U.S. patent application number 14/190390 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for blade assembly and air conditioner having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Weon Seok Choi, Won Hee Lee, Seung Won Oh, Yun Suk Park, Sang Ki YOON.
Application Number | 20140308887 14/190390 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51669442 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140308887 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOON; Sang Ki ; et
al. |
October 16, 2014 |
BLADE ASSEMBLY AND AIR CONDITIONER HAVING THE SAME
Abstract
An air conditioner includes a housing forming an external
appearance of the air conditioner and provided with an air
discharge port forming an air discharge flow path allowing air
inside of the housing to be discharged therethrough, a blade
arranged at the air discharge port to control a flow direction of
the air discharged from the air discharge port, and a blade
reinforcement support arranged on the blade to prevent bending of
the blade, wherein the blade reinforcement support includes a blade
support having a support protrusion provided with a shaft hole
parallel with the blade, and a seating portion comprising a seating
protrusion inserted into the shaft hole to allow rotation of the
support protrusion, and a seating guide to surround an outer
circumferential surface of the support protrusion. Thereby, the
blade may have an enhanced fastening strength and be stably
supported.
Inventors: |
YOON; Sang Ki; (Seoul,
KR) ; Park; Yun Suk; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Oh;
Seung Won; (Seongnam-si, KR) ; Lee; Won Hee;
(Busan, KR) ; Choi; Weon Seok; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Swon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
51669442 |
Appl. No.: |
14/190390 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/284 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0011 20130101;
F24F 1/005 20190201; F24F 13/08 20130101; F24F 1/0007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/284 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/08 20060101
F24F013/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 11, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0039970 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a housing forming an external
appearance of the air conditioner and provided with an air
discharge port forming an air discharge flow path allowing air
inside of the housing to be discharged therethrough; a blade
arranged at the air discharge port to control a flow direction of
the air discharged from the air discharge port; and a blade
reinforcement support arranged on the blade, wherein the blade
reinforcement support comprises: a blade support having a support
protrusion provided with a shaft hole parallel with the blade; and
a seating portion comprising a seating protrusion inserted into the
shaft hole to allow rotation of the support protrusion, and a
seating guide to surround an outer circumferential surface of the
support protrusion.
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the blade
comprises: a blade end provided with a rotating shaft to rotate;
and a blade lateral surface portion to control flow of air
discharged from the blade end, wherein the blade reinforcement
support is arranged at the blade lateral surface portion.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the blade
support comprises a support arm extending from an outer surface of
the support protrusion and connected to the blade.
4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the support
arm is formed to extend from the outer surface of the support
protrusion and to be perpendicular to the shaft hole.
5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the support
protrusion extends in an axial direction to have a first length
such that an inner circumferential surface of the support
protrusion is supported by the seating protrusion and the outer
circumferential surface of the support protrusion is supported by
the seating guide.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the seating
protrusion is formed in a shape of a rod having a circular cross
section, and is arranged through the shaft hole to protrude from an
end of the support protrusion.
7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the seating
protrusion is formed in a shape of a rod having a circular cross
section, and an end of the seating protrusion is disposed in the
shaft hole.
8. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the seating
portion comprises a hinge member coupled to the air discharge port
to support the seating protrusion and the seating guide.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the support
protrusion, the seating protrusion and the seating guide are
concentrically formed.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a width of
the support arm increases as the support arm extends from the
support protrusion to the blade.
11. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the seating
portion comprises a stopper protruding from an end of the seating
guide to limit rotation of the blade support.
12. An air conditioner comprising: a housing forming an external
appearance of the air conditioner and provided with an air
discharge port forming an air discharge flow path allowing air
inside of the housing to be discharged therethrough; a blade
arranged at the air discharge port to control a flow direction of
the air discharged from the air discharge port; a seating portion
comprising a seating protrusion arranged to be parallel with the
blade, and a seating guide concentrically spaced apart from the
seating protrusion to form a first space with an annular shape
between the seating guide and the seating protrusion, the seating
portion being arranged at the air discharge port to support the
blade; and a blade support extending from the blade such that at
least one portion thereof is inserted into the first space to
support rotation of the blade.
13. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the blade
support comprises: a support protrusion provided with a shaft hole
to be seated in the first space; and a support arm extending from
an outer surface of the support protrusion and connected to the
blade.
14. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the support
protrusion extends in an axial direction to have a first length
such that an inner circumferential surface of the support
protrusion is supported by the seating protrusion and the outer
circumferential surface of the support protrusion is supported by
the seating guide.
15. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the support
arm is arranged to be perpendicular to an axial direction of the
support protrusion.
16. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the seating
portion comprises a hinge member arranged at the air discharge port
and adapted to support the seating protrusion and the seating
guide.
17. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the support
protrusion, the seating protrusion and the seating guide are
concentrically formed.
18. A blade assembly including an air discharge port forming an air
discharge flow path comprising: a blade to control a flow direction
of air discharged from the air discharge port; and a blade
reinforcement support to support the blade at the air discharge
port to prevent bending of the blade, wherein the blade
reinforcement support comprises: a support arm provided at one end
of the blade reinforcement support to be supported against the
blade; a hinge member provided at the other end of the blade
reinforcement support to be supported against the air discharge
port; a support protrusion arranged at the support arm to form a
center of rotation of the blade and provided with a shaft hole
parallel with the blade; a seating protrusion arranged on the hinge
member and protruding to penetrate the shaft hole to allow rotation
of the support protrusion; and a seating guide concentrically
spaced apart from the seating protrusion to form a first space with
an annular shape between the seating guide and the seating
protrusion.
19. The blade assembly according to claim 18, wherein the support
protrusion extends in an axial direction to have a first length
such that an inner circumferential surface of the support
protrusion is supported by the seating protrusion and the outer
circumferential surface of the support protrusion is supported by
the seating guide.
20. The blade assembly according to claim 18, wherein the support
protrusion, the seating protrusion and the seating guide are
concentrically formed.
21. The blade assembly according to claim 18, further comprising a
reinforcement protrusion protruding from a lateral surface of each
of the support arm and the hinge member and extending from the
support protrusion to the blade and from the seating guide to the
air discharge port.
22. A blade assembly including an air discharge port forming an air
discharge flow path comprising: a blade to control a flow direction
of air discharged from the air discharge port; and a blade
reinforcement support to support the blade at the air discharge
port to prevent bending of the blade, wherein the blade
reinforcement support comprises: a blade support; and a seating
portion rotatably connected to the blade support;
23. The blade assembly according to claim 22, wherein: the blade
support comprises: a support arm provided at one end of the blade
reinforcement support to be supported against the blade; and a
support protrusion arranged at the support arm to form a center of
rotation of the blade and provided with a shaft hole parallel with
the blade; and the seating portion comprises: a hinge member
provided at the other end of the blade reinforcement support to be
supported against the air discharge port; a seating protrusion
arranged on the hinge member and protruding to penetrate the shaft
hole to allow rotation of the support protrusion; and a seating
guide concentrically spaced apart from the seating protrusion to
form a first space with an annular shape between the seating guide
and the seating protrusion.
24. The blade assembly according to claim 23, wherein the support
protrusion extends in an axial direction to have a first length
such that an inner circumferential surface of the support
protrusion is supported by the seating protrusion and the outer
circumferential surface of the support protrusion is supported by
the seating guide.
25. The blade assembly according to claim 23, wherein the support
protrusion, the seating protrusion and the seating guide are
concentrically formed.
26. The blade assembly according to claim 23, further comprising a
reinforcement protrusion protruding from a lateral surface of each
of the support arm and the hinge member and extending from the
support protrusion to the blade and from the seating guide to the
air discharge port.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2013-0039970, filed on Apr. 11, 2013 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] One or more embodiments relate to a blade assembly having an
improved fastening structure of blades and an air conditioner
having the same,
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] An air conditioner generally uses a refrigeration cycle to
adjust temperature, humidity, airflow direction, and air
distribution and to remove dust from the air to provide an
environment suitable for humans. Main constituents configuring the
refrigeration cycle include a compressor, a condenser, an
evaporator, and a fan.
[0006] An air conditioner having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit
separately installed is referred to as a split type air
conditioner. An air conditioner having an indoor unit and an
outdoor unit installed together in one cabinet is referred to as an
integrated type air conditioner.
[0007] The air conditioner includes a housing forming an external
appearance of the air conditioner, a suction port housing formed on
the front surface of the housing to suction in indoor air, and a
discharge port formed at the lower portion of the housing to
discharge cooled or heated air therethrough.
[0008] A blade to control the air flow direction is provided at the
discharge port. Since the blade has a greater length than width,
the blade may be deformed, separated from the air conditioner, or
damaged when the air conditioner is moved or when the blade sags
due to gravity.
SUMMARY
[0009] The foregoing described problems may be overcome and/or
other aspects may be achieved by one or more embodiments of a blade
assembly which has an improved fastening structure by enhancing the
fastening strength of the blade and an air conditioner having the
same.
[0010] Additional aspects and/or advantages of one or more
embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may
be learned by practice of one or more embodiments of disclosure.
One or more embodiments are inclusive of such additional
aspects.
[0011] In accordance with one or more embodiments, an air
conditioner may include a housing forming an external appearance of
the air conditioner and that may be provided with an air discharge
port forming an air discharge flow path allowing air inside of the
housing to be discharged therethrough, a blade that may be arranged
at the air discharge port to control a flow direction of the air
discharged from the air discharge port, and a blade reinforcement
support that may be arranged on the blade to possibly prevent
bending of the blade, wherein the blade reinforcement support may
include a blade support that may have a support protrusion provided
with a shaft hole parallel with the blade, and a seating portion
that may comprise a seating protrusion inserted into the shaft hole
to allow rotation of the support protrusion, and a seating guide to
surround an outer circumferential surface of the support
protrusion.
[0012] The blade may include a blade end provided with a rotating
shaft to rotate, and a blade lateral surface portion to control
flow of air discharged from the blade end, wherein the blade
reinforcement support may be arranged at the blade lateral surface
portion.
[0013] The blade support may include a support arm extending from
an outer surface of the support protrusion and connected to the
blade.
[0014] The support arm may be formed to extend from the outer
surface of the support protrusion and to be perpendicular to the
shaft hole.
[0015] The support protrusion may extend in an axial direction to
have a first length such that an inner circumferential surface of
the support protrusion is supported by the seating protrusion and
the outer circumferential surface of the support protrusion is
supported by the seating guide.
[0016] The seating protrusion may be formed in a shape of a rod
having a circular cross section, and may be arranged through the
shaft hole to protrude from an end of the support protrusion.
[0017] The seating portion may include a hinge member coupled to
the air discharge port to support the seating protrusion and the
seating guide.
[0018] The support protrusion, the seating protrusion and the
seating guide may be concentrically formed.
[0019] A width of the support arm may increase as the support arm
extends from the support protrusion to the blade.
[0020] The seating portion may include a stopper protruding from an
end of the seating guide to limit rotation of the blade
support.
[0021] In accordance with or more embodiments, an air conditioner
may include a housing forming an external appearance of the air
conditioner and that may be provided with an air discharge port
forming an air discharge flow path allowing air inside of the
housing to be discharged therethrough, a blade arranged at the air
discharge port to control a flow direction of the air discharged
from the air discharge port, a seating portion comprising a seating
protrusion arranged to be parallel with the blade, and a seating
guide concentrically spaced apart from the seating protrusion to
form a first space with an annular shape between the seating guide
and the seating protrusion, the seating portion being arranged at
the air discharge port to support the blade, and a blade support
extending from the blade such that at least one portion thereof is
inserted into the first space to support rotation of the blade.
[0022] The blade support may include a support protrusion provided
with a shaft hole to be seated in the first space, and a support
arm extending from an outer surface of the support protrusion and
connected to the blade.
[0023] The support protrusion may extend in an axial direction to
have a first length such that an inner circumferential surface of
the support protrusion is supported by the seating protrusion and
the outer circumferential surface of the support protrusion is
supported by the seating guide.
[0024] The support arm may be arranged to be perpendicular to an
axial direction of the support protrusion.
[0025] The seating portion may include a hinge member arranged at
the air discharge port and adapted to support the seating
protrusion and the seating guide.
[0026] The support protrusion, the seating protrusion and the
seating guide are concentrically formed.
[0027] In accordance with or more embodiments, a blade assembly
including an air discharge port forming an air discharge flow path
may include a blade to control a flow direction of air discharged
from the air discharge port, and a blade reinforcement support to
support the blade at the air discharge port to possibly prevent
bending of the blade, wherein the blade reinforcement support may
include a support arm provided at one end of the blade
reinforcement support to be supported against the blade, a hinge
member provided at the other end of the blade reinforcement support
to be supported against the air discharge port, a support
protrusion arranged at the support arm to form a center of rotation
of the blade and provided with a shaft hole parallel with the
blade, a seating protrusion arranged on the hinge member and
protruding to penetrate the shaft hole to allow rotation of the
support protrusion, and a seating guide concentrically spaced apart
from the seating protrusion to form a first annular space between
the seating guide and the seating protrusion.
[0028] The support protrusion may extend in an axial direction to
have a first length such that an inner circumferential surface of
the support protrusion is supported by the seating protrusion and
the outer circumferential surface of the support protrusion is
supported by the seating guide.
[0029] The support protrusion, the seating protrusion and the
seating guide are concentrically formed.
[0030] The blade assembly may further include a reinforcement
protrusion protruding from a lateral surface of each of the support
arm and the hinge member and extending from the support protrusion
to the blade and from the seating guide to the air discharge
port.
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 view showing an indoor unit of an air
conditioner according to one or more embodiments;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an air conditioner
according to one or more embodiments, such as the air conditioner
of FIG. 1, taken along line A-A' in FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an air conditioner
according to one or more embodiments, such as the air conditioner
of FIG. 1, taken along line B-B' in FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a view showing a blade assembly according to one
or more embodiments;
[0036] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a blade
assembly according to one or more embodiments, such as the blade
assembly of FIG. 4;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a view showing a seating portion of a blade
assembly according to one or more embodiments, such as the blade
assembly of FIG. 4;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a blade assembly
according to one or more embodiments; and
[0039] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating distribution of external force
applied to a blade assembly according to one or more embodiments,
such as the blade assembly of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to one or more
embodiments, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like
reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this
regard, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in
many different forms and should not be construed as being limited
to embodiments set forth herein, as various changes, modifications,
and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods
described herein will be understood to be included in the invention
by those of ordinary skill in the art after embodiments discussed
herein are understood. Accordingly, embodiments are merely
described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of
the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 1 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air
conditioner according to one or more embodiments, FIG. 2 is a
cross-sectional view showing an air conditioner according to one or
more embodiments, such as the air conditioner of FIG. 1, taken
along line A-A' in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view
showing an air conditioner according to one or more embodiments,
such as the air conditioner of FIG. 1, taken along line B-B' in
FIG. 1.
[0042] The indoor unit may be provided with a case 10 forming an
external appearance of the indoor unit. A suction port 11 may be
formed on the upper front surface of the case 10 to suction in the
indoor air. An air discharge port 12 may be formed at a lower
portion of the case 10 to discharge cooled or heated air to the
indoor space.
[0043] The air discharge port 12 may be provided with a blade 30 to
adjust the direction of air discharged from the case 10 to the
indoor space.
[0044] Mounted to one side of the lateral surface of the blade 30
may be a motor (not shown) to supply power to rotate the blade 30.
The blade 30 may be vertically rotated by the motor (not shown) to
adjust the airflow direction.
[0045] Installed in the case 10 may be a fan 22 to generate suction
force to suction in the indoor air, and a heat exchanger 20 adapted
to exchange heat with the suctioned indoor air to cool or heat the
indoor air.
[0046] A rear guide 24 forming a flow path of the discharged air
may be installed at the front of the fan.
[0047] Accordingly, when the fan 22 rotates, the air may be
suctioned into the case 10 through the suction port 11. The
suctioned air may be cooled or heated while passing through the
heat exchanger 20, and then may be guided to the discharge port by
the rear guide 24 and discharged to the indoor space through the
discharge port 12.
[0048] At this time, the discharge direction of the discharged air
may be adjusted by the blade 30 installed at the discharge port
12.
[0049] The blade 30 may be installed to correspond to the discharge
port 12 formed to horizontally extend from the lower side of the
case 10. Since the blade may be long, it may bend or sag due to
gravity during rotation. In addition, in the case that external
force is applied to the blade 30 while the air conditioner is
moved, the blade 30 may be damaged.
[0050] Therefore, to possibly prevent occurrence of the above
events, the blade 30 may be provided with a blade reinforcement
support 100, which may be arranged at the air discharge port 12 to
support the blade 30.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a view showing a blade assembly according to one
or more embodiments. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing
a blade assembly according to one or more embodiments, such as the
blade assembly of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a view showing a seating
portion of a blade assembly according to one or more embodiments,
such as the blade assembly of FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional
view showing a blade assembly according to one or more
embodiments.
[0052] The air conditioner may include a blade 30 arranged at the
air discharge port 12 to control the flow direction of the air
discharged from air discharge port 12, and a blade reinforcement
support 100 provided on the blade 30 to possibly prevent bending of
the blade 30.
[0053] As described above, the blade 30 may be provided at the air
discharge port 12 to control flow of the air discharged from the
air discharge port 12.
[0054] The blade 30 may be formed in the shape of a plate, the
length of which is greater than the width. The blade 30 may include
blade ends 30a provided at both end portions thereof with a
rotating shaft connected to a motor (not shown) to rotate, and a
blade lateral surface portion 30b disposed between the blade ends
30a to control the flow of discharged air.
[0055] The blade 30 may be provided at an end thereof with a blade
rotating portion 32. The blade rotating portion 32 may receive
rotational force from the motor (not shown) arranged at the outer
side of the air discharge port 12 to rotate the blade 30.
[0056] The blade reinforcement support 100, which may be provided
at the blade 30, may prevent bending of the blade 30 and may
enhance durability of the blade 30.
[0057] The blade reinforcement support 100 may alternatively be
provided at a blade rotating shaft 32a, which may function as the
rotation axis of the blade 30. In the illustrated embodiment, at
least one blade reinforcement support 100 may be provided in the
longitudinal direction of the blade 30. Specifically, at least one
blade reinforcement support 100 may be provided at the lateral
surface portion of the blade 30.
[0058] The blade reinforcement support 100 may include the blade
support 110 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the blade 30
to support the blade 30, and a seating portion 120 supported
against the air discharge port 12 to support the blade support
110.
[0059] The blade support 110 may include a support protrusion 112
provided with a shaft hole 112a parallel to the blade 30, and a
support arm 114 to support the support protrusion 112 at the blade
30.
[0060] The support protrusion 112 may be formed in a cylindrical
shape and may be provided with a shaft hole 112a in the axial
direction thereof. Thereby, the cross section of the support
protrusion 112 may have an annular shape. The inner circumferential
surface of the support protrusion 112 may be supported by a seating
protrusion 122, which will be described later. The outer
circumferential surface of the support protrusion 112 may have a
first length L1 in the axial direction to be supported by a seating
guide 124. The first length L1 is not limited and may be any length
so long as it allows the seating protrusion 122 to protrude through
the shaft hole 112a of the support protrusion 112 and allows the
seating guide 124 to support the outer circumferential surface of
the support protrusion 112.
[0061] The support arm 114, which may allow the support protrusion
112 to be supported against the blade 30, may extend from the outer
circumferential surface of the support protrusion 112 to be
connected to the blade 30. The support arm 114 may be adapted to
support the support protrusion 112, and may be arranged in a
direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support
protrusion 112 for support of the blade 30 against external force
applied to the blade 30 and rotation of the blade 30.
[0062] The width of the support arm 114 may increase as the support
arm 114 extends from the support protrusion 112 to the blade
lateral surface portion 30b. While the support arm 114 is
illustrated as having an increasing width, it may have any shape so
long as the support protrusion 112 is stably supported by the blade
30.
[0063] When the blade support 110 is coupled to the seating portion
120, the support arm 114 may be disposed at the upper edge of the
end of the seating guide 124 to transfer rotation of the blade 30
to the support protrusion 112 and to possibly avoid interfering
with the seating guide 124 in supporting the outer circumferential
surface of the support protrusion 112.
[0064] The seating portion 120 may allow the blade support 110 to
be seated thereon to possibly enhance durability of the blade
support 110 and possibly ensure stable support.
[0065] The seating portion 120 may include a hinge member 128
protruding from the air discharge port 12.
[0066] The hinge member 128 may be adapted to support the seating
protrusion 122 and the seating guide 124. The hinge member 128 may
be arranged in the flow path of the air to extend in the air
discharge direction for efficient discharge of the air discharged
toward the air discharge port 12.
[0067] The seating portion 120 may include a seating protrusion 122
allowing the blade support 110 to rotate, and a seating guide 124
adapted to surround the outer circumferential surface of the
support protrusion 112. The seating portion 120 may further include
a seating bottom 126 allowing the seating protrusion 122 and the
seating guide 124 to be disposed thereon and extending from the
hinge member 128.
[0068] The seating protrusion 122, which may protrude from the
seating bottom 126, may be arranged through the shaft hole 112a of
the support protrusion 112 to protrude from the end of the support
protrusion 112. While the seating protrusion 122 is illustrated as
being arranged through the shaft hole 112a to protrude from the end
of the support protrusion 112, the seating protrusion 122 may be
differently arranged so along as the seating protrusion 122 is
inserted into the shaft hole 112a. That is, the seating protrusion
122 may be shorter than the support protrusion 112 and thus the end
of the seating protrusion 122 may be disposed in the shaft hole
112a. The seating protrusion 122 may function as the rotating shaft
forming the rotation axis of the support protrusion 112, and the
inner circumferential surface of the support protrusion 112 may
closely contact the outer circumferential surface of the seating
protrusion 122.
[0069] The seating protrusion 122 may have a different shape so
long as it supports the inner circumferential surface of the
support protrusion 112 and functions as the rotating shaft of the
support protrusion 112. The seating protrusion 122 may
alternatively be formed, for example, in the shape of a cylindrical
shaft having a circular cross section. In the illustrated
embodiment, the seating protrusion 122 is formed in the shape of a
cylindrical shaft having a hollow portion in addition to the
seating bottom 126, but is not limited thereto.
[0070] The seating guide 124, which may protrude from the seating
bottom 126, may be concentrically spaced apart from the seating
protrusion 122 such that a first annular space S1 is formed between
the seating guide 124 and the seating protrusion 122 and that the
seating guide 124 closely contacts the support protrusion 112 to
surround the outer circumferential surface of the support
protrusion 112.
[0071] The first annular space S1, between the seating protrusion
122 and the seating guide 124, may allow the support protrusion 112
having an annular cross section to be inserted thereinto such that
the inner circumferential surface and outer circumferential surface
of the support protrusion 112 are supported.
[0072] The support arm 114 may be provided on the lateral surface
thereof with a reinforcement protrusion 130 formed to extend from
the blade 30 to the support protrusion 112 and protrude from the
lateral surface. The hinge member 128 may be provided on the
lateral surface thereof with a reinforcement protrusion 130 formed
to extend from the air discharge port to the seating portion 120
and protrude from the lateral surface.
[0073] At least one reinforcement protrusion 130 may be provided to
support the lateral surfaces of the support arm 114 and the hinge
member 128 to possibly enhance durability of the support arm 114
and the hinge member 128.
[0074] A stopper 125 extending in the axial direction of the
seating guide 124 may be provided at the end of the seating guide
124 to limit rotation of the blade support 110.
[0075] The stopper 125 may be formed to expand by a first angle A1
about the seating guide 124 in the circumferential direction to
limit rotation of the blade support 110 at the end of the seating
guide 124, specifically the movement of the side end of the support
arm 114 in opening and closing the blade 30.
[0076] The first angle A1 may be an angle which does interfere with
the range of the axial rotation of the support art 114 at the upper
end of the seating guide 124 in which the blade 30 is opened or
closed.
[0077] Hereinafter, operation of a blade assembly configured as
above and an air conditioner having the same will be described.
[0078] A description will first be given of operation of the blade
assembly. When the air conditioner is turned on, the blade 30
closing the flow path in the air discharge port 12 may rotate to
open the flow path.
[0079] The blade support 110 coupled to the seating protrusion 122
and the seating guide 124 provided on the hinge member 128 may
axially rotate with respect to the seating protrusion 122 and the
seating guide 124. Specifically, the support protrusion 112 of the
blade support 110 may rotate between the seating protrusion 122 of
the seating portion 120 and the seating guide 124 to support the
blade lateral surface portion 30b.
[0080] Next, a description will be given of the case in which
external force is applied to the blade assembly with reference to
FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a view illustrating distribution of external
force applied to a blade assembly according to one or more
embodiments, such as the blade assembly of FIG. 7.
[0081] When an external force F1 is applied to the blade 30 as
shown in FIG. 8, the applied force may be transferred to the blade
reinforcement support 100. Specifically, the applied force may be
transferred to the support protrusion 112 via the support arm
114.
[0082] In the air conditioner, the constituent part that may
support the lateral surface of the blade 30 may function as the
rotation center of the blade 30 and may have a smaller
cross-section than other portions. Thereby, it may be subjected to
concentrated stress. Accordingly, it may be subjected to a larger
pressure than the other constituent parts when force is applied,
and therefore the durability thereof may be lowered.
[0083] In the case of the blade reinforcement support 100 of this
embodiment, the external force F1 transferred to the support
protrusion 112 may be distributed to the outer circumferential
surface of the seating protrusion 122 supporting the inner
circumferential surface of the support protrusion 112 and the inner
circumferential surface of the seating guide 124 supporting the
outer circumferential surface of the support protrusion 112 (F2,
F3). Thereby, concentration of stress may be reduced. In addition,
the support protrusion 112, the seating protrusion 122 and the
seating guide 124 may be disposed in a direction perpendicular to
the direction in which the external force F1 is applied.
Accordingly, the outer surfaces of the support protrusion 112, the
seating protrusion 122 and the seating guide 124 formed in the
axial direction may receive the external force F1 applied thereto
and distribute the external force F1 through the outer surfaces
(F2, F3). Therefore, the blade 30 may be more stably supported.
Reference symbols F2 and F3 respectively represent the forces
produced by the outer circumferential surface of the seating
protrusion 122 and the inner circumferential surface of the seating
guide 124 to support the blade 30 when external force F1 is
applied.
[0084] As is apparent from the above description, a blade assembly
and an air conditioner having the same according to one or more
embodiments may improve fastening strength of a blade, thereby
possibly enhancing durability of a blade against external force and
possibly preventing separation of the blade caused by bending of
the blade.
[0085] While aspects of the present invention have been
particularly shown and described with reference to differing
embodiments thereof, it should be understood that these embodiments
should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for
purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within
each embodiment should typically be considered as available for
other similar features or aspects in the remaining embodiments.
Suitable results may equally be achieved if the described
techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components
in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are
combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by
other components or their equivalents.
[0086] Thus, although a few embodiments have been shown and
described, with additional embodiments being equally available, 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 invention, the scope of which is defined in the
claims and their equivalents.
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