Patent Publication Number: US-2022214073-A1

Title: Air conditioner

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of PCT International Application No. PCT/CN2020/077642, filed on Mar. 3, 2020, which claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Application Nos. 201911046806.3 and 201921852063.4, field on Oct. 30, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. No new matter has been introduced. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of air treatment equipment and, more particularly, to an air conditioner. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, users can know whether a conditioner is in a heating or in a cooling state only through a temperature change or by getting close to the air conditioner to check a display panel, which is not convenient for the users. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the related art. To this end, an objective of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioner that can display corresponding lights according to different operating states of the air conditioner, informing a user of an operating state of the air conditioner with a visual effect, which is convenient for the user. 
     The air conditioner according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a housing having an air outlet; an air duct component arranged within the housing, defining an air duct, and having an air duct outlet in communication with the air duct, the air duct outlet being opposite to and in communication with the air outlet; an air guide component arranged at the air duct outlet; and a light emitting component located downstream of the air guide component along an air flow direction, and including a light emitting body opposite to the air duct outlet and the air outlet. 
     For the air conditioner according to embodiments of the present disclosure, since the light emitting component is arranged downstream of the air guide component, and the light emitting body is opposite to the air duct outlet and the air outlet and displays corresponding lights according to different operating states of the air guide component, the operating state of the air guide component and a flow outlet form of the airflow can be displayed to a user with visual effects, which is convenient for the user to know and improves the user satisfaction. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the air duct includes a first air duct and a second air duct, and the first air duct is located in the second air duct; the air duct outlet includes a first air duct opening in communication with the first air duct and a second air duct opening in communication with the second air duct, and the second air duct opening surrounds the first air duct opening; and the light emitting body is arranged between the first air duct opening and the second air duct opening. 
     Further, the light emitting body is formed as a ring and surrounds the first air duct opening. 
     Further, the air duct component includes: a first air outlet frame having the air duct outlet; a second air outlet frame coupled to the first air outlet frame to define the second air duct; and a third air outlet frame arranged in the second air duct and defining the first air duct. The air duct outlet includes the first air duct opening in communication with the first air duct, and the second air duct opening in communication with the second air duct, and the second air duct opening surrounds the first air duct opening. 
     Further, the third air outlet frame is opposite to the air outlet, the first air duct is parallel to a center line of the air outlet, and the light emitting body is opposite to the third air outlet frame. 
     Further, the light emitting component is detachably coupled to the first air outlet frame. 
     Further, the light emitting body includes: a base having a mounting cavity and detachably coupled to the first air outlet frame; and a light emitting device arranged in the mounting cavity. 
     Further, a plurality of positioning posts are formed on a bottom wall of the mounting cavity and spaced apart from one another, and the mounting cavity has positioning holes fitted with the positioning posts; and the number of positioning holes is equal to the number of positioning posts, and the positioning holes and the positioning posts are in one-to-one correspondence. 
     Further, the light emitting body further includes a light guiding cover shielding an open end of the mounting cavity, and the light emitting device is located in a space defined by the base and the light guiding cover together. 
     Further, the light emitting component further includes a plurality of support arms spaced apart from one another; and a first end of each support arm is coupled to the base, and a second end of each support arm is detachably coupled to the first air outlet frame. 
     Further, the plurality of support arms and the base are an integral part. 
     Further, the plurality of support arms includes a first support arm, a first side of the first support arm facing the air duct component has a first wiring slot, and the first wiring slot extends along a length direction of the first support arm. 
     Further, a circumferential wall of the second duct opening has a notch, and the first support arm passes through the notch. 
     Further, a second side of the first support arm away from the first air outlet frame has a protrusion, and a free end of the protrusion is flush with an axial end of the circumferential wall of the second air duct opening to fill the notch. 
     Further, the air guide component includes a support plate located downstream of the third air outlet frame along the air flow direction; a second support arm is arranged on the support plate, and a side of the second support arm facing the third air outlet frame includes a first mounting groove extending along a length direction of the second support arm; a third support arm opposite to the second support arm is arranged on the third air outlet frame, and a side of the third support arm facing the support plate includes a second mounting groove extending along a length direction of the third support arm; the second support arm and the third support arm are coupled; and the first mounting groove and the second mounting groove together define a second wiring slot, and the second wiring slot is in communication with the first wiring slot. 
