INTEGRATED AIR CONDITIONER WITH A FAN CASING

• US 20030084682A1
• Filed: 03/19/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Heung-Seob
• Granted Patent: US 6,588,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/426
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4226 Fan casings
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/205 Mounting a ventilator fan therein
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06

Abstract

An integrated air conditioner with a fan casing is provided to reduce flowing resistance of air discharged therefrom, and to achieve increase of wind flow rate and reduction of noise owing to air discharged therefrom . The fan casing includes a fan-housing unit having a volute space in which a blower fan is rotatably mounted and an outlet space combined with the volute space. The volute space of the fan-housing unit is provided at an inner top surface of the volute space with a concave recess leading to an upper surface of the outlet space such that the overall inner surface of the volute space takes a shape of Archimedes'"'"' spiral. The fan casing also includes a front panel attached to a front face of the fan-housing unit, which is provided with an air intake opening and a turning plate bent forward. The turning plate defines an outlet duct by combination with the outlet space to direct room air in the volute space to a front air outlet through the outlet space.

Claims

1. An integrated air conditioner with a fan casing, the fan casing comprising:

a fan-housing unit having a volute space in which a blower fan is rotatably mounted and an outlet space combined with the volute space, wherein an inner top surface of the volute space has a concave recess leading to an upper surface of the outlet space such that an entire inner surface of the volute space takes a shape of Archimedes'"'"' spiral; and

a front panel attached to a front face of the fan-housing unit, has an air intake opening and a turning plate having a bent portion which is bent forward, wherein the turning plate defines an outlet duct by combining with the outlet space to direct room air in the volute space to a front air outlet through the outlet space.

2. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 1, wherein a top wall of the fan-housing unit is formed with an upper opening of a predetermined area and includes a guide plate covering an upper surface of the fan-housing unit including the upper opening, and a lower surface of the guide plate has a concave recess corresponding to the upper opening.

3. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bent portion of the turning plate of the front panel has an inclined face such that room air in the volute space is smoothly directed forward.

4. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outlet space is combined with an upper portion of the volute space such that the upper surface defining the outlet space coincides with an upper surface defining the volute space.

5. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 2, wherein the guide plate includes a first protrusion to be engaged with a side edge of the upper opening, and a second protrusion to be engaged with the other side edge of the upper opening such that the concave recess is defined between the first and second protrusion.

6. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the fan-housing unit includes a stepped portion so that the guide plate is stably seated on the fan-housing unit.

7. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fan-housing unit is shaped by a heat insulating material, and the guide plate is injection molded by a plastic material.

8. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 2, wherein the guide plate includes a fixing extension to maintain the guide plate in a fixed position to the fan-housing unit.

9. The integrated air conditioner with a fan casing as set forth in claim 5, wherein the lower surface of an area between the first and second protrusions include a part of the Archimedes'"'"' spiral which defines the inner surface of the volute space.

10. An integrated air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet;

an evaporator and condenser disposed at a front and rear of the cabinet;

a compressor to compress refrigerant undergoing evaporation at the evaporator, and thereafter, to supply the refrigerant to the condenser;

a blower fan to suck room air, and allow the room air to be heat exchanged at the evaporator and sent back to a room;

a propeller fan and fan motor to suck outdoor air, and thereby cause the refrigerant in the condenser to be condensed and then discharge the outdoor air outside the room;

a front grille which covers a front face of the cabinet and includes a room air inlet and a room air outlet; and

a fan-housing unit having a volute space, wherein an inner top surface of the volute space has a concave recess to allow an entire inner surface of the volute space to have a shape of Archimedes'"'"' spiral.

11. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 10, wherein the cabinet comprises:

a box-shaped body in which an interior space of the cabinet is divided by a partition frame into an evaporating chamber disposed in the evaporator, and a condensing chamber disposed in the condenser.

12. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 11, wherein the condensing chamber is located at a rear half of the cabinet to be exposed to outdoor air when the integrated air conditioner is installed.

13. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 12, wherein the condensing chamber houses the condenser, the propeller fan, the fan motor which drives the propeller fan and the blower fan, and the compressor.

14. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 13, wherein the propeller fan is surrounded by a hood.

15. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 13, wherein the condenser is located at a rearmost side of the cabinet.

16. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 15, wherein the cabinet housing the condensing chamber is formed with outdoor inlets, and a rear cover disposed at a rear face of the cabinet is formed with an outdoor outlet.

17. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 11, wherein the evaporating chamber is located at a front half space of the cabinet to be exposed to an indoor side when the integrated air conditioner is installed.

18. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 17, wherein the evaporating chamber houses the evaporator, a fan casing in which the blower fan is rotatably received, and a water tray to collect condensed water generated from the evaporator.

19. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 18, wherein the evaporator is located near the room air inlet.

20. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 19, wherein the water tray is disposed below the evaporator.

21. The integrated air conditioner as set forth in claim 20, wherein an air filter to filter sucked room air is disposed between the evaporator and the room air inlet.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a fan casing including;

a turning plate with an intermediate portion; and

an upper opening on which a guide plate having a concave recess is positioned so that a volute space of the fan casing has a shape of Archimedes'"'"' spiral.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein the volute space of the fan casing has the shape of Archimedes'"'"' spiral without increasing a height of the fan casing.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein a highest portion of the guide plate is no higher than a top surface of the fan casing.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a fan casing including;

a fan-housing unit having a volute space, wherein an inner top surface of the volute space has a concave recess to allow an entire inner surface of the volute space to have a shape of Archimedes'"'"' spiral.

26. An apparatus comprising:

a fan casing including;

a fan-housing unit having a volute space combined with an outlet space; and

a turning plate having a bent portion, wherein the turning plate defines an outlet duct by combining with the outlet space to direct room air in the volute space to a front air outlet through the outlet space.

27. An integrated air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet;

an evaporator and condenser disposed at a front and rear of the cabinet;

a compressor to compress refrigerant undergoing evaporation at the evaporator, and thereafter, to supply the refrigerant to the condenser;

a blower fan to suck room air, and allow the room air to be heat exchanged at the evaporator and sent back to a room;

a propeller fan and fan motor to suck outdoor air, and thereby cause the refrigerant in the condenser to be condensed and then discharge the outdoor air outside the room;

a front grille which covers a front face of the cabinet and includes a room air inlet and a room air outlet; and

a fan casing, the fan casing including;

a fan-housing unit having a volute space combined with an outlet space, wherein an inner top surface of the volute space has a concave recess to allow an entire inner surface of the volute space to have a shape of Archimedes'"'"' spiral; and

a turning plate having a bent portion, wherein the turning plate defines an outlet duct by combining with the outlet space to direct room air in the volute space to a front air outlet through the outlet space.