Patent Publication Number: US-10330104-B2

Title: Air conditioner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/248,463, filed on Oct. 30, 2015, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0156254 filed on Nov. 7, 2015, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0186044 filed on Dec. 24, 2015 which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention disclosed herein relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner that upwardly guides air obliquely discharged from a blower. 
     An air conditioner is an apparatus that changes the interior space into a pleasant environment by allowing air to flow and thus cooling, heating, purifying or humidifying air. When this air conditioner admits air from a lower side and discharges air to an upper side, it is necessary that air smoothly flow from the lower side to the upper side inside the air conditioner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an air conditioner which upwardly guides air obliquely discharged from a blower. 
     The present invention also provides an air conditioner which reduces noise and vibration while maximizing an air volume. 
     The objectives of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objectives, and other objectives that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by persons skilled in the art from the following description. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide air conditioners including: a blower fan blowing air; a blower motor rotating the blower fan; and a blower housing coupled with the blower motor and including a ring-shaped air blowing flow passage in which air discharged from the blower fan flows, wherein the blower housing includes a plurality of vanes that are disposed spaced from each other in a circumferential direction on the air blowing flow passage over the blower fan. 
     In some embodiments, each of the plurality of vanes may include a plurality of ribs formed on one surface thereof in an air flow direction. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the present invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the air conditioner shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views illustrating a portion of the air conditioner shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the air conditioner shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a blower fan of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view illustrating the blower fan shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating the blower fan shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a filter housing of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view illustrating the filter housing shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a blower housing of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view illustrating the blower housing shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a bottom view illustrating the blower housing shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view illustrating a vane of the blower housing shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a view illustrating an operation of the vane shown in  FIG. 16 ; and 
         FIG. 18  is a front view illustrating a blower fan of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Advantages and features of the present invention, and implementation methods thereof will be clarified through following embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Further, the present invention is only defined by scopes of claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     Hereinafter, air conditioners according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the air conditioner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cleaning module  100  receiving external air and then cleaning air, and a humidification module  200  providing moisture to air cleaned in the cleaning module  100 . 
     The cleaning module  100  may include a base body  110  that guides external air to the humidification module  200 , a filter assembly  10  that is disposed separably from the base body  110  and cleans air, and an air blowing unit  20  that is disposed inside the base body  110  to allow air to flow. 
     The air blowing unit  20  may include a blower fan  24  allowing air to flow and a blower motor  22  rotating the blower fan  24 . In this embodiment, the blower fan  24  may be disposed under the blower motor  22 . A detailed description of the blower fan  24  will be made later with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 9 . 
     In this embodiment, upward and downward directions may mean a gravity direction, and a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction may mean a direction parallel to the gravity direction. Also, the upward and downward directions, the vertical direction, and the longitudinal direction may mean a rotation axis direction of the blower motor  22  and the blower fan  24 . A horizontal direction and a lateral direction may mean a direction orthogonal to the gravity direction. 
     The humidification module  200  may include a visual body  210 , a water tank  30 , a watering unit  40 , a humidification medium  50 , a humidification medium housing  220 , and a top cover assembly  230 . The visual body  210  may be separably stacked on the cleaning module  100 , and may be formed of a material through which a user can see the inside. The water tank  30  may be coupled to the visual body  210 , and may store water. The watering unit  40  may draw water of the water tank  30 , and may pump water upward to spray pumped water. The humidification medium  50  may be wetted with water sprayed from the watering unit  40 , and may humidify air passing therethrough. The humidification medium housing  220  may be equipped with the humidification medium  50 . The top cover assembly  230  may be separably coupled to the visual body  210 . 
     The base body  110  may include a lower body  130  defining the exterior, a support body  120  defining the exterior, coupled to the upper side of the lower body  130 , and allowing the humidification module  200  to be separably placed thereon, a base  112  including an intake flow passage  101  for receiving external air and disposed on the bottom surface to support the base body  110 . The intake flow passage  101  may be formed in the base  112  to receive external air and guide received air to the filter assembly  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views illustrating a portion of the air conditioner shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the air conditioner shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a blower housing  150  and a filter housing  140 . The blower housing  150  may be coupled with the blower motor  22 , and may include a ring-shaped air blowing flow passage  158  in which air discharged from the blower fan  24  flows. The filter housing  140  may be coupled to the blower housing  150 , and may receive a lower portion of the blower fan  24 . 
     The filter housing  140  may be disposed inside the lower body  130 . The filter housing  140  may be coupled to the upper side of the base  112 . The filter housing  140  may be coupled to the lower side of the blower housing  150 . The filter housing  140  may be equipped with the filter assembly  10 , and may guide air passing the filter assembly  10  to the blower fan  24 . 
     The filter housing  140  may include a filter mounting part  148  disposed at a lower portion thereof and detachably mounted with the filter assembly  10 , and a flow guide  146  disposed at an upper portion thereof and receiving a lower portion of the blower fan  24  of the air blowing unit  20 . The filter housing  140  may include a circular inlet  142  which is formed between the filter mounting part  148  and the flow guide  146  and through which air purified through the filter assembly  10  flows into the blower fan  24 . The filter housing  140  may include a radial grille formed on the inlet  142 . 
     A detailed description of the filter housing  140  will be made later with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 12 . 
     The blower housing  150  may be disposed inside the lower body  130 . The blower housing  150  may be coupled to the upper side of the filter housing  140 . The blower housing  150  may be coupled to the lower side of the support body  120 . The blower housing  150  may support the blower motor  22 , and may guide air, discharged from the blower fan  24 , to the support body  120 . 
     The blower housing  150  may include a blower body  152  forming the exterior and having a cylindrical shape, and a motor cover  154  disposed at a central portion of the blower body  152  and having a bowl shape to receive the blower motor  22 . The blower housing may include a ring-shaped air blowing flow passage  158  which is formed between the blower body  152  and the motor cover  154  and in which air discharged from the blower fan  24  flows. The blower housing  150  may include a plurality of vanes  156  disposed spaced from each other in a circumferential direction on the air blowing flow passage  158 . 
     A detailed description of the blower housing  150  will be made later with reference to  FIGS. 13 to 17 . 
     The air blowing unit  20  may include a motor coupling part  26  disposed over the blower motor  22  and coupled to the motor cover  154  to couple the blower motor  22  to the motor cover  154 . 
     The blower motor  22  may generate a torque to rotate the blower fan  24 . The blower motor  22  may be disposed inside the motor cover  154  of the blower housing  150 . The blower motor  22  may be coupled to the motor cover  154  of the blower housing  150  by the motor coupling part  26 . The blower motor  22  may include a shaft  22   a  rotated by a torque. The shaft  22   a  of the blower motor  22  may penetrate a lower center of the motor cover  154  to be coupled to the blower fan  24 . 
     The blower fan  24  may be rotated by the blower motor  22  to blow air. The blower fan  24  may blow air introduced through the inlet  142  of the filter housing  140  to discharge air to the air blowing flow passage  158 . In this embodiment, the blower fan  24  may rotate clockwise when viewed from top. 
     In this embodiment, the blower fan  24  may be a centrifugal fan that admits air in a rotation axis direction and discharges air in radial direction. In a centrifugal fan, the air volume may be maximized at the same rotation speed and size as other kinds of fans, and air can be discharged through the ring-shaped air blowing flow passage  158 . In this embodiment, the blower fan  24  may be a modified centrifugal fan in which air is obliquely discharged in an upward direction. 
     The blower fan  24  may be disposed under the blower motor  22 . An upper portion of the blower fan  24  may be disposed outside the motor cover  154  of the blower housing  150 . That is, a lower portion of the motor cover  154  may be inserted into an upper portion of the blower fan  24 . A lower portion of the blower fan  24  may be inserted into the flow guide  146  of the filter housing  140 . A lower end of the blower fan  24  may be disposed adjacent to the inlet  142  of the filter housing  140 . The shaft  22   a  of the blower motor  22  may be coupled to the center of the blower fan  24 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a blower fan of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 8  is a bottom view illustrating the blower fan shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating the blower fan shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The blower fan  24  may include a hub  24   a  having a center thereof coupled with the shaft  22   a  of the blower motor  22 , a shroud  24   c  spaced from the hub  24   a  and including an inlet hole  24   c - 1  formed at a central portion thereof to receive air, and a plurality of blades  24   b  disposed between the hub  24   a  and the shroud  24   c.    
