U.S. patent application number 11/710540 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for air conditioner.
Invention is credited to Moon Shin Kim, Jong Ho Lee.
Application Number | 20080000252 11/710540 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38513367 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Jong Ho ; et
al. |
January 3, 2008 |
Air conditioner
Abstract
An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes a
main and sub drain pan, a first and second heat exchanger, a
condensed water pipe, and a pipe coupling element. The main drain
pan is provided between a front frame and a rear frame, to divide a
space between the rear frame and the front frame into an upper and
lower section. The first and second heat exchangers are
respectively provided at a lower and upper portion of the main
drain pan, to allow heat exchange to occur between air and coolant.
The sub-drain pan is provided at the lower portion of the main
drain pan, to collect condensed water generated by the first and
second heat exchangers. The condensed water pipe guides condensed
water collected in a base pan to the sub-drain pan. The pipe
coupling element detachably couples one end of the condensed water
pipe to the sub-drain pan.
Inventors: |
Lee; Jong Ho; (Kimhae-si,
KR) ; Kim; Moon Shin; (Changwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE LLP;Song K. Jung
1900 K Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
38513367 |
Appl. No.: |
11/710540 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/291 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/04 20130101; F24F
2006/125 20130101; F24F 13/222 20130101; Y02B 30/80 20130101; F24F
2013/225 20130101; Y02B 30/70 20130101; F24F 1/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/291 |
International
Class: |
F25D 21/14 20060101
F25D021/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 3, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0061882 |
Jul 3, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0061885 |
Nov 6, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0109164 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a main drain pan provided between
a front frame and a rear frame, for dividing a space between the
rear frame and the front frame into upper and lower sections; a
first heat exchanger provided at a lower portion of the main drain
pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air and coolant; a
second heat exchanger provided at an upper portion of the main
drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air and
coolant; a sub-drain pan provided at the lower portion of the main
drain pan, for collecting condensed water generated by the first
heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a condensed water
pipe for guiding condensed water collected in a base pan to the
sub-drain pan; and a pipe coupling element for detachably coupling
one end of the condensed water pipe to the sub-drain pan.
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the pipe
coupling element comprises a pan connector and a connector coupling
part respectively formed in mutual opposition on the one end of the
condensed water pipe and one end of the sub-drain pan, for coupling
through sliding.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the pan
connector is prevented from disengaging through a connector
coupling element, the connector coupling element comprising a
connector fixing protrusion and a connector fixing groove formed
respectively corresponding to the pan connector and the connector
coupling part, for being coupled together.
4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the pan
connector has a structure including a pipe connecting element
coupled to the one end of the condensed water pipe, and a pan
coupling member coupled to the connector coupling part, the
connector coupling part formed in a `U` shape.
5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of
dividing ribs are provided on the main drain pan to form a moving
space on a top surface thereof and guide a flow of falling
condensed water generated by the second heat exchanger.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the main drain
pan further comprises: a plurality of condensed water holes formed
therethrough, for allowing the falling condensed water generated by
the second heat exchanger to move to the lower portion of the main
drain pan; and a condensed water falling guide provided at a lower
surface thereof, for guiding the falling of the condensed water
through the condensed water holes.
7. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein a housing seat
groove is recessed downward in the main drain pan to prevent
interference with a fan housing enclosing a fan, and a plurality of
dividing ribs are provided on the housing seat groove to form a
moving space on a top surface thereof and guide a flow of falling
condensed water generated by the second heat exchanger.
8. An air conditioner comprising: a main drain pan provided between
a front frame and a rear frame, for dividing a space between the
rear frame and the front frame into upper and lower sections; a
first heat exchanger provided at a lower portion of the main drain
pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air and coolant; a
second heat exchanger provided at an upper portion of the main
drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air and
coolant; a control box installed at one side of the main drain pan,
and including a plurality of built-in electrical components for
controlling an operation of the air conditioner; and an exhaust
guide unit installed on the rear frame, for exhausting air that has
undergone heat exchange to an outside, wherein the main drain pan
forms a control box installation opening formed at a front end
thereof for installing the control box in.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the main drain
pan comprises a duct avoiding hole receiving a portion of the
exhaust guide unit, or a pipe passing groove through which a
coolant pipe for guiding coolant flowing between the first heat
exchanger and the second heat exchanger passes.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the main
drain pan comprises a cord passing groove through which a power
cord supplying external power passes, or a power line passing
groove through which a power line for supplying power to the
compressor for compressing coolant and a condensed water pump for
forcibly moving condensed water passes.
11. An air conditioner comprising: a main drain pan provided
between a front frame and a rear frame, for dividing a space
between the rear frame and the front frame into upper and lower
sections; a first heat exchanger provided at a lower portion of the
main drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air and
coolant; a second heat exchanger provided at an upper portion of
the main drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air
and coolant; and a sub-drain pan provided at the lower portion of
the main drain pan, for collecting condensed water generated by the
first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the
sub-drain pan is coupled to the main drain pan.
12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein the
sub-drain is doubly coupled to the main drain pan through coupling
hooks and fastening members.
13. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein the
sub-drain pan comprises a plurality of falling holes formed
therethrough, for guiding collected condensed water to fall on the
first heat exchanger.
14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the
sub-drain pan is installed above the first heat exchanger, and the
condensed water guided to fall by the falling holes falls on one
side of the first heat exchanger.
15. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein the
sub-drain pan has an inclined bottom surface for guiding condensed
water toward the falling holes.
16. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the
sub-drain pan further comprises falling guide ribs for guiding
descending condensed water to fall through the falling holes,
wherein the falling guide ribs extend downward from lower ends of
the falling holes.
17. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the
plurality of falling holes are arranged in a plurality of rows.
18. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the first
heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat exchange pipes formed
in a plurality of rows for guiding a flow of coolant, and the
falling holes are disposed above one of the plurality of rows of
the heat exchange pipes.
19. The air conditioner according to claim 18, wherein the first
heat exchanger further comprises a fan installed at one side
thereof for forcibly moving air, and the falling holes are disposed
above a row from the plurality of rows of the heat exchange pipes
that is farthest from the fan.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and
more particularly, to an air conditioner that is configured to
re-circulate water accumulated in a base pan to the top of a heat
exchanger to drop by means of gravity or be evaporated through a
steam generator, and which has a main drain pan (with installing
portions on which a plurality of components are installed) that is
provided in a central interior portion of the air conditioner in
order to make the product more compact.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Generally, an air conditioner includes a compressor, an
outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat
exchanger, and is used for maintaining an indoor space at a set
temperature to make the indoor space a pleasant environment. That
is, an air conditioner is a cooling/heating apparatus installed in
a predetermined portion or a wall surface of an interior space such
as a vehicle, an office, and a home to cool or heat the interior
space. The air conditioner employs a cooling cycle involving a
compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve (a
capillary tube), and an indoor heat exchanger or a heating cycle in
series using reverse circulation of a coolant. However, since a
related art air conditioner is large in scale and is installed and
used on a wall of a building, it is difficult to move the air
conditioner once it is installed. That is, it is impossible to move
the related art air conditioner, which causes inconvenience in
using the air conditioner. Therefore, a mobile air conditioner
having moving wheels attached on a bottom of the air conditioner to
allow a user to easily move the air conditioner has recently been
developed. Utility model No. 0252478 registered in the Korea
Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) discloses this related art
mobile type air conditioner.
[0005] However, because this air conditioner according to the
related art releases condensed water in the vicinity, components
that are nearby are contaminated. Also, because condensed water is
only released and not evaporated, the problem of removing the
condensed water arises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an air
conditioner that substantially obviates one or more problems due to
limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an air
conditioner that is configured so that condensed water collected in
a base pan moves to a sub-drain pan thereabove to drop onto the
upper portion of a heat exchanger by means of gravity and
evaporate.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air
conditioner that evaporates water condensed on the top surface of a
base, and uses this water to further cool an outer heat
exchanger.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
air conditioner in which condensed water generated by means of a
heat exchanger is easily collected and guided to flow by means of a
guiding structure formed on a main drain pan.
[0010] A still further object of the present invention to provide
an air conditioner forming a plurality of receptacles for
preventing mutual interference of components proximally-installed
around a main drain pan that is centrally provided in the air
conditioner, so that the product can be compacted.
[0011] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0012] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, there is provided an air conditioner
including: a main drain pan provided between a front frame and a
rear frame, for dividing a space between the rear frame and the
front frame in a vertical direction; a first heat exchanger
provided at a lower portion of the main drain pan, for allowing
heat exchange to occur between air and coolant; a second heat
exchanger provided at an upper portion of the main drain pan, for
allowing heat exchange to occur between air and coolant; a
sub-drain pan provided at the lower portion of the main drain pan,
for collecting condensed water generated by the first heat
exchanger and the second heat exchanger; a condensed water pipe for
guiding condensed water collected in a base pan to the sub-drain
pan; and a pipe coupling element for detachably coupling one end of
the condensed water pipe to the sub-drain pan.
[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an air conditioner including: a main drain pan provided
between a front frame and a rear frame, for dividing a space
between the rear frame and the front frame in a vertical direction;
a first heat exchanger provided at a lower portion of the main
drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air and
coolant; a second heat exchanger provided at an upper portion of
the main drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air
and coolant; a control box installed at one side of the main drain
pan, and including a plurality of built-in electrical components
for controlling an operation of the air conditioner; and an exhaust
guide unit installed on the rear frame, for exhausting air that has
undergone heat exchange to an outside, wherein the main drain pan
forms a control box installation opening formed at a front end
thereof for installing the control box in.
[0014] In a further aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an air conditioner including: a main drain pan provided
between a front frame and a rear frame, for dividing a space
between the rear frame and the front frame in a vertical direction;
a first heat exchanger provided at a lower portion of the main
drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air and
coolant; a second heat exchanger provided at an upper portion of
the main drain pan, for allowing heat exchange to occur between air
and coolant; and a sub-drain pan provided at the lower portion of
the main drain pan, for collecting condensed water generated by the
first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the
sub-drain pan is coupled to the main drain pan.
[0015] According to an air conditioner of the present invention,
after condensed water collected in a base pan is moved upward by
means of a pump, the water is distributed at the top of the heat
exchanger to fall by means of gravity. Accordingly, the
contamination of components by the dispersed condensed water can be
prevented, and evaporation of the condensed water is increased so
that condensed water may be eliminated more effectively.
Furthermore, a connector that is slidingly attached to the
sub-drain pan is provided on one end of a condensed water pipe that
guides the flow of condensed water upward. Thus, assembly is easier
and work efficiency increases. Also, a fixing member for the
attached connector fixes and prevents the connector from
disengaging, increasing the reliability of the product.
Additionally, a rib and a falling hole are formed in the main drain
pan and sub-drain pan according to the present invention, in order
to guide the flow and falling of condensed water. Therefore,
collection of condensed water is performed smoothly, preventing
contamination of nearby components by the condensed water.
[0016] Also, in the air conditioner according to the present
invention, when the components around the main drain pan and the
sub-drain pan are coupled, mutual interference thereof is
prevented. Accordingly, a relatively large number of components may
be installed in a confined space, allowing the product to be
compacted.
