U.S. patent application number 09/924311 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-27 for reinforced structure of front lower panel for a package air conditioner and method of making the same.
Invention is credited to Kim, Jung-suk.
Application Number | 20020078703 09/924311 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19686841 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020078703 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Jung-suk |
June 27, 2002 |
Reinforced structure of front lower panel for a package air
conditioner and method of making the same
Abstract
A reinforced structure of the front lower panel for a package
air conditioner may comprise a front lower panel, which is mounted
on the front lower portion of the indoor unit of the air
conditioner having a blower device for air circulation, evaporator
coils for heat exchange, permitting the air inside the interior
space to flow into the indoor unit for passing across the
evaporator coils through the air inlets 12 and 12', and includes
the reinforcement means formed on the inner corner portion between
a front frame 11a and a side portion of the frame 11a having air
guides 20 of the front lower panel 11, to strengthen the structural
rigidity of the frames.
Inventors: |
Kim, Jung-suk; (Suwon-shi,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John P. White
Cooper & Dunham LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
19686841 |
Appl. No.: |
09/924311 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/298 ;
312/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0073 20190201;
F24F 13/20 20130101; F24F 1/005 20190201 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/298 ;
312/236 |
International
Class: |
A47F 003/04; A47B
077/08; F25D 019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 1, 2000 |
KR |
2000-51656 |
Claims
What has been claimed:
1. A reinforced structure of front lower panel for a package air
conditioner comprises of: a blower device for air circulation;
evaporator coils for heat exchange; and the front lower panel,
which is placed on the front and lower portion of a indoor unit,
having air inlets on the front lower portion and both sides,
permitting the air inside the interior space to flow into the
indoor unit for passing across the evaporator coils through the air
inlets, and including the reinforcement means formed on the inner
corner portion between a front frame and a side portion of the
frame having air guides of front lower panel, to strengthen the
structural rigidity of the mentioned frames.
2. The reinforced structure of claim 1, wherein said reinforce
means are at least two of the reinforcement ribs provided on said
front lower panel with longitudinal extended direction of the panel
body.
3. A method for making the reinforced structure of the front lower
panel for the package air conditioner comprising of: forming the
outward form of the front lower panel having air guides by an
injection mold; installing gas channels on the inner corner portion
between the front frame 11a and the side portion 11c of the frame
11a of the front lower panel, and the air guides; injecting resins
with a pressurized inert gas into the empty mold cavity of the gas
channels; and forming the reinforcement means having a hollow on
front lower panel as one body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (1) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a front lower panel of an
indoor unit for a package air conditioner, and more specifically to
a reinforced structure of front lower panel for a package air
conditioner having enhanced structural endurance and improvement in
the appearance with the rib structure, which is molded by
gas-assisted injection molding for reinforcing an air inlet
portion, and the method of making the same.
[0003] (2) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Generally, in the gas-assisted injection molding process,
pressurized inert gases (nitrogen) introduce into the melt stream
of a part. This special injection molding method is becoming more
popular in the injection molding industry due to more complex
parts.
[0005] In general, the air conditioner properly maintains the
temperature of indoor spaces such as the office, living room, or
the inside of building, for activity by supplying the cool air into
the airtight indoor spaces, having the air conditioning as the
basic function.
[0006] This air conditioner is consisted of the an indoor and
outdoor unit, the case of being composed of one body is called one
body type air conditioner, and the case of being composed
separately is called a separate type air conditioner. The
representative example of that is the window type air conditioner,
and the ones of this are the tapestry type air conditioner and the
package type air conditioner. This invention explains the package
air conditioner used much recently among the air conditioners
classified as above.
[0007] The package air conditioner is consisted of the indoor unit
and the outdoor unit, and the heat exchanger (evaporator) is
installed in that as the indoor unit, the indoor air imbibed by the
blower is cooled by passing through this heat exchanger and is
discharged again into the indoor space making the indoor air
conditioning. In this outdoor unit, compressor and condenser are
installed, the compressor plays the role of compressing the
refrigerant flown from the heat exchanger of indoor unit, and the
condenser plays the role of condensing the refrigerant flown from
the compressor through the heat exchange with the environmental air
imbibed by a fan and plays the role of sending this to the heat
exchanger of the indoor unit.
[0008] FIG. 1 shows the indoor unit 1 of the package air
conditioner by the prior art.
[0009] With reference to the FIG. 1, the heat exchanger is
installed in the indoor unit 1, so with the process of refrigerant
flown from the condenser of the outdoor unit (not shown) passing
through the heat exchanger, the indoor air imbibed by the blower is
cooled frosty in the process of passing through the heat exchanger,
and is supplied indoors to make air cooling.
