Refrigerant socket and air conditioner having the same

A refrigerant socket includes an accommodating body and a pipeline assembly. The pipeline assembly includes a refrigerant pipe connecting to the accommodating body and having an inner section inside the accommodating body and an outer section outside the accommodating body; a switch placed at the inner section and away from a free end thereof, the switch being used to selectively allow or block a flow inside the refrigerant pipe; a refrigerant pumping pipe communicating between the free end of the inner section and the switch; and at least one joint communicates between the free end of the inner section and the switch. Therefore, even if the diameter of the refrigerant pipe does not match an air conditioner indoor unit, connection can still be made without the need of removing the original piping, thereby avoiding wasting refrigerant.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a socket and, in particular, to a refrigerant socket and an air conditioner having the same. The refrigerant socket is connected between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of the air conditioner.

2. Related Art

An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes connected between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The indoor unit is installed indoors to performing heat exchange on indoor air. The outdoor unit is installed outdoors to draw outdoor air and release heat.

When installing the conventional air conditioner, a diameter of the installed refrigerant pipe has to exactly match the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. Therefore, if a room with the installed indoor unit is intended for a different use, a cooling capacity is changed, decoration is changed, brand-new decoration is required, a position of the indoor unit is changed, or etc., the original piping has to be removed to conduct a new installation, there occur problems like wasting piping materials, refrigerant, time, and efforts for the new installation, so the new installation not only is cost-prohibitive and cost-ineffective, but also damages the structure of the building by repeatedly removing and installing the piping. Further, if the refrigerant pipe is already installed in a wall, the wall has to be damaged for installing new piping, so the installation is more troublesome and inconvenient and greatly damaging the structure of the building, which are defects commonly known by people.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerant socket and an air conditioner having the same. Even if a diameter of a refrigerant pipe does not match an indoor unit, connection can still be made without the need of removing the original piping, thereby avoiding wasting refrigerant.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a refrigerant socket including: an accommodating body including an accommodating space; and at least one pipeline assembly including a refrigerant pipe, a switch, a refrigerant pumping pipe, and at least one joint. The refrigerant pipe is connected to the accommodating body and has an inner section inside the accommodating space and an outer section outside the accommodating body. The inner section has a free end. The switch is disposed at the inner section and away from the free end thereof. The switch selectively allows or blocks a flow inside the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant pumping pipe communicates between the free end of the inner section and the switch. The at least one joint communicates between the free end of the inner section and the switch.

The present invention further provides a conditioner including an outdoor unit, at least one indoor unit including an indoor unit refrigerant pipe, and at least one refrigerant socket. The at least one refrigerant socket includes: an accommodating body, the accommodating body having an accommodating space; at least one pipeline assembly. The pipeline assembly includes a refrigerant pipe, a switch, a refrigerant pumping pipe, and at least one joint. The refrigerant pipe is connected to the accommodating body and has an inner section inside the accommodating space and an outer section outside the accommodating body. The inner section has a free end, and the outer section is connected to the outdoor unit. The switch is disposed at the inner section and away from the free end thereof, and the switch selectively allows or blocks a flow inside the refrigerant pipe where the switch is. The refrigerant pumping pipe communicates between the free end of the inner section and the switch. The at least one joint communicates between the free end of the inner section and the switch, and the indoor unit refrigerant pipe of the at least one indoor unit is connected to the at least one joint.

Compared to conventional techniques, the present invention has following effects: even if the diameter of the refrigerant pipe does not match the indoor unit, connection can still be made by means of the refrigerant socket without the need of removing the original piping, thereby avoiding wasting refrigerant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed descriptions and technical contents of the present invention are illustrated below in conjunction with the accompany drawings. However, it is to be understood that the descriptions and the accompany drawings disclosed herein are merely illustrative and exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention provides a refrigerant socket and an air conditioner having the same. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit600(as shown inFIG. 7), an indoor unit800, and a refrigerant socket100. The refrigerant socket100is connected between the outdoor unit600and the indoor unit800to allow refrigerant in liquid phase from the outdoor unit600to be conveyed into the indoor unit800. After heat exchange, the refrigerant in vapor phase is conveyed from the indoor unit800back into the outdoor unit600.

Please refer toFIGS. 1 to 5, showing the refrigerant socket100according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerant socket100includes an accommodating body1and a plurality of pipeline assemblies2. In the first embodiment, the number of the pipeline assemblies2is two as an example (the refrigerant socket100certainly may include only one, three, or more than three pipeline assemblies2), and detailed descriptions are provided as follow.

The accommodating body1includes a box body11, a cover body12, and a partition13. The box body11has an accommodating space111, and the box body11forms an opening110corresponding to the accommodating space111. The cover body12correspondingly covers the opening110of the box body11. The partition13is elevated high to be disposed at a suitable height inside the accommodating space111of the box body11and forms as a close shape. The partition13further forms a plurality of holes131. The accommodating body1can be embedded in a depression (not illustrated) of the wall, and then the cover body12or the partition13can cover the accommodating space111for a decoration effect. Certainly, the accommodating body1can also be protrudingly installed on the wall, which is not limited by the present invention. An insulation material14(not shown in some of the drawings) is disposed in the accommodating space111of the accommodating body1to keep the accommodating body1cool.

The pipeline assembly2includes a refrigerant pipe21, a refrigerant pumping pipe22, a switch23, and a plurality of joints (for example, joints24,25,26or even more). In the first embodiment, each of the pipeline assemblies2has a plurality of joints24to26, as exemplified. The refrigerant pipe21is connected to the accommodating body1and has an inner section211inside the accommodating space111and an outer section212outside the accommodating body1. The inner section has a free end210. Referring toFIG. 7, the outer section212of the two pipeline assemblies2is connected to a refrigerant outlet and a refrigerant inlet (not shown in the drawings) of the outdoor unit600, respectively. The outer section212of the refrigerant pipe21is enclosed by an insulation material28to maintain cool in the refrigerant pipe21.

The switch23is disposed at the inner section211and away from the free end210. The refrigerant pumping pipe22communicates between the free end210of the inner section211and the switch23. The switch23is a stop valve, so as to selectively allow or block the flow inside the refrigerant pipe21, thereby controlling the refrigerant inside the refrigerant pipe21to flow or not to flow.

Each of the joints24,25and26communicates between the free end210of the inner section211and the switch23, and has a different diameter for being adapted to use with different outdoor units600and indoor units800. As shown in the drawings, the diameter of the joint24is larger, the diameter of the joint26is smaller, and the diameter of the joint25is between that of the joint24and that of the joint26. For instance, the diameters of the joints24to26can sequentially be ½ inch, ⅜ inch, and ¼ inch, or can be greater diameters like ¾ inch, ⅝ inch, and ½ inch. A workman can select suitable joints from joints24to26to match the diameters of the outdoor unit600and the indoor unit800. Therefore, even if the diameter of the refrigerant pipe21does not match the indoor unit800, the connection can still be made via the refrigerant socket100of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 5, two indoor unit refrigerant pipes8(one is for flowing in, and the other is for flowing out) of the indoor unit800(not shown inFIG. 5, but shown inFIG. 7) are respectively and selectively connected to one of the joints24to26of the two pipeline assemblies2.

As shown inFIG. 4, each of the joints24,25and26protrudes outside the accommodating body1through the holes131of the partition13. The indoor unit refrigerant pipe8of the indoor unit800has butt joints81,82, and83removably connected to the joints24,25, and26, respectively.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 7, the refrigerant socket100has two pipeline assemblies2. The two pipeline assemblies2are respectively used as a refrigerant flowing in pipe and a refrigerant flowing out pipe while installed to the indoor unit800. Since each of pipeline assemblies2has plural joints24to26, the workman can select a suitable one (what shown inFIG. 5are joint25and joint26respectively) of the joints to match and connect to the indoor unit800. The installation is very convenient and fast.

Moreover, the refrigerant pumping pipe22is connected to the inner section211and close to the free end210, and the refrigerant pumping pipe22is correspondingly connected to the joint24closest to the free end210. The refrigerant pumping pipe22is a three-way pipe, and the workman can use the refrigerant pumping pipe22to pump out the refrigerant inside the indoor unit refrigerant pipe8or the refrigerant pipe21to substantially achieve a vacuum.

FIG. 6shows a modified example (the cover body12and the partition13are omitted) according to the foregoing first embodiment of the present invention. In the modified example, the first embodiment is modified into a single unit type refrigerant socket100. The single unit type refrigerant socket100includes the foregoing accommodating body1and only one set of pipeline assembly2. The pipeline assembly2includes only one joint27(with any diameter matching to the indoor unit800) as shown in the drawing. Certainly, in the modified example according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the pipeline assembly2can have plural joints with diameters different from one another (not shown in the drawings).

FIG. 7is a schematic view showing the connection in regard to the air conditioner using the single unit type refrigerant socket100shown inFIG. 6, in which the single unit type refrigerant socket100is connected between the outdoor unit600and the indoor unit800. Since the refrigerant socket100of the modified example includes only one pipeline assembly2, it requires using two refrigerant sockets100to accomplish the connection. As shown in the drawing, the outer sections212of the refrigerant pipes21of the two refrigerant sockets100are respectively connected to the refrigerant outlet and the refrigerant inlet of the outdoor unit600. The refrigerant outlet and the refrigerant inlet of the outdoor unit800are respectively connected to the joints27of the inner sections211of the two refrigerant sockets100. Accordingly, the liquid-phase refrigerant of the outdoor unit600is conveyed to the indoor unit800via one of the refrigerant pipes21and one of the indoor unit refrigerant pipes8. After performing the heat exchange in the indoor unit800, the vapor-phase refrigerant is conveyed back into the outdoor unit600via the other one of the indoor unit refrigerant pipes8and the other one of the refrigerant pipes21.

FIG. 7is a schematic view showing the connection in regard to the air conditioner using the single unit type refrigerant socket100shown inFIG. 6, in which the single unit type refrigerant socket100is connected between the outdoor unit600and the indoor unit800. Since the refrigerant socket100of the modified example includes only one pipeline assembly2, it requires using two refrigerant sockets100to accomplish the connection. As shown in the drawing, the outer sections212of the refrigerant pipes21of the two refrigerant sockets100are connected to the refrigerant outlet and the refrigerant inlet of the outdoor unit600, respectively. The refrigerant outlet and the refrigerant inlet of the outdoor unit800are connected to the joints27of the inner sections211of the two refrigerant sockets100, respectively. Accordingly, the liquid-phase refrigerant of the outdoor unit600is conveyed to the indoor unit800via one of the refrigerant pipes21and one of the indoor unit refrigerant pipes8. After performing the heat exchange in the indoor unit800, the vapor-phase refrigerant is conveyed back into the outdoor unit600via the other one of the indoor unit refrigerant pipes8and the other one of the refrigerant pipes21.

Regarding no waste of refrigerant, since the switch23can be used to block the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe21, to remove or install the indoor unit800for the above-mentioned reasons, it only needs to pump out the refrigerant inside a small section, of the refrigerant pipe8, from the indoor unit800to the refrigerant socket100so as to substantially achieve the vacuum inside the small section. Moreover, the refrigerant in the outer section212of the refrigerant pipe21, which is longer in length, does not need to be pumped out to achieve the substantially vacuum state. The refrigerant is blocked and limited between the switch23and the outdoor unit600, thereby greatly reducing waste of the refrigerant and lower the possibility of incurring refrigerant leakage pollution. To install back the indoor unit800, it only needs to connect the indoor unit refrigerant pipe8to the corresponding joints24to26, then turn on the switch23, and then the refrigerant is allowed to flow and the air conditioner can be turned on immediately to operate.

Situations other than the above-mentioned are for example the following which also achieve the above-mentioned effects: removing the indoor unit800to clean it then installing it back, or removing the indoor unit800for maintenance then installing it back.

FIG. 8is a schematic view of the air conditioner installed to the building900according to the foregoing modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. The building900includes a plurality of walls (including the walls9aand9b), the outdoor unit600is installed outside the building900, one of the indoor walls of the building900have the plural refrigerant sockets100(the refrigerant sockets are installed in pairs, and each pair includes two of the refrigerant sockets) installed thereto, and the outer section212of the refrigerant pipe21is embedded in advance inside the walls9aand9band pre-connected among the refrigerant outlet, the refrigerant inlet of the outdoor unit600and the plurality of refrigerant sockets100. At this point, the workman only needs to install the indoor unit800to the wall9baccording to requirements, and then the two indoor unit refrigerant pipes8can be removably connected to the two joints27of one of the pairs of the refrigerant sockets100, which makes the installation very easy, convenient, and fast.

FIG. 9is a schematic view of the air conditioner installed to the building900according to the first embodiment (shown inFIG. 5) of the present invention. The refrigerant socket100of the present invention is already embedded in the indoor wall of the building900, the outer section212of the refrigerant pipe21is embedded in advance in the walls9aand9band pre-connected among the refrigerant inlet, the refrigerant outlet and the refrigerant socket100. At this point, the workman only needs to install the indoor unit800on one (i.e. the wall9b) of the walls, the two indoor unit refrigerant pipes8of the indoor unit800can be respectively and removably connected to a suitable one of the joints25and26, which makes the installation easy, convenient, and fast.

FIG. 10shows a refrigerant socket according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerant socket100aof the second embodiment is almost the same to the refrigerant socket100of the foregoing first embodiment. The difference lies in that the accommodating body1of the refrigerant socket100ais connected to three pipeline assemblies2a.

Each of the pipeline assemblies2ahas a different joint24,25or26(these joints are different from one another in diameter; their diameters are ½ inch, ⅜ inch and ¼ inch sequentially, or are ¾ inch, ⅝ inch and ½ inch sequentially). The refrigerant socket100ahas three refrigerant pipes21, and the outer sections212of the three refrigerant pipes21are pre-installed or embedded in advance inside the walls9aand9b.

Accordingly, referring toFIG. 7, when installing the indoor unit800, the workman only needs to use any two pipeline assemblies2amatching the indoor unit800for making the connections. The un-connected pipeline assemblies are shut off by means of the switch23and not in use. In other words, as shown inFIG. 10, when choosing to use the joint24with the diameter of ½ inch and the joint25with the diameter of ⅜ inch, the joint26with the diameter of ¼ inch is shut off and not in use. Further, when choosing to use the joint24with the diameter of ½ inch and the joint26with the diameter of ¼ inch, the joint25with the diameter of ⅜ inch is shut off and not in use (not shown in the drawings), and the rest may be deduced by analogy.

In summary, compared to conventional techniques, the present invention has the following effects: it only needs to pre-install the refrigerant sockets100and100ato the wall, and connect in advance the refrigerant sockets100and100ato the outdoor unit600via the outer section212of the refrigerant pipe21, such that when installing the indoor unit800with any pipe diameter, the installation is very easy, convenient and fast by simply making the indoor unit refrigerant pipe8selectively and removably connected to the matching ones of the joints24to26(or27) of the refrigerant sockets100and100a. In other words, since the joints24to26(or27) with different diameters respectively can match the indoor unit800of all kinds of cooling capacity, it only needs to select suitable joints24to26(or27) to make the connections when installing the indoor unit800of different cooling capacity, and there is no need to remove the originally installed piping of the refrigerant pipe21.

Furthermore, when the indoor room is intended for a different use, the cooling capacity is changed, the space design is changed, decoration is changed, brand-new decoration is required, or the position of the indoor unit800is changed, the connection can still be made via the refrigerant sockets100and100aeven if the diameter of the refrigerant pipe21cannot match the indoor unit800, and thereby achieving effects as follows: no need to remove the original piping of the refrigerant pipe21, no need to install new piping, no waste of piping materials, no waste of refrigerant, no damages to the structure of the building by repeatedly removing and re-installing piping (influences are more serious especially when the piping is pre-installed in the walls). In brief, even the diameter of the refrigerant pipe21cannot match the indoor unit800, the connection can be made simply via the refrigerant sockets100and100a.

Furthermore, the present invention also provides other effects: since the refrigerant sockets100and100aare additionally disposed between the indoor unit600and the outdoor unit800, it only requires the diameters of the joints24to26(or27) to match the indoor unit800. As to the outer section212of the refrigerant pipe21, which does not need to be removed and replaced, there is no need to consider the size/diameter problem since it does not affect the coolness of the air conditioner. Certainly, the invention is embodied best when directly choosing to use the outer section212with a largest diameter.