U.S. patent application number 13/346896 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-12 for outdoor unit for air conditioner.
Invention is credited to Seokho CHOI, Mijin Jung, Junghoon Kim, Yungkoo Lee, Yongsang Yoon.
Application Number | 20120175089 13/346896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45464417 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120175089 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOI; Seokho ; et
al. |
July 12, 2012 |
OUTDOOR UNIT FOR AIR CONDITIONER
Abstract
Provided is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The outdoor
unit of an air conditioner includes an axial flow fan including a
hub and a plurality of blades disposed on the hub, a rotation
orifice disposed to surround the axial flow fan, the rotation
orifice guiding air flowing by the axial flow fan, and a fixed
orifice having an orifice hole through which the air flowing by the
axial flow fan passes, the fixed orifice being disposed outside the
rotation orifice. At least one portion of each of the blades and
one surface of the rotation orifice are coupled to each other and
rotated together with each other.
Inventors: |
CHOI; Seokho; (Seoul,
KR) ; Lee; Yungkoo; (Seoul, KR) ; Jung;
Mijin; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim; Junghoon; (Seoul,
KR) ; Yoon; Yongsang; (Seoul, KR) |
Family ID: |
45464417 |
Appl. No.: |
13/346896 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/104.34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/326
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/104.34 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 10, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0002201 |
Claims
1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, the outdoor unit
comprising: a casing including an intake hole and an exhaust hole;
a heat exchanger; an axial flow fan to suck in air through the
intake hole and to exhaust air through the exhaust hole, wherein
the sucked in air passes through the heat exchanger, the axial flow
fan comprising a hub and a plurality of blades disposed on the hub;
and a rotation orifice disposed to surround the axial flow fan,
wherein at least one portion of at least one of the blades and at
least one surface of the rotation orifice are coupled to rotate
together with each other.
2. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1,
further comprising a fixed orifice located at least at the exhaust
hole of the casing, wherein the rotation orifice is located inside
the fixed orifice.
3. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 2,
further comprising an extension part extending from the rotation
orifice to shield at least one portion of the exhaust hole.
4. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 3,
wherein the extension part extends from at least one of one end and
an other end of the rotation orifice.
5. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 3,
wherein the extension part extends from the rotation orifice in a
direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a flow
direction of the air generated by the axial flow fan.
6. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 4,
wherein the extension part comprises: a first extension part
extending from the one end of the rotation orifice corresponding to
a relatively upstream side in a flow direction of the air generated
by the axial flow fan; and a second extension part extending from
the other end of the rotation orifice corresponding to a relatively
downstream side in a flow direction of the air generated by the
axial flow fan.
7. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 3,
wherein, when a virtual straight line extends from an outer end of
the extension part in the flow direction of the air generated by
the axial flow fan, the straight line meets the fixed orifice.
8. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1,
further comprising at least one auxiliary blade protruding from one
surface of the rotation orifice.
9. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 2,
further comprising at least one auxiliary blade disposed in a space
between the rotation orifice and the fixed orifice.
10. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 8,
wherein a plurality of auxiliary blades are provided on an outer
surface of the rotation orifice.
11. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 8,
wherein an air flow generated from the at least one auxiliary blade
opposes air flowing into the exhaust hole.
12. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1,
further comprising a tip defining an end of the at least one blade,
wherein the tip is integrated with the rotation orifice.
13. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1,
wherein the at least one blade is coupled to an inner surface of
the rotation orifice.
14. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 2,
wherein the axial flow fan and the rotation orifice are disposed
inside the fixed orifice.
15. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner comprising: an outdoor
heat exchanger; an axial flow fan to blow air to heat-exchange the
outdoor heat exchanger with the air, the axial flow fan comprising
a hub and a plurality of blades disposed on the hub; a rotation
orifice rotatable together with the axial flow fan; a fixed orifice
disposed at an exhaust side in a flow direction of the air
generated by the axial flow fan when compared to that of the
rotation orifice, the fixed orifice formed with a orifice hole; and
a plurality of auxiliary blades disposed on an outer surface of the
rotation orifice, the plurality of auxiliary blades generating a
flow direction of air in the same direction as that of the axial
flow fan, wherein the air flowing by the rotation of the axial flow
fan passes through one portion of the orifice hole, and the air
flowing by the rotation of the auxiliary blades passes through the
other portion of the orifice hole.
16. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 15,
wherein the axial flow fan and the rotation orifice are integrated
with each other.
17. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 15,
wherein a front end of each of the auxiliary blades is spaced from
the orifice hole in a direction perpendicular or substantially
perpendicular to the flow direction of the air generated by the
axial flow fan.
18. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 15,
wherein an inner surface of the orifice hole is spaced from an
outer surface of the rotation orifice in a direction perpendicular
to the flow direction of the air generated by the axial flow
fan.
19. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 15,
further comprising an extension part extending from the rotation
orifice toward the fixed orifice to shield a portion of the orifice
hole in the flow direction of the air generated by the axial flow
fan.
20. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 19,
wherein the extension part extends from at least one end of the
rotation orifice.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119
and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0002201
filed on Jan. 10, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit for an air
conditioner.
[0003] Air conditioners are home appliances for cooling or/and
heating an indoor space by heat-exchanging with a refrigerant
circulating a heat exchange cycle. A spilt type air conditioner of
the air conditioners includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.
Parts constituting the heat exchange cycle such as an outdoor heat
exchanger and a compressor are installed in the outdoor unit.
[0004] Also, a fan for generating an airflow for heat-exchange
between the outdoor heat exchanger and outdoor air is installed in
the outdoor unit. In general, an axial flow fan is used as the fan.
An orifice for guiding air discharged from the fan is installed
within the outdoor unit to increase a constant pressure of air
flowing by the axial flow fan.
[0005] In case of the outdoor unit according to a related art, the
fan and the orifice are spaced from each other to stably rotate the
fan. However, when the fan and the orifice are spaced from each
other, the air flowing by the axial flow fan may be leaked through
a gap between the fan and the orifice. Also, the leakage of the air
through the gap between the fan and the orifice may cause reduction
of the performance of the fan and increase of noise when the fan is
operated.
SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner
configured to allow air to efficiently flow.
[0007] Embodiments also provide an outdoor unit of an air
conditioner configured to reduce noise.
[0008] In one embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner
includes: an axial flow fan including a hub and a plurality of
blades disposed on the hub; a rotation orifice disposed to surround
the axial flow fan, the rotation orifice guiding air flowing by the
axial flow fan; and a fixed orifice having an orifice hole through
which the air flowing by the axial flow fan passes, the fixed
orifice being disposed outside the rotation orifice, wherein at
least one portion of each of the blades and one surface of the
rotation orifice are coupled to each other and rotated together
with each other.
[0009] In another embodiment, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner
including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a fan which
constitute a heat exchange cycle includes: an axial flow fan
blowing air to heat-exchange the outdoor heat exchanger with
outdoor air, the axial flow fan including a hub and a plurality of
blades disposed on the hub; a rotation orifice rotated together
with the axial flow fan, the rotation orifice guiding air flowing
by the axial flow fan; a fixed orifice disposed at an upstream side
in a flow direction of the air flowing by the axial flow fan when
compared to that of the rotation orifice; and a plurality of
auxiliary blades disposed on an outer surface of the rotation
orifice, the plurality of auxiliary blades blowing air in the same
direction as that of the axial flow fan, wherein the air flowing by
the rotation of the axial flow fan passes through one portion of
the orifice hole, and the air flowing by the auxiliary blades
passes through the other portion of the orifice hole.
[0010] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features
will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of
an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the
outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first
embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the main part of the
outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first
embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of air in the
outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first
embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a main part of an
outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second
embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a main part of an
outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a main part of an
outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Hereinafter, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according
to a first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of
an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the
outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first
embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the main part
of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first
embodiment.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a casing 10 defines an outer appearance
of an outdoor unit 1. An intake hole (not shown) for sucking indoor
air and an exhaust hole 20 for discharging air within the casing 10
are defined in the casing 10. A discharge grill 30 is disposed in
the exhaust hole 20.
[0022] Various parts constituting a heat exchange cycle are
installed within the casing 10. For example, an axial flow fan 40
(see FIG. 2), a fan motor (not shown), an outdoor heat exchanger
(not shown), a compressor (not shown), and an accumulator (see FIG.
2) are installed within the casing 10.
[0023] The axial flow fan 40 forms a flow of air sucked or
discharged into the inside and outside of the casing 10 through the
intake hole and the exhaust hole 20. The fan motor provides a
driving force for rotating the axial flow fan 40. The outdoor heat
exchanger serves as a condenser during a cooling operation and an
evaporator during a heating operation. A refrigerant circulating
the heat exchanger cycle is heat-exchanged with the air flowing by
the operation of the axial flow fan 40 while flowing into the
outdoor heat exchanger. The compressor compresses the refrigerant
circulating the heat exchange cycle.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an axial flow fan including a
hub 41 and a plurality of blades 43 is used as the axial flow fan
40. A rotation shaft is coupled to the hub 41. Also, a plurality of
blades 43 are disposed on an outer surface of the hub 41.
[0025] Each of the blades 43 includes a tip 44 defined as an end of
the blade 43 and a leading edge 45 and trailing edge 47
respectively defined as both ends connecting the hub 41 to the tip
41. A front end of the blade 43 may be called a leading edge 45,
and a rear end of the blade 43 may be called a trailing edge 47 by
a rotation direction of the blade 43.
[0026] A rotation orifice 110 is coupled to the outside of the
axial flow fan 40. The rotation orifice 110 may guide air flowing
by rotation of the axial flow fan 40 to increase a constant
pressure of the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40. The rotation
orifice 110 may have a ring shape surrounding the axial flow fan
40. At least one portion of the plurality of blades 43 is fixed to
an inner surface of the rotation orifice 110. Thus, the axial flow
fan 40 and the rotation orifice 110 may be integrated with each
other.
[0027] In detail, the rotation orifice 110 may be fixed to a
position adjacent to the tip 44 of the blade 43. The rotation
orifice 110 fixed to the blade 43 may be parallel to or inclined at
an angle less than an acute angle with respect to a flow direction
of the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40.
[0028] In the current embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary blades
111 are disposed on an outer surface of the rotation orifice 110.
The plurality of auxiliary blades 111 may be disposed at the
approximately same interval along the outer surface of the rotation
orifice 110.
[0029] Each of the auxiliary blades 111 allows air to flow in the
same direction as the flow direction of the air flowing by the
rotation of the axial flow fan 40 when the rotation orifice 110 is
rotated together with the axial flow fan 40.
[0030] A fixed orifice 120 is installed within the casing 10. Also,
the fixed orifice 120 may guide the air flowing by the axial flow
fan 40 to increase the constant pressure, like the rotation orifice
110. The fixed orifice 120 is not a separate member. For example, a
member for fixing the discharge grill 30 may serve as the fixed
orifice 120.
[0031] An orifice hole 121 is defined in the fixed orifice 120. The
orifice hole 121 may have a circular shape having a diameter
greater than the trace defined by at least the rotation orifice
110. That is, the axial flow fan 40 and the rotation orifice 110
may be disposed inside the orifice hole 121.
[0032] Thus, an inner circumference of the orifice hole 121, i.e.,
a front end of the fixed orifice 120 may be spaced from the outer
surface of the rotation orifice 110 in a direction perpendicular to
the flow direction of the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40.
[0033] Substantially, the auxiliary blade 111 is disposed in a
space between the rotation orifice 110 and the fixed orifice 120.
Here, the auxiliary blade 111 is disposed at a relatively upstream
side with respect to the orifice hole 121 in the flow direction of
the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40.
[0034] A front end of the auxiliary blade 111 is spaced from the
inner circumference of the orifice hole 121 in the direction
perpendicular to the flow direction of the air flowing by the axial
flow fan 40.
[0035] Hereinafter, an operation of the outdoor unit of the air
conditioner according to the first embodiment will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0036] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a flow of air in the
outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first
embodiment.
[0037] When the axial flow fan 40 is rotated, air sucked into the
casing 10 through the intake hole is heat-exchanged with the
refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger while passing
through the outdoor heat exchanger. The air passing though the
outdoor heat exchanger is discharged to the outside the casing 10,
i.e., the outdoor unit by the continuous rotation of the axial flow
fan 40.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, when the axial flow fan 40 is rotated,
air flows from an upstream to a downstream, i.e., in an upward
direction when viewed in FIG. 4 such as an arrow A direction. The
air flowing in the arrow A direction passes through at least one
portion of the orifice hole 121.
[0039] A portion of the air flowing by the rotation of the axial
flow fan 40 may flow from the upstream to the downstream (see an
arrow B) in the flow direction of the air flowing by the axial flow
fan 40 through the gap between the rotation orifice 110 and the
fixed orifice 120. It may be understood that the flow in the arrow
B direction is generated by the rotation of the auxiliary blade 111
to flow from a side of the auxiliary blade 111 toward the orifice
hole 121.
[0040] When the axial flow fan 40 and the rotation orifice 110 are
rotated together with each other, a returning wind (see an arrow C)
may occur through the orifice hole 121. Since a flow direction of
the returning wind is opposite to the flow direction of the air
flowing by the rotation of the axial flow fan 40, the air may be
leaked.
