is mounted to the one side wall.

[77] It is preferable that the closing member 27 is formed as one body with the cabinet

20 so as to be flush with an outside surface of the cabinet 20, and connected to the cabinet 20 with bridges 29. It is preferable that there is at least one bridge, and the embodiment suggests forming three bridges 29 except a side where there is the mounting member 28. Accordingly, when it is intended to connect the refrigerant piping 53, the worker removes the bridges 29, to remove the closing member 27 from the cabinet 20 to form the hole, and then, the refrigerant piping 53 is connected through the hole.

[78] In the meantime, the mounting member 27 forms one side wall of the hole the closing member 27 forms, and selectively opens the hole of the closing member 27 to an outside of the hole along the one side. That is, in a case the refrigerant piping 53 is connected, the closing member 27 is removed, and the mounting member 28 is separated, to open the hole to the outside of the hole, and the refrigerant piping 53 is connected, and the mounting member 28 is closed again, to minimize an inside of the cabinet 20 exposed to an outside of the cabinet 20.

[79] The mounting member 28 may have a variety of structures for mounting to the cabinet 20, which will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[80] FlG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a state the mounting member in FlG. 7 is press fit in, or separated from, the cabinet.

[81] Referring to FlG. 8, the mounting member 28 may be press fit in one side of the cabinet 20. In detail, the mounting member 28 has an inserting projection 31, and the cabinet 20 has an inserting groove 25 in conformity with the inserting projection 31 at a position opposite to the inserting projection 31. The inserting projection 31 and the inserting groove 25 are extended in a direction slidably inserting to each other. Accordingly, the mounting member 28 may be slidably inserted in, or separated from the inserting groove 25 in an arrow direction, easily. In the embodiment, though the mounting member 28 has the inserting projection 31 and the cabinet 20 has the inserting groove 25, opposite to this, the cabinet 20 has the inserting projection 31 and the mounting member 28 has the inserting groove 25.

[82] FlG. 9 illustrates a perspective view showing the pipe cover 21 in FlG. 1 having the closing member 27 and the mounting member 28 mounted thereto. [83] Referring to FlG. 9, the closing member 27 is mounted to the pipe cover 21 with the bridges 29, and the mounting member 28 is slidably press fit in the pipe cover 21. Since such a structure is similar to the structure in FlG. 8, a detailed description of which will be omitted.

[84] In the meantime, there may be at least one pair of the closing member 27 and the mounting member 28 along sides of the cabinet 20, and preferably four pairs in total at upper and lower portions of opposite sides of the cabinet 20. In this case, as shown in FlG. 9, it is preferable that the closing member 27 and the mounting member 28 at the lower portions of opposite sides of the cabinet 20 are mounted on the pipe covers 21.

[85] FlG. 10 illustrates a front view of a state the refrigerant piping 53 is connected through the pipe cover 21 at a left side of a lower side of a drawing of the indoor unit of the present invention.

[86] Referring to FlG. 10, the heat exchanger 50 has a square shape like the cabinet 20, and may be mounted at a position suitable to connect the refrigerant piping 53 from the outdoor unit (not shown) thereto.

[87] That is, referring to FlG. 10, if the shortest distance to the refrigerant piping 53 is through the pipe cover 21 on a lower side of the cabinet 20, the heat exchanger 50 is mounted such that the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50 is directed to a direction the pipe cover 21 is mounted. Though not shown, if the shortest distance to the refrigerant piping 53 is through an upper side of the cabinet 20, the heat exchanger 50 is mounted such that the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50 is directed to a direction where the closing member 27 is at the upper portion of the cabinet 20.

[88] A process for connecting the refrigerant piping of the indoor unit of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[89] At first, the worker fixedly secure the indoor unit 100 on a wall of a room, separates the picture frame panel 40 from the cabinet 20 to expose the front panel 30 on a front of the indoor unit 100.

[90] Then, the refrigerant piping 53 connected to the outdoor unit (not shown) on an outside of the room is mounted on the wall of the room.

[91] Then, the worker separates the service cover 34 from the indoor unit 100 fixedly secured to the wall of the room, to expose the connection pipe 54 of the heat exchanger 50.