[0017] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an air conditioner
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an air conditioner
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an inner
construction of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0022] FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and rear perspective views showing a
detailed construction of a rear frame according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0023] FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and rear perspective views
illustrating a detailed construction of a suction grill according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views illustrating
constructions of a right knob and a left knob according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I' in
FIG. 8;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a right side
construction of the knob illustrated in FIG. 8;
[0027] FIGS. 12 and 13 are front and rear perspective views of a
front frame according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIGS. 14 and 15 are front and rear perspective views of a
front panel according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIGS. 16 and 17 are front and rear perspective views of a
discharge louver according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0030] FIGS. 18 and 19 are upper and lower perspective views of a
main drain pan according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIGS. 20 and 21 are upper and lower perspective views of a
sub-drain pan according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating a construction of
a condensed water pipe according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a construction of
a pan connector according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 24 is a plan view of the pan connector illustrated in
FIG. 23;
[0035] FIGS. 25 and 26 respectively are a perspective view and a
frontal view of a first heat exchanger according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view showing relations
between a front frame, a rear frame, a base pan, and a main drain
pan when they are installed;
[0037] FIGS. 28 and 29 are front and rear perspective views of an
inner construction of the air conditioner according to an
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0038] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a sub-drain pan installed
in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0039] FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a steam evaporator
installed on the base of the air conditioner according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0041] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating a front
appearance and a rear appearance of an air conditioner according to
the present invention, respectively.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner includes a
front frame 100 and a front panel 200 forming a front appearance,
and a rear frame 300 forming a rear appearance, by which an entire
appearance of the air conditioner is schematically formed.
[0043] The front frame 100 constitutes a framework of a front part
of the air conditioner, and simultaneously, constitutes portions of
appearances of upper and right/left sides. A manipulation panel 120
for allowing a user to manipulate the air conditioner is provided
on the upper side.
[0044] The rear frame 300 is formed to constitute appearances of
the upper and right/left sides as well as a rear side of the air
conditioner. An exhaust guide element 400 is connected to the rear
frame 300 to exhaust heat-exchanged air to the outside
(particularly, an outdoor space). A construction of the exhaust
guide element 400 will be described below in detail.
[0045] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an inner
construction according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, the front frame 100 is formed in a
quadrangular shape. Also, the front frame 100 has a central portion
formed to relatively protrude further to a front side. Therefore,
the front frame 100 is formed to have a rounded curvature on the
whole when seen from a side direction.
[0046] A louver installation opening 102 is formed in the vicinity
of an upper end of the front frame 100. The louver installation
opening 102 is a portion in which a discharge louver 110 is
installed. The louver installation opening 102 has a quadrangular
shape formed horizontally long.
[0047] An upper surface of the front frame 100 is formed to be
inclined to the front at a predetermined angle. A panel opening 104
in which a manipulation panel 120 is installed is formed in the
upper surface of the front frame 100 to pass through the front
frame 100. The panel opening 104 has a rectangular shape
corresponding to a shape of the manipulation panel 120.
[0048] The front panel 200 is formed in a quadrangular flat plate
to constitute a front appearance of the air conditioner. The front
panel 200 is fixedly installed on a front side of the front frame
100. Therefore, the front panel 200 has a shape corresponding to
the front side of the front frame 100. That is, like the front
frame 100, the front panel 200 has a central portion whose upper
end relatively protrudes further to the front than a lower end, to
form a rounded shape (an arc shape).
[0049] A discharge louver 110 is installed in the louver
installation opening 102 of the front frame 100 to guide air that
has been air-conditioned to the outside. The discharge louver 110
controls a discharge direction of air, and includes a plurality of
discharge ribs to allow air to be discharged to a horizontal
direction or a vertical direction. The manipulation panel 120 is
installed in the panel opening 104. The manipulation panel 120 is
intended for a user's manipulation and includes a plurality of
buttons installed to protrude to the outside. That is, a pair of
button assemblies 122 is provided under the manipulation panel 120,
and the plurality of buttons provided to the button assemblies 122
pass through the manipulation panel 120 and are exposed upward.
[0050] A manipulation printed circuit board (PCB) 124 is installed
under the button assemblies 122. The manipulation PCB 124 converts
button operations of the button assemblies 122 into signals and
delivers the signals to a controller (not shown). The manipulation
PCB 124 is supported by a manipulation frame 126. Also, an outside
of the manipulation PCB 124 is surrounded by a rectangular
box-shaped PCB case 128.
[0051] A air outlet 210 is formed in the vicinity of an upper end
of the front panel 200 to pass through the front panel 200. The air
outlet 210 is a portion through which air-conditioned (cooled or
heated) air is discharged to the front, and has a rectangular shape
corresponding to the discharge louver 110. The rear frame 300 is
coupled to the front frame 100. Therefore, a front end of the rear
frame 300 is molded in a shape corresponding to a shape of the
front frame 100. That is, front ends of left and right sides of the
rear frame 300 have a central portion protruding to the front to
have a rounded curvature such that the front ends of the left and
right sides correspond to rear ends of left and right sides of the
front frame 100.
[0052] An external air inlet 302 is formed in an upper half portion
of the rear frame 300 to pass through back and forth of the rear
frame 300. The external air inlet 302 is formed in a quadrangular
shape to serve as a passage through which air of an indoor space is
sucked into the air conditioner.
[0053] A quadrangular filter frame 304 corresponding to the
external air inlet 302 is further formed at a central portion of
the external air inlet 302. The filter frame 304 is preferably
formed in a size smaller than that of the external air inlet 302 to
support such that a special filter such as a deodorization filter
322 is installed.
[0054] The external air inlet 302 is shielded by a suction grill
310. Indoor air passes through the suction grill 310 and flows into
the air conditioner. For this purpose, a plurality of holes are
formed in the suction grill 310 to pass through the suction grill
310. The suction grill 310 is formed to have a size corresponding
to that of the external air inlet 302. More specifically, the
suction grill 310 is formed to be slightly inclined to the
front.
[0055] A pre-filter 320 is installed along an edge of the external
air inlet 302. The pre-filter 320 is formed to have a size
corresponding to a size of the external air inlet 302 to filter
foreign substances contained in air that flows in through the
suction grill 310.
[0056] A deodorization filter 322 is further provided on a front
side of the pre-filter 320. The deodorization filter 322 is formed
in a size corresponding to a size of the filter frame 304 and fixed
in the filter frame 304 to remove an odor component contained in
the air that flows in through the suction grill 310.
[0057] A lower grill 330 is integrally formed in a lower half of
the rear frame 300. The lower grill 330 allows air to be sucked
into the air conditioner, and simultaneously, prevents inflow of
foreign substances from the outside.
[0058] Knobs 340 are further provided to the rear frame 300. That
is, knob holes 342 are formed in upper left and right sides of the
rear frame 300 to pass through the rear frame 300, respectively.
The knobs 340 are inserted into the knob holes 342. The knobs 340
are intended for allowing a user to easily lift and move the air
conditioner.
[0059] In more detail, the knobs 340 are detachably and
symmetrically installed in both sides of the rear frame 300.
Therefore, a user can easily move the air conditioner by grabbing
the knobs 340 with his both hands.
[0060] An exhaust guide element 400 is connected to the rear frame
300. The exhaust guide element 400 is intended for exhausting air
that has been heat-exchanged in an inside of the air conditioner to
an outdoor space. One end of the exhaust guide element 400 is
connected to the rear frame 300, and the other end of the exhaust
guide element 400 is preferably installed to be exposed to the
outside of a building.
[0061] The exhaust guide element 400 is installed to communicate
with an inside of the lower half of the rear frame 300, and
includes an exhaust duct 410, an exhaust nozzle 420, a frame
connector 430, and a nozzle connector 440.
[0062] The exhaust duct 410 is formed in a long cylinder-shaped
tube to guide flowing of exhaust air, and the exhaust nozzle 420 is
an end allowing exhaust air flowing through the exhaust duct 410 to
be finally exhausted. The exhaust duct 410 is preferably formed of
a flexible material or shape so that it can be bent. Also, the
frame connector 430 is provided between the rear frame 300 and the
exhaust duct 410 to allow a lower end of the exhaust duct 410 to be
mounted in the rear frame 300. The nozzle connector 440 is provided
between the exhaust duct 410 and the exhaust nozzle 420 to allow
the exhaust nozzle 420 to be coupled to an upper end of the exhaust
duct 410.
[0063] A lower appearance of the air conditioner is formed by a
base pan 500. The base pan 500 is coupled to lower ends of the
front and rear frames 100 and 300, and supports a plurality of
parts. The base pan 500 has a quadrangular flat plate shape.
[0064] A plurality of moving wheels 502 are installed on a lower
surface of the base pan 500. Each of the moving wheels 502 is
intended for easily moving the air conditioner, and installed at
each corner of the quadrangle-shaped base pan 500.
[0065] A first heat exchanger 510 is installed on an upper central
portion of the base pan 500. That is, the first heat exchanger 510
is installed on the upper central portion of the base pan 500 that
ranges from a rear side to a front side. The first heat exchanger
510 cools down (or heat) coolant using heat exchange between
coolant flowing through the first heat exchanger 510 and air. That
is, air that flows in through the lower grill 330 formed in the
lower half of the rear frame 300 exchanges heat with coolant
flowing through the first heat exchanger 510 while it passes
through the first heat exchanger 510. The air that has been
heat-exchanged while it passes through the first heat exchanger 510
is exhausted to an outdoor space through the exhaust guide element
400.
[0066] A compressor 520 is installed to the right side of the first
heat exchange 510. The compressor 520 is installed at a rear right
end of the base pan 500, and supported by a triangle-shaped
compression frame 522. The compression frame 522 is mounted on the
base pan 500.
[0067] An accumulator 530 is installed next to the compressor 520.
The accumulator 530 filters liquid coolant to allow only gas
coolant to flow into the compressor 520.
[0068] A condensed water detector 540 is installed in front of the
compressor 520. When an amount of condensed water formed on an
upper surface of the base pan 500 reaches a predetermined amount or
more, the condensed water detector 540 detects the amount of
condensed water and displays the detected condensed water to the
outside.
[0069] A condensed water pump 550 is installed at a front right end
of the base pan 500. The condensed water pump 550 pumps the
condensed water formed on the base pap 500 to supply the condensed
water to a sub-drain pan 750.
[0070] A condensed water pipe 560 is connected to the condensed
water pump 550.
[0071] The condensed water pipe 560 serves as a passage for guiding
condensed water forcibly flowed by the condensed water pump 550 to
a sub-drain pan 750. Therefore, a lower end of the condensed water
pipe 560 is connected to the condensed water pump 550, and an upper
end of the condensed water pipe 560 is connected to the sub-drain
pan 750.
[0072] A brace 570 is installed at a right end of the base pan 500.
The brace 570 supports a right end of a main drain pan 700, which
will be described later, and simultaneously, alleviates an impact
generated when the compressor 520 falls down to the right. The
brace 570 has a quadrangle-shaped flat plate. The brace 570 has a
lower end fixed to an upper right end of the base pan 500, and has
an upper end fixed to a right end of the main drain pan 700.
[0073] Also, a support angle 580 can be installed at a front end of
the base pan 500. That is, the support angle 580 is vertically
installed at a front right end of the base pan 500 to support
affront load of the main drain pan 700. Of course, a pair of
support angles 580 can be installed at left and right of a front
end of the main drain pan 700.
[0074] A lower orifice 600 is installed at a left side of the first
heat exchanger 510. The lower orifice 600 supports a plurality of
parts such as an upper orifice 850 and an upper air guide 800, and
simultaneously, guides air that has passed through the first heat
exchanger 510 to the left. For this purpose, a circular lower
orifice hole 602 is formed in a central portion of the lower
orifice 600 to pass through the lower orifice 600. A lower air
guide 620 is installed on the left side of the lower orifice 600.
The lower air guide 620 guides air flowing in cooperation with the
lower orifice 600. A lower fan 630 for forcing air flowing is
located between the lower orifice 600 and the lower air guide 620.
For this purpose, housing grooves 640 are symmetrically formed in
the lower orifice 600 and the lower air guide 620 to guide air
flowed by a lower fan 630.
[0075] That is, the housing grooves 640 symmetric with each other
are formed in a left side of the lower orifice 600 and a right side
of the lower air guide 620 to guide air discharged by the lower fan
630. The housing grooves 640 are formed to have a greater diameter
than an outer diameter of the lower fan 630 to surround the lower
fan 630.
[0076] Exhaust guides 650 having shapes symmetric with respect to
each other are formed at rear ends of the lower orifice 600 and the
lower air guide 620. The exhaust guides 650 guide air guided by the
housing grooves 640 to the exhaust guide element 400. Upper ends of
the exhaust guides 650 constitute a shape corresponding to that of
a lower end of the exhaust guide element 400.
[0077] A circular exhaust grill 652 is inserted and mounted in an
upper inner end of the exhaust guides 650. The exhaust grill 652
prevents external foreign substances from being inserted to a lower
portion of the exhaust guides 650.
[0078] A lower motor hole 622 is formed in a central portion of the
lower air guide 620 to pass through the lower air guide 620.
Therefore, a lower motor 660 is inserted to pass through the lower
motor hole 622 so that it is fixedly installed therein. The lower
motor 660 generates rotational power using power supplied from the
outside and provides the rotational power to the lower fan 630 to
rotate the lower fan 630.
[0079] A lower motor support 670 is further provided to the right
side of the lower air guide 620. The lower motor support 670 is
intended for more solidly supporting the lower motor 660 mounted in
the lower air guide 620. A lower end of the lower motor support
contacts the base pan 500. The main drain pan 700 is installed on a
central rear side of the front frame 100. The main drain pan 700
has a quadrangular shape as illustrated. The main drain pan 700
collects condensed water generated at a second heat exchanger 860
which will be described later, and simultaneously, supports a
plurality of parts, and vertically divides an inner space of the
air conditioner.
[0080] In more detail, an integral type is generally divided into
an indoor side and an outdoor side. The main drain pan 700 divides
the inside of the air conditioner into an indoor side and an
outdoor side. That is, the outdoor side (a heat sink side)
corresponding to an outdoor unit (in a separation type air
conditioner) is formed below the main drain pan 700, and the indoor
side (a heat absorbing side) corresponding to an indoor unit (in a
separation type air conditioner) is formed above the main drain pan
700.
[0081] A sub-drain pan 750 is installed under the main drain pan
700. The sub-drain pan 750 collects and dispenses condensed water
supplied by the main drain pan 700 and the condensed water pump
550.
[0082] In detail, the sub-drain pan 750 is formed long over a back
and forth portion, and installed on an upper side of the first heat
exchanger. Therefore, condensed water formed on the main drain pan
700 falls down to the sub-drain pan 750 and is collected. Also,
condensed water formed on the base pan 500 is supplied to the
sub-drain pan 750 via the condensed water pipe 560. The condensed
water supplied to the sub-drain pan 750 is uniformly sprayed on an
upper end of the first heat exchanger 510 and evaporated.
[0083] An upper air guide 800 is installed on an upper side of the
main drain pan 700. The upper air guide 800 is installed to across
left and right of an upper side of the main drain pan 700 to guide
air flowed by an upper fan 840. An upper fan housing 810 is
integrally formed with the upper air housing 800. The upper fan
housing 810 is installed to surround an outer side of the upper fan
840. Therefore, air forcibly discharged by the upper fan 840 is
guided by the upper fan housing 810 to flow to a discharge guide
opening 814. An upper motor hole 812 is formed in a central portion
of the upper air guide 800 to pass through the upper air guide 800.
An upper motor 820 is inserted into the upper motor hole 812 to
provide rotational power to the upper fan 840.
[0084] The discharge guide opening 814 is formed in an upper end of
the upper air guide 800 to pass through the upper air guide 800.
The discharge guide opening 814 has a rectangular shape
corresponding to a shape of the discharge louver 110. Therefore,
air guided by the upper fan housing 810 flows to the front via the
discharge guide opening 814 to pass through the discharge louver
110.
[0085] An upper motor support 830 is further provided on a lower
side of the upper motor 820. The upper motor support 830 performs
the same function as that of the lower motor support 670. That is,
the upper motor support 830 in intended for more solidly supporting
the upper motor 820. For this purpose, a lower end of the upper
motor support 830 is fixedly mounted on a front upper surface of
the main drain pan 700.
[0086] The upper fan 840 is received inside the upper fan housing
810. The upper fan 840 forces external air to flow via the suction
grill 310. The upper fan 840 is coupled at a rear end of the upper
motor 820 to rotate.
[0087] An upper orifice 850 is provided on a rear side of the upper
air guide 800. The upper orifice 850 is formed in a quadrangular
flat plate. A circular upper orifice hole 852 is formed in a
central portion of the upper orifice 850 to pass through the upper
orifice 850 so that air can flow through the upper orifice hole
852.
[0088] The second heat exchanger 860 is installed horizontally long
in a rear portion behind the main drain pan 700 to allow air sucked
via the suction grill 310 to exchange heat with coolant flowing
through the second heat exchanger 860.
[0089] Meanwhile, a control box 870 is installed at a front right
end of the main drain pan 700. The control box 870 mounts a
plurality of electric components controlling an operation of the
air conditioner therein. The control box 870 is installed to pass
through the main drain pan 700. That is, an upper half of the
control box 870 protrudes above the main drain pan 700, and a lower
half of the control box 870 protrudes below the main drain pan
700.
[0090] FIGS. 4 and 5 are a front perspective view and a rear
perspective view of the frame 300. A construction of the rear frame
300 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and
5.
[0091] A rear side of the rear frame 300 is formed to have a height
difference. In detail, back and forth lengths of an upper half and
a lower half of the rear frame 300 are different from each other.
That is, the back and forth length of the upper half of the rear
frame 300 is greater than that of the lower half of the rear frame
300. Therefore, a height difference surface 350 is formed at a
central portion of the rear frame 300. That is, the height
difference surface 350 formed horizontally is provided below the
external air inlet 302 formed in the upper half of the rear frame
300 to pass through the rear frame 300.
[0092] Also, a duct connecting hole 352 is formed in the height
difference surface 350 to vertically pass through the height
difference surface 350. The duct connecting hole 352 is a portion
to which a lower end of the exhaust guide element 400 is coupled.
That is, the frame connector 430 constituting the exhaust guide
element 400 is inserted into the duct connecting hole 325.
Therefore, the duct connecting hole 352 is formed in a cylindrical
shape having a size and a shape corresponding to a lower end of the
frame connector 430.
[0093] A grill projection receiving hole 354 is formed in left and
right ends of the height difference surface 350 to vertically pass
through the height difference surface 350.
[0094] A grill projection receiving hole 354 receives a grill
coupling projection 317 of the suction grill 310.
[0095] Meanwhile, a grill mounting part 360 is formed on an upper
side of the height difference surface 350. The grill mounting part
360 is a portion on which the suction grill 310 is mounted, and is
formed on a rear side of the external air inlet 302.
[0096] Also, a plurality of filter fixing hooks 362 are formed
along edges of the external air inlet 302 to mount the pre-filter
320 thereon. That is, the filter fixing hooks 362 having a hook
shape and protruding to a rear side are formed at four corners
along rear edges of the external air inlet 302, respectively, to
fix four corners of the pre-filter 320.
[0097] Also, the lower grill 330 is formed below the height
difference surface 350. The lower grill 330 is preferably formed
only in a right portion of the lower half of the rear frame 300.
That is, though the lower grill 310 is formed over an entire
portion of the lower half of the rear frame 300 in FIG. 5, the
lower grill 300 is formed for compatibility in this case. Actually,
air can flow through only a right portion (a left portion in FIG.
5), and cannot flow through a left portion (a right portion in FIG.
5) because an inner side of the left portion is shielded.
[0098] The reason the lower grill 330 is formed in only the right
portion of the rear frame 300 is to allow air sucked through the
lower grill 330 to pass through the first heat exchanger 510. That
is, the lower grill 330 is formed in only the right portion of the
rear frame 300 to allow the air sucked from a rear side through the
lower grill 330 to flow to the right of the first heat exchanger
510, pass through the first heat exchanger 510, and move the left
of the first heat exchanger 510.
[0099] A piping hole 364 is formed in a lower end of the rear frame
300 to pass through the rear frame 300 in a back and forth
direction. The piping hole 364 is a portion in which a draining
pipe (not shown) is formed. The draining pipe allows condensed
water to be drained.
[0100] A plurality of frame coupling projections 370 for coupling
to the front frame 100 are formed along a front end of the rear
frame 300. The frame coupling projections 370 are portions into
which coupling members such as screws are inserted. The frame
coupling projections 370 are formed at central portions of left and
right front ends, an upper end, and a lower end of the rear frame
300, and left and right of an upper front side of the rear frame
300. Therefore, when screws are inserted into the frame coupling
projections 370 and coupled to the front frame 100, coupling of the
front and rear frames 100 and 300 is performed.
[0101] Meanwhile, a detachment groove 372 is formed in a rear end
of a lateral upper end of the rear frame 300. The detachment groove
372 is formed to be recessed a predetermined distance from both
sides of the rear frame 300 to an inner side. The detachment groove
372 preferably has a vertical length corresponding to a human
hand.
[0102] The detachment groove 372 is intended for preventing
interference with a user's hands when the user grabs a detachment
rib 315 in order to pull the detachment rib 315 of the suction
grill 310 to the front.
[0103] Grill hook coupling holes 374 are formed in a rear upper end
of the rear frame 300 to pass through the rear frame 300. The grill
hook coupling holes 374 are portions into which grill coupling
hooks 316 are inserted and coupled. The grill hook coupling holes
374 are formed to have a size corresponding to that of a front end
of the grill coupling hook 316.
[0104] In more detail, the grill hook coupling holes 374 passing
through in a back and forth direction are formed in upper left and
right ends of the grill mounting part 360. The grill hook coupling
holes 374 have a size through which a hooking part 316' of the
grill coupling hook 316 can pass.
[0105] FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and rear perspective views of the
suction grill 310, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a
plurality of grill ribs 312 are formed with an equal interval on
the suction grill 310. Therefore, air is sucked through gaps
between the plurality of grill ribs 312.
[0106] Also, the gaps between the plurality of grill ribs 312 are
preferably shielded using a mesh network or a gauze. This is for
preventing external foreign substances from passing through the
grill ribs 312.
[0107] A rib support 312' is vertically formed at a central portion
of the suction grill 310. The rib support 312' supports the
plurality of grill ribs 312. A duct receiving groove 313 is formed
in the suction grill 310 to receive a portion of the exhaust guide
element 400. That is, the duct receiving groove 313 collapsing to
the front (in FIG. 6) is formed in a left portion of the suction
grill 310. A lower end of the duct receiving groove 313 has a
semicircular groove shape corresponding to a front side of the
exhaust duct 410. Therefore, front ends of the exhaust duct 410 and
the frame connector 430 are received in the duct receiving groove
313.
[0108] The suction grill 310 is sloppily formed to have a
predetermined slope toward the front. Therefore, both ends of the
suction grill 310 are bent to the front and extended to form grill
lateral sides 314 of a triangular shape whose width increases
toward a lower end. Also, a plurality of grill reinforcing ribs
314' are formed on an inner surface of the grill lateral sides 314
to reinforce support strength.
[0109] The detachment ribs 315 are formed at upper ends of the
suction grill 310 to allow a user to detach the suction grill 310.
In more detail, the detachment ribs 315 protruding with a
predetermined size in a lateral direction are formed at upper ends
of the grill lateral sides 314. Therefore, when a user grabs the
detachment ribs 315 and pulls the detachment ribs 315 in a rear
direction, an upper end of the suction grill 310 is separated from
the rear frame 300.
[0110] A pair of grill coupling hooks 316 is formed at upper ends
of the suction grill 310. The grill coupling hooks 316 protrude to
the front from left and right upper ends of the suction grill 310
to allow the upper end of the suction grill 310 to be coupled to
the rear frame 300.
[0111] The grill coupling hooks 316 are formed to have elasticity
of its own such that their front ends moves and restores a
predetermined distance vertically and horizontally. The hooking
parts 316' having a relatively greater cross-section than that of a
rear portion is formed at the front ends.
[0112] Therefore, after the grill coupling hooks 316 are inserted
into the grill hook coupling holes 374 of the rear frame 300, the
grill coupling hooks 316 are not detached from the grill hook
coupling holes 374 because of the hooking part 316' of the grill
coupling hook 316 unless force of predetermined intensity is
applied.
[0113] The grill coupling projections 317 are formed at lower ends
of the suction grill 310. The grill coupling projections 317 are
portions inserted into the grill projection receiving holes 354.
Therefore, the grill coupling projections 317 are formed to
protrude in a predetermined size from left and right lower ends of
the suction grill 310 to a lower direction, and have a horizontal
size corresponding to a width of the grill projection receiving
holes 354.
[0114] FIGS. 8 to 11 illustrate in more detail a construction of
the knob 340. That is, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a knob of a
pair of knobs 340 that is installed on a right side of the rear
frame 300, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a knob that is
installed on a left side of the rear frame 300. Also, FIG. 10 is a
cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I' of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11
is a perspective view illustrating a right side of the knob
illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0115] A construction of the knob 340 will be described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, since the knobs 340
on both sides (FIGS. 8 and 9) have shapes symmetric with respect to
each other, descriptions will be made with reference to FIGS. 8,
10, and 11 illustrating the knob on the right side.
[0116] As illustrated, the knob 340 includes a knob body 344 for
receiving a user's fingers, a knob edge 346 protruding along an
edge of the knob body 344, and a fixing rib 348 formed on a
location spaced a predetermined distance from the knob edge
346.
[0117] The knob body 344 is a portion into which a user's fingers
are inserted, and is formed in an about shape so that a
predetermined space is formed inside the knob body 344. Therefore,
four fingers except a thumb are inserted into this inner space.
[0118] The knob body 344 includes a knob upper surface 344a
constituting an upper appearance, a knob lower surface 344b formed
at a location separated a predetermined distance from the knob
upper surface 344a to constitute a lower appearance, a knob lateral
surface 344c connecting the knob upper surface 344a with the knob
lower surface 344b and simultaneously constituting a lateral
appearance, and a knob front surface 344d and a knob rear surface
344e constituting a front appearance and a rear appearance,
respectively.
[0119] The knob edge 346 protrudes in a predetermined size to an
outer side in back and forth direction and a horizontal direction
along an edge of a right end of the knob body 344 having an about
rectangular shape. Therefore, the knob edge 346 contacts an outer
surface of the rear frame 300 when the knob 340 is mounted in the
knob hole 342 of the rear frame 300.
[0120] The fixing rib 348 is formed long in a back and forth
direction on an upper surface and a lower surface of the knob 340.
The fixing rib 348 is formed in a location separated a
predetermined distance from the knob edge 346. Therefore, the
fixing rib 348 is located inside the rear frame when the knob 340
is mounted in the knob hole 342.
[0121] In more detail, referring to FIG. 10, the fixing rib 348 has
a triangle-shaped cross-section (when seen from a front side). In
other words, a right surface and a left surface of the fixing rib
348 include a vertical surface 348' and a guide surface 348''. The
vertical surface 348' contacts an inner surface of the rear frame
300, and the guide surface 348'' guides mounting of the knob 340.
That is, the guide surface 348'' is formed to have an acute angle
with the vertical surface 348' to allow the knob 340 to slide on an
edge of the knob hole 342 and pass through the knob hole 342 when
the knob 340 is inserted into the knob hole 342 from a side
direction. A knob groove 349 is formed between the knob edge 346
and the fixing rib 348 spaced from each other. Therefore, a lateral
side of the rear frame 300 is inserted into this knob groove
349.
[0122] The knob groove 349 is formed in an U-shape (when seen from
a front side). A plurality of knob reinforcing ribs 349' are
arranged with a predetermined interval on a lower surface of the
knob groove 349 to more solidly support the fixing rib 348.
[0123] Meanwhile, the knob body 344 is formed such that its
horizontal width gradually decreases toward the front side.
[0124] When the knob body 344 is formed such that its horizontal
width gradually decreases toward the front side, a user can easily
grab the knob 340. That is, such a shape of the knob 340 is formed
with consideration of a difference in respective human fingers.
[0125] For example, in the case where the air conditioner of the
present invention is raised by a user from the front direction, an
index finger (a second finger) of the user is received in an inner
rear end of the knob body 344, and a little finger is positioned at
an inner front end of the knob body 344. Therefore, for swift
receiving the index finger, a width of a rear end of the knob body
344 is made wider than that of a front end of the knob body
344.
[0126] Also, the knob body 344 has a shape that is gradually
inclined upward as it is distant from the knob edge 346. That is,
in FIG. 10, a left end of the knob body 344 is located in a higher
position that that of a right end of the knob body 344. Such a
shape is for preventing a user's hand from being easily detached
from the inside of the knob body 344 once inserted into the knob
body 344. In more detail, the pair of left and right knob bodies
344 has a shape that is inclined upward as it reaches a central
portion of the air conditioner. Therefore, referring to FIG. 10,
each of the knob upper surface 344a and the knob lower surface 344b
is an inclined surface. That is, each of the knob upper surface
344a and the knob lower surface 344b becomes higher in position as
it goes to the left side.
[0127] FIGS. 12 and 13 are a front perspective view and a rear
perspective view of the front frame 100, respectively.
[0128] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the front frame 100 is formed
in a grating shape and includes a plurality of quadrangular
openings. Also, though not shown, a reinforcing panel can be
installed on a rear side of the front frame 100 in which the
plurality of openings are formed. The reinforcing panel performs a
soundproofing function and a sound-absorbing function for absorbing
or blocking noises generated from an inside of the air conditioner,
and is preferably formed of a material that can absorb water (e.g.,
condensed water) created from an inside of the air conditioner.
[0129] The front panel 200 is doubly fixedly installed on the front
frame 100. That is, the front panel 200 is doubly fixed and mounted
on the front frame 100 using a provisional assembling element and a
fixing element.
[0130] The provisional assembling element allows the front panel
200 to be provisionally assembled to the front frame 100, and
includes a plurality of panel hooks 220 and panel hook holes 130
which will be described below in detail
[0131] Also, the fixing element allows the front panel 200 to be
fixed on the front frame 100 using a coupling element, and includes
panel coupling parts 132, a panel coupling projection 222, and a
coupling member (e.g., screws).
[0132] In more detail, the plurality of panel hook holes 130 are
formed in the front frame 100. The panel hook holes 130 are
portions to which the plurality of panel hooks 220 of the front
panel 200 are inserted and coupled. The plurality of panel hook
holes 130 are formed along a front edge of the front frame 100.
[0133] Meanwhile, the panel coupling parts 132 are formed in the
front frame 100. The panel coupling parts 132 are formed on an
upper side and a lower end of the front frame 100. That is, three
panel coupling parts 132 are formed on an upper end of the louver
installation opening 102, and three panel coupling parts 132 are
formed on a lower end of the louver installation opening 102 with a
predetermined interval. Also, three panel coupling parts 132 are
formed horizontally with a 31 predetermined interval on a lower end
of the front frame 100. The panel coupling parts 132 are portions
through which coupling members (not shown) such as screws pass.
Therefore, panel coupling holes 132' are formed in central portions
of the panel coupling parts 132 to allow the coupling members to be
inserted into and pass through the panel coupling holes 132'.
[0134] Also, additional coupling parts 134 are further formed on
the front frame 100. The additional coupling parts 134 are formed
in the same shapes as those of the panel coupling parts 132, but
forming positions of the additional coupling parts 134 are
different. That is, the additional coupling parts 134 are
preferably formed at central portions of the front frame 100. In
more detail, two additional coupling parts 134 are formed at left
and right of a lower half of the front frame 100.
[0135] The additional coupling parts 134 serve as additional
coupling means together with additional coupling projections 224 of
the front panel 200. The additional coupling means is selectively
used depending on a weight of the front panel 200. That is, the
additional coupling means is used to allow the front panel 200 to
be more solidly fixed on the front frame 100 in the case where a
heavy part such as a glass is further installed on a front side of
the front panel 200.
[0136] Therefore, a coupling member such as the panel coupling
parts 132 passes through the additional coupling parts 134.
[0137] A plurality of frame coupling parts 140 are formed on
lateral sides and an upper rear end of the front frame 100. The
frame coupling parts 140 are portions to which coupling members
(not shown) such as screws are coupled, and are formed at positions
corresponding to the frame coupling projections 370 of the rear
frame 300. Therefore, when the coupling members pass through the
frame coupling projections 370 and couple to the frame coupling
parts 140, the rear frame 300 and the front frame 100 are coupled
to each other. Screw grooves to which coupling members such as
screws are coupled are formed in central portions of the plurality
of frame coupling parts 140.
[0138] A plurality of coupling guide ribs 142 protrude inward from
a lateral rear end of the front frame 100. The coupling guide rib
142 is intended for guiding assembling of the front frame 100 and
the rear frame 300, and is formed in a or shape (when seen from an
upper side). Therefore, an edge of the rear frame 300 is inserted
into a gap between the coupling guide rib 142 and the front frame
100.
