U.S. patent application number 11/415145 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for air conditioner.
Invention is credited to Jae Oh Han, Jai Kwon Lee, Jin Yong Mo.
Application Number | 20070074526 11/415145 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37900643 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070074526 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Han; Jae Oh ; et
al. |
April 5, 2007 |
Air conditioner
Abstract
An air conditioner which reduces an amount of an eddy generated
in an outlet or prevents generation of the eddy, to increase a flow
rate of discharged air and reduce the generation of noise. The air
conditioner includes an indoor air inlet and an indoor air outlet
formed in a main body, an air blast fan to inhale indoor air
through the indoor air inlet and to discharge the indoor air
through the indoor air outlet, and at least one partition to reduce
an amount of an eddy generated in the indoor air outlet or to
prevent generation of the eddy. The at least one partition is
installed on a separation plate that separates from each other a
suction channel to inhale the indoor air and a discharge channel to
discharge the indoor air.
Inventors: |
Han; Jae Oh; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; Lee; Jai Kwon; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Mo; Jin
Yong; (Anyang-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STANZIONE & KIM, LLP
919 18TH STREET, N.W.
SUITE 440
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
37900643 |
Appl. No.: |
11/415145 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/262 ;
62/419 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/027 20130101;
F24F 13/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/262 ;
062/419 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/12 20060101
F25D023/12; F25D 17/06 20060101 F25D017/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 1, 2005 |
KR |
2005-92651 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner, comprising: an indoor air inlet and an
indoor air outlet formed in a main body; an air blast fan to inhale
indoor air through the indoor air inlet and to discharge the indoor
air through the indoor air outlet; and at least one partition to
reduce an amount of an eddy generated in the indoor air outlet or
to prevent generation of the eddy.
2. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at
least one partition is installed on a separation plate that
separates from each other a suction channel to inhale the indoor
air therethrough and a discharge channel to discharge the indoor
air therethrough.
3. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein a height of
the at least one partition is 1/4 to 1/3 of a height of the indoor
air outlet.
4. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 3, wherein the at
least one partition is located in an area of the air blast fan.
5. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality
of partitions are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the
separation plate.
6. The air conditioner as set forth in claim 2, wherein a plurality
of partitions are disposed in parallel with a direction of the air
discharged from the air blast fan.
7. An air conditioner, comprising: an inlet and an outlet formed on
a main body; an air blast fan to inhale air through the inlet and
to discharge the air through the outlet; a separation plate that
separates from each other a suction channel to inhale the air and a
discharge channel to discharge the air; and an eddy preventing
device installed on the separation plate to prevent generation of
an eddy in the outlet.
8. An air conditioner, comprising: a fan to generate a main air
flow entering the air conditioner through a first channel and being
discharged through a second channel therein; and at least one
partition disposed at an exit of the second channel to prevent an
eddy from entering the air conditioner through the second
channel.
9. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the at least one
partition is disposed substantially perpendicular on the fan.
10. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality
of partitions each partition being disposed substantially
perpendicular on the fan.
11. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality
of partitions disposed in a direction of the main flow at the exit
of the second channel.
12. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a
separation plate disposed between the first channel and the second
channel, and the at least one partition is formed on the separation
plate.
13. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: a
plurality of partitions formed on the separation plate disposed
substantially perpendicular on the fan.
14. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: a
plurality of partitions formed on the separation plate disposed in
a direction of the main flow at the exit of the second channel.
15. The air conditioner of claim 8, further comprising: a main body
to enclose the fan, the first channel and the second channel, the
main body including an air inlet to allow air to enter therein, and
an air outlet to allow the air to be discharged therefrom.
16. An air conditioner having a main airflow circulating
therethrough, the air conditioner comprising: at least one
partition disposed at an outlet through which the main airflow is
discharged outside the air conditioner to prevent an eddy from
entering the air conditioner through the outlet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-92651, filed Oct.
1, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present general inventive concept relates to an air
conditioner, and more particularly, to a device to prevent an eddy
generated at an outlet of a window-installed air conditioner.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, air conditioners are apparatuses for cooling or
heating an indoor space using evaporation heat or liquefaction heat
generated when a refrigerant is evaporated or liquefied in a
refrigerating cycle, which consists of a compressor, a condenser,
an expansion valve, and an evaporator interconnected by refrigerant
pipes to form a closed circuit.