[92] Then, in order to connect the refrigerant piping 53 to the indoor unit 100, the worker slidably separates the mounting member 28 from the pipe cover 21, and cuts the bridges 29 with a tool, such as a cutter, to remove the closing member 27 to make a hole in the cabinet 20.

[93] Then, the refrigerant piping 53 is connected to the connection pipe 54 through the hole formed by removal of the closing member 27. Once the connection of the connection pipe 54 and the refrigerant piping 53 is finished, the worker inserts the inserting projection 31 of the mounting member 28 in the inserting groove 25 in the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21, to mount the mounting member 28 to the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21, preventing the hole of the closing member 27 from exposing to an outside of the hole.

[94] Thus, by connecting the refrigerant piping 53 and the connection pipe 54, and mounting the mounting member 28 to the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21 again, the exposure of the hole of the closing member 27 to the outside of the hole is prevented, not only making an exterior of the indoor unit elegant, but also preventing water or dust from infiltrating into an inside of the cabinet 20.

[95] FlG. 11 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at an upper portion of a right side of the cabinet 20.

[96] Referring to FlG. 11, comparing to the embodiment of FlG. 7, the embodiment is different in that the mounting member 128 has one side extended toward the closing member 27.

[97] The mounting member 128 includes a mounting portion 142 to be press fit in the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21, and an extension 143 extended toward the closing member 27.

[98] In the embodiment, if the mounting member 128 is mounted to the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21, the extension 143 is projected toward a back side of the closing member 27. Therefore, if the closing member 27 is removed, the extension 143 of the mounting member 128 closes a portion of the hole, to minimize the exposure of the inside of the cabinet 20 to an outside of the cabinet 20. If the extension 143 closes the portion of the hole, the extension 143 has a slot 144 at an end portion, for pass of the refrigerant piping 53. There is a step between the mounting portion 142 and the extension 143 for seating a side end of the closing member 27 thereon when the mounting member 128 is mounted. On the other hand, since a case an inserting projection 145 is formed on the mounting portion 142 for inserting in the inserting groove 25 of the cabinet 20 is similar to the embodiment of the FlG. 7, detailed description of which will be omitted.

[99] FlG. 12 illustrates an enlarged partial perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a closing member and a mounting member at one side of the cabinet.

[100] Referring to FlG. 12, the embodiment is different from the embodiments of FlG. 7 and FlG. 11 in that a mounting member 228 has one end portion 230 rotatably connected to the cabinet 20, and the other end portion 240 to be held at the cabinet 20.

[101] In detail, the one end portion 230 of the mounting member 228 is rotatably connected to the cabinet 20 with a joining portion 260, and the other end portion 240 thereof has a holding step 242. Since the joining portion 260 is formed connected to the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21 which is formed by injection molding, the joining portion 260 can be rotatably folded/unfolded in up/down directions according to a property of the material.

[102] In the meantime, the cabinet 20 has a holding recess 250 in conformity with the holding step 242. When the mounting member 228 rotates around the joining portion 260, the holding step 242 at the other end portion 240 is engaged with, and held at the holding recess 250 at the cabinet 20 or the pipe cover 21. Accordingly, if it is intended to connect the refrigerant piping 53, the mounting member 228 is turned downward, the closing member 27 is removed, and then the refrigerant piping 53 is connected. Moreover, if the connection of the refrigerant piping 53 is finished, the mounting member 228 is turned upward, to engage the holding step 242 with the holding recess 250 again, thereby minimizing the exposure of the hole to an outside of the hole.

[103] In the meantime, even though the foregoing embodiment suggests that the closing member and the mounting member are formed at one side of the cabinet if the guide portion is formed at the cabinet 20, the present invention is not limited to this, but the closing member and the mounting member may be formed at one side of the cabinet even if the guide portion is formed at the orifice.

[104] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[105] Since the industrial applicability of the present invention is described in the disclosure of the invention, thereby being omitted herein.

Claims

[ 1 ] An indoor unit of an air conditioner comprising : a fan; a cabinet having the fan mounted therein, an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit, and a guide portion for surrounding an one side of an outside circumferential surface of the fan; a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan; and air guides each in contact with, and supported on the guide portion for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet. [2] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outlets are at opposite sides of the cabinet, the guide portion is at a center of an upper portion of the cabinet, and the air guides are at opposite sides of the guide portion. [3] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cabinet has a first rib, and a second rib at a lower end of the first rib, both projected from the cabinet, and the air guide has one end portion in contact with, and supported on the guide portion, and an underside and the other end portion supported on the first rib, and the second rib, respectively. [4] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the air guides are placed in, and held in spaces between the guide portion and the first and second ribs, respectively. [5] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the air guides are formed of an elastic material and placed in, and elastically held in spaces between the guide portion and the first, and second ribs, respectively. [6] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet further includes projections for supporting the air guides. [7] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the air guides have recesses opposite to the projections, for receiving and supporting the projections, respectively. [8] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one closing member at sides of the cabinet, for removing from the cabinet to form a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping in a case the refrigerant piping to be connected to the heat exchanger is mounted. [9] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closing member is connected to the cabinet with bridges. [10] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one mounting member mounted to the cabinet for forming one side wall of the hole of the at least one closing member to open the hole along the side wall to an outside of the hole, selectively. [11] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting member is press fit in the cabinet. [12] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein one of the cabinet and the mounting member has an inserting projection formed thereon, and the other one thereof has an inserting groove in conformity with the inserting projection, for inserting the inserting projection in the inserting groove, to secure the mounting member, fixedly. [13] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the inserting projection and the inserting groove are extended in a direction the mounting member is to be inserted. [14] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting member is held at the cabinet. [15] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the mounting member has one end portion rotatably connected to the cabinet, one of the other end portion of the mounting member or the cabinet has a holding step, and the other one thereof has a holding recess in conformity with the holding step, so that the holding step is held at the holding recess. [16] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mounting member has an extension at one side portion for covering a portion of the hole of the closing member. [17] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the extension has an end portion having a slot for pass through of the refrigerant piping. [18] An indoor unit of an air conditioner comprising: a fan; an orifice having a guide portion surrounding an one side of an outside circumference of the fan, and projections spaced predetermined distances from the guide portion; a cabinet having the orifice and the fan mounted therein, and an outlet for discharging the air from the fan to an outside of the indoor unit; a heat exchanger in the cabinet for making heat exchange with the air from the fan; and air guides supported on the guide portion and the projections for guiding the air from the fan to the outlet. [19] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the outlets are at opposite sides of the cabinet, the guide portion is at a center of an upper portion of the orifice, and the air guides are at opposite sides of the guide portion. [20] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the air guides are formed of an elastic material. [21] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the air guides have recesses in conformity with the projections for placing the projections therein to support the air guides, respectively. [22] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 18, further comprising at least one closing member at sides of the cabinet, for removing from the cabinet to form a hole for pass through of the refrigerant piping in a case the refrigerant piping to be connected to the heat exchanger is mounted. [23] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein the closing member is connected to the cabinet with bridges. [24] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 22, further comprising at least one mounting member mounted to the cabinet for forming one side wall of the hole of the at least one closing member to open the hole along the side wall to an outside of the hole, selectively. [25] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mounting member is press fit in the cabinet. [26] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 25, wherein one of the cabinet and the mounting member has an inserting projection formed thereon, and the other one thereof has an inserting groove in conformity with the inserting projection, for inserting the inserting projection in the inserting groove, to secure the mounting member, fixedly. [27] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 26, wherein the inserting projection and the inserting groove are extended in a direction the mounting member is to be inserted. [28] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the mounting member is held at the cabinet. [29] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 28, wherein the mounting member has one end portion rotatably connected to the cabinet, one of the other end portion of the mounting member or the cabinet has a holding step, and the other one thereof has a holding recess in conformity with the holding step, so that the holding step is held at the holding recess. [30] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the mounting member has an extension at an end portion for covering a portion of the hole of the closing member. [31] The indoor unit as claimed in claim 30, wherein the extension has an end portion having a slot for pass through of the refrigerant piping.