Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9777938B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-01-28 03:35:46
Document Index: 331574880

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 10', 'art 100', 'art 110', 'art 110', 'art 100', 'art 150', 'art 150', 'art 150', 'art 150', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 100', 'art 300', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'arts 217', 'arts 217', 'arts 217', 'art 200', 'art 152', 'art 150', 'art 200', 'art 240', 'art 240', 'art 241', 'art 241', 'art 241', 'art 242', 'art 242', 'art 243', 'art 244', 'art 245', 'art 243', 'art 244', 'art 244', 'art 240', 'art 241', 'art 241', 'art 243', 'art 244', 'art 240', 'art 200', 'arts 213', 'art 213', 'art 217', 'art 200', 'arts 213', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 213', 'art 214', 'art 200', 'arts 213', 'arts 214', 'art 214', 'art 214', 'art 214', 'art 214', 'art 213', 'arts 213', 'arts 213', 'arts 214', 'arts 213', 'art 214', 'arts 213', 'art 200', 'art 214', 'arts 213', 'art 214', 'art 300', 'arts 213', 'art 300', 'art 213', 'art 50', 'art 50', 'art 50', 'art 50', 'art 270', 'art 270', 'art 272', 'art 272', 'art 200', 'art 270', 'art 272', 'art 214', 'arts 213', 'art 200', 'art 272', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 280', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 200', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 420', 'art 420', 'art 420', 'art 420', 'art 420', 'art 420', 'art 200', 'art 400', 'art 430', 'art 430', 'art 430', 'art 311', 'art 312', 'art 313', 'art 314', 'arts 311', 'art 430', 'art 502', 'art 504', 'art 430', 'art 502', 'art 504', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 630', 'art 640', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'art 21', 'art 25', 'art 21', 'art 200', 'art 200', 'Application No. 201380008599', 'Application No. 2013800085785', 'Application No. 2013800085770', 'application No. 13171829', 'Application No. 10', 'Application No. 10']

US9777938B2 - Installation guide system for air conditioner and method of using the same - Google Patents
Installation guide system for air conditioner and method of using the same Download PDF
US9777938B2
US9777938B2 US14/071,940 US201314071940A US9777938B2 US 9777938 B2 US9777938 B2 US 9777938B2 US 201314071940 A US201314071940 A US 201314071940A US 9777938 B2 US9777938 B2 US 9777938B2
US14/071,940
US20140148955A1 (en
2012-11-27 Priority to KR1020120135500A priority Critical patent/KR101642540B1/en
2012-11-27 Priority to KR10-2012-0135500 priority
2013-11-05 Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC. reassignment LG ELECTRONICS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: Cho, Sangeun, Kang, Shinae, KIM, JUNMO, Park, Jungyul, Park, Mingyu
2014-05-29 Publication of US20140148955A1 publication Critical patent/US20140148955A1/en
2017-10-03 Publication of US9777938B2 publication Critical patent/US9777938B2/en
238000009434 installation Methods 0 abstract claims description title 83
Provided is an installation guide system for an air conditioner. The installation guide system may include a display that displays a user interface for designing an installation for an air conditioner, a memory that stores at least one image for a building in which the air conditioner is installed, and a controller to control a display of the stored images on the user interface. The user interface may include a first region that displays the stored image including a plurality of tubes that connect an indoor unit to an outdoor unit of the air conditioner, and a second region that displays information regarding an interference between at least two of the plurality of tubes.
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0135500 filed on Nov. 27, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
An air conditioner may be installed so that a plurality of indoor or outdoor units may be provided in one building. Particularly, in a case of a commercial air conditioner, high-capacity outdoor units may be disposed outside the building, and indoor units may be installed so that the indoor units are respectively disposed in a plurality of spaces of the floors.
Also, since communication between an installer and a user with respect to installation information (building information or capacity of the air conditioner) of the air conditioner may not effectively be performed, the number of outdoor and indoor units which are actually required may not be provided, or the refrigerant tube, and the like, may not be disposed in adequate positions in the building. Also, in the case where the air conditioner is not adequately installed in the building, cooling or heating efficiency of the air conditioner may be reduced during the operation thereof or may cause failures.
FIG. 3 is a view of the installation guide system with respect to a drawing display part including a building plan view according to an embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a view of an indoor unit automatic disposition display part according to an embodiment;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of a drawing display part on which an indoor unit is automatically displayed according to an embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a view of the installation guide system including the drawing display part on which the indoor unit is automatically disposed according to an embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a view of the installation guide system in which a first group of outdoor and indoor units is defined to connect tubes to each other according to an embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a view of the installation guide system in which a predetermined command is inputted to connect tubes of the first group of the outdoor and indoor units to each other;
FIG. 10 is a view of the installation guide system in which the outdoor and indoor units are connected to each other through a recommendation tube according to an embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state in which a plurality of tubes interfere with each other according to one embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a list of the tubes interfering with each other;
FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a state in which the tubes of FIG. 11 do not interfere with each other;
FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a state in which a plurality of tubes interfere with each other according to one embodiment;
FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a state in which the tubes of FIG. 14 do not interfere with each other;
FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a state in which tubes do not interfere with each other according to one embodiment; and
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the installation guide system according to an embodiment.
In detail, the installation information display part 100 may include an attribution information display part 110 (“Attribution”) on which the attribution information of the system 10 is displayed. The attribution display part 110 may include display information with respect to a drawing included in the system 10. For example, the display information may include drawing scale information, graphic information, and scale information, or the like.
The installation information display part 100 may include a project display part 150 (“Project Browser”) on which information with respect to floor and ceiling designs of the building and information with respect to a height of the building are displayed.
The project display part 150 may include a display part (hereinafter, also referred to as a bottom design display part) for confirming or inputting information with respect to the bottom design of the building. For example, when the building has two floors, the bottom design display part may include information with respect to a “first floor bottom,” a “second floor bottom,” a “head height,” and a “shoulder height.”
The project display part 150 may include a display part (hereinafter, also referred to as a ceiling design display part) for confirming or inputting information with respect to the ceiling design of the building. For example, when the building has two floors, the ceiling design display part may include information with respect to a “first ceiling mech” and a “second ceiling mech.” Also, the two floor ceiling mech may include information with respect to a “duct level (height)” and a “rooftop,” for example.
The project display part 150 may include a display part (hereinafter, also referred to as a building height display part) for confirming or inputting information with respect to the height of the building. The building height display part may include a plurality of selection parts for distinguishing and displaying the height of the building according to a view direction. The plurality of selection parts may include an “east-mech” selection part, a “west-mech” selection part, and a “north-mech” selection part.
The display 20 may include a drawing display part 200 on which information with respect to an installation space of the air conditioner, for example, floor information of the building or room information, may be displayed, or disposition information of detailed devices (equipment or components) of the air conditioner may be displayed. The room information may be information with respect to rooms partitioned on each of the floors of the building. Moreover, the drawing display part 200 may be referred to as a window, pane, partition of the display, or the like, which may be separated in the display 20 or viewed as a pop-up window.
A drawing with respect to a structure of the building (e.g., floor plan) may be disposed on the drawing display part 200, and installation information may be displayed on the drawing. The drawing display part 200 may be displayed on the other region of the entire region of the display 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the drawing display part 200 may include a building perspective view 210 on which the structure of the building is three-dimensionally displayed.
The display 20 may include a product information display part 300 (“System Browser”) for displaying the detailed constitutions (equipment or components) of the air conditioner disposed in each of the floors or each of the rooms. The product information display part 300 may be displayed in the other region of the entire region of the display 20.
The installation information display part 100 and the product information display part 300 may be commonly called a “guide display part” in that various menus for disposing the air conditioner on the drawing display part 200 are displayed thereon.
FIG. 2 is a view of the installation guide system with respect to a drawing display part including building level information according to an embodiment. A front view 211 and height information with respect to the bottom and floor of the building based on the front view 211 may be displayed on the drawing display part 200. Of course, the drawing and the height information may be previously stored in the system 10.
For example, when the building has two floors, a plurality of position display parts 217 may be displayed in regions spaced laterally from the front view 211. Positions of components of the building, from the “first floor bottom” that is the lowermost portion relative to the “rooftop” that is the uppermost portion, may be longitudinally displayed.
That is, the position display parts 217 are displayed in a vertical direction to correspond to the components of the building displayed on the front view 211 of the building, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The position display parts 217 may include a “first floor bottom,” a “first floor ceiling,” a “duct level,” a “second floor bottom,” a “shoulder height,” a “head height,” a “second ceiling,” a “rooftop” from a lower side to an upper side, or another appropriate measurement.
FIG. 3 is a view of the installation guide system with respect to a drawing display part including a building plan view according to an embodiment. A building plan view 212 may be displayed on the drawing display part 200 of the system 10.
In detail, when a bottom design display part 152 of the project display part 150 is selected, the room information with respect to each of the rooms of the building may be displayed on the drawing display part 200. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a state in which the building plan view 212 including the room information of the second floor of the building when the “second floor bottom” of the bottom design display part is selected.
Also, when an inner region of the building plan view 212 is selected, a room information display part (not shown) may be displayed, for example, in a pop-up window. The room information display part may include information with respect to a room located in each of the floors of the building, for example, a cooling/heating load or capacity of the indoor unit.
FIG. 4 is a view of an indoor unit automatic disposition display part according to an embodiment, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are views of a drawing display part on which the indoor unit is automatically displayed according to an embodiment.
When a specific input part included in the system 10 is inputted, as shown in FIG. 4, an indoor unit automatic disposition display part 240 may be displayed on the display 20.
The indoor unit automatic disposition display part 240 may include a model display part 241 for selecting a type or model of the indoor unit to be installed, a shape display part 241 a on which a shape of the indoor unit having the model selected in the model display part 241 is displayed, and a disposition information display part 242 on which disposition information with respect to the indoor unit having the selected model.
The disposition information display part 242 may include a disposed position of the indoor unit, e.g., a disposition division display part 243 (“Disposition Division”) for selecting whether the indoor unit is installed at a center of the room or on a wall, a room information display part 244 (“room information”) for displaying information of a room in which the indoor unit is installed, and an arrangement set display part 245 (“Spacing and Direction”) for displaying information with respect to a disposition distance of the indoor unit.
The disposition division display part 243 may include a plurality of selectable disposition divisions. The plurality of disposition divisions may include a “central disposition” in which the selected indoor unit is disposed with respect to a center of the corresponding room, a “wall disposition” in which the selected indoor unit is disposed with respect to four directional walls, and a “user defined disposition” in which a user sets a disposition reference point of the indoor unit.
Also, an optimum number of selected indoor units to be installed in the corresponding room may be recommended on the basis of the above-described information. That is, the “recommended number” of selected indoor units may be displayed on the room information display part 244. Thus, since the recommended number of indoor units that should be disposed and how the indoor units should be arranged according to the capacity of the indoor, the actual area, and the load information are provided, user convenience may be improved.
The room information display part 244 may include a plan disposition view 244 a that illustrates a plan disposition of the indoor units according to the recommended number and the number C and W of columns and rows.
The information with respect to the columns and rows of the indoor units, e.g., the C*W values may be understood as the number of indoor units to be installed. The recommended number and the inputted indoor unit number C*W may correspond to each other or be different from each other. When the recommended number and the indoor unit number C*W are different from each other, the indoor units may be disposed according to the number C*W of the indoor units inputted by the user and the column and row information.
Also, when the number of indoor units recommended by the system 10 and the column and row information and the information inputted or adjusted by the user are different from each other, the arrangement of the indoor units installed according to the information inputted by the user may be displayed on the plan disposition view 244 a.
A process of inputting data to the indoor unit automatic disposition display part 240 is described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The user may select one room in which the indoor unit is installed on the building plan view 212 of FIG. 3. The selection may be performed by designating a predetermined region along a boundary between the rooms, e.g., an outer boundary by using a mouse. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, Room 1 of a plurality of rooms may be designated.
The user may select one type of indoor unit from the “outdoor unit type” displayed on the model display part 241 and then select one type of indoor unit that matches the selected indoor from the “indoor unit type.” For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a “Multi V Super II” may be selected from the “outdoor unit type,” a “Cassette 4 Way” may be selected from the “indoor unit type.”
When one type of indoor unit is selected from the “indoor unit type,” a plurality of indoor unit models belonging to the selected type may be displayed. When one model of the plurality of indoor unit models is selected, a shape of the indoor unit having the selected model may be displayed on the shape display part 241 a. As illustrated in the example of FIG. 4, the model of the selected indoor unit may be a “ceiling type indoor unit” installed on a ceiling.
The user may select a desired disposition division from the disposition division display part 243 (e.g., a central disposition, as shown in FIG. 4). Information with respect to the selected Room 1, e.g., the room area, the room load, and the capacity of the selected indoor unit, may be displayed on the room information display part 244.
As described above, when a “confirmation button” is selected after the information displayed on the indoor unit automatic disposition display part 240 is confirmed or inputted, as shown in FIG. 5, the indoor units may be automatically disposed in the corresponding rooms of the building plan view (212). Here, the user may designate the region (the installation region of the indoor unit) corresponding to the Room 1 on the drawing display part 200.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, two indoor units may be disposed, spaced apart from each other, on a central portion of the ceiling of the Room 1. Also, two indoor unit display parts 213 corresponding to the indoor units may be displayed to be within the displayed boundary of Room 1.
In detail, FIG. 6 illustrates a state in which the indoor unit display part 213 is disposed on a ceiling of the second floor at a height of about 7,000 mm (about 23 feet) that is spaced upward from the first floor bottom. Here, as described in FIG. 2, the plurality of level display lines 218 and the position display part 217 are disposed on the drawing display part 200.
FIG. 7 is a view of the installation guide system including the drawing display part on which the indoor unit is automatically disposed according to an embodiment. When the indoor units are automatically disposed in the plurality of rooms through the method described in FIGS. 4 to 6, the building perspective view 210 including the plurality of indoor unit display parts 213 may be displayed on the drawing display part 200.