[0010] The refrigerant heat-exchanged with the indoor air passing
through the heat exchanger is supplied to the compressor of the
outdoor unit again, compressed, and then supplied to the condenser
of the outdoor unit.
[0011] On the front lower panel 1a placed on the front lower
portion of the indoor unit 1, a plurality of air inlet ports 2 to
imbibe the indoor air is provided, and the upper portion of the
indoor unit 1 is provided with an outlet vent 3 to discharge the
cooled air through the indoor heat exchanger indoors again. On the
outlet vent 3 of the indoor unit 1, a plurality of blades 5 is
installed to change the wind direction of the air discharged
indoors. In general, these blades 5 have a structure possible of
alternating motion vertically and side ways change the wind
direction. Approximately on the middle part of the indoor unit, the
control panel 4 is provided to control the entire operating
condition or to set up the air-cooling temperature.
[0012] In case of the indoor unit 1 of the conventional package air
conditioner with this structure, a plurality of air inlet ports 2
is provided on the front side of the front lower panel to imbibe
the indoor air, so the external appearance becomes
unattractive.
[0013] Besides, the indoor unit described above has a weak
structure because of the plurality of the air inlets inhaling the
air on the front lower panel 1a. Therefore, the front lower panel
may be fractured by a user who disassembles it repeatedly for
cleaning the interior of the indoor unit and the air filter.
[0014] In addition, the front lower panel has considerable problems
for making the reinforced structure by gas-assisted injection
molding, because the inside of the front lower panel has
complicated interior shape and sophisticated frame elements, e.g.,
a plurality of projection portion and a mount portion for fixing
the air filter or air purifiers, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] It is an object of this invention to provide a reinforced
structure of front lower panel for a package air conditioner
provided with the reinforcement means to strengthen the frames of
the front lower panel having the air inlets on both sides and the
front side.
[0016] It is another object of this invention to provide a method
of making a reinforced structure of front lower panel for a package
air conditioner by the gas-assisted injection molding process
capable of achieving the reinforced frame of the front lower
panel.
[0017] In accordance with this present invention a reinforced
structure of front lower panel for a package air conditioner
comprising of: a blower device for air circulation; evaporator
coils for heat exchange; and the front lower panel, which is placed
on the front and lower portion of a indoor unit, having air inlets
on the front lower portion and both sides, permitting the air
inside the interior space to flow into the indoor unit for passing
across the evaporator coils through the air inlets, and including
the reinforce means formed on the inner corner portion between a
front frame and a side portion of the frame having air guides of
mentioned front lower panel, to strengthen the structural rigidity
of the frames.
[0018] Further, in accordance with this present invention a method
for making the reinforced structure of the front lower panel for
the package air conditioner comprising of: forming the outward form
of the front lower panel consisting of air guides by an injection
mold; installing gas channels on the inner corner portion between
the front frame 11a and the side portion 11c of the frame 11a of
said front lower panel, and the air guides; injecting resins with a
pressurized inert gas into the empty mold cavity of the gas
channels; and forming the reinforcement means having a hollow on
the mentioned front lower panel as one body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] Other objects and aspects of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of embodiments with
reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view showing the prior art
indoor unit of the package air conditioner;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective front view showing the construction
of a indoor unit of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view showing the front lower
panel of the indoor unit shown in FIG. 2; and
[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the line A-A in FIG.
3, partially omitted, showing the reinforced structure of the front
lower panel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] FIG. 2 shows an indoor unit of an air conditioner in
accordance with the present invention.
[0025] An indoor unit 10 according to the present invention is
provided with a front lower panel 11, a control panel 14 and an
automatic covering outlet panel 13 mounted on the front of the unit
body.
[0026] The front lower panel 11, which consists of a front frame
11a, a plate 11b and a side portion 11c of the frame 11a having
both sides and the bottom side, has air inlet ports 12 and 12' on
the front and both sides of panel body for the air flow P1 and P2
(shown in FIG. 4). The outlet panel 13 has a plurality of blades 15
installed possible to move vertically and horizontally to modulate
the wind direction though not shown in detail.
[0027] The plate 11b of the front lower panel 11 is inclined based
on the center of upper portion, so that the bottom portion of the
plate 11b is relatively protruded to provide the first air inlet
port 12. This is the unique design that the plate 11b has a shield
shaped outlook. In accordance with the present invention, there is
an advantage in that the front lower panel 11 of the preferred
embodiment relatively more fascinated than the prior art front
lower panel (1a of FIG. 1), and results an increasing of the
relative endurance on all frames.
[0028] Further, the first air inlet port 12 has the gap between
three sides of the plate 11b, i.e., one lower side and two sides,
and the inner sides of the front frame 11a, so that the air inside
the interior space could be effectively communicated to the
evaporator coils (not shown) in the indoor unit 10 through the
first air inlet port 12 making the air flow evenly.
[0029] In other words, the indoor unit 10 of the present invention
makes the air inside interior space being communicated through the
first air inlet port 12 having three sides of the gap, in
comparison to the structure, while the air inside the interior
space is communicated through the front side of the front lower
panel of the prior art indoor unit. This induces the unified air
flown and decentralized supply of the air.
[0030] Accordingly, the indoor unit 10 could have higher thermal
agitation efficiency than the prior art indoor unit, and entirely
improved cooling performance.
[0031] The side portion 11c of the frame 11a of the front lower
panel 11, however, has structural weak endurance and concerns on
modification or breakage because of a smaller width in comparison
to the width of the front frame 11a, and being provided with a
plurality of the second air inlet ports 12'.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first reinforcement rib
30 shaped of a triangular and hollow prism, which is provided on
the inner corner portion between the front frame 11a and the side
portion 11c of the frame 11a as one body, stands vertical to a
plurality of air guides 20. In other words, the first reinforce rib
30 is extended with the longitudinal direction of the front lower
panel 11.
[0033] Herein, it is obvious that the first reinforce rib 30, which
is formed between the front frame 11a and the side portion 11c of
the frame 11a, defines as the reinforcement is meant to support the
bending forth in the bending portion as well as to strengthen
structural rigidity of the frame 11a.
[0034] Besides, the second reinforce rib 40, which has the similar
shape of the first reinforce rib 30, is longitudinally provided on
the air guides 20.
[0035] Herein, the air guides 20 are provided on the inner portion
of the second air inlet ports 12' and arranged at regular
intervals. Further, the air guides 20 has the mount portion 21,
which is provided with a bolt hole for fixing the mount frame of an
air purifier and its supporter, for example, an air filter, a
bundle of its electric wires, etc., at the lateral surface.
Moreover, the upper portion of each air guides 20 is extended from
the portion closed on the edge of the side portion 11c of the frame
11a to the other portion closed on the edge of the side portion 11c
thereof with the same direction of the second air inlet ports 12'
which is inclined to the front frame 11a. Furthermore, the bottom
portion of each air guides 20 stands vertical to the inner surface
of the front frame 11a.
[0036] Accordingly, all of the air guides 20 are supported
laterally by the front frame 11a and the side portion 11c of the
frame 11a, and are reinforced longitudinally by the second
reinforcement rib 40.
[0037] It is also obvious that the second reinforcement rib 40
defines as to strengthen structural rigidity of the all of air
guides 20.
[0038] Besides, the first and the second reinforce rib 30 and 40
has the hollow 31, 41 (shown in FIG. 4), which are made by the
gas-assisted injection molding process and used by gas
channels.
[0039] The following will explain the method for making the
reinforced structure of the front lower panel for the package air
conditioner by the gas-assisted injection molding process.
[0040] It is the initial phase that the outward form of the front
lower panel 11 having the air guides 20 is formed by an injection
mold (not shown) in the injection molding process.
[0041] In phase two, the gas channels, which are extended with the
longitudinal direction of the front lower panel 11, are installed
on the inner corner portion between the front frame 11a and the
side portion 11c of the frame 11a.
[0042] In phase three, resins with the pressurized inert gas is
injected into the empty mold cavity of the gas channels, for
example, nitrogen gas in kind of general gas-assisted injection
mold process.
[0043] Finally, the first reinforcement rib 30 having the hollow 31
is formed on the front lower panel 11 as one body.
[0044] The second reinforcement rib 40 is also formed below the
portion of the mount portion 21 of the air guides 20 in the same
manner as the above method for making the reinforcement rib 30.
[0045] As a result, the reinforced structure of the front lower
panel for the package air conditioner in accordance with the
present invention, could be capable of maintaining the structural
stability and improving the reliability of products by the first
and the second reinforcement rib, even if the exterior impact
inflicts the panel body repeatedly, as the front lower panel, which
is reinforced.
[0046] Further, the method for making the reinforced structure of
the front lower panel for the package air conditioner, by using the
gas-assisted injection molding process, is easy to make the front
lower panel with the first and the second reinforcement rib close
to the first and the second air inlet. Therefore, the invention in
its broader aspect is not limited to the specific details and
representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly,
various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
of scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *