WO2021215597A1

WO2021215597A1 - Air cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2021215597A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/013041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Changkyum Kim; Hyungho Park; Dongryul Park; Jieun CHOI
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2020-04-24
Filing date: 2020-09-25
Publication date: 2021-10-28
Also published as: KR20210131613A

Abstract

Disclosed is an air cleaner, more specifically, an air cleaner including a first blower disposed to suck air at a relatively low position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, a second blower disposed above the first blower in a vertical direction perpendicular to the ground to suck air at a relatively high position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, and a heat exchanger disposed in the first blower to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the first blower. The heat exchanger may include a plurality of heat dissipating fins extending in the vertical direction, a heat dissipating pipe extending through the plurality of heat dissipating fins, and a heat dissipating case disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins and the heat dissipating pipe.

Description

AIR CLEANER

The present invention relates to an air cleaner.

An air cleaner is understood as an apparatus that sucks contaminated air, filters the sucked contaminated air, and discharges the filtered air, and is formed to purify indoor spaces such as homes and offices. In general, the air cleaner includes a blower disposed to suck external air and discharge the sucked air, and a filter disposed in the blower to filter dust, bacteria, or the like in the air.

The air cleaner may further include a heater or a heat exchanger disposed in the air cleaner to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the blower. However, a conventional heat exchanger has a structure of extending in a horizontal direction parallel to the ground. Therefore, when the conventional heat exchanger is applied to an air cleaner having a cylindrical casing, there is a problem that heat exchange is performed only in one direction, and thus a heat exchange scheme is not efficient. In addition, because the conventional heat exchanger is formed by performing a manufacturing scheme such as welding only on a local portion, there is also a problem of lowering reliability resulted from impact and/or oxidation.

A prior art (Korean Patent Publication Application No. 10-2004-0012593, hereinafter referred to as prior art 1) discloses a heat dissipating body structure in which a linear sheath heater and a square-shaped heat dissipating fin are coupled to each other. However, when applying the heat dissipating body structure of the prior art 1 to the air cleaner having the cylindrical casing, apart from a fact that air of an increased temperature may be blown by the heat dissipating body structure, the problem that the heat exchange scheme for increasing the temperature of the air is not efficient is not solved.

Another prior art (Korean Patent Publication Application No. 10-2006-0405017, hereinafter referred to as prior art 2) discloses a heat dissipating body structure in which a linear sheath heater and a helical heat dissipating fin are coupled to each other. However, like the heat dissipating body structure of the prior art 1, when applying the heat dissipating body structure of the prior art 1 to the air cleaner having the cylindrical casing, the problem that the heat exchange scheme for increasing the temperature of the air is not efficient is still not solved.

One of various tasks of the present invention is to provide an air cleaner that includes a heat exchanger disposed to efficiently increase a temperature of filtered air.

An air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a blower disposed to suck external air, filter the sucked air, and then blow the filtered air, and a heat exchanger disposed in the blower to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the blower. The heat exchanger may include a heat dissipating pipe spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface of the blower and extending to have a concentric circular shape with the inner circumferential surface of the blower, and a plurality of heat dissipating fins penetrated by the heat dissipating pipe.

An air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a first blower disposed to suck air at a relatively low position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, a second blower disposed above the first blower in a vertical direction perpendicular to the ground to suck air at a relatively high position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, and a heat exchanger disposed in the first blower to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the first blower, wherein the heat exchanger may include a plurality of heat dissipating fins extending in the vertical direction, a heat dissipating pipe extending through the plurality of heat dissipating fins, and a heat dissipating case disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins and the heat dissipating pipe.

The first blower may include a first air guide apparatus disposed in the first blower for guiding the air filtered in the first blower to flow upward along the vertical direction, and the heat exchanger may be disposed on the first air guide apparatus.

An inner wall positioned at an inner side of the heat dissipating case and an outer wall positioned at an outer side of the heat dissipating case may have concentric circle shapes in the plan view.

The heat dissipating case may have a ring shape in which an empty space is provided as a whole.

The heat dissipating pipe may be disposed to be spaced apart from each of the inner wall and the outer wall of the heat dissipating case.

The heat dissipating pipe may have a circular shape in which a portion is removed in the plan view, and a coupling portion electrically connected to the heat dissipating case may be formed at each of both distal ends of the heat dissipating pipe.

The heat dissipating pipe and each of the heat dissipating fins may be in contact with each other.

Each of the heat dissipating fins may include a plurality of heat exchange panels in contact with a surface of the heat dissipating pipe, and a plurality of heat dissipating panels disposed to be in contact with the heat dissipating pipe and the plurality of heat exchange panels. Each of the plurality of heat dissipating panels may extend in the vertical direction.

The number of plurality of heat exchange panels may be equal to or greater than the number of plurality of heat dissipating panels.

The plurality of heat exchange panels may be disposed to partially surround the surface of the heat dissipating pipe.

The heat dissipating pipe may be composed of a first heat dissipating pipe disposed at an upper side and a second heat dissipating pipe disposed at a lower side, and the first heat dissipating pipe and the second heat dissipating pipe may be arranged along the vertical direction.

Each of the first heat dissipating pipe and the second heat dissipating pipe may extend through the plurality of heat dissipating fins.

Each of the plurality of heat dissipating fins may have a polygonal shape.

The first air guide apparatus may include an outer wall having a cylindrical shape and an inner wall positioned inward of the outer wall and having a cylindrical shape, and the outer wall of the first air guide apparatus may be disposed to surround the inner wall of the first air guide apparatus.

A lower portion of the heat exchanger may be interposed between the outer wall and the inner wall of the first air guide apparatus, and an upper portion of the heat exchanger may protrude upward from the first air guide apparatus along the vertical direction.

An air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a first blower disposed to suck air at a relatively low position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, a second blower disposed above the first blower in a vertical direction perpendicular to the ground to suck air at a relatively high position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, and a heat exchanger disposed in the first blower to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the first blower. The heat exchanger may include a heat dissipating pipe having a circular shape in which a portion is removed in the plan view.

The heat exchanger may further include a plurality of heat dissipating fins extending in the vertical direction, and a heat dissipating case disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins and the heat dissipating pipe. The heat dissipating pipe may extend through the plurality of heat dissipating fins.

A coupling portion electrically connected to the heat dissipating case may be formed at each of both distal ends of the heat dissipating pipe.

Each of the heat dissipating fins includes a plurality of heat exchange panels in contact with a surface of the heat dissipating pipe and a plurality of heat dissipating panels in contact with the heat dissipating pipe and the plurality of heat exchange panels, each of the plurality of heat dissipating panels extending in the vertical direction.

The air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include the blower disposed to suck external air, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, and the heat exchanger disposed in the blower to increase the temperature of the air discharged from the blower. The heat exchanger may include the plurality of heat dissipating fins extending in the vertical direction, the heat dissipating pipe extending through the plurality of heat dissipating fins, and the heat dissipating case disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins and the heat dissipating pipe.

In this connection, the blower may include the cylindrical casing. The heat dissipating case may have the ring shape having the empty space defined in the entirety of the heat dissipating case. The heat dissipating pipe may be accommodated in the empty space of the heat dissipating case and have the circular shape from which the portion is removed in the plan view.

Therefore, when the heat exchanger is applied to the air cleaner having the cylindrical casing, the heat exchange is performed in all directions, so that a heat exchange scheme may be efficiently performed. In addition, the heat dissipating pipe is formed to extend through the plurality of heat dissipating fins, so that a problem of lowering reliability resulted from impact and/or oxidation may be solved.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are figures for illustrating an air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are figures for illustrating an arrangement structure of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are figures for illustrating components of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A following detailed description is provided to aid in a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. However, this is only an example and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In describing the embodiments of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of the publicly known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary based on the intention, custom, or the like of users and operators. Therefore, the definition thereof should be made based on the contents throughout the present specification. The terms used in the detailed description are only intended to describe embodiments of the present invention and should not be limiting. A singular representation may include a plural representation unless it represents a definitely different meaning from the context. In the present description, terms such as "include" or "has" are intended to refer to certain features, numbers, steps, actions, elements, and some or combinations thereof, and should not be construed to exclude the presence or possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, elements, some or combinations thereof, other than those described.

In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment according to the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used. These terms are merely intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order or sequence of the components.

Hereinafter, a direction perpendicular to the ground will be defined as a vertical direction, a direction parallel to the ground and orthogonal to the vertical direction will be defined as a horizontal direction, and a direction of a virtual circle formed when rotating with the vertical direction as a center and the horizontal direction as a rotation radius will be defined as a circumferential direction.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are diagrams for illustrating an air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating an exterior of an air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view for illustrating components of an air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view for illustrating an internal configuration of an air cleaner according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Further, FIG. 4 is a perspective view for illustrating an arrangement structure of a first air guide apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an air cleaner 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include

blowers

10 and 20 that generate an air flow, and a flow converter 30 that changes a discharge direction of the air flow generated by the

blowers

10 and 20.

The

blowers

10 and 20 may include a first blower 10 for generating a first air flow and a second blower 20 for generating a second air flow.

The first blower 10 and the second blower 20 may be sequentially arranged along a vertical direction. In exemplary embodiments, the second blower 20 may be disposed above the first blower 10 in the vertical direction. In this case, the first air flow may form a flow that sucks indoor air existing on a lower side of the air cleaner 1, and the second air flow may form a flow that sucks indoor air existing on an upper side of the air cleaner 1. That is, the first blower 10 may be disposed to suck air in a relatively low position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air. The second blower 20 may be disposed to suck air in a relatively high position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air.

The air cleaner 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include

casings

100 and 200 forming an exterior of the air cleaner 1.

Specifically, the

casings

100 and 200 may include a first casing 100 for forming an exterior of the first blower 10.

The first casing 100 may have a cylindrical shape, and may be formed such that an upper portion of the first casing 100 has a smaller diameter than a lower portion of the first casing 100. That is, the first casing 100 may have a conical shape with a cut end.

The first casing 100 may include a first separable portion 101 disposed such that two portions constituting the first casing 100 are coupled to or separated from each other, and a first hinge portion (not shown) disposed opposite the first separable portion 101. The two portions may rotate relative to each other around the first hinge portion.

When at least one of the two portions rotates, the first casing 100 may be opened and separated from the air cleaner 1. A latch may be disposed at a portion where the two portions are coupled to each other, that is, on the opposite side of the hinge portion, and the latch may include a latching protrusion or a magnetic member. Internal parts of the first blower 10 may be replaced or repaired by opening the first casing 100.

A first suction portion 102 through which the air is sucked may be formed on the first casing 100, and the first suction portion 102 may include a through-hole that is defined by penetrating at least a portion of the first casing 100. A plurality of first suction portions 102 may be formed.

The plurality of first suction portions 102 may be formed evenly in a circumferential direction along an outer circumferential surface of the first casing 100 such that the air may be sucked from any direction of the first casing 100. Accordingly, the air may be sucked in 360-degree direction based on a center line of the vertical direction passing through an inner center of the first casing 100.

As such, the first casing 100 is formed in the cylindrical shape and the plurality of first suction portions 102 are formed along the outer circumferential surface of the first casing 100, so that an air suction amount of the first blower 10 may increase and a flow resistance of the air sucked into the first blower 10 may decrease.

The first blower 10 may further include a base 105 disposed below the first casing 100 and placed on the ground. The base 105 may be positioned to be spaced downward from a lower end of the first casing 100. A base suction portion 103 may be formed in a separation space between the first casing 101 and the base 105.

The air sucked through the base suction portion 103 may flow upward through a suction port 115 of a suction grill 110 (see FIG. 2) disposed on a top surface of the base 105.

That is, because the first blower 10 may include a plurality of suction portions 102 and 103, air existing in a lower portion of an indoor space may be easily introduced into the first blower 10 through the plurality of suction portions 102 and 103, thereby increasing the air suction amount of the first blower 10.

A first discharge portion 170 may be defined at an upper portion of the first blower 10. The first discharge portion 170 may be defined at a first discharge grill 165 of a first discharge guide apparatus 160 (see FIG. 2) included in the first blower 10. The first discharge guide apparatus 160 may form an exterior of an upper end of the first blower 10. Air discharged through the first discharge portion 170 may flow upward in an axial direction.

The

casings

100 and 200 may include a second casing 200 for forming an exterior of the second blower 20.

The second casing 200 may have a cylindrical shape, and may be formed such that an upper portion of the second casing 200 has a smaller diameter than a lower portion of the second casing 200. That is, the second casing 200 may have a conical shape with a cut end.

The second casing 200 may include two portions that may be separated from or coupled to each other through a second separable portion 201, and a second hinge portion (not shown) disposed opposite to the second separable portion 201. The second casing 200 may be formed to be open like the first casing 100. For a detailed description of the opening of the second casing 200, the description of the first casing 100 will be used. Internal parts of the second blower 20 may be replaced or repaired by opening the second casing 200.

A diameter of a lower end of the second casing 200 may be smaller than a diameter of an upper end of the first casing 100. Therefore, in terms of overall shapes of the

casings

100 and 200, lower cross-sectional areas of the

casings

100 and 200 may be larger than upper cross-sectional areas thereof, and thus, the air cleaner 1 may be stably supported on the ground.

A second suction portion 202 through which the air is sucked may be formed on the second casing 200, and the second suction portion 202 may include a through-hole that is defined by penetrating at least a portion of the second casing 200. A plurality of second suction portions 202 may be formed.

The plurality of second suction portions 202 may be formed evenly in the circumferential direction along an outer circumferential surface of the second casing 200 such that the air may be sucked from any direction of the second casing 200. Accordingly, the air may be sucked in 360-degree direction based on a center line of the vertical direction passing through an inner center of the second casing 200.

As such, the second casing 200 is formed in the cylindrical shape and the plurality of second suction portions 202 are formed along the outer circumferential surface of the second casing 200, so that an air suction amount of the second blower 20 may increase and a flow resistance of the air sucked into the second blower 20 may decrease.

The air cleaner 1 may further include a dividing apparatus 400 disposed between the first blower 10 and the second blower 20. The second blower 20 may be positioned to be upwardly spaced apart from the first blower 10 by the dividing apparatus 400.

The flow converter 30 may be installed on a top surface of the second blower 20. Based on the air flow, an air flow path of the second blower 20 may be in communication with an air flow path of the flow converter 30. The air passed through the second blower 20 may pass through the air flow path of the flow converter 30 and may be discharged to the outside through a second discharge portion 305. The second discharge portion 305 may be formed at an upper end of the flow converter 30.

The flow converter 30 may be movably disposed. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the flow converter 30 may be disposed in a lying state (at a first position). Although not shown, the flow converter 30 may be disposed in a slantly erected state (at a second position) or in a vertically erected state (at a third position).

A display 500 for displaying operation information of the air cleaner 1 may be disposed on a top surface of the flow converter 30. The display 500 may be controlled to be driven together with the flow converter 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a first blower 10 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a base 105 and a suction grill 110 disposed on the base 105.

The base 105 may include a base body placed on the ground and a base protrusion protruding upward from the base body to place the suction grill 110 thereon. Each base protrusion may be disposed on each of both sides of the base 105.

