U.S. patent application number 15/618726 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-22 for air conditioner.
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 Heung Seob CHOI, Yi Goo GONG, Chang-Woo JUNG, Kwon Jin KIM, Sung Jae KIM, Kyeong Ae LEE, Sang Ki LEE, Yeon-Seob YUN.
Application Number | 20180080665 15/618726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61620212 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180080665 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JUNG; Chang-Woo ; et
al. |
March 22, 2018 |
AIR CONDITIONER
Abstract
The air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, a heat
exchanger disposed within the housing, a fan for blowing air
exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet, a first
position for opening the outlet and a second position for covering
the outlet and a door including a plurality of holes for
discharging air out of the housing at the second position. The air
blowing method of the air discharged from the air conditioner may
be different.
Inventors: |
JUNG; Chang-Woo; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; LEE; Kyeong Ae; (Suwon-si, KR) ; GONG;
Yi Goo; (Suwon-si, KR) ; KIM; Sung Jae;
(Seongnam-si, KR) ; YUN; Yeon-Seob; (Hwaseong-si,
KR) ; LEE; Sang Ki; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; KIM;
Kwon Jin; (Suwon-si, KR) ; CHOI; Heung Seob;
(Suwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
61620212 |
Appl. No.: |
15/618726 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/0025 20130101;
F24F 1/005 20190201; F24F 1/0007 20130101; F24F 1/0011
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 1/00 20060101
F24F001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0121675 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet; a
heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing; a fan
configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger
toward the outlet; and, a door configured to be movable between a
first position at which the door opens the outlet, and a second
position at which the door closes the outlet, the door including a
plurality of holes configured to discharge air to the outside of
the housing when the door is at the second position.
2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door is configured
to slide between the first position and the second position.
3. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein a part of the front
portion of the housing is curved, and the door is curved, and
disposed on the front portion of the housing.
4. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the housing and the
outlet extend in a vertical direction which is the longitudinal
direction of the housing and the outlet, the fan is a cross-flow
fan.
5. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door is in the shape
of a roll when the door is at the first position, and when the door
is at the second position, the door is unrolled to close the
outlet.
6. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door includes a
fabric material.
7. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door forms a portion
of the housing.
8. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet; a
heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing; a fan
configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger
toward the outlet; and a blade configured to be movable between a
guide position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and
a closed position at which the blades closes the outlet, the blade
including a plurality of holes configured to discharge air to the
outside of the housing when the blade is at the closed
position.
9. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the blade is configured
to rotate between the guide position and the closed position.
10. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet, and
a discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to
the outlet; a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing;
a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger
toward the outlet; a blade configured to be movable between a guide
position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a
closing position at which the blade closes the outlet; and a flow
path guide configured to guide air blown by the fan, wherein the
flow path guide comprises: a guide body configured to guide the
blown air to the outlet when the outlet is opened; and, a through
hole formed in the guide body, and configured to discharge the
blown air through the plurality of holes when the outlet is closed
by the blade.
11. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the outlet includes
first and second outlets spaced apart from each other, and the flow
path guide includes first and second flow path guides configured to
form first and second flow paths through which air blown by the fan
diverges to flow to the first and second outlets.
12. The air conditioner of claim 11, further comprising a display
unit disposed between the first and second outlets, and wherein the
through-hole is formed at an area forming walls of the first and
flow paths in the first and second flow path guides.
13. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the blade comprises: a
blade body configured to move between the guide position and the
closed position; and a plurality of holes formed in the blade body,
and configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing
together with the plurality of holes of the discharge plate, when
the blade is at the closed position.
14. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the housing and the
outlet extend in a vertical direction which is the longitudinal
direction of the housing and the outlet, and the fan is a
cross-flow fan.
15. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet, and
a discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to
the outlet; a heat exchanger disposed in the housing; a fan
configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger
toward the outlet; and a flow path guide configured to guide air
blown from the fan, and wherein the flow path guide is movable
between a first position at which the flow path guide forms a first
flow path to guide air to the outlet, and a second position at
which the flow path guide forms a second flow path that is wider
than the first flow path by moving from the first position to guide
air into the plurality of holes.
16. The air conditioner of claim 15, wherein the flow path guide
comprises: a fixed guide disposed adjacent to the fan;, and a
rotation guide rotatably disposed on the fixed guide such that the
widths of the first and second flow paths are different between
when the flow path guide is at the first position and when the flow
path guide is at the second position.
17. The air conditioner of claim 15, further comprising a blade
configured to be movable between a guide position at which the
blade guides air blown by the fan, and a closed position at which
the blade closes the outlet, and wherein when the flow path guide
is at the second position, the blade is positioned at the closed
position.
18. The air conditioner of claim 15, wherein the end of the flow
path guide corresponds to the outlet when the flow path guide is at
the first position, and the end of the flow path guide corresponds
to the end of the discharge plate when the flow path guide is at
the second position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2016-0121675, filed on Sep. 22, 2016, in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] Embodiments of the disclosure relates to an air conditioner,
and more particularly, to an air conditioner using an improved air
discharging method.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] In general, an air conditioner is equipment that adjusts the
temperature, humidity, airflow, distribution, etc. to conditions
suitable for human activity using a refrigeration cycle. The air
conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a
fan, etc. as main components constituting the refrigeration
cycle.
[0004] The air conditioner can be classified into a split type air
conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are
separated and installed, and a window type air conditioner in which
an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are installed together in a
single cabinet. The indoor unit of the split type air conditioner
includes a heat exchanger to heat-exchange air inhaled to the
inside of the panel, and a fan to inhale indoor air to the inside
of the panel and to again discharge the inhaled air to an indoor
space. The indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner has been
manufactured to miniaturize the heat exchanger and to raise the RPM
of the fan to thereby maximize wind speed and air flow. As a
result, the discharge temperature is lowered, and the discharged
air forms a narrow, long flow path to be discharged to indoor
space.
[0005] When a user is directly exposed to the discharged air, the
user may feel the cold and displeasure. On the other hand, when the
user is not exposed to the discharged air, the user may feel the
heat and displeasure.
[0006] Also, if the user increases the RPM of the fan in order to
raise wind speed, noise increases. Also, a radiant air conditioner
of conditioning air without using a fan requires a large panel in
order to achieve the same capability as the air conditioner with
the fan. Furthermore, the radiant air conditioner has a very low
cooling rate, and requires high construction cost.
SUMMARY
[0007] The present disclosure provides an air conditioner capable
of using various air discharge methods.
[0008] The present disclosure also provides an air conditioner of
cooling and heating indoor space at minimum wind speed at which a
user can feel pleasant.
[0009] The present disclosure also provides an air conditioner of
performing cooling through convection by minimizing wind speed, and
of implementing radiant cooling in the adjacent area.
[0010] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an
air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, a heat
exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing, a fan configured
to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the
outlet and, a door configured to be movable between a first
position at which the door opens the outlet, and a second position
at which the door closes the outlet, the door including a plurality
of holes configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing
when the door is at the second position.
[0011] The door is configured to slide between the first position
and the second position.
[0012] A part of the front portion of the housing is curved, and
the door is curved, and disposed on the front portion of the
housing.
[0013] The housing and the outlet extend in a vertical direction
which is the longitudinal direction of the housing and the outlet,
the fan is a cross-flow fan.
[0014] The door is in the shape of a roll when the door is at the
first position, and when the door is at the second position, the
door is unrolled to close the outlet.
[0015] The door includes a fabric material.
[0016] The door forms a portion of the housing.
[0017] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an
air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, a heat
exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing, a fan configured
to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the
outlet; and a blade configured to be movable between a guide
position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a
closed position at which the blades closes the outlet, the blade
including a plurality of holes configured to discharge air to the
outside of the housing when the blade is at the closed
position.
[0018] The blade is configured to rotate between the guide position
and the closed position.
[0019] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an
air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, and a
discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to
the outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing,
a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger
toward the outlet, a blade configured to be movable between a guide
position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a
closing position at which the blade closes the outlet and a flow
path guide configured to guide air blown by the fan. The flow path
guide includes a guide body configured to guide the blown air to
the outlet when the outlet is opened and a through hole formed in
the guide body, and configured to discharge the blown air through
the plurality of holes when the outlet is closed by the blade.
[0020] The outlet includes first and second outlets spaced apart
from each other, and the flow path guide includes first and second
flow path guides configured to form first and second flow paths
through which air blown by the fan diverges to flow to the first
and second outlets.
[0021] The air conditioner further includes a display unit disposed
between the first and second outlets. The through-hole is formed at
an area forming walls of the first and flow paths in the first and
second flow path guides.
[0022] The blade includes a blade body configured to move between
the guide position and the closed position and a plurality of holes
formed in the blade body, and configured to discharge air to the
outside of the housing together with the plurality of holes of the
discharge plate, when the blade is at the closed position.
[0023] The housing and the outlet extend in a vertical direction
which is the longitudinal direction of the housing and the outlet,
and the fan is a cross-flow fan.
[0024] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an
air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, and a
discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to
the outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the housing, a fan
configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger
toward the outlet and a flow path guide configured to guide air
blown from the fan. The flow path guide is movable between a first
position at which the flow path guide forms a first flow path to
guide air to the outlet, and a second position at which the flow
path guide forms a second flow path that is wider than the first
flow path by moving from the first position to guide air into the
plurality of holes.
[0025] The flow path guide includes a fixed guide disposed adjacent
to the fan, and a rotation guide rotatably disposed on the fixed
guide such that the widths of the first and second flow paths are
different between when the flow path guide is at the first position
and when the flow path guide is at the second position.
[0026] The air conditioner further includes a blade configured to
be movable between a guide position at which the blade guides air
blown by the fan, and a closed position at which the blade closes
the outlet. When the flow path guide is at the second position, the
blade is positioned at the closed position.
[0027] The end of the flow path guide corresponds to the outlet
when the flow path guide is at the first position, and the end of
the flow path guide corresponds to the end of the discharge plate
when the flow path guide is at the second position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] These and/or other aspects and advantages will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of the operation of an air
conditioner in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams of operation of an air
conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0032] FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams of operation of an air
conditioner in accordance with another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0033] FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the operation of an
air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0034] FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating an operation of an
air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0035] FIG. 13 is a view showing a path-guide of an air conditioner
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a cross section of an air conditioner according
to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0037] FIG. 15 is a cross section of an air conditioner according
to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are diagrams of operation of an air
conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0039] FIGS. 19 and 20 are diagrams illustrating the operation of
an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the
drawings described in the present specification are only the
preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and thus it is to
be understood that various modified examples, which may replace the
embodiments and the drawings described in the present
specification, are possible when filing the present
application.
[0041] In addition, the same reference numerals or symbols shown in
the drawings of the present specification indicate members or
components that perform the substantially same function.
[0042] The terms used in the present specification are used to
describe the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it
should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following
description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is
provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of
limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents. It is to be understood that the singular forms "a,"
"an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. It will be understood that when the terms
"includes," "comprises," "including," and/or "comprising," when
used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, figures, steps, components, or combination thereof, but
do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, figures, steps, components, members, or combinations
thereof.
[0043] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, etc. may be used herein to describe various components,
these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms
are only used to distinguish one component from another. For
example, a first component could be termed a second component, and,
similarly, a second component could be termed a first component,
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used
herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one
or more of associated listed items.
[0044] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0045] A refrigeration cycle constituting an air conditioner may be
configured with a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and
an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle may perform a series of
processes of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation to
heat-exchange high-temperature air with low-temperature
refrigerants and then to supply low-temperature air to a room.
[0046] The compressor may compress refrigerant gas to
high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, and discharge the
compressed gas. The discharged refrigerant gas may enter the
condenser. The condenser may condense the compressed refrigerant
into a liquid state, and emit heat during the condensation process.
The expansion valve may expand the high-temperature and
high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed by the condenser to a
liquid-phase refrigerant of low pressure. The evaporator may
heat-exchange the refrigerant with an object to be cooled using the
evaporative latent heat of the refrigerant to achieve the
refrigerating effect, and return the low-temperature and
low-pressure refrigerant gas to the compressor. Through the
refrigeration cycle, the air conditioner can adjust the air
temperature of the room.
[0047] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include the
compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger in the refrigeration
cycle. The expansion valve may be disposed in any one of the indoor
unit and the outdoor unit, and the indoor heat exchanger may be
disposed in the indoor unit of the air conditioner.
[0048] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner for
cooling indoor space, wherein an outdoor heat exchanger serves as a
condenser, and an indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator.
Hereinafter, for convenience of description, an indoor unit
including an indoor heat exchanger will be referred to as an air
conditioner, and the indoor heat exchanger will be referred to as a
heat exchanger.
[0049] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3 and 4
are views for describing the operation of the air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an air conditioner 1 may include
a housing 10 having an inlet 12 and an outlet 14, a heat exchanger
20 to exchange heat with air entering the inside of the housing 10,
and a fan 30 to circulate air to the inside or outside of the
housing 10.
[0051] The housing 10 may have a substantially circular cross
section, and may have a cylindrical shape as a whole. However, the
shape of the housing 10 is not limited to this.
[0052] The housing 10 may include a blade 16 to guide air being
blown through the outlet 14. The blade 16 may be located on the
outlet 14 to control the direction of air blowing through the
outlet 14, and may block the outlet 14 to close the outlet 14. More
specifically, the blade 16 may rotate between a guide position at
which it is disposed in a direction that is parallel to the blowing
direction of air, and a closing position at which it blocks blowing
of air.
[0053] The fan 30 may be a cross-flow fan although not limited to
this. In the current embodiment, the housing 10 and the outlet 14
may extend in a vertical direction that is the longitudinal
direction, and the fan 30 which is a cross-flow fan may extend in
the vertical direction in the inside of the housing 10.
[0054] The heat exchanger 20 may be disposed in the inside of the
housing 10 to perform heat-exchange with air entered through the
inlet 12. That is, the heat exchanger 20 may absorb or transfer
heat from air entered through the inlet 12. Below the heat
exchanger 20, a drain panel (not shown) may be disposed to collect
water condensed in the heat exchanger 20.
[0055] The air conditioner 1 may include a flow path guide 40. The
flow path guide 40 may be formed between the fan 30 and the outlet
14 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 14 may be located at one
end of the flow path guide 40.
[0056] The air conditioner 1 may include a door 50. The door 50 may
open or close the outlet 14 of the housing 10. The door 50 may be
movable between a first position 50a at which it opens the outlet
14, and a second position 50b at which it closes the outlet 14. In
the current embodiment, the door 50 may slide between the first
position 50a and the second positions 50b, although the operation
of the door 50 is not limited to this.
[0057] Since the housing 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape,
the door 50 may also be curved. More specifically, the front
surface of the housing 10 may be at least partially curved, and the
door 50 may also be curved to correspond to the curved front
surface of the housing 10.
[0058] The door 50 may include a door body 52, and a plurality of
holes 54 formed in the door body 52. The door body 52 may be curved
as described above in order to cover the outlet 14. The plurality
of holes 54 may be formed in at least one portion of the door body
52. In the current embodiment, a plurality of holes 54 may be
formed in the entire area of the door body 52. The plurality of
holes 54 can discharge air to the outside of the housing 10 even
when the door 50 is at the second position 50b.
[0059] The door 50 may discharge heat-exchanged air flowing to the
outlet 14 to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of
holes 54. Thereby, it is possible to air-condition indoor space
without transferring heat-exchanged air directly to the user.
[0060] Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner according
to the above-described configuration will be described.
[0061] First, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is
discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 14
will be described.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the door 50 may be located at
the first position 50a at which it opens the outlet 14. Air
entering the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may
exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the
fan 30. The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be guided by
the flow path guide 40 to thus be discharged to the outside of the
housing 10 through the outlet 14.
[0063] In this case, since the air conditioner 1 blows
heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing 10 through the
outlet 14, the air conditioner 1 can adjust indoor temperature more
quickly than the case of blowing heat-exchanged air through the
plurality of holes.
[0064] Next, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is
discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality
of holes 54 of the door 50 will be described.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the door 50 may be located at
the second position 50b at which it closes the outlet 14. Air
entered the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may
exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the
fan 30. The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be guided by
the flow path guide 40 to thus be discharged to the outside of the
housing 10 through a plurality of holes 54 formed in the door
50.
[0066] In this case, since the air conditioner 1 blows the
heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing 10 through the
plurality of holes 54 of the discharge plate, the blown air may not
be transferred directly to the user, thereby improving the user's
feeling of satisfaction.
[0067] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those
described above will be omitted.
[0068] FIGS. 5 and 6 are views for describing the operation of an
air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an air conditioner 100 may
include a door 150.
[0070] The door 150 may include a door body 152, and a plurality of
holes 154 formed in the door body 152.
[0071] The door body 152 may be rollable, and may close the outlet
14 when it is unrolled. The plurality of holes 154 may be formed in
at least one portion of the door body 152. The door 150 may be
formed of a fabric material so that it is rollable, although not
limited to this.
[0072] The door 150 may move between a first position 150a at which
it is in the shape of a roll to open the outlet 14, and a second
position 150b at which it is unrolled to close the outlet 14.
[0073] The operation of the air conditioner 100 when the door 50 is
at the first position 150a or the second position 150b of the door
50 has been described above in the previous embodiment.
[0074] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those
described above will be omitted
[0075] FIGS. 7 and 8 are views for describing the operation of an
air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0076] The air conditioner 200 may include a housing 210 having an
inlet 212 and an outlet 214, a heat exchanger 220 to exchange heat
with air entered the inside of the housing 210, and a fan 230 to
circulate air to the inside or outside of the housing 210.
[0077] The housing 210 may have a substantially circular cross
section, and may have a cylindrical shape as a whole. However, the
shape of the housing 210 is not limited to this.
[0078] In the current embodiment, the fan 230 may be a cross-flow
fan, although not limited to this.
[0079] The heat exchanger 220 may be disposed in the inside of the
housing 210 to exchange heat with air entered through the inlet
212. That is, the heat exchanger 220 may absorb or transfer heat
from air entered through the inlet 212. Below the heat exchanger
220, a drain panel (not shown) may be disposed to collect water
condensed in the heat exchanger 220.
[0080] The air conditioner 200 may include a flow path guide 240. A
flow path guide 240 may be formed between the fan 230 and the
outlet 214 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 214 may be located
at one end of the flow path guide 240.
[0081] The housing 210 may include a blade 216 to guide air being
blown through the outlet 214. The blade 216 may be located on the
outlet 214 to control the direction of air blowing through the
outlet 214, and may block the outlet 214 to close the outlet 214.
More specifically, the blade 216 may rotate between a guide
position 216a at which it is disposed in a direction that is
parallel to the blowing direction of air, and a closing position
216b at which it blocks blowing of air.
[0082] The blade 216 may include a blade body 217 rotatably moving
with respect to the housing 210, and a plurality of holes 218
formed in the blade body 217. The plurality of holes 218 of the
blade 216 may discharge air to the outside of the housing 210 when
the blade 216 is at the closed position 216b.
[0083] Air discharged from the air conditioner 200 may be
discharged through the outlet 214, or may be discharged through the
plurality of holes 218 when the blade 216 closes the outlet
214.
[0084] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Hereinafter, description about the same configurations as those
described above will be omitted.
[0085] FIGS. 9 and 10 are views for describing the operation of an
air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0086] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, an air conditioner 300 may
include a housing 310 having an inlet 312 and an outlet 314.
[0087] The housing 310 may include a door 350. The door 350 may
form at least one portion of the housing 310. That is, the housing
310 may include a housing body 311 forming the outer appearance,
and a door 350 configured to slide with respect to the housing body
311. The door 350 may also form a portion of the housing 310.
[0088] The door 350 may include a door body 352, and a plurality of
holes 354 formed in the door body 352. The door body 352 may be
curved so as to be slidable with respect to the housing body 311
that is curved, and may close the outlet 314. The plurality of
holes 354 may be formed in at least one portion of the door body
352. In the current embodiment, the plurality of holes 354 may be
formed in the entire area of the door body 352.
[0089] The door 350 may slide between a first position 350a at
which it opens the outlet 314, and a second position 350b at which
it closes the outlet 314.
[0090] Air discharged from the air conditioner 300 may be
discharged through the outlet 314, or may be discharged through the
plurality of holes 354 when the door 350 closes the outlet 314.
[0091] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those
described above will be omitted.
[0092] FIGS. 11 and 12 are views for describing the operation of an
air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure. FIG. 13 shows a flow path guide of the air conditioner
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0093] Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, an air conditioner 400 may
include a discharge plate 460. The discharge plate 460 may form a
portion of the housing 10.
[0094] The discharge plate 460 may include a plurality of holes 462
disposed adjacent to the outlet 14. The discharge plate 460 may
form at least one portion of the housing 10, wherein the inner
surface of the discharge plate 460 may face the inner space of the
housing 10, and the outer surface of the discharge plate 460 may
face the outside of the housing 10.
[0095] The air conditioner 400 may include a flow path guide 440.
The flow path guide 440 may be formed between the fan 30 and the
outlet 414 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 414 may be located
at one end of the flow path guide 440. The outlet 414 may be
located at the end of the flow path guide 440.
[0096] The air conditioner 400 may include a plurality of outlets
414a and 414b, and first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b.
The first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b may guide first
and second flow paths 448a and 448b through which air blown by the
fan 30 flows to the plurality of outlets 414a and 414b.
[0097] The flow path guide 440 may include a guide body 442, and a
through hole 444 formed in the guide body 442. The through hole 444
of the flow path guide 440 may enable blown air to flow into the
plurality of holes 462 of the discharge plate 460, when the outlet
414 is closed by the blade 416 which will be described later. The
shape of the through hole 444 formed in the guide body 442 is not
limited. For example, the through hole 444 may be formed along a
direction in which air is guided, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.
According to another example, as shown in FIG. 13, the guide body
443 may be formed in the longitudinal direction of the housing 10,
and a plurality of through holes 445 may be arranged along the
longitudinal direction in such a way to be spaced from each
other.
[0098] The housing 10 may include a blade 416 to guide air being
blown through the outlet 414. The blade 416 may be located on the
outlet 414 to control the direction of air blowing through the
outlet 414, or to block the outlet 414 to close the outlet 414.
More specifically, the blade 416 may rotate between a guide
position 416a at which it is disposed in a direction that is
parallel to the blowing direction of air, and a closing position
416b at which it blocks blowing of air.
[0099] The blade 416 may include a blade body 417 configured to be
rotatable with respect to the housing 10, and a plurality of holes
418 formed in the blade body 417. The plurality of holes 418 of the
blade 416 may discharge air to the outside of the housing 10, when
the blade 416 is at the closed position 416b. However, the shape of
the blade 416 is not limited to this. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,
a plurality of holes 418 may be formed in the blade 416. Also, as
shown in FIG. 14, the blade 419 may open and close the outlet 14
without having any hole.
[0100] Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner according
to the above-described configuration will be described.
[0101] First, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is
discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 414
will be described.
[0102] Referring to FIG. 11, the blade 416 may be positioned at a
guide position 416a at which it opens the outlet 414. Air entered
the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat
with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. The
heat-exchanged air blown from the fan 30 may be guided by the guide
body 442 of the flow path guide 440 to thus be discharged to the
outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 414.
[0103] Next, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is
discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality
of holes 462 and 418 will be described.
[0104] Referring to FIG. 12, the blade 416 may be located at the
closed position 416b at which it closes the outlet 414. Air entered
to the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange
heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30.
The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may pass through the
through hole of the flow path guide 440 to be discharged through
the plurality of holes 462 of the discharge plate 460, since the
outlet 414 is closed by the blade 416. The air blown by the fan 30
may also be discharged through the plurality of holes 462 of the
blade 416.
[0105] That is, when the blade 416 closes the outlet 414, blown air
may be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the
plurality of holes 462 of the discharge plate 460 and the blade
416.
[0106] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those
described above will be omitted.
[0107] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0108] The air conditioner 500 may include a flow path guide
440.
[0109] A flow path guide 440 may be formed between the fan 30 and
the outlet 414 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 414 may be
located at one end of the flow path guide 440. The outlet 414 may
be located at the end of the flow path guide 440.
[0110] The air conditioner 500 may include a plurality of outlets
414a and 414b and first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b.
The first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b may guide the
first and second flow paths 448a and 448b through which air blown
by the fan 30 flows to the plurality of outlets 414a and 414b.
[0111] A display unit 570 may be positioned between the first and
second flow path guides 441a and 441b. For the configuration, the
first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b may have a
plurality of through holes 444 at areas forming the walls of the
flow paths 448a and 448b in the first and second flow path guides
441a and 441b.
[0112] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those
described above will be omitted
[0113] FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 are views for describing the operation
of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0114] Referring to FIGS. 16, 17, and 18, an air conditioner 600
may include a discharge plate 460. The discharge plate 460 may form
a portion of the housing 10.
[0115] The discharge plate 460 may include a plurality of holes 462
disposed adjacent the outlet 14. The discharge plate 460 may form
at least one portion of the housing 10, wherein the inner surface
of the discharge plate 460 may face the inner space of the housing
10, and the outer surface of the discharge plate 460 may face the
outside of the housing 10.
[0116] The housing 10 may include a blade 416 to guide air being
blown through the outlet 414. The blade 416 may be located on the
outlet 414 to control the direction of air blowing through the
outlet 414 or to close the outlet 414 to block the outlet 414. More
specifically, the blade 416 may rotate between a guide position
416a at which it is disposed in a direction parallel to the blowing
direction of air, and a closing position 416b at which it blocks
blowing of air.
[0117] The blade 416 may include a blade body 417 configured to be
rotatable with respect to the housing 10, and a plurality of holes
418 formed in the blade body 417. The plurality of holes 418 of the
blade 416 may discharge air to the outside of the housing 10, when
the blade 416 is at the closed position 416b. However, the shape of
the blade 416 is not limited to this. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17,
a plurality of holes 418 may be formed in the blade 416. Also, as
shown in FIG. 18, the blade 416 may close the outlet 414 without
having any hole.
[0118] The air conditioner 600 may include a flow path guide 640. A
flow path guide 640 may be formed between the fan 30 and the outlet
414 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 414 may be located at one
end of the flow path guide 640. The outlet 414 may be located at
the end of the flow path guide 640.
[0119] The flow path guide 640 may include a fixed guide 642, and a
variable guide 644 rotatably formed at the end of the fixed guide
642 so as to increase the width of a flow path.
[0120] The flow path guide 640 may move between a first position
640a at which it forms a first flow path to guide air to the outlet
414, and a second position 640b at which it forms a second flow
path that is wider than the first flow path by moving from the
first position 640a to guide air to the discharge plate 460.
[0121] More specifically, the flow path guide 640 may move between
the first position 640a at which the variable guide 644 guides air
blown from the fan 30 to the outlet 414, and the second position
640b at which the variable guide 644 moves from the first position
640a to widen the flow path and guides air to the discharge plate
460. The variable guide 644 may move to discharge air to the
discharge plate 460, when the outlet 414 is closed. When the flow
path guide 640 is at the second position 640b, air may also be
discharged through the plurality of holes 418 of the blade 416
[0122] Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner according
to the above-described configuration will be described.
[0123] First, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is
discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 414
will be described.
[0124] Referring to FIG. 16, the blade 416 may be located at a
guide position 416a at which it opens the outlet 414. Air entered
to the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange
heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30.
The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be guided by the
flow path guide 640 to be discharged to the outside of the housing
10 through the outlet 14.
[0125] Next, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is
discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality
of holes will be described.
[0126] Referring to FIG. 17, the blade 416 may be located at the
closed position 416b at which it closes the outlet 414. Air entered
the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat
with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. At
this time, the flow path guide 640 may be positioned at the second
position 640b so that the width of a flow path is wider than when
the flow path guide 640 is at the first position 640a. The
heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be discharged to the
outside through the plurality of holes 418 of the discharge plate
460 and/or the blade 416 along the flow path widened by the
variable guide 644, since the outlet 414 is closed by the blade
416.
[0127] Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those
described above will be omitted.
[0128] FIGS. 19 and 20 are views for describing the operation of an
air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0129] Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, an air conditioner 700 may
include a flow path guide 740. The flow path guide 740 may be
formed between the fan 30 and the outlet 414 to guide the flow of
air. The outlet 414 may be located at one end of the flow path
guide 740. The outlet 414 may be located at the end of the flow
path guide 740.
[0130] The flow path guide 740 may be variable. That is, the flow
path guide 740 may move between a first position 740a at which it
guides air blown by the fan 30 to the outlet 414, and a second
position 740b at which it guides air to the outlet 414 and the
discharge plate 460 by moving from the first position 740a to widen
the width of a flow path. The end of the flow path guide 740 may
correspond to the outlet 414 at the first position 740a, and
correspond to the end of the discharge plate 460 at the second
position 740b.
[0131] The air conditioner according to the present disclosure can
discharge heat-exchanged air at different wind speed.
[0132] Also, the air conditioner according to the present
disclosure can change a method of blowing heat-exchanged air
depending on a user's environment.
[0133] In addition, the air conditioner according to the present
disclosure can adjust heat-exchanged air so as not to be blown
directly to the user, thereby improving the user's feeling of
satisfaction.
[0134] The present disclosure has been described in detail with
reference to the exemplary embodiments. However, the exemplary
embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only, and
the disclosure is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements
within the scope of the disclosure may be made.
* * * * *