Air Conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner having a structure capable of variably installing an indoor unit of the air conditioner in a vertical or horizontal direction, the air conditioner including a body configured to be variably installed in a vertical or a horizontal direction, a heat exchanging device installed inside the body, and a drain assembly provided to collect condensation water generated from the heat exchanging device, wherein the drain assembly includes a first drain tray provided at a lower portion of a traverse (length) side of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device when the body is horizontally installed, and a second drain tray provided at a lower portion of a longitudinal (height) side of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device when the body is vertically installed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0113074, filed on Nov. 2, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field

[0003] Embodiments relate to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a structure capable of variably installing an indoor unit of the air conditioner in a vertical or horizontal direction.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In general, an air conditioner is an apparatus configured to supply cool air or heated air to the surroundings thereof using heat absorption and heat generation effect performed, as a refrigerant is vaporized or liquefied while circulating in a cooling cycle which is formed by a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant expansion valve, and an evaporator connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe in a closed circuit.

[0006] An air conditioner may be largely divided into a separate-type air conditioner and an integrated-type air conditioner, and in a case of a separate-type air conditioner, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are installed at an inside and an outside, respectively, and the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected through a refrigerant pipe.

[0007] In addition, an indoor unit may be divided into a stand-type indoor unit installed to supply cool air and heated air into a relatively larger space, and a wall-type indoor unit installed to supply cool air and heated air into a relatively smaller space.

[0008] A wall-type air conditioner (hereinafter called an air conditioner) is provided thereon with a case forming an exterior, an inlet hole formed at a front surface of the case to take in indoor air, and a discharging hole provided at a lower portion of the case to discharge cool air or heated air therethrough.

[0009] However, the air conditioner as such may only be installed in the installation direction intended by the manufacturer, regardless of the installation environment of a consumer.

[0010] In addition, in a case when a horizontal-direction structure air conditioner is installed in a vertical direction, condensation water may leak, resulting in a PL (product liability) accident.

SUMMARY

[0011] In accordance with an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an air conditioner configured to be variably installed in a vertical or horizontal direction.

[0012] In accordance with an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an air conditioner having a drain assembly configured to prevent a leak of condensation water in a case of variably installing the air conditioner in a vertical or a horizontal direction.

[0013] In accordance with an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an air conditioner includes an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a body, a heat exchanging device, and a drain assembly. The body may be configured to be variably installed in a vertical or a horizontal direction. The heat exchanging device may be installed inside the body. The drain assembly may be provided to collect condensation water generated from the heat exchanging device. The drain assembly may include a first drain tray and a second drain tray. The first drain tray may be provided at a lower portion of a traverse side of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device when the body is horizontally installed. The second drain tray may be provided at a lower portion of a longitudinal side of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device when the body is vertically installed.

[0014] The second drain tray may be extendedly formed from one end of the first drain tray while having a bent shape.

[0015] The drain assembly may include a drain hole configured to drain the condensation water collected, and the drain hole may include a first drain hole disposed at the first drain tray, and a second drain hole disposed at the second drain tray.

[0016] The first drain tray may include a first accommodating part configured to accommodate condensation water, and a first guide rib configured to guide condensation water inside the first accommodating part toward the first drain hole.

[0017] The first drain tray may include a first inclined surface to guide condensation water toward the first drain hole.

[0018] The second drain tray may include a support part configured to support an end portion of the longitudinal side of the heat exchanging device, and a second accommodating part configured to accommodate the condensation water condensed through the support part.

[0019] The second accommodating part may include a second guide rib configured to divide an inside of the second accommodating part. At least one portion of the second accommodating part communicates with the first accommodating part.

[0020] At least another portion of the second accommodating part may include the second drain hole.

[0021] The second drain tray may include a second inclined surface to guide condensation water to the second drain hole.

[0022] The air conditioner may further include a bracket provided with a plurality of fixation grooves at an upper side end portion, a left side end portion and a right side end portion thereof so that the body is fixed onto a wall surface. The body is provided at upper, left and right side end portions of a rear surface thereof with a plurality of fixation protrusions fixed to the fixation grooves while corresponding to the fixation grooves.

[0023] In accordance with an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an air conditioner includes a heat exchanging device and a drain tray. The heat exchanging device may be variably installed in a vertical or horizontal direction. The drain tray may be provided with a drain hole formed thereto for the condensation water falling from the heat exchanging device to be collected and drained therethrough. The drain tray may include a first drain tray and a second drain tray. The first drain tray may be provided at one of edges of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along a surface of the heat exchanging device when the heat exchanging device is installed in a horizontal direction. The second drain tray may be formed in a bent manner from the first drain tray so as to be provided at the remaining edge of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device when the heat exchanging device is installed in a vertical direction.