[0139] A pair of drain coupling members 144 protrude inward from a
lateral side of the front frame 100. The drain coupling members 144
protrude inward from both lateral sides of the front frame 100 to
be symmetric with each other, and are formed in a or shape (when
seen from an upper side).
[0140] The drain coupling members 144 allow the front frame 100 to
be coupled to the main drain pan 700 using a coupling member.
Therefore, a drain coupling hole 144' is formed in a rear end of
the drain coupling member 144 to pass through the drain coupling
member 144 so that a coupling member such as a screw passes through
the drain coupling hole 144'.
[0141] Also, referring to FIG. 13, the frame coupling parts 140 are
integrally formed with an inside of the drain coupling members
144.
[0142] A pair of base coupling members 146 protrude inward from a
lateral lower end of the front frame 100. The base coupling members
146 protrude inward from both sides of the front frame 100 to be
symmetric with respect to each other, and are formed in a or shape
(when seen from an upper side) as in the drain coupling members
144.
[0143] The base coupling members 146 are intended for allowing the
front frame 100 and the base pan 500 to be coupled to each other
using a coupling member such as a screw. Therefore, a base coupling
member 146' is formed in a rear end of the base coupling member 146
to pass through the base coupling member 146 so that a coupling
member such as a screw passes through the base coupling member
146'.
[0144] Also, the frame coupling part 140 is integrally formed with
an inside of the base coupling member 146 as in the inside of the
drain coupling member 144.
[0145] A plurality of air guide coupling members 148 are formed at
an upper rear end of the front frame 100. The air guide coupling
members 148 are intended for the upper air guide 800 to be coupled
to the front frame 100. Three air guide coupling members 148 are
formed with a predetermined interval at a lower side of an upper
rear end of the front frame 100. An air guide coupling hole 148' is
formed in the air guide coupling members 148 to pass through the
air guide coupling members 148 so that a coupling member such as a
screw passes through the air guide coupling hole 148'.
[0146] Louver installation parts 106 are formed on both sides of
the louver installation opening 102, respectively. The louver
installation parts 106 are portions at which both ends of the
discharge louver 110 is installed and supported, and are formed in
a semicircle shape protruding to the front in a rounded shape.
[0147] Also, a louver installation groove 108 is recessed in a
lateral direction from an inner lateral side of the louver
installation part 106. A louver rotational shaft 111 of the
discharge louver 110 is inserted into the louver installation
groove 108. The louver installation groove 108 is formed in each of
lateral sides of the pair of the louver installation parts 106. A
front side of at least one of the two louver installation grooves
108 is preferably open to allow the louver rotational shaft 111 to
be easily installed.
[0148] A louver motor (not shown) providing rotational power to the
discharge louver 110 is installed inside at least one of the pair
of the louver installation parts 106 formed at both ends of the
louver installation opening 102.
[0149] A louver support 150 is integrally formed at a central
portion of the louver installation opening 102. The louver support
150 is vertically formed to support a central portion of the
discharge louver 110.
[0150] The louver support 150 includes a connection part 152
installed vertically across the louver installation opening 102,
and a stopper 154 extending to the front from a central portion of
the connection part 152. Also, an upper end and a lower end of the
stopper 154 contact a groove front side 114' and a groove lower
side 114'' of the discharge louver 110 to limit a rotation range of
the discharge louver 110.
[0151] A louver support hole 156 is formed in a front end of the
stopper 154 to pass through the stopper 154. The louver support
hole 156 is a portion into and by which a central support shaft 115
of the discharge louver 110 is inserted and supported.
[0152] FIGS. 14 and 15 are a front perspective view and a rear
perspective view of the front panel 200, respectively.
[0153] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a plurality of panel hooks 220
protrude in a rear direction from a rear edge of the front panel
200. The panel hooks 220 have a shape corresponding to that of the
plurality of panel hook holes 130 formed on the front frame 100, so
that the panel hooks 220 are coupled to the panel hook holes 130.
Therefore, a corresponding number of panel hooks 220 are formed on
positions corresponding to positions where the panel hook holes 130
are formed, respectively. Also, the panel hooks 220 are formed in a
shape (when seen from a lateral direction). That is, a front end of
the panel hook 220 is formed to have a relatively greater
cross-section, so that the panel hook 220 is not easily detached
from the panel hook hole 130 once the panel hook 220 is inserted
into the panel hook hole 130.
[0154] A plurality of panel coupling projections 222 are formed on
a rear side of the front panel 200. The panel coupling projections
222 serve as a fixing means together with the panel coupling parts
132. The panel coupling projections 222 are formed on an upper side
and a lower end of the front panel 200.
[0155] The panel coupling projections 222 are formed on positions
corresponding to positions where the panel coupling parts 132 are
formed. In detail, three panel coupling projections 222 are formed
with a predetermined interval on each of upper and lower portions
of the air outlet 210. Also, three panel coupling projections 222
are formed with a predetermined interval at a lower end of the
front panel 200.
[0156] The panel coupling projections 222 are potions through and
to which a coupling projection such as a screw passes and is
coupled. Therefore, a screw groove to which a coupling projection
such as a screw is screw-coupled is formed in the panel coupling
projection 222.
[0157] An additional coupling projection 224 is further formed on a
rear side of the front panel 200. The additional coupling
projection 224 serves as an additional coupling means together with
the additional coupling parts 134, and has the same shape as that
of the panel coupling projection 222. Therefore, a coupling member
that passes through the additional coupling part 134 is
screw-coupled to the additional coupling projection 224.
[0158] A corresponding number of additional coupling projections
224 is formed on positions corresponding to positions of the
additional coupling parts 134. That is, two additional coupling
projections 224 are formed on each of left and right lateral ends
on a central portion of the front panel 200.
[0159] A discharge fence 230 is formed along an edge of the air
outlet 210. The discharge fence 230 protrudes to a rear side along
the edge of the air outlet 210. The discharge fence 230 is a
portion inserted into the louver installation opening 102 when the
front panel 200 is coupled on the front frame 100.
[0160] An interference preventing groove 232 is formed to be open
to a rear side in a lateral side of the discharge fence 230. The
interference preventing groove 232 receives the louver rotational
shaft 111 when the discharge fence 230 is inserted into the louver
installation opening 102.
[0161] FIGS. 16 and 17 are a front perspective view and a rear
perspective view of the discharge louver 110, respectively.
[0162] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the louver rotational shafts
111 protrude in a lateral side from both sides of the discharge
louver 110. The louver rotational shaft 111 serves as a center of
rotation of the discharge louver 110, and is inserted into the
louver installation groove 108 of the louver installation part
106.
[0163] A plurality of discharge ribs 112 are formed in a grating
shape on the discharge louver 110 to constitute a plurality of
discharge passages 113. Also, a louver center groove 114 that is
open in a rear direction is formed in a central portion of the
discharge louver 110. The louver center groove 114 is a portion
that receives the louver support 150.
[0164] Therefore, as the discharge louver 110 rotates, the louver
support 150 touches a groove front side 114' and a groove lower
side 114'' of the lover center groove 114 to limit a rotation range
of the discharge louver 110.
[0165] A center support shaft 115 protrudes from a left side (a
right side in FIG. 17) of the lover centre groove 114. The center
support shaft 115 is located on the same line as the louver
rotational shaft 111 and inserted into the louver support hole 156
of the louver support 150.
[0166] FIGS. 18 and 19 are perspective views illustrating an upper
and lower construction of the main drain pan 700, respectively.
[0167] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, as described above, the main
drain pan 700 has an about quadrangle-shaped appearance, and is
installed on a central portion between the front frame 100 and the
rear frame 300 to divide a space formed by the front and rear
frames 100 and 300 into an upper portion and a lower portion.
[0168] A plurality of bottom partition ribs 702 are formed on an
upper surface of the main drain pan 700 as illustrated. The bottom
partition ribs 702 allow a plurality of chambers to be formed on
the upper surface of the main drain pan 700 so that spaces through
which condensed water can flow.
[0169] In more detail, the plurality of bottom partition ribs 702
are formed on the upper surface of the main drain pan 700 with an
equal interval. These bottom partition ribs 702 are integrally
formed with the main drain pan 700, and protrude upward from the
upper surface of the main drain pan 700.
[0170] The plurality of bottom partition ribs 702 allow a plurality
of parts such as the second heat exchanger 860 installed above the
main drain pan 700 not to closely contact the upper surface of the
main drain pan 700, so that a predetermined space is formed.
Accordingly, condensed water that has been generated from the
second heat exchanger 860 and fallen down can easily flow on the
upper surface of the main drain pan 700.
[0171] Meanwhile, the bottom partition ribs 702 are inclined at
predetermined angles with respect to a front side and a lateral
side of the main drain pan 700. That is, the bottom partition ribs
702 have a shape inclined to the left to guide flowing of condensed
water.
[0172] A plurality of bottom condensed water holes 704 are formed
in the main drain pan 700 to vertically pass through the main drain
pan 700. The bottom condensed water holes 704 allow condensed water
that has been generated from the second heat exchanger 860 and
fallen down to move below the main drain pan 700.
[0173] A housing seat groove 710 recessed downward is further
formed on a front half of the main drain pan 700. The housing seat
groove 710 is intended for preventing interference with an upper
fan housing 810 formed on the upper air guide 800. Therefore, the
housing seat groove 710 is formed in an arc shape corresponding to
a shape of a lower end of the upper fan housing 810, so that the
lower end of the upper fan housing 810 is received in an upper side
of the housing seat groove 710.
[0174] A plurality of groove partition ribs 712 are integrally
formed with an equal interval on the housing seat groove 710. The
groove partition ribs 712 are formed in a shape corresponding to a
shape of the bottom partition ribs 702. Therefore, the groove
partition ribs 712 are formed to be inclined to the left at a
predetermined angel, and protrude upward from an upper surface of
the housing seat groove 710. Also, groove condensed water holes 714
are formed in the housing seat groove 710 to vertically pass
through the housing seat groove 710. The groove condensed water
holes 714 have the same shape as that of the bottom condensed water
hole 704, and perform the same function.
[0175] Also, the plurality of groove condensed water holes 714 are
formed in a lowermost end of the housing seat groove 710. That is,
the groove condensed water holes 714 are formed in a lowest portion
of the housing seat groove 710 that is recessed and rounded
downward and has a cross-section of an arc shape (when seen from a
front side). This is for swiftly draining condensed water formed in
the housing seat groove 710 to a lower side.
[0176] Condensed water falling guides 716 are further formed on a
lower surface of the main drain pan 700. The condensed water
falling guides 716 allow condensed water moving a lower side of the
main drain pan 700 via the condensed water holes 704 and 714 to
swiftly and directly fall down. That is, the condensed water
falling guides 716 allow the condensed water that has moved to the
lower side of the main drain pan 700 to directly fall down without
flowing to other portions.
[0177] Therefore, the condensed water falling guides 716 protrude
downward from a lower side of the main drain pan 700, and have a
cylindrical shape. In more detail, the condensed water falling
guides 716 extend downward from the condensed water holes 704 and
714. That is, the condensed water falling guides 716 extend
downward from the bottom condensed water hole 704 and the groove
condensed water hole 714, and are formed in a cylindrical shape
corresponding to shapes of the condensed water holes 704 and
714.
