Abstract:
An air conditioner includes a heat-exchanger positioned in an outdoor unit and configured to conduct heat-exchange between air provided from outside of the outdoor unit and a refrigerant. The air conditioner also includes a fan configured to generate a flow of the air that is from the heat-exchanger to an outlet of the outdoor unit. The air conditioner further includes a driving unit configured to provide a driving force to the fan. In addition, the air conditioner includes a first member positioned in the flow of the air generated by the fan and a second member configured to guide a flow of the air to reduce collision between the air and the first member when the fan is operated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefits of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0001984 (filed on Jan. 9, 2009), which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In general, air conditioners are apparatuses that cool and/or heat air of an indoor space by heat-exchanging a refrigerant with indoor air and outdoor air. A split type air conditioner includes an indoor unit that cools and/or heats indoor air by heat-exchanging a refrigerant with the indoor air and an outdoor unit that cools and/or heats outdoor air by heat-exchanging a refrigerant with outdoor air. 
         [0004]    The outdoor unit includes a blow fan for generating a flow of the outdoor air to exchange heat between the refrigerant circulating in an outdoor heat-exchanger and the outdoor air and a fan motor for driving the blow fan. The fan motor is fixedly mounted on a motor mount fixed by inside of the outdoor unit. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, an air conditioner includes a heat-exchanger positioned in an outdoor unit and configured to conduct heat-exchange between air provided from outside of the outdoor unit and a refrigerant. The air conditioner also includes a fan configured to generate a flow of the air that is from the heat-exchanger to an outlet of the outdoor unit. The air conditioner further includes a driving unit configured to provide a driving force to the fan. In addition, the air conditioner includes a first member positioned in the flow of the air generated by the fan and a second member configured to guide a flow of the air to reduce collision between the air and the first member when the fan is operated. 
         [0006]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the second member may be integrated with the first member. The first member may include a motor mount on which the driving unit is mounted. The second member is detachable and positioned on the first member. 
         [0007]    In some implementations, the second member may be configured to change a flow path of air circulated by the fan. The second member may include a guide part and a hook part configured to be hooked on the first member. 
         [0008]    In some examples, the second member may include a guide part having a V-shape and an extending part extending from a side of the guide part. The second member also may include a hook part extending from a side of the extending part and configured to be hooked on the first member. The air conditioner further may include a cooler configured to cool the refrigerant provided from the heat-exchanger. 
         [0009]    The air conditioner further may include a drain member configured to collect condensed water resulting from the heat exchange performed by the heat-exchanger. 
         [0010]    The air conditioner further may include a plurality of second members coupled to a plurality of first members, respectively, the plurality of second member being configured to guide a flow path of the air to reduce collision between the air and the plurality of first members. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, an air conditioner includes a heat-exchanger positioned in an outdoor unit and configured to conduct heat-exchange between air provided from outside of the outdoor unit and a refrigerant. The air conditioner also includes a fan positioned above the heat-exchanger and configured to generate a flow of the air in which the air is flowed up toward an outlet of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The air conditioner further includes a driving unit configured to provide a driving force to the fan. In addition, the air conditioner includes a first member positioned in the flow of the air generated by the fan and a second member configured to guide a flow path of the air to reduce collision between the air and the first member when the fan is operated. 
         [0012]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the second member may be integrated with the first member. The first member may include a motor mount on which the driving unit is mounted. The second member may be detachable and positioned on the first member. The second member may include a guide part and a hook part configured to be hooked on the first member. 
         [0013]    In some examples, the second member may include a guide part having a V-shape and an extending part extending from a side of the guide part. The air conditioner further may include a cooler configured to cool the refrigerant provided from the heat-exchanger. 
         [0014]    In some implementations, the air conditioner further may include a drain member configured to collect condensed water resulting from the heat-exchange performed by the heat-exchanger. The air conditioner further may include a plurality of second members coupled to a plurality of first members, respectively, the plurality of second member being configured to guide a flow path of the air to reduce collision between the air and the plurality of first members. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a main part; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of an air conditioner; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a graph illustrating a reduced noise of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a base fan  110  defines a bottom surface of an outdoor unit  100 . A variety of parts, which will be described below, constituting a heat-exchanger are installed on a top surface of the base fan  110 . A front panel  112  defining an outer appearance of a front portion is positioned on a front end of the base fan  110 . A front grill  114  is positioned on an upper side of the front panel  112 . Outdoor air is guided into the outdoor unit  110  through the front grill  114 . The air in the outdoor unit  110  is provided to an outdoor heat-exchanger  180  to be heat-exchanged with a refrigerant. A front bracket  116  is positioned on an upper end of the front grill  114 . A motor mount  164  is coupled to the front bracket  116 . 
         [0022]    Two compressors  120  and  120 ′ are positioned on the top surface of the base fan  110 . The compressors  120  and  120 ′ compress the refrigerant into a high-pressure and high-temperature vapor refrigerant. In this implementation, for example, the compressor  120  is a regular velocity type compressor and the compressor  120 ′ is an inverter type compressor  120 ′. The regular velocity compressor  120  may be positioned on a right portion of the top surface of the base fan  110 . An inverter compressor  120 ′, which is a variable speed heat pump, may be positioned on a left portion of the top surface of the base fan  110  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    Oil separators  122  are positioned at outlet sides of the regular velocity compressor  120  and the inverter compressor  120 ′, respectively. The oil separators  122  filter oil contained in the refrigerant provided from the compressors  120  and  120 ′. The filtered refrigerant returns to the compressors  120  and  120 ′. 
         [0024]    Check valves  122 ′ are positioned at outlet sides of the oil separators  122 , respectively. When one compressor of the regular velocity compressor  120  and the inverter compressor  120 ′ is operated, the check valves  122 ′ prevent the compressed refrigerant generated by a operating compressor from flowing backward into the other compressor that is in a stopped state. 
         [0025]    A 4-way valve  124  is connected to the respective oil separators  122  via pipes. The 4-way valve  124  changes a flow direction of the refrigerant according to a cooling or heating operation. Ports of the 4-way valve  124  are connected to respective outlets of the compressors  120  and  120 ′, respective inlets of the compressors  120  and  120 ′, and an indoor unit, respectively. Alternatively, the ports of the 4-way valve  124  may be connected to the oil separators of the compressors  120  and  120 ′ instead of the outlets respectively. Also, the ports of the 4-way valve  124  may be connected to an accumulator of the compressors  120  and  120 ′ instead of the inlets. 
         [0026]    A valve support  126  is positioned on a central portion of the front end of the top surface of the base fan  110 . The valve support  126  supports and guides an outdoor liquid pipe  210  through which a liquid refrigerant flows, an outdoor gas pipe  212  through which a gaseous refrigerant flows, and a high-low pressure common pipe  214  for maintaining balance of the refrigerant between the outdoor units  100  when a plurality of the outdoor units  100  is provided. A service valve  128  is positioned on the valve support  126 . The pipes  210 ,  212 , and  214  supported by the valve support  126  are connected to the indoor unit through pipe inlet/outlet ports  188 ′ of side panels  188 . 
         [0027]    A supercooler  130  is positioned on a left rear end of the top surface of the base fan  110 . The supercooler  130  additionally cools the refrigerant, which is cooled in the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  by heat-exchange. The supercooler  130  may be positioned at a side of the outdoor liquid pipe  210  connected to an outlet side of the outdoor heat-exchanger  180 . 
         [0028]    Further, a drier is positioned at a side of the outdoor liquid pipe  210 . The drier removes moisture contained in the refrigerant flowing into the outdoor liquid pipe  210 . 
         [0029]    The accumulator  132  is positioned at a central portion of the base fan  110 , e.g., between the regular velocity compressor  120  and the inverter compressor  120 ′. The accumulator  132  filters a liquefied refrigerant to provide a gaseous refrigerant into the compressors  120  and  120 ′. If the liquefied refrigerant, which is not evaporated into the gas provided from the indoor unit flows into the compressors  120  and  120 ′, the compressors  120  and  120 ′ compressing the refrigerant into the high-pressure and high-temperature vapor refrigerant increase a load. Thus, since the liquefied refrigerant, which is not evaporated, flowing into the accumulator  132  is relatively heavy as compared to the gaseous refrigerant, the liquefied refrigerant is stored in a lower portion of the accumulator  132 . Accordingly, the gaseous refrigerant stored in an upper portion of the accumulator  132  flows into the compressors  120  and  120 ′. 
         [0030]    Front frames  134  and  134 ′ are positioned on both sides of the front end of the base fan  110 , respectively. For example, the front frames  134  and  134 ′ are vertically positioned on both sides of the front end of the base fan  110 . The front frames  134  and  134 ′ are configured to fix the front bracket  116 , the front grill  114 , and a control box  200 . 
         [0031]    A center frame  136  is positioned at the center of the outdoor unit  100  in a horizontal direction to fix the front frames  134 . Both ends of the center frame  136  are coupled to the front frames  134  and  134 ′, respectively. A barrier  140  is positioned on the center frame  136 . 
         [0032]    The barrier  140  divides an inner space of the outdoor unit  100  into an upper space and a lower space. For example, the barrier  140  divides an inner space of the outdoor unit  100  into a lower space in which the compressors  120  and  120 ′ are positioned and an upper space in which the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  is positioned. The barrier  140  may be provided in a pair, each including a horizontal part  140 ′ extending backwardly from the center frame  136  and an inclined portion  140 ″ inclinedly extending downwardly from a rear end of the horizontal part  140 ′ at a predetermined angle. An air guide hole  142  is defined in the horizontal part  140 ′ of the barrier  140  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Air that cools electrical components installed inside the control box  200  flows through the air guide hole  142 . 
         [0033]    An upper panel  150  defines a top surface of the outdoor unit  100 . The upper panel  150  may be provided in a pair, each having a rectangular shape. Discharge holes  152  are defined in the pair of upper panels  150 , respectively. A shroud  154  having a cylindrical shape is positioned on a bottom surface of the upper panel  150  corresponding to a circumference of the discharge hole  152 . The shroud  154  is substantially integrated with the upper panel  150  to guide air blown by a blow fan  160  to the outside. A discharge grill  156  is positioned on the discharge hole  152 . 
         [0034]    The blow fan  160  is positioned inside of the shroud  154 . The blow fan  160  generates a flow of air circulating into the inside of the outdoor unit  100 . That is, when the blow fan  160  is operated, outdoor air is guided into the outdoor unit  100  through the front grill  114 . The air is then heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat-exchanger  180 . After the air is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant, the air flows in a downward direction by the operation of the blow fan  160 . The air is discharged to outside of the outdoor unit  100  through the discharge hole  152  by the operation of the blow fan  160 . 
         [0035]    A fan motor  162  is positioned inside the outdoor unit  100 , e.g., below the blow fan  160 . The fan motor  162  is fixed by the motor mount  164 . Front and rear ends of the motor mount  164  are fixed by the front bracket  116  and a rear bracket  194 , respectively. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a plurality of mounting brackets  163  are positioned on the fan motor  162 . The mounting brackets  163  fix the fan motor  162  to the motor mount  164 . The mounting brackets  163  may be a linkage component such that the fan motor is fix by the motor mount  164 . The fan motor  162  may be fixed by a pair of motor mounts  164 . The motor mount  164  includes a motor mounting part  165  and an air guide part  166 . Both ends of the motor mounting part  165  are fixed by the front bracket  116  and the rear bracket  194 , respectively. The air guide part  166  is inclined downwardly from one end of the motor mounting part  165  relatively spaced apart from the fan motor  162  toward the fan motor  162  in a longitudinal direction. For example, the air guide part  166  extends in a longitudinal direction from one end of the motor mounting part  165  so that a flow area of a passage toward an upward direction is increased. Thus, the motor mount  164  has a          -shape in cross-section. The shape of the motor mount  164  may reduce the air flowing by the blow fan  160  from interfering with the motor mount  164 . 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  is positioned inside of the outdoor unit  100 , e.g., below the upper panel  150 . The outdoor heat-exchanger  180  conducts heat-exchange between a refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  and outdoor air. The outdoor heat-exchanger  180  includes a front heat-exchanger  182  positioned below a front end of the upper panel  150  and a rear heat-exchanger  184  positioned below a rear end of the upper panel  150 . 
         [0038]    A drain pan  186  is positioned below the outdoor heat-exchanger  180 . The drain pan  186  collects condensed water generated during heat-exchange between the refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  and the outdoor air. The drain pan  186  also discharges the condensed water to the outside. 
         [0039]    The side panels  188  are positioned on both ends of the top surface of the base fan  110 . The side panels  188  define lateral outer appearances of the outdoor unit  100 . A plurality of inlet/outlet holes  188 ′ are defined in lower portions of the side panels  188 . 
         [0040]    The rear panel  190  is positioned on a rear end of the base fan  110 . The rear panel  190  defines an outer appearance of the outdoor unit  100 , for example, a rear lower portion of the outdoor unit  100 . 
         [0041]    A rear grill  192  is positioned on an upper end of the rear panel  190 . The outdoor air to be heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing into the outdoor-heat-exchanger  180  is guided into the outdoor unit  110  through the rear grill  192 . The air guide in the rear grill  192  is as same as an air guide in the front grill  114 . The size of the rear grill  192  may correspond to that of the rear heat-exchanger  184 . 
         [0042]    The rear bracket  194  is positioned on an upper end of the rear grill  192 . The rear bracket  194  is horizontally positioned in a left or a right direction. The motor mount  164  is fixed by the rear bracket  194 . 
         [0043]    Rear frames  196  are positioned at both sides of the rear end of the base fan  110 , respectively. The rear frames  196  are vertically disposed. The rear frames  196  fix the rear grill  192 , the rear panel  190 , the upper panel  150  and etc. 
         [0044]    The control box  200  is positioned on an upper portion of the front panel  112 , for example, a rear part of the upper portion. A variety of electrical components for operating the outdoor unit  100  may be installed inside the control box  200 . The control box  200  is cooled by air. The barrier  140  guides the air to cool the control box  200 . Air that is passed through the air guide hole  142  flows into the control box  200 . And the air flowing into the control box  200  cools the electrical components of the control box  200 . Then, the air is discharged to the outside of the control box  200 . For this discharging operation, an air suction hole and an air discharge hole  202  are defined in the control box  200 . 
         [0045]    Hereinafter, an operation of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner will be described. 
         [0046]    When the air conditioner performs a cooling operation, the gaseous refrigerant from the outdoor unit flows into the accumulator  132  through the 4-way valve  124 . The gaseous refrigerant in which a portion of the liquefied refrigerant is filtered while the gaseous refrigerant passes through the accumulator  132  flows into the compressors  120  and  120 ′. 
         [0047]    The gaseous refrigerant flowing into the compressors  120  and  120 ′ is compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure, and then is transferred into the oil separator  122 . Oil contained in the refrigerant transferred into the oil separator  122  is separated to return into the compressors  120  and  120 ′. 
         [0048]    The refrigerant passing through the oil separator  122  flows into the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  through the 4-way valve  124 . The refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  is heat-exchanged with the outdoor air guided into the outdoor unit  100  through the front grill  114  and the rear grill  192  by the operation of the blow fan  160  to cool the refrigerant. Also, the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  is additionally cooled while the refrigerant passes through the supercooler  130 . 
         [0049]    The refrigerant passing through the supercooler  130  passes through the drier for removing the moisture contained therein, and then, passes through the outdoor liquid pipe  210  to flow into the indoor unit. The refrigerant flowing into the indoor unit is heat exchanged with the indoor air while the refrigerant flows into an indoor heat-exchanger positioned inside of the indoor unit to cool the indoor air. Thereafter, the refrigerant flows again into the outdoor unit  100 . 
         [0050]    The air heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat-exchanger  180  is moved upwardly by a rotation of the blow fan  160 . The air flowing upwardly by the rotation of the blow fan  160  is guided by the guide part  166  to flow into the outside of the motor mount  164 , for example, the motor mounting part  165  of the motor mount  164 . 
         [0051]    Thus, it may reduce a vortex generated when the air flowing by the rotation of the blow fan  160  interferes with the motor mount  164 , for example, the motor mounting part  165  of the motor mount  164 . The air flowing upwardly by the rotation of the blow fan  160  is discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit  100  through the discharge grill  156 . 
         [0052]    Hereinafter, another implementation in the air conditioner will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 6 . 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an air guide  170  reduces a vortex generated when air flows by a rotation of a blow fan  160  and interferes with a motor mount  164 . The air guide  170  is detachably disposed on the motor mount  164  on which a fan motor  162  is mounted. 
         [0054]    As an example, the air guide  170  includes a guide  172 , extending parts  174 , and a hook part  176 . The guide  172  is bent at a predetermined angle to have a V-shape in cross-section. The guide  172  guides the air flowing by the rotation of the blow fan  160  to reduce a flow of the air from interfering with the motor mount  164 . The guide  172  guides the air flowing by the rotation of the blow fan  160  toward the outside of the motor mount  164 . The extending parts  174  extend upwardly from both ends of the guide  172 , respectively. The hook part  176  extends horizontally from an upper end of the extending parts  174 . The hook part  176  is hooked on a top surface of the motor mount  164  in a state where the air guide  170  is mounted on the motor mount  164 . 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a curved line A denotes a noise level based on an operation of a related art, and a curved line B denotes a noise level based on an operation of the present disclosure. 
         [0056]    In some examples, the air guide may be fixed to the motor mount with using a separate coupling member such as a screw. 
         [0057]    Since the interference between the outdoor air flowing by the blow fan and the motor mount can be reduced, the noise generated when the outdoor air flowing by the blow fan is heat exchanged with the refrigerant may be reduced. 
         [0058]    It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. For example, advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.