U.S. patent application number 13/141833 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-05 for ceiling-mounted air conditioner.
Invention is credited to Man Sik Jeong.
Application Number | 20120003917 13/141833 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42288289 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120003917 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jeong; Man Sik |
January 5, 2012 |
CEILING-MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONER
Abstract
A ceiling-mounted air conditioner is provided. The
ceiling-mounted air conditioner includes an intake panel, which has
an air intake, a door panel, which can be lifted up to and down
from the intake panel, and a plurality of elevation driving units,
which are disposed on the intake panel and apply driving force to
the door panel so as for the door panel to be lifted up and down
and thus to open or shut the air intake of the intake panel.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the exterior appearance of the
ceiling-mounted air conditioner and facilitate the design of the
ceiling-mounted air conditioner.
Inventors: |
Jeong; Man Sik;
(Kyungsangnam-do, KR) |
Family ID: |
42288289 |
Appl. No.: |
13/141833 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
December 23, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/007699 |
371 Date: |
September 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 2221/26 20130101;
F24F 1/0014 20130101; F24F 1/0047 20190201; F24F 13/20
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/292 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/00 20060101
F24F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0132344 |
Claims
1. A ceiling-mounted air conditioner comprising: a main body which
has an open bottom so as to draw air thereinto through the open
bottom; a door panel which is lifted up and down below the main
body and thus opens or shuts the open bottom of the main body; and
a plurality of elevation devices which lift up or down the door
panel, wherein each of the elevation devices includes a plurality
of moving elements, which are fixed onto the top surface of the
door panel and are in engagement with the door panel so as to be
able to lift up or down the door panel, a plurality of rotation
elements, which are disposed in the main body and lift up or down
the door panel by being placed in contact with the moving elements,
a shaft, which is connected between the rotation elements, and a
shaft driving unit, which is connected to one of the rotation
elements and applies rotation force to the shaft so as for the
shaft to be able to rotate.
2. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 1, further
comprising: an intake panel which is disposed at the bottom of the
main body and has an air intake in the middle, the air intake
forming part of the open bottom of the main body; and an outlet
panel which is disposed at the bottom of the main body and includes
a plurality of air outlets formed along the boundaries thereof and
having heat-exchanged air ejected therefrom, wherein the rotation
elements, the shaft and the shaft driving unit are installed on the
intake panel.
3. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the
ceiling-mounted air conditioner includes a plurality of shaft
driving units, which are disposed on a pair of opposite sides of
the door panel.
4. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the
shaft driving unit includes a motor, which is arranged in parallel
with the shaft so that a rotation axis thereof can be parallel to
the rotation axis of the shaft, and a connecting element, which is
connected to the rotation axis of the motor and the shaft.
5. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 4, wherein the
connecting element includes a motor gear, which is connected to the
rotation axis of the motor, and a shaft gear, which engages with
the motor gear and is connected to the shaft so as to be able to
rotate the shaft.
6. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the
rotation elements include pinion gears whose rotation axis
coincides with a rotation axis of the shaft, and the moving
elements include rack gears which engage with the pinion gears and
are lifted up and down on the pinion gears.
7. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 2, wherein the
elevation device further includes a motor cover, which is disposed
on the intake panel, surrounds the shaft driving unit and part of
the circumferential surface of the shaft and supports the shaft so
as to be able to rotate.
8. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 7, wherein the
elevation device further includes a shaft bracket, which is
disposed on the intake panel, surrounds part of the circumferential
surface of the shaft, and supports the shaft so as to be able to
rotate.
9. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the
shaft driving unit is disposed near one of the rotation elements,
and the shaft bracket is disposed near another one of the rotation
elements.
10. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 9, wherein the
intake panel includes a hook groove, and a first end portion of the
shaft bracket is inserted into the hook groove.
11. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the
intake panel further includes a screw coupling unit, which is
formed on one side of the hook groove, and a second end portion of
the shaft bracket is coupled to the screw coupling unit by a screw.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a ceiling-mounted air
conditioner, and more particularly, to a ceiling-mounted air
conditioner which includes an elevation unit for generating and
applying driving force to a door panel so as for the door panel to
open or shut an air intake formed through an intake panel.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Most conventional ceiling-mounted air conditioners include
an indoor unit mounted at the ceiling of a room and performing
refrigeration, an outdoor unit performing heat dissipation and
condensation, and a refrigerant tube connecting the indoor unit and
the outdoor unit.
[0003] However, the air intakes of the conventional ceiling-mounted
air conditioners are always open even when the ceiling-mounted air
conditioners do not operate, and may thus disfigure the appearance
of the ceiling-mounted air conditioners.
DISCLOSURE
[0004] [Technical Problem]
[0005] The present invention provides a ceiling-mounted air
conditioner in which an air intake is configured to be open only
when the ceiling-mounted air conditioner operates, and can thus
contribute to the beauty of the ceiling-mounted air
conditioner.
