Patent Publication Number: US-2017363304-A1

Title: Air conditioning device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to air conditioning devices, and, more specifically, to an air conditioning device using an air conditioning system utilizing atomized water to increase the humidity of an air flow, thereby increasing the cooling effect. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Traditional air conditioning devices consumes a large amount of electricity to achieve the required cooling strength in a hot weather. Therefore, water cooling fans or atomizing fans are developed in the market which utilize water molecules that are sprayed out through the wind force to strengthen the heat absorbing effect. 
     However, the atomizing fans or water cooling fans on the market are not really utilizing the cooled atomized water. In fact, the spraying of the atomized water is only accompanied by natural wind, and thereby the cooling effect is rather limited. 
     Therefore, how to improve the cooling effect of atomized water and applying such effect in an air conditioning device is an urgent task to be solved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of solving the foregoing problems of the prior art, the present invention provides an air conditioning device, comprising: a plurality of duct modules and a power module. Each of the duct modules has opposing first and second ends, and comprises: a temperature adjusting unit disposed around second end of the duct module, and having a first side surface configured for generating a first temperature range and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface configured for generating a second temperature range; an air flow guiding unit disposed at the first end, the second end or between the first end or second end of the duct modules, allowing an air flow to enter from the first end of the duct modules; and an energy transmission module disposed between the temperature adjusting unit and the air flow guiding unit configured for enhancing an energy transmission strength of the air flow, such that after the air flow passes through the first side surface or the second side surface of the temperature adjusting unit, the air flow exists through the second end of the duct module. The power module provides the operational power for the temperature adjusting unit, the air flow guiding unit and the energy transmission module. 
     In an embodiment, the energy transmission module further comprises: a storage unit configured for storing liquid; an atomizing unit configured for converting the liquid stored in the storage unit into atomized molecules; and a spraying unit configured for dissipating the atomized water molecules into the duct modules. 
     In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises a liquid energy transmission element disposed between the first end of the duct module and the air flow guiding unit, and the power module further provides the operational power for the liquid energy transmission element. 
     In an embodiment, the liquid energy transmission element is a water curtain module. 
     In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises a control module configured for controlling on/off operations and configurations of the liquid energy transmission element, and the power module further provides the operational power of the control module. 
     In an embodiment, the air conditioning device of the present invention further comprises a control module configured for controlling the on/off operations or the configuration of the temperature adjusting units or the air flow guiding unit, and the power module is used to provide the operational power for the control module. 
     In an embodiment, the configurations comprise the loading of the temperature adjusting units or the operational speed or working time of the air flow guiding unit. 
     In an embodiment, the control module comprises a setting unit that is used to set the threshold temperature of the duct modules and output a corresponding first control signal to the temperature adjusting unit or the air flow guiding unit, such that the control module controls the on/off operations or the configurations of the temperature adjusting unit and the air flow guiding unit by the first control signal. 
     In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises a detecting module that is used to detect the temperature of the air flow from the second end of the duct module, and generate and send a corresponding temperature signal to the control module, and the control module outputs the corresponding second control signal to the temperature adjusting unit or the air flow guiding unit based on the threshold temperature set by the setting unit and the temperature signal, and further controls the on/off operations or the configuration of the temperature adjusting unit or the air flow guiding unit by the second control signal. 
     In an embodiment, the air conditioning device further comprises an air collecting unit that has an air flow inlet facing the second end of the duct module and an air flow outlet at which the detecting module is disposed. 
     Compared with the prior art, the air conditioning device according to the present invention has the atomizing device disposed at the input end, such that the air water molecules flow through the duct modules and are further cooled down before the air exits through the air flow outlet, thereby increasing the humidity, and improving the heat transmission efficiency to achieve a better cooling effect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an air conditioning device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of the air conditioning device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing the multiple duct modules of the air conditioning device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an operational flow chart showing the operation of the multiple duct modules of the air conditioning device according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is described by the following specific embodiments. Those with ordinary skills in the arts can readily understand other advantages and functions of the present invention after reading the disclosure of this specification. 
     It should be noted that the structures, ratios, sizes shown in the drawings appended to this specification are to be construed in conjunction with the disclosure of this specification in order to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art. They are not meant, in any ways, to limit the implementations of the present invention, and therefore have no substantial technical meaning. Without affecting the effects created and objectives achieved by the present invention, any modifications, changes or adjustments to the structures, ratio relationships or sizes, are to be construed as fall within the range covered by the technical contents disclosed herein. Meanwhile, terms, such as “on”, “in”, “at”, “inner”, “external”, “one”, “a” and the like, are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to limit the range implementable by the present invention. Any changes or adjustments made to their relative relationships, without modifying the substantial technical contents, are also to be construed as within the range implementable by the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic view of an air conditioning device according to the present invention is shown. The air conditioning device comprises a plurality of duct modules  1 . Each of the duct modules  1  has a first end  11  and a second end  12  opposing the first end  11 , and comprises a temperature adjusting unit  2 , an air flow guiding unit  3 , an energy transmission module  4 , and a power module  5 . The temperature adjusting unit  2  is disposed at the second end of the duct module  1 , and has a first side surface  21  configured for generating a first temperature range and a second side surface  22  opposite to the first side surface  21  configured for generating a second temperature range. The air flow guiding unit  3  is disposed at the duct module  1 , e.g., disposed between the first end  11  and the second end  12 . The energy transmission module  4  is disposed between the temperature adjusting unit  2  and the air flow guiding unit  3 , and the power module  5  provides the operational power for the temperature adjusting unit  2 , the air flow guiding unit  3  and the energy transmission module  4 . 
     The air flow guiding unit  3  can be a fan, and be disposed at the first end  11 , the second end  12 , or between the first end  11  and the second end  12  of the duct module  1 . In an embodiment, the air flow guiding unit  3  is disposed between the first end  11  and the second end  12 . When the fan operates and generates an air flow, the air flow enters from the first end  11  of the duct module  1  following a direction indicated by D 1  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , then passes through the energy transmission module  4  which enhances the energy transmission strength of the air flow, and arrives at the first side surface  21  or the second side surface  22  of the temperature adjusting unit  2 . In an embodiment, the temperature adjusting unit  2  can be a thermoelectric cooling chip, and the first side surface  21  or the second side surface  22  thereof are cooling or heating ends. Therefore, the air flow, when passing through the temperature adjusting unit  2 , will be cooled or heated according to the practical needs, and then exits from the second end  12  of duct modules  1 . 
     The energy transmission module  4  may comprise a storage unit  41 , an atomizing unit  42  and a spraying unit  43 . The storage unit  41  can be a water storing box, and the atomizing unit  42  can be an atomizer, which converts the liquid water stored in the storage unit  41  into air particles, i.e., atomized water, which is dissipated into the duct module  1  through the spraying unit  43 . The dissipating direction is indicated by an arrow D 2  shown in  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the air conditioning device according to the present invention further comprises a liquid energy transmission element  6 . In an embodiment, the liquid energy transmission element  6  is a water curtain module. The liquid energy transmission element  6  can be disposed between the first end  11  of the duct module  1  and the air flow guiding unit  3 , to purify the air entered from the first end  11  of the duct module  1 , as well as to reduce the temperature of the air flow entered from the first end  11  of the duct module  1 . 
     The examples illustrated in  FIG. 1  utilizes a concept of twice cooling, wherein the air flow generated by the air flow guiding unit  3  enters from the first end  11  of the duct modules  1  into the duct module  1 ; the liquid energy transmission element  6  operates to perform the first cooling; then the air flow is guided by the air flow guiding unit  3  to the second end  12  of the duct module  1  from the bottom up; and meanwhile on the way travelling to the second end  12 , and the energy transmission module  4  adds the atomized water to the air flow to increase the humidity, thereby increasing the heat adsorption effect in a hot weather and increasing the cold adsorption in a cold weather. Lastly, the air flow passes through the temperature adjusting unit  2  which provides the cooling or heating function. A cooling function is used to exemplify an embodiment. Therefore, the air flow and the water molecules of the air pass through the temperature adjusting unit  2  for a second cooling, where the cold is absorbed by the water molecule and the water exists from the second end  12  of the duct module. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a functional block diagram of the air conditioning device according to the present invention is shown. The air conditioning device according to the present invention further comprises a control module  7  configured for controlling the on/off operations or configurations of the temperature adjusting unit  2  or the air flow guiding unit  3 . In an embodiment, the on/off operations or the configurations include controlling the on/off operations and loading strength of the temperature adjusting unit  2  (such as a thermoelectric cooling chip), or controlling the on/off operations, working time, and rotational speed of the air flow guiding unit  3  (such as a fan), etc. The power module  5  is capable of providing the operational power for the control module  7 . 
     In an embodiment, the control module  7  may comprise a setting unit  71  configured for setting the threshold temperature for the duct module  1 , and outputting the corresponding first control signal to the temperature adjusting unit  2  or the air flow guiding unit  3 , and the control module  7  controls the on/off operations or the configurations of the temperature adjusting unit  2  or the air flow guiding unit  3  by the first control signal. 
     In an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the air conditioning device according to the present invention may further comprise a detecting module  8  configured for detecting the temperature of the air flow generated by the air flow guiding unit  3  when the air flow flows out from the second end  12  of the duct module  1 , and generating a corresponding temperature signal to the control module  7 . In response, the control module  7  outputs a corresponding second control signal to the temperature adjusting units  2  or the air flow guiding unit  3  based on the threshold temperature set by the setting unit  71  and the temperature signal, and further controls the on/off operations or the configurations of the temperature adjusting unit  2  or the air flow guiding unit  3  by the second control signal. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a schematic view showing the multiple duct modules of the air conditioning device and an operational flow chart showing the operation of the multiple duct modules of the air conditioning device according to the present invention, respectively. With regard to the air conditioning device having a plurality of duct modules  1  as proposed according to the present invention, the operational efficiency distributed to the duct modules  1  determines the overall output efficiency of the air conditioning device of the present invention, i.e., the maximum cooling strength that can be reached at a fixed power load. This embodiment of the present invention illustrates the operational steps S 1  to S 11  of the two duct modules  1 A and  1 B, as an example below. However, this should not limit the scope of the present invention. A person skilled in the art can easily conceived the operation with more duct modules  1 . 
     In step S 1 , the threshold temperature of the two duct modules  1 A and  1 B are set by the setting unit  71 . The threshold temperature is the target temperature for the duct modules  1  desired to be reached in operation. Then the temperature adjusting unit  2  and air flow guiding unit  3  of the duct modules are started up. Steps S 2  and S 3  follow, in which the control module  7  adjusts the air flow guiding units  3 A and  3 B of the duct modules  1 A and  1 B to be low loading (such as 30% loading, low rotational speed for the fan), or zero loading. At this time, the two duct modules are storing the cold, and a variable frequency motor technique can be applied in the control module  7  to not only capable of controlling the on/off operations the air flow generated by the air flow guiding unit  3 , but also adjusting the magnitude of the air flow. 
     Steps S 4  to S 7  follow, in which the detecting module  8  detects the real time temperature of the duct modules  1 A and  1 B. When the real time temperature of the duct module  1 A is lower than or equal to the cooling threshold temperature, the control module  7  changes the air flow guiding unit  3 A to be high loading (such as 70% loading, higher rotational speed for the fan) or full loading, to allow the duct module  1 A to distribute the cold. The detecting module  8  will not carry out the first temperature detection for the duct module  1 B, to allow the duct module  1 B to continue to store cold, in order to separate the time of operation of the duct module  1 A. When the real time temperature of the duct module  1 B is higher than or equal to the cold distribution threshold temperature, the control module  7  then changes the air flow guiding unit  3 B to low loading or zero loading. 
     Steps S 8  to S 11  follows, in which steps S 4  and S 5  repeat. The detecting module  8  detects the real time temperature of the duct modules  1 A and  1 B. When the real time temperature of the duct module  1 A is higher than or equal to the cold distribution threshold temperature, the control module  7  changes the air flow guiding unit  3 A to be low loading or zero loading, to allow the duct module  1 A to store cold. When the real time temperature of the duct module  1 B is lower than or equal to the cooling threshold temperature, the control module  7  changes the air flow guiding unit  3 B to be high loading or full loading, to allow the duct module  1 B to distribute cold. 
     As such, through the aforementioned repeating cycles of alternate cooling, the output of the air conditioning device can be maintained in a stable low temperature, and energy is thus saved. Besides, the control module  7  not only controls the loading of the air flow guiding unit  3 , but also adjusts the loading of the temperature adjusting unit  2 , such that the cooling or heating efficiency is enhanced through such efficient distribution. 
     Refer back to  FIGS. 1-3 . In embodiments with multiple air flow duct modules or single air flow duct module, an air collecting unit  9  may also be included. The air collecting unit  9  comprises an air flow inlet  91  and an air flow outlet  92 . The air flow inlet  91  faces the second end  12  of each of the duct modules  1 , and the detecting module  8  is disposed at the air flow outlet  92 . In an embodiment, the air conditioning device according to the present invention may utilize a single air collecting unit  9  to collect all the air flows generated by the multiple duct modules  1 , so as to increase the cooling or heating efficiency. 
     In summary, the air conditioning device according to the present invention differs from the conventional air conditioning device, and is characterized by adding atomized water into the air flow generated by a fan, then passing the air flow through the cooling duct of a thermoelectric cooling chip, such that the moisturized air flow having the cooling water molecules increases the heat transmission speed and thereby speed up the efficiency of cooling the body temperature, and is thus more energy efficient. 
     The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the principles of the present invention, and should not be construed as to limit the present invention in any way. The above embodiments can be modified by those with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following appended claims.