Abstract:
A window type air conditioner having a movable shield member installed on the air conditioner outer case at the rear radiator compartment portion thereof, to either block the ventilation passageways provided at the rear portion when the air conditioner is not in use, or to admit air to the air conditioner when the air conditioner is in use. The shield member can be either slidably, pivotably or rollably moved relative to the air conditioner ventilation passageways, and can be manually or electrically actuated.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 767,677 filed Feb. 11, 1977 and now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to window type air conditioners. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In existing window type air conditioners having an outer case, the rear portion of the case which shields the radiator and fan compartment is provided with slots for ventilation. However, window type air conditioners in normal homes are not used all twenty four hours and not all year, especially in sub-tropic areas where window type air conditioners are only used for cooling during the summer, and are not used in winter when the weather is too cold to require air conditioning. Sand and dust are easily blown in and accumulated in the radiator and fan compartment through the ventilation slots of the rear case during windy days, thereby shortening the air conditioner service life and resulting in frequent cleaning and lubrication thereof. Actually, it is not necessary to let sand and dust blow into the air conditioner on windy days, especially when it is not in use. Furthermore, window type air conditioners are usually installed in high places and the radiator portion is in the outside air, therefore to cover it with some water proof material for protection or to remove and reinstall it for cleaning is quite inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide an improved case for a window type air conditioner wherein the ventilation passageways on the rear portion of the air conditioner are opened and closed. 
     The object of the present invention is achieved by an outer case on a window type air conditioner having a shield member slidably, pivotably or rollably installed at the ventilation portion. The shield member is actuated at the front panel by means of a link mechanism or electrical actuating devices. 
     An air conditioner power switch is actuated in response to opening and closing of the shield member, such that when the power is on, the shield member must be opened. 
     Many known actuating electrical devices, for instance, a motor set with terminal stop switches, or an electromagnet set, with some special arrangement can be employed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a window type air conditioner showing the rear ventilation portion of an air conditioner outer case having a U-shaped double shield case slidably mounted exterior to the rear ventilation portion and operated by a handle at the front panel through links, with arrows indicating sliding directions, and the U-shaped shield case in the open position; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view taken in the plane indicated by line 2--2 in FIG. 1, showing the U-shaped shield case linked to the operating handle; 
     FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the U-shaped case alone with links at its sides; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 4--4 in FIG. 1, with the air conditioner radiator omitted therefrom for view clarity, showing the rear portion of the outer case having ventilation slots at the rear, and slide-ways at both sides at the top and bottom edges wherein the U-shaped shield case is slidably mounted; 
     FIG. 5 is a modification of FIG. 1, showing the U-shaped shield case being replaced by four pivotable shield plates to close and open the ventilation portion, with a portion of outer case removed for showing the inside operating lever connection; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view similar to FIG. 2, showing an auxiliary power switch actuated by the handle when the U-shaped shield member is pushed to a rearward limit position, and an adjacent main power switch, with the outer case partially removed and electrical wiring omitted for viewing clarity; 
     FIG. 7 is a view of a modification of FIG. 2, showing an air conditioner having horizontal ventilation slots and the U-shaped shield member modified to slide vertically by means of a conventional linkage means; 
     FIG. 8 is a view of a modification of FIG. 5, showing electrical means for actuating the shield member, with part of the outer case removed and electrical wiring omitted for viewing clarity; 
     FIG. 9 is a view of a modification of FIG. 1, showing an electromagnetic device for actuating the U-shaped shield with part of the outer case removed and electrical wiring omitted for viewing clarity; 
     FIG. 10 is also a view of a modification of FIG. 2, showing a rollable shield member replacing the U-shaped shield, and electrical actuating means replacing the manual means, with the other sides similar installations omitted and the partial outer case removed for viewing clarity; and, 
     FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of a modification of FIG. 10 showing the invention with a rollable shield member and electrical power means. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4 thereof, the outer case 11 of a window type air conditioner has a U-shaped shield 12 slidably installed at a rear ventilation portion wherein radiator and fan are located. The U-shaped shield 12 has ventilation slots 13 correspondingly dimensioned to the air conditioner ventilation passageways which exist on the outer case rear portion, only positions of the shield passageways are intercrossed with respect to the air conditioner ventilation passageways. 
     A handle 14 is mounted on the front panel of the air conditioner and is linked to the U-shaped shield 12 by side links 14A and 14B which may be installed at various places. 
     On the outer case 11 rear portion, slide-ways 15 and 16 are provided at both sides upper and lower edges for adopting the U-shaped shield 12 whose side edges are folded in matched slidable configuration. The slide-ways may be provided at upper and middle of both sides, or upper edges only, because the lower case area rusts easily making the shield article unslidable. 
     By operating the handle 14, the U-shaped shield 12 is slidable in the slide-ways 15 and 16 between forward and rearward limits. When the handle 14 is pushed rearwardly and the U-shaped shield 12 is moved to a rearward limit, the U-shaped shield 12 rear side wall moves away from the outer case 11 rear wall, and its two side ventilation slots coincide with the ventilation slots on the outer case 11, therefore the ventilation louvers of the outer case 11 are clear to the outside. When the U-shaped shield 12 is pulled to a forward limit position by the handle 14, its rear side wall is fully contacting the outer case 11 rear wall, and both side ventilation slots are closed by each other, therefore the ventilation of the outer case 11 rear portion is closed. 
     The existing ventilation slots are made by cutting the case wall into strips and twisting each strip about ninety degrees for opening and reinforcing its structure. In the present invention, the ventilation slots may be made by cutting the case wall into strips and folding two edges of each strip at one face to form a slot with the other face flat for contacting and sliding. 
     The handle 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2, may also actuate a power switch so that when the handle actuates the U-shaped shield to the open or closed position, it also actuates the power switch to the power on or off position correspondingly, as shown in FIG. 6. A power switch 26 on the front panel is actuated to the on position by the handle 14 as the handle is pushed rearwardly, meanwhile the U-shaped shield 12 is pushed rearwardly to the open position. On the contrary, when the handle 14 is pulled to the forward position, the handle 14 leaves the switch 26 which then returns to the off position, meanwhile the U-shaped shield 12 is pulled forwardly to close the rear outer case 11. When the power switch is at the on or the off position the air conditioner is operated or stopped, respectively. 
     Furthermore, the power switch 26 may be an auxiliary switch which is electrically connected to the existing main power switch 27 in series circuit, so that when the U-shaped shield 12 is pushed rearwardly to the open position, the auxiliary switch 26 is actuated to the power on position, the air conditioner then operates the same as a conventional air conditioner, and is further operated by the main power switch 27. When the U-shaped shield is actuated to a closed position, the auxiliary switch 26 is actuated to the off position, the air conditioner is stopped, even though the existing main power switch 27 is still at the on position due to the series circuit. 
     The shield 12 and linkage means as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 can be modified in various ways, for example: 
     (1) The U-shaped case 12 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 can be installed at the inside of the outer case 11 rear portion, instead of at the outside; 
     (2) The U-shaped shield 12 can be modified to be slidable along an up and down direction, instead of forward and rearward direction, with ventilation slots made in horizontal position, and the linkage means between the front handle and the U-shaped shield modified to a conventional lever set or bell-crank or the like, as shown in FIG. 7. The U-shaped shield 12&#39; has level slots 13&#39;. The slots at the outer case 11 rear portion are also horizontally modified accordingly. The U-shaped shield 12&#39; is slidable up and down for a travel equal to one slot width along vertical slideways 15&#39; at both sides, and is linked to front handle 14 at two sides by two conventional link sets 28 with fulcrums secured on both sides of the outer case 11. A conventional holding article 29, in any desired feature, is at the outer case 11 for holding the link set 28 at a lower position when required. 
     When the handle 14 is pressed downwardly, by fulcrum action, the rear portion of the link set 28 lifts the U-shaped shield 12&#39; which slides upwardly along slideways 15&#39;. The forward portion of the link set 28 is held by using the conventional holding article 29, and thereby the U-shaped shield stays at the upper open position. Release of the holding article 29 moves the front portion of the link set 28 upwardly, the U-shaped shield 12&#39; then slides down to the original closed position. As stated above, the up and down positions only need one slot width distance, so by proper arrangement one position is in open and the other is closed. 
     (3) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Four shield plates 17, 18, 19 and 20 without ventilation slots replace the slidable U-shaped shield 12 and are pivotally provided at the outer case 11 rear edges. Plates 17 and 18 cover both side wall ventilation slots, and plates 19 and 20 serve as double doors for covering the rear wall ventilation slots of the outer case 11. With lever means, links 22, 23, 24 and 25 connect the shield plates 17, 18, 19 and 20 respectively together to link 21A which is connected to the operating handle 21 at the front control panel. The dimension and configuration of these links are so designed that as the handle 21 moves forwardly or rearwardly, the shield plates 17, 18, 19 and 20 together will pivot accordingly, as shown by the arrows and the dot lines in FIG. 5, to close or open the ventilation areas of the outer case 11. 
     (4) The pivotable shield plates as described in the above paragraph (3) can be modified in different numbers and in different pivoting orientations. 
     (5) The pivotable shield plates as described in above paragraph (3) can be installed on a shelf instead of on the outer case 11, to be an individual assembly which is sleeved and mounted onto the outer case 11 rear portion and provided with link means also controlled from the front control panel. 
     (6) The above described operational means are all manual. They can also be modified to be electrically operated. For instance, (A) a motor driving means on the outer case with a control switch at front control panel, and limit switches at each travel stop of the shield member; (B) an electromagnetic mechanism on the outer case connected to the shield member with a switch at the front control panel, for pushing and pulling by electromagnetic force when the switch is actuated. Many known arts can be used, and in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are shown two simple cases. 
     FIG. 8 is based on FIG. 5 and the door-like shield members are operated by a reversible motor 30 and limited by two limit switches 32 and 33 installed on the outer case 11 rear portion. By any known linkage mechanism 31, the motor 30 is linked to and drives a master link 21B which links to door-like shield members the same as 21A in FIG. 5. The clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the motor 30 drives the master link 21B forwardly and rearwardly, or leftwardly and rightwardly per viewer&#39;s direction, and pivots the door-like shield members to closed and open positions accordingly. The forward and rearward moving of the master link 21B is stopped upon meeting and actuating the limit switches 32 and 33 at forward and rearward travel terminals. 
     The power supply to the motor 30 is controlled by a switch 34 at the front panel. The switch 34 is double-throw type, and has three positions in which the center is off and the both sides are for clockwise and counterclockwise motor rotation and are electrically connected to the motor 30 and two limit switches 32 and 33 in series circuit respectively. 
     In FIG. 9, a link 14C similar to 14A in FIG. 1, secured at the mid portion of the U-shaped shield, has an iron piece 35 which is freely located between two electromagnetic devices 36 and 37 which are mounted on the outer case 11 rear portion. A double-throw type switch 38 with three positions at front panel is electrically connected to the electromagnetic devices 36 and 37 in individual wiring circuit for controlling the power supply. 
     FIG. 9 shows the switch 38 in the up position, the electromagnetic device 37 is energized and the iron piece 35 is attracted thereto to push the U-shaped shield 12 to a rearward position and to open the ventilation slots on the outer case 11 rear portion. When the switch 38 is actuated to the down position, the electromagnetic device 36 is energized and the iron piece 35 is attracted thereto and pulls the shield 12 to a forward position to close the ventilation slots on the outer case 11 rear portion. 
     The switch 38 is preferrably a momentary type which is momentary at each side position and normally stays at the center off position. When it is actuated to the up or down position the correspondent electromagnetic device is energized, but when it is released it automatically returns to the center off position. This will prevent the electromagnetic device from being energized for a long time. Direct current power is preferred for energizing the electromagnetic device, however power can be supplied from an alternating current power source by using a rectifier. 
     (7) The shield article can also be modified to be rollable sheets installed at both sides and the rear side of the outer case 11 rear ventilation portion, with motor driving means provided thereon. The rollable sheets can be rolled up at upper position or one side for opening the ventilation on the outer case 11 rear portion, and rolled out for closing the ventilation. A power switch at front control panel is provided for controlling the motor running clockwise and counterclockwise, with limit switches at each travel end of the rollable sheet for limiting the rolling travel. Simple cases are shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. 
     FIG. 10 shows a modification of FIG. 2 in which the U-shaped shield 12 modified by a type of flexible shield sheet 39, preferably sheet metal, which is rolled up and rolled out by a reversible motor 40 through a conventional linkage mechanism 41. The upper and lower flanges of the flexible shield sheet 39 are sliding in the upper and lower slideways 15 and 16. The sliding travel is limited at a desired range by two limit switches 42 and 43 which are mounted on the outer case 11. Power supplied to the motor 40 is controlled by a switch 44 at the front panel. The electrical control circuits of the switch 44 is similar to the switch 34 in FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 10 shows the switch 44 at the up position, the motor 40 and the linkage mechanism 41 drive the rolling out of the rollable shield sheet 39, which as shown partially closes the ventilation slots 13 on the outer case 11. The closed ventilation slots are shown in dotted lines. As the shield sheet terminal reaches to the limit switch 43 which is then actuated to off position, the power supply circuit is opened and the motor is stopped, and the shield sheet then covers all the ventilation slots. When the switch 44 is actuated to the down position, the motor 40 and linkage mechanism 41 rotate reversely and drive the flexible shield sheet 39 to roll the sheet 39 up. As the shield sheet terminal retracts to the limit switch 42 which is then actuated to the off position, the motor is stopped, and the ventilation slots 13 on the outer case 11 are then all opened. 
     The details of an embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 10 are further described with the aid of FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, is shown a type of flexible shield sheet 46 which is rollable around the outer case 11 rear ventilation portion along level way; one end is linked to strand or rope 47 which is tied to and wound on roller 48, and the other end is tied to and wound on roller 49. The two rollers are located at two ends of the ventilation portion. Two guides 50 at both ends guide the flexible shield 46 and rope 47 to keep them in close contact with the outer case 11. More guides may be provided along the outer case rear portion for firmly guiding and for resisting wind. The rollers 48 and 49 are reversibly drived by a belt 52 or the like which is initially driven by an electromechanical rotary actuator 51. The rotary actuator 51 is a rotating power unit. Its inside limit switches are so adjusted to have a certain rotation or angular travel, clockwise and counterclockwise, sufficient to wind up or wind out the shield sheet 46 for opening and closing the outer case rear portion respectively. Switch 53 with three positions, double-throw type, at the front panel is electrically connected to each direction wiring assembly of the actuator from a power source. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the shield 46 is completely wound up on the roller 49, and the outer case rear portion is open, only the rope 47 is therearound. When the switch 53 is turned to the closed position, the actuator 51 drives the belt 52 clockwise, indicated by the arrows, both rollers 48 and 49 are rotated. The shield sheet 46 is released from the roller 49 while the rope 47 is wound up on the roller 48. The shield sheet is then pulled horizontally along the outer case rear portion, as indicated by the arrows. Due to the diameters of the two rollers are varying by winding up and out oppositely with same angular speed rotating, the released shield sheet from roller 49 is longer than that the rope be wound up on roller 48. So at beginning, the shield sheet on the mid way is loose. Then as they are going on, the diameter of the roller 48 is gradually increasing, from smaller to larger than that of the roller 49. Then the length of the rope being wound up on the roller 48 is more than that of the shield sheet being wound out from the roller 49. At last when the shield sheet reaches to the roller 48, it is in tight condition, and the presetting rotary actuator 51 is just stopped. The reverse winding is similarly accomplished. 
     It is understood that (1) the motor and the limit switches in FIGS. 8 and 10 can also be replaced by an electromechanical actuator, as 51 in FIG. 11. The electromechanical actuator is an assembly of motor, switches, gears and cams for either rotary or linear motion within a presetting range, wherein the rotary motion unit is called a rotary actuator and linear motion unit is called a linear actuator, both are conventional articles. (2) the master link 21B and link 14C in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be modified to two sets or pairs for actuating evenly; (3) the electrical operating means described in FIG. 8 can also apply to FIGS. 1 and 7 with a little change. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.