The base body and the suction grill 110 may be spaced apart from each other by the base protrusion. The base suction portion 103 for defining an air suction space may be formed between the base 105 and the suction grill 110.

The suction grill 110 may include an approximately ring-shaped grill body and a rim protruding upward from an outer circumferential surface of the grill body. The suction grill 110 may have a stepped shape by the grill body and the rim.

The suction grill 110 may include the suction portion 115 formed on the rim. The suction portion 115 may protrude upward along a circumference of the rim, and may extend in the circumferential direction. A plurality of suction holes may be defined in the suction portion 115, and the plurality of suction holes may be in communication with the base suction portion 103.

Air sucked through the plurality of suction holes and the base suction portion 103 may pass through a first filter member 120. The first filter member 120 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and may have a filter surface for filtering the air. The air passed through the plurality of suction holes may pass through an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical first filter member 120 and flow into the first filter member 120. The suction grill 110 may further include a movement guide for guiding a movement of the first filter member 120 in an upward or a downward direction.

In addition, the first blower 10 may further include a lever that is disposed above the suction grill 110 and is able to be manipulated by a user. The lever may be rotatable in the circumferential direction.

The first blower 10 may further include a first filter frame 125 for defining a mounting space for the first filter member 120, and the first filter frame 125 may include a dust sensor that senses an amount of dust in the air and/or a gas sensor that senses an amount of gas in the air. The first filter member 120 may be mounted to be detachable from the first filter frame 125.

The first filter member 120 may have the cylindrical shape, and the air may be introduced through the outer circumferential surface of the first filter member 120. In the process of passing through the first filter member 120, impurities such as fine dust in the air may be filtered.

Because the first filter member 120 has the cylindrical shape, the air may be introduced in any direction of the first filter member 120. Accordingly, a filtering area of the air may be increased.

The first filter frame 125 may be formed in a cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the first filter member 120. The first filter member 120 may be slidably inserted toward the first filter frame 125 during a mounting process. Conversely, the first filter member 120 may be slidably withdrawn from the first filter frame 125 during a separation process.

The first blower 10 may further include a first fan housing 130 installed at an outlet of the first filter member 120. The first fan housing 130 may be disposed to accommodate a first blowing fan 135 therein and may be supported by the first filter frame 125.

A first fan entrance 133 for guiding air inflow into the first fan housing 130 may be defined at a bottom of the first fan housing 130. A grill is disposed at the first fan entrance 133 to prevent the user from inserting a finger or the like into the first fan housing 130 when the first filter member 120 is separated.

The first blower 10 may further include an ionizer for removing odor particles in the air or sterilizing the air. The ionizer may be coupled to the first fan housing 130 to act on the air flowing in the first fan housing 130.

The dust sensor, the gas sensor, and the ionizer may be installed in the second blower 20, which will be described later, but the concept of the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. That is, the dust sensor, the gas sensor, and the ionizer may be installed only in one of the first blower 10 and the second blower 20.

The first blowing fan 135 may be disposed above the first fan entrance 133. In an embodiment, the first blowing fan 135 may include a centrifugal fan that introduces air in the axial direction and discharges the air upward in a radial direction.

Specifically, the first fan 135 may include a hub 136 to which a rotation shaft of a first fan motor 137, which is a centrifugal fan motor, is coupled, a shroud 137 disposed to be spaced apart from the hub 136, and a plurality of blades 138 arranged between the hub 136 and the shroud 137. The first fan motor 137 may be coupled at a position above the first blowing fan 135.

The air that has passed through the first filter member 120 may flow upward and flow into the first fan housing 130 through the first fan entrance 133. Thereafter, the air may flow in the axial direction of the first blowing fan 135 and be discharged upward.

The first blower 10 may further include a first air guide apparatus 140 coupled at a position above the first blowing fan 135 to guide the flow of the air that has passed through the first blowing fan 135.

The first air guide apparatus 140 may include an outer wall 141 having a cylindrical shape and an inner wall 142 positioned inward of the outer wall 171 and having a cylindrical shape. The outer wall 141 of the first air guide apparatus may be disposed to surround the inner wall 142 of the first air guide apparatus. A first air flow path 143 through which the air flows may be defined between an inner circumferential surface of the outer wall 141 of the first air guide apparatus and an outer circumferential surface of the inner wall 142 of the first air guide apparatus.

The first air guide apparatus 140 may include a guide rib 145 disposed in the first air flow path 143. The guide rib 145 may be disposed to extend from the outer circumferential surface of the inner wall 142 of the first air guide apparatus to the inner circumferential surface of the outer wall 141 of the first air guide apparatus. A plurality of guide ribs 145 may be formed and arranged to be spaced apart from each other. The plurality of guide ribs 145 may perform a function of guiding the air introduced into the first air flow path 143 through the first blowing fan 135 upward.

The first air guide apparatus 140 may further include a motor accommodating portion 144 extending downward from an inner wall of the first air guide apparatus 140 to accommodate the first fan motor 135 therein. The motor accommodating portion 144 may have a shape of a bowl whose diameter decreases downwards.

The first fan motor 137 may be supported on an upper side of the motor accommodating portion 144. The rotational shaft of the first fan motor 137 may extend downward from the first fan motor 137 and may be coupled through a bottom surface of the motor accommodating portion 144.

A motor coupling portion may be disposed on an upper side of the first fan motor 137, and the motor coupling portion may guide the first fan motor 137 to be fixed to the first air guide apparatus 140.

The first blower 10 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may further include a second air guide apparatus 150 that is coupled to a top surface of the first air guide apparatus 140 and guides the air that has passed through the first air guide apparatus 140 to the first discharge guide apparatus 160.

The second air guide apparatus 150 may include a first guide wall having an approximately cylindrical shape, and a second guide wall positioned inward of the first guide wall and having an approximately cylindrical shape. The first guide wall may be disposed to surround the second guide wall.

A second air flow path through which the air flows may be defined between an inner circumferential surface of the first guide wall and an outer circumferential surface of the second guide wall. The air flowing through the first air flow path of the first air guide apparatus 140 may flow upwards through the second air flow path. The first discharge portion 170 may be defined above the second air flow path.

A space in which at least a portion of a PCB device 450 is accommodated may be defined in the second air guide apparatus 150 by penetrating the second air guide apparatus 150 in the vertical direction. The PCB device may include a power supply 480 and a main PCB 455.

The power supply may be a device that receives commercial power supplied from a power line connected to the air cleaner 1 and supplies the power to a main PCB 455 and a plurality of components in the air cleaner 1. In an embodiment, the power supply may include a PCB for AC power (a power PCB). The main PCB 455 may include a PCB for DC power that is driven by a DC voltage converted by the PCB for the AC power.

The PCB device 450 may further include a PCB support plate 470 for supporting the power supply 480 and the main PCB 455. The main PCB 455 may be supported on one surface of the PCB support plate 470, and the power supply 480 may be supported on the other surface of the PCB support plate 470.

The PCB device 450 may further include a communication module 460 through which the air cleaner 1 is able to communicate with an external device. In an embodiment, the communication module 460 may include a WiFi module. The communication module 460 may be supported on the PCB support plate 470 and may be disposed below the main PCB 455.

The first blower 10 may further include the first discharge guide apparatus 160 disposed on a top surface of the second air guide apparatus 150, that is, on an outlet of the air flow passing through the second air guide apparatus 150 based on the air flow path, and guiding the air discharge to the outside of the air cleaner 1.

The first discharge guide apparatus 160 may include a first discharge body 163 of an annular shape formed by penetrating an approximately central portion of the first discharge guide apparatus 160 in the vertical direction. At least a portion of the PCB device 450 may be accommodated in the first discharge body 163.

The first discharge guide apparatus 160 may include the first discharge grill 165. The first discharge grill 165 may extend radially outward from an inner circumferential surface of the first discharge guide apparatus 160 toward an outer circumferential surface thereof.

A plurality of first discharge grills 165 may arranged. The first discharge portion 170 through which the air may be discharged to the outside may be defined between the plurality of first discharge grills 165. The plurality of first discharge grills 165 may be arranged above the second air flow path. The air that has passed through the second air flow path may flow toward each first discharge grill 165 and be discharged through the first discharge portion 170.

The second blower 20 may further include a second filter member 220 of the second blower 20 or a lever support 210 for supporting the lever. The lever support 210 may have an approximately annular shape.

The dividing apparatus 400 may be disposed between the first blower 10 and the second blower 20. The dividing apparatus 400 may include a dividing plate 410 for separating or blocking the air flow generated by the first blower 10 and the air flow generated by the second blower 20. Accordingly, the first blower 10 and the second blower 20 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction by the dividing plate 410. That is, a separation space in which the dividing plate 410 is located may be defined between the first blower 10 and the second blower 20. The first discharge guide apparatus 160 of the first blower 10 may be located at a lower end of the separation space, and the lever support 210 of the second blower 20 may be located at an upper end of the separation space.

The separation space may be divided into an upper space and a lower space by the dividing plate 410. The lower space may be understood as a first space through which the air discharged from the first discharge portion 170 of the first discharge guide apparatus 160 passes in the process of flowing to the outside of the air cleaner 1. Further, the upper space may be understood as a second space as a gripping space into which the user may put a hand when moving the air cleaner 1.

The air discharged from the first discharge portion 170 may be guided by the dividing plate 410 to flow to the outside of the air cleaner 1, and may be prevented from flowing into the second blower 20.

A display 460 for displaying information associated with an operation of the air cleaner 1 may be installed on the dividing plate 410. In an embodiment, the information may include information on an air pollution degree or an air cleanliness degree.

The second blower 20 may include a second filter member 220, a second filter frame 225, a second fan housing 230, a second fan 235, and a second fan motor 237. These components are substantially the same as or similar to the first filter member 120, the first filter frame 125, the first fan housing 130, the first fan 135, and the first fan motor 137 arranged in the first blower 10, respectively, so that description of these components uses the description of the first blower 10.

The second blower 20 may further include a third air guide apparatus 240 coupled at a position above the second fan 235 to guide the flow of the air that has passed through the second fan 235. The third air guide apparatus 240 may include a guide apparatus for guiding the movement of the flow converter 30. The third air guide apparatus 240 is substantially the same as or similar to the first air guide apparatus 140 except for the guide apparatus, so that description of the third air guide apparatus 240 uses the description of the first air guide apparatus 140.

The second blower 20 may further include a second discharge guide apparatus 250 installed on a top surface of the third air guide apparatus 240 and guiding the flow of the air that has passed through the third air guide apparatus 240. The flow converter 30 may be movably disposed on a top surface of the second discharge guide apparatus 250.

The flow converter 30 may include a third fan 335. The third fan 335 may guide the air that has passed through the third air guide apparatus 240 to be discharged to the outside of the air cleaner 1. A third fan motor 337 may be coupled to the third fan 335.

The third fan 335 may be formed as an axial-flow fan. Accordingly, the third fan 335 may be operated to discharge the air introduced in the axial direction through the third air guide apparatus 240 in the axial direction. The air that has passed through the third fan 335 may be discharged to the outside through the second discharge portion 305 located above the third fan 335.

Because the air cleaner 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include the second discharge portion 305 together with the first discharge portion 170 of the first blower 10, a discharged air volume may be improved and air may be discharged in various directions.

The display 500 for displaying the operation information of the air cleaner 1 may be disposed on a top surface of the air cleaner 1. The display 500 may include a display PCB 505. The display PCB 505 may be installed in a space between the top surface of the air cleaner 1 and the third fan 335.

The first fan motor 137 and the second fan motor 237 may be arranged in a line based on the vertical direction of the air cleaner 1, and the second fan motor 237 and the third fan motor 337 may also be arranged in a line based on the vertical direction of the air cleaner 1.

Although not shown, a rotation guide apparatus for guiding a rotation of the flow converter 30 in a left and right direction and a rotation in the vertical direction may be disposed below the flow converter 30. The flow converter 30 may be disposed in the lying state (the first position), the slantly erected state (the second position), or the vertically erected state (the third position) based on an operation of the rotation guide apparatus.

The amount of air discharged from the air cleaner 1 may be increased and purified air may be supplied to a position far from the air cleaner 1 by the flow converter 30.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for illustrating an arrangement structure of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 5 is a plan view for illustrating an arrangement structure of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for illustrating an arrangement structure of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the air cleaner 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include a heat exchanger 180 disposed in the first blower 10 to increase a temperature of air discharged from the first blower 10. The heat exchanger 180 may be disposed on the first air guide apparatus 140.

The heat exchanger 180 may include a plurality of heat dissipating fins 185 extending in the vertical direction, a heat dissipating pipe 183 extending by passing through the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185, and a heat dissipating case 181 disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185 and the heat dissipating pipe 183. The heat dissipating pipe 183 and the heat dissipating fins 185 may be arranged to be in contact with each other.

The heat dissipating case 181 may contain, for example, a metal such as sheet metal (SUS) and a silicate mineral such as mica, and the heat dissipating fin 185 may contain a material, such as copper, having high thermal conductivity. The heat dissipating pipe 183 may include a coil-shaped electrothermal wire disposed to be heated at a high temperature by dissipating heat by current, and may further contain an insulating powder such as magnesium oxide (MgO).

According to exemplary embodiments, an inner wall positioned at an inner side of the heat dissipating case 181 and an outer wall positioned at an outer side of the heat dissipating case 181 may have concentric circle shapes in the plan view. In an embodiment, the heat dissipating case 181 may have a ring shape in which an empty space is provided as a whole 181.

The heat dissipating pipe 183 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each of the inner wall and the outer wall of the heat dissipating case 181. In an embodiment, the heat dissipating pipe 183 may have a circular shape from which a portion is removed in the plan view.

Each first coupling portion 187 electrically connected to the heat dissipating case 181 may be formed at each of both distal ends of the heat dissipating pipe 183. Further, a second coupling portion 189 electrically connected to the first coupling portions 187 may be formed at a portion of the heat dissipating case 181. Each first coupling portion 187 may include each first distal end coupling portion 187a disposed to be adjacent to each of the both distal ends of the heat dissipating pipe 183, and each second end coupling portion 187b protruding from each first distal end coupling portion 187a to be in contact with the second coupling portion 189. The first distal end coupling portion 187a may be formed in a mixed structure in which an electric wire and a sheath surrounding the electric wire are sequentially formed, and the second distal end coupling portion 187b may be formed in a single structure composed only of the electric wire.

According to exemplary embodiments, the first air guide apparatus 140 may include an outer wall having a cylindrical shape and an inner wall located inward of the outer wall and having a cylindrical shape. The outer wall of the first air guide apparatus 140 may be disposed to surround the inner wall of the first air guide apparatus 140. In this connection, a lower portion of the heat exchanger 180 may be interposed between the outer wall and the inner wall of the first air guide apparatus 140, and an upper portion of the heat exchanger 180 may protrude upward from the first air guide apparatus 140 along the vertical direction.

According to exemplary embodiments, each of the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185 may have a polygonal shape. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185 may have a rectangular shape.

