Patent Description:
In general, an air conditioner is an apparatus which adjusts temperature, humidity, an air current, etc. to provide a comfortable user environment using a refrigerating cycle and removes dust from air. As main components constituting the refrigerating cycle, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator are provided.

The air conditioner may include an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and the outdoor unit may include a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and the like. The indoor unit may include an indoor heat exchanger, a blower fan, and the like, and the expansion device may be provided in the indoor unit or the outdoor unit.

On the other hand, when a two-phase refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit of the air conditioner flows through a buried pipe of an apartment, the flow of the refrigerant may become unstable due to foreign substances in the pipe or bending of the pipe. That is, the refrigerant may form a slug flow, and when the refrigerant in a slug flow state flows into the indoor heat exchanger or the expansion device, irregular refrigerant noise may occur. <CIT>discloses an air conditioning system in which a muffler for reducing noise is incorporated inside an oil separator which is provided on the discharge side of the compressor. The muffler is positioned inside the separator housing at the vapor inlet of the discharge side of the compressor in order to reduce pulsations and thus noise generated by the refrigerant and oil mixture flow.

It is an object of the invention to provide a noise reduction device capable of improving the flow noise of an irregular refrigerant, and an air conditioner having the same.

It is another object of the invention to provide a noise reduction device capable of stabilizing the flow of an unstable refrigerant, and an air conditioner having the same.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an air conditioner according to claim <NUM>. Preferred features are set out in the dependent claims.

The noise reduction device and the air conditioner having the same can reduce irregular refrigerant noise.

The noise reduction device and the air conditioner can stabilize the flow of an unstable refrigerant through a simple configuration.

Accordingly, the spatial efficiency of the interior of the indoor units may be increased, and due to omitting additional configuration, the number of parts of the indoor units is reduced, so that the material cost of the indoor units may be reduced.

The embodiments set forth herein and illustrated in the configuration of the disclosure are only the most preferred embodiments and are not representative of the full technical spirit of the disclosure, so it should be understood that they may be replaced with various equivalents and modifications.

The terms including ordinal numbers like "first" and "second" may be used to explain various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only for the purpose of distinguishing a component from another. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. Descriptions shall be understood as to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items when the items are described by using the conjunctive term "~ and/or ~," or the like.

The terms "front", "upper", "lower", "left" and "right " as herein used are defined with respect to the drawings, but the terms may not restrict the shape and position of the respective components.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a refrigerant flow of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, an air conditioner <NUM> includes a compressor <NUM> to compress a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> allowing the compressed high temperature and high pressure refrigerant to have heat exchanged with outside air, an expansion device <NUM> to decompress the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> into a low temperature refrigerant, a noise reduction device <NUM> connected to the expansion device <NUM> to stabilize the flow of unstable refrigerant to reduce the flow noise of the refrigerant, and an indoor heat exchanger <NUM> connected to the noise reduction device <NUM> and allowing the low temperature refrigerant to have heat exchanged with indoor air to lower the temperature of the indoor air. The outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> may refer to a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> may refer to an evaporator.

The indoor heat exchanger <NUM> may be provided in plural. That is, the refrigerant compressed and condensed in the single compressor <NUM> and the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> may be provided to flow to the plurality of indoor heat exchangers <NUM> and then be circulated to the single compressor <NUM> again. In this case, the expansion device <NUM> and the noise reduction device <NUM> may be provided corresponding in number to the number of the indoor heat exchangers <NUM>.

The following description is made in relation that each configuration is provided as a single unit. However, even when a plurality of the indoor heat exchangers <NUM> are provided, the disclosure may be applied in the same manner.

The expansion device <NUM> may be connected to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> by a refrigerant pipe <NUM> to allow a refrigerant to flow. The noise reduction device <NUM> may be disposed on the refrigerant pipe <NUM> such that the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe <NUM> passes through the noise reduction device <NUM> and flows into the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>.

The air conditioner <NUM> may include a filter <NUM> provided between the expansion device <NUM> and the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> to prevent foreign substances in the refrigerant flowing into the expansion device <NUM> from flowing into an expansion valve (not shown) of the expansion device <NUM>.

In the air conditioner <NUM> having the above configuration, the flow of a refrigerant is as follows. A low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant is compressed to a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant through the compressor <NUM> and changes phase into a liquid in the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The liquid refrigerant passed through the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> is converted into a two-phase refrigerant while passing through the expansion device <NUM>.

In this case, the flow of the two-phase refrigerant may form an unstable slug flow, and when the refrigerant in a slug flow state is introduced into the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, irregular refrigerant noise may occur. The refrigerant noise will be described in detail below.

The air conditioner <NUM> according to the invention includes the noise reduction device <NUM> between the expansion device <NUM> and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> to stabilize the flow of the refrigerant, thereby reducing irregular refrigerant noise described above.

The refrigerant passes through the expansion device <NUM> and flow into the noise reduction device <NUM>. As described above, the unstable refrigerant flow is stabilized while passing through the noise reduction device <NUM> and introduced into the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The refrigerant evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> to become a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant.

The compressor <NUM>, the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, the expansion device <NUM>, and the filter <NUM> may be installed in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM>. The indoor heat exchanger <NUM> may be installed in the indoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM>.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the expansion device <NUM> may be installed in the indoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM>. In addition, the filter <NUM> may be installed in the outdoor unit or the indoor unit together with the expansion device <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the noise reduction device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> according to the embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a noise reduction device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the noise reduction device shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure body of the noise reduction device shown in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the noise reduction device shown in <FIG>.

In the conventional noise reduction device, in order to improve the flow noise of the two-phase refrigerant, a branch pipe having a partition wall and a complicated flow path is installed inside the noise reduction device to mix the refrigerant in the internal space divided by the partition wall so that the flow of the refrigerant is stabilized.

In this case, the partition wall and the branch pipe installed inside the noise reduction device are formed of metal to withstand the pressure of the refrigerant, and are coupled to the inside of the noise reduction device by welding or the like so as to be fixed.

With the welding process, the noise reduction device has a difficulty in implementing a sophisticated structure, and the welding process itself is complicated compared to a general assembly process, which results in a low manufacturability.

In addition, in order to increase the noise improvement effect of the noise reduction device, a space in which the refrigerant is mixed needs to be secured wide, which causes the noise reduction device to have a large configuration, and the installation of the noise reduction device to be lowered. In other words, when the noise reduction device having a large size is placed in the indoor unit, the indoor unit also needs to have a large size, and even when the noise reduction device is installed outside the indoor unit, the installation of the noise reduction device is limited due to the large size.

Accordingly, the noise reduction device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> according to the embodiment of the invention may minimize welding of the internal configurations of the noise reduction device <NUM> to improve the assembling property of the noise reduction device <NUM> and minimize the size of the noise reduction device <NUM> to improve the installation of the noise reduction device <NUM>.

In detail, a structure body <NUM> including a plurality of baffles <NUM> including holes through which a refrigerant passes may be inserted into the noise reduction device <NUM> so that the assembling property of the noise reduction device <NUM> is improved.

In addition, the refrigerant is not simply mixed the refrigerant in the noise reduction device <NUM>, but is rectified through two phase separation of the refrigerant so that the refrigerant may be stabilized in a small space and the installation of the noise reduction device <NUM> may be improved.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the noise reduction device <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> including a refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> including a refrigerant inlet 111a (<FIG>), a refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> including a refrigerant outlet 112a (<FIG>), and a body <NUM> forming the external appearance thereof.

The refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> may be provided in a cone shape including a hollow and having an inner diameter increasing in the flow direction of the refrigerant from the refrigerant inlet 111a. The refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> may be provided in a cone shape including a hollow and having an inner diameter decreasing in the flow direction of the refrigerant.

The refrigerant pipe <NUM> may include a first pipe <NUM> connected to the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> and a second pipe <NUM> connected to the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may be provided in a cylindrical shape including a hollow. The body <NUM> may include an inner circumferential surface <NUM> forming the hollow and an internal space <NUM> inside the hollow formed by the inner circumferential surface <NUM>. The maximum diameters of the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> and the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> may be provided to substantially correspond to the diameter of the body <NUM>. The noise reduction device <NUM> may include a structure body <NUM> including a plurality of baffles <NUM>. The structure body <NUM> may be provided to be inserted into the housing <NUM>.

After the structure body <NUM> is inserted into the housing <NUM>, the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM>, the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM>, and the body <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may be coupled through welding or the like, into a unitary assembly. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM>, the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM>, and the body <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may be coupled by a separate coupling configuration may be separably coupled.

In addition, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment, and one of the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> and the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> may be integrally formed with the body <NUM>. After the structure body <NUM> is inserted into the body <NUM>, the other one of the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> and the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> may be coupled to the body <NUM>.

In addition, the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM>, the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM>, and the body <NUM> may be formed as an integral housing <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> may be provided as two configurations that are separably coupled to each other without distinguishing the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM>, the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM>, and the <NUM>.

The structure body <NUM> may be inserted into the internal space <NUM> formed on the inner circumferential surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The structure body <NUM> may include the plurality of baffles <NUM> and a frame <NUM> supporting the plurality of baffles <NUM>. Each of the plurality of baffles <NUM> may have the same shape. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the plurality of baffles <NUM> may have different shapes, and at least some of the plurality of baffles <NUM> may have different shapes. The plurality of baffles <NUM> may be provided in a disk shape having a predetermined thickness. The plurality of baffles <NUM> may each include a hole <NUM> through which a refrigerant passes. The holes <NUM> of the plurality of baffles <NUM> may be disposed in the centers of the plurality of baffles <NUM>.

The plurality of baffles <NUM> include a first baffle 230a disposed adjacent to the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> and a second baffle 230b disposed adjacent to the first baffle 230a in the direction in which the refrigerant flows.

In addition, the plurality of baffles <NUM> may include additional baffles, such as a third baffle 230c and a fourth baffle 230d in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. According to the embodiment of the disclosure, the plurality of baffles <NUM> may include eleven baffles from a first baffle 230a to an eleventh baffle <NUM>, but the disclosure is not limited thereto, and may include more or less than eleven baffles. However, the plurality of baffles <NUM> include the first baffle 230a and the second baffle 230b.

The plurality of baffles <NUM> are spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. The plurality of baffles <NUM> may partition the internal space <NUM> in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. That is, the internal space <NUM> may be divided into a plurality of unit internal spaces <NUM> by the structure body <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> may support each of the plurality of baffles <NUM> spaced apart from each other in the direction in which the refrigerant flows to keep the plurality of baffles <NUM> in position. The frame <NUM> may be provided in a pair. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the frame <NUM> may be formed as a single unit or three or more units thereof.

The frame <NUM> may be disposed on a side of the outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of baffles <NUM>. The pair of frames <NUM> may be disposed with a phase difference of about <NUM> degrees in a circumferential direction of the plurality of baffles <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pair of frames <NUM> may be disposed with various phase differences in the circumferential direction of the plurality of baffles <NUM>.

For the sake in convenience of description, a pair of the frames <NUM> are represented by a frame <NUM> unless needed to be distinguished.

In this way, the plurality of baffles <NUM> and the frame <NUM> may form a single structure body <NUM>. The single structure body <NUM> is simply inserted into the housing <NUM> and the housing <NUM> is sealed through welding or the like, so that the noise reduction device <NUM> may be manufactured.

The structure body <NUM> may be formed to have a length substantially corresponding to an extension length of the body <NUM> in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. In addition, the structure body <NUM> may include an outer circumferential surface having a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the inner circumferential surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

The refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> and the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM>, which are provided in a cone shape, may have a diameter smaller than that of the inner circumferential surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Accordingly, when the structure body <NUM> is inserted into the body <NUM>, the structure body <NUM> may be fixed inside the body <NUM> without additional fixing.

Such a manufacturing process does not require a process of welding the plurality of baffles <NUM> to the inside of the housing <NUM>, and the noise reduction device <NUM> is manufactured by only a process of inserting the single structure body <NUM> into the internal space <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, so that the assembling property of the noise reduction device <NUM> may be improved.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the structure body <NUM> may be formed by assembling a first assembly <NUM> and a second assembly <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure body <NUM> may be formed as a single configuration by injection or the like.

The first assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM> may be separably provided. Accordingly, the structure body <NUM> may be formed by the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> being coupled to each other.

The first assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM> may be coupled to each other and separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The plurality of baffles <NUM> may include a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are portions of the plurality of baffles <NUM> that are divided by the first assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM>. That is, the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may be separate parts defined when the plurality of baffles <NUM> are split into two sections in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant.

The frame <NUM> may include a first frame <NUM> and a second frame <NUM>. The first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> may be provided to be separable. A single frame <NUM> may be formed by the first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> being coupled to each other. The first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> are portions of the frame <NUM> that are divided by the first assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM>. That is, the first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> may be separate parts defined when the frame <NUM> is split into two sections in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant.

The first assembly <NUM> may include the first frame <NUM> and the first portion <NUM> of the plurality of baffles <NUM>. The first frame <NUM> and the first portion <NUM> may be integrally provided.

The second assembly <NUM> may include the second frame <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the plurality of baffles <NUM>. The second frame <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> may be integrally provided.

Accordingly, when the first assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM> are coupled to each other, the plurality of baffles <NUM> and the frame <NUM> may be integrally provided. The first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> may each include a hook portion <NUM> to restrain one of the first assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM> corresponding thereto when the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to each other. The hook portion <NUM> may be provided to hold the first assembly <NUM> and the second assembly <NUM> coupled.

The first assembly <NUM> includes a first hook portion <NUM> that is hook-coupled to the second frame <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant when the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to each other in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant.

The second assembly <NUM> includes a second hook portion <NUM> that is hook-coupled to the first frame <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant when the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to each other in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant.

The first and second hook portions <NUM> and <NUM> may respectively protrude from the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The first and second hook portions <NUM> and <NUM> may each include a plurality of hooks <NUM> and a support groove <NUM> supporting the frame.

The first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> may each include a guide <NUM> for guiding the hook portion <NUM> thereof to be hook-coupled to one of the first frame <NUM> and the second frame <NUM> corresponding thereto when the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to each other in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant.

The first frame <NUM> may include a first guide (not shown) for guiding hook coupling with the second hook portion <NUM>. The second frame <NUM> may include a second guide <NUM> for guiding hook coupling with the first hook portion <NUM>. The second guide <NUM> may be disposed on the second frame <NUM> at a position corresponding to the first hook portion <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The second guide <NUM> may be formed as a groove inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant.

When the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> approach each other in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant, the hook <NUM> of the first hook portion <NUM> is guided in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant along the second guide <NUM>. Thereafter, when the first hook portion <NUM> is hook-coupled to the second frame <NUM>, the second guide <NUM> is insertedly coupled to the support groove <NUM> of the first hook portion <NUM>, so that the coupling portion of the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> may be improved.

Since the first guide (not shown) of the first frame <NUM> has the same coupling configuration as that of the second guide <NUM>, the description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the frame <NUM> may be provided in a pair. Accordingly, each of the first and second frames <NUM> and <NUM> may also be provided in a pair.

For the sake of convenience of description, one of the pair of frames disposed on the right side with respect to the flow direction of the refrigerant is referred to as a right frame 241a or 242a, and the other one of the pair of frames disposed on the left side is referred to as a left frame 241b or 242b. The plurality of hooks <NUM> of the second hook portion <NUM> may be alternately disposed on the left side second frame 242b and the right side second frame 242a while being spaced apart from each other sequentially in the flow direction of the refrigerant.

That is, when the hook <NUM> which is the closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a is disposed on the left side second frame 242b, the hook <NUM> which is the second closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a is disposed on the right side second frame 242a, and the hook <NUM> which is the third closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a may be disposed on the left side second frame 242b.

Similarly, the second guides <NUM> may be alternately disposed on the left side second frame 242b and the right side second frame 242a while being spaced apart from each other in the flow direction of the refrigerant, respectively.

When the second guide <NUM> which is the closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a is disposed on the right side second frame 242a, the second guide <NUM> which is the second closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a is disposed on the left side second frame 242b, and the second guide <NUM> which is the third closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a may be disposed on the right side second frame 242b.

The second guides <NUM> and the hooks <NUM> of the second hook portion <NUM> may be alternately disposed. Accordingly, the second guide <NUM> and the hook <NUM> of the second hook portion <NUM> may be disposed at corresponding positions in the left-right direction.

Since the first guide (not shown) and the hook <NUM> of the first hook portion <NUM> disposed on the first frame <NUM> are also disposed in the same manner as the second guide <NUM> and the hook <NUM> of the second hook portion <NUM>, and thus description thereof will be omitted. However, the hook <NUM> of the first hook portion <NUM> which is the closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a may be disposed on the right side first frame 241a, and the first guide (not shown) which is the closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a may be disposed on the left side first frame 241a.

Accordingly, when the first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> are coupled to each other, the first hook portion <NUM> may be coupled to the second guide <NUM>, and the second hook portion <NUM> may be coupled to the first guide (not shown).

The first and second assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> may each have the same shape. In this case, the second assembly <NUM> may be the same as the first assembly <NUM> which is rotated <NUM> degrees in the circumferential direction of the plurality of baffles <NUM>. Accordingly, a plurality of the single-shape assemblies may be manufactured and coupled to each other so that the structure body <NUM> may be formed.

Each of the plurality of baffles <NUM> may include a first surface <NUM> (<FIG>) facing in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The first surface <NUM> is a part that collides with the refrigerant introduced. Each of the first surfaces <NUM> may include a first inclined portion <NUM> formed to be inclined from the hole <NUM> toward the outside of the first surface <NUM> in the flow direction of the refrigerant.

As described above, the holes <NUM> are disposed in the center of the plurality of baffles <NUM>. Accordingly, a side of the hole <NUM> has the largest thickness and a side of the outer circumferential surface has the smallest thickness in the plurality of baffles <NUM>.

Each of the plurality of baffles <NUM> may include a second surface <NUM> disposed on a side opposite to the first surface <NUM>. Each of the second surfaces <NUM> may include a second inclined portion <NUM> formed to be inclined from the hole <NUM> toward the outside of the second surface <NUM> in the flow direction of the refrigerant.

The first and second surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> may be symmetrically disposed with respect to the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant. Accordingly, each of the plurality of baffles <NUM> may be symmetrically formed with respect to the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant.

Accordingly, when the structure body <NUM> is inserted into the internal space <NUM>, the structure body <NUM> may be inserted into the housing <NUM> in the same shape regardless of the insertion direction according to whether the first baffle 230a is first inserted, or the eleventh baffle <NUM> is inserted first. Therefore, the installation of the structure body <NUM> may be improved.

The plurality of baffles <NUM> may partition the internal space <NUM> in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The first baffle 230a and the second baffle 230b may form a first internal space 116a which is the closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a, and the second baffle 230b and the third baffle 230c may form a second inner surface 116b followed by the first inner surface 116a which is the second closest to the refrigerant inlet 111a. In this way, the unit internal spaces <NUM> may be partitioned in different numbers according to the number of the plurality of baffles <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a technical feature of stabilizing the refrigerant by the noise reduction device <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a view schematically illustrating a flow of a refrigerant in a refrigerant pipe before flowing into the noise reduction device shown in <FIG>, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the noise reduction device shown in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a view schematically illustrating a flow of a refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe after passing through the noise reduction device shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the refrigerant inside the first pipe <NUM> may have an irregular flow before flowing into the noise reduction device <NUM>. The refrigerant may be formed as a two-phase refrigerant of a gas phase G and a liquid phase L. Since the flow velocity of the gas phase G is faster than that of the liquid L, the gas phase G included in the liquid phase L irregularly flows inside the liquid phase L, causing noise inside the refrigerant pipe <NUM> and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The gas phase G irregularly colliding with the refrigerant pipe <NUM> or the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, or irregularly passing through the refrigerant pipe <NUM> or the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> may cause vibration, which results in noise inside the refrigerant pipe <NUM> and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when a refrigerant R flows into the noise reduction device <NUM>, the refrigerant R may collide with the first baffle 230a. As described above, the hole <NUM> is formed in the center side of the first baffle 230a, and a refrigerant R1 among the refrigerants R which has a high flow rate first passes through the hole <NUM> and flows into the first internal space 116a. The refrigerant R1 having a high flow rate may directly flow into the hole <NUM> without colliding with the first surface <NUM>.

A refrigerant R2 having a relatively low flow rate may not flow into the hole <NUM> and collide with the first surface <NUM> and then flow into the hole <NUM> later than the refrigerant R1 having a high flow rate.

In addition, a refrigerant R3 among the refrigerants R2 having a low flow rate may collide with the first surface <NUM> and pass through a gap h formed between the plurality of baffles <NUM> and the inner circumferential surface <NUM> and then flow into the first internal space 115a.

As described above, since the gas phase G has a higher flow rate than the liquid phase L, the refrigerant R1 having a high flow rate may be mainly formed of a gas phase G. However, some liquid phase L may also be included in the fast refrigerant R1 together with the gas phase G and pass through the hole <NUM>.

The slow refrigerant R2 may be mainly formed of a liquid phase L. However, some gas phase G may also be included in the slow refrigerant R2, and the gas phase G included in the slow refrigerant R2 may collide with the first surface <NUM> but pass through the hole <NUM> faster than the liquid phase L in the slow refrigerant R2.

The first inclined portion <NUM> of the first surface <NUM> may cause the slow refrigerant R2 colliding with the first surface <NUM> to flow to the opposite side, inducing an additional collision. That is, the first inclined portion <NUM> may diversify the collision angle of the refrigerant R so that the refrigerant R is induced to have more collisions within the unit internal space <NUM>, thereby constraining the slow refrigerant R2 from flowing into the hole <NUM> other than the fast refrigerant R1.

Thereafter, the fast refrigerant R1 among the refrigerants R introduced into the first internal space 116a may first flow into the second internal space 116b through the hole <NUM> of the second baffle 230b. In addition, the slow refrigerant R2 among the refrigerants R introduced into the first internal space 116a may collide with the first surface <NUM> of the second baffle 230b and flow into the hole <NUM> or may pass through the gap h and flow into the second internal space 116b later than the fast refrigerant R1.

As the plurality of baffles <NUM> is provided in plural, the unit internal space <NUM> is formed in plural, so that the above-described process may be continuously repeated. Accordingly, the refrigerant R may be rectified such that the fast refrigerant R1 is guided to flow along the center side in the flow direction of the refrigerant, and the slow refrigerant R2 flows along outside the fast refrigerant R1.

As described above, the plurality of baffles <NUM> may induce the refrigerant R such that the fast refrigerant R1 intensively flows along the center side. Since the fast refrigerant R1 is mainly formed of a gas phase G as described, the refrigerate R flows such that the gas phase G flowing in an irregularly scattered state is caused to be located only at the center side.

Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, the refrigerant R may be regularly divided into two phases and flow in the form in which the rapidly flowing gas phase G is disposed at the center side of the refrigerant R in the flow direction of the refrigerant, and the liquid phase L is provided outside the gas phase G by surrounding the gas phase G.

That is, the refrigerant R flowing in a slug flow shape, while passing through the noise reduction device <NUM>, is subject to phase separation to form a stable state, particularly, an annular flow state in which a gas phase G is located in the center and a liquid phase L is located around the gas phase G.

The plurality of baffles <NUM> may be sequentially disposed while being spaced apart from each other at positions corresponding to each other in the flow direction of the refrigerant. In addition, the holes <NUM> of the plurality of baffles <NUM> may also be sequentially disposed while being spaced apart from each other at positions corresponding to each other in the flow direction of the refrigerant. Accordingly, the gas phase G may be more efficiently located in the center of the refrigerant R. This is because when some of the holes of the plurality of baffles <NUM> are not disposed in the positions corresponding to other holes in the flow direction of the refrigerant, the gas phase G passed through the center portion may collide with some baffles and to be scattered, failing to form an annular flow.

As described above, the noise reduction device <NUM> allows a gas phase G and a liquid phase L of the refrigerant R to be uniformly divided and flow, so that the flow of the refrigerant R may be stabilized even when the internal space <NUM> is small.

Hereinafter, a structure body <NUM> of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. Components other than the structure body <NUM> to be described below are the same as those of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment, and thus descriptions thereof will be omitted.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a structure body of a noise reduction device a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a plurality of baffles <NUM> each have a rib <NUM> provided on an outer circumferential surface <NUM> thereof to come into contact with the inner circumferential surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. Each rib <NUM> may be provided to protrude outward in the radial direction of the plurality of baffles <NUM> on the outer circumferential surface <NUM>. Each rib <NUM> may be provided in plural. The plurality of ribs <NUM> may be disposed while being spaced apart from each other along the outer circumferential surface <NUM> of a corresponding one of the plurality of baffles <NUM>.

A gap h may be formed between the inner circumferential surface <NUM> and the plurality of baffles <NUM> to correspond to a height at which the rib <NUM> protrudes from the outer circumferential surface <NUM>. That is, the rib <NUM> may be provided to form a gap h between the inner circumferential surface <NUM> and the plurality of baffles <NUM> such that a part of the slow refrigerant R2 flows along the gap h. Although a gap h may be formed between the plurality of baffles <NUM> and the inner circumferential surface <NUM> according to the previous embodiment of the disclosure, the gap h is an installation gap formed to insert the structure body <NUM> into the housing <NUM>.

However, the plurality of baffles <NUM> according to the embodiment of the disclosure may include the rib <NUM> so that the area of the gap h becomes larger, which causes the amount of the refrigerant R3 flowing through the gap h among the refrigerants R to be increased, and the flow-ability of the refrigerant R in the noise reduction device <NUM> to be improved. In this case, since the refrigerant R3 flowing through the gap h is mainly formed of a liquid phase L as described above, even when the gap h is large, the liquid phase L and the gas phase G are not inhibited from being separately guided.

Hereinafter, a structure body <NUM> of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. Components other than the structure body <NUM> to be described below are the same as those of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a structure body of a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention, and <FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> of each of a plurality of baffles <NUM> are not symmetrically formed with respect to the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant, but are parallel to each other. That is, a first inclined portion <NUM> of the first surface <NUM> and a second inclined portion <NUM> of the second surface <NUM> may be formed to be inclined in the same direction.

Accordingly, the first inclined portion <NUM> may be formed to have more various angles than the first inclined portion <NUM> of the structure body <NUM> according to the previous embodiment of the disclosure. The second inclined portion <NUM> of the structure body <NUM> according to the previous embodiment of the disclosure is inclined in a direction opposite to that of the first inclined portion <NUM>, so that the unit internal space <NUM> of the internal space <NUM> partitioned by the structure body <NUM> may be narrow.

This is because the first inclined portion <NUM> and the second inclined portion <NUM> are provided to protrude in a direction in which the unit internal space <NUM> become narrower, from a perspective of the unit internal space <NUM>.

However, the first inclined portion <NUM> and the second inclined portion <NUM> of the structure body <NUM> according to the embodiment of the disclosure are arranged in parallel, so that the unit internal space <NUM> may be uniformly formed regardless of the inclination angle of each of the first and second inclined portion <NUM> and <NUM>.

Therefore, the inclination angles of the first inclined portion <NUM> and the second inclined portion <NUM> may be set to an angle optimized such that the slow refrigerant R2 is caused to flow after sufficiently colliding inside the unit internal space <NUM> without being limited by the size of the unit internal space <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a structure body <NUM> of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. Components other than the structure body <NUM> to be described below are the same as those of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to the above described embodiment, and thus descriptions thereof will be omitted.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a structure body of a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention, and <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM> of each of a plurality of baffles <NUM> may be formed in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant. That is, the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> may not include an inclined portion. When it is considered that sufficient collision may occur in the unit internal space <NUM> even when the first surface <NUM> or the second surface <NUM> does not include an inclined portion based on the flow rate of the refrigerant, the first surface <NUM> or the second surface <NUM> may not include an inclined portion.

Hereinafter, a structure body <NUM> of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the invention will be described. Components other than the structure body <NUM> described below are the same as those of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a structure body of a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating parts of a structure body of a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention, and <FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a noise reduction device of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a structure body <NUM> may include a plurality of baffles <NUM> and a plurality of frames <NUM> respectively formed on the plurality of baffles <NUM>. Each of the plurality of frames <NUM> may be provided to protrude to the rear side of a first surface <NUM> of one of the plurality of baffles <NUM> corresponding thereto.

The first surfaces <NUM> may each include a first inclined portion <NUM> formed to be inclined from the hole <NUM> toward the outside of the first surface <NUM> in the flow direction of the refrigerant. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the first surface <NUM> may be provided to be perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant without including the first inclined portion <NUM>.

A second surface <NUM> disposed at a side opposite to the first surface <NUM> may be disposed parallel to the first surface <NUM>. In detail, the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> may be disposed in parallel with each other in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the second surface <NUM> may be symmetrical to the first surface <NUM> with respect to the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the refrigerant flows.

The second surface <NUM> may include a second inclined portion <NUM> formed to be inclined toward the outside of the second surface <NUM> in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The second inclined portion <NUM> may be disposed parallel to the first inclined portion <NUM> in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the second surface <NUM> may be provided to be perpendicular to the flow direction of the refrigerant without including the second inclined portion <NUM>. In addition, the second inclined portion <NUM> may be symmetrical to the first inclined portion <NUM> about the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the refrigerant flows.

Hereinafter, among the plurality of baffles <NUM> and the plurality of frames <NUM>, the first baffle 630a and the first frame 640a formed on the first baffle 630a and the second baffle 630b and the second frame 640b formed on the second baffle 630b are described as an example. Since all of the plurality of baffles <NUM> have the same shape, details of parts identical to each other will not be described.

The first frame 640a may be provided in a pair. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the first frame 640a may be formed in three or more units thereof. The pair of first frames 640a may be disposed with a phase difference of approximately <NUM> degrees in the circumferential direction of the first baffle 630a. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pair of first frames 640a may be disposed with various phase differences.

The first frame 640a may include a first hook portion 641a that may be hooked to the second baffle 630b and a first fixing groove 642a to which the second baffle 630b is fixed. The first baffle 630a and the second baffle 630b may be coupled to each other in the flow direction of the refrigerant. That is, the first hook portion 641a is hook-coupled to the second baffle 630b in the flow direction of the refrigerant so that the first baffle 630a and the second baffle 630b may be coupled to each other. The second baffle 630b may include a second support groove 650b that is hook-coupled to the first hook portion 641a and fixed to and supported by the first fixing groove 642a. The first hook portion 641a is hook-coupled to the second support groove 650b so that the first baffle 630a and the second baffle 630b may be coupled to each other.

The second support grooves 650b may be provided corresponding in number to the number of the first frames 640a. Therefore, the second support groove 650b may be provided in a pair. The pair of second support grooves 650b may be disposed with a phase difference of approximately <NUM> degrees in the circumferential direction of the second baffle 630b. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pair of second support grooves 650b may be disposed with various phase differences.

The pair of second support grooves 650b may be disposed with a phase difference of approximately <NUM> degrees from the pair of second frames 640b, respectively, in the circumferential direction of and the second baffle 630b.

Accordingly, the first baffle 630a and the second baffle 630b may be coupled to each other with a phase difference of approximately <NUM> degrees in the circumferential direction of the first baffle 630a. That is, the first baffle 630a and the second baffle 630b are each provided in the same shape, and the second baffle 630b is coupled to the first baffle 630a in a position rotated by <NUM> degrees from the phase at which the first baffle 630a is disposed.

In addition, a third baffle 630c may be coupled to the second baffle 630b in the same phase as that of the first baffle 630a, and a fourth baffle 630d may be coupled to the third baffle 630c in the same phase as that of the second baffle 630b.

As such, the plurality of baffles <NUM> include the frames <NUM> coupled thereto, and the hook portion <NUM> and the fixing groove <NUM> formed on the frame <NUM> may be hook-coupled to one of the plurality of baffles <NUM> adjacent thereto.

Accordingly, the structure body <NUM> may be formed in various lengths in the flow direction of the refrigerant as needed. That is, when coupling a small number of baffles among the plurality of baffles <NUM> to each other, the length of the structure body <NUM> may become shorter, and when coupling a large number of baffles <NUM> among the plurality of baffles <NUM> to each other, the length of the structure body <NUM> may become longer to correspond to the number of the baffles <NUM> coupled to each other.

Further, as the unit baffles of the plurality of baffles <NUM> are all formed in the same shape, manufacturability may be improved.

The structure body <NUM> may include a plurality of baffles <NUM> and a frame <NUM> connecting the plurality of baffles <NUM> to each other. The plurality of baffles <NUM> may include holes <NUM> through which a refrigerant passes.

Unlike the above-described embodiments, a plurality of the holes <NUM> may be provided in each of the plurality of baffles <NUM>. Also, unlike the above-described embodiments, the frame <NUM> may support the plurality of baffles <NUM> in the center sides of the plurality of baffles <NUM>.

The following description is made in relation to a first baffle 730a and a second baffle 730b among the plurality of baffles <NUM> as an example. Since all of the plurality of baffles <NUM> are provided in the same form, parts identical to each other will be omitted.

The first baffle 730a may include a first insertion frame 741a forming the frame <NUM> and protruding from one side thereof and a first receive frame 742a protruding from a side opposite to the first insertion frame 741a.

The first baffle 730a may include a plurality of holes <NUM> disposed at an outside of the center in which the frame <NUM> is disposed. The plurality of holes <NUM> may be disposed while being spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the first baffle <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the plurality of holes <NUM> may be arranged in various ways.

The second baffle 730b may include a second insertion frame 741b forming the frame <NUM> and protruding from one side thereof and a second receive frame 742b protruding from a side opposite to the second insertion frame 741b.

The first insertion frame 741a of the first baffle 730a may be inserted into the second receive frame 742b of the second baffle 730b. As the first insertion frame 741a is inserted into the second receive frame 742b, the first baffle 730a and the second baffle 730b may be coupled to each other. In addition, a third baffle 730c may be coupled to the second baffle 730b in the same manner as the above. As such, the insertion frames <NUM> and the receive frames <NUM> formed on the plurality of baffles <NUM> may be coupled to each other to form the entire frame <NUM>.

In addition, as the unit baffles of the plurality of baffles <NUM> are all formed to have the same shape, the manufacturability may be improved.

The structure body <NUM> formed by coupling the plurality of baffles <NUM> to each other may be disposed inside the housing <NUM>.

The plurality of baffles <NUM> may partition the internal space <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

Unlike the structure bodies <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> described above, the structure body <NUM> according to the embodiment of the disclosure may stabilize the flow of the refrigerant by allowing the refrigerant R flowing into the noise reduction device <NUM> to be introduced into the partitioned internal space <NUM> and be mixed.

That is, the refrigerant R introduced through the refrigerant inlet 111a may collide with the first baffle 730a and be mixed between the refrigerant inlet 111a and the first baffle 730a, and then flow to the second baffle 730b through the plurality of holes <NUM> of the first baffle 730a.

The refrigerant in an unstable flow state forming a slug flow is introduced into the refrigerant inlet 111a and primarily mixed between the refrigerant inlet 111a and the first baffle 730a. Thereafter, a mixed refrigerant R1 may be introduced into a first internal space 116a through the plurality of holes <NUM> of the first baffle 730a.

The mixed refrigerant R1 is secondarily mixed while colliding with the second baffle 730b in the first internal space 116a formed by the first baffle 730a and the second baffle 730b. Thereafter, the mixed refrigerant R1 may sequentially pass through a plurality of unit internal spaces <NUM> including a second internal space 116b and a third internal space 116c so that the flow thereof is stabilized.

That is, the gas phase of the slug flow is destroyed through the mixing, so that the flow may be stabilized. Accordingly, the refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant outlet 112a may have a uniform mixture of a gas layer G and a liquid layer L and generate uniform vibration, so that noise is reduced.

However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the structure body <NUM> may include a hollow formed inside the frame <NUM>. Although not shown in the drawing, the frame <NUM> may include hollows provided to communicate the plurality of insertion frames <NUM> with the plurality of receive frames <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the plurality of insertion frames <NUM> are assembled with the plurality of receive frames <NUM>, the frame <NUM> may include the hollow formed therein. When the hollow is formed in the frame <NUM> as such, a gas layer G of the refrigerant flowing into the housing <NUM> may flow through the hollow of the frame <NUM>, and a liquid layer L of the refrigerant may flow through the plurality of holes <NUM>, thereby achieving phase separation of the refrigerant.

Such a phase separation method corresponds to the method of separating phases of the refrigerant R by the structure bodies <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> according to one embodiment or other embodiments of the disclosure.

Hereinafter, a structure body <NUM> of a noise reduction device according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. Components other than the structure body <NUM> to be described below are the same as those of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment, and thus descriptions thereof will be omitted.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a noise reduction device and a refrigerant pipe of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention, and <FIG> is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a noise reduction device and a refrigerant pipe of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the noise reduction device according to the embodiment of the invention may be formed of only a structure body <NUM> without including a housing.

The structure body <NUM> may be provided to be inserted into the inside <NUM> of the refrigerant pipe <NUM>.

An outer circumferential surface of the structure body <NUM> may be provided to have a size substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the refrigerant pipe <NUM>.

The refrigerant pipe <NUM> includes a first pipe <NUM> connected to the expansion device <NUM> and a second pipe 50b coupled to the first pipe <NUM> and connected to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The first pipe <NUM> and the second pipe 50b may be coupled to each other through welding or the like.

The structure body <NUM> may be inserted into the inside <NUM> of the second pipe 50b before the first pipe <NUM> and the second pipe 50b are coupled to each other. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the structure body <NUM> may be inserted into the first pipe <NUM>. After the structure body <NUM> is inserted into the inside <NUM> of the first pipe <NUM> or the second pipe 50b, the first pipe <NUM> or the second pipe 50b may be coupled to the structure <NUM>.

Although not shown, the structure body <NUM> may include a coupling portion (not shown) coupled to the inside of the refrigerant pipe <NUM> such that the structure <NUM> inserted into the refrigerant pipe <NUM> is kept in position.

The coupling portion (not shown) may have a diameter formed larger than a radius of the inside <NUM> of the refrigerant pipe <NUM> by a predetermined length so as to be fitted into the inside <NUM> of the refrigerant pipe <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the coupling portion (not shown) may be provided in various shapes. Accordingly, the structure body <NUM> may partition the inside <NUM> of the refrigerant pipe <NUM> into a plurality of unit spaces <NUM>.

A plurality of baffles <NUM> of the structure body <NUM> may partition the inside <NUM> of the refrigerant pipe <NUM> into the plurality of unit spaces <NUM>.

In this case, the structure body <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to any one of the structure body <NUM> according to one embodiment of the disclosure and the structure bodies <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> according to other embodiment of the disclosure described above.

Accordingly, a refrigerant flowing through the first pipe <NUM> may move in a slug flow state, but through the structure body <NUM>, in which phases of the refrigerant are separated, the refrigerant may pass through the second pipe 50b in an annular flow state and then flow into the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a noise reduction device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described according to another embodiment of the disclosure. Configurations other than the noise reduction device <NUM> described below are the same as those of the noise reduction device <NUM> according to the above-described embodiment, and thus descriptions thereof will be omitted.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a refrigerant flow path an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the invention, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating a noise reduction device shown in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the noise reduction device shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, an air conditioner <NUM> may have a plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3 connected to a single outdoor unit O. The disclosure is not limited thereto, and the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3 may include four or more indoor units.

Inside the outdoor unit O, a compressor <NUM> and an outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> may be disposed.

An expansion device <NUM>, an indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and a noise reduction device <NUM> may be disposed in each of the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3.

The configurations may be connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe <NUM>. The refrigerant pipe <NUM> may be branched into a number of pipes corresponding to the number of the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3. The refrigerant pipe <NUM> may include a first pipe <NUM>, a second pipe <NUM>, and a third pipe <NUM> respectively connected to a first indoor unit I1, a second indoor unit I2, and a third indoor unit I3 among the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3.

Although not shown in the drawing, the refrigerant pipe <NUM> may include a refrigerant valve (not shown) formed to allow a refrigerant to selectively flow through the first, second, and third pipes <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The refrigerant valve (not shown) is selectively opened or closed to prevent the refrigerant from flowing through the pipe <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> connected to the indoor unit I1, I2, or I3 that is not driven among the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3 while allowing the refrigerant to flow through the pipe <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> connected to the indoor unit I1, I2, or I3 that is driven among the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3.

The noise reduction device <NUM> according to one embodiment of the disclosure is disposed between the expansion device <NUM> and the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, but the noise reduction device <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure may be disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the expansion device <NUM>.

The refrigerant may be introduced into the noise reduction device <NUM> before flowing into the expansion device <NUM>, so that the refrigerant with the flow thereof stabilized flows into the expansion device <NUM>.

Accordingly, noise that may be generated when the refrigerant flows inside the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> as well as noise that may be generated when the refrigerant flows into the expansion device <NUM> may be reduced.

In a state in which the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3 are connected to a single outdoor unit O, even when only some of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 are driven, the compressor <NUM> may be driven in the same way as when all of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 are driven.

When the refrigerant compressed by the compressor <NUM> flows into the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3, some of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 that are not driven may cause refrigerant cycle conditions to be formed differently and some refrigerant to have insufficient super-cooling degree, so that the refrigerant may flow into the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 in a two-phase state.

The noise reduction device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> according to the present embodiment of the disclosure is disposed in each of the plurality of indoor units I1, I2, and I3 to prevent a two-phase refrigerant introduced into the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 from occurring noise while flowing through the expansion device <NUM> and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>.

That is, the noise reduction device <NUM> is provided to allow the refrigerant to pass therethrough before flowing into the expansion device <NUM> and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> inside the indoor units I1, I2, and I3, so that noise is reduced.

Unlike the air conditioner <NUM> according to the above described embodiment of the invention, the expansion device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> according to the embodiment of the invention is disposed inside each of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3. In addition, the noise reduction device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> may be disposed inside each of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3.

Referring to <FIG>, the noise reduction device <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> including a refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM>, a refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM>, and a body <NUM> forming the external appearance thereof. The refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> may be connected to a front part 71a of the first pipe <NUM>, and the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> may be connected to a rear part 71b of the first pipe <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may be provided in a cylindrical shape including a hollow. The body <NUM> may include an inner circumferential surface <NUM> forming the hollow and an internal space <NUM> formed as a hollow by the inner circumferential surface <NUM>.

The noise reduction device <NUM> may include a structure body <NUM> including a plurality of baffles <NUM> and a frame <NUM> supporting the plurality of baffles <NUM>. The structure body <NUM> may be provided to be inserted into the housing <NUM>. The structure body <NUM> may be inserted into the internal space <NUM> formed on the inner circumferential surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The structure body <NUM> may be formed in the same form as any one of the structure bodies <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> disclosed in the above described embodiments of the invention.

The noise reduction device <NUM> may include a filter <NUM> provided to collect foreign substances in the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM>. The filter <NUM> may be disposed between the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> and the structure body <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the filter <NUM> may be disposed between the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> and the structure body <NUM>. The filter <NUM> may include a mesh member. As the refrigerant passes through the mesh member, foreign substances in the refrigerant may be collected by the filter <NUM>.

The refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant flow-in portion <NUM> may have the flow thereof stabilized by passing through the structure body <NUM>, and have foreign substances filtered out by passing through the filter <NUM>. Thereafter, the refrigerant may flow out from the noise reduction device <NUM> through the refrigerant flow-out portion <NUM> and flow into the expansion device <NUM>.

The structure body <NUM> and the filter <NUM> may be arranged in series in a direction in which the refrigerant flows in the internal space <NUM> of the noise reduction device <NUM>.

The noise reduction device <NUM> may include a first fixing member <NUM> provided such that the structure body <NUM> is fixed to the internal space <NUM>.

The noise reduction device <NUM> may include a second fixing member <NUM> provided such that the filter <NUM> is fixed to the internal space <NUM>. The second fixing member <NUM> may fix the structure body <NUM> as well as the filter <NUM> to the internal space <NUM> at the same time. The first and second fixing members <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed before and after the structure body <NUM> in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The first and second fixing members <NUM> and <NUM> may each be formed in a ring shape. The second fixing member <NUM> may be provided to maintain the shape of the mesh member by fixing the mesh member of the filter <NUM>.

As described above, the filter configuration may be disposed between the expansion device <NUM> and the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> to prevent foreign substances in the refrigerant flowing into the expansion device <NUM> from flowing into the expansion device <NUM>.

In the case of the air conditioner <NUM> according to the embodiment of the disclosure, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, the expansion device <NUM>, and the noise reduction device <NUM> are all disposed inside the indoor units I1, I2, and I3. As a result, the internal spaces of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 become narrower, so that the installation of the filter configuration in the indoor units I1, I2, I3 may be deteriorated.

That is, the filter configuration needs to be installed at an area before the expansion device <NUM> in the flow direction of the refrigerant, and to this end, the filter configuration needs to be disposed inside the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 because the expansion device <NUM> is disposed inside the indoor units I1, I2, and I3. However, since the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the noise reduction device <NUM> are disposed inside the indoor units I1, I2, and I3, it is not easy to install the filter configuration.

The noise reduction device <NUM> of the air conditioner <NUM> according to the of the disclosure includes the configuration of the filter <NUM> for collecting foreign substances of the refrigerant before the refrigerant is introduced into the expansion device <NUM>, thereby obviating a need to additionally install a filter inside the indoor unit.

As is apparent from the above, the noise reduction device and the air conditioner having the same can reduce irregular refrigerant noise.

Accordingly, the spatial efficiency of the interior of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 may be increased, and due to omitting additional configuration, the number of parts of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 is reduced, so that the material cost of the indoor units I1, I2, and I3 may be reduced.

Although a few embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only.

Claim 1:
An air conditioner (<NUM>) configured to be coupled to a refrigerant flow path, comprising:
a compressor (<NUM>) configured to compress a refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant flow path;
an outdoor heat exchanger (<NUM>) configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air;
an expansion device (<NUM>) configured to expand the refrigerant;
an indoor heat exchanger (<NUM>) configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air; and
a noise reduction device (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided between the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger and configured to be coupled to the refrigerant flow path and configured to reduce flow noise of the refrigerant moved as a two-phase refrigerant of a gas phase and a liquid phase, the noise reduction device including:
a housing (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a refrigerant inlet (111a) and a refrigerant outlet (112a); and
a plurality of baffles (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed inside the housing and including a first baffle (230a) and a second baffle (230b) that partition an inside of the housing into a plurality of spaces in a flow direction of the refrigerant,
each of the first baffle and the second baffle including a hole (<NUM>) through which the refrigerant passes,
the holes of the first and second baffles being disposed at centers of the first and second baffles.