[0024] The first drain tray may include a first accommodating part, a first drain hole and a first guide rib. The first accommodating part may be configured to collect condensation water. The first drain hole may be configured to drain the condensation water collected at the first accommodating part. The first guide rib may be configured to guide the condensation water at an inside the first accommodating part toward the first drain hole.

[0025] The first accommodating part may include a first inclined surface to guide condensation water toward the first drain hole.

[0026] The second drain tray may include a second accommodating part, a second drain hole and a support part. The second accommodating part may be configured to collect condensation water. The second drain hole may be configured to drain the condensation water collected at the second accommodating part. The support part may be provided to support an end portion of the longitudinal side of the heat exchanging device.

[0027] The second accommodating part may include a second guide rib to divide an inside thereof. At least one portion of the second accommodating part may communicate with the first accommodating part by the second guide rib.

[0028] The second accommodating part may include a second inclined surface to guide condensation water toward the second drain hole.

[0029] In accordance with an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided an air conditioner may be selectively installed as desired by a consumer, either in a vertical or horizontal direction, according to the living environment and the installation environment of the consumer, thereby enhancing convenience in the installation process thereof.

[0030] In addition, an occurrence of leak resulted by a variable installation of an air conditioner, either in a vertical or horizontal direction, may be prevented, thereby enhancing air conditioning performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a drawing schematically illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 2a is a drawing schematically illustrating a horizontal installation of a body of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 2b is a drawing schematically illustrating a vertical installation of a body of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner provided with a drain tray mounted thereto in accordance with an embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a drain tray of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion `A` of FIG. 3;

[0038] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the portion `B` of FIG. 3; and

[0039] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0041] As illustrated on FIG. 1, an air conditioner 10 is composed of by including a body 11 and a front surface panel 12 forming an external appearance of the front surface of the body 11 and provided at an upper portion thereof with an inlet hole 13 to inlet air therethrough and at a lower portion thereof with a discharging hole 14 to discharge air therethrough.

[0042] The body 11 is provided with a rectangular shape while having an open front surface thereof, and compartments which are not shown are installed therein.

[0043] The discharging hole 14 is provided with a blade 15 installed thereto so that, in a case when the heat-exchanged cool air or the heat-exchanged heated air is discharged to an indoor, the direction of the air is adjusted in an upward/downward directions.

[0044] A bracket 1 provided to fix the body 11 to a wall surface W is fixed to the wall surface W by a fixation apparatus such as a bolt B.

[0045] A plurality of first fixation grooves 2a are formed at an upper side of the bracket 1 while spaced apart in a predetermined distance, so that the body 11 may be installed in a horizontal direction on the wall surface W, and a plurality of first fixation protrusions 15a corresponding to the plurality of first fixation grooves 2a are formed on an upper side of the rear surface of the body 112a.

[0046] A plurality of second fixation grooves 2b are formed at a predetermined position on the left/right sides of the bracket 1 while spaced apart in a predetermined distance, so that the body 11 may be installed in a vertical direction on the wall surface W, and a plurality of second fixation protrusions 15b corresponding to the plurality of second fixation grooves 2b are formed on left/right sides of the rear surface of the body 11.

[0047] Thus, as illustrated on FIGS. 2a to 2b, in a case when installing the air conditioner 10 to the wall surface W in a horizontal direction, the first fixation grooves 2a of the bracket 1 and the first fixation protrusions 15a formed on the rear surface of the wall 11 are fixedly coupled to each other, and in a case when installing the air conditioner 10 to the wall surface W in a vertical direction, the second fixation grooves 2b of the bracket 1 and the second fixation protrusions 15b formed on the rear surface of the wall 11 are fixedly coupled to each other.

[0048] In a case when variably installing the air conditioner 10 in a horizontal or vertical direction as such, a drain assembly 20 according to an embodiment is provided so that the condensation water that is generated by a heat exchanging device 17 provided at an inside the body 11 does not leak.

[0049] As illustrated on FIGS. 3 to 4, the air conditioner 10 is provided with the heat exchanging device 17 installed therein to heat-exchange the air that is taken in through the inlet hole 13 to an inside the body 11, and is provided with a blower apparatus 16 installed at an upper portion thereof.

[0050] Condensation water is formed on the surface of the heat exchanging device 17 as a result of the temperature difference between indoor air that is taken into an inside the body 11 and the heat exchanging device 17, and the condensation water falls toward a lower side direction along the surface of the heat exchanging device 17.

[0051] The drain assembly 20 is provided to collect the condensation water falling toward a lower side direction of the heat exchanging device 17.