[0178] Meanwhile, a plurality of grooves for avoiding interference
with neighboring parts are formed in the main drain pan 700.
[0179] In more detail, a control box installation opening 720 is
formed to be open on a front right end of the main drain pan 700.
The control box installation opening 720 is formed in a size and a
shape corresponding to a cross-section of the control box 870.
Therefore, the control box 870 is installed vertically across the
control box installation opening 720.
[0180] A duct avoiding groove 722 is formed to be open in a rear
direction in a rear left portion of the main drain pan 700. The
duct avoiding groove 722 is intended for avoiding interference with
a lower end of the exhaust guide element 400. Therefore, the duct
avoiding groove 722 has a semicircle shape corresponding to a front
end of the exhaust guide element 400.
[0181] A working hole 724 is formed in a rear right portion of the
main drain pan 700. The working hole 724 is a portion formed by
cutting a rear right edge of the main drain pan 700 in a shape. The
working hole 724 is intended for easy working (e.g., after service)
of an operator.
[0182] For example, the compressor 520 is installed below a right
end of the main drain pan 700. The compressor 520 is covered with a
protection cap (not shown). The working hole 724 is formed to allow
an operator to easily mount the protection cap from an upper
direction. A pipe passing groove 726 through which a coolant pipe
(not shown) passes is formed in a right end of the main drain pan
700. That is, coolant flowing between the first heat exchanger 510,
the compressor 520, and the second heat exchanger 860 flows via the
coolant pipe formed of a pipe. This coolant pipe is vertically
installed in the pipe passing groove 726. The pipe passing groove
726 is formed in a shape (when seen from an upper direction) as
illustrated.
[0183] A cord passing groove 730 is formed in a left front end of
the main drain pan 700. The cord passing groove 730 is a groove
through which a power cord (not shown) through which external power
is applied, and a power line supplying power to the upper motor 820
pass. The cord passing groove 730 has a ` ` shape (when seen from
an upper direction).
[0184] A power line passing groove 732 is formed in a front end of
the main drain pan 700. That is, the power line passing groove 732
is formed in a left side of the control box installation opening
720. The power line passing groove 732 is a portion through which
various power lines supplied to the compressor 520 and the
condensed water pump 550 pass.
[0185] The power line passing groove 732 is formed in a `.andgate.`
shape (when seen from an upper direction) as illustrated. A
detachment preventing rib 732' for preventing the power line (not
shown) inserted into the power line passing groove 732 from being
detached to the front side is further formed at a front end.
[0186] An auxiliary groove 734 is further formed in the
neighborhood of a right front end of the main drain pan 700. Like
the power line passing groove 732, the auxiliary groove 734 is also
intended for guiding a plurality of power lines. The auxiliary
groove 734 is formed in a smaller size than that of the power line
passing groove 732 to pass a DC power line therethrough.
[0187] The auxiliary groove 734 is formed in a shape (when seen
from an upper direction) as illustrated, and a DC line detachment
preventing rib 734' is formed at a right end to prevent the power
line from being detached.
[0188] Drain coupling parts 736, 737, and 739 for coupling with the
sub-drain pan 750 are formed on the main drain pan 700. The drain
coupling parts 736, 737, and 739 consist of a front drain coupling
part 736 formed at a front end of the main drain pan 700, a rear
drain coupling part 737 formed at a rear end of the main drain pan
700, and a right drain coupling part 739.
[0189] The front drain coupling part 736 is formed at a central
front end of the main drain pan 700, and the rear drain coupling
part 737 protrudes in a rear direction from a central rear end of
the main drain pan 700. A drain coupling hole 738 through which a
coupling member such as a screw passes is formed in central
portions of the front drain coupling part 736 and the rear drain
coupling part 737 to pass through the front drain coupling part 736
and the rear drain coupling part 737.
[0190] Three right drain coupling parts 739 are formed at a right
portion of the main drain pan 700. That is, the right drain
coupling parts 739 are formed at a rear end of the main drain pan
700, a right front end and a right rear end of the housing seat
hole 710. A right drain coupling hole 739' like the drain coupling
hole 738 is formed also in the right drain coupling part 739 to
pass through the right drain coupling part 739.
[0191] An angle hole 740 is formed in a front right edge of the
main drain pan 700. The angle hole 740 is a portion where a support
angle 580 passes and is installed. Therefore, the angle hole 740 is
formed in a shape (when seen from an upper direction) corresponding
to a cross-section of the support angle 580. The support angle 580
is inserted from above the angle hole 740.
[0192] Also, brace support parts 742 are formed at the neighborhood
of a lower right end of the main drain pan 700. The brace support
parts 742 are a portion to and on which an upper end of the brace
570 is coupled and supported, protrudes downward (upward in FIG.
19) from a lower surface of the main drain pan 700, and is formed
in a pair. That is, the brace support parts 742 are installed with
a predetermined interval between them, and have a shape and a shape
(when seen from an upper direction in FIG. 19) symmetric with each
other as illustrated. Meanwhile, frame coupling recesses 744 are
respectively formed in the neighborhood of the left and right front
ends of the main drain pan 700. The frame coupling recesses 744
respectively form a screw hole for fastening a screw or other
fastening member therein, and are portions for fixing the main
drain pan 700 to the front frame 100.
[0193] The frame coupling recesses 744 are formed in locations
facing the drain coupling holes 144' of the drain coupling member
144 formed on the front frame 100. Therefore, when a screw passes
through the drain coupling hole 144' of the front frame 100 and
couples to the frame coupling groove 744', a front end of the main
drain pan 700 is fixed to the front frame 100.
[0194] FIGS. 20 and 21 are an upper perspective view and a lower
perspective view of the sub-drain pan 750, respectively. A
construction of the sub-drain pan 750 will be described below in
more detail.
[0195] As described above, the sub-drain pan 750 is provided below
the main drain pan 700 to collect condensed water generated at the
first and second heat exchangers 510 and 860, and allows the
collected and condensed water to fall down from the first heat
exchanger 510.
[0196] Therefore, a plurality of falling holes 752 for allowing
condensed water that has been collected to fall down to the first
heat exchanger 510 are formed in the sub-drain pan 750. The falling
holes 752 are formed in a circular shape and separated side by side
with a predetermined interval.
[0197] The plurality of falling holes 752 are formed in a plurality
of rows. That is, the plurality of falling holes 752 is formed in
two rows back and forth in a right portion of a bottom 750a of the
sub-drain pan 750. Of course, the plurality of falling holes 752
can be formed in one row or three rows or more.
[0198] When the sub-drain pan 750 is installed, the plurality of
falling holes 752 is located above the first heat exchanger 510. In
more detail, the plurality of falling holes 752 is preferably
located along a right upper side of the first heat exchanger 510.
Therefore, condensed water falling downward via the plurality of
falling holes 752 are evaporated while it flows down via a right
surface of the first heat exchanger 510.
[0199] Falling guide ribs 754 are further formed on a lower surface
of the sub-drain pan 750. The falling guide ribs 754 extend
downward from a lower end of the falling holes 752 and are formed
in a cylindrical shape having a predetermined length to guide
falling of condensed water that has passed through the sub-drain
pan 750 and moved to a lower side via the falling holes 750.
[0200] Meanwhile, the bottom 750a of the sub-drain pan 750 is
formed to be inclined. That is, the bottom 750a has a predetermined
slope whose height gradually reduces from a lateral end to the
falling holes 752 to allow condensed water collected to an inside
of the sub-drain pan 750 to be guided to the falling holes 752.
[0201] A right side of the sub-drain pan 750 is formed to have a
height difference to constitute a drain guide surface 760.
Therefore, the drain guide surface 760 is located at a relatively
high position than that of the bottom 750a of the sub-drain pan
750. The drain guide surface 760 is a surface where condensed water
formed on the base pan 500 flows in and guided.
[0202] A plurality of drain guide grooves 762 are recessed downward
from the drain guide surface 760. The drain guide grooves 762 are
preferably formed with a predetermined interval to allow condensed
water supplied to the drain guide surface 760 to easily flow to the
bottom 750a of the sub-drain pan 750.
[0203] A bottom of the drain guide groove 762 is formed to be
inclined to the left. That is, the bottom of the drain guide groove
762 has a slope whose height gradually reduces toward a direction
in which the falling holes 752 are formed (a left side in FIG. 20).
Therefore, flowing of condensed water is swiftly performed by this
slope.
[0204] A drain avoiding hole 764 is formed in a left side 750b of
the sub-drain pan 750. The drain avoiding hole 764 is formed by
cutting off a portion of the left side 750b of the sub-drain pan
750. The drain avoiding hole 764 is intended for preventing
interference with the housing seat groove 710 of the main drain pan
700 when the sub-drain pan 750 is coupled to the main drain pan
700.
[0205] A drain avoiding surface 766 is formed also on a right side
750c of the sub-drain pan 750 facing the drain avoiding hole 764.
That is, a front half of the right side 750c is formed to be
inclined to the right to constitute the drain avoiding surface 766.
Like the drain avoiding hole 764, the drain avoiding surface 766 is
also intended for avoiding interference with the housing seat
groove 710.
[0206] A connector coupling part 768 is formed at a right front end
of the sub-drain pan 750. The connector coupling part 768 is a
portion to which one end of the condensed water pipe 560 is
coupled, and has a `U` shape whose upper direction is open.
[0207] Also, a connector fixing projection 768' protrudes to the
front from a front upper end of the connector coupling part 768.
The connector fixing projection 768' is a portion inserted into a
connecting fixing groove 598. The connector fixing projection 768'
fixes a pan connector 590 so that the pan connector 590 is not
detached from the connector coupling part 768 once the pan
connector 590 is coupled to the connector coupling part 768.
[0208] Drain hooks 770 are formed at a right front end and a right
rear end of the sub-drain pan 750, respectively.
[0209] The drain hook 770 includes a general hook formed in a hook
shape, and protrudes upward a predetermined distance from a right
end of the sub-drain pan 750.
[0210] The drain hook 770 allows the sub-drain pan 750 to be
primarily and provisionally assembled to the main drain pan 700.
That is, when the drain hook 770 is inserted and coupled to a drain
hook groove (not shown) formed in the main drain pan 700, the
sub-drain pan 750 is primarily coupled to the main drain pan 700. A
plurality of drain coupling projections 772, 774, and 776 are
formed on the sub-drain pan 750 to allow the sub-drain pan 750 to
be coupled to the main drain pan 700. Therefore, the drain coupling
projections 772, 774, and 776 are formed at corresponding positions
of the drain coupling parts 736, 737, and 739 of the main drain pan
700, respectively.
[0211] In more detail, the front drain coupling projection 772 and
the rear drain coupling projection 774 protrude to the front and
rear from upper ends of a front side 750d and a rear side 750e of
the sub-drain pan 750, respectively. A front drain coupling groove
772' and a rear drain coupling groove 774' to which coupling
projections are coupled are formed at a central portions of the
front drain coupling projection 772 and the rear drain coupling
projection 774, respectively.
[0212] Also, three right drain coupling projection 776 are formed
on a right end of the sub-drain pan 750. A right drain coupling
groove 776' to which a coupling member is coupled is formed in a
central portion of each right drain coupling projection 776 to pass
through the each right drain coupling projection 776.
[0213] Heat exchange coupling members 780 and 782 for coupling with
the first heat exchanger 510 are formed back and forth of the
sub-drain pan 750. That is, the front heat exchange coupling member
780 protrudes to the front from the front side 750d of the
sub-drain pan 750, and the rear heat exchange coupling member 782
is formed at a rear end of the bottom 750a of the sub-drain pan
750. Also, a front heat exchange coupling hole 780' and a rear heat
exchange coupling hole 782' through which coupling members can pass
are formed in the front heat exchange coupling member 780 and the
rear heat exchange coupling member 782, respectively. Also, a heat
exchange support rib 784 is formed long lengthwise at a lower right
end (a rear end in FIG. 21) of the sub-drain pan 750. The heat
exchange support rib 784 protrudes downward a predetermined
distance from a lower surface of the sub-drain pan 750 to contact a
right upper end of the first heat exchanger 510. Therefore, the
heat exchange support rib 784 supports the first heat exchanger 510
to prevent the first heat exchanger 510 from falling down. A
plurality of orifice coupling ribs 786 are formed at a left end (a
front end in FIG. 21) of the sub-drain pan 750. The orifice
coupling ribs 786 are intended for allowing the sub-drain pan 750
and the lower orifice 600 to be coupled to each other.
[0214] The orifice coupling ribs 786 are a pair of ribs separated a
predetermined distance, and a hooking threshold 786' is formed on
one of the pair of the orifice coupling ribs 786. Therefore, when
the orifice coupling rib 786 is inserted into an orifice coupling
hole (not shown) formed in an upper surface of the lower orifice
600, the orifice coupling rib 786 is hooked at the hooking
threshold 786' and not detached from the orifice coupling hole.
[0215] FIG. 22 illustrates a perspective view of the condensed
water pipe 560.
[0216] Referring to FIG. 22, the condensed water pipe 560 is formed
to have a predetermined length, and installed between the condensed
water pump 550 and the sub-drain pan 750 to guide condensed
water.
[0217] Also, the condensed water pipe 560 is preferably formed of a
flexible material so that the condensed water pipe 560 can be
freely shaped. That is, the condensed water pipe 560 is formed of a
rubber hose which can be transformed.
[0218] A lower end of the condensed water pipe 560 is coupled to
the condensed water pump 550, and an upper end of the condensed
water pipe 560 is detachably mounted on the sub-drain pan 750. That
is, the upper end of the condensed water pipe 560 is detachably
mounted at a front end of the sub-drain pan 750 using the pipe
coupling elements 590 and 768. The pipe coupling elements 590 and
768 include the connector coupling part 768 and the pan connector
590.
[0219] The pan connector 590 illustrated in FIG. 23 is fit on an
upper end of the condensed water pipe 560. The pan connector 590 is
mounted on the connecting coupling part 768 of the sub-drain pan
750 in a sliding manner, and serves as one element of the pipe
coupling elements 590 and 768. A detailed construction of the pan
connector 590 will be described below in detail.
[0220] FIGS. 23 and 24 are a perspective view and a plan view of
the pan connector 590.
[0221] Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, the pan connector 590 is
formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the connector
coupling part 768 of the sub-drain pan 750, and coupled in a
sliding manner.
[0222] In more detail, the pan connector 590 includes a pipe
connecting member 592 coupled to an upper end of the condensed
water pipe 560, and a pan coupling member 594 coupled to the
connector coupling part 768.
[0223] The pipe connecting member 592 is formed in a shape
corresponding to a shape of the circular condensed water pipe 560
and inserted into the condensed water pipe 560. Also, the pipe
connecting member 592 is formed to have a cross-section of saw
teeth. The reason the pipe connecting member 592 is formed to have
a cross-section of saw teeth is for the pipe connecting member 592
not to be easily detached from the inside of the condensed water
pipe 560 once inserted.
[0224] The pan coupling member 594 includes an outer plate 594a
contacting one side of the connector coupling part 768, an inner
plate 594b contacting the other side of the connector coupling part
768, and a connecting rod integrally connecting the outer plate
594a with the inner plate 594b.
[0225] The outer plate 594a and the inner plate 594b are formed in
a semicircular shape, and the outer plate 594a is greater than the
inner plate 594b. Also, the outer plate 594a contacts a front side
(in FIG. 20) of the connector coupling part 768, and the inner
plate 594b contacts a rear side (in FIG. 20) of the connector
coupling part 768.
[0226] Referring to FIG. 23, the inner plate 594b is separated a
predetermined distance from the outer plate 594a. Also, the
connecting rod 594c is provided between the outer plate 594a and
the inner plate 594b separated the predetermined distance from each
other.
[0227] Meanwhile, a connector groove 596 having a predetermined
width is formed along an outer edge of the connecting rod 594c,
i.e., between edges of the outer plate 594a and the inner plate
594b. Therefore, the connecting coupling part 768 is inserted into
the connector groove 596.
[0228] The connector fixing element 598 and 768' prevent the pan
connector 590 from being detached. The connector fixing element 598
and 768' are intended for preventing the fan connector 590 from
being detached from the connector coupling part 768 once it is
inserted into the connector coupling part 768. The connector fixing
element 598 and 768' consist of the connector fixing projection
768' and the connecting fixing groove 598 formed in a shape
corresponding to a shape of the connector fixing projection 768'.
The connector fixing groove 598 has a quadrangular shape that is
the same as a shape of the connector fixing projection 768', and is
formed in a rear upper end (a front side in FIG. 23) of the outer
plate 594a.
[0229] Also, as described above, the falling holes 752 formed in
the sub-drain pan 750 are disposed above the right side of the
first heat exchanger 510. To describe this structure in more
detail, a more detailed description of the first heat exchanger 510
will be provided.
[0230] FIGS. 25 and 26 respectively are a perspective view and a
frontal view of a first heat exchanger according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0231] Referring to FIGS. 25 and 26, in order to increase the
surface area that contacts air, the first heat exchanger 510 has a
plurality of heat exchange fins arranged vertically and tightly
spaced together. These heat exchange fins are intersected
perpendicularly by heat exchange pipes 512.
[0232] The heat exchange pipes 512 are formed to communicate with
the coolant pipe (not shown) described above, for guiding the flow
of coolant through the first heat exchanger 510. The heat exchange
pipes 512 are formed in a zig-zagging shape from front to back.
That is, when viewed from the side, they form `S` continuous
shapes.
[0233] The heat exchange pipes 512 are formed in three rows. That
is, a first row 510a is formed near the right surface of the first
heat exchanger 510, and a second row 512b and a third row 512c are
formed in sequence toward the left surface of the first heat
exchanger 510. The third row 512c is disposed below the falling
holes 752 formed on the sub-drain pan 750. Thus, the condensed
water that falls through the falling holes 752 of the sub-drain pan
750 falls onto the top portion of the third row 512c and evaporates
while flowing downward.
[0234] In further detail, condensed water from the falling holes
752 of the sub-drain pan 750 falls on top of the first row 512a
that is respectively the farthest away from the lower pan 630 or
the lower orifice 600 from the heat exchange pipes 512 forming 3
rows. That is, the water falls toward the right side that is the
intake side of air passing through the first heat exchanger
510.
[0235] Thus, the condensed water flowing from the falling holes 752
of the sub-drain pan 750 falls onto the right surface of the lower
pan 630 or the first heat exchanger 510 located at the opposite
side of the lower orifice 600. That is, the water falls on top of
the first row 512a formed farthest away from the lower pan 630 or
the lower orifice 600. Accordingly, the air that flows into the
first heat exchanger 510 contacts the condensed water directly to
aid in quickly evaporating the water.
[0236] An operation of the air conditioner having the
above-described construction will be described below.
[0237] First, flowing of coolant and air in the air conditioner
according to the present invention will be described.
[0238] Though the air conditioner can be used for cooling and
heating, description will be made for the case where the air
conditioner is used for cooling.
[0239] The first heat exchanger 510 serves as a condenser, and the
second heat exchanger 860 serves as an evaporator. Also, coolant
pipes, (not shown) are connected between the compressor 520, the
first heat exchanger 510, and the second heat exchanger 860 to
guide flowing of coolant.
[0240] Therefore, when gas coolant from the compressor 520 is
compressed to become coolant of high temperature and high pressure,
and flows into the first heat exchanger 510, the first heat
exchanger 510 exchanges heat with outside air to condense
coolant.
[0241] After that, condensed coolant expands while it passes
through an expansion valve (not shown), and flows into the second
heat exchanger 860. The coolant that has flowed to the second heat
exchanger 860 exchanges heat with outside air to evaporate.
Therefore, the coolant becomes a gas state. At this point, liquid
state coolant also remains, so that coolant in two phases is mixed
and present actually.
[0242] The coolant passes through the accumulator 530 and is sent
back to the compressor 520 to complete a circulation cycle of the
coolant.
[0243] Meanwhile, air exchanges heat while it passes through the
first and second heat exchangers 510 and 860. This process is
described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 26.
[0244] First, air flow (denoted by in FIG. 26) at a heat sinking
side (a lower side of the main drain pan) is described. The air
flow at this point is basically generated by the lower fan 630.
That is, when the lower motor 660 is driven by power applied from
the outside, the lower fan 630 connected to a shaft of the lower
motor 660 rotates to generate air flow.
[0245] Therefore, air from a rear side flows in via the lower grill
330 formed in a lower half of the rear frame 300. The air flowing
to the front via the lower grill 330 changes its direction to flow
to the left side and pass through the first heat exchanger 510.
[0246] Temperature of air that passes through the second heat
exchanger 860 is raised. That is, since the second heat exchanger
860 serves as a condenser, air receives heat from coolant flowing
through the second heat exchanger 860 to become high temperature
air
[0247] The high temperature air that has passed through the second
heat exchanger 860 passes through the lower orifice hole 602 to
flow into a central portion of the lower fan 630. The air that has
flowed into the central portion of the lower fan 630 flows radially
as the fan 630 rotates, and is guided by the exhaust guides 650 and
discharged upward.
[0248] High temperature air guided upward by the exhaust guides 650
is completely exhausted to an outside of a building via the exhaust
guide element 400.
[0249] Next, air flow (denoted by in FIG. 26) generated at a heat
absorption side (an upper side of the main drain pan) is described.
Air flow at this point is basically generated by the upper fan 840.
That is, when the upper motor 820 is driven by power applied from
the outside, the upper fan 840 connected to a shaft of the upper
motor 820 rotates to generate air flow.
[0250] Therefore, air of an indoor space flows into the inside (the
front side) via the suction grill 310 formed in an upper half of
the rear frame 300. The air that flows in via the suction grill 310
sequentially passes through the pre-filter 320 and the
deodorization filter 322, so that foreign substances or bad smell
contained in the air is removed.
[0251] The air that has passed through the pre-filter 320 and the
deodorization filter 322 exchanges heat with the second heat
exchanger 860 while it passes through the second heat exchanger
860. That is, since the second heat exchanger 860 serves as an
evaporator, air that passes through the second heat exchanger 860
is cooled down by exchanging heat with coolant flowing through the
second heat exchanger 860.
[0252] Low temperature air that has passed through the second heat
exchanger 860 flows to the front via the upper orifice hole 852 and
flows into a central portion of the upper fan 840. The air that has
flowed into the central portion of the upper fan 840 is discharged
radially as the upper fan 840 rotates. The air is guided by the
upper fan housing 810 to flow upward.
[0253] The air that flows upward by the upper fan housing 810 moves
to the front via the discharge guide opening 814 of the upper air
guide 800 to pass through the discharge louver 110. The low
temperature air that passes through the discharge louver 110 is
discharged through the front of the air outlet 210 and cools the
interior space. The air that is discharged through the discharge
louver 110 can be made to change direction by means of the
plurality of ribs formed on the discharge louver 110.
[0254] Next, a process of fixing the suction grill 310 to the rear
frame 300 will briefly be described.
[0255] First, the suction grill 310 is placed in proximity at the
rear of the rear frame 300. Then, the grill coupling projections
317 formed on the bottom of the suction grill 310 are inserted into
the grill projection receiving holes 354.
[0256] After the grill coupling projections 317 are inserted in the
grill projection receiving holes 354, the upper end of the suction
grill 310 is pushed forward. Then, the grill coupling hooks 316
formed at the top of the suction grill 310 are inserted into the
grill hook coupling holes 374. When the grill coupling hooks 316
are inserted in the grill hook coupling holes 374, disengaging of
the suction grill 310 is prevented by the hooking parts 316' formed
on the upper portions of the grill coupling hooks 316. Through this
process, the suction grill 310 is mounted to the rear frame
300.
[0257] In order to separate the suction 310 grill that was attached
through the above process, the procedures are performed in reverse
order.
[0258] That is, in order to separate the suction grill 310, the
detachment rib 315 is grasped by hand and pulled forward.
Accordingly, the grill coupling hooks 316 move laterally by means
of their own elasticity, and the hooking parts 316' of the grill
coupling hooks 316 pass through the grill hook coupling holes 374
and move rearward.
[0259] Then, the suction grill 310 is lifted, whereupon the grill
coupling projections 317 of the suction grill 310 detach from the
grill projection receiving holes 354 and disengage in an upward
direction. The suction grill 310 is separated through the above
procedure.
[0260] If a user wishes to lift the air conditioner, the user's
hands grasp the pair of knobs 340 to lift the unit. Here, it is
preferable for a user to stand in front of the air conditioner to
lift it. That is, because the inner space of the knobs 340
gradually increase towards the rear, it is preferable for human
index fingers to be positioned at the rear of the knobs 340.
[0261] In order to assemble the knobs 340 to the knob holes, the
knobs 340 may be pressed inward from either side. That is, the
fixing ribs 348 of the knobs 340 form guide surfaces 348'' that are
formed to slope toward one side (the inner side) surface, so that
when the knobs 340 are pushed into the knob holes 342, the guide
surfaces 348'' contact the perimeters of the knob holes 342,
allowing them to slide. Accordingly, when force is continuously
exerted in a lateral direction, the fixing rib 348 moves to the
inside of the knob hole 342, and the side surface of the rear frame
300 is positioned at the knob groove 349 of the knob 340. The
attaching of the knob 340 is thereby completed.
[0262] Also, in order to attach the front panel 200 to the front
frame 100, first, after the front panel 200 is coupled to the front
frame 100 by means of the above-described provisional assembling
element, the assembling element described above is used to complete
the coupling.
[0263] In further detail, the front panel 200 is first pressed
against the front of the front frame 100, and the plurality of
panel hooks 220 are inserted into the plurality of panel hook holes
130 to provisionally assemble the front panel 200.
[0264] Thereafter, after screws or other fastening members pass
through the panel coupling holes 132' of the panel coupling parts
132 from the rear of the rear frame 300, the fastening members are
screwed and fastened to the panel coupling projections 222, in
order to complete the fixing of the front panel 200 to the front
frame 100.
[0265] In the case where the front panel 200 is heavy, an auxiliary
fixing element as described above is used to more firmly fix the
front panel 200 to the front frame 100. Here, the process is the
same as that used with the fixing element.
[0266] Next, referring to FIG. 18, the flow of condensed water from
the top of the main drain pan 700 will be described. Heat is
exchanged by the second heat exchanger 860 between the outside air
and the coolant inside, and moisture is drawn from the air during
this process to generate condensed water. The condensed water
generated in this process flows to the bottom of the second heat
exchanger 860 to fall onto the top of the main drain pan 700. The
condensed water falling on the top surface of the main drain pan
700 is guided by and flows along the bottom partition ribs 702, and
passes through the bottom condensed water holes 704 to pass through
the main drain pan 700 and move downward.
[0267] The condensed water on the top surface of the main drain pan
700 flows to the housing seat groove 710. That is, the housing seat
groove 710 is formed at a location that is lower than that of the
main drain pan 700, so that a portion of the condensed water flows
to the housing seat groove 710.
[0268] The condensed water that moves to the housing seat groove
710 is guided by the groove partition ribs 712, and moves gradually
to the bottom of the housing seat groove 710. Then, the water flows
further downward through the groove condensed water holes 714
formed in the left, lower end of the housing seat groove 710. The
condensed water that passes through the condensed water holes 704
and 714, that is, the bottom condensed water holes 704 and the
groove condensed water holes 714, and moves to the bottom of the
main drain pan 700, flows along the inner surfaces of the condensed
water falling guides 716, and then collects at the bottom of the
condensed water falling guides 716 and falls downward. The
condensed water that falls from the condensed water falling guides
716 falls on the top surface of the sub-drain pan 750.
[0269] FIGS. 28 and 29 are front and rear perspective views of an
inner construction of the air conditioner according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0270] Referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, the control box 870 is
installed to pass in a vertical direction in the control box
installation opening 720. Also, the components provided in the
control box 870 may protrude from below the control box 870.
[0271] As described above, a coolant pipe 746 passes vertically
through a pipe passing groove 726, and the working hole 724 is
disposed on top of the compressor 520. Accordingly, when a
protective cap (not shown) is to be installed at the top of the
compressor 520, a user may insert the protective cap through the
top of the work hole 724.
[0272] Also, the duct avoiding grooves are disposed at the tops of
the exhaust guides 650. Thus, while not shown in the diagrams, when
the lower end of the exhaust guide element 400 connected and
installed on the exhaust guide 650, the front portion of the
exhaust guide element 400 is disposed inside the duct avoiding
groove 722.
[0273] Additionally, the support angle 580 is installed between the
right upper end of the main drain pan 700 and the base pan 500 to
support the main drain pan 700, and the support angle 580 is
installed through inserting it from the top of the angle hole
740.
[0274] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a sub-drain pan installed
in the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0275] Referring to FIG. 30, the sub-drain pan 750 is installed
above the first heat exchanger 510. Accordingly, screws or other
fastening members are passed through and fixed in the heat exchange
coupling members 780 and 782 to couple the sub-drain pan 750 to the
top of the first heat exchanger 510. Here, when the heat exchanger
support rib 784 is contacted by the right upper end of the first
heat exchanger 510, the first heat exchanger 510 is prevented from
falling over to the right.
[0276] The plurality of orifice coupling ribs 786 are inserted in
the orifice fastening groove (not shown) formed on the lower
orifice 600, allowing the coupling of the sub-drain pan 750 and the
lower orifice 600.
[0277] Also, the connector coupling part 768 of the sub-drain pan
750 has the upper end of the condensed water pipe 560 fixed
thereto. Thus, the condensed water in the base pan 500 is pumped by
the condensed water pump 550 through the condensed water pipe 560
to flow to the sub-drain pan 750.
[0278] The condensed water that is supplied to the sub-drain pan
750 through the condensed water pipe 560 flows to the drain guide
surface 760, and is guided by the drain guide grooves 762 to flow
to the bottom 750a of the sub-drain pan 750. Here, the condensed
water that collects in the main drain pan 700 falls to the bottom
of the sub-drain pan 750.
[0279] The condensed water that thus falls to the bottom 750a of
the sub-drain pan 750 moves to the falling holes 752 by means of
the incline of the bottom 750a and passes through the sub-drain pan
750. When the condensed water reaches the falling guide ribs 754
below, it flows downward along the falling guide ribs 754 in the
right side portion of the first heat exchanger 510.
[0280] Then, the condensed water that flows downward along the
right side portion of the first heat exchanger 510 is evaporated by
means of the heat generated from the first heat exchanger 510 and
the air that flows through the lower grill 330 and passes through
the first heat exchanger 510.
[0281] The process of fastening the pan connector 590 will be
described below.
[0282] That is, as shown in the diagrams, the pan connector 590 at
the top of the condensed water pipe 560 is fastened from the top of
the connector coupling part 768 downward. Here, the connector
coupling part 768 slides while inserted in the connector groove 596
of the pan connector 590; and when it is continually pushed
downward, the connector fixing projection 768' enters the connector
coupling part 768.
[0283] Therefore, the pan collector 590 does not disengage upwardly
and remains fixed. That is, because the connector fixing projection
768' is held within the connector fixing groove 598, the mutual
interaction of the connector fixing projection 768' and the
connector fixing groove 598 fixes the pan connector 590.
[0284] In the above embodiments, condensed water collected in the
main drain pan 700 descends to the sub-drain pan 750 to be
collected therein, and is then evenly dispersed on top of the first
heat exchanger 510 to evaporate; however, another device or method
may be used to process the condensed water. That is, a separate
condensed water container may be provided below the sub-drain pan
750 to collect condensed water collecting in the main drain pan 700
and dispel the water to the outside.
[0285] Also, a structure in which a further steam generator 880 is
installed on top of the base pan 500 is possible. That is, as
illustrated in FIG. 31, the steam generator 880 is installed at the
rear of the condensed water pump 550, in order to evaporate the
condensed water collected at the top surface of the base pan
500.
[0286] The steam generator 880 evaporates the condensed water
collected at the top of the base pan 500 by generating ultrasonic
waves through an externally supplied power. Thus, the condensed
water is removed and the heat from the first heat exchanger 510 is
effectively dissipated. The steam generator 880 is configured in
the same way as a conventional household humidifier that creates
steam from water through ultrasonic wave generation. Therefore, a
detailed description thereof will not be given. Also, the steam
generator 880 is installed to the right of the first heat exchanger
510. This is due to the consideration of the flow of air within the
portion of the side of the first heat exchanger 510 facing the
outside (the heat radiating side). That is, in the side facing the
outside (the heat radiating side), the air that is suctioned
through the suction grill 310 flows from the right to left of the
first heat exchanger 510, as shown in FIG. 31. According to such an
airflow, the steam generated by the steam generator 880 enters the
first heat exchanger 510.
[0287] Accordingly, the moist air generated by the steam generator
880 mixes with air that flows from the inner right side at the
outside (the heat radiating side) to the left, and contacts the
outer surface of the first heat exchanger 510, so that the coolant
flowing within the first heat exchanger 510 can exchange heat with
the air. Therefore, the coolant flowing within the inside of the
first heat exchanger 510 is more effectively cooled by the
evaporating moist air than under conventional circumstances
according to the related art.
[0288] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *