Patent Description:
In a related art, a humidifier is mounted in an air conditioner to prevent air flow delivered by the air conditioner from being too dry, and a fan is provided at an air outlet end of the humidifier to transport steam generated by the humidifier to an indoor space, but the fan generates a larger noise when working, which affects comfort of a user. <CIT>, disclosing an air conditioning device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, relates generally to an indoor unit of an air conditioner with a humidifying function. <CIT> relates generally to a ceiling type air conditioner with a humidifying unit for providing moisture in the air. <CIT> relates generally to a humidification device used for a split floor-type air conditioner. <CIT> relates generally to a cooling/heating air conditioner with a humidifying function to supply humidifying air by use of condensed water produced in a heat exchanger.

In order to solve the above problem, there is proposed an air conditioning device as defined in claim <NUM>. The prevent application provides an air conditioning device having the advantages of a low noise and high comfort.

The air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present application includes: an indoor unit having an air outlet; a steam generating device having a steam outlet; and a steam delivery line having one end communicated with the steam outlet, the steam generating device driving steam to flow to the indoor unit sequentially through the steam outlet and the steam delivery line utilizing a pressure of the steam.

In the air conditioning device according to the present invention, the steam generating device may generate the steam when working, the pressure of the steam in the steam generating device is increased with an increase in a volume of the generated steam, and when the pressure of the steam in the steam generating device is higher than a pressure at the steam outlet, the steam in the steam generating device may be delivered into the indoor unit sequentially through the steam outlet and the steam delivery line, and delivered to an indoor space along with air flow in the indoor unit, such that the steam may be driven to flow using the pressure thereof, thereby reducing a working noise of the air conditioning device, and then improving the comfort of the user. Further, the whole weight and a manufacturing cost of the air conditioning device may be reduced.

According to the present invention, a plurality of steam chambers are provided in the steam generating device, each steam chamber has at least one steam outlet, and each steam outlet being in communication with at least one steam delivery line.

According to the present invention, the steam generating device includes: a working water tank having a heating cavity, the heating cavity being communicated with the steam chamber, and the steam chamber being located inside or outside the heating cavity; and an electric heater provided in the heating cavity.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the electric heater is configured as a positive-temperature-coefficient (PTC) thermistor.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of electric heaters are provided.

According to the present invention, the working water tank has an air pressure adjustment port in communication with the heating cavity.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a steam valve is provided at the air pressure adjustment port.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the working water tank is provided with a drainage port.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the air conditioning device further includes: a water supplementing tank communicated with a water source; and a communicating pipe with one end communicated with the water supplementing tank and the other end communicated with the working water tank.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the communicating pipe is configured as a U-pipe.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a one-way valve is provided at the U-pipe to enable fluid to flow only from the water supplementing tank to the working water tank.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the water supplementing tank is provided with a ball cock for controlling communication or disconnection between the water supplementing tank and the water source.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the steam outlets are in one-to-one correspondence to the steam delivery lines.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the indoor units are in one-to-one correspondence to the steam delivery lines.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the other end of the steam delivery line is located at the air outlet.

According to some embodiments of the present application, the indoor unit is provided with an air duct communicated with the air outlet, the indoor unit further includes a heat exchanger arranged in the air duct, and the other end of the steam delivery line is arranged at the heat exchanger.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the other end of the steam delivery line is located upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger in a direction of air flow within the air duct.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the other end of the steam delivery line is located between the heat exchanger and the air outlet.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention, will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present invention.

Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, and the examples of the embodiments are illustrated in the drawings, wherein the same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are illustrative, and merely used to explain the present invention. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present invention.

An air conditioning device <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and includes: an indoor unit <NUM>, a steam generating device <NUM> and a steam delivery line <NUM>. The indoor unit <NUM> may be configured as an air-conditioner indoor unit, a duct type air conditioner, or an indoor part of a central air conditioner.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> has an air outlet <NUM> (referring to <FIG>), the steam generating device <NUM> has a steam outlet <NUM>, one end of the steam delivery line <NUM> is communicated with the steam outlet <NUM>, and the steam generating device <NUM> drives steam to flow to the indoor unit <NUM> sequentially through the steam outlet <NUM> and the steam delivery line <NUM> using a pressure of the steam.