[0052] In general, the heat exchanging device 17 is desired to be formed in a cubical shape having traverse sides (l) (length sides) longer than longitudinal sides (h) (height sides), and a predetermined thickness (t).

[0053] The drain assembly 20 is composed of by including a first drain tray 21 provided on at least one of the traverse sides(l) of the heat exchanging device 17, and a second drain tray 25 provided on at least one of the longitudinal sides(h) of the heat exchanging device 17.

[0054] The first drain assembly 21 and the second drain assembly 25 are desired to be disposed at a lower side of the heat exchanging device 17 installed at an inside the body 11 of the vertically or horizontally installed air conditioner 10, so that the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device 17 toward a lower side direction thereof may be collected by the first drain assembly 20 and the second drain assembly 25.

[0055] The second drain tray 25 is desired to be extendedly formed at the end portion of the first drain tray 21 in a bent manner.

[0056] The first drain tray 21 installed at a lower side of the traverse side(l) of the heat exchanging device 17 includes a first accommodating part 22 to accommodate condensation water, and a first drain hole 23 to drain the condensation water in the first accommodating part 22.

[0057] The first accommodating part 22 is desired to be formed in a shape corresponding to the traverse side(l) and the thickness (t) of the heat exchanging device 17 so that the traverse side(l) and the thickness (t) of the heat exchanging device 17 may be accommodated by the first accommodating part 22.

[0058] In addition, the first accommodating part 22 is formed in an indented manner toward an inner side to collect and accommodate condensation water therein.

[0059] Thus, the condensation water falling toward a lower side direction (indicated with an arrow on FIG. 4) along the surface of the heat exchanging device 17 is collected to the first accommodating part 22, and the condensation water collected to the first accommodating part 22 is discharged through the first drain hole 23.

[0060] As illustrated on FIG. 5, the first drain hole 23 formed at the first accommodating part 22 of the first drain tray 21 is provided at one end portion of the first accommodating part 22, and a first inclined surface 23a having an incline is formed on the first accommodating part 22 of the first drain tray 21 to guide the condensation water toward the first drain hole 23 so that the condensation water may be discharged smoothly.

[0061] The first inclined surface 23a is provided with a predetermined incline to guide the condensation water in the first accommodating part 22 to the first drain hole 23. A drain hose 30 is coupled to the first drain hole 23, thereby enabling the condensation water collected at an inside the first accommodating part 22 to be drained through the drain hose 30.

[0062] Thus, in a case when the body 11 of the air conditioner 10 is installed in a horizontal direction on the wall surface W, the condensation water fallen along the surface of the heat exchanging device 17 toward a lower side direction is collected to the first accommodating part 22 of the first drain tray 21 provided at a lower side of the traverse side (l) of the heat exchanging device 17, and then is discharged through the first drain hole 23 and the drain hose 30 by the first guide rib 22a and the first incline surface 23a of the first accommodating part 22.

[0063] As illustrated on FIG. 6, the second drain tray 25 installed at a lower side of the longitudinal side(h) of the heat exchanging device 17 is composed of by including a second accommodating part 26 to accommodate condensation water, and a second drain hole 29 to drain the condensation water in the second accommodating part 26.

[0064] In addition, the second drain tray 25 includes a support part 27 to support a lower side of the longitudinal side (h) of the heat exchanging device 17. The support part 27 is connected to the second accommodating part 26 such that the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device 17 is guided toward the second accommodating part 26.

[0065] The second accommodating part 26 is formed in an indented manner from one side of the support part 27 to accommodate the condensation water collected through the support part 27.

[0066] The second accommodating part 26 and the support part 27 forming the second drain tray 25 are desired to be formed corresponding to the longitudinal side (h) and the thickness (t) of the heat exchanging device 17 so that the second accommodating part 26 and the support part 27 may be able to accommodate the longitudinal side (h) and the thickness (t) of the heat exchanging device 17.

[0067] A second guide rib 28 is installed at an inside the second accommodating part 26 to guide condensation water toward a second drain hole 29 of the second accommodating part 26.

[0068] The second guide rib 28 divides the interior of the second accommodating part 26 such that a portion of the interior of the second accommodating part 26 may communicate with the first accommodating part 22 and the remaining portion may be able to collect condensation water and discharge the condensation water collected through the second drain hole 29.

[0069] The second accommodating part 26 is provided with a second inclined surface 29a formed therein to guide the condensation water collected toward the second drain hole 29, so that the condensation water may be drained smoothly.

[0070] The second inclined surface 29a is formed by being connected to the second drain hole 29 in an inclined manner so that condensation water may be guided toward the second drain hole 29.

[0071] Thus, in a case when the body 11 of the air conditioner 10 is vertically installed on the wall surface W, as illustrated on FIG. 7, the condensation water, which is fallen along the surface of the heat exchanging device 17 toward the lower side (indicated as an arrow on FIG. 7) of the longitudinal side (h) of the heat exchanging device 17, is collected at the second accommodating part 26 of the second drain tray 25 provided at a lower side of the heat exchanging device 17, and then is discharged through the second drain hole 29 and the drain hose 30 by the second guide rib 28 and the second inclined surface 29a of the second accommodating part 26.

[0072] At this time, the drain hose 30 is installed by being connected at least either to the first drain hole 23 and the second drain hole 29. In a case of when the air conditioner 10 is horizontally installed, the drain hose 30 is desired to be connected to the first drain hole 23 of the first drain tray 21, and in a case of when the air conditioner 10 is vertically installed, the drain hose 30 is desired to be connected to the second drain hole 29 of the second drain tray 25.

[0073] By the drain assemble 20 as such having the first drain tray 21 corresponding to the lower portion of the traverse side(l) of the heat exchanging device 17 and the second drain tray 25 corresponding to the lower portion of the longitudinal side (h) of the heat exchanging device 17, the condensation water generated through the heat exchanging device 17 that is variably installed in a vertical or horizontal direction may be discharged without a leak in both vertical and horizontal directions, thereby enhancing the convenience in the installation of the air conditioner 10 and the air-conditioning performance of the air conditioner 10.

[0074] Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising: a body configured to be variably installed in a vertical or a horizontal direction; a heat exchanging device installed inside the body; and a drain assembly provided to collect condensation water generated from the heat exchanging device, wherein the drain assembly, comprises: a first drain tray provided at a lower portion of a length side of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along a surface of the heat exchanging device when the body is horizontally installed; and a second drain tray provided at a lower portion of a height side of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device when the body is vertically installed.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the second drain tray is formed from one end of the first drain tray while having a bent shape.

3. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the drain assembly comprises a drain hole configured to drain the condensation water collected; and the drain hole comprises: a first drain hole disposed at the first drain tray; and a second drain hole disposed at the second drain tray.

4. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the first drain tray comprises: a first accommodating part configured to accommodate condensation water; and a first guide rib configured to guide condensation water inside the first accommodating part toward the first drain hole.

5. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the first drain tray comprises a first inclined surface to guide condensation water toward the first drain hole.

6. The air conditioner of claim 4, wherein the second drain tray comprises: a support part configured to support an end portion of the longitudinal side of the heat exchanging device; and a second accommodating part configured to accommodate the condensation water condensed through the support part.

7. The air conditioner of claim 6, wherein the second accommodating part comprises: a second guide rib configured to divide an inside of the second accommodating part, and wherein at least one portion of the second accommodating part communicates with the first accommodating part.

8. The air conditioner of claim 7, wherein at least another portion of the second accommodating part comprises the second drain hole.

9. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the second drain tray comprises a second inclined surface to guide condensation water to the second drain hole.

10. The air conditioner of claim 1, further comprising: a bracket provided with a plurality of fixation grooves at an upper side end portion, a left side end portion and a right side end portion thereof so that the body is fixed onto a wall surface, wherein the body is provided at upper, left and right side end portions of a rear surface thereof with a plurality of fixation protrusions fixed to the fixation grooves while corresponding to the fixation grooves.

11. An air conditioner, comprising: a heat exchanging device configured to be variably installed in a vertical or horizontal direction, and a drain tray provided with a drain hole so that condensation water falling from the heat exchanging device is collected and drained therethrough, wherein the drain tray, comprises: a first drain tray provided at one of edges of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along a surface of the heat exchanging device when the heat exchanging device is installed in a horizontal direction; and a second drain tray which is bent to connect the first drain tray with the remaining edge of the heat exchanging device to collect the condensation water falling along the surface of the heat exchanging device when the heat exchanging device is installed in a vertical direction.

12. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the first drain tray comprises: a first accommodating part configured to collect condensation water; a first drain hole configured to drain the condensation water collected at the first accommodating part; and a first guide rib configured to guide the condensation water at an inside the first accommodating part toward the first drain hole.

13. The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the first accommodating part comprises a first surface to guide condensation water toward the first drain hole.

14. The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the second drain tray comprises: a second accommodating part configured to collect condensation water; a second drain hole configured to drain the condensation water collected at the second accommodating part; and a support part provided to support an end portion of a longitudinal side of the heat exchanging device.

15. The air conditioner of claim 14, wherein the second accommodating part comprises a second guide rib to divide an inside thereof, and wherein at least one portion of the second accommodating part communicate with the first accommodating part by the second guide rib.

16. The air conditioner of claim 14, wherein the second accommodating part comprises a second inclined surface to guide condensation water toward the second drain hole.