Built-in type outdoor unit for air conditioner

The present invention discloses a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner including: a louver frame being fixedly installed on a rectangular space inner wall formed on an outer wall of a building, being divided into a suction area and a discharge area, including a plurality of louver blades in each area, and sucking and discharging air through gaps between the louver blades; an outdoor unit casing being formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, being fixedly installed on the inside bottom of the building to contact with the louver frame, and having its one surface facing the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame opened and the other surfaces closed; and means installed on at least one of the facing surfaces of the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, for preventing external leakage of air between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing. A compressor for compressing a refrigerant gas supplied from an indoor unit through pipe lines, an air-cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant gas from the compressor, and a cooling fan for supplying external air to the air-cooled condenser through the suction area, and discharging heat exchanged air through the discharge area are installed in the outdoor unit casing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit for an air conditioner, and more particularly to, a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner which can be built in an outer wall of a commercial and/or residential building.

BACKGROUND ART

An air conditioner implying a cooler, a heater or both of them is classified into a window type and a split type. In the case of the cooler, a split type air conditioner includes an indoor unit installed indoors for cooling a room, and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit through refrigerant pipe lines and installed outdoors to contact air, for performing condensation heat exchange on a refrigerant gas in a condenser by using external air as a cooling medium, and supplying the condensed refrigerants to an evaporator of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe lines. The indoor unit is composed of the evaporator for performing cooling heat exchange for evaporating the refrigerants and absorbing evaporation heat from internal air, and a ventilating fan for circulating internal air, and the outdoor unit is composed of a compressor for compressing the refrigerant gas and supplying the compressed gas to the condenser, the air-cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant gas from the compressor, and a cooling fan for forcibly ventilating external air to the air-cooled condenser to cool and condense the refrigerant gas. The compressor, the air-cooled condenser and the cooling fan of the outdoor unit are installed in an outdoor unit casing composing the outer appearance. The conventional hexahedral outdoor unit casing has an air suction unit for sucking air to the air-cooled condenser at its three sides, and an air discharge unit for externally discharging air absorbing condensation heat from the refrigerant gas by the heat exchange in the air-cooled condenser on its top surface.

However, the conventional outdoor unit for the air conditioner is restricted in installation spaces due to high density and strict environment regulations of cities, and increases civil applications due to noise and heat. Especially, a common residential area such as large-scaled apartment buildings regulates the outdoor units to be installed in indoor verandas to improve the appearance and prevent noise.

In order to solve the foregoing problems, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 6-101873 suggests an air conditioner mounted building where an indoor unit of an air conditioner is installed indoors or adjacent to a room intended to be air-conditioned, and an outdoor unit of the air conditioner is installed outdoors, wherein an opening is formed on the outer wall or roof, a louver is installed in the opening, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is positioned in the louver, and suction/discharge of the indoor unit is performed through a gap between louver plates.

In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 3-213928 discloses a wall built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner including an outdoor unit main body for the air conditioner which is built in the wall and which includes a frame having the same size and thickness as the wall, a suction hole for heat exchange air installed on the same surface as the outdoor unit main body, and a discharge hole for heat exchanged air.

However, the conventional arts relate merely to technologies for inserting the outdoor unit into a space formed on an outer wall of a building. It is thus impossible to install the outdoor unit increased in size due to large air conditioning capacity in a built-in type.

Because the conventional outdoor unit is incorporated in one casing, the whole external casing must be separated or disassembled in order to manage, examine and repair its components. In addition, when the outdoor unit is built in the wall, a lot of expenses and manpower are needed to separate or disassemble the external casing.

Moreover, the conventional arts have never mentioned a structure for preventing re-suction of waste air discharged through gaps between louver blades of a discharge area, or a structure for efficiently removing externally-sucked alien substances.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a realistic installation structure of a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner which can install a large capacity outdoor unit increased in size due to large air conditioning capacity on an outer wall of a commercial and/or residential building.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner which can prevent external leakage of air between a wall and the outdoor unit.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner which inserts elastic sealing members between a wall and the outdoor unit in order to absorb vibration generated in the outdoor unit.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an economical installation structure for efficiently installing a large capacity outdoor unit and/or services for easily transporting the outdoor unit, and examining, exchanging and repairing its components, by converting capacity of the outdoor unit sucking air from three sides and discharging it to a top surface into a front suction/discharge type, and separately installing a suction casing and a discharge casing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a louver blade structure which can efficiently prevent re-suction of discharged air in a suction area, when a three side suction-top surface discharge type is converted into a front suction/discharge type.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a louver blade structure which can efficiently remove various alien substances externally inputted during the open/close operation of louver blades, and left in a grill member mounted between a louver frame and an outdoor unit casing.

In order to achieve the above-described objects of the invention, there is provided a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner including: a louver frame being fixedly installed on a rectangular space inner wall formed on an outer wall of a building, being divided into a suction area and a discharge area, including a plurality of louver blades in each area, and sucking and discharging air through gaps between the louver blades; an outdoor unit casing being formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, being fixedly installed on the inside bottom of the building to contact with the louver frame, and having its one surface facing the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame opened and the other surfaces closed; and means installed on at least one of the facing surfaces of the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, for preventing external leakage of air between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, wherein a compressor for compressing a refrigerant gas supplied from an indoor unit through pipe lines; an air-cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant gas from the compressor; and a cooling fan for supplying external air to the air-cooled condenser through the suction area, and discharging heat exchanged air through the discharge area are installed in the outdoor unit casing.

Here, the inside of the outdoor unit casing is divided into a suction unit and a discharge unit corresponding to the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame, the compressor and the air-cooled condenser are installed in the suction unit, and the cooling fan is installed in the discharge unit. In addition, the outdoor unit casing includes: an outdoor unit suction casing having one opened surface facing the suction area of the louver frame, and including the compressor and the condenser; and an outdoor unit discharge casing being separated from or coupled to the outdoor unit suction casing, having one opened surface facing the discharge area of the louver frame, and including the cooling fan, wherein-opened surfaces are respectively formed in the outdoor unit suction casing and the outdoor unit discharge casing to connect them to discharge the sucked air.

Preferably, the means for preventing leakage of air are zipper means installed on the facing surfaces of the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing to surround the suction area and the discharge area. In this case, one side of the zipper means is formed on the louver frame surface facing the outdoor unit casing to surround the suction area and the discharge area, and the other side of the zipper means is formed on the outdoor unit casing surface facing the louver frame to surround the suction unit and the discharge unit. In addition, the zipper means are respectively installed on long connecting members installed on the louver frame surface and the outdoor unit casing surface facing each other. The connecting members of the louver frame respectively surround the suction area and the discharge area, and the connecting members of the outdoor unit casing respectively surround the suction unit and the discharge unit. Vibration isolating members for absorbing vibration generated in the outdoor unit are further installed between the connecting members and the zipper means. The vibration isolating members are long bellows shaped members. In addition, the vibration isolating members can be long elastic bag shaped members. Because a width of the outdoor unit casing is smaller than a width of the louver frame fixedly installed on the outer wall of the building, the outdoor unit can be installed by sealing up the space between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing by running up the zipper means installed on the outdoor unit casing surface and the louver frame surface facing each other, and fixing the outdoor unit casing and the louver frame by using fastening members.

The means for preventing leakage of air are long extended elastic sealing members formed on at least one of the facing surfaces of the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, for surrounding the suction area and the discharge area when the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing are fastened. In this case, special elastic sealing members for respectively surrounding the suction area and the discharge area can be formed. Reinforcing ribs for preventing lateral movement of the elastic sealing members are additionally formed. The elastic sealing members include hollow units shrunken when the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing are fastened. Because a width of the outdoor unit casing is smaller than a width of the louver frame fixedly installed on the outer wall of the building, the outdoor unit can be installed by sealing up the space between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing by the elastic sealing members shrunken due to approaches of the outdoor unit casing surface and the louver frame surface facing each other, and fixing the outdoor unit casing and the louver frame by using fastening members. Here, the fastening members are ‘L’ shaped brackets. Preferably, the fastening member includes a first connecting bracket fixed to the louver frame, a second connecting bracket fixed to the outdoor unit casing, and a vibration isolating bracket connected between the first and second connecting brackets. Here, the vibration isolating bracket is a spring. In addition, the vibration isolating bracket can be formed in a bellows shape.

The louver blades have wave-shaped curved sections. In this case, the louver blades of the discharge area have wave-shaped curved sections whose ends are upwardly inclined in order to discharge air in the upward direction, and the louver blades of the suction area have wave-shaped curved sections whose ends are downwardly inclined in order to suck air from their lower portions.

In addition, a grill member for preventing external alien substances is further installed between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, and the louver blades further include elastic contact members in the outdoor unit casing area, so that the elastic contact members can contact with the grill member according to the open/close operation of the louver blades. In this case, more preferably, when the louver blades are closed, the elastic contact members do not contact with the grill member, and when the louver blades are opened, the elastic contact members contact with the grill member.

According to another aspect of the invention, a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner includes: a louver frame being fixedly installed on a rectangular space inner wall formed on an outer wall of a building, being divided into a suction area and a discharge area, including a plurality of louver blades in each area, and sucking and discharging air through gaps between the louver blades; and an outdoor unit casing fixedly installed to contact with the louver frame, formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having its one side facing the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame opened and its top surface, bottom surface and three sides closed, and divided into a suction unit and a discharge unit corresponding to the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame, wherein the louver blades have wave-shaped curved sections.

Here, the louver blades of the discharge area have wave-shaped curved sections whose ends are upwardly inclined in order to discharge air in the upward direction, and the louver blades of the suction area have wave-shaped curved sections whose ends are downwardly inclined in order to suck air from their lower portions. More preferably, an open state, a close state and/or an open angle of the louver blades are controlled. Here, a grill member for preventing external alien substances is further installed between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, and the louver blades further include elastic contact members in the outdoor unit casing area, so that the elastic contact members can contact with the grill member according to the open/close operation of the louver blades. In this case, more preferably, when the louver blades are closed, the elastic contact members do not contact with the grill member, and when the louver blades are opened, the elastic contact members contact with the grill member.

According to another aspect of the invention, a built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner includes: a louver frame being fixedly installed on a rectangular space inner wall formed on an outer wall of a building, being divided into a suction area and a discharge area, including a plurality of louver blades which can be opened/closed in each area, and sucking and discharging air through gaps between the opened louver blades; an outdoor unit casing fixedly installed to contact with the louver frame, formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having its one side facing the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame opened and its top surface, bottom surface and three sides closed, and divided into a suction unit and a discharge unit corresponding to the suction area and the discharge area of the louver frame; and a grill member installed between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, for preventing external alien substances, wherein the louver blades further include elastic contact members in the outdoor unit casing area, so that the elastic contact members can contact with the grill member according to the open/close operation of the louver blades.

More preferably, when the louver blades are closed, the elastic contact members do not contact with the grill member, and when the louver blades are opened, the elastic contact members contact with the grill member.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A built-in type outdoor unit for an air conditioner in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, an external frame4is fixedly installed on a rectangular space inner wall formed on an outer wall2of a residential and/or commercial building, and an internal frame6is fixedly installed at the inside of the external frame4. The internal and external frames4and6can be incorporated. An inside area of the internal frame6is divided into a suction area7aand a discharge area7b. A plurality of louver blades8are installed in each area, so that air can be sucked or discharged through gaps between the louver blades8. Hereinafter, the external frame4, the internal frame6and the louver blades8are referred to as a louver frame.

On the other hand, an outdoor unit10(partially shown) fixedly installed at the inside of the outer wall2of the building to contact with the external frame4and/or internal frame6includes an outdoor unit casing. The outdoor unit casing opens its one side facing the suction area7aand the discharge area7bof the internal frame6. The opened side is divided into a suction unit11aand a discharge unit11bto correspond to the suction area7aand the discharge area7bof the internal frame6.

The louver frame coupled to or separated from the outdoor unit10includes an isolating unit9for dividing the louver blades8of the suction area7afrom the louver blades8of the discharge area7b. The isolating unit9isolates the suction area7aof the louver frame from the discharge area7bat a predetermined interval, to prevent interferences between external air sucked to the suction area7aand heat exchanged air discharged from the discharge area7b. Accordingly, the front suction/discharge type outdoor unit10rapidly sucks external air and discharges heat exchanged air. In addition, the isolating unit9prevents air discharged from the louver blades8at the lower end of the discharge area7bfrom being re-sucked to the louver blades8at the upper end of the suction area7a, namely isolates air of the suction area7afrom air of the discharge area7b, to minimize contacts of air sucked to the suction area7aand heat exchanged air discharged from the discharge area7b. The isolating unit9includes a slanted surface to externally discharge rain or snow flowing down by the louver blades8of the discharge area7b(briefly shown inFIG. 6).

An air suction/discharge direction can be controlled by adjusting an open angle of the louver blades8. In addition, an air suction direction and an air discharge direction can be distinguished by controlling the louver blades8of the suction area7aand the discharge area7bto have different open angles. A manual open device (not shown) operated by force of the user, and an automatic open device (not shown) for automatically operating the louver blades8according to the operation of an outdoor unit10, namely a control command of the outdoor unit10performing a series of operations for cooling/heating can be used as a control means for opening the louver blades8. The structure and constitution of the manual open device and the automatic open device for the louver blades8are easily understood by the ordinary people skilled in the art which the present invention pertains to. It is possible to determine the air suction/discharge direction in consideration of an external environment, and to open and maintain the louver blades8in a predetermined direction.

On the other hand, the outdoor unit10fixedly installed at the inside of the outer wall2of the building to contact with the external frame4and/or internal frame6includes an outdoor unit casing composed of components ofFIG. 3. In addition, outdoor unit components ofFIG. 3are installed in the outdoor unit casing.

In the outdoor unit casing, one side facing the suction area7aand the discharge area7bof the internal frame6is opened. The opened side is divided into a suction unit11aand a discharge unit11bto correspond to the suction area7aand the discharge area7bof the internal frame6. In addition, three side covers12a,12band12c, a bottom cover14and a top cover16are closed to form a rectangular parallelepiped. A plurality of leg members18a,18b,18cand18dare externally protruded from the bottom cover14. The leg members18a,18b,18cand18dare installed on the bottom of a building, for example a veranda of an apartment building, for supporting heavy load of the outdoor unit10. Preferably, four leg members18a,18b,18cand18dare formed in consideration of the shape of the bottom cover14. Leg reinforcing members19for connecting and reinforcing the leg members18a,18b,18cand18dare formed below the bottom cover14in the horizontal direction. The leg members18a,18b,18cand18dfurther include screws (not shown) for controlling height. Accordingly, when the bottom of the building, for example the veranda of the apartment building is not flat, they can stably position the outdoor unit10. When the two leg members18aand18bpositioned in the forward direction (toward building outer wall) among the leg members18a,18b,18cand18dfurther include transport wheels (not shown), it is much easier to transport the heavy load outdoor unit10.

In the outdoor unit suction unit11a, a compressor20is installed on a compressor fastening unit22, and a ‘U’ shaped air-cooled condenser30is fixedly supported on the side covers12aand12band the bottom cover14by using condenser covers32a,32band32cand condenser brackets34aand34b. In the air-cooled condenser30, a plurality of condenser pipe lines are formed in a zigzag shape between a plurality of condenser fins. The structure and shape of the air-cooled condenser30have been publicly known, and thus are not shown in detail. A refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor20is transmitted through the pipe lines of the condenser30, removed its condensation heat by externally-supplied air, and condensed. In this case, the condenser covers32a,32band32cand the condenser brackets34aand34bform a wind path so as to prevent external air from being supplied to the discharge unit11bnot via the condenser30. As a result, external air sucked through the gaps between the louver blades8of the suction area7apasses through the ‘U’ shaped condenser30along the wind path of the condenser covers32a,32band32cand the condenser brackets34aand34b, and exchanges heat with the refrigerant gas flowing through the condenser pipe lines.

In the outdoor unit discharge unit11b, a cooling fan40for supplying external air to the air-cooled condenser30through the suction area7aand discharging heat exchanged air through the discharge area7bis fixedly installed on the side covers12a,12band12cand the top cover16by a cooling fan supporting member42, a cooling fan bracket44and a fan front46. Here, a sirocco fan is used as the cooling fan40.

A control box50for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit10is installed at the inside of the side cover12ccomposing the rear surface among the side covers, and refrigerant pipe lines which the refrigerant gas evaporated in the indoor unit is sucked through, and a valve assembly52, a path of the refrigerant pipe lines which the refrigerants condensed in the outdoor unit10are discharged through are installed below the control box50.

A mesh shaped grill member60is installed on the front surface of the outdoor unit10, namely one opened side facing the suction area7aand the discharge area7bof the internal frame6to prevent invasion of animals (for example, rats) or inflow of alien substances. As shown inFIG. 4A, zipper means62a,62b,62cand62dare respectively installed on the facing surfaces of the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing to surround the suction unit11aand the discharge unit11b.

In more detail, one side62aand62bof the zipper means is formed on the outdoor unit casing surface facing the louver frame to surround the suction unit11aand the discharge unit11b, and the other side62cand62dof the zipper means is formed on the louver frame surface facing the outdoor unit casing to surround the suction area7aand the discharge area7b. The zipper means62a,62b,62cand62dprevent leakage of air between the louver frame and the outdoor unit10, so that external air passing through the suction area7aof the louver frame can be sucked through the suction unit11aof the outdoor unit casing, and heat exchanged air discharged from the discharge unit11bof the outdoor unit casing can be externally discharged through the discharge area7bof the louver frame.

As illustrated inFIG. 4B, long connecting members64a,64b,64cand64dfor fixedly connecting the zipper means62a,62b,62cand62dare installed on the louver frame surface and the outdoor unit casing surface facing each other. In more detail, the connecting members64aand64bof the outdoor unit casing respectively surround the suction unit11aand the discharge unit11b, and the connecting members64cand64dof the louver frame respectively surround the suction area7aand the discharge area7b.

Moreover, vibration isolating members66a,66b,66cand66dfor absorbing vibration generated in the outdoor unit10are installed between the connecting members64a,64b,64cand64dand the zipper means62a,62b,62cand62d. The zipper means62a,62b,62cand62dcan be directly connected to the connecting members64a,64b,64cand64d. As shown inFIGS. 4A to 4C, the zipper means62a,62b,62cand62dand the connecting members64a,64b,64cand64dare connected by the vibration isolating members66a,66b,66cand66d.

In accordance with the present invention, the outdoor unit10absorbs vibration generated in the cooling fan40, by inserting the vibration isolating members66a,66b,66cand66dinto the whole surface of the outdoor unit casing. Thus, the vibration is not transmitted to the louver frame and/or outer wall. When the outdoor unit10is installed, the zipper means62a,62b,62cand62dcan be easily run up due to elasticity of the vibration isolating means66a,66b,66cand66d. The vibration isolating members are long bellows shaped members, long elastic bag shaped members, or different shaped elastic members.

FIG. 4Cis a cross-sectional view illustrating assembly of the zipper means and the outdoor unit. The zipper means62ais fixed to the outdoor unit casing by the connecting member64a. Here, the zipper means62ais connected to the connecting member64aby the vibration isolating member66a. The other zipper means62b,62cand62d, the connecting members64b,64cand64dand the vibration isolating members66b,66cand66dhave the same structure. The connecting members64a,64b,64cand64dare coupled to the outdoor unit casing and the louver frame by welding, or using fastening means (for example, screws).

FIG. 4Dis a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit casing in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 4D, an outdoor unit100includes a separable outdoor unit suction casing11cand a separable outdoor unit discharge casing11d. Here, the outdoor unit suction casing11cand the outdoor unit discharge casing11dhave their one surface opened to correspond to the suction area7aand the discharge area7bof the louver frame, and have their another surface connected to move heat exchanged air. That is, the outdoor unit suction casing11ccorresponds to the suction unit11aof the outdoor unit10, and the outdoor unit discharge casing11dcorresponds to the discharge unit11bof the outdoor unit10. The outdoor unit suction casing11cand the outdoor unit discharge casing11dcan be coupled to or separated from each other by using a special fastening device (bolts and nuts, guide holes and hooks, etc.) (not shown).

The outdoor unit100which can be assembled/disassembled reduces its whole weight and size to be easily transported and moved. The outdoor unit100can also be easily installed by firstly installing the outdoor unit suction casing11c, and then installing the outdoor unit discharge casing11d. For management and repair, the outdoor unit100is partially separated and disassembled so that its inside components can be examined. That is, the outdoor unit100has a simplified structure in time and cost.

Still referring toFIG. 4D, the outdoor unit suction casing11cand the discharge casing11drespectively include zipper means68aand68bon their surfaces facing the louver frame surface, and the louver frame includes zipper means68cand68don its surface facing the outdoor unit casing. That is, the zipper means ofFIGS. 4A to 4Care used in the same manner. The zipper means68a,68b,68cand68dare respectively fixed to the outdoor unit suction casing11c, the discharge casing11dand the louver frame by connecting members (not shown), and vibration isolating members (not shown) are installed between the zipper means68a,68b,68cand68dand the connecting members.

FIG. 4Eis a partially-cut plan view illustrating mounted constitution of the louver frame and the outdoor unit in accordance with the present invention. As depicted inFIG. 5, a width of the outdoor unit10is smaller than an internal space width of the external frame4fixedly installed at the inside of the outer wall. Accordingly, the space between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing is sealed up by running up the zipper means62aand62cinstalled on the outdoor unit casing surface and the louver frame surface facing each other, and the outdoor unit casing and the louver frame are fixed to the external frame4and the side covers12aand12bof the outdoor unit10by using special fastening members, for example ‘L’ shaped brackets70. In this case, the outdoor unit10is not fixed to the concrete outer wall2, and thus easily installed. A gap is formed between the concrete outer wall2and the outdoor unit10as large as the external frame4, so that the outdoor unit10can be easily fixed and installed. In addition, the separable outdoor unit100can use fastening members like the outdoor unit10.

As illustrated inFIG. 5A, grooves71(shown in detail inFIG. 5C) are formed on at least one of the facing surfaces of the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing, and long extended elastic sealing members72aand72bare inserted into the grooves71to respectively surround the suction area7aand the discharge area7b, when the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing are fastened.

External leakage of air is prevented between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing by inserting the elastic sealing members72aand72b. In addition, the outdoor unit10absorbs vibration generated in the cooling fan40so that the vibration cannot be transmitted to the louver frame and/or outer wall. According to another aspect of the invention, a groove is formed on the louver frame surface to surround the suction area7aand the discharge area7b, and an elastic sealing member is inserted into the groove. As shown inFIGS. 5A and 5B, reinforcing ribs74aand74bare used to prevent lateral movement of the elastic sealing members72aand72b.

As depicted inFIG. 5C, the elastic sealing member72bis inserted into the groove71formed on the louver frame surface facing the outdoor unit10, and supported by the reinforcing ribs74aand74b. The elastic sealing member72bincludes a hollow unit76. Therefore, when the louver frame and the outdoor unit10are fastened, the elastic sealing member72bis remarkably shrunken to efficiently absorb vibration and remove a gap between the louver frame and the outdoor unit10, thereby preventing leakage of air. In more detail, air sucked through one opened surface and the suction area7aof the louver frame is supplied to the suction unit11aof the outdoor unit10, and heat exchanged air discharged from the discharge unit11bof the outdoor unit10is externally discharged through the discharge area7bof the louver frame.

Identically toFIG. 4D,FIG. 5Dshows an outdoor unit100including a separable outdoor unit suction casing11cand a separable outdoor unit discharge casing11din accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 5D, the outdoor unit100can also use elastic sealing members.

FIGS. 5E to 5Gare partially-cut plan views illustrating various mounted constitutions of the louver frame and the outdoor unit in accordance with the present invention.

As depicted inFIG. 5E, a width of the outdoor unit10is smaller than an internal space width of the external frame4fixedly installed at the inside of the outer wall. Accordingly, the space between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing is sealed up by elastic sealing members72aand72b(72ais not shown) shrunken due to approaches of the outdoor unit10and the louver frame facing each other, and the outdoor unit10and the louver frame are fixed to the external frame4and the side covers12aand12bof the outdoor unit10by using special fastening members, for example ‘L’ shaped brackets80. In this case, the outdoor unit10is not fixed to the concrete outer wall2, and thus easily installed. A gap is formed between the concrete outer wall2and the outdoor unit10as large as the external frame4, so that the outdoor unit10can be easily fixed and installed.

As another example of the fastening member ofFIG. 5E, as shown inFIG. 5F, a connecting bracket82ais fixed to the louver frame, a connecting bracket82bis fixed to the outdoor unit10, and a vibration isolating bracket, for example a spring84for preventing vibration of the outdoor unit10(especially generated by the cooling fan40) from being transmitted to the louver frame and/or outer wall2is installed between the connecting brackets82aand82b. The outdoor unit10is not fixed to the concrete outer wall2by using the spring84, and thus is easily installed. In addition, the outdoor unit10is approached to the louver frame due to elasticity of the spring84, and thus easily installed.

As another example of the vibration isolating bracket ofFIG. 5F, as shown inFIG. 5G, connecting brackets82aand82bare respectively fixed to the louver frame and the outdoor unit10, and a bellows86is installed between the connecting brackets82aand82bas a vibration isolating bracket. The outdoor unit10is not fixed to the concrete outer wall2by using the bellows86, and thus is easily installed. In addition, the outdoor unit10is approached to the louver frame due to elasticity of the bellows86, and thus easily installed. The separable outdoor unit100can also use fastening members and/or elastic sealing members like the outdoor unit10.

As confirmed inFIG. 6, the louver blades8of the suction area7ahave wave-shaped curved sections whose ends are downwardly inclined in order to suck air from their lower portions, and the louver blades8of the discharge area7bhave wave-shaped curved sections whose ends are upwardly inclined in order to discharge air in the upward direction. As described above, when the louver blades8have straight line-shaped sections, the isolating unit9must be formed between the suction area7aand the discharge area7bto prevent waste air discharged through the gaps between the louver blades8of the discharge area7bfrom being re-sucked through the suction area7a. However, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the louver blades8guide waste air in the upward direction, and suck external fresh air from their lower portions in the suction area7a. As a result, heat exchanged and discharged air is rarely sucked through the gaps between the louver blades8of the suction area7a. Still referring toFIG. 6, the louver blades8have wave-shaped curved sections, and thus prevent rain drops from being inserted.

The open/close operation of the louver blades8can be controlled. The present invention provides a structure for removing alien substances left in the mesh-shaped grill member60installed between the louver frame and the outdoor unit casing for preventing the alien substances during the open/close operation of the louver blades8. As illustrated inFIGS. 7A and 7B, elastic contact members8aare mounted on the outdoor unit casing side area of the louver blades8. As depicted inFIG. 7B, when the louver blades8are opened, the elastic contact members8asweep the mesh-shaped grill member60, to remove alien substances such as dust accumulated or left in the mesh-shaped grill member60.FIG. 7Bshows a state where the louver blades8are completely opened or half opened. If the louver blades8are half opened, when the louver blades8are completely opened and closed, the elastic contact members8are-sweep the mesh-shaped grill member60. It can be varied by an operator.

An elastic member such as a rubber plate can be used as the elastic contact member8a. Preferably, as shown inFIG. 7C, the elastic contact member8ais inserted into a groove unit8bof the louver blades8.

FIGS. 7A to 7Cshow the elastic contact members8asuch as rubber plates mounted on the louver blades8having straight-line shaped sections. However, as depicted inFIG. 6, the elastic contact members8acan also be mounted on the louver blades8having wave-shaped curved sections. In the same manner, when the louver blades8are closed, the elastic contact members8ado not contact with the grill member60, and when the louver blades8are opened, the elastic contact members8asweep the grill member60, to remove alien substances such as dust accumulated or left in the grill member60. Here, an opening degree of the louver blades8can be determined by the operator.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these preferred embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.