[0041] However, as described above, since the air flows from the
upstream to the downstream by the auxiliary blade 111, the
returning wind may be offset. Thus, the air leakage in the arrow C
direction may be reduced.
[0042] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to a second
embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a main part of an
outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second
embodiment. The same components as those of the first embodiment
will be derived from reference numerals of FIGS. 1 to 4, and thus
their detailed descriptions will be omitted.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, in the current embodiment, an extension
part 211 (hereinafter, for convenience of description, referred to
as a "first end") is disposed on one end of both ends of a rotation
orifice 210 corresponding to a relatively upstream side in a flow
direction of air flowing by an axial flow fan 40.
[0045] The extension part 211 extends outside the rotation orifice
210. Here, at least one portion of a front end of the extension
part 211 overlaps a fixed orifice 220 with respect to the flow
direction of the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40. That is,
when a virtual straight line extends vertically (when viewed in
FIG. 5) from the extension part 211, the straight line meets the
fixed orifice 220. The extension part 211 may be disposed at a
relatively upstream side in the flow direction of the air flowing
by the axial flow fan 40 when compared to that of the fixed orifice
220.
[0046] Accordingly, at least one portion of the orifice hole 221
may be shielded by the extension part 211 in the flow direction of
the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40. According to the current
embodiment, it may substantially prevent the air from being leaked
through the orifice hole 221 corresponding to the outside of the
rotation orifice 210 by the extension part 211.
[0047] Hereinafter, a main part of an outdoor unit of an air
conditioner according to a third embodiment will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a main part of an
outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment.
The same components as those of the first embodiment will be
derived from reference numerals of FIGS. 1 to 4, and thus their
detailed descriptions will be omitted.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 6, in the current embodiment, an extension
part 311 (hereinafter, for convenience of description, referred to
as a "second end") is disposed on one end of both ends of a
rotation orifice 310 corresponding to a relatively downstream side
in a flow direction of air flowing by an axial flow fan 40. The
extension part 311 extends outside the rotation orifice 310.
[0050] Substantially, like the extension part 211 of the second
embodiment, the extension part 311 may shield at least one portion
of an orifice hole 321 in the flow direction of the air flowing by
the axial flow fan 40. That is, at least one portion of the
extension part 311 overlaps a fixed orifice 320 with respect to the
flow direction of the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40.
[0051] In the current embodiment, the extension part 311 may be
disposed at a relatively downstream side in the flow direction of
the air flowing by the axial flow fan 40 when compared to that of
the fixed orifice 320.
[0052] Hereinafter, a main part of an outdoor unit of an air
conditioner according to a fourth embodiment will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0053] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a main part of an
outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth
embodiment. The same components as those of the first to third
embodiments will be derived from reference numerals of FIGS. 1 to
5, and thus their detailed descriptions will be omitted.
[0054] In the current embodiment, first and second extension parts
411 and 413 are disposed on first and second ends of a rotation
orifice 410. Here, it may be understood that the first extension
part 411 may be the same component as that 211 of the second
embodiment. Also, it may be understood that the second extension
part 413 may be the same component as that 313 of the third
embodiment.
[0055] According to the current embodiment, the air leakage through
an orifice hole 421 of a fixed orifice 420 corresponding to the
relative outside of the rotation orifice 410 when compared to those
of the second and third embodiments may be efficiently reduced.
[0056] It should be understood that numerous other modifications
and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that
will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this
disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications
are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the
subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure,
the drawings and the appended claims.
[0057] In the third embodiment, although only the extension part or
the first and second extension parts is/are provided on the
rotation orifice, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
That is, the auxiliary blade may be disposed on the outer surface
of the rotation orifice.
[0058] In the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the
embodiments, the following effects may be expected.
[0059] First, the air leakage through a gap between the first
orifice fixed to the fan and the second orifice installed inside
the outdoor unit may be minimized. Thus, an air flow amount of the
fan may be secured to substantially improve efficiency of the air
conditioner.
[0060] Also, since the air leakage through the gap between the
first and second orifices is minimized, the noise generated during
the operation of the fan may be reduced. Thus, more silent products
may be provided.
[0061] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and
details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Therefore, the preferred embodiments should be considered in
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, and also
the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the
embodiments. Furthermore, is defined not by the detailed
description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all
differences within the scope will be construed as being comprised
in the present disclosure.
* * * * *