     Further, the third support arm includes a first segment and a second segment, a first end of the first segment is coupled to the third outlet frame, and a first end of the second segment is coupled to a second end of the first segment; the first segment and the second support arm have the same shape; an extension direction of the second segment is consistent with an extension direction of the first support arm; and the second segment is located in the notch and located upstream of the first support arm. 
     Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a part of a structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from an angle; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a part of a structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure from another angle; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a light emitting component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view along a direction A-A in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of part B in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a light emitting component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of part C in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of an air duct component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of part D in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of part E in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of part F in  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of an air duct component of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       The following is description of the reference numerals shown in the figures: 
       air conditioner  1 , 
       housing  10 , 
       air duct component  20 , first air duct  20   a , second air duct  20   b , air duct outlet  21 , first air duct opening  211 , second air duct opening  212 , notch  213 , first air outlet frame  22 , second air outlet frame  23 , third air outlet frame  24 , third support arm  241 , first segment  241   a , second segment  241   b , second mounting groove  242 , 
       air guide component  30 , support plate  31 , second support arm  32 , first mounting groove  321 , light emitting component  40 , light emitting body  41 , base  42 , mounting cavity  421 , positioning post  422 , light emitting device  43 , light guiding cover  44 , support arm  45 , first support arm  451 , fourth support arm  452 , fifth support arm  453 , first wiring slot  454 , protrusion  455 , 
       axial flow fan  50 , motor  51 , blade  52 , and 
       centrifugal fan  60 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail, and examples of the embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals throughout the specification refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to explain the present disclosure rather than limit the present disclosure. 
     An air conditioner  1  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a housing  10 , an air duct component  20 , an air guide component  30 , and a light emitting component  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 12 , the housing  10  has an air outlet for an airflow to be blown out of the air conditioner  1 . The air duct component  20  is arranged within the housing  10 . The air duct component  20  defines an air duct, the air duct component  20  has an air duct outlet  21  in communication with the air duct, and the air duct outlet  21  is opposite to and in communication with the air outlet. The air guide component  30  is arranged at the air duct outlet  21  to drive the airflow from the air duct outlet  21  of the air duct to the air outlet. Along an air flow direction, the light emitting component  40  is located downstream of the air guide component  30 , and for example, the light emitting component  40  may be located between the air guide component  30  and the housing  10 , or may protrude out of the housing  10 . The light emitting component  40  includes a light emitting body  41 , and the light emitting body  41  is opposite to the air duct outlet  21  and the air outlet. The light emitting body  41  can display a corresponding light according to an operating state of the air guide component  30 , and for example, the light emitting body  41  displays a red light when the air conditioner  1  is heating, and the light emitting body  41  displays a blue light when the air conditioner  1  is cooling. 
     For the air conditioner  1  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, since the light emitting component  40  is arranged downstream of the air guide component  30 , and the light emitting body  41  is opposite to the air duct outlet  21  and the air outlet and displays corresponding lights according to different operating states of the air guide component  30 , the operating state of the air guide component  30  and a flow outlet form of the airflow can be displayed to a user with visual effects, which is convenient for the user to identify the operating states and improves the user satisfaction. 
     According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 12 , the air duct includes a first air duct  20   a  and a second air duct  20   b , and the first air duct  20   a  is located in the second air duct  20   b . The air duct outlet  21  includes a first air duct opening  211  in communication with the first air duct  20   a  and a second air duct opening  212  in communication with the second air duct  20   b , and the second air duct opening  212  surrounds the first air duct opening  211 . In a radial direction, the light emitting body  41  is arranged between the first air duct opening  211  and the second air duct opening  212 , so that the airflow from the first air duct opening  211  or the second air duct opening  212  is displayed as a visual effect by the light emitting body  41 , and in addition, the first air duct opening  211  and the second air duct opening  212  can be distinguished to provide the user an intuitive feeling, allowing the user to clearly know a boundary between the first air duct opening  211  and the second air duct opening  212 , and enhancing the user experience. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the light emitting body  41  is formed as a ring and surrounds the first air duct opening  211 . Thus, the light emitting body  41  can visualize the airflow from the first air duct opening  211  or the second air duct opening  212 , and distinguish the first air duct opening  211  from the second air duct opening  212 , providing the user the intuitive feeling and allowing the user to clearly know the boundary between the first air duct opening  211  and the second air duct opening  212 . It should be noted that the light emitting body  41  may be a closed ring, and may be a circular ring or a substantially circular ring, such as an elliptical ring and a pentagram. The shape of the first air duct opening  211  is set as required and will not be limited herein. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 12 , the air duct component  20  includes: a first air outlet frame  22 , a second air outlet frame  23 , and a third air outlet frame  24 . 
     For example, the first air outlet frame  22  has the air duct outlet  21 ; the second air outlet frame  23  is coupled to the first air outlet frame  22  to define the second air duct  20   b . The first air outlet frame  22  and the second air outlet frame  23  may be detachably coupled or may be integrally formed to each other. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first air outlet frame  22  and the second air outlet frame  23  are detachably coupled. The third air outlet frame  24  is arranged in the second air duct  20   b , and the third air outlet frame  24  defines the first air duct  20   a . The air duct outlet  21  includes the first air duct opening  211  in communication with the first air duct  20   a  and the second air duct opening  212  in communication with the second air duct  20   b , and the second air duct opening  212  surrounds the first air duct opening  211 . Thus, a requirement for a plurality of air ducts of the air conditioner  1  can be better satisfied. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , when the air conditioner  1  is a dual-fan air conditioner (i.e., including an axial flow fan  50  located in the first air duct  20   a  and a centrifugal fan  60  located in the second air duct  20   b ), the airflow from the axial flow fan  50  blows out through the first air duct opening  211  and the airflow from the centrifugal fan  60  blows out partly through the second air duct opening  212 . 
     Further, the third air outlet frame  24  is opposite to the air outlet, the first air duct  20   a  is parallel to a center line of the air outlet, and the light emitting body  41  is opposite to the third air outlet frame  24 . Thus, the airflow blown out of the first air duct  20   a  can be better displayed with visual effects, and the first air duct opening  211  and the second air duct opening  212  can be better distinguished, to provide the user the intuitive feeling, allowing the user to clearly know the boundary between the first air duct opening  211  and the second air duct opening  212 , and improving the user experience. 
     Further, the light emitting component  40  is detachably coupled to the first air outlet frame  22 , which can facilitate production and assembly. Meanwhile, the light emitting component  40  or the first air outlet frame  22  can be disassembled and replaced separately when damaged, which reduces subsequent maintenance costs and improves user satisfaction. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the light emitting body  41  includes a base  42  and a light emitting device  43 . The base  42  has a mounting cavity  421  for mounting the light emitting device  43 . The base  42  is detachably coupled to the first air outlet frame  22 . The light emitting device  43  is arranged in the mounting cavity  421 , and hence the light emitting device  43  is mounted on the first air outlet frame  22 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , a plurality of positioning posts  422  are formed and spaced apart on a bottom wall of the mounting cavity  421 , and the mounting cavity  421  has positioning holes fitted with the positioning posts  422 . The number of positioning holes is equal to the number of positioning posts  422 , and the positioning holes are in one-to-one correspondence with the positioning posts. The light emitting device  43  is fixed to the bottom wall of the mounting cavity  421  through the fit between the positioning posts  422  and the positioning holes. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the light emitting body  41  also includes a light guiding cover  44  that shields an open end of the mounting cavity  421 . The light emitting device  43  is located in a space defined by the base  42  and the light guiding cover  44  together. By arranging the light guiding cover  44 , the light emitting device  43  can be limited to a certain extent and be prevented from coming out of the mounting cavity  421  of the base  42 , and the light guiding cover  44  can display lights from the light emitting device  43  uniformly, making the brightness along a peripheral direction of the light emitting body  41  equivalent when spaced light emitting devices  43  are emitting light. It should be noted that the light guiding cover  44  and the base  42  may be detachably coupled or may be bonded together by injection of a glue. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , the light emitting component  40  also includes a plurality of support arms  45  spaced apart from one another. A first end of the support arm  45  is coupled to the base  42 , and a second end of the support arm  45  is detachably coupled to the first air outlet frame  22 , thereby enabling the light emitting body  41  to be fixed to the first air outlet frame  22 . 
     Further, the plurality of support arms  45  and the base  42  are an integral part, which reduces assembly time, shortens man-hours and further lowers production costs. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the plurality of support arms  45  includes a first support arm  451 , a first side of the first support arm  451  facing the air duct component  20  has a first wiring slot  454 , and the first wiring slot  454  extends along a length direction of the first support arm  451 . 
     The light emitting device  43  is electrically coupled to an electric control box through a wire, and the electric control box controls the light emitting device  43  to display corresponding lights according to different working states of the air conditioner  1 . By arranging the first wiring slot  454 , wires from the light emitting device  43  can be stored in the first wiring slot  454 , reducing the possibility of safety hazards caused by exposed wires, and improving aesthetics. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the plurality of support arms  45  includes a fourth support arm  452  and a fifth support arm  453 . The first support arm  451  is arranged at a bottom of the base  42 , and the fourth support arm  452  and the fifth support arm  453  are arranged on left and right sides of the base  42 , which can fix the light emitting body  41  to the first air outlet frame  22  more stably. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the position of the first support arm  451  and the position of the fourth support arm  452  or the fifth support arm  453  may be interchanged. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 11 , a circumferential wall of the second duct opening  212  has a notch  213 , and the first support arm  451  passes through the notch  213 , which allows the first support arm  451  to be flush with the circumferential wall of the second air duct opening  212 , reducing the installation space occupied by the first support arm  451  and further reducing the volume of the air conditioner  1 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a second side of the first support arm  451  away from the first air outlet frame  22  has a protrusion  455 , and a free end of the protrusion  455  is flush with an axial end of the circumferential wall of the second air duct opening  212  to fill the notch  213 , which can reduce the possibility of the airflow flowing out from the notch  213 , and avoid the possibility of shortening an air supply distance caused by leakage of the airflow. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 , the air guide component  30  includes a support plate  31  located downstream of the third air outlet frame  24  in the air flow direction. A second support arm  32  is arranged on the support plate  31 , and a side of the second support arm  32  facing the third air outlet frame  24  includes a first mounting groove  321  extending along a length direction of the second support arm  32 . A third support arm  241  opposite to the second support arm  32  is arranged on the third air outlet frame  24 , and a side of the third support arm  241  facing the support plate  31  includes a second mounting groove  242  extending along a length direction of the third support arm  241 . The second support arm  32  and the third support arm  241  are coupled, the first mounting groove  321  and the second mounting groove  242  together define a second wiring slot, and the second wiring slot is in communication with the first wiring slot  454 . The air conditioner  1  also includes a fan, and a part of the fan passes through the third air outlet frame  24 , so that wires from the fan can pass through the second wiring slot and wires from the light emitting body  41  through the first wiring slot  454  converge together and lead to the electric control box, achieving a standardized and more clever wiring design and reducing the possibility of messy wiring. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , when the air conditioner  1  is a dual-fan air conditioner  1 , i.e., including one axial flow fan  50  located in the first air duct  20 a and one centrifugal fan  60  located in the second air duct  20 b, the axial flow fan  50  includes a motor  51  and a blade  52 , a part of the motor  51  passes through the third air outlet frame  24 , and wires leading from the motor  51  pass through the second wiring slot to converge with wires leading from the light emitting body  41 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 , the third support arm  241  includes a first segment  241   a  and a second segment  241   b . A first end of the first segment  241   a  is coupled to the third air outlet frame  24 , and a first end of the second segment  241   b  is coupled to a second end of the first segment  241   a . The first segment  241   a  and the second support arm  32  have the same shape. An extension direction of the second segment  241   b  is consistent with an extension direction of the first support arm  451 . Thus, wires from the second wiring slot can better converge with the wires from the first wiring slot  454 . The second segment  241   b  is located in the notch  213  and located upstream of the first support arm  451 , further guiding the wires from the second wiring slot to better converge with the wires from the first wiring slot  454 . 
     In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that terms such as “central,” “longitudinal,” “transverse,” “length,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “axial,” “radial,” “circumferential” and the like should be construed to refer to orientations or positions as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation or be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Thus, these terms shall not be construed as limitations on the present disclosure. In addition, the feature defined with “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of this feature. In the description of the present disclosure, the term “a plurality of” means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise. 
     In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” and “coupled” are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may also be inner communication or mutual interaction of two elements, which can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an exemplary embodiment,” “an example,” “a specific example” or “some examples” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. 
     Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes, modifications, alternatives, and variations can be made in the embodiments without departing from principles and purposes of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims and their equivalents.