It may be understood that the steam generating device <NUM> may generate the steam when working, the pressure of the steam in the steam generating device <NUM> is increased with an increase in a volume of the generated steam, and when the pressure of the steam in the steam generating device <NUM> is higher than a pressure at the steam outlet <NUM>, the steam in the steam generating device <NUM> may be delivered into the indoor unit <NUM> sequentially through the steam outlet <NUM> and the steam delivery line <NUM>, and delivered to an indoor space through the air outlet <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM>.

Thus, the steam may be driven to flow using the pressure thereof, thereby omitting a fan in a related art, then reducing a working noise of the air conditioning device <NUM>, and improving comfort of a user. Further, the whole weight and a manufacturing cost of the air conditioning device <NUM> may be reduced.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the steam delivery line <NUM> is not required to be provided with a control valve, and flow and stop of the steam may be realized by the pressure of the steam in the steam generating device <NUM>, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost, and simplifying a structure of the steam generating device <NUM>.

For example, the indoor unit <NUM> further has an air inlet <NUM>, and indoor air flow enters the indoor unit <NUM> through the air inlet <NUM> to exchange heat and then is delivered to the indoor space through the air outlet <NUM>.

In the air conditioning device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention, the steam generating device <NUM> may generate the steam when working, the pressure of the steam in the steam generating device <NUM> is increased with the increase in the volume of the generated steam, and when the pressure of the steam in the steam generating device <NUM> is higher than the pressure at the steam outlet <NUM>, the steam in the steam generating device <NUM> may be delivered into the indoor unit <NUM> sequentially through the steam outlet <NUM> and the steam delivery line <NUM>, and delivered to an indoor space along with the air flow in the indoor unit <NUM>, such that the steam may be driven to flow using the pressure thereof, thereby reducing the working noise of the air conditioning device <NUM>, and then improving the comfort of the user. Further, the whole weight and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioning device <NUM> may be reduced.

For example, in some examples of the present application, three indoor units <NUM> are provided, three steam generating devices <NUM> are provided, and three steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided; the three steam delivery lines <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence to the three steam generating devices <NUM>, and the three steam generating devices <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence to the three indoor units <NUM>.

For another example, in some other examples of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, a plurality of indoor units <NUM> are provided, a plurality of steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided correspondingly, one steam generating device <NUM> is provided, one steam outlet <NUM> is provided in the steam generating device <NUM>, and all the plurality of steam delivery lines <NUM> are communicated with the steam outlet <NUM>.

For another example, in some other examples of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a plurality of indoor units <NUM> are provided, a plurality of steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided, the plurality of steam delivery lines <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of indoor units <NUM>, one steam generating device <NUM> is provided, and a plurality of steam outlets <NUM> are provided in the steam generating device <NUM>, and in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of steam delivery lines <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, the steam generating device <NUM> has a plurality of steam chambers <NUM> therein, each steam chamber <NUM> having at least one steam outlet <NUM>, and each steam outlet <NUM> being in communication with at least one steam delivery line <NUM>.

It may be appreciated that each steam chamber <NUM> may have one, two or more steam outlets <NUM>. Each steam outlet <NUM> may be in communication with one, two or more steam delivery lines <NUM>. Thus, a workload of the single steam chamber <NUM> may be reduced to improve a working performance thereof, thereby improving a working efficiency of the steam generating device <NUM>.

For example, three indoor units <NUM> are provided, three steam chambers <NUM> are provided, three steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided, each steam chamber <NUM> has one steam outlet <NUM>, each steam outlet <NUM> is communicated with one steam delivery line <NUM>, and the three steam delivery lines <NUM> are fitted with the three indoor units <NUM> in one-to-one correspondence.

For another example, one indoor unit <NUM> is provided, three steam chambers <NUM> are provided, three steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided, each steam chamber <NUM> has one steam outlet <NUM>, each steam outlet <NUM> is communicated with one steam delivery line <NUM>, and the three steam delivery lines <NUM> are fitted with the same indoor unit <NUM>.

For another example, four indoor units <NUM> are provided, four steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided, two steam chambers <NUM> are provided, each steam chamber <NUM> has one steam outlet <NUM>, each steam outlet <NUM> is communicated with two steam delivery lines <NUM>, and the four steam delivery lines <NUM> are fitted with the four indoor units <NUM> in one-to-one correspondence.

For another example, four indoor units <NUM> are provided, four steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided, two steam chambers <NUM> are provided, each steam chamber <NUM> has two steam outlets <NUM>, each steam outlet <NUM> is communicated with one steam delivery line <NUM>, and the four steam delivery lines <NUM> are fitted with the four indoor units <NUM> in one-to-one correspondence.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the steam generating device <NUM> is mounted in a kitchen or a toilet. It may be understood that the steam generating device <NUM> is required to be supplemented with water in time, and a water source is often provided in the kitchen or the toilet; the steam generating device <NUM> is mounted in the kitchen or the toilet, such that the steam generating device <NUM> may be closer to the water source, thereby reducing a water supplementing difficulty, and improving a work reliability of the steam generating device <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the steam generating device <NUM> may be hung from a ceiling or a wall, thus reducing an occupied space of the steam generating device <NUM>, and meanwhile lowering a mounting difficulty thereof, so as to be beneficial to improving a mounting efficiency of the steam generating device <NUM>. It should be noted that the steam generating device <NUM> in the present application may be sold and mounted separately.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the steam generating device <NUM> includes: a working water tank <NUM> provided with a heating cavity <NUM>, the heating cavity <NUM> being communicated with the steam chamber <NUM>, and the steam chamber <NUM> being located inside or outside the heating cavity <NUM>; and an electric heater <NUM> provided in the heating cavity <NUM>.

The electric heater <NUM> has the advantage of a stable heating power, thus avoiding a rapid change (rapid increase or rapid decrease) of a quantity of the steam generated by a heating process, and usage of the electric heater <NUM> has the advantage of gently adjusting a humidity, thereby improving the comfort of the user.

It may be understood that the electric heater <NUM> heats the water in the water tank, the water is evaporated at a high temperature to generate steam, the steam may be collected in the steam chamber <NUM>, and when the pressure of the steam collected in the steam chamber <NUM> is higher than the pressure at the steam outlet <NUM>, under the action of the steam pressure, the steam in the steam chamber <NUM> may sequentially flow through the steam outlet <NUM> and the steam delivery line <NUM>, and then is conveyed into the indoor unit <NUM>, and delivered to the indoor space along with air flow in the indoor unit <NUM>.

The heating cavity <NUM> serves as not only a place for containing water to be heated, but also a reaction place for heating water by the electric heater <NUM>. The steam chamber <NUM> serves as not only a place for collecting the steam, but also a place for accumulating the pressure of the steam, and by providing the heating cavity <NUM> and the steam chamber <NUM>, the steam pressure may be quickly raised to a working pressure, thereby improving the working performance of the air conditioning device <NUM>.

For example, in some examples of the present invention, two working water tanks <NUM> are provided, and two electric heaters <NUM> are provided in one-to-one correspondence to the two working water tanks <NUM>.

Specifically, the steam outlet <NUM> is provided in the working water tank <NUM>, and communicated with the steam chamber <NUM> inside the working water tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the electric heater <NUM> is configured as a PTC thermistor. The PTC thermistor is a semiconductor resistor typically having a temperature sensitivity, and the arrangement of the PTC thermistor may guarantee heating power of the electric heater <NUM> to further increase a generation rate of the steam, thereby reducing a response time of the steam generating device <NUM>. Furthermore, compared to other types of electric heaters <NUM>, the PTC thermistor is highly safe and less likely to cause ignition, or the like, even when heated dryly.

Specifically, the PTC thermistor has adjustable actual power, and during actual operation, the power of the PTC thermistor may be controlled as required. In addition, the PTC thermistor is highly sensitive to temperature, and when the water in the working water tank <NUM> is insufficient or used up, this condition may be learned in time according to the temperature of the PTC thermistor.

Specifically, a plurality of PTC thermistors are provided at intervals. The plurality of PTC thermistors may further increase the production rate of the steam to further reduce the response time of the steam generating device <NUM>. The plurality of PTC thermistors may be spaced apart in a height direction of the working water tank <NUM>, and thus, a water level in the working water tank <NUM> may be judged according to the operating temperatures of the plurality of PTC thermistors.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of electric heaters <NUM> are provided. The plurality of electric heaters <NUM> may further increase the production rate of the steam to further reduce the response time of the steam generating device