In one example, FIGS. 5 to 8 show only that the heat exchanger 180 is formed in the first blower 10 and do not show that the heat exchanger 180 is formed in the second blower 20. However, a concept of the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. That is, the heat exchanger 180 may be formed in the second blower 20. In this case, a heat exchanger formed in the first blower 10 may be referred to as a first heat exchanger and a heat exchanger formed in the second blower 20 may be referred to as a second heat exchanger. However, for smooth description of the present specification, it is assumed that the heat exchanger 180 is formed only in the first blower 10.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams for illustrating components of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 7 is a perspective view for illustrating components of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view for illustrating components of a heat exchanger according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the heat dissipating pipe 183 may include a first heat dissipating pipe 183a disposed at an upper side and a second heat dissipating pipe 183b disposed at a lower side, and the first heat dissipating pipe 183a and the second heat dissipating pipe 183b may be arranged along the vertical direction.

Each of the first heat dissipating pipe 183a and the second heat dissipating pipe 183b may extend by passing through the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185. That is, the first heat dissipating pipe 183a and the second heat dissipating pipe 183b may extend by simultaneously passing through one heat dissipating fin 185 among the plurality of heat dissipating fins, and may extend by passing through all of the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185.

FIG. 7 illustrates that the heat dissipating pipe 183 is composed of the two

heat dissipating pipes

183a and 183b, but the concept of the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. The heat dissipating pipe 183 may be composed of three or more heat dissipating pipes. Alternatively, the heat dissipating pipe 183 may be composed of one heat dissipating pipe.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the heat dissipating pipe 183 is composed of the two

heat dissipating pipes

183a and 183b, each first coupling portion 187 may also be composed of two

first coupling portions

187a and 187b. That is, each first coupling portion 187 may include a first upper coupling portion 187 disposed at an upper side and a first lower coupling portion 188 disposed at a lower side. Further, the first upper coupling portion 187 and the first lower coupling portion 188 may be arranged along the vertical direction to be respectively coupled to the first heat dissipating pipe 183a and the second heat dissipating pipe 183b. The first upper coupling portion 187 may include a first upper distal end coupling portion 187a and a second upper distal end coupling portion 187b protruding from the first upper distal end coupling portion 187a. In addition, the first lower coupling portion 188 may include a first lower distal end coupling portion 188a and a second lower distal end coupling portion 188b protruding from the first lower distal end coupling portion 188a.

Although not shown, a second upper coupling portion and a second lower coupling portion may be formed at a portion of the heat dissipating case 181 corresponding to positions of the first upper coupling portion 187 and the first lower coupling portion 188. Further, the first upper coupling portion 187 and the first lower coupling portion 188 may be electrically connected to the second upper coupling portion and the second lower coupling portion, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 8, each of the heat dissipating fins 185 may include each pair of a plurality of

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b arranged to be in contact with a surface of the heat dissipating pipe 183, and a plurality of heat dissipating panels 185c disposed to be in contact with the heat dissipating pipe 183 and each pair of the plurality of

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b and extending in the vertical direction. Each pair of the plurality of

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b may partially surround the surface of the heat dissipating pipe 183. According to exemplary embodiments, each pair of the plurality of

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b may have a ring shape, and each of the plurality of heat dissipating panels 185c may have a polygonal shape. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of heat dissipating panels 185c may have a rectangular shape.

According to exemplary embodiments, the number of plurality of

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b may be greater than the number of plurality of heat dissipating panels 185c. Specifically, when the heat dissipating pipe 183 is composed of the first heat dissipating pipe 183a and the second heat dissipating pipe 183b sequentially arranged along the vertical direction, the

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b may also be composed of a first heat exchange panel 185a and a second heat exchange panel 185b sequentially arranged along the vertical direction, and the first heat exchange panel 185a and the second heat exchange panel 185b may be arranged to be respectively in contact with the first heat dissipating pipe 183a and the second heat dissipating pipe 183b. Therefore, because one heat dissipating fin 185 may include one heat dissipating panel 185c and two

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b, the total number of

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b may be greater than the total number of heat dissipating panels 185c.

Otherwise, the number of plurality of

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b may be the same as the number of the plurality of heat dissipating panels 185c. Specifically, when the heat dissipating pipe 183 is composed of one heat dissipating pipe, the

heat exchange panels

185a and 185b may also be composed of one heat exchange panel, and the one heat exchange panel may be disposed to be in contact with the one heat dissipating pipe. Therefore, because the one heat dissipating fin 185 may include the one heat dissipating panel 185c and the one heat exchange panel, the total number of heat exchange panels may be the same as the total number of heat dissipating panels 185c.

As described above, the air cleaner 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may include the

blower

10 or 20 arranged to suck external air, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air, and the heat exchanger 180 disposed in the

blower

10 or 20 to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the

blower

10 or 20. In addition, the heat exchanger 180 may include the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185 extending in the vertical direction, the heat dissipating pipe 183 extending by passing through the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185, and the heat dissipating case 181 disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185 and the heat dissipating pipe 183.

