AIR CLEANER

The present disclosure related to an air purifier. The air purifier of the present disclosure includes: a case having a cylindrical shape and having a plurality of air suction ports formed in a circumferential wall; a filter disposed inside the case and filtering foreign matter in an air introduced through the air suction port; a fan disposed above the filter and flowing the air introduced through the air suction port in an upward direction; a fan housing disposed above the filter and forming a fan space in which the fan is disposed; a fan motor disposed above the fan and rotating the fan; and a cover protruding from the fan housing into the fan space so as to be disposed outside the fan, wherein a lower end of the fan is disposed by a certain distance from a lower wall of the fan housing to an upper wall, and the cover protrudes above the lower end of the fan from the lower wall of the fan housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0027923, filed in Korea on Mar. 5, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an air cleaner.

2. Description of the Related Art

An air purifier is understood as an apparatus that sucks and purifies contaminated air, and then discharges the purified air. For example, the air purifier may include a blower for introducing external air into the air purifier, and a filter for filtering dust or bacteria in the air.

In general, an air purifier is configured to purify an indoor space such as a home or an office. In order to purify the air in the indoor space in a short time, it is necessary to increase the amount of air discharged from the air purifier.

Korean Patent Publication No. KR10-2017-0140578 discloses an air purifier having a structure that discharges air upward from a 360-degree direction. Air may flow upward according to the rotation of a blowing fan disposed inside a case. However, when the air flowing by the blowing fan backflows into a space formed between a fan and a fan housing disposed below the fan, there is a problem in that the amount of air flow may be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an air purifier that maximizes the amount of air blown from the air purifier.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an air purifier includes: a case having a cylindrical shape and having a plurality of air suction ports formed in a circumferential wall; a filter disposed inside the case and filtering foreign matter in an air introduced through the air suction port; a fan disposed above the filter and flowing the air introduced through the air suction port in an upward direction; a fan housing disposed above the filter and forming a fan space in which the fan is disposed; a fan motor disposed above the fan and rotating the fan; and a cover protruding from the fan housing into the fan space so as to be disposed outside the fan, wherein a lower end of the fan is disposed by a certain distance from a lower wall of the fan housing to an upper wall, and the cover protrudes above the lower end of the fan from the lower wall of the fan housing. Accordingly, the cover can prevent the backflow of air generated into a distance formed between the fan and the fan housing.

The fan housing includes a fan inlet that is bent to the inside of the fan and extends upward, wherein a height of the cover protruding upward from the lower wall is higher than a height of the fan inlet protruding upward from the lower wall, thereby suppressing the backflow of air.

The fan housing includes a circumferential wall forming a space in which the fan is accommodated; a lower wall bent at a lower end of the circumferential wall and extending in a direction of a rotational center of the fan; and a fan inlet upwardly bent at an inner end of the lower wall and extending, wherein the cover is spaced radially outward from the fan inlet and is formed to protrude upward from the lower wall.

The lower end of the fan is disposed between the cover and the fan inlet, thereby preventing the backflow of air into a distance formed between the fan and the fan housing.

The fan includes a hub to which a rotation shaft of the fan motor is coupled; a shroud spaced apart from the hub; and a plurality of blades disposed between the hub and the shroud, wherein the cover is disposed in an outer direction of the shroud, so as not to interfere with the rotation of the fan.

A distance by which the fan inlet is horizontally spaced apart from the shroud is formed to be larger than or equal to a distance by which the cover is horizontally spaced apart from the shroud, thereby minimizing the air flow to the distance formed between the fan and the fan housing.

The fan inlet includes a curved portion bent upward from an inner end portion of the lower wall, and a straight portion extending upwardly from an end portion of the curved portion.

A distance by which a lower end of the curved portion is vertically spaced apart from the shroud is formed to be larger than a distance by which an upper end of the curved portion is horizontally spaced apart from the shroud, thereby minimizing the air flow to the distance formed between the fan and the fan housing.

A horizontal hole spaced in a horizontal direction and a vertical hole spaced in a vertical direction are formed between the shroud and the fan inlet, wherein a distance of the vertical holes is formed larger than a distance of the horizontal hole, thereby minimizing friction due to vertical vibration caused by rotation of the fan.

The air shroud includes a lower protruding portion having a shroud suction port through which air passed through the fan inlet is sucked; and a second blade coupling portion extending upward from the lower protruding portion.

The cover includes an inner wall disposed toward a center of the fan housing; an outer wall facing in a direction opposite to the inner wall; and an upper wall connecting an upper end of the inner wall and an upper end of the outer wall, wherein the inner wall is disposed to face the outer wall of the shroud.

The inner wall includes an inner upper wall which is spaced apart from the fan inlet in a horizontal direction and forms a straight surface; and an inner lower wall which is disposed in a lower portion of the inner upper wall, and bent toward a center of rotation shaft of the fan, wherein the inner lower wall is formed in a lower position than the fan inlet.

A protrusion protruding in a direction facing each other is disposed in the inner wall of the cover or in the outer wall of the shroud disposed opposite to the inner wall, thereby minimizing the air flow to the distance formed between the fan and the fan housing.

The protrusion has a threaded shape, or has a rectangular shape.

A first protrusion protruding toward the outer wall of the shroud is formed in the inner wall of the cover, and a second protrusion protruding toward the inner wall is formed in the outer wall of the shroud, thereby minimizing the air flow to the distance formed between the fan and the fan housing.

The first protrusion and the second protrusion are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is described as follows.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings for explaining an air purifier according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1, an air purifier10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a blowing device100,200for generating air flow and a flow conversion device for switching the discharge direction of the air flow generated by the blowing device100,200. The blowing device100,200includes a first blowing device100for generating a first air flow and a second blowing device200for generating a second air flow.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 2, the first blowing device100and the second blowing device200may be disposed in a vertical direction. The second blowing device200may be disposed above the first blowing device100. In this case, a first air flow forms a flow that sucks indoor air existing in the lower side of the air purifier10, and a second air flow forms a flow that sucks indoor air existing in the upper wall of the air purifier10.

The air purifier10includes a case101and201forming an outer shape. The case101,201include a first case101forming an outer shape of the first blowing device100and a second case201forming an outer shape of the second blowing device200.

The first case101may have a cylindrical shape. The upper portion of the first case101may be configured to have a smaller diameter than the lower portion.

In the first case101, a first suction port102through which air is sucked is formed. The first suction port102communicates the inner side and the outer side of the first case101. A plurality of first suction ports102are formed.

The plurality of first suction ports102are formed evenly in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the first case101so that air can be sucked in any direction based on the first case101. Referring toFIG. 1, air may be sucked in a 360-degree direction based on a center line in the vertical direction passing through the inner center of the first case101.

As described above, the first case101is configured in a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of first suction ports102are formed along the outer peripheral surface of the first case101, so that the amount of air sucked may be increased.

The first blowing device100further includes a base20provided below the first case101and disposed on the ground. The base20is positioned to be spaced downward from the lower end of the first case101. In a separate space between the first case101and the base20, a base suction part103is formed.

A first discharge part105is formed in the upper portion of the first blowing device100. Air discharged through the first discharge part105may flow upward in the shaft direction.

The second case201may have a cylindrical shape. In addition, the upper portion of the second case201may be configured to have a smaller diameter than the lower portion. In the second case201, a second suction port202through which air is sucked is formed. The second suction port202includes a through hole formed by penetrating at least a portion of the second case201. A plurality of second suction ports202are formed.

The plurality of second suction ports202are formed evenly in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the second case201so that air can be sucked in any direction based on the second case201. That is, air may be sucked in a 360-degree direction, based on a center line in the vertical direction passing through the inner center of the second case201.

A first filter120may have a cylindrical shape having an open top. The first blowing device100further includes a first filter frame130forming a mounting space for the first filter120.

In the mounting space, the first filter120may be detachably mounted. The first filter120has a cylindrical shape, and air may be introduced through the outer peripheral surface of the first filter120. In the process of passing through the first filter120, impurities such as fine dust in the air may be filtered out.

Since the first filter120has a cylindrical shape, air can be introduced from any direction based on the first filter120. Accordingly, the filtering area of the air may be increased.

The mounting space may be provided in a cylindrical shape corresponding to the shape of the first filter120. The first filter120may be slidably inserted toward the mounting space during the mounting process. On the other hand, the first filter120may be slidably extracted from the mounting space during the separation process.

In addition, in the second blowing device200, a second filter220is disposed in a second filter frame230, and may be explained in the same manner as described in the first filter120and the first filter frame130described above.

Each of the first blowing device100and the second blowing device200includes a fan housing150,250installed in the outlet side of the filter120,220, a fan160,260rotatably disposed inside the fan housing150,250, and a fan motor165,265that rotates the fan160,260.

Each of the first blowing device100and the second blowing device200further includes a cover140,240which is disposed between the fan160,260and the fan housing150,250, and prevents the reverse flow of air.

The configuration and disposition of the fan160,260, the fan housing150,250, and the cover140,240will be described in detail below.

The first blowing device100further includes a first air guide device170which is coupled to an upper wall of the first fan160and guides the flow of air passed through the first fan160.

The first air guide device170includes an outer wall171having a cylindrical shape and an inner wall172positioned inside the outer wall171and having a cylindrical shape. The outer wall171is disposed to surround the inner wall172. A first air flow path172athrough which air flows is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the outer wall171and the outer peripheral surface of the inner wall172.

The first air guide device170includes a guide rib175disposed in the first air flow path172a.The guide rib175extends from the outer peripheral surface of the inner wall172to the inner peripheral surface of the outer wall171. A plurality of guide ribs175may be spaced apart from each other. The plurality of guide ribs175serves to guide the air introduced into the first air flow path172aof the first air guide device170through the first fan160upward.

The first air guide device170further includes a motor accommodating part173that extends downward from the inner wall172and accommodates the first fan motor165. The motor accommodating part173may have a bowl shape whose diameter decreases toward the bottom. The shape of the motor accommodating part173may correspond to the shape of a hub161. The motor accommodating part173may be inserted into the hub161.

The first fan motor165may be supported on the upper wall of the motor accommodating part173. In addition, a rotation shaft165aof the first fan motor165extends downward from the first fan motor165, penetrates through the bottom surface of the motor accommodating part173, and may be coupled with a shaft coupling part161aof the hub161.

A motor coupling part166is provided above the first fan motor165. The motor coupling part166guides the first fan motor165to be fixed to the first air guide device170.

The first blowing device100further includes a second air guide device180which is coupled to the upper wall of the first air guide device170and guides the air that passed through the first air guide device170to a first discharge guide device190.

The second air guide device180includes a first guide wall181having a substantially cylindrical shape, and a second guide wall182positioned inside the first guide wall181and having a substantially cylindrical shape. The first guide wall181may be disposed to surround the second guide wall182.

The first air guide device170and the second air guide device180described above may be identically applied to a second blowing device200.

A second air flow path185through which air flows is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the first guide wall181and the outer peripheral surface of the second guide wall182. In addition, the first discharge part105is disposed above the second air flow path185.

The first discharge part105may have a grill shape so that air may be discharged to the outside.

The air purifier10includes a partitioning device400provided between the first blowing device100and the second blowing device200. By means of the partitioning device400, the second blowing device200may be positioned to be spaced apart above the first blowing device100.

The flow conversion device may be installed above the second blowing device200. Based on the air flow, the air flow path of the second blowing device200may be in communication with the air flow path of the flow conversion device. The air that passed through the second blowing device200passes through the air flow path of the flow conversion device300and may be discharged to the outside through a second discharge part305. The second discharge part305is formed at the upper end of the flow conversion device300.

The flow conversion device300may be provided to be movable. As shown inFIG. 1, the flow conversion device300may be in a lying state or in an obliquely erect state (a second position, not shown).

In addition, a display device600that displays operation information of the air purifier10is provided above the flow conversion device300. The display device600may move together with the flow conversion device300.

The first blowing device100includes a base20and a suction grill110disposed above the base20. A base suction part103that forms a suction space for air is formed between the base20and the suction grill110.

The air sucked through the base suction part103may pass through the first filter120. The first filter120is provided in a cylindrical shape and may have a filter surface for filtering air.

The second blowing device further includes a lever support device560that supports a second filter220of the second blowing device200. The lever support device560has a substantially annular shape. Inside the lever support device560, a PCB device500may be disposed.

The lever support device560has an annular shape and extends slightly inclined upward with respect to the shaft direction from the inner peripheral surface toward the outer peripheral surface.

The lever support device560may block the air discharged through the first discharge part105of the first blowing device100from flowing into the second blowing device200.

A partition device400is provided between the first blowing device100and the second blowing device200. The partition device400includes a partition plate430for separating or blocking the air flow generated by the first blowing device100and the air flow generated by the second blowing device200. By the partition plate430, the first and second blowing devices100and200may be disposed to be spaced apart in the vertical direction.

That is, a separate space in which the partition plate430is positioned is formed between the first blowing device100and the second blowing device200. The first discharge guide device190of the first blowing device100may be positioned in a lower end of the separate space, and the lever support device560of the second blowing device200may be positioned in an upper end of the separate space.

The second filter220is disposed inside the second blowing device200. The second filter220has a shape similar to that of the first filter120described above, and may perform the same function.

The second blowing device200includes a second fan260which is disposed above the second filter220and forms a flow of air, a second fan motor265that rotates the second fan260, and a second fan housing250in which the second fan260is disposed. The second fan260, the second fan motor265, and the second fan housing250have the same configuration as and a similar shape to the first fan160, the first fan motor165, and the first fan housing150described above, and may perform the same function.

Hereinafter, with reference toFIG. 3, the configuration and disposition relationship of each of the fan, the fan housing, and the cover of the present disclosure will be described.

Each of the first blowing device100and the second blowing device200includes a cover140,240which is disposed between the fan160,260and the fan housing15,250, and prevents the backflow occurring between the fan160,260and the fan housing15,250.

The fan160, the fan housing150, and the cover140described inFIGS. 3 to 4use the same reference numeral as the first fan160, the first fan housing150, and the first cover140included in the first blowing device100. The fan160, the fan housing150, the cover140and their respective specific configurations described inFIGS. 3 to 4may be applied to each of the second fan260, the second fan housing250, and the second cover240included in the second blowing device200.

In the fan housing150, a housing space portion152in which the fan160is accommodated is formed. The fan housing150may be supported by the filter frame130. A fan inlet151that guides the inflow of air to the fan housing150is included in the lower portion of the fan housing150. A grill is disposed in the fan inlet151.

The fan housing150has a hollow inside and an open upper wall. The fan housing150has a housing suction hole154aopened in the vertical direction formed in the center of a lower wall154.

The fan housing150includes a circumferential wall156that is spaced outside the circumference of the fan160and forms a space in which the fan160is accommodated, a lower wall154that is bent at the lower end of a circumferential wall156and extends in the direction of the rotational center of the fan160, and a fan inlet151that is bent upward from the inner end of the lower wall154and extends.

A part of the circumferential wall156may be disposed inside the case101. A portion of the circumferential wall156may be disposed in the upper wall of the case101. The circumferential wall156includes a lower circumferential wall156adisposed inside the case101and an upper circumferential wall156bthat is disposed above the lower circumferential wall156aand disposed in the upper wall of the case101. The lower circumferential wall156amay have a shape whose radius increases toward an upward direction.

The lower wall154may have a ring shape in which a housing suction hole154ais formed in the center. In the inner end of the lower wall154, a fan inlet151that is bent upward and extends is formed.

The fan inlet151may be formed from a lower side where a lower protruding portion162cof a shroud162described below is disposed. The fan inlet151may have a shape whose radius decreases from the lower wall154toward the upper wall. The fan inlet151forms a convex curved surface in the lower center direction in which the filter120is disposed. The fan inlet151may include a curved portion151athat is bent upward from an inner end of the lower wall154and a straight portion151bthat extends upward from an end of the curved portion151a.

A distance151aH by which the lower end of the curved portion151ais spaced apart from the shroud162in the vertical direction is larger than a distance151aR by which the upper end of the curved portion151ais spaced apart from the shroud162in the horizontal direction. The fan160is spaced apart from the fan housing150for free rotation.

A separation hole157a,157bis formed between the shroud162of the fan160and the fan inlet151of the fan housing150. Between the shroud162of the fan160and the fan inlet151of the fan housing150, a horizontal hole157bspaced in a horizontal direction and a vertical hole157aspaced in a vertical direction are formed. A distance157aD of the vertical holes157ais formed larger than a distance157bD of the horizontal holes157b.

Here, the vertical direction may mean a vertical direction in which the blowing devices100and200are stacked, and the horizontal direction may mean a radial direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the fan160.

The straight portion151bis formed upward at the same height as the lower end of the shroud162. Accordingly, the straight portion151bis spaced apart from each other at the same distance as the shroud162facing each other. The curved portion151ais disposed below the shroud162.

The fan160is disposed above the fan inlet151. The fan160includes a centrifugal fan that introduces air in the shaft direction and discharges the air upward in the radial direction.

The fan160includes a hub161to which the rotation shaft165aof the fan motor165, which is a centrifugal fan motor, is coupled, a shroud162disposed spaced apart from the hub161, and a plurality of blades163disposed between the hub161and the shroud162. The fan motor165may be coupled to the upper wall of the fan160.

The hub161may have a bowl shape whose diameter becomes narrower as it progresses downward. The hub161includes a shaft coupling portion161ato which the rotation shaft165ais coupled and a blade coupling portion161bextending obliquely upward from the shaft coupling portion.

The shroud162includes a lower protruding portion162chaving a shroud suction port162athrough which air passed through the fan inlet151is sucked, and a second blade coupling portion162bextending upward from the lower end.

The shroud162is spaced apart from the hub161to form a surface substantially parallel to the hub161. The lower end of the shroud162has a lower protruding portion162cprotruding downward from the lower end of the second blade coupling portion162b.

The shroud162includes a blade coupling portion161bforming a surface substantially parallel to the hub161, and a lower protruding portion162cbent in the lower end of the blade coupling portion161band protruding downward. The lower protruding portion162cmay be spaced apart from the fan inlet151of the fan housing150by a certain distance.

One surface of the blade163may be coupled to the blade coupling portion161bof the hub161, and the other surface may be coupled to the second blade coupling portion162bof the shroud162. In addition, a plurality of blades163may be disposed to be spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the hub161.

The blade163includes a leading edge163aforming a side end portion through which air is introduced and a trailing edge163bforming a side end portion through which air is discharged.

The air that passed through the filter120flows upward and flows into the fan housing150through the fan inlet151. In addition, the air flows in the shaft direction of the fan160, flows into the leading edge163a,and is discharged to the trailing edge163bthrough the blade163.

In this case, the trailing edge163bmay extend inclined upwardly outward with respect to the shaft direction in correspondence with the flow direction of the air so that the air discharged through the trailing edge163bmay flow upward in the radial direction.

The cover140is spaced apart in the outer direction of the shroud162, and is formed to protrude upward from the lower wall154of the fan housing150. The cover140may have a ring shape.

A height140H by which the cover140protrudes upward to the lower wall154of the fan housing150is formed longer than a height151H by which the fan inlet151of the fan housing150protrudes upward from the lower wall154of the fan housing150.

A distance140D by which the cover140is horizontally spaced apart from the shroud162is formed less than or equal to a distance151D by which the fan inlet151of the fan housing150is spaced apart from the shroud162in the horizontal direction.

The cover140includes an inner wall142disposed to face the center of the fan housing150, an outer wall144facing the opposite direction to the inner wall142, and an upper surface146connecting the upper end of the inner wall142and the upper end of the outer wall144.

The inner wall142includes an inner upper wall142awhich is disposed horizontally spaced apart from the fan inlet151of the shroud162and forms a straight surface, and an inner lower wall142bwhich is disposed below the inner upper wall142aand bent toward the center of the fan housing150. The inner lower wall142bis formed at a position lower than the fan inlet151of the shroud162.

A space by which the inner upper wall142aand the fan inlet151of the shroud162are horizontally spaced is formed smaller than a distance151D by which the fan inlet151of the shroud162and the fan housing150are vertically spaced.

Hereinafter, various modified embodiments of the shroud162and the cover140will be described with reference toFIGS. 5A to 5F.

The inner wall142of the cover140or the outer wall162dof the shroud162disposed opposite to the inner wall142of the cover140may include a protrusion143,1621protruding in a direction facing each other.

That is, as shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, a protrusion143protruding in the direction of the outer wall162dof the lower protruding portion162cof the shroud162from the inner wall142of the cover140may be formed, or as shown inFIGS. 5C and 5D, a protrusion1621protruding in the direction of the inner wall142of the cover140from the outer wall162dof the lower protruding portion162cof the shroud162may be formed. In addition, as shown inFIGS. 5E and 5F, the first protrusion143protruding in the direction of the outer wall162dof the lower protruding portion162cof the shroud162from the inner wall142of the cover140may be formed, or the second protrusion1621protruding in the direction of the inner wall142of the cover140from the outer wall162dof the lower protruding portion162cof the shroud162may be formed.

The shape of the protrusion may have a threaded shape as shown inFIGS. 5A, 5C, and 5E, or may have a rectangular shape as shown inFIGS. 5B, 5D, and 5F. The protrusion narrows a distance between the outer wall162dof the lower protruding portion162cof the shroud162and the inner wall of the cover140, thereby preventing the backflow flowing into the separation hole157aformed between the fan housing150and the fan160.

As shown inFIGS. 5E and 5F, the first protrusion143disposed in the inner wall142of the cover140is disposed spaced apart from the second protrusion1621in the vertical direction in each of the outer wall162dof the lower protruding portion162cof the shroud162. The first protrusion143and the second protrusion1621are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, so that friction between the fan160and the cover140due to rotation or vibration of the fan160can be minimized.

According to the air purifier of the present disclosure, one or more of the following effects are provided.

First, there is an advantage of maximizing the amount of air blown by the fan, by disposing a cover that covers the separation hole formed between the fan and the fan housing.

Second, the cover has the advantage of increasing the amount of air blown by the fan, by suppressing the reverse flow of air, as a plurality of protrusions are formed at a portion disposed to face the fan.