U.S. patent application number 11/836395 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to In Ho CHOI, Seok Ho CHOI, Jeong Yong KIM, Jung Woo LEE, Dong Soo MOON, Nam Sik YIM.
Application Number | 20080035317 11/836395 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38704860 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080035317 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOI; In Ho ; et
al. |
February 14, 2008 |
AIR CONDITIONER
Abstract
An air conditioner including a housing and a fan within the
housing is provided. The fan may be configured to draw air into the
housing and direct air radially outward. A heat exchanger may be
configured to exchange heat with the air drawn into the housing.
Also, at least one airflow guide may be configured to extend into a
flow path of the air so that the flow of air is guided through the
heat exchanger along a surface of the airflow guide.
Inventors: |
CHOI; In Ho; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; MOON; Dong Soo; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Jung
Woo; (Seoul, KR) ; YIM; Nam Sik; (Seoul,
KR) ; CHOI; Seok Ho; (Seoul, KR) ; KIM; Jeong
Yong; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
20, Yoido-dong, Youngdungpo-gu,
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
38704860 |
Appl. No.: |
11/836395 |
Filed: |
August 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/122 ;
165/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/081 20130101;
F24F 1/0007 20130101; F24F 13/24 20130101; F24F 2013/0616 20130101;
F24F 1/0047 20190201; F24F 1/0022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/122 ;
165/125 |
International
Class: |
F28F 13/12 20060101
F28F013/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 10, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0075454 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a housing; a fan provided within
the housing, the fan being configured to draw air into the housing
and direct air radially outward; a heat exchanger configured to
exchange heat with the air drawn into the housing; and at least one
airflow guide configured to extend into a flow path of the air so
that the flow of air is guided through the heat exchanger along a
surface of the airflow guide.
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the heat
exchanger has multiple sides provided radially outward of the fan,
wherein the airflow guide is provided radially inward of the heat
exchanger at a position spaced from a center of a corresponding
side which the airflow guide is configured to guide air
through.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the airflow
guide is provided within a first region of a corresponding side of
the heat exchanger such that an angle formed between the flow
direction of air and the corresponding air flow guide is smaller
that an angle formed between the flow direction of air and a center
of the corresponding side of the heat exchanger.
4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a
noise reduction hole provided in a surface at which the airflow
guide and the flow of air meet.
5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow
guide comprises a plurality of spaced-apart airflow guides provided
on corresponding sides of the heat exchanger.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow
guide extends in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the
air which is directed radially outward by the fan.
7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow
guide is formed on a connector which connects the heat exchanger to
the housing.
8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the connector
includes an inner surface provided at an inner side of the heat
exchanger and an outer surface provided at an outer side of the
heat exchanger, the airflow guide extending from the inner surface
of the connector.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the inner
surface and the outer surface define a through-hole through which
air passes.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow
guide is coupled to a tube of the heat exchanger.
11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein the airflow
guide includes a coupling part which couples the airflow guide to
the tube.
12. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow
guide extends from a fin of the heat exchanger.
13. An air conditioner comprising: a housing; a fan provided within
the housing, the fan being configured to draw air within the
housing and direct air radially outward; a heat exchanger provided
within the housing and radially outward of the fan, to exchange
heat with air; and an airflow guide provided radially inward of the
heat exchanger, the airflow guide being configured to extend into a
flow path of the air such that air drawn by the fan passes through
the heat exchanger along a surface of the airflow guide, wherein
the airflow guide is provided within a first region of a
corresponding side of the heat exchanger such that an angle formed
between the flow direction of air and the corresponding airflow
guide is smaller than an angle formed between the flow direction of
air and a center of the corresponding side of the heat
exchanger.
14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow
guide extends in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the
air which is directed radially outward by the fan.
15. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow
guide is integrally formed with the heat exchanger.
16. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow
guide is coupled to the heat exchanger.
17. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the surface
of the airflow guide comprises a curved surface.
18. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow
guide is provided within a first region of a corresponding side of
the heat exchanger so that an acute angle is formed between the
flow direction of air and the corresponding air flow guide.
19. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow
guide protrudes into the flow path of the air.
20. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the airflow
guide protrudes into the flow path of the air.
Description
[0001] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained
in priority Korean Application No. 10-2006-0075454, filed on Aug.
10, 2006, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner, and
more particularly, to a ceiling mounted air conditioner that may be
installed on a ceiling.
[0003] In general, an air conditioner is a home appliance which
maintains the condition of air within an indoor space in an optimum
state (e.g., a user selected temperature. Thus, an indoor space may
be cooled in the summer and warmed in the winter, and the humidity
level in the indoor space may also be controlled to provide a
comfortable, clean indoor atmosphere.
[0004] Air conditioners may be categorized into many types
according to purpose (or use) or installed location. In a typical
ceiling mounted air conditioner, an indoor unit that suctions air
from an indoor space, may exchange heat with a lower temperature
air, and then may supply the air back into the indoor space. In
this regard, the air conditioner may be installed between a ceiling
wall and an outer ceiling surface.
[0005] A ceiling mounted air conditioner may include a cabinet or
housing forming an outer shape of the air conditioning unit, a
motor installed within the cabinet, a blower fan coupled to the
motor, an inlet and outlet, and a front panel coupled to the bottom
of the cabinet. A heat exchanger around the blower fan to exchange
heat with air blown by the blower fan.
[0006] In the above configuration, air suctioned into the cabinet
through the inlet by the blower fan is blown in a radial direction
of the blower fan to pass through the heat exchanger. Then, the
flow of air that passes through the heat exchanger is redirected as
it contacts the surface of the cabinet so that it passes through
the outlet into the indoor space below.
[0007] However, in a ceiling mounted air conditioner according to
the conventional art, the air that is discharged in a radial
direction of the blower fan is directed against the heat exchanger
at a predetermined angle so that excessive noise is generated by
the friction between the air and heat exchanger.
SUMMARY
[0008] Accordingly, a non-limiting feature of the present invention
provides an air conditioner which may include a housing and a fan.
The fan may be provided within the housing. In this regard, the fan
may be configured to draw air into the housing and direct air
radially outward. The air conditioner may also include a heat
exchanger configured to exchange heat with the air drawn into the
housing. Further, at least one airflow guide (configured to extend
into a flow path of the air) may be provided so that the flow of
air is guided through the heat exchanger along a surface of the
airflow guide.
[0009] In another non-limiting feature, the heat exchanger may have
multiple sides provided radially outward of the fan. In this
regard, the airflow guide may be provided radially inward of the
heat exchanger at a position spaced from a center of a
corresponding side which the airflow guide is configured to guide
air through.
[0010] According to another non-limiting feature, the airflow guide
may be provided within a first region of a corresponding side of
the heat exchanger such that an angle formed between the flow
direction of air and the corresponding air flow guide is smaller
than an angle formed between the flow direction of air and a center
of the corresponding side of the heat exchanger.
[0011] In another non-limiting feature, a noise reduction hole may
be provided in a surface at which the airflow guide and the flow of
air meet. Additionally, the airflow guide may include a plurality
of spaced-apart airflow guides provided on corresponding sides of
the heat exchanger.
[0012] Further, the airflow guide may extend in a direction
opposite to the flow direction of the air which is directed
radially outward by the fan. Also, the airflow guide may be
provided on a connector which connects the heat exchanger to the
housing.
[0013] In a further non-limiting embodiment, the connector may
include an inner surface provided at an inner side of the heat
exchanger and an outer surface provided at an outer side of the
heat exchanger. In this regard, the airflow guide may extend from
the inner surface of the connector. Additionally, the inner surface
and the outer surface may define a through-hole through which air
passes.
[0014] In an additional non-limiting feature, the airflow guide may
be coupled to a tube of the heat exchanger. For example, the
airflow guide may include a coupling part which couples the airflow
guide to the tube. Also, the airflow guide may extend from a fin of
the heat exchanger.