     The blade  24   b  may be provided in plurality between the hub  24   a  and the shroud  24   c . The upper end of the blade  24   b  may be coupled to the bottom surface of the hub  24   a , and the lower end of the blade  24   b  may be coupled to the top surface of the shroud  24   c . The plurality of blades  24   b  may be disposed spaced in a circumferential direction. The section of the blade  24   b  may be a form of airfoil. 
     The side end of the blade  24   b  which air flows into may be referred to as a leading edge  24   b - 1 , and the side end of the blade  24   b  which air flows out of may be referred to as a trailing edge  24   b - 2 . 
     The blade  24   b  may be obliquely formed with respect to a vertical direction such that discharged air obliquely directs to an upper side in a radial direction. In this embodiment, the trailing edge  24   b - 2  of the blade  24   b  may be obliquely formed in a right direction at an upper side when viewed from a side of the blower fan  24  in a rotation axis direction. The leading edge  24   b - 1  of the blade  24   b  may be shorter than the trailing edge  24 - 2  such that discharged air obliquely directs to an upper side in a radial direction. 
     The hub  24   a  may have a cone shape that increasingly protrudes downward to the center thereof. A lower portion of the motor cover  154  may be inserted into an upper portion of the hub  24   a , and thus at least a portion of the blower motor  22  may be disposed inside the hub  24   a . Due to this structure, the height that blower motor  22  and the blower fan  24  occupy can be minimized, and thus the whole height of the air conditioner can be minimized. 
     The shaft  22   a  of the blower motor  22  that is disposed over the hub  24   a  may be coupled to the center of the hub  24   a . The hub  24   a  may be disposed over the shroud  24   c , and may be spaced from the shroud  24   c . The plurality of blades  24   b  may be coupled to the undersurface of the hub  24   a.    
     The hub  24   a  may have an outer circumferential end thereof formed to incline in a direction opposite to the direction of the inlet hole  24   c - 1 . The outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a  may mean the circumference of the upper end of the hub  24   a . The direction to which the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a  directs may form about 45 degrees with a horizontal direction. The outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a  may be obliquely formed in an upward direction such that air is obliquely discharged upward. 
     The longitudinal section of the hub  24   a  may be formed into a form of straight line A which is oblique from the central portion to the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a  in a direction opposite to the direction of the inlet hole  24   c - 1 . The longitudinal section of the hub  24   a  may be formed into a straight line A which is oblique from a portion of the hub  24   a , connected to each leading edge  24   b - 1  of the plurality of blades  24   b , to the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a . The hub  24   a  may have a diameter which uniformly increases from the center portion to the outer circumferential end thereof. The hub  24   a  may be formed to have a diameter that uniformly increases from a portion of the hub  24   a , connected to each leading edge  24   b - 1  of the plurality of blades  24   b , to the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a.    
     The shroud  24   c  may have a bowl shape, and may have the circular inlet hole  24   c - 1  formed at the central portion thereof to receive air. The inlet hole  24   c - 1  of the shroud  24   c  may be disposed to correspond to the inlet  142  of the filter housing  140 . That is, the inlet  142  of the filter housing  140  may be formed at a portion corresponding to the inlet hole  24   c - 1  of the shroud  24   c . The diameter of the inlet hole  24   c - 1  may be larger than the diameter of the inlet  142  of the filter housing  140 . The shroud  24   c  may include an intake guide  24   c - 2  that is formed at the circumferential portion of the inlet hole  24   c - 1  and vertically protrudes downward. 
     The shroud  24   c  may be disposed under the hub  24   a , and may be spaced from the hub  24   a . The plurality of blades  24   b  may be coupled to the top surface of the shroud  24   c.    
     The shroud  24   c  may have an outer circumferential end thereof formed to incline in a direction opposite to the direction of the inlet hole  24   c - 1 . The outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  may mean the circumference of the upper end of the shroud  24   c . The direction to which the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  directs may form about 45 degrees with a horizontal direction. The outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  may be obliquely formed in an upward direction such that air is obliquely discharged upward. The direction to which the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  directs may be substantially parallel to the direction to which the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a  directs. 
     The longitudinal section of the shroud  24   c  may be formed into a form of straight line C which is oblique from the upper end of the intake guide  24   c - 2  to the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  in a direction opposite to the direction of the inlet hole  24   c - 1 . The longitudinal section of the shroud  24   c  may be formed into a straight line C which is oblique from a portion of the shroud  24   c , connected to each leading edge  24   b - 1  of the plurality of blades  24   b , to the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c . The shroud  24   c  may have a diameter which uniformly increases from the upper end of the intake guide  24   c - 2  to the outer circumferential end thereof. The shroud  24   c  may be formed to have a diameter that uniformly increases from a portion of the shroud  24   c , connected to each leading edge  24   b - 1  of the plurality of blades  24   b , to the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c.    
     The oblique straight line C of the longitudinal section of the shroud  24   c  and the oblique straight line A of the longitudinal section of the hub  24   a  may be substantially parallel to each other. According to embodiment, an interval between the shroud  24   c  and the hub  24   a  may gradually increases to the outer circumferential end thereof. 
     The diameter of the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  may be larger than the diameter of the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a . The outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  may further protrude in a radial direction than the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a . The outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a  may further protrude in a radial direction than a point P where a line S forming the shortest distance from the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  to the hub  24   a  meets the hub  24   a.    
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a filter housing of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 11  is a plan view illustrating the filter housing shown in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The filter mounting part  148  may form a lower portion of the filter housing  140 , and may receive the filter assembly  10 . The base  112  may be coupled to a lower side of the filter mounting part  148 . A circular inlet  142  into which air flows may be formed in the upper surface of the filter mounting part  148 . 
     The filter housing  140  may include an inflow guide  144  having a rim shape and upwardly protruding from a circumferential portion of the inlet hole  24   c - 1 . The inflow guide  144  may protrude to the inside of the intake guide  24   c - 2  of the shroud  24   c . The diameter of the inflow guide  144  may be formed to be smaller than the diameter of the intake guide  24   c - 2  such that the upper end of the inflow guide  144  is inserted into the intake guide  24   c - 2 . The inflow guide  144  may be disposed concentrically with the intake guide  24   c - 2 . 
     The flow guide  146  may form an upper portion of the filter housing  140 , and may accommodate a lower portion of the blower fan  24 . The flow guide  146  may include a least a portion of an inner surface thereof corresponding to the shroud  24   c , which is obliquely formed. The flow guide  146  may prevent air discharged out of the blower fan  24  from flowing into a lower side of the shroud  24   c . The flow guide  146  may have a gradually increasing inner diameter toward an outer circumferential end thereof. The outer circumferential end of the flow guide  146  may mean the circumference of the upper end of the flow guide  146 . 
     The distance between the inner surface of the flow guide  146  and the shroud  24   c  may gradually become closer toward the outer circumferential end thereof. 
     The outer circumferential end of the flow guide  146  may be formed higher than the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c . However, the outer circumferential end of the flow guide  146  may be formed lower than the line C straightly extending from the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c . The flow guide  146  may be formed such that the line C straightly extending from the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  does not meet the flow guide  146 . That is, the flow guide  146  may be formed such that air guide by the shroud  24   c  does not directly meet the flow guide  146 . The line C straightly extending from the outer circumferential end of the shroud  24   c  may direct to the air blowing flow passage  158 , and may meet the inner surface of the blower body  152  of the blower housing  150 . 
     The blower housing  150  may be formed such that the line A straightly extending from the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a  may direct to the air blowing flow passage  158  and meets the vane  156 . The motor cover  154  of the blower housing  150  may be formed so as not to meet the line A straightly extending from the outer circumferential end of the hub  24   a . At least a portion of the outer surface of the motor cover  154  of the blower housing  150  may be formed obliquely along the hub  24   a . At least a portion of the outer surface of the motor cover  154  may be formed closely to the hub  24   a  to prevent air discharged out of the blower fan  24  from flowing into an upper central portion of the hub  24   a.    
       FIG. 13  is a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating a blower housing of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 14  is a plan view illustrating the blower housing shown in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 15  is a bottom view illustrating the blower housing shown in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 16  is a perspective view illustrating a vane of the blower housing shown in  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 17  is a view illustrating an operation of the vane shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     The blower body  152  may have a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of vanes  156  may be coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the blower body  152 . The blower body  152  may form the ring-shape air blowing flow passage  158  together with the motor cover  154 . The flow guide  146  may be coupled to the lower side of the blower body  152 . The circumference of the lower end of the blower body  152  may be larger than the outer circumferential end of the flow guide  146  such that the lower end of the blower body  152  covers and is coupled to the upper end of the flow guide  146 . The support body  120  may be coupled to an upper side of the blower body  152 . 
     The motor cover  154  may have a bowl shape, and the blower motor  22  may be inserted into and coupled to the motor cover  154 . The plurality of vanes  156  may be coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the motor cover  154 . The blower motor  22  may be disposed inside the motor cover  154 , and an upper portion of the blower fan  24  may be disposed outside the motor cover  154 . The motor cover  154  may be disposed at a central portion of the blower body  152  while being spaced from the motor cover  154 , and may form the ring-shaped air blowing flow passage  158  together with the blower body  152 . 
     The plurality of vanes  156  may be disposed on the air blowing flow passage  158  while being spaced. The plurality of vanes  156  may connect the motor cover  154  and the blower body  152 , and may support the motor cover  154  and the blower body  152  such that the motor cover  154  is spaced from the blower body  152 . 
     The plurality of vanes  156  may upwardly guide air discharged from the blower fan  24  to the air blowing flow passage  158 . Each of the plurality of vanes  156  may be formed into a bent plate shape which is uprightly disposed almost in a vertical direction. Each of the plurality of vanes  156  may include a plurality of ribs  156   e  formed on one surface thereof in an air flow direction. 
     The surface of the vane  156  to which air flows may be referred to as a positive pressure surface  156   c , and the opposite surface to the positive pressure surface  156   c  may be referred to as a negative pressure surface  156   d . In this embodiment, the surface on which the plurality of ribs  156   e  are not formed may be a positive pressure surface, and the surface on which the plurality of ribs  156   e  are formed may be a negative pressure surface. In regard to the vane  156 , the lower end that is an upstream side of the air flow direction may be referred to as a front end  156   a , and the upper end that is a downstream side of the air flow direction may be referred to as a rear end  156   b.    
     Air discharged from the blower fan  24  may be obliquely discharged upward to the air blowing flow passage  158  in a circumferential direction, and may rotate in a rotation direction of the blower fan  24  when entering the air blowing flow passage  158 . In this embodiment, air discharged from the blower fan  24  may rotate clockwise when viewed from top, and may flow upward. 
     In each of the plurality of vanes  156 , the positive pressure surface  156   c  may be concavely formed, and the negative pressure surface  156   d  may be convexly formed. In each of the plurality of vanes  156 , the rear end  156   b  that is a surface coupled to the blower body  152  may be formed to direct to the upper side, and toward the front end  165 , the vane  156  may be bent in a direction (direction of the positive pressure surface  156   c  on which the ribs are not formed) from which air flows. In each of the plurality of vanes  156 , the front end  156  may direct to the rotation direction of the blower fan  24  in a radial direction, and the rear end  156   b  may direct to the rotation direction of the blower fan  24  in a radial direction. Each of the plurality of vanes  156  may guide air spirally swirling due to the above-mentioned shape, so as to allow air to flow in a vertical direction. 
     The plurality of ribs  156   e  may protrude from the negative pressure surface  156   d  of the vane  156 , and the longitudinal direction of the rib  156   e  may be formed to become the air flow direction. Each of the plurality of ribs  156   e  may be formed in a form of airfoil in which the height of the section thereof gradually decreases from the front end to the rear end. Each of the plurality of ribs  156   e  may be convexly formed in a bent direction of the negative pressure surface  156   d  of the vane  156 . The plurality of ribs  156   e  may be formed on the negative pressure surface  156   d  of the vane  156  to prevent a swirl from occurring on the negative pressure surface  156   d  of the vane  156  and allow air to flow in an upward direction. 
     Each of the plurality of vanes  156  may be formed such that the front end  156   a  is curvedly bent from the positive pressure surface  156   c  to the negative pressure surface  156   d . The front end  156   a  of each of the plurality of vanes  156  may be curvedly bent in a height direction of the plurality of ribs  156   e , and thus may allow air introduced in a direction of the positive pressure surface  156  to flow upward along the positive pressure surface  156   c . Also, the front ends  156   a  of the plurality of vanes  156  may guide air, flowing to the negative pressure surface  156   d , toward the plurality of vanes  156 . 
     In each of the plurality of vanes  156 , the rear end  156   b  may have a saw-toothed shape. The rear end  156   b  of the vane  156  may be formed into a saw-toothed shape, and thus a time difference may occur on air coming away from the rear end  156   b , thereby inhibiting occurrence of noise. 
     Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner configured as above will be described as follows. 
     When a torque is generated by the blower motor  22 , the blower fan  24  connected to the shaft  22   a  of the blower motor  22  may rotate. When the blower fan  24  rotates and thus air blows, external air may flow into the intake flow passage  101  of the base  112 . Air introduced through the intake flow passage  101  may be purified while passing the filter assembly  10 , and then may be entered into the inlet hole  24   c - 1  of the shroud  24   c  of the blower fan  24  through the inlet  142  of the filter housing  140 . Air entered to the blower fan  24  may be obliquely discharged in an upward direction by the shroud  24   c  and the hub  24   a . Air discharged out of the blower fan  24  may pass the air blowing flow passage  158  of the air blowing unit  20 , and may flow in an upward direction by the plurality of vanes  156 . Air passing through the air blowing flow passage  158  may be guided to the humidification module  200  placed on the support body  120 . Air flowing into the humidification module  200  may be humidified while passing through the humidification medium  50 , and then may be upwardly discharged through the top cover assembly  230 . 
       FIG. 18  is a front view illustrating a blower fan of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     A blower fan  24 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a hub  24 ′ a  having a center thereof coupled with the shaft, a shroud  24 ′ c  spaced from the hub  24 ′ a  and including an inlet hole formed at a central portion thereof to receive air, and a plurality of blades  24   b  disposed between the hub  24 ′ a  and the shroud  24 ′ c.    
     Since the hub  24 ′ a  and the shroud  24 ′ c  of the blower fan  24 ′ according to another embodiment of the present invention are identical to the hub  24   a  and the shroud  24   c  according to an embodiment of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. 
     In each of blades  24 ′ b  according to another embodiment of the present invention, a trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  of the blade  24 ′ b  may include at least one curve. A portion of each trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  of the plurality of blades  24 ′ b  may further protrude in a radial direction than a virtual line L connecting between a point connected to the shroud  24 ′ c  and a point connected to the hub  24 ′ a . The radially protruding portion of the trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  may be formed into a curve. A portion of the trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  close to the point connected to the shroud  24 ′ c  may be formed into a curve, and a portion of the trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  close to the point connected to the hub  24 ′ a  may be formed into a straight-line. 
     The portion of the trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  close to the point connected to the shroud  24 ′ c  may be formed in a curve, and may be convexly formed so as to protrude in a radial direction. Thus, occurrence of a whirl due to a flow interference of the shroud  24 ′ c  and the trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  can be inhibited. 
     The portion  24 ′ a - 2   a  of the trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2  formed into a curve may be greater than the portion  24 ′ a - 2   b  formed into a straight-line. When the portion  24 ′ a - 2   a  formed into a curve is greater, occurrence of a swirl may be further inhibited. However, when the area of the blade  24   b  is excessively widened, the power consumption of the blower motor  22  may increase. Accordingly, it may be desirable that the portion  24 ′ a - 2   a  formed into a curve ranges from about 75% to about 85% of the trailing edge  24 ′ b - 2 . 
     The blower fans, the flow guides, and the vanes according to embodiments may be applied to various air conditioners that perform purification, humidification, cooling, and heating by blowing air. 
     An air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has at least one of the following effects. 
     First, a plurality of vanes disposed at a blower fan slipstream can guide air discharged from a blower fan in a spiral form in a vertical direction, and thus can maximize the air volume while reducing a flow loss, noise and vibration. 
     Second, a time difference occurs on air slipping away from the vane by forming sawteeth at the rear end of the vane, and thus occurrence of noise can be inhibited. 
     Third, occurrence of swirl can be inhibited by forming a rib on the negative pressure surface of the vane, and air is guided so as to flow upward. Thus, the flow loss and occurrence of noise and vibration can be inhibited. 
     Fourth, air purified at a lower side can be allowed to flow upward and then humidified, and thus cleaning and humidification of air can be smoothly performed. 
     The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above; other effects that are not described herein will be clearly understood by the persons skilled in the art from the following claims. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The preferred embodiments should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.