Monolithic air conditioner

A monolithic air conditioner includes a cabinet, an outdoor heat exchanger mounted on a rear-inner portion of the cabinet and spaced away from a sidewall of the cabinet, a guide member attached on a rear surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a fan assembly disposed in the cabinet to introduce the outdoor air. The guide member has an air exhausting guide unit and an air introduction guide unit extending from the air exhausting guide section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a monolithic air conditioner, and more particularly, to a monolithic air conditioner that is designed to prevent air, which is exhausted from the air conditioner to an outdoor side, from being reintroduced into the air conditioner together with outdoor air that is being introduced into the air conditioner by improving the structure of an air exit and an air intake.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, an air conditioner is operated as a refrigerant goes through a cooling cycle having a series of processes such as a compression process, a condensing process, an expanding process, and a vaporizing process. That is, after the refrigerant is compressed to a high temperature and pressure state, heat is discharged to an outer side by a condenser. Then, the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant are lowered as it goes through an expansion valve. Then, the refrigerant goes through the vaporizer to absorb heat and returns to the condenser.

Here, the compression, condensing and expansion processes are performed in an indoor unit of the air conditioner. The vaporizing process is performed by a blower fan and a heat exchanger.

Meanwhile, the air conditioner is generally classified into a monolithic air conditioner having indoor and outdoor units that are integrated and a sprit air conditioner having indoor and outdoor units that are spirited from each other. Particularly, the monolithic air conditioner is generated buried into an indoor wall such that a vaporizer is disposed facing an indoor side and a condenser is disposed facing an outdoor side.

Referring toFIG. 1, a typical monolithic air conditioner10includes a cabinet11defining an outer appearance of the air conditioner, a front panel12mounted on an front portion of the cabinet11to allow the air to be introduced or exhausted, and an outdoor heat exchanger13mounted on a rear portion of the cabinet11to allow a refrigerant to be heat-exchanged with the outdoor air.

The monolithic air conditioner10further includes an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) for allowing the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged with the indoor air, an indoor fan (not shown) disposed between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers to introduce the indoor air and exhaust the same to the indoor side, and an outdoor fan (not shown) for introducing and exhausting the outdoor air. The monolithic air conditioner10further includes a driving motor (not shown) for driving the indoor and outdoor fans, and a compressor (not shown) for compressing the refrigerant, and a shroud for guiding the flow of the outdoor air.

The air conditioner10is installed in a hole penetrating an indoor wall to allow the indoor and outdoor airs to be introduced and exhausted.

That is, the air conditioner10is installed such that the front portion is disposed facing the indoor side and the rear portion is disposed facing the outdoor side. The indoor air is introduced into the air conditioner10through the front portion, heat-exchanged with the refrigerant by the indoor heat exchanger, and exhausted to the indoor side through the front portion.

The outdoor air is introduced into the air conditioner10through the rear portion, heat-exchanged with the refrigerant by the outdoor heat exchanger, and exhausted to the outdoor side through the front portion.

Actually, the air conditioner10is installed in a housing (not shown) inserted in the hole.

The outdoor heat exchanger13mounted on the rear portion of the air conditioner10is exposed to the outdoor side. A rear end of the heat exchanger13is spaced away from a sidewall of the cabinet11. A gap between the cabinet11and the outdoor heat exchanger13defines an outdoor air intake. Therefore, the outdoor air is introduced into the air conditioner through the outdoor air intake. The introduced air is exhausted to the outdoor side after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger13.

Since there is no special member for dividing the outdoor air intake and the outdoor heat exchanger13, the outdoor air that is exhausted after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger13may be reintroduced. That is, the air that is increased in a temperature while passing through the outdoor heat exchanger13is reintroduced into the air conditioner10, thereby deteriorating the heat exchange of the air with the refrigerant flowing along the heat exchanger13. As a result, the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner is deteriorated, thereby deteriorating the overall air-cooling efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a monolithic air conditioner that can improve the cooling efficiency by preventing first outdoor air, which is being introduced into the air conditioner, and second outdoor air, which is being exhausted out of the air conditioner, from being mixed with each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a monolithic air conditioner that can reduce a load of a fan motor by preventing airflow resistance from generating at an area between an outdoor air intake and an outdoor air outlet.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a monolithic air conditioner comprising: a cabinet; an indoor heat exchanger mounted on a front-inner portion of the cabinet; an outdoor heat exchanger mounted on a rear-inner portion of the cabinet and spaced away from a sidewall of the cabinet; a guide member comprising a mounting section coupled to the outdoor heat exchanger by a coupling member, an inclined section extending from the mounting surface401at a predetermined inclined angle to guide the airflow, and guide sections formed by bending upper and lower edges of the inclined surface; and a fan assembly disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monolithic air conditioner comprising: a cabinet; an outdoor heat exchanger mounted on a rear-inner portion of the cabinet and spaced away from a sidewall of the cabinet; a guide member attached on a rear surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, the guide member comprising an air exhausting guide unit and an air introduction guide unit extending from the air exhausting guide section; and a fan assembly disposed in the cabinet to introduce the outdoor air.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monolithic air conditioner comprising: a cabinet defining an outer appearance of the air conditioner; an outdoor heat exchanger mounted on a rear-inner portion of the cabinet; and a guide member mounted to cover a portion of an outdoor air intake defined between the outdoor heat exchanger and the cabinet or a portion of the outdoor heat exchanger.

According to the present invention, the inventive monolithic air conditioner can improve the cooling efficiency and the heat exchange efficiency by preventing first outdoor air, which is being introduced into the air conditioner, and second outdoor air, which is being exhausted out of the air conditioner, from being mixed with each other.

Furthermore, the inventive monolithic air conditioner can reduce a load of a fan motor by preventing airflow resistance from generating at an area between an outdoor air intake and an outdoor air outlet, thereby saving the electric power.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 2 and 3show a monolithic air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, a monolithic air conditioner100includes a cabinet220defining an outer appearance, a front panel110mounted on a front portion of the cabinet220, a front grill111mounted on a front surface of the front panel110to guide airflow, an indoor heat exchanger130disposed in rear of the front panel110to allow introduced air to be heat-exchanged with a refrigerant, and a control body120disposed in rear of the front panel110.

The front panel110is provided with an air intake113on which the front grill111is mounted to allow the air to be introduced into the air conditioner100. The front panel110is further provided with an air outlet112above the air intake113to exhaust the air, which is introduced into the air conditioner and heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing along the indoor heat exchanger130, out of the air conditioner. The front panel110is further provided with a display insertion hole114. A variety of electronic components for controlling the operation of the air conditioner100are installed in the control body120. A display unit121for displaying the operation state of the air conditioner100is mounted on a front surface of the control box120and inserted into the display insertion hole114of the front panel110so that a user can identify the operation state of the air conditioner100.

The monolithic air conditioner100further includes an air guide140mounted in rear of the indoor heat exchanger130, a scroll160located in rear of the air guide140to guide the exhaust of the introduced indoor air, a shroud200mounted in rear of the scroll160to guide the outdoor air that is being introduced, a fan motor180inserted in a center of the scroll160, an indoor fan150shaft-connected to a front portion of the fan motor180, and an outdoor fan150shaft-connected to a rear portion of the fan motor180.

Describing in more detail, the air guide140is provided at a center with a hole to allow the indoor air introduced by the indoor fan150to be directed toward the scroll160. The air guide140is connected to the air intake113of the front panel110to guide the air.

The monolithic air conditioner100further includes an outdoor heat exchanger210provided in rear of the shroud200to allow introduced outdoor air to be heat-exchanged with a refrigerant, a guide member400covering all or part of a rear surface of the outdoor heat exchanger210to guide the outdoor air that is being exhausted, a base240for supporting the above-described elements, and a compressor170fixed on the base240to compress the refrigerant.

The operation of the above-described monolithic air conditioner100will be described hereinafter.

When the air conditioner100is operated, the refrigerant stored in the compressor170is compressed with a high temperature and pressure. In addition, the fan motor180is operated to rotate the indoor and outdoor fans150and190. The compressed refrigerant is directed to the outdoor heat exchanger210. Then, when the outdoor fan190rotates, the outdoor air is introduced through the outdoor air intake. The introduced air is directed to the outdoor heat exchanger210through a hole formed on the shroud200. The air directed to the shroud200is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing along the outdoor heat exchanger210to be increased in a temperature and is then exhausted to the outdoor side. At this point, the guide member400guides the exhaust of the heat-exchanged air in a direction away from the outdoor air intake.

Meanwhile, the refrigerant flowing along the outdoor air exchanger210is lowered in the temperature by being heat-exchanged with the introduced outdoor air. Then, the refrigerant passes through an expansion valve (not shown) provided in the air conditioner100to be quickly lowered in the temperature and pressure. The refrigerant passed through the expansion valve is directed to the indoor heat exchanger130. In addition, the indoor air is introduced into the air conditioner100through the front grill111by the rotation of the indoor fan100. The introduced indoor air is lowered in the temperature while passing through the indoor heat exchanger130. At this point, the refrigerant flowing along the indoor heat exchanger130is increased in the temperature by the heat exchanged with the introduced indoor air. Then, the air is directed to the scroll160via the air guide140. The air directed to the scroll160is directed to the air outlet112of the front panel110along an air passage defined by the air guide140and the scroll160. Then, the air is exhausted through the air outlet112. The refrigerant passed through the indoor heat exchanger130is returned to the compressor170.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the guide member400is mounted on a rear surface of the outdoor heat exchanger210to function to guide the exhaust of the air out of the air conditioner100.

The guide member400includes a mounting section401coupled to the outdoor heat exchanger210by a coupling member, an inclined section402extending from the mounting surface401at a predetermined inclined angle to guide the airflow, and guide sections403formed by bending upper and lower edges of the inclined surface402.

Describing in more detail, the guide member400is mounted on a side edge of the outdoor heat exchanger210, which is adjacent to the outdoor air intake. The inclined section402extends from the mounting section401at a predetermined angle such that the air passed through the outdoor heat exchanger210can be exhausted in a direction away from the outdoor air intake. This is to prevent the first outdoor air, which is being introduced into the air conditioner, and second outdoor air, which is being exhausted out of the air conditioner, from being mixed with each other and introduced into the air conditioner100. The guide sections403formed by bending the upper and lower edges of the inclined section402prevent the air, which is being exhausted, from leaking through upper and lower sides of the guide member400.

FIG. 6shows a mounting process of the monolithic air conditioner100on an indoor wall;

Referring toFIG. 6, the monolithic air conditioner100buried in the indoor wall300such that the indoor and outdoor airs can be simultaneously introduced thereinto.

Describing in more detail, a receiving hole320is formed on the indoor wall300to receive the air conditioner100. A housing310is inserted in the receiving hole320and the air conditioner100is mounted in the housing310. Leakage preventing members are installed on front and rear sides of the air conditioner100to prevent cooked air from leaking through a gap between the air conditioner100and the housing310.

A rear end of the outdoor heat exchanger210is spaced away from a sidewall of the cabinet220. A gap between the cabinet220and the outdoor heat exchanger210defines the outdoor air intake. Therefore, the outdoor air is introduced into the air conditioner through the outdoor air intake. The introduced air is exhausted to the outdoor side after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger210. In addition, as described above, the guide member400is mounted on a side edge of the outdoor heat exchanger210, which is adjacent to the outdoor air intake.

FIG. 7is a perspective view of a monolithic air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 8is a perspective view of a guide member depicted inFIG. 7, andFIG. 9is a sectional view taken along line II-II′ ofFIG. 4.

Referring toFIGS. 7 through 9, a guide member410of this embodiment includes a flat grill body411, a plurality of guide fins412, and a guide cover413extending from an end of the grill body411at a predetermined angle.

The grill body411is located corresponding to an outdoor air intake defined between a cabinet220and an outdoor heat exchanger210and the guide cover is attached on a rear surface of the outdoor heat exchanger210. The grill body411may be designed having a size identical to or greater than the outer air intake. The guide fins412are formed by punching and bending a portion of the grill body411at a predetermined angle. The outdoor air is introduced into the air conditioner while being guided by the guide fins. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger210, the introduced indoor air are exhausted to the outdoor side while being guided by the guide cover413.

Describing in more detail, inclined directions of the guide fins412are opposite to that of the guide cover413. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 9, the introducing air and the exhausting air are not mixed with each other, thereby preventing the exhausting air from being reintroduced into the air conditioner. Likewise the first embodiment, upper and lower edges of the guide cover413are bent to prevent the leakage of the outdoor air that is being exhausted.

FIG. 10is a perspective view of a monolithic air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 11is a perspective view of a guide member depicted inFIG. 10, andFIG. 12is a sectional view taken along line III-III′ ofFIG. 11.

Referring toFIGS. 10 through 12, a guide member420of this embodiment includes a rectangular base plate421. An air intake section423and an air outlet section425are formed on the base plate421.

A plurality of air intake holes422are formed in a latticework on the air intake section423. A plurality of guide fins242are formed on the air outlet section425. The guide fins424are inclined at a predetermined angle such that the air can be exhausted in a direction away from the air intake section423. It is preferably that the air intake holes422are designed having a size disallowing a finger of a child to be inserted therethrough. It is also preferable that each of the guide fins424is formed extending from an upper end to a lower end of the base plate421.

A plurality of coupling holes are formed on an edge of the base plate421or a boundary portion between the air intake section423and the air outlet section425so that the guide member420can be coupled to the outdoor heat exchanger210by a coupling member.

Meanwhile, the air intake section423is disposed corresponding to the outdoor air intake of the air conditioner100and the air outlet section425is disposed on a rear surface of the outdoor heat exchanger210.

Accordingly, the outdoor air is introduced into the air conditioner100through the air intake holes422of the air intake section423. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger210, the introduced air is exhausted to the outdoor side while being guided by the guide fins424to a direction not to be mixed with the outdoor air that is being introduced.

Since the air intake section423is located corresponding to the outdoor air intake, the injury of the children can be prevented and the introduction of the large volume foreign objects through the outdoor air intake can be prevented.

For example, the air intake section of the third embodiment may be formed extending from the mounting section401of the first embodiment. In addition, the grill body411and the guide fins412that are proposed in the second embodiment may be replaced with the air intake sections423of the third embodiment.