[0015] In another non-limiting feature, the surface of the airflow
guide may include a curved surface. The airflow guide may also be
provided within a first region of a corresponding side of the heat
exchanger so that an acute angle is formed between the flow
direction of air and the corresponding air flow guide.
Additionally, the airflow guide may protrude into the flow path of
the air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention is further described in the detail
description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of
drawings, by way of non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments
of the present invention, in which like characters represent like
elements throughout the several views of the drawings, and
wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a ceiling mounted air
conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner
according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fixing member on which an
airflow guide is formed according to the first embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the flow of air in a ceiling
mounted air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an airflow guide according
to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an airflow guide according
to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the
present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing
what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood
description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present
invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural
details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary
for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the
description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention
may be embodied in practice.
[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a ceiling mounted air
conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, a ceiling mounted air conditioner 1
according to the first embodiment may include a housing 10
installed on a ceiling 5, a front panel 20 coupled to the bottom
surface of the housing 10, a fan motor 30 fixed to the inner top
surface of the housing 10, a fan (e.g., a blower fan) 40 connected
to the fan motor 30 which is configured to ventilate indoor air, a
heat exchanger 50 configured to exchange heat between indoor air
that is suctioned by the ventilating fan 40 and refrigerant within
the heat exchanger 50, and a fixing member 80 which fixes the heat
exchanger 50 to the housing 10.
[0027] The ceiling mounted air conditioner 1 may also include a
bell mouth 45 provided below the fan 40 and configured to guide the
flow of air suctioned (or drawn) into the housing 10, a drain pan
70 provided below the heat exchanger 50, the drain pan 70 being
configured to collect condensed water that condenses while air
passes through the heat exchanger 50, and an airflow guide 100
provided between the heat exchanger 50 and the fan 40, the air flow
guide 100 being configured to guide the flow of air discharged in a
radial direction to the fan 40.
[0028] Specifically, the housing 10 may have a multi-faceted shape
(e.g., multiple side surfaces) open bottom surface. Further, the
front panel 20 may be coupled to the open portion of the housing 10
to seal the inside of the air conditioner.
[0029] An inlet 22, through which indoor air is suctioned (or
drawn) into the housing 10, may be defined in the central portion
of the front panel 20. Additionally, a plurality of outlets 24,
through which air that passes through the heat exchanger 50 is
discharged to the indoor space, may be defined around the inlet
22.
[0030] Here, the inlet 22 may be formed in a rectangular shape, and
the outlet 24 may be formed at each wall of the inlet 22.
[0031] A discharge vane 26 configured to adjust the direction of
air being discharged, may be pivotably coupled (e.g., via a hinge)
to each outlet 24.
[0032] Here, the fan 40 used may be a turbine fan which suctions or
draws) air in an axial direction and discharges air in a radial
direction.
[0033] The airflow guide 100 may be provided at the front of the
heat exchanger 50 with respect to the flow of air, and may be
configured to change the flow direction of the air flowing at an
angle toward the heat exchanger 50, thereby allowing air to pass
through the heat exchanger 50.
[0034] The flow of air in a ceiling mounted air conditioner will
now be described by way of non-limiting example.
[0035] The blowing force generated by the rotation of the fan 40
may suction (or draw) air from below the housing 10 in a generally
upwardly direction. In this regard, the suctioned air may enter the
fan 40 in an axial direction and may be discharged in a radial
direction. The flow of air that enters the heat exchanger 50 at an
angle (from the air that is blown in a radial direction of the fan
40) may be guided by the airflow guide 100 so as to pass through
the heat exchanger 50. The air that has exchanged heat may be
redirected in a flow direction, and may flow downward and out
through the outlet 24 and back into the indoor space.
[0036] A more detailed description of the structure of the airflow
guide 100 is described below by way of non-limiting example.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a ceiling mounted air conditioner
according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fixing member on which an airflow
guide may be formed (or provided) according to the first embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a heat exchanger 50 may be
disposed (or positioned) in an approximately rectangular formation
(or configuration) within the housing 10. The fan 40 may be
positioned within the heat exchanger 50.