[0006] The air conditioners are divided into standing air
conditioners, which stand erect on a floor, wall-hanging air
conditioners, which hang on an indoor wall, and window-installed
air conditioners, which are installed at a window such that a main
body thereof is partially exposed to an indoor space and partially
exposed to an outdoor space.
[0007] In a window-installed air conditioner, an indoor air inlet
for inhaling indoor air therethrough and an indoor air outlet for
discharging the indoor air therethrough are formed at an indoor
chamber of the main body, and an outdoor air inlet for inhaling
outdoor air therethrough and an outdoor air outlet for discharging
the outdoor air therethrough are formed at an outdoor chamber of
the main body. An evaporator for exchanging heat with the indoor
air and an indoor blowing device for circulating the indoor air are
installed in the indoor chamber, and a condenser for exchanging
heat with the outdoor air and an outdoor blowing device for
circulating the outdoor air are installed in the outdoor
chamber.
[0008] The indoor blowing device comprises a centrifugal air blast
fan for centripetally inhaling indoor air and centrifugally blowing
the indoor air, a motor for driving the air blast fan, and a duct
surrounding the air blast fan.
[0009] The pressure of the indoor air discharged from the air blast
fan is a sum of a dynamic pressure proportional to an air speed and
static pressure not depending on the air speed. As the indoor air
discharged from the air blast fan passes through the duct, which
provides a gradually increased volume to the indoor air passing
therethrough, the dynamic pressure of the indoor air is converted
into the static pressure as the air speed decreases.
[0010] Since the window-installed air conditioner is installed in a
narrow space, such as a window, the window-installed air
conditioner is limited as to its size, thus requiring various
compact components. Thereby, it is difficult to have a sufficient
length of the duct surrounding the centrifugal air blast fan for
completely converting the dynamic pressure of the indoor air
discharged by the air blast fan into the static pressure.
Accordingly, the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan has a
high speed component.
[0011] Since the indoor air having the high speed component
generated by the centrifugal air blast fan moves rapidly towards
the outlet, the indoor air has a high pressure in a diagonal
direction due to the sum of force applied in a radial direction of
the centrifugal air blast fan and force applied towards the front
portion of the air conditioner.
[0012] Due to characteristics of the centrifugal air blast fan,
which centripetally inhales air and centrifugally blows the air,
the indoor air is not discharged from an area corresponding to the
front portion of the air blast fan. Thereby, the pressure of the
indoor air at the front portion of the air blast fan is relatively
low.
[0013] Accordingly, a part of the discharged air having a high
pressure is directed to a place where the pressure of the air is
low, such as the front portion of the air blast fan, thereby
generating a large three-dimensional eddy in the indoor air outlet.
The flow rate of the indoor air discharged from the indoor air
outlet is reduced by the large three-dimensional eddy.
[0014] Further, the large three-dimensional eddy retains a large
amount of eddy energy, thereby generating noise at the indoor air
outlet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Therefore, one aspect of the general inventive concept is to
provide an air conditioner, which reduces an amount of a
three-dimensional eddy or prevents generation of the
three-dimensional eddy, thereby increasing a flow rate of air
discharged from an outlet.
[0016] The present general inventive concept also provides an air
conditioner, which reduces noise generated in an outlet due to an
eddy.
[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the present general
inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
[0018] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general
inventive concept are achieved by providing an air conditioner
comprising an indoor air inlet and an indoor air outlet formed in a
main body, an air blast fan to inhale indoor air through the indoor
air inlet and to discharge the indoor air through the indoor air
outlet, and at least one partition to reduce an amount of an eddy
generated in the indoor air outlet or to prevent generation of the
eddy.
[0019] The at least one partition may be installed on a separation
plate that separates from each other a suction channel to inhale
the indoor air and a discharge channel to discharge the indoor
air.
[0020] A height of the at least one partition may be 1/4 to 1/3 of
a height of the indoor air outlet.
[0021] The at least one partition may be located in an area of the
air blast fan.
[0022] The air conditioner may further comprise a plurality of the
partitions disposed in a longitudinal direction of the separation
plate.
[0023] The air conditioner may further comprise a plurality of
partitions disposed parallel with a direction of the air discharged
from the air blast fan.
[0024] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general
inventive concept are also achieved by providing an air conditioner
comprising an inlet and an outlet formed in a main body, an air
blast fan to inhale air from the inlet and to discharge the air
through the outlet, a separation plate to separate from each other
a suction channel to inhale the air and a discharge channel to
discharge the air, and an eddy preventing device installed on the
separation plate to prevent generation of an eddy in the
outlet.
[0025] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general
inventive concept are also achieved by providing an air conditioner
comprising a fan to generate a main air flow entering the air
conditioner through a first channel and being discharged through a
second channel therein, and at least one partition disposed at an
exit of the second channel to prevent an eddy from entering the air
conditioner through the second channel.
[0026] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present general
inventive concept are also achieved by providing an air conditioner
having a main airflow circulating therethrough, the air conditioner
comprising at least one partition disposed at an outlet through
which the main airflow is discharged outside the air conditioner to
prevent an eddy from entering the air conditioner through the
outlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present
general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the air
conditioner of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a partition installed at an
outlet of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a front view of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a variation in a discharged
air flow rate in relation to a variation in a rotational frequency
for a conventional air conditioner and the air conditioner of
FIG.1;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a variation in a noise level
in relation to a variation in a discharged air flow rate for the
conventional air conditioner and the air conditioner of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a plurality of partitions
installed at an outlet of an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and
[0035] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a plurality of slope
partitions installed at an outlet of an air conditioner according
to yet another embodiment of the present general inventive
concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present general inventive concept, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are
described below in order to explain the present general inventive
concept by referring to the figures.
[0037] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept
comprises a main body 10 having an upper case 11 provided with an
upper surface and side surfaces integrally formed, a lower plate
12, a front panel 13 having a control panel 13a, and a rear panel
(not shown). One portion of the main body 10 having the front panel
13 is disposed in an indoor space of a structure (e.g., a room),
and the other portion of the main body 10 having the rear panel is
disposed in an outdoor space of the structure.
[0038] The inside of the main body 10 is divided into an indoor
chamber and an outdoor chamber by a diaphragm 14 installed at a
center of the lower plate 12.
[0039] Outdoor air inlets 16 through which outdoor air is inhaled
into the outdoor chamber are formed through the upper surface and
the side surfaces of the upper case 11 of the outdoor chamber, and
an outdoor air outlet (not shown) through which the outdoor air is
discharged is formed through the rear panel. The outdoor air is
inhaled into and discharged from the outdoor chamber through the
outdoor air inlets 16 and the outdoor air outlet (not shown) so
that a condenser 17 can exchange heat with the outdoor air.
[0040] The condenser 17 to exchange heat with the outdoor air and
an air blast fan 18 to circulate the outdoor air are installed in
the outdoor chamber of the main body 10, and a motor 19 to drive
the air blast fan 18 and a compressor 20 to compress a circulating
refrigerant 19 into a high-temperature and high-pressure state are
installed behind the diaphragm 14 (as seen from inside towards
outside of the structure).
[0041] An indoor air inlet 21 through which indoor air is inhaled
into the indoor chamber and an indoor air outlet 22 through which
the indoor air is discharged are formed in the front panel 13 of
the indoor chamber, and blades 22a to guide the discharged indoor
air in a direction are installed in the indoor air outlet 22.
[0042] An evaporator 23 to exchange heat with the indoor air to
cool the indoor air is installed behind the indoor air inlet 21 of
the front panel 13, and a centrifugal air blast fan 24 to inhale
the indoor air is installed behind the evaporator 23. Ducts 25 and
26 that form channels to guide the indoor air inhaled through the
evaporator 23 to the indoor air outlet 22 are installed around and
above the air blast fan 24.
[0043] A separation plate 28 that separates a suction channel 27a
to inhale indoor air through the indoor air inlet 21 and a
discharge channel 27b to discharge the indoor air through the
indoor air outlet 22 from each other is installed on the evaporator
23.
[0044] When the air conditioner is operated, the centrifugal air
blast fan 24 is rotated, thereby centripetally inhaling indoor air
and then centrifugally discharging the indoor air due to a rotary
force.
[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the air blast fan 24 is
rotated in a clockwise direction (as seen from inside the
structure), a force in a direction of an X-axis is applied to the
indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 by the rotation of
the air blast fan 24. Simultaneously, a force in a direction of a
Y-axis is applied to the indoor air discharged from the air blast
fan 24 by the diaphragm 14 forming a channel to guide the indoor
air discharged from the air blast fan 24 towards the indoor air
outlet 22 and the ducts 25 and 26. Further, a force in a direction
of a Z-axis is applied to the indoor air discharged from the air
blast fan 24 by the rotation of the air blast fan 24. The above
three forces add into one force, thereby causing the indoor air,
discharged from the air blast fan 24 and directed to the indoor air
outlet 22, to move in a direction of a diagonal line inside an
angle (.theta.) formed by the X-axis and the Y-axis. Thus, a high
pressure is generated in the direction of the diagonal line.
[0046] Due to characteristics of the centrifugal air blast fan 24,
which centripetally inhales indoor air and centrifugally blows the
indoor air, the indoor air is not discharged from a front portion A
of the air blast fan 24 having a size corresponding to 1/3 of the
total size of the air blast fan 24. Thereby, the pressure of the
indoor air at the front portion A of the air blast fan 14 is
relatively low.
[0047] Accordingly, a part of the indoor air discharged from the
air blast fan 24 and directed to the indoor air outlet 22 is bent
towards the front portion A of the air blast fan 24 having the low
pressure, thereby generating a large three-dimensional eddy (that
is, an air current moving in a direction other than to the
discharged indoor air flow).
[0048] In order to avoid generation of the large three-dimensional
eddy, a partition 30 is installed in the direction of the Y-axis on
the separation plate 28 that separates the suction channel 27a and
the discharge channel 27b. The partition 30 prevents the indoor air
having a high pressure discharged from the air blast fan 24 from
moving towards the front portion A of the air blast fan 24, thus
preventing generation of the three-dimensional eddy.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 4, an extended end of the partition
30 is located in the area of the air blast fan 24.
[0050] Further, in order to minimize the influence of a movement of
the indoor air discharged from the air blast fan 24 and directed to
the indoor air outlet 22, a height (H) of the partition 30 is 1/4
to 1/3 of a height (H') of the indoor air outlet 22.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a variation of a discharged
air flow rate (measured in cubic meter per minute, that is, CMM) in
relation to a variation of a rotational frequency (measured in
revolutions per minute, that is, rpm) in the air conditioner
according to the present embodiment and a conventional air
conditioner. In other words, FIG. 5 illustrates measurements
performed to correlate the discharged air flow rate and the
rotational frequency for the conventional air conditioner and the
air conditioner according to the present embodiment. The air
conditioner according to the present embodiment and having a
partition has a blowing capacity (i.e., the discharged air flow
rate) approximately 5% larger than that of the conventional air
conditioner at the same rotational frequency.
[0052] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a variation of a noise level
(measured in decibels dB) in relation to a variation of a
discharged air flow rate (measured in CMM) in the air conditioner
according to the present embodiment and the conventional air
conditioner. That is, FIG. 6 illustrates measurements performed to
correlate the noise level and the rotational frequency for the
conventional air conditioner and the air conditioner according to
the present embodiment. The air conditioner having the partition
according to the present embodiment has a noise level of
approximately 1 dB lower than that of the conventional air
conditioner at the same discharged air flow rate.
[0053] As illustrated by the above described measurements, the
partition 30, which is biasedly installed at a right side in the
indoor air outlet 22 (as seen from inside the structure), and
reduces an amount of an eddy generated by a circulation of the
discharged indoor air towards the portion (A) having a relatively
low pressure or prevents generation of the eddy, thereby preventing
an air flow loss of the indoor air discharged through the indoor
air outlet 22, improving the blowing capacity of the air blast fan
24, and reducing an eddy energy to lower noise level.
[0054] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate air conditioners according to
alternative embodiments of the present general inventive
concept.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a plurality of partitions 30' are
formed on the separation plate 28. The partitions 30', which are
formed on the separation plate 28, reduce generation of an eddy in
stages.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 8, a plurality of partitions 30'' are
formed on the separation plate 28 such that the partitions 30'' are
parallel with the direction of the indoor air discharged from the
air blast fan 24.
[0057] The above partitions 30'' minimize a disturbance of a
movement of the indoor air towards the indoor air outlet 22.
[0058] According to the above description, the present general
inventive concept provides various embodiments of an air
conditioner, in which at least one partition is installed on a
separation plate that separates a suction channel and a discharge
channel from each other to reduce an amount of a large
three-dimensional eddy generated at an outlet or to prevent
generation of the large three-dimensional eddy, thereby increasing
a flow rate of the air discharged through the outlet.
[0059] Further, the air conditioner according to embodiments of the
present general inventive concept reduces a noise level in the
outlet as less noise is generated by the large three-dimensional
eddy.
[0060] Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive
concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *