Patent Publication Number: US-2022233985-A1

Title: Ventilation assembly and air conditioning apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present disclosure is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202120198593.2, filed on Jan. 25, 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a field of air conditioning technologies, and in particular to a ventilation assembly and an air conditioning apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, an air-conditioning apparatus has a ventilation assembly configured to realize a fresh air function of indoor and outdoor air exchange. When the air-conditioning apparatus having the ventilation assembly operates in an environment with a large temperature difference between indoor and outdoor, due to the poor sealing performance of the ventilation assembly, condensation often appears on the ventilation assembly, and drips to the floor and wall, thus damaging the indoor home environment and affecting the user experience. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, a ventilation assembly is provided, including: a volute, a surface of the volute being provided with a mounting port; a filter assembly arranged in the mounting port or in a portion of the volute adjacent to the mounting port; and a sealing member arranged with the mounting port or with the portion of the volute adjacent to the mounting port, and configured to seal a gap between the filter assembly and the mounting port. 
     According to a second aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, an air conditioning apparatus is provided, including a ventilation assembly. The ventilation assembly includes: a volute, a surface of the volute being provided with a mounting port; a filter assembly arranged in the mounting port or in a portion of the volute adjacent to the mounting port; and a sealing member arranged with the mounting port or with the portion of the volute adjacent to the mounting port, and configured to seal a gap between the filter assembly and the mounting port. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and illustrative only and shall not limit the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an air conditioning apparatus in the related art. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the air conditioning apparatus in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a ventilation assembly according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial exploded view of the ventilation assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is another schematic view of a ventilation assembly according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of portion B of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view taken along line M of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view illustrating a sealing member and a mounting part of a filter assembly added in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a partial sectional view taken along line N in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view illustrating a sealing member and a mounting part of a filter assembly added in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the illustrative embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, same numerals in different drawings indicate the same or similar elements, unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following illustrative embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of devices consistent with some aspects of the present disclosure as detailed in the appended claims. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in an air conditioning apparatus in the related art, taking an air conditioner as an example, a ventilation assembly is provided in an indoor unit  100  of the air conditioner, one end of an air input pipe  150  of the indoor unit  100  is communicated with the ventilation assembly, and the other end of the air input pipe  150  is connected with a wind shield  160  for guiding an air flow in an outdoor environment into the air input pipe  150 . 
     When the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large (for example, the outdoor temperature is lower than −20° C.), a cold air flow entering the ventilation assembly may leak out from a gap of the ventilation assembly due to a poor sealing condition of the ventilation assembly in the related art. Warm air in the air conditioning apparatus liquefies when it meets the cold air flow, thereby resulting in condensation. When the condensation is significant, the condensation can form water droplets, which may drip to an indoor floor of a user, and even flow to a wall to form water stains, thus affecting the user experience. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ventilation assembly is provided, including a volute  110 , a filter assembly  170 , and a sealing member  130 . A surface of the volute  110  is provided with a mounting port  111 . The filter assembly  170  is arranged in the mounting port  111  or in a portion of the volute  110  adjacent to the mounting port  111 . The filter assembly  170  is configured to filter out pollutant particles such as dust or smoke in air flowing through an air channel  115  so as to purify the air. 
     The sealing member  130  is positioned at the mounting port  111  or at the portion of the volute  110  adjacent to the mounting port  111 , and is configured to seal a gap between the filter assembly  170  and the mounting port  111 . Or, the sealing member  130  is located between the filter assembly and the volute, and cooperates with the filter assembly to seal the mounting port. 
     In the above embodiment, the sealing member  130  can seal the gap between the filter assembly  170  and the mounting port  111 , so as to enhance the sealing performance at the mounting port  111 , and prevent the air flow entering the volute from the outside from leaking out from the gap between the filter assembly  170  and the volute  110  when the ventilation assembly operates, thus greatly reducing the condensation generated when the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large, and improving the user experience. 
     As can be understood, in an example, the ventilation assembly further includes a fan assembly  140  arranged in the volute  110  and configured to drive the air to flow by rotation. The mounting port  111  may serve as an air inlet of the air channel  115 . In this case, an air input face of the fan assembly  140  facing the mounting port  111 . The mounting port  111  may also serve as an air outlet of the air channel  115 . In this case, an air output face of the fan assembly  140  facing the mounting port  111 . Or, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the mounting port  111  may not be the air inlet nor the air outlet, but may be an opening arranged between the air inlet and the air outlet. In this case, the air output face or the air input face of the fan assembly  140  may face the mounting port  111 . 
     In some embodiments, the sealing member has a shape substantially the same with a shape of the gap between the filter assembly and the mounting port to seal the gap between the filter assembly and the mounting port. 
     In some embodiments, the sealing member  130  is made of an elastic material such as rubber, plastic, silica gel or the like, and the sealing member  130  of the elastic material can seal the gap at the mounting port  111  with the elasticity of the material, which is conducive to improving the sealing effect. 
     In some embodiments, the filter assembly  170  includes a bracket  120 , a part of the bracket  120  adjacent to the mounting port  111  is formed to have a shape substantially the same with that of the mounting port  111  to cover the mounting port  111 . The sealing member is arranged between the bracket  120  and the volute  110  and has a shape substantially the same with a shape of a gap between the bracket  120  and the mounting port  111  so as to form a sealing for the gap between the volute  110  and the bracket  120  at the mounting port  111 . 
     In some embodiments, an air channel  115  communicated with the mounting port  111  is provided inside the volute  110 , and the filter assembly  170  further includes a filter screen mounted to the bracket  120  and arranged in the air channel  115 . 
     The bracket  120  has a larger mechanical strength than the filter screen, the bracket  120  is configured to support the filter screen, and the filter screen is mounted to the volute  110  through the bracket  120 . 
     In some embodiments, the filter screen may be arranged entirely within the air channel  115 , and at least part of the bracket  120  is arranged at the mounting port  111  for covering the mounting port  111  and for sealing the mounting port  111  together with the sealing member  130 . 
     In some embodiments, the part of the bracket  120  covering the mounting port  111  has a substantially plate-shaped structure, a bottom surface of the plate-shaped structure faces the air channel  115 , and the filter screen is in contact with the bottom surface of the plate-shaped structure. 
     In some embodiments, at least part of the filter assembly  170  is exposed outside the volute  110 . 
     In actual applications, after a long-term use, the filter assembly  170  tends to be clogged due to the accumulation of excessive particulate matters, thereby affecting the filtering effect. Thus, the filter assembly  170  needs to be periodically cleaned or replaced. Since at least part of the filter assembly  170  is exposed outside the volute  110 , it is convenient to detach the filter assembly  170  so as to realize the replacement or cleaning of the filter assembly  170 . 
     In some embodiments, part of the bracket  120  of the filter assembly  170  is exposed outside the volute  110  and a user may take the filter screen out of the mounting port  111  by detaching the bracket  120 . 
     In some embodiments, the bracket  120  includes an operating member arranged with a surface facing away from the air channel  115 . The operating member may be a tab. Or, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the operating member may be a slot  124  formed in the bracket  120 , and the user may detach the filter assembly  170  from the mounting port  111  by pulling the tab or hooking the slot  124 . Thus, the arrangement of the operating member facilitates the replacement of the filter assembly  170 . 
     In some embodiments, a positioning groove  112  is provided at the mounting port  111  of the volute  110  along a periphery or an edge of the mounting port  111 , and the sealing member  130  is arranged in the positioning groove  112 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the positioning groove  112  surrounds the mounting port  111 , the positioning groove  112  receives the sealing member  130 , and a positioning rib of the positioning groove  112  supports the sealing member  130 . 
     In some embodiments, the sealing member  130  includes a sealing ring. 
     The sealing ring is substantially annular. Generally, the shape of the sealing member  130  is substantially the same with the shape of the positioning groove  112 . For example, when the positioning groove  112  has a square ring shape, the sealing member  130  also has a square ring shape, and when the positioning groove  112  has a circular ring shape, and the sealing member  130  also has a circular ring shape. 
     In some embodiments, a thickness of the sealing member  130  is slightly greater than a width of the positioning groove  112 , and the sealing member  130  is in an interference fit with the positioning groove  112  so as to be clamped in the positioning groove, thereby ensuring that the sealing member  130  tends not to get loose after assembling. In some embodiments, the sealing member  130  and the positioning groove may have an interference fit of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. 
     In some embodiments, a difference between inner and outer radiuses of the sealing member  130  is slightly greater than a distance between a top and a bottom of the positioning groove  112  (e.g., 0.3 mm) so that the sealing member  130  is in an interference fit with a mounting part  121  of the bracket  120  in the filter assembly  170  so as to realize the sealing at the mounting port  111 . 
     It should be noted that the thickness of the sealing member  130  is defined in a direction perpendicular to a plane where the sealing member  130  is, and the inner and outer radiuses of the sealing member  130  are defined in the plane where the sealing member  130  is. Accordingly, the width of the positioning groove  112  is defined in the direction perpendicular to the plane where the sealing member  130  is, and the distance between the top and the bottom of the positioning groove  112  is defined in the plane where the sealing member  130  is and in a direction parallel to a radial direction of the sealing member  130 . That is, the top and the bottom of the positioning groove  112  are defined in the direction parallel to the radial direction of the sealing member  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , when the ventilation assembly is assembled, the sealing member  130  is first placed in the positioning groove  112 , and then the filter assembly  170  is placed in the mounting port  111 . Then, a pressure is applied to the filter assembly  170 , the filter assembly  170  presses the sealing member  130 , and the sealing member  130  of the elastic material is deformed after being pressed. Since the difference between the inner radius and the outer radius of the sealing member  130  is larger than the distance between the top and the bottom of the positioning groove  112 , the sealing member  130  which is not pressed may protrude out of the top of the positioning groove  112 , and the sealing member  130  which is pressed to deform may generate a reactive force to the mounting part  121  of the bracket  120  in the filter assembly  170 , so that the sealing member  130  and the filter assembly  170  are tightly fitted with each other, thus realizing the sealing of the mounting port  111 . 
     In some embodiments, the ventilation assembly further includes a fastening structure, and the fastening structure includes a first fastener arranged with the volute  110  and a second fastener arranged with the filter assembly  170 . The first fastener and the second fastener are engaged after at least part of the filter assembly  170  is inserted into the air channel  115 , so as to prevent the filter assembly  170  from being separated from the volute  110 . The fastening structure is configured to reinforce the connection of the filter assembly  170  and the volute  110  so as to further secure the sealing effect of the filter assembly  170  and the sealing member  130  on the mounting port  111 . 
     In some embodiments, the first fastener includes a snap, the second fastener includes a protrusion or a mounting groove, and the snap is engaged with the protrusion or the mounting groove. 
     In some embodiments, the volute  110  is provided with two positioning ribs on a side wall at the mounting port, i.e. a first positioning rib  114  and a second positioning rib  113 , and the two positioning ribs extend circumferentially along the mounting port  111 . The positioning groove  112  is formed between the first positioning rib  114  and the second positioning rib  113 . 
     In some embodiments, the first positioning rib  114  and the second positioning rib  113  have the same size, only referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     In some embodiments, the first positioning rib  114  and the second positioning rib  113  have different sizes. Specifically, a distance between an end face  300  of the first positioning rib  114  facing the mounting port  111  and an end face  400  of the first positioning rib  114  connected to the volute  110  is smaller than the difference between the inner radius and the outer radius of the sealing member  130 , and a distance between an end face  500  of the second positioning rib  113  facing the mounting port  111  and an end face  600  of the second positioning rib  113  connected to the volute  110  is larger than the difference between the inner radius and the outer radius of the sealing member  130 , only referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     In some embodiments, a part of the first positioning rib  114  and a corresponding part of the second positioning rib  113  may have the same size, and another part of the first positioning rib  114  and another corresponding part of the second positioning rib  113  may have different sizes, referring to  FIG. 5  in combination with  FIGS. 8-11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , when the sealing member  130  is arranged in the positioning groove  112 , an upper surface of the sealing member  130  abuts against the first positioning rib  114 , and a lower surface of the sealing member  130  abuts against the second positioning rib  113 . Since the distance between the end face  500  of the second positioning rib  113  facing the mounting port  111  and the end face  600  of the second positioning rib  113  connected to the volute  110  is larger than the difference between the inner radius and the outer radius of the sealing member  130 , the second positioning rib  113  has a position limiting function to the sealing member and prevents the sealing member  130  from inadvertently falling into the volute through the mounting port  111  during mounting. 
     It should be noted that the upper surface and the lower surface of the sealing member  130  are defined in the direction perpendicular to the plane where the sealing member  130  is. 
     In some embodiments, an air channel  115  communicating with the mounting port  111  is provided in the volute. The bracket  120  includes a mounting part  121  and a supporting part  122 . The mounting part  121  covers the mounting port  111 . The supporting part  122  is connected with the mounting part  121  and arranged in the air channel  115 , and the filter screen is connected with the mounting part  121  and/or the supporting part  122 . The sealing member  130  is arranged in a gap between the mounting part  121  and the volute  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mounting part  121  has a shape and a size substantially matching with those of the mounting port  111  so as to cover the mounting port  111 , and the supporting part  122  has a shape and a size slightly smaller than those of the mounting port, so that when the filter assembly  170  is mounted, the supporting part  122  can pass through the mounting port  111  to be arranged in the air channel  115 , and the mounting portion  121  does not pass through the mounting port  111  to enter the air channel  115 , but is stuck at the mounting port  111 . The mounting part  121  may be a plate-shaped structure. 
     The supporting part  122  arranged in the air channel  115  can better support the filter screen arranged with the supporting part  122 , so that the problems of deformation of the filter screen or the like caused by a high air flowing speed in the air channel  115  are reduced. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the supporting part  122  is a rectangular frame. In some embodiments, the supporting part  122  may also have a T shape, a grid shape, an arch shape, a closed or unclosed ring shape, etc. 
     In some embodiments, the supporting part  122  and the mounting part  121  together form a mounting opening  123 , and the filter screen is arranged in the mounting opening  123 . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the supporting part  122  and the mounting part  121  together form a closed annular structure, the filter screen has a shape substantially the same with a shape of the annular structure, and a cross-sectional area of the filter screen is greater than or equal to a cross-sectional area of the annular structure to ensure that the filter screen completely covers the mounting opening  123  to ensure the filtering effect. 
     In some embodiments, the filter assembly  170  is arranged transversely in the air channel  115 . 
     The filter assembly  170  transversely arranged in the air channel  115  can be in contact with the air flow in the largest area, so that the filtering effect is guaranteed. 
     In some embodiments, in order to further ensure the filtering effect of the filter assembly  170 , a sectional area of the filter assembly  170  is greater than or equal to a sectional area of the air channel  115 . 
     In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the ventilation assembly further includes a fan assembly  140  arranged in the volute  110 , and an air output surface of the fan assembly  140  is communicated with the air channel  115 . 
     The present disclosure also provides an air conditioning apparatus including the ventilation assembly according to any one of the above embodiments. The air conditioning apparatus may be a fresh air ventilator, an air purifier, an air conditioner or an air humidity conditioning apparatus, etc. 
     The beneficial effects of the present disclosure can be verified by a following simulation experiment, and the simulation experiment has a general process: the volute  110  is placed on an experimental table, a fan is added at the mounting port  111  of the air channel  115  to blow against the mounting port  111 , and after a period of time, the condensation generation of an indoor unit arranged indoors of the air conditioning apparatus is observed. As can be seen from a result of the experiment, the improvement effect of the condensation at the mounting port  111  is significant in this example, compared with the volute  110  which is not provided with the sealing member  130 . 
     The features disclosed in the product embodiments provided by the present disclosure may be combined arbitrarily to obtain a new product embodiment without conflict. 
     Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure following the general principles of the present disclosure and including common general knowledge or customary technical means in the art not disclosed in the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as illustrative only, with a true scope and spirit of the present disclosure being indicated by the following claims. 
     It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.