U.S. patent application number 14/049517 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-23 for turbo fan and ceiling type air conditioner using thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Namjoon CHO, Kyungrock KIM, Dongkeun YANG.
Application Number | 20140315479 14/049517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51729362 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140315479 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHO; Namjoon ; et
al. |
October 23, 2014 |
TURBO FAN AND CEILING TYPE AIR CONDITIONER USING THEREOF
Abstract
A turbo fan includes a main plate rotated by power provided from
a fan motor, blades each having one end connected to the main plate
to perform rotation movement, and a shroud having an inner
circumferential part and an outer circumferential part, an other
end of each of the blades connected to the shroud. The shroud
includes a plurality of curved parts each having one side connected
to the inner circumferential part and an other side connected to
the outer circumferential part, the plurality of curved parts each
having a predetermined curvature.
Inventors: |
CHO; Namjoon; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Kyungrock; (Seoul, KR) ; YANG;
Dongkeun; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
51729362 |
Appl. No.: |
14/049517 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/233 ;
415/206; 416/187; 454/234 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0022 20130101;
F04D 29/4226 20130101; F04D 29/30 20130101; F04D 29/281 20130101;
F04D 29/4213 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/233 ;
416/187; 415/206; 454/234 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/00 20060101
F24F001/00; F04D 29/42 20060101 F04D029/42; F04D 29/28 20060101
F04D029/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 19, 2013 |
KR |
1020130043388 |
Claims
1. A turbo fan comprising: a main plate rotated by power provided
from a fan motor; a plurality of blades, each blade having one end
connected to the main plate to perform rotation movement; and a
shroud having an inner circumferential part and an outer
circumferential part, an other end of each of the blades connected
to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises: a plurality of curved
parts, each curved part having one side connected to the inner
circumferential part and an other side connected to the outer
circumferential part, the plurality of curved parts each having a
predetermined curvature.
2. The turbo fan according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
plurality of curved parts comprises a mountain part spaced away
from the main plate.
3. The turbo fan according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of
curved parts comprise a first curved part and a second curved part
disposed adjacent to the first curved part, a valley part disposed
on a boundary surface between the first curved part and the second
curved part, the valley part being disposed spaced closer to the
main plate than the mountain part; and an inclined part connecting
the mountain part to the valley part, the inclined part having the
predetermined curvature.
4. The turbo fan according to claim 3, wherein each of the
plurality of curved parts comprises the mountain part, and the
mountain part and the valley part are alternately disposed with
respect to each other along a circumferential direction of the
shroud.
5. The turbo fan according to claim 2, further comprising: a
rotation shaft providing a rotation center of the main plate, and a
central line that is a virtual line defined when the rotation shaft
and the virtual line extending through mountain part extend in
parallel, wherein a distance between the mountain part and the
inner circumferential part is greater than a distance between the
mountain part and the outer circumferential part with respect to
the central line.
6. The turbo fan according to claim 2, wherein an angle of a slope
of a surface connecting the mountain part to the inner
circumferential part is less than a slope of a surface connecting
the mountain part to the outer circumferential part.
7. The turbo fan according to claim 1, wherein a first contact is a
point at which the outer circumferential part and a blade meet, and
a second contact is a point at which the outer circumferential part
and an adjacent blade meet, the extension part defined as a virtual
line connecting the first contact point and the second contact
point. and a protrusion is a point at the outer circumferential
part disposed spaced furthest away from the main plate, wherein
when a distance between the protrusion and the extension part is a,
and a distance between the extension part and the main plate is b,
a value a/b is set according to a predetermined ratio.
8. The turbo fan according to claim 7, wherein when a length of the
extension part is c, a value of a/c is set according to a
predetermined ratio.
9. The turbo fan according to claim 7, further comprising an
exhaust part disposed between the plurality of blades to provide a
moving path of the air, wherein the exhaust part comprises: a first
exhaust part disposed at an upper side of the extension part; and a
second exhaust part communicating with the first exhaust part, the
second exhaust part disposed at a lower side of the extension
part.
10. The turbo fan according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the
first and second exhaust parts is defined as a space in which the
outer circumferential part and the extension part are disposed.
11. The turbo fan according to claim 3, wherein the valley part has
a length greater than a length of a surface at which the blade
meets the shroud.
12. The turbo fan according to claim 3, wherein the valley part has
a curvature radius greater than a curvature radius of a surface at
which the blade meets the shroud.
13. A ceiling type air conditioner comprising: a case defining an
outer appearance, the case having a suction hole; a fan motor
disposed within the case; a turbo fan disposed within the case to
change a moving direction of air passing through the suction hole;
and a heat exchanger disposed outside the turbo fan, wherein the
turbo fan comprising: a main plate rotated by power provided from
the fan motor; a plurality of blades, each blade having one end
connected to the main plate to perform rotation movement; and a
shroud having an inner circumferential part and an outer
circumferential part, an other end of each of the blades connected
to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises: a plurality of curved
parts, each curved part having one side connected to the inner
circumferential part and an other side connected to the outer
circumferential part, the plurality of curved parts each having a
predetermined curvature.
14. The ceiling type air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein
at least one of the plurality of curved parts comprises a mountain
part spaced away from the main plate.
15. The ceiling type air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein
the plurality of curved parts comprise a first curved part and a
second curved part disposed adjacent to the first curved part, a
valley part disposed on a boundary surface between the first curved
part and the second curved part, the valley part being disposed
spaced closer to the main plate than the mountain part; and an
inclined part connecting the mountain part to the valley part, the
inclined part having the predetermined curvature.
16. The ceiling type air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein
a first contact is a point at which the outer circumferential part
and a blade meet, and a second contact is a point at which the
outer circumferential part and an adjacent blade meet, the
extension part defined as a virtual line connecting the first
contact point and the second contact point. and a protrusion is a
point at the outer circumferential part disposed spaced furthest
away from the main plate, wherein when a distance between the
protrusion and the extension part is a, and a distance between the
extension part and the main plate is b, a value a/b is set
according to a predetermined ratio.
17. The ceiling type air conditioner according to claim 16, further
comprising an exhaust part disposed between the plurality of blades
to provide a moving path of the air, wherein the exhaust part
comprises: a first exhaust part disposed at an upper side of the
extension part; and a second exhaust part communicating with the
first exhaust part, the second exhaust part disposed at a lower
side of the extension part.
18. The ceiling type air conditioner according to claim 14, further
comprising: a rotation shaft providing a rotation center of the
main plate, and a central line that is a virtual line defined when
the rotation shaft and the virtual line extending through mountain
part extend in parallel, wherein a distance between the mountain
part and the inner circumferential part is greater than a distance
between the mountain part and the outer circumferential part with
respect to the central line.
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. 10-2013-0043388
(filed on Apr. 19, 2013), which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a turbo fan and a ceiling
type air conditioner using the same.
[0003] In general, ceiling type air conditioners are devices that
are positioned in an indoor ceiling to discharge heat-exchanged air
into an indoor space after suctioning indoor air from the ceiling.
In such a ceiling type air conditioner, air is suctioned through a
suction hole defined in a central portion of the ceiling type air
conditioner, and then, the suctioned air is heat-exchanged by a
heat exchanger disposed within the ceiling type air conditioner.
The air-conditioned air may be discharged into the indoor space
through a discharge part disposed on a circumferential portion of
the ceiling type air conditioner to adjust a temperature and
moisture of the indoor space.
[0004] Particularly, the air suctioned through the suction hole may
be guided in movement by a turbo fan disposed within the ceiling
type air conditioner. That is, the turbo fan may suction air in an
axial direction with respect to the turbo fan and discharge in a
radius direction of the turbo fan.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a turbo fan according to a
related art.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, a turbo fan 1 according to a related
art may include a main plate 10 rotating by power provided from a
motor, a plurality of blades 20 radially arranged on the main plate
10 and integrated with the main plate 10, and a shroud 30 coupled
to ends of the blades 20 to face one surface of the main plate
10.
[0007] Also, the turbo fan 1 may further include a hub 11
accommodating the motor therein, a boss part 12 having a shaft hole
in a central portion of the hub 11 so that the motor is
shaft-coupled to the shaft hole, and a vent part 13 defined in a
surface of the hub 11 to cool the motor. The vent part 13 may
introduce cold air into the motor therethrough to decrease a
temperature of the motor.
[0008] The shroud 30 may have an inner circumference 31 and an
outer circumference 32 so that air is introduced into the turbo fan
1 and then discharged radially. A suction hole 33 suctioning air
may be defined in a central portion of the shroud 30. Also, a
discharge hole 34 discharging the suctioned air may be defined in a
circumferential direction between the main plate 10 and the shroud
30.
[0009] According to the related art, air suctioned into the turbo
fan 1 through the suction hole 33 may be discharged to the outside
of the turbo fan 1 through the discharge hole 34. The discharge
hole 34 may be defined as a space between the shroud 30 and the
main plate 10.
[0010] However, when the ceiling type air conditioner is changed in
operation mode or operates for a long time, an amount of air
introduced into the turbo fan 1 through the suction hole may
gradually increase. Thus, when the suctioned air is discharged to
the outside through the discharge hole 34, a large amount of air
may be discharged through a predetermined area to cause air flow
noises.
SUMMARY
[0011] Embodiments provide a turbo fan which reduces air flow
noises when air suctioned therein is discharged to the outside
thereof and a ceiling type air conditioner using the same.
[0012] In one embodiment, a turbo fan includes: a main plate
rotated by power provided from a fan motor; blades each having one
end connected to the main plate to perform rotation movement; and a
shroud having an inner circumferential part and an outer
circumferential part, an other end of each of the blades connected
to the shroud, wherein the shroud includes: a plurality of curved
parts each having one side connected to the inner circumferential
part and an other side connected to the outer circumferential part,
the plurality of curved parts each having a predetermined
curvature.
[0013] In another embodiment, a ceiling type air conditioner
includes: a case defining an outer appearance; a fan motor disposed
within the case; a turbo fan disposed within the case to change a
moving direction of air passing through the suction hole; and a
heat exchanger disposed outside the turbo fan, wherein the turbo
fan including: a main plate rotated by power provided from the fan
motor; blades each having one end connected to the main plate to
perform rotation movement; and a shroud having an inner
circumferential part and an outer circumferential part, an other
end of each of the blades connected to the shroud, wherein the
shroud includes: a plurality of curved parts each having one side
connected to the inner circumferential part and an other side
connected to the outer circumferential part, the plurality of
curved parts each having a predetermined curvature.
[0014] 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
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a turbo fan according to a
related art.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an indoor unit of
a ceiling type air conditioner according to an embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the indoor
unit of the ceiling type air conditioner according to an
embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a turbo fan according to an
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the turbo fan according to an
embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a front view of the turbo fan according to an
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a flow of air
passing through the ceiling type air conditioner according to an
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an air
volume and a noise when the turbo fan according to an embodiment is
applied to the ceiling type air conditioner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0024] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that
form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes
may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in
the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain
information known to those skilled in the art. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an indoor unit of
a ceiling type air conditioner according to an embodiment, and FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the indoor unit of the
ceiling type air conditioner according to an embodiment.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a ceiling type air conditioner
according to an embodiment may include an outdoor unit (not shown)
installed in an outdoor space, an indoor unit 100 installed in an
indoor space, and a refrigerant tube (not shown) connecting the
outdoor unit (not shown) to the indoor unit 100 to allow a
refrigerant to flow therethrough.
[0027] The indoor unit 100 may include a case 105 defining an outer
appearance thereof, a turbo fan 200 disposed within the case 105, a
fan motor 120 coupled to the turbo fan 200 to provide power, and a
heat exchanger 130 disposed outside the fan motor 120.
[0028] The case 105 may include a main body 101 defining side
surfaces thereof and a front panel 102 coupled to the main body 101
to define a front surface thereof.
[0029] Also, the main body 101 is installed in an indoor ceiling.
The main body 101 may have an opened lower portion to communicate
with a suction hole 150 defined in the front surface of the front
panel 102. Although the main body 101 is installed in the indoor
ceiling in consideration of space availability or a sense of
beauty, the installed location of the main body 101 is not limited
thereto. For example, the main body 101 may be installed in an
indoor sidewall.
[0030] The front panel 102 may be detachably coupled to the lower
portion of the main body 101. Also, the front panel 102 may be
exposed to the indoor space so that air is suctioned into or
discharged from the indoor unit 100. The front panel 102 may cover
the opened portion of the main body 101. For example, the front
panel 102 may have a square plate shape to cover the opening of the
main body 101. Also, the front panel 102 may include a suction hole
150 through which indoor air is suctioned and a discharge hole 140
through which air is discharged into the indoor space.
[0031] The suction hole 150 may be defined in a central portion of
the front panel 102. The discharge holes 140 may be symmetrically
defined in four sides surrounding the suction hole 150. The suction
hole 150 may have a grill structure. Each of the discharge holes
140 may have a rectangular structure with a predetermined width and
length. However, each of the suction hole 150 and the discharge
holes 140 are not limited to a shape thereof.
[0032] Also, a filter 190 for removing various foreign substances
contained in the air suctioned into the main body 101 through the
suction hole 150 may be provided inside the front panel 102.
[0033] The turbo fan 200 may include a hub 112 connected to a
rotation shaft of the fan motor 120, a main plate 115 rotated by
the fan motor 120, a plurality of blades 400 having one ends
connected to the main plate 115 and arranged at a predetermined
distance along a circumferential direction on the main plate 115,
and a shroud 300 facing the main plate 115 to connect the other
ends of the plurality of blades 400 to the shroud 300. The shroud
300 may guide an inflow of air into the suction hole 150 when the
turbo fan 200 rotates.
[0034] The shroud 300 may include a plurality of mountain parts 330
protruding upward from one surface of the shroud 300 and a
plurality of valley parts 340 disposed between the plurality of
mountain parts 330. That is, the shroud 300 may have a
three-dimensional shape.
[0035] The turbo fan 200 may be disposed on a position
corresponding to the suction hole 150 to improve suction efficiency
of the air suctioned into the main body 101. Particularly, as shown
in FIG. 3, the turbo fan 200 may be disposed to correspond to a
vertical direction of the suction hole 150.
[0036] Also, the turbo fan 200 may blow the indoor air suctioned
through the suction hole 150 toward the heat exchanger 130.
[0037] The heat exchanger 130 may surround the outside of the turbo
fan 200. For example, the heat exchanger 130 may have a square
structure corresponding to a shape of each of the side surfaces of
the main body 101. The heat exchanger 130 may heat-exchange with
the air suctioned into the main body 101 through the turbo fan 200.
Particularly, when the ceiling type air conditioner operates in a
cooling mode, air passing through the heat exchanger 130 may
decrease in temperature. On the other hand, when the ceiling type
air conditioner operates in a heating mode, air passing through the
heat exchanger 130 may increase in temperature.
[0038] A drain plate 131 accommodating condensed water generated
when the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger 130 is
heat-exchanged with the indoor air may be disposed under the heat
exchanger 130. Also, a drain tube (not shown) for discharging the
condensed water collected in the drain plate 131 to the outside may
be connected to the drain plate 131.
[0039] A guide passage 181 for guiding a flow direction of air may
be defined in an outer portion of the inside of the main body 101.
Particularly, the guide passage 181 may guide the air
heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger 130 toward the discharge
hole 140.
[0040] A vane 141 for controlling the flow direction of the air may
be disposed in the discharge hole 140. The vane 141 may be
rotatable at a predetermined angle. Also, the vane 141 may be
inclined outward from the front surface of the front panel 102.
This is done for providing air having a uniform wind speed to all
indoor portions. However, the rotation direction of the vane 141 is
not limited thereto. Also, the vane 141 is not limited to an
arrangement, configuration, and operation method as described
thereof.
[0041] Hereinafter, a detailed structure of the turbo fan 200 will
be described.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a turbo fan 200 according to
an embodiment, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the turbo fan according to
an embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the turbo fan
according to an embodiment.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the turbo fan 200 according to an
embodiment may include a main plate 115 rotated by a power provided
from a fan motor, a hub 112 accommodating the fan motor therein, a
plurality of blades 400 having one ends connected to the main plate
115 and arranged radially on the main plate 115, and a shroud 300
connecting the other end of each of the plurality of blades 400 to
the shroud 300 to guide a flow direction of air.
[0044] The hub 112 may include a boss part 220 shaft-coupled to the
fan motor disposed at a central portion of the hub 112 and a vent
part 210 providing a moving path of air. The vent part 210 may
introduce cold air into the motor therethrough to decrease a
temperature of the motor.
[0045] Each of the blades 400 may include a blade front end 420
disposed adjacent to the hub 112 and a blade rear end 410 spaced
apart from the hub 112 to guide air flowing along the blades 400 to
a heat exchanger (see reference numeral 130 of FIG. 3).
[0046] A hollow portion providing a moving path of air may be
defined in a central portion of the shroud 300. That is, an air
suction part 360 may be disposed in the hollow portion so that
indoor air is suctioned into the turbo fan 200. The air suctioned
through the air suction part 360 may be discharged to the outside
through an exhaust part 450 defined in a space between the
plurality of blades 400.
[0047] The shroud 300 may include an inner circumferential part 370
defining an inner circumferential surface of the shroud 300 and
disposed adjacent to the air suction part 360 and an outer
circumferential part 380 defining an outer circumferential surface
of the shroud 300 and disposed adjacent to the exhaust part
450.
[0048] Also, the shroud 300 may include a guide part 310 disposed
adjacent to the inner circumferential part 370 to guide a flow
direction of air and a curved part 320 connected to the guide part
310 and having a predetermined curvature. Particularly, the guide
part 310 may guide a flow direction of air introduced into the
turbo fan 200 through the suction part 360. The curved part 320 may
guide a flow of air so that the air guided into the turbo fan 200
through the guide part 310 is discharged to the outside through the
exhaust part 450.
[0049] The curved part 320 may be provided in plurality. Also, the
plurality of curved part 320 may include a mountain part 330
disposed spaced away from the main plate 115 and a valley part 340
disposed spaced closer to the main plate 115 than the mountain part
330. The curved part 320 may include a first curved part 321 and a
second curved part 322 disposed adjacent to the first curved part
321. Also, the valley part 340 may be disposed on a boundary
surface between the first curved part 321 and the second curved
part 322.
[0050] The curved part 320 may further include an inclined part 350
connecting the mountain part 330 to the valley part 340. The
inclined part 350 may be defined as a surface connecting the
mountain part 330 to the valley part 340, a surface connecting the
mountain part 330 to the outer circumferential part 380, and a
surface connecting the mountain part 310 to the guide part 310.
[0051] Also, a surface on which the blades 400 and the shroud 300
meet may have a curvature radius less than that of the valley part
340. That is, the valley part 340 may have a length greater than a
length of the surface on which the blade 400 and the shroud 300
meet. This is done for smoothly guiding a flow of air into the
exhaust part 450.
[0052] When a point at which the outer circumferential part 380 of
the shroud 300 and the blade 400 meet is referred to as a first
contact 430, and a point at which the outer circumferential part
380 of the shroud 300 and the next blade 400 meet, the point being
disposed adjacent to the first contact 430, is referred to as a
second contact 440, a space within the exhaust part 450 may be
partitioned by an extension part 460 connecting the first contact
430 to the second contact 440.
[0053] Particularly, the extension part 460 may be defined as a
virtual line connecting the first contact 430 to the second contact
440. The exhaust part 450 may include a first exhaust part 451
disposed at an upper side with respect to the extension part 460
and a second exhaust part 452 disposed at a lower side with respect
to the extension part 460.
[0054] According to the related art, the turbo fan may include one
exhaust part. However, the turbo fan 200 according to an embodiment
may further include the first exhaust part 451 because the outer
circumferential part 380 of the shroud 300 having a predetermined
curvature and the second exhaust part 452. Thus, air introduced
into the turbo fan 200 may be discharged to the outside through the
first exhaust part 451 as well as the second exhaust part 452
increasing an air flow space, compared to the turbo fan of the
related art, thereby reducing air flow noises.
[0055] The turbo fan 200 according to an embodiment may further
include a rotation shaft (not shown) providing a rotation center of
the main plate 115. If a central line (not shown) is a virtual line
defined when the rotation shaft (not shown) and the virtual line
extending through the mountain part 330 extend in parallel, with
respect to the central line (not shown), a distance between the
mountain part 330 and the inner circumferential part 370 may be
greater than a distance between the mountain part 330 and the outer
circumferential part 380. That is, with respect to a flow direction
of air passing through the shroud 300, a flow space of air
introduced into the shroud 300 may be less than that of air
discharged from the shroud 300.
[0056] Thus, the air passing through the shroud 300 may more
smoothly flow. Also, a pressure loss of the air passing through the
shroud 300 may be reduced.
[0057] With respect to the outer circumferential part 380, a point
disposed spaced furthest away from the main plate 115 may be
defined as a protrusion 381. When a distance between the protrusion
381 and the extension part 460 is a, and a distance between the
extension part 460 and the main plate 115 is b, a value of a/b may
be greater than about 0.05 and less than about 0.05. That is, a
distance between the first exhaust part 451 and the extension part
460 and a distance between the second exhaust part 452 and the
extension part 460 may be decided according to a predetermined
ratio.
[0058] Also, when a length of the extension part 460 is c, a value
of a/c may be greater than about 0.02 and less than about 0.06.
That is, the distance between the first exhaust part 451 and the
extension part 460 and the length of the extension part 460 may be
decided according to a predetermined ratio.
[0059] However, the present disclosure is not limited to the values
of a, b, and c and the ratios among a, b, and c. For example, more
various embodiments may be applied to the current embodiment.
[0060] Hereinafter, an operation process of the ceiling type air
conditioner according to an embodiment will be described.
[0061] FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a flow of air
passing through the ceiling type air conditioner according to an
embodiment.
[0062] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow of air on the basis of the
structure of FIG. 3. Thus, the same structure as that of FIG. 3
will be expressed as the same reference numeral.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 7, when the ceiling type air conditioner
according to an embodiment operates, the indoor unit 100 connected
to the outdoor unit (not shown) may operate. When the indoor unit
100 operates, the main plate 115 may rotate by driving of the fan
motor 120. As the main plate 115 rotates, the plurality of blades
400 connected to the main plate 115 may also rotate. When the
plurality of blades 400 rotate, indoor air may be suctioned through
the suction hole 150 defined in the center of the front panel 102
of the indoor unit 100. The suctioned air may pass through the
filter 190 to filter foreign substances. Also, a flow of the
suction air may be guided into the turbo fan 200 by the shroud 300.
Particularly, the air may be suctioned into the turbo fan 200
through the air suction part 360 that is a space defined by the
inner circumferential part 370 of the shroud 300.
[0064] The air introduced into the turbo fan 200 may be radially
discharged by the rotation of the plurality of blades 400. That is,
the air introduced into a lower portion of the turbo fan 200 may be
discharged in a lateral direction by the operation of the turbo fan
200.
[0065] The shroud 300 may include a plurality of curved parts 320.
The plurality of curved parts 320 may include a plurality of
mountain parts 330, a plurality of valley parts 340, and an
inclined part 350 connecting each of the mountain part 330 to each
of the valley parts 340. The inclined part 350 may include the
protrusion 381 protruding from the extension part in one direction.
Thus, the air suctioned into the turbo fan 200 may be discharged to
the outside along the first exhaust part 451 defined by the
protrusion 381 and the second exhaust part 452 communicating with
the first exhaust part 451.
[0066] A portion of air discharged from the blades may pass through
the heat exchanger 130 and then be heat-exchanged with a
refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger 130. The heat-exchanged
refrigerant may be discharged into the indoor space through the
discharge hole 140. Also, the plurality of vanes 141 may be
disposed in the discharge hole 140 to adequately condition the
indoor space.
[0067] FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a relationship between an air
volume and noise when the turbo fan according to an embodiment is
applied to the ceiling type air conditioner.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 8, when the ceiling type air conditioner
to which the shroud according to the related art is applied
operates, the more an air volume increases, the more the noise may
increase (M). On the other hand, when the ceiling type air
conditioner to which the shroud according to the current embodiment
is applied operates, the more an air volume increases, the more the
noise may relatively slightly increase (N) when compared to that of
the related art (M).
[0069] The shroud 300 according to the current embodiment may
include the plurality of mountain parts 330, the plurality of
valley parts 340, and the inclined part 350 connecting each of the
mountain part 330 to each of the valley parts 340. Thus, the
plurality of exhaust parts 450 may be defined in the turbo fan 200
by the plurality of mountain parts 330, the plurality of valley
parts 340, and the inclined part 350. That is, in the turbo fan 200
according to the current embodiment, since the exhaust part 450 has
a relatively wide area when compared to the related art, the air
flow space may increase. Thus, the flow noise of the air passing
through the exhaust part 450 may be reduced, and it may prevent an
inner air pressure of the exhaust part 450 from suddenly
increasing.
[0070] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, 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.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
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