In this connection, the

blowers

10 and 20 may respectively include the

cylindrical casings

100 and 200. The heat dissipating case 181 may have the ring shape having the empty space defined in the entirety of the heat dissipating case 181. The heat dissipating pipe 183 may be accommodated in the empty space of the heat dissipating case 181 and have the circular shape from which the portion is removed in the plan view.

Therefore, when the heat exchanger 180 is applied to the air cleaner 1 having the

cylindrical casings

100 and 200, the heat exchange is performed in all directions, so that a heat exchange scheme may be efficiently performed. In addition, the heat dissipating pipe 183 is formed to extend by passing through the plurality of heat dissipating fins 185, so that a problem of lowering reliability resulted from impact and/or oxidation may be solved.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that various modifications are possible with respect to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined not only by the claims to be described later, but also by the equivalents thereof.

Claims

An air cleaner comprising:

a first blower disposed to suck air at a relatively low position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air;

a second blower disposed above the first blower in a vertical direction perpendicular to the ground to suck air at a relatively high position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air; and

a heat exchanger disposed in the first blower to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the first blower,

wherein the heat exchanger includes:

a plurality of heat dissipating fins extending in the vertical direction;

a heat dissipating pipe extending through the plurality of heat dissipating fins; and

a heat dissipating case disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins and the heat dissipating pipe.
The air cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first blower includes a first air guide apparatus disposed in the first blower for guiding the air filtered in the first blower to flow upward along the vertical direction, and

wherein the heat exchanger is disposed on the first air guide apparatus.
The air cleaner of claim 1, wherein an inner wall positioned at an inner side of the heat dissipating case and an outer wall positioned at an outer side of the heat dissipating case have concentric circle shapes in the plan view.
The air cleaner of claim 3, wherein the heat dissipating case has a ring shape in which an empty space is provided as a whole.
The air cleaner of claim 3, wherein the heat dissipating pipe is disposed to be spaced apart from each of the inner wall and the outer wall of the heat dissipating case.
The air cleaner of claim 5, wherein the heat dissipating pipe has a circular shape in which a portion is removed in the plan view, and

wherein a coupling portion electrically connected to the heat dissipating case is formed at each of both distal ends of the heat dissipating pipe.
The air cleaner of claim 5, wherein the heat dissipating pipe and each of the heat dissipating fins are in contact with each other.
The air cleaner of claim 7, wherein each of the heat dissipating fins includes:

a plurality of heat exchange panels in contact with a surface of the heat dissipating pipe; and

a plurality of heat dissipating panels in contact with the heat dissipating pipe and the plurality of heat exchange panels, each of the plurality of heat dissipating panels extending in the vertical direction.
The air cleaner of claim 8, wherein the number of plurality of heat exchange panels are equal to or greater than the number of plurality of heat dissipating panels.
The air cleaner of claim 9, wherein the plurality of heat exchange panels is disposed to partially surround the surface of the heat dissipating pipe.
The air cleaner of claim 5, wherein the heat dissipating pipe is composed of a first heat dissipating pipe disposed at an upper side and a second heat dissipating pipe disposed at a lower side, and

wherein the first heat dissipating pipe and the second heat dissipating pipe are arranged along the vertical direction.
The air cleaner of claim 9, wherein each of the first heat dissipating pipe and the second heat dissipating pipe extends through the plurality of heat dissipating fins.
The air cleaner of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of heat dissipating fins has a polygonal shape.
The air cleaner of claim 2, wherein the first air guide apparatus includes an outer wall having a cylindrical shape and an inner wall positioned inward of the outer wall and having a cylindrical shape, and

wherein the outer wall of the first air guide apparatus is disposed to surround the inner wall of the first air guide apparatus.
The air cleaner of claim 14, wherein a lower portion of the heat exchanger is interposed between the outer wall and the inner wall of the first air guide apparatus, and

wherein an upper portion of the heat exchanger protrudes upward from the first air guide apparatus along the vertical direction.
An air cleaner comprising:

a first blower disposed to suck air at a relatively low position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air;

a second blower disposed above the first blower in a vertical direction perpendicular to the ground to suck air at a relatively high position, filter the sucked air, and blow the filtered air; and

a heat exchanger disposed in the first blower to increase a temperature of the air discharged from the first blower,

wherein the heat exchanger includes a heat dissipating pipe having a circular shape in which a portion is removed in the plan view.
The air cleaner of claim 16, wherein the heat exchanger further includes a plurality of heat dissipating fins extending in the vertical direction, and a heat dissipating case disposed to surround the plurality of heat dissipating fins and the heat dissipating pipe, and

wherein the heat dissipating pipe extends through the plurality of heat dissipating fins.
The air cleaner of claim 17, wherein a coupling portion electrically connected to the heat dissipating case is formed at each of both distal ends of the heat dissipating pipe.
The air cleaner of claim 18, wherein each of the heat dissipating fins includes:

a plurality of heat exchange panels in contact with a surface of the heat dissipating pipe; and

a plurality of heat dissipating panels in contact with the heat dissipating pipe and the plurality of heat exchange panels, each of the plurality of heat dissipating panels extending in the vertical direction.
The air cleaner of claim 19, wherein the number of plurality of heat exchange panels are equal to or greater than the number of plurality of heat dissipating panels.