FIG. 8 is a view of the installation guide system in which a first group of outdoor and indoor units is defined to connect tubes to each other according to an embodiment. A first group of indoor and outdoor units for connecting tubes to each other may be designated in a state where the indoor and outdoor units are disposed on the drawing display part 200.
In detail, the drawing display part 200 may include a first indoor unit display part 213 a indicating one or more indoor units disposed on a side of the inside of the building (a room of the first group) and a first outdoor unit display part 214 a indicating an outdoor unit disposed outside the building.
Also, the drawing display part 200 may further include a first system connection line 250 connecting the plurality of first indoor unit display parts 213 a and the first outdoor unit display parts 214 a to each other to form one air conditioner system. A process for forming the first system connection line 250 will be described hereinafter.
First, the first outdoor unit display part 214 a is designated. For example, the first outdoor unit display part 214 a may be selected by using a mouse, or one region including the first outdoor unit display part 214 a may be dragged using the mouse to designate the first outdoor unit display part 214 a.
Then, the plurality of first indoor unit display part 213 a may be designated. For example, the plurality of first indoor unit display parts 213 a may be selected by using the mouse, where a region including the plurality of indoor unit display parts 213 a may be selected by dragging the mouse to designate the plurality of first outdoor unit display parts 214 a. It should be appreciated that the desired indoor unit display parts 213 a may also be selected individually.
When the first outdoor unit display part 214 a and the plurality of first indoor unit display parts 213 a are completely designated, the first system connection line 250 may be displayed on the drawing display part 200. The first system connection line 250 may be displayed to define a specific region so that the first system connection line 250 includes the first outdoor unit display part 214 a and the plurality of first indoor unit display parts 213 a therein. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the first system connection line 250 may have a hexahedral shape.
Also, a first outdoor unit list 310 corresponding to the designated first outdoor unit display part 214 a may be displayed on the product information display part 300. A type and/or model name corresponding to the outdoor unit may be displayed on the first outdoor unit list 310.
Also, a first indoor unit list 320 corresponding to the plurality of designated indoor unit display parts 213 a may be displayed on the product information display part 300. The type and/or model names of the plurality of indoor units may be displayed on the first indoor unit list 320 to correspond to the designated indoor unit display part 213 a.
FIG. 9 is a view of the installation guide system in which a predetermined command is inputted to connect tubes of the first group of the outdoor and indoor units to each other.
As shown in FIG. 8, in the state where the first group of indoor and outdoor units are connected to the system, when one point within an inner space or boundary defined by the first system connection line 250 is selected, a tube connection input part 50 may be displayed on the display 20. The tube connection input part 50 may be an icon, button, or the like.
When the tube connection input part 50 is selected, a disposition of a tube connecting the first group of outdoor and indoor units to each other may be recommended. For example, the tube may include a liquid tube, a gas tube, a drain tube, or the like. Hereinafter, the recommendation with respect to the connection method of the tube will be described.
FIG. 10 is a view of the installation guide system in which the outdoor and indoor units are connected to each other through a recommendation for a tube configuration. When the tube connection input part 50 is selected in FIG. 9, a recommendation display part 270 for displaying recommendation information of a specific tube connection method is displayed on the display 20.
The recommendation display part 270 may include a recommendation order display part 272 for displaying one recommendation method of the recommendation with respect to the plurality of connection methods and a pair of directional arrows 273 and 274 (also referred to herein as taps) which are selected for viewing the connection method according to the recommended order (or rank). The recommendation order display part 272 displays information with respect to the recommended order of the recommendation tubes displayed on the drawing display part 200. The recommendation display part 270 may be a status bar, for example, that provides information regarding the available recommended configurations as well as enabling selection of one or more of the recommended configurations.
The pair of directional arrows 273 and 274 include a first directional arrow 273 that may be selected for selecting a higher priority connection method and a second directional arrow 274 that may be selected for selecting a lower priority connection method on the basis of the recommended order. When the first and second directional arrows 273 and 274 are selected, the installed states of the connection tubes may be successively displayed (or changed) according to the set priority order.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10 illustrates a first of six connection methods are available for connecting the first group of outdoor and plurality of indoor units to each other. Here, “1 of 6” may be displayed on the recommendation order display part 272.
Also, the first outdoor unit display part 214 a and a recommended tube 215 a connecting the plurality of first indoor unit display parts 213 a to each other may be displayed on the drawing display part 200.
If the second directional arrow 274 is selected once in the state of FIG. 10, a second in the order of connection methods may be displayed. Here, “2 of 6” may be displayed on the recommendation order display part 272. The second connection recommendation may be a second connection configuration recommended based on various criteria, as described hereinafter. Also, a recommendation tube having a structure different from that of the recommendation tube 215 a may be displayed.
Thus, in the current embodiment, the six tube connection methods may be recommended through the above-described manner. Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the number of recommended tube connection methods.
The user may select one tube connection method of the plurality of recommended tube connection methods. For example, when the confirmation arrow 275 is selected in a state where the recommendation tube is displayed on the drawing display part 200, the corresponding recommendation tube may be decided as the connection tube configuration.
The six tube connection methods may be proposed as installable tube structures on the basis of the structure of the building, the capacity (performance) of the outdoor unit, the capacity (performance) of the indoor unit, or the load information of the room in which the indoor unit is installed. Here, the first order of tube connection method, e.g., the first recommendation tube 215 a may be understood as the most adequate tube connection method in consideration of the costs and installation difficulty of the tubes.
Although the directional arrows 273 and 274 are selected to successively display the installed configurations of the recommendation tubes in the above-described embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, when the installed configuration according to the first priority order elapses for a set time, the installed configuration according to the second priority order may be automatically displayed on the drawing display part 200. Also, the displayed recommended configurations may wrap-around from 6 to 1, for example.
Although the installed configurations of the recommendation tubes are manually or automatically and successively displayed in the above-described embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the plurality of installed configurations with respect to the recommendation tubes may be displayed on the drawing display part 200 at the same time. The user may select one among the plurality of concurrently displayed to implement the desired connection of the tubes to each other.
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state in which a plurality of tubes interfere with each other, FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a list of the tubes interfering with each other, and FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a state in which the tubes of FIG. 11 do not interfere with each other.
Referring to FIG. 11, when a plurality of tubes are installed through the method described in FIGS. 8 to 10, the plurality of tubes may interfere with each other. In detail, a tube connecting an outdoor unit to an indoor unit may include a liquid tube in which a liquid refrigerant flows, a gas tube in which a gases refrigerant flows, and a drain tube in which drain water (condensed water) flows. Also, due to a complex structure of an air conditioner system in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit, when the tubes are installed, the plurality of tubes may physically interfere with each other.
A state in which the plurality of tubes physically interfere with each other includes a state in which the plurality of tubes are disposed to cross or intersect perpendicular to each other and a state in which the plurality of tubes extend parallel to each other to partially overlap each other. Interference based on physical interference as well as incompatible types of tubes (e.g., too closely positioned conflicting type of pipes) may be detected.
FIG. 11 illustrates a state in which the plurality of tubes are disposed crossing each other to physically interfere with each other. FIG. 11 illustrates a state in an interference region A between a first tube 300 and a second tube 310. The interference region A may be a region in which the first tube 300 and the second tube 310 cross each other. Also, the first and second tubes 300 and 310 may cross each other through the interference region A to communicate with each other.
For example, the first tube 300 may be one of the liquid tube, the gas tube, or the drain tube. The second tube 310 may be the other one of the liquid tube, the gas tube, or the drain tube.
In another example, the first tube 300 may be one of a main tube in which the refrigerant (or condensed water) flows or a branch tube branched from the main tube. Also, the second tube 310 may be the other one of the main tube or the branch tube. That is, the first and second tubes 300 and 310 may be different types of tubes distinguished from each other. Also, the first and second tubes 300 and 310 may be understood as tubes in which the fluids flowing therethrough cannot be mixed with each other, or should not be mixed with each other.
Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, the state in which the first and second tubes 300 and 310 cross each other to communicate with each other may represent a state in which an error of the tube installation occurs.
In FIG. 10, after the tubes are completely installed, when an interference confirmation input part 280 included in the display 20 is selected, the system 10 may check whether the plurality of installed tubes interfere with each other. If interference between tubes exist, a tube information display part 400 as illustrated in FIG. 12 may be displayed on the display 20. For example, the tube information display part 400 may a pop-up window or a separate window or display region on the drawing display part 200.
The tube information display part 400 may include a tube check list 410 on which a plurality of tube lists is displayed. The tube check list 410 displays the term “tube check” with respect to the tubes that do not interfere with each other.
The tube information display part 400 may include an interference occurrence display part 420 for displaying detailed information with respect to the tube interfering with each other. Information with respect to at least two tubes interfering with each other is displayed on the interference occurrence display part 420.
For example, a state in which the first and second tubes interfere with each other may be displayed on the interference occurrence display part 420. The term “tube check: first tube (linear type), Mark 225, ID: 618647” may be displayed on a first row of the interference occurrence display part 420. This may represent that the first tube having a linear shape is disposed on a position of the number 225 of the building structure drawing, and an ID 618647 is provided as a product code.
The term “tube check: second tube (linear type), Mark 280, ID: 618620” may be displayed on a second row of the interference occurrence display part 420. This may represent that the second tube having a linear shape is disposed on a position of the number 280 of the building structure drawing, and an ID 618620 is provided as a product code.
When the interference occurrence display part 420 is selected, the state in which the first and second tubes interfere with each other may be confirmed through the drawings such as FIG. 11. For example, the interference between the tubes illustrated in FIG. 11 may be displayed on the drawing display part 200.
The tube information display part 400 may include a selectable interference avoiding selection part 430 to automatically provide solutions to avoid the tube interference. When the interference avoiding selection part 430 is selected, installation positions or extension directions of the first and second tubes may be changed so that the first and second tubes do not interfere with each other or any other tubes which are present.
FIG. 13 illustrates a state in which the tubes are designed to avoid the interference therebetween when the interference avoiding selection part 430 is inputted with respect to the interfering tubes of FIG. 11. For example, at least one portion of the second tube 310 may be bent in a set direction to prevent the second tube 310 from interfering with the first tube 300. In detail, the second tube 310 may include a plurality of bent parts which are provided by changing the extension direction of the second tube 310 at a position adjacent to the first tube 300. The bent parts may be a fitting or adapter having various shapes and configurations, such as elbow fittings, sweep elbow fittings, or the like.
The plurality of bent parts may include a first bent part 311, a second bent part 312, a third bent part 313, and a fourth bent part 314. The plurality of bent parts 311, 312, 323, and 314 may be a bent tube in which the second tube 310 is bent.
When at least two tubes cross and interfere with each other as shown in FIG. 11, information for avoiding the interference between the tubes as shown in FIG. 13 may be previously stored in a memory 23 (see FIG. 13) of the system 10.
Although four bent parts are provided in the second tube to avoid the interference with the first tube 300 in FIG. 13, four or more or less bent parts may be provided to avoid the interference therebetween.
As described above, when at least two tubes interfere with each other, since detailed information of the interfering tubes is confirmed to automatically avoid the interference therebetween, the installation of the air conditioner may be made easier.
Moreover, rather than using the bent parts in the interfering tube to avoid the interference therebetween in FIG. 13, at least one interfering tube may be moved vertically (or horizontally) to avoid the interference therebetween.
Although the interference avoiding selection part 430 is inputted to automatically avoid the interference between the tubes as illustrated in FIG. 13, the user may confirm the interfering tubes and then change an installation position and extension direction of the tubes to avoid the interference therebetween.
FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a state in which a plurality of tubes interfere according to another example, and FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a state in which the tubes of FIG. 14 do not interfere with each other.
Referring to FIG. 14, at least two tubes that extend parallel to each other may interfere with each other by overlapping each other in a predetermined region. A fourth tube 510 and a fifth tube 520 may be connected to a third tube 500. The fourth tube 510 may be coupled to a first connection part 502 of the third tube 500, and the fifth tube 520 may be coupled to a second connection part 504 of the third tube 500.
Here, the third tube 500 may be, for example, a main tube for a refrigerant (or condensed water), and the fourth and fifth tubes 510 and 520 may be branch tubes branched from the third tube 500.
The fourth tube 510 and the fifth tube 520 may be disposed parallel to each other to extend in one direction. Here, at least one portion of the fourth tube 510 and at least one portion of the fifth tube 520 may interfere with each other in an interference region B. The interference region B may be a region in which the fourth tube 510 and the fifth tube 520 contact each other or overlap each other in the same region. Interference may also exist if the tubes are within a prescribed distance relative to each other, for example, when two conflicting types of tube are positioned too close to each other.
As described above, in a state where the tubes interfere with each other, when the interference avoiding selection part 430 of FIG. 12 is selected, at least one of the fourth and fifth tubes may be moved to avoid the interference therebetween. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the fourth tube 510 may be moved in a direction away from the fifth tube 520. That is, the fourth tube 510 may be moved to a position parallel to its original position and spaced apart from the fifth tube 520. Also, the first connection part 502 of the third tube 400 connected to the fourth tube 410 may also move in a direction away from the second connection part 504. Thus, when the plurality of tubes 510 and 520 extend parallel to each other, and at least portions of the tubes contact or overlap each other to interfere with each other, at least one tube may be moved to space the tubes from each other, thereby avoiding the interference therebetween.
Although the fourth tube 510 is described as being moved in FIG. 15, it should be understood by a person skilled in the art that the fifth tube 520 may alternatively be moved to change the installation position thereof.
FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a state in which tubes do not interfere with each other according to one embodiment. When interference between a plurality of tubes 600 and 610 occurs, various method for avoiding the interference therebetween may be proposed.
In detail, when the first and second tubes 600 and 610 interfere with each other, the first tube 600 may be changed in position and extension direction as a first method, or the second tube 610 may be changed in position and extension direction as a second method. In this case, a plurality of methods for avoiding the interference between the tubes may be comparably displayed on the drawing display part 200. The plurality of methods may be understood as recommendations for avoiding interference, which are provided to the user.
For example, the drawing display part 200 may illustrate a structure in which the second tube 610 is changed in extension direction as a first recommendation method to avoid interference with the first tube 600, and the first tube 600 is changed in extension direction as a second recommendation method to avoid interference with the second tube 610.
Here, the first recommendation method may have a priority order higher than that of the second recommendation method. The priority order may be decided based on cost in changing the configuration of the tubes or the ease with which the tubes may be installed in consideration of a type, diameter, length of the tubes, or the like.
Thus, it may be understood as the first recommendation method is relatively inexpensive or easily installed when compared to the second recommendation method. For example, since the second tube 610 has a diameter less than that of the first tube 600, the second tube may be relatively easily processed. Also, the second tube 610 may be a branch tube that is capable of being relatively easily changed, and the first tube 600 may be a main tube which may be difficult to change.
The user may select one of the recommendations for avoiding interference displayed on the drawing display part 200. For example, when it is intended to select the first recommendation method, the first recommendation selection part 630 may be selected. Also, when it is intended to select the second recommendation method, the second recommendation selection part 640 may be selected.
An avoiding method corresponding to the recommendation selected by the user may be a method in which the tubes are changed in the installation structure. As described above, the system 10 may automatically avoid the interference between the tubes, and also, the user may select a recommended method for avoiding the interference.
Although the first and second recommendation methods are comparably displayed on the drawing display part 200 in FIG. 16, the first recommendation method may be displayed first, and then a screen may be switched to display the second recommendation method. That is, the first and second recommendation methods may be successively displayed on the drawing display part 200.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the installation guide system according to an embodiment. An installation guide system 10 may include an input part 21 to input a predetermined command for disposition design of an air conditioner, a memory 23 to store information with respect to a space in which the air conditioner is installed and information with respect to the components of the air conditioner, a display 20 to display a process for the disposition design of the air conditioner, and a control part 25 to control the components.
The input part 21 may include a keyboard or mouse for a computer. However, a user's command can be input into the installation guide system 10 using any appropriate method of inputting commands.
When the disposition of the air conditioner is designed, the drawing information may be displayed on the display 20, for example, a drawing display part 200. Also, a specific group of outdoor and indoor units and a connection tube connecting the outdoor and indoor units to each other together with the drawing information may be displayed on the drawing display part 200 according to the contents described above.
Also, equipment constituting the air conditioner, for example, information with respect to a tube, information with respect to an installation changing structure of the tube for avoiding interference between tubes, and information with respect to a recommendation method for avoiding the interference and a recommendation priority order may be previously stored in the memory 23.
In the installation guide system of the air conditioner according to the embodiments, since the installation conditions of the building may be stored as an actual drawing with respect to the building, and then the air conditioner may be selected or installed adequate for the stored installation conditions, the air conditioner may be optimally installed adequate for the installation conditions of the building.
Also, since the number of indoor units to be installed may be decided or recommended by calculating required cooling/heating capacity on the basis of the space information or use information (heat generation rate) of the building, the air conditioner may be easily installed.
Also, since the disposition of the tube connecting the indoor unit to the outdoor unit, for example, the dispositions of the liquid tube, the gas tube, and the drain tube may be recommended in the state where the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are disposed, and an adequate tube may be selected and connected according to the structure of the building, the installation convenience of the air conditioner may be improved.
Also, when the plurality of tubes interfere with each other in the state where the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, and the tubes are disposed, since the interfering tube list may be automatically displayed to avoid the interferences between the tubes, the tubes may be easily installed.
Also, when the various avoiding methods for avoiding the interference between the tubes exist, since the optimum avoiding method may be recommended in consideration of the length or diameter of the tube, the user's convenience may be improved.
Also, since the installation guide system of the air conditioner is provided as drawing program, the designer may easily manipulate the drawing. In detail, since the main menu in which the installation information and product information have a glance may be provided on the display of the system, and the results obtained by selecting detailed menus of the main menu may be confirmed from the drawing, the design process may be accurately performed.
Embodiments provide an air conditioner installation guide system for guiding installation of an air conditioner and a method of using the same.
In one embodiment, an installation guide system for an air conditioner includes: a memory storing drawing information of a building in which the air conditioner including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit is installed; and a display providing a user interface to design a disposition of the air conditioner, wherein the display includes: a drawing display part displaying at least two tubes that are installed to connect the outdoor unit to the indoor unit; and when the two tubes interfere with each other, a tube information display part displaying information with respect to the interfering tubes.
In another embodiment, a using method of an installation guide system for an air conditioner includes: displaying a drawing display part including drawing information of a building; disposing an indoor unit and an outdoor unit which constitute the air conditioner; disposing a plurality of tubes connecting the indoor unit to the outdoor unit; and displaying information of interfering tubes when the plurality of tubes interfere with each other.
In further another embodiment, an installation guide system for an air conditioner includes: a display displaying drawing information of an installation space in which the air conditioner including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit is installed, wherein the display includes: an installation information display part including information with respect to the installation space in which the air conditioner is installed; a product information display part displaying information with respect to equipment of the air conditioner to be installed in the installation space; and a drawing display part on which disposition information of the equipment of the air conditioner is inserted into the drawing information of the installation space and displayed, wherein the drawing display part displays that at least two tubes interfere with each other after the at least two tubes connecting the outdoor unit to the indoor unit are completely disposed.
1. An installation guide system for an air conditioner, the installation guide system comprising:
a display that displays a user interface for designing an installation for an air conditioner, the display comprising:
a first display part including installation information for installing the air conditioner and information related to an installation space in which the air conditioner is installed;
a second display part including information of indoor units, outdoor units and a plurality of tubes connecting the indoor and the outdoor units; and
a third display part that is disposed between the first and the second display parts and displays configuration of indoor units, outdoor units and the plurality of tubes installed in the installation space;
a memory that stores at least one image for a building in which the air conditioner is installed; and
a controller to control a display of the stored images on the user interface, wherein the user interface includes a tube information display part that displays information regarding an interference between at least two of the plurality of tubes,
wherein the tube information display part includes:
a tube check list on which the plurality of tube lists is displayed, the tube check list being configured to display information with respect to the tubes that do not interfere with each other;
an interference occurrence display part configured to display interference information with respect to first and second tubes interfering with each other, the information of interference including product codes of the first and second tubes and position codes of the installation space in which the first and second tubes are installed; and
an interference avoiding selection part to provide solutions to avoid interference of the first and second tubes,
wherein the interference information includes a first information in which the first and second tubes cross each other and a second information in which the first and second tubes contact or overlap each other,
when the interference avoiding selection part is selected while the interference occurrence display part displays the first information the third display part displays that the at least one portion of the second tube is bent in a set direction to prevent the second tube from crossing the first tube, and
when the interference avoiding selection part is selected while the interference occurrence display part displays the second information, the third display part displays that the second tube is moved in a direction away from the first tube to prevent the second tube from contacting or overlapping the first tube.
2. The installation guide system according to claim 1, wherein the first tube is parallel with the second tube after being moved to avoid interference with the second tube.
3. The installation guide system according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the third display part on with respect to the change in positions of the first and the second tubes includes a plurality of recommended configuration of the first and the second tubes that avoid interference between the first and the second tubes.
4. The installation guide system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of recommended configurations are arranged based on an order of priority based on at least one of a cost, a type, a diameter or length of the first and the second tubes that interfere with each other.
5. The installation guide system according to claim 1, wherein at least two recommended configurations for avoiding interference between the first and the second tubes are displayed in the first and the second, the at least two recommended configurations are displayed simultaneously or successively in the first and the second tubes.
6. A method of using an installation guide system for an air conditioner, the method comprising:
displaying a drawing of a building on a display comprising:
displaying a plurality of graphical objects representing an indoor unit and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner on the drawing;
displaying a plurality of tubes that connect the indoor unit to the outdoor unit;
determining whether the plurality of tubes interfere with each other; and
displaying information regarding the interfering tubes when at least one of the plurality of tubes interfere with another tube, in a tube information display part,
an interference occurrence display part configured to display information of interference with respect to first and second tubes interfering with each other, the information of interference including product codes of the first and second tubes and position codes of the installation space in which the first and second tubes are installed; and
when the interference avoiding selection part is selected while the interference occurrence display part displays the first information, the third display part displays that the at least one portion of the first tube is bent in a set direction to prevent the first tube from crossing the second tube, and
when the interference avoiding selection part is selected while the interference occurrence display part displays the second information, the third display part displays that the first tube is moved in a direction away from the second tube to prevent the first tube from contacting or overlapping the second tube.
7. The method according to claim 6, further including determining at least one recommended configuration of the first and the second tubes to correct the interference between the first and the second tubes, and displaying the at least one recommended configuration on the display.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the displaying the at least one recommended configuration includes displaying a plurality of recommended configuration of the first and the second tubes simultaneously or successively on the display.
9. The installation guide system according to claim 3, wherein an image of the interfering tubes based on the recommended configuration is displayed in a pop-up window.
US14/071,940 2012-11-27 2013-11-05 Installation guide system for air conditioner and method of using the same Active 2035-01-15 US9777938B2 (en)
KR1020120135500A KR101642540B1 (en) 2012-11-27 2012-11-27 An installation guide system for an air conditioner and a using method the same
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