[0006] The present invention also provides a ceiling-mounted air
conditioner in which an elevation unit for elevating a door panel
is disposed at an intake panel and generates and applies driving
force to the door panel so as for the door panel to be lifted up or
down and thus to open or shut an air intake of the intake
panel.
[0007] [Technical Solution]
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a ceiling-mounted air conditioner including a main body
which has an open bottom so as to draw air thereinto through the
open bottom; a door panel which is lifted up and down below the
main body and thus opens or shuts the open bottom of the main body;
and a plurality of elevation devices which lift up or down the door
panel, wherein each of the elevation devices includes a plurality
of moving elements, which are fixed onto the top surface of the
door panel and are in engagement with the door panel so as to be
able to lift up or down the door panel, a plurality of rotation
elements, which are disposed in the main body and lift up or down
the door panel by being placed in contact with the moving elements,
a shaft, which is connected between the rotation elements, and a
shaft driving unit, which is connected to one of the rotation
elements and applies rotation force to the shaft so as for the
shaft to be able to rotate.
[0009] The ceiling-mounted air conditioner may also include an
intake panel which is disposed at the bottom of the main body and
has an air intake in the middle, the air intake forming part of the
open bottom of the main body; and an outlet panel which is disposed
at the bottom of the main body and includes a plurality of air
outlets formed along the boundaries thereof and having
heat-exchanged air ejected therefrom, wherein the rotation
elements, the shaft and the shaft driving unit are installed on the
intake panel.
[0010] The ceiling-mounted air conditioner may include a plurality
of shaft driving units, which are disposed on a pair of opposite
sides of the door panel.
[0011] The shaft driving unit may include a motor, which is
arranged in parallel with the shaft so that a rotation axis thereof
can be parallel to the rotation axis of the shaft, and a connecting
element, which is connected to the rotation axis of the motor and
the shaft.
[0012] The connecting element may include a motor gear, which is
connected to the rotation axis of the motor, and a shaft gear,
which engages with the motor gear and is connected to the shaft so
as to be able to rotate the shaft.
[0013] The rotation elements may include pinion gears whose
rotation axis coincides with a rotation axis of the shaft, and the
moving elements may include rack gears which engage with the pinion
gears and are lifted up and down on the pinion gears.
[0014] The elevation device may also include a motor cover, which
is disposed on the intake panel, surrounds the shaft driving unit
and part of the circumferential surface of the shaft and supports
the shaft so as to be able to rotate.
[0015] The elevation device may also include a shaft bracket, which
is disposed on the intake panel, surrounds part of the
circumferential surface of the shaft, and supports the shaft so as
to be able to rotate.
[0016] The shaft driving unit may be disposed near one of the
rotation elements, and the shaft bracket is disposed near another
one of the rotation elements.
[0017] The intake panel may include a hook groove, and a first end
portion of the shaft bracket is inserted into the hook groove.
[0018] The intake panel may also include a screw coupling unit,
which is formed on one side of the hook groove, and a second end
portion of the shaft bracket is coupled to the screw coupling unit
by a screw.
[0019] [Advantageous Effects]
[0020] The ceiling-mounted air conditioner according to the
ceiling-mounted air conditioner includes an intake panel, which has
an air intake, a door panel, which can be lifted up to and down
from the intake panel, and a plurality of elevation driving units,
which are disposed on the intake panel and apply driving force to
the door panel so as for the door panel to be lifted up and down
and thus to open or shut the air intake of the intake panel.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the exterior appearance of the
ceiling-mounted air conditioner and facilitate the design of the
ceiling-mounted air conditioner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a ceiling-mounted
air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional views taken along
line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an outlet panel and
an intake panel shown in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exploded perspective views taken
along line B-B of FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the intake panel
shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B; and
[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the coupling
between a shaft and a shaft bracket shown in FIG. 1.
BEST MODE
[0027] The present invention will hereinafter be described more
fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a ceiling-mounted
air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the ceiling-mounted air conditioner
may include a main body 10 disposed between a ceiling 1 and a
ceiling finishing material 2.
[0029] The main body 10 may have an open bottom. Thus, an
air-blowing fan 5, which draws indoor air into the main body 10 and
discharges the air, a heat exchanger 7, which exchanges heat with
the indoor air, may be installed in the main body 10, as shown in
FIG. 2A.
[0030] More specifically, the main body 10 may be formed as a
square or rectangular box having an open bottom, and may thus be
able to accommodate the air-blowing fan 5 and the heat exchanger 7
therein.
[0031] An outlet panel 100 may be installed at the bottom of the
main body 10, and may be on a level with the ceiling finishing
material 2. The outlet panel 100 may hide the bottom of the main
body 10 from view. The outlet panel 100 may have an opening 105 in
the middle, and may thus accommodate an intake panel 200 therein.
The outlet panel 100 may include a plurality of air outlets 110
which are formed along the boundaries of the outlet panel 100 and
discharge air processed in the main body 10.
[0032] The outlet panel 100 may be formed as a rectangular frame,
conforming to the shape of the bottom of the main body 10, and may
thus be able to effectively hide the bottom of the main body 10
from view.
[0033] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate cross-sectional views taken along
line A-A of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the
outlet panel 100 and the intake panel 200, FIGS. 4A and 4B
illustrate exploded perspective views taken along line B-B of FIG.
3, FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the intake panel 200,
and FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the coupling
between a shaft 232 and a shaft bracket 250 shown in FIG. 1.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2A through 5, a plurality of wind vanes
115 may be installed in their respective air outlets 110. The wind
vanes 115 may open or shut their respective air outlets 110 by
rotating by a predetermined angle, and may adjust the direction of
flow of air discharged from the air outlets 110.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the intake panel 200 may be
installed inside the outlet panel 100 so as to shut the opening 105
of the outlet panel 100.
[0036] The intake panel 200 may have an air intake 205 in the
middle, and may thus allow indoor air to be drawn into the main
body 10. A purification filter 210 may be disposed above the air
intake 205 and may filter out impurities in the air drawn into the
main body 10. A purification filter installation unit 215 may be
formed on the top surface of the intake panel 200 so as for the
purification filter 210 to be installed on the intake panel
200.
[0037] The air intake 205 of the intake panel 200 may contribute to
part of the open bottom of the main body 10. That is, the inlet
panel 200 may be installed in the opening 105 of the outlet panel
100, and the air intake 205 of the intake panel 200 may contribute
to part of the open bottom of the main body 10.
[0038] The air intake 205 of the intake panel 200 may be formed as
a circle and may thus allow indoor air to be drawn into the center
of the main body 10. The intake panel 200 may not only provide room
for the installation of the purification filter 210, but also serve
as an orifice for adjusting the amount and speed of air drawn into
the main body 10.
[0039] However, the air intake 205 may not necessarily have to be
formed as a circle. That is, the air intake 205 may be formed in
various shapes other than a circular shape.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the ceiling-mounted air
conditioner may also include a plurality of elevation driving units
230 which are disposed on the top surface of the intake panel 200
and apply driving force to a door panel 300 so as for the door
panel 300 to be lifted up or down.
[0041] More specifically, the elevation driving units 230 may be a
predetermined distance apart from each other. In this exemplary
embodiment, two elevation driving units 230 may be disposed along a
pair of opposite sides of the intake panel 200.
[0042] Each of the elevation driving units 230 may include a motor
231, which is disposed on the intake panel 200, a shaft 232, which
is arranged in line with the rotation axis of the motor 231, a
connecting element 233 which connects the motor 231 and the shaft
232 and thus allows the shaft 232 to rotate along with the motor
231, and a plurality of rotation elements 234, which are installed
at either end of the shaft 232 and can rotate the shaft 232.
[0043] Two motors 231 may be disposed on a pair of opposite sides
of the intake panel 200. Two shafts 232 may be disposed on the
opposite sides of the intake panel 200 where the two motors 231 are
disposed, and may be isolated from each other.
[0044] For convenience, the motors 231 and the connecting elements
233 will hereinafter be collectively referred to as shaft driving
units 230'.
[0045] It is important to precisely control the motors 231 because
the rotation speed of the motors 231 affects the elevation of the
door panel 300. That is, if the motors 231 have different rotation
speeds, the door panel 300 may not be able to be uniformly
elevated, and may thus adversely affect the exterior appearance of
the ceiling-mounted air conditioner.
[0046] Each of the shaft driving units 230' including a motor 231
and a connecting element 233 may be disposed between a pair of
rotation elements 234, which are provided near either end of a
shaft 232, and may be connected to the shaft 232. More
specifically, the shafts 232 may be aligned in parallel with the
rotation axes of the motors 231, and may be connected mechanically
to the motors 231 by the connecting elements 233. Each of the
connecting elements 233 may include a motor gear 233A, which is
connected to the rotation axis of a corresponding motor 231, and a
shaft gear 233B, which engages with the motor gear 233A and rotates
a corresponding shaft 232 by rotating along with the motor gear
233A.
[0047] Since each of the shaft driving units 230' is disposed
between a plurality of rotation elements 234, there is no need to
provide additional room for the installation of the shaft driving
units 230', and thus, the facilitation of the design of the intake
panel 200 may be maximized.
[0048] The ceiling-mounted air conditioner may include a plurality
of motor covers 237, which are disposed on the intake panel 200.
The motor covers 237 may surround the shaft driving units 230' and
parts of the circumferential surfaces of the shafts 232, and may
support the shafts 232 to be able to rotate.
[0049] The ceiling-mounted air conditioner may also include a
plurality of shaft brackets 250, which are disposed on the intake
panel 200. The shaft brackets 250 may surround parts of the
circumferential surfaces of the shafts 232, which extend
horizontally or vertically on the intake panel 200 and are capable
of rotating, and may support the shafts 232 to be able to
rotate.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 6, the ceiling-mounted air conditioner may
also include a plurality of hook grooves 255, which are formed
through the intake panel 200. First end portions 250A of the shaft
brackets 250 may be inserted into the hook grooves 255. Second end
portions 250B of the shaft brackets 250 may be coupled to screw
coupling portions 256 formed on the intake panel 200 by coupling
elements 260 such as screws. Thus, the shaft brackets 250 can be
fixed onto the intake panel 200.
[0051] Since the shaft brackets 250 support the shafts 232 so as to
be able to rotate, portions of the shaft brackets 250 that directly
contact the shafts 232 and can thus be supported by the shafts 232
may be configured to be supported by bearings.
[0052] The shaft driving units 230' and the shaft brackets 250 may
be disposed on opposite sides of the shafts 232 and may thus be
able to properly support the shafts 232 and allow the shafts 232 to
rotate uniformly.
[0053] When turned on with the use of, for example, a remote
control, the motors 231 may rotate. As a result, the connecting
elements 233 may rotate, and the shafts 232 may rotate about their
rotation axes. Then, the rotation elements 234 may rotate
accordingly.
[0054] The door panel 300 may be able to be lifted up or down and
thus to open or shut the air intake 205 of the intake panel
200.
[0055] More specifically, referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, when lifted
up, the door panel 300 may be placed in contact with the bottom of
the intake panel 200. On the other hand, when lifted down, the door
panel 300 may open the air intake 205 of the intake panel 200, and
may thus guide indoor air into the main body 10 through the air
intake 205.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 4B, the ceiling-mounted air conditioner
may also include a plurality of moving elements 335, which are
installed on the door panel 300. The moving elements 335 extend
vertically, and may be lifted up or down in accordance with the
rotation of the rotation elements 234.
[0057] The moving elements 335 may be coupled onto the top surface
of the door panel 300, and may lift up or down the door panel
300.
[0058] Given that the moving elements 335 are used along with the
elevation driving units 230 to lift up or down the door panel 300,
each of the moving elements 335 and each of the elevation driving
units 230 (including a motor 231, a shaft 232, a connecting element
233 and a plurality of rotation elements 234) will hereinafter be
collectively referred to as elevation devices 400.
[0059] The ceiling-mounted air conditioner may also include a
plurality of elevation guide holes 240, which are formed through
the intake panel 200 so that the moving elements 335 can be lifted
up or down through the elevation guide holes 240.
[0060] The rotation elements 234 may be pinion gears, which rotate
about the axes of their respective shafts 232, and the moving
elements 335 may be rack gears which engage with the pinion
gears.
[0061] The operation of the ceiling-mounted air conditioner will
hereinafter be described in detail.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 2A, when the ceiling-mounted air
conditioner is turned on by a remote control, a controller (not
shown) of the ceiling-mounted air conditioner may drive the
air-blowing fan 5 and the heat exchanger 7.
[0063] The controller may also drive the motors 231 so that the
shafts 232 can rotate in a first direction. As a result, the
rotation elements 234 may also rotate, and thus, the moving
elements 335, which are in gear engagement with the rotation
elements 234, may be lifted down through the elevation guide holes
240 so that the door panel 300 can be lifted down.
[0064] When the door panel 300 is lifted down, the air intake 205
of the intake panel 200 may be opened, and thus, indoor air may be
drawn into the main body 10 through the air intake 205 by the
air-blowing fan 5. The indoor air drawn into the main body 10 may
be processed by the heat exchanger 7, and the processed air may be
ejected from the main body 100 through the air outlets 110 of the
outlet panel 100.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 2B, when the ceiling-mounted air
conditioner is turned off by a remote control, the controller may
terminate the operations of the air-blowing fan 5 and the heat
exchanger 7.
[0066] In addition, the controller 180 may drive the motors 231 so
that the shafts 232 can rotate in a second direction, which is
opposite to the first direction. As a result, the rotation elements
234 may also rotate, and thus, the moving elements 335, which are
in gear engagement with the rotation elements 234, may be lifted up
through the elevation guide holes 240 so that the door panel 300
can be lifted up.
[0067] Then, the door panel 300 may be placed in contact with the
bottom of the intake panel 200, and may shut the air intake 205 of
the intake panel 200. Therefore, the ceiling-mounted air
conditioner may appear as if part of the ceiling finishing material
2, and the exterior appearance of the ceiling-mounted air
conditioner may be improved.
[0068] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various
changes in form and details may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by
the following claims.
* * * * *