AIR CONDITIONER

• US 20160032942A1
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: JUNG, Chang-Woo, Park, Chan Young, Kim, Jin Baek, Park, Hyun Uk, Kang, Wan-Ku, Chun, Sung Hyun, Seo, Jun Won, Lee, Geon Hee, Shin, Moon Sun, Hwang, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 9,951,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/002 Axial flow fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/10 the unit having provisions for automatically changing direction of output air
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/002 by varying geometry within the pumps, e.g. by adjusting vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/563 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/703 specially for fans, e.g. fan guards

Abstract

An air conditioner including an improved airflow regulator is configured to easily regulate the airflow. The air conditioner includes a fan assembly configured to blow air a diffuser assembly configured to include a center panel and a grill arranged at the outside of the center panel such that the air blown by the fan assembly flows through a flow passage formed between the center panel and the grill; and an airflow regulator configured to rotate the diffuser assembly so as to change a direction of the flow passage.

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising:

a fan assembly to blow air;

a diffuser assembly comprising a center panel and a grill arranged at an outside of the center panel such that the air blown by the fan assembly flows through a flow passage formed between the center panel and the grill; and

an airflow regulator configured to rotate the diffuser assembly to change a direction of the flow passage of air discharged from the diffuser assembly.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow regulator is configured to change the airflow direction by rotating the grill.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein:

a rotation shaft is disposed at an end of the grill, and the grill rotates around the rotation shaft by the airflow regulator so that the airflow direction is changed.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the flow passage is changed in different ways according to a position of the rotation shaft.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein:

the rotation shaft is disposed at each of an upper part and a lower part of the grill; and

if the grill rotates around the rotation shaft, the flow passage is directed in a horizontal direction.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein:

the rotation shaft is disposed at each of left and right parts of the grill; and

if the grill rotates around the rotation shaft, the flow passage is directed in a vertical direction.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the airflow regulator comprises a driving source and a gear unit configured to transmit driving force of the driving source to the rotation shaft.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a guide protrusion is formed stepwise at one side of the diffuser assembly.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the airflow regulator comprises a guide unit configured to direct the guide protrusion.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein a curved guide hole is formed at a side surface of the guide unit, and the guide protrusion is inserted into the guide hole.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein:

if the guide protrusion rotates, the guide protrusion is directed by the guide hole and moves.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein:

if the guide unit rotates, the flow passage direction is changed.

13. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a case having a curved guide hole is disposed at the rear of the center panel.

14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the case comprises a pressing member that is inserted into the guide hole and then guided.

15. The air conditioner according to claim 14, wherein:

if the case rotates, the pressing member is directed by the guide hole to apply pressure to one side of the center panel; and

if the pressure is applied to the one side of the center panel, the flow passage is directed in another direction.

16. An air conditioner comprising:

a fan assembly to blow air; and

a diffuser assembly to direct movement of the air blown through the fan assembly, wherein the diffuser assembly comprises;

a center panel; and

a blade unit including a grill disposed at an outside of the center panel and a plurality of blades disposed between the center panel and the grill to direct movement of the air blown from the fan assembly,

wherein at least some parts of the blade unit are rotatably coupled to the center panel to change a direction of the air blown from the fan assembly according to a rotation of the at least some parts of the blade unit.

17. The air conditioner according to claim 16, wherein the blade unit comprises a first blade unit hinged to the center panel and a second blade unit fixed to the center panel.

18. The air conditioner according to claim 16, further comprising:

a cover coupled to the front of the center panel.

19. The air conditioner according to claim 18, wherein the cover comprises a guide plate in which a guide hole is formed.

20. The air conditioner according to claim 19, wherein the center panel comprises a guide protrusion inserted into the guide hole.

21. The air conditioner according to claim 19, wherein a rotation angle of the first blade unit is changed according to an elongated length of the guide hole.

22. The air conditioner according to claim 18, further comprising:

a support unit protruding forward of the first blade unit toward the cover.

23. The air conditioner according to claim 22, further comprising:

a pressing unit protruding from the cover toward the first blade unit.

24. The air conditioner according to claim 23, wherein:

if pressure is applied to the support unit by the pressing unit due to the guide plate sliding in a first direction, the first blade unit in which the support unit is formed rotates around a rotation shaft such that an airflow direction is directed in a second direction, different than the first direction.

25. The air conditioner according to claim 24, wherein:

the first blade unit is disposed at each of a left part and a right part of the center panel; and

if the guide plate slides to the left, the airflow caused by the first blade unit is directed to the left.

26. An air conditioner comprising:

a housing in which a circular opening is formed;

a fan assembly to blow air in a manner that the air is discharged through the circular opening; and

a duct assembly disposed at a front of the circular opening to guide the air blown through the fan assembly and to change an airflow direction,

wherein the duct assembly comprises;

a first duct rotatably disposed at the front of the opening in a manner that a side surface of the first duct is irregular in height; and

a second duct slidably mounted to a front part of the first duct in a manner that a side surface of the second duct is irregular in height.

27. The air conditioner according to claim 26, wherein:

if the first duct rotates, the second duct runs idle at a front of the first duct.

28. The air conditioner according to claim 27, wherein:

if the first duct rotates, a direction of a front part of the second duct is changed so that the airflow direction is also changed.

29. The air conditioner according to claim 26, further comprising:

a holder disposed between the first duct and the second duct so that the holder rotates together with the first duct.

30. The air conditioner according to claim 29, wherein the first duct is hook-coupled to the holder.

31. An air conditioner comprising:

a housing in which a circular opening is formed;

a fan assembly to blow air through the circular opening; and

a guide blade formed to correspond to a shape of the opening, and rotatably provided in the housing,

wherein an airflow direction is changed by rotation of the guide blade.

32. The air conditioner according to claim 31, wherein the guide blade comprises a rotation protrusion protruding from at least one side of the guide blade.

33. The air conditioner according to claim 32, wherein the guide blade is configured to rotate around the rotation protrusion.

34. The air conditioner according to claim 32, wherein the rotation protrusion receives a driving force from a motor and is coupled to a rotatable rotation link.

35. The air conditioner according to claim 34, wherein the rotation link and the guide blade are integrated with each other and are rotatable in an integrated manner.

36. The air conditioner according to claim 32, further comprising:

a rotation plate having a guide protrusion formed to have eccentricity at one surface and to protrude from the one surface in a manner that the rotation plate is rotatable by a driving source; and

a link member, one side of which is coupled to the rotation protrusion, and the other side of which comprises a guide hole in which the guide protrusion is inserted.

37. The air conditioner according to claim 36, wherein the guide hole is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the link member.

38. The air conditioner according to claim 37, wherein:

the link member and the guide blade are integrated with each other and rotate in an integrated manner when the rotation plate rotates.

39. The air conditioner according to claim 31, wherein the guide blade comprises:

a first guide blade having a first rotation protrusion; and

a second guide blade formed to correspond to the first guide blade and configured to include a second rotation protrusion.

40. The air conditioner according to claim 39, further comprising:

a holder blade having a guide hole in which the first rotation protrusion and the second rotation protrusion are inserted.

41. The air conditioner according to claim 40, wherein the guide hole is formed as a curved shape.

42. The air conditioner according to claim 41, wherein the guide hole comprises:

a linear section;

a first curved section curved from a left end of the linear section; and

a second curved section curved from a right end of the linear section.

43. The air conditioner according to claim 42, wherein the first curved section is elongated to a left rear direction, and the second curved section is elongated to a right rear direction.

44. The air conditioner according to claim 43, wherein:

if the second rotation protrusion is located at the first curved section, the guide blade rotates around the rotation protrusion such that discharged air is directed in a right front direction.

45. The air conditioner according to claim 43, wherein:

if the first rotation protrusion is located at the second curved section, the first guide blade rotates around the rotation protrusion such that discharged air is directed in a left front direction.

46. A diffuser assembly to direct air blown by a fan of an air conditioner, the diffuser assembly comprising:

a center panel;

a grill located outside of the center panel to form an airflow passage;

a plurality of blades disposed between the center panel and the grill, and formed of a flexible material; and

a rotation link mounted to one side of the plurality of blades,

wherein the plurality of blades are changed in shape by rotation of the rotation link such that an airflow direction is changed of the air blown by the fan of the air conditioner.

47. An air conditioner comprising:

a diffuser assembly formed to direct air blown through a circular opening, the diffuser assembly including;

a center panel;

a rotation link rotatably mounted to the center panel;

a grill located at an outside of the center panel; and

a plurality of blades, one side of which is rotatably mounted to the rotation link, and the other side of which is rotatably mounted to the grill,

wherein the plurality of blades are formed to be rotatable by rotation of the rotation link.

48. The air conditioner according to claim 47, further comprising:

a rotation protrusion disposed at the other side of each blade,

wherein, if the rotation link rotates in one direction, the blade rotates in one direction on the basis of the rotation protrusion.

49. A diffuser assembly for an air conditioner, the diffuser assembly comprising:

a center panel;

a grill disposed outside of the center panel to form an airflow passage;

a plurality of blades disposed between the center panel and the grill; and

a circular link rotatably coupled to the center panel,

wherein the plurality of blades are coupled to the circular link such that a rotation of the circular link changes an angle of the plurality of blades thereby changing a direction of airflow.

50. The diffuser assembly of claim 49 wherein the circular link comprises a plurality of link grooves spaced apart circumferentially from each other at a predetermined distance and each of the plurality of blades comprises a link shaft that is inserted into each link groove.

51. A diffuser assembly for an air conditioner, the diffuser assembly comprising:

a center panel;

a grill disposed outside of the center panel to form an airflow passage;

a plurality of blades disposed between the center panel and the grill;

a case of the diffuser assembly including a guide hole formed at a side surface of the case; and

a pressing member disposed outside of the case and including a guide protrusion inserted into the guide hole formed at the side surface of the case,

wherein the diffuser assembly rotates thereby changing an airflow direction when the pressing member exerts pressure on the diffuser assembly.