Abstract:
An air conditioning apparatus for use in information/data centers is provided, including a housing assembly, a wind-blowing device, a heat exchanger, and a separating mechanism. The housing assembly has a first housing and a second housing. The wind-blowing device is disposed in the housing assembly for guiding airflow into the housing assembly for heat exchange. The separating mechanism is used for dismembering the housing assembly in order to move the first housing or the second housing, and for incorporating the housing assembly to enable the heat exchanger to exchange heat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial No. 101126745, filed on Jul. 25, 2012. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates to air conditioners, and more particularly, relates to an air conditioning apparatus for use in information/data centers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Typically, massive waste heat are generated in information/data centers due to their continuous or constant operation at high speed to process data. Therefore, it is imperative to install effective air conditioning units with good heat exchange efficiency in such centers. Owing to the increasing trend and demand for high density data centers, the configuration of air conditioning equipment requires even higher efficiency and management in designs and in air flow fields. 
         [0004]    As often seen in prior techniques, cool air provided by air conditioning equipment does not spread evenly and circulate well in conventional large-scale information/data centers due to the inherent design for cold/heat pathways in which distinct heat points or cold points are often formed in the mechanical room. A general and commonly used solution is to employ the InRow type air conditioning equipment to improve by reducing the frequency of occurrences of cold/heat points. A major drawback is that, however, such equipment would increase air blowing and power consumption, and also cause general low temperatures in the mechanical room, resulting in a decrease of the efficiency in heat exchange. 
         [0005]    Moreover, such large-scale information centers usually use its floors for air supply purposes and to serve as wire slots by drilling holes underneath the Rack in order to guide airflow and the wires inside the rack. Such racks usually do not have the flexibility to be moved around to suit whatever requirements, and due to the restriction of the liquid pipelines, the air conditioning equipment also cannot be moved as required, causing great difficulties and inconvenience in maintenance. Therefore, at present the modulated information mechanical rooms mostly use the middle walking path as the heat pathway and its peripherals the cold pathway, that is, the use of modulated mechanical rooms in larger spaces is unfit for and does not work well with the small or miniaturized scaled mechanical rooms. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there exists a critical need for solving the problems mentioned above, and it is highly beneficial to provide a more effective design of air conditioning equipment capable of overcoming the drawbacks as encountered in prior techniques. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The disclosure proposes an air conditioning apparatus, including a housing assembly, a wind-blowing device, a heat exchanger, and a separating mechanism. The housing assembly at least has a first housing and a second housing. The wind-blowing device is disposed in the housing assembly and used for guiding airflow into the housing assembly, so that the airflow induced by the wind-blowing device can be used for heat exchange. The separating mechanism is used for dismembering the housing assembly in order to move the first housing or the second housing as needed, and also for incorporating the housing assembly into one to enable the heat exchanger to exchange heat. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a three-dimensional view of an air conditioning apparatus in a state of detachment with separate housing units according to a first embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a rear view of the air conditioning apparatus in a state of incorporation into one according to the disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a side view of the air conditioning apparatus of the first embodiment in a state of incorporation into one having one end of a sliding wheel stored into the separating mechanism according to the disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a side view of the air conditioning apparatus in a state of incorporation into one as depicted in  FIG. 2A  having the sliding wheel stored into the separating mechanism according the disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3A  is a three-dimensional view of the air conditioning apparatus in a state of detachment with separate housing units according to a second embodiment of the disclosure; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3B  is a three-dimensional view of the air conditioning apparatus in a state of incorporation into one as depicted in  FIG. 3A  according to the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a through understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  is a three-dimensional view of the air conditioning apparatus  100  in a state of detachment with separate housing units according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0017]    The air conditioning apparatus  100  comprises a housing assembly  110 , a wind-blowing device  121 , a first heat exchanger  131 , a second heat exchanger  132 , and a separating mechanism having a first separating mechanism  141 , and a second separating mechanism  142 . 
         [0018]    The housing assembly  110  is adapted to hold together the wind-blowing device  121 , the first heat exchanger  131  and the second heat exchanger  132 , and includes a first housing  111 , a second housing  112 , and a third housing  113 . In an embodiment, the third housing  113  is disposed between the first and second housings  111  and  112 . In another embodiment, the housing assembly  110  may include four or more housing units. 
         [0019]    The wind-blowing device  121  is disposed in the second housing  112  for guiding or drawing airflow into the housing assembly  110 , and leading away or exhausting airflow from the housing assembly  110 . In another embodiment, the wind-blowing device  121  may be disposed in the first housing  111  or the third housing  113 , and may be disposed at an upstream end or a downstream end of the first heat exchanger  131  and the second heat exchanger  132 , and also may include an axle flow or centrifugal fan. 
         [0020]    The first heat exchanger  131  and the second heat exchanger  132  use the airflow guided therein by the wind-blowing device  121  for exchanging heat. The first heat exchanger  131  contains four units disposed in the first housing  111  in a V-shaped alignment at the four sides (top, bottom, left and right) of a separating board  194 . The second heat exchanger  132  has one unit and is disposed in the third housing  113 . In another embodiment, the first heat exchanger  131  and the second heat exchanger  132  may have a different number of units. The first heat exchanger  131  may be disposed in the second housing  112  or the third housing  113 , and the second heat exchanger  132  may be disposed in the first housing  111  or the second housing  112 . 
         [0021]    The first separating sub-mechanism  141  and the second separating sub-mechanism  142  may be in the form of sliding grooves or sliding rods working in conjunction with the sliding wheel  190  for dismembering or incorporating the housing assembly  110 . The first separating sub-mechanism  141  is disposed between the first housing  111  and the third housing  113  for dismembering the two housings  111  and  113  from each other for maintenance purposes. The second separating sub-mechanism  142  is disposed between the second housing  112  and the third housing  113  for dismembering the two housings  112  and  113  from each other for maintenance purposes. 
         [0022]    The first separating sub-mechanism  141  and the second separating sub-mechanism  142  may also be used for incorporating the first housing  111  to the third housing  113  for allowing heat exchange between the first heat exchanger  131  and the second heat exchanger  132 . 
         [0023]    The first separating sub-mechanism  141  (or called a sliding rod structure) may include a sliding rod  150 , a first pivotal element  151  and a second pivotal element  152 , wherein the first pivotal element  151  and the second pivotal element  152  are respectively disposed on the first housing  111  and the third housing  113 . In another embodiment, the first sub-separating mechanism  141  may be constituted by different elements, and the first pivotal element  151  and the second pivotal element  152  may be disposed on the second housing  112  and the third housing  113 , respectively. 
         [0024]    The sliding rod  150  has a first end  153  and a second end  154  pivotally connected to the first and second pivotal elements  151  and  152 , respectively, and each of the ends  153  and  154  can move with respect to the first and second pivotal elements  151 ,  152  separately. In another embodiment, the first end  153  may be fastened onto the first pivotal element  151 , leaving only the second end  154  to move with respect to the second pivotal element  152  to thereby dismember or incorporate the first and second housings  111  and  112  from each other or into one, or to dismember or incorporate the second and third housings  112  and  113  from each other or into one. 
         [0025]    The second sub-separating mechanism  142  (or called a sliding groove structure) may include a first sliding groove  161  and a second sliding groove  162  each respectively disposed on the second housing  112  and the third housing  113  for partly or fully dismembering or incorporating the two housings  112  and  113 . In another embodiment, the first sliding groove  161  and the second sliding groove  162  may be disposed on the first housing  111  and the third housing  113  for partly or fully dismembering or incorporating the two housings  112  and  113 . 
         [0026]    The air conditioning apparatus  100  may include a plurality of sliding wheels  191  or a plurality of supporting wheels respectively disposed on the first housing  111  and the third housing  113 , for moving or supporting the first housing, the second housing  112  or the third housing  113 . 
         [0027]    At least one side surface  175  of the first housing  111  may be used to serve as an inlet opening  181 , at least one side surface  176  of the second housing  112  may serve as an outlet opening  182 , and the wind-blowing device  121  may be disposed at the inlet opening  181  or the outlet opening  182 . 
         [0028]    The first housing  111  includes a first cover board  171  disposed at the inlet opening  181 , and the second housing  112  has a second cover board  172  disposed at the outlet opening  182 . The air conditioning apparatus  100  may include a filter element (not illustrated) that can be disposed on the first cover board  171  at the inlet opening  181 . 
         [0029]    The air conditioning  100  may comprise a condensed water plate  192 , the first and second heat exchangers  131  and  132  may use a cooling plate pipe, and the condensed water plate  192  may be disposed on the first heat exchanger  131  or the second heat exchanger  132 . 
         [0030]    The air conditioning  100  may comprise a detachable door board  193  or a maintenance opening board  193  for the purpose of maintenance or installation of the first and second heat exchangers  131  and  132 , the wind-blowing device  121  and the condensed water plate  192 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 1B  is a rear view of the air conditioning apparatus as depicted in  FIG. 1A  in a state of incorporation into one according to the disclosure. As illustrated, when the first, second and third housings  111 ,  112  and  113  are incorporated into one, the first pivotal element  151  adheres to the second pivotal element  152 , and the first sliding groove  161  is coupled to the second sliding groove  162 . 
         [0032]    The wind-blowing device  121  guides airflow from an opening  173  formed in the first cover board  171  at the inlet opening  181  into the housing assembly  110 . The housing assembly  110  then forces the guided in airflow to pass through the first and second heat exchangers  131 ,  132  and the wind-blowing device  121  for the wind-blowing device  121  to lead the airflow away from the housing assembly  110  from an opening  174  formed in the second cover board  172  at the outlet opening  182 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a side view of the air conditioning apparatus  100  of the first embodiment in a state of incorporation into one and having one end of a sliding wheel stored into the separating mechanism according to the disclosure. 
         [0034]    As shown, the sliding wheel  190  is disposed on the second housing  112  or the third housing  113 , and when the housing assembly  110  is in a state of detachment, one end of the sliding wheel  190  withdraws from the first sliding groove  161  or the second sliding groove  162  of the second separating sub-mechanism  142  for holding the second housing  112  or the third housing  113 . 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, the sliding wheel  190  may be disposed on the first housing  111  or the third housing  113 , and when the housing assembly  110  is in a state of detachment, one end of the sliding wheel  190  withdraws from the sliding rod  150  of the first separating sub-mechanism  141  for holding the first housing  111  or the third housing  113 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a side view of the air conditioning apparatus  100  in a state of incorporation as depicted in  FIG. 2A  and having the sliding wheel  190  stored into the separating mechanism according to the disclosure. 
         [0037]    As shown, when the housing assembly  110  is in a state of incorporation, the sliding wheel  190  will be accommodated and hidden in the first sliding groove  161  or the second sliding groove  162  of the second separating sub-mechanism  142 . In another embodiment, when the housing assembly  110  is in a state of incorporation, the sliding wheel  190  will be accommodated and hidden in the sliding rod  150  of the first separating sub-mechanism  141 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 3A  is a three-dimensional view of the air conditioning apparatus  200  of a second embodiment in a state of detachment with separate housing units according to the disclosure. As shown, the air conditioning apparatus  200  comprises a housing assembly  210 , a wind-blowing device  221 , a heat exchanger  231  and a separating mechanism  241 . 
         [0039]    The housing assembly  210  is adapted to hold together the wind-blowing device  221 , the heat exchanger  231 , and includes a first housing  211  and a second housing  212 . In another embodiment, the housing assembly  210  may include three or more housing units as in the first embodiment. 
         [0040]    The wind-blowing device  221  is disposed in the second housing  212  for guiding or drawing airflow into the housing assembly  210 , and leading away or exhausting airflow from the housing assembly  210 . In another embodiment, the wind-blowing device  221  may be disposed in the first housing  211  or the third housing  213 , may be disposed at an upstream end or a downstream end of the heat exchanger  231 , and also may include an axle flow or centrifugal fan. 
         [0041]    The heat exchanger  231  may be one or more units and is disposed in the first housing  211  for using the air flow guided therein by the wind-blowing device  221  to exchange heat. In another embodiment, the heat exchanger  231  may have different quantities and may be disposed in the second housing  212  as required. 
         [0042]    The separating mechanism  241  is disposed between the first and second housing  211  and  212  for dismembering the two housing units from each other for maintenance. The separating mechanism  241  may also be used to incorporate the two housing units  211  and  212  for the heat exchanger  231  to exchange heat. 
         [0043]    The separating mechanism  241  may include a sliding rod  250 , a first pivotal element  251  and a second pivotal element  252 , wherein the first pivotal element  151  and the second pivotal element  152  are respectively disposed on the first housing  211  and the second housing  212 . In another embodiment, the separating mechanism  241  may be constituted by different elements. For instance, the separating mechanism  241  may be the second separating sub-mechanism  142  as described in the first embodiment, and it may be constituted by the first sliding groove  161  and the second sliding groove  162 . 
         [0044]    The sliding rod  250  has a first end  253  and a second end  254  pivotally connected to the first and second pivotal elements  251 ,  252 , respectively, wherein the first end  253  is fixed onto the first pivotal element  251 , and the second end  254  is adapted to move with respect to the second pivotal element  252  to thereby dismember or incorporate the first and second housings  211  and  212  from each other or into one. In another embodiment, the first end  253  and the second end  254  of the sliding rod  250  may each move with respect to the first pivotal element  251  and the second pivotal element  252  respectively to thereby dismember or incorporate the first and second housings  211  and  212  from each other or into one. 
         [0045]    The air conditioning apparatus  200  may include a plurality of sliding wheels  291  or a plurality of supporting wheels respectively disposed on the first housing  211  and the second housing  212 , for moving or supporting the first housing  211  or the second housing  212 . 
         [0046]    At least one side surface  275  of the first housing  211  may be used to serve as an inlet opening  281 , at least one side surface  276  of the second housing  212  may serve as an outlet opening  282 , and the wind-blowing device  221  may be disposed at the inlet opening  281  or the outlet opening  282 . 
         [0047]    The first housing  211  includes a first cover board  271  disposed at the inlet opening  281 , and the second housing  212  has a second cover board  272  disposed at the outlet opening  282 . The air conditioning apparatus  200  may include a filter element (not illustrated) that can be disposed on the first cover board  271  at the inlet opening  281 . 
         [0048]    The air conditioning apparatus  200  may comprise a condensed water plate  292 , the heat exchanger  231  may use a cooling plate pipe, and the condensed water plate  292  may be disposed on the heat exchanger  231 . 
         [0049]    The air conditioning apparatus  200  may comprise a detachable door board  293  or a maintenance opening board  293  for the purpose of maintenance or installation of the heat exchangers  231 , the wind-blowing device  221  and the condensed water plate  292 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 3B  is a three-dimensional view of the air conditioning apparatus in a state of incorporation into one as depicted in  FIG. 3A  according to the disclosure. As illustrated, when the first and second housings  211  and  212  are incorporated into one, the first pivotal element  251  comes into contact with to the second pivotal element  252 . 
         [0051]    The wind-blowing device  221  guides airflow from an opening  273  formed in the first cover board  271  at the inlet opening  281  into the housing assembly  210 . The housing assembly  210  then forces the guided in airflow to pass through the heat exchangers  231  and the wind-blowing device  221  for the wind-blowing device  221  to lead the airflow away from the housing assembly  210  from an opening  274  formed in the second cover board  272  at the outlet opening  282 . 
         [0052]    Note that the coupling of the two adjacent housing units as depicted in the first and second embodiments may be accomplished by employing a screw rod with a positioning mechanism, a gear positioning coupling mechanism or a latched type positioning coupling mechanism to strengthen the fastening therebetween. 
         [0053]    One way to prevent airflow from leaking out between the two adjacent housings is to take advantage of the difference between the inner and outer boards of the two housings, and also to combine the foregoing with the use of an anti-leaking material to press against each other tightly. Or, the two housings may each be formed with a concave and a protruding structure respectively while combining with the use of an anti-leaking material to prevent airflow leakage. 
         [0054]    The air conditioning apparatus may include piping members, such as a cold medium fluid piping, for serially or parallel connecting to a plurality of heat exchangers, and the heat exchangers may also use different types of cold medium. The piping member may include a soft piping or a rigid piping, and the soft piping may work in conjunction with a pipe positioning mechanism to provide the piping with an extension. 
         [0055]    Further, the air conditioning apparatus may also include wind-guiding boards, wind doors, power elements, water pumps, compressors, humidifier, thermal heaters, measuring elements (such as a thermometer or a flow meter), valves or other elements according to installation requirements. 
         [0056]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.