[0039] The heat exchanger 50 may be fixed to the housing 10 by a
plurality of fixing members. However, one of ordinary skill in the
art would recognize that any fastener suitable for fixing a heat
exchanger within a housing may be employed.
[0040] Also, a drain pump 75 may be provided at a side edge of the
heat exchanger 50 for discharging water condensed in the drain pan
70 to the outside. Further, the drain pump 75 may be supported (or
coupled) to the housing 10 by a bracket 77, or any other suitable
fastener.
[0041] In detail, the fixing member 80 may include a front surface
81 at the front of a heat exchanger 50 (with respect to the flow
direction of air), a rear surface 82 at the rear of the heat
exchanger 50, a connecting portion 83 connecting the front surface
81 and the rear surface 82, and a coupling portion 85 extending
from the front surface 81 for fixing the fixing member 80 to the
housing 10.
[0042] In further detail, the coupling portion 85 may have a
through-hole (not shown) formed therein so that the coupling
portion 85 may be coupled to the inner-upper surface of the housing
10.
[0043] For example, the coupling portion 85 may be coupled to the
inner-upper surface of the housing 10. Additionally, the fixing
member 80 may be coupled to the housing 10 proximate a bottom
opening, or t any other suitable position.
[0044] An air through-hole 84 may be formed (or provided to extend
along a longitudinal length of the fixing member 80. Additionally,
the through-hole 84 may extend from the front surface 81 and the
rear surface 82, thereby providing a passage for air.
[0045] The airflow guide 100 may be provided on the front surface
81 and configured to guide the flow direction of air being
discharged in a radial direction of the fan 40, thereby reducing
noise which may be generated by air colliding against the heat
exchanger 50.
[0046] Here, the fixing member 80 may be coupled to the heat
exchanger 50 with the airflow guide 100 formed (or provided) on the
fixing member 80. In other words, the airflow guide 100 may be
indirectly connected to the heat exchanger 50.
[0047] More specifically, the airflow guide 100 may be formed (or
provided) from a top-to-bottom direction along the length of the
front surface 81, may be curved to redirect the flow of air blown
by the fan 40.
[0048] That is, the direction in which the airflow guide 100 is
curved, as shown in FIG. 2, may be opposite to the direction in
which the air is blown (or directed radially outward) by the fan
40.
[0049] Here, the airflow guide 100, as shown in FIG. 3, may be
formed along at least half the length or more of the front surface
81, in order to achieve a smooth airflow.
[0050] Also, the airflow guide 100 may be disposed (or positioned)
at a point at which the angle formed by the flow direction of air
and the heat exchanger 50 is less than a predetermined angle. For
example, the airflow guide 100 may be provided within a first
region of a corresponding side of the heat exchanger 50 such that
an angle formed between the flow direction of air and the
corresponding air flow guide 100 is smaller than an angle formed
between the flow direction of air and a center of the corresponding
side of the heat exchanger 50.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of an approximately square
heat exchanger 50, the position of the airflow guide 100 may be
provided at a location spaced from the center of a corresponding
side of the heat exchanger 50 toward an end of the corresponding
side at which an angle formed by the direction of air discharged
from the fan 40 and the heat exchanger 50 is smaller than an angle
formed by the direction of air discharged from the blower and a
center of the corresponding side.
[0052] For example, the angle formed by the heat exchanger 50 of
the present embodiment and the air, as shown in FIG. 2, may be such
that the direction of air with a point (a) on the heat exchanger 50
is less than an angle formed by the direction of air with a point
(b) on the heat exchanger 50.
[0053] In other words, the region of the smaller range of angles
formed by the direction of air and the heat exchanger 50, as
represented by (A) in FIG. 2, and the airflow guide 100 may be
formed in any position in the region (A).
[0054] Also, at least one airflow guide 100 may be provided in
region (A). In the case where a plurality of airflow guides 100 is
provided, the front-to-rear length of airflow guides formed at
point (a) on the heat exchanger 50 may be longer than that of
airflow guides formed at point (b) on the heat exchanger 50.
[0055] That is, the distance between the heat exchanger 50 at point
(a) and the fan 40 may be less than the distance between the heat
exchanger 50 at point (b) and the blower fan 40. In order to form a
passage for the flow of air, the length of the airflow guide
provided at point (a) on the heat exchanger 50 may be formed (or
provided) shorter than the length of the airflow guide provided at
point (b) on the heat exchanger 50.
[0056] A description will be given below on the effects of the
above ceiling mounted air conditioner.
[0057] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the flow of air in a ceiling
mounted air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 4, the operation of the fan motor 30
rotates the fan 40, and indoor air below the housing 10 may be
drawn into the housing 10 through the inlet 22. The drawn air in
may be directed radially outward of fan 40.
[0059] In this regard, air moving toward the region (A) of the heat
exchanger 50 from the air that is blown in a radial direction to
the fan 40 may be guided by the airflow guide 100 such that the air
passes through the heat exchanger 50.
[0060] The air that passages through the heat exchanger 50 may be
redirected as it contacts the housing 10, and may subsequently be
discharged downward through the outlet 24.
[0061] In other words, the airflow guide 100 may guide the passage
of the air through the heat exchanger 50 so that noise generated
during the passage of air through the heat exchanger 50 is
reduced.
[0062] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an airflow guide according
to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0063] Because some aspects of the following embodiment are similar
to those in the previous embodiment, the coupler of the following
embodiment is discussed in detail. Therefore, a description will be
given below of only certain aspects of the present embodiment.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 5, an airflow guide 200 according to the
present embodiment may be coupled directly to the tubes 52 of the
heat exchanger 50 by a coupler. In this regard, one of ordinary
skill in the art would readily understand that any suitable coupler
capable of coupling a guide to an air conditioner may be
employed.
[0065] More specifically, the airflow guide 200 may have at least
one fastener 202 configured to fasten a tube 52 of the heat
exchanger 50 formed (or provided) on a side of the airflow guide
200. The fastener 202 may be formed (or provided) having a shape
corresponding to the shape of the tube 52 of the heat exchanger 50,
and may enclose a portion of the tube 52 when coupled to the tube
52.
[0066] In other words, the fastener 202 may be provided with a
predetermined amount of tension so that it deforms elastically
during coupling with the tube 52, thereby allowing the coupler to
be coupled with the tube 52. When coupled to the tube 52, the
coupler may encircle the tube 52.
[0067] In the present embodiment, the airflow guide 200 may be
configured to couple directly to the tube 52 of the heat exchanger
50, so that the position of the airflow guide 200 can be altered.
That is, a user may be able to easily couple the airflow guide 200
to the tube 52 of the heat exchanger 50.
[0068] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an airflow guide according
to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 6, an airflow guide 300 according to the
present embodiment may be configured as a fin 54 of the heat
exchanger 50.
[0070] Specifically, the heat exchanger 50 may include a tube 52
bent (or having a plurality of curvatures) a plurality of times,
and a plurality of heat exchanger fins 54 coupled to the tube
52.
[0071] Also, one of the plurality of heat exchanger fins 54 may be
bent (or curved) in a direction opposite to the direction of air
discharged from the fan 40, and the curved portion may form the
airflow guide 300 in the present embodiment.
[0072] In this regard, the curved heat exchanger fin 54 may, of
course, be located in the region (A) shown in FIG. 2.
[0073] For example, without adding additional elements which may
lengthen the heat exchanger fin 54 in the present embodiment, and
bending (i.e., providing a fin 54 having a curvature) the extended
fin, the airflow guide 300 may be formed, thereby reducing
manufacturing cost and processes.
[0074] Also, by extending the airflow guide 300 from a heat
exchanger fin 54, the contact area between air and the fin may be
increased thereby improving heat-exchanging performance.
[0075] Thus, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing
embodiments of the present disclosure, noise generated by air
passing through the heat exchanger can be reduced by the airflow
guide which is configured to guide the direction of airflow
discharged by the fan.
[0076] It is further noted that the foregoing examples have been
provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to
be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the
present invention has been described with reference to a preferred
embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used
herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words
of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the
appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its
aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein
with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the
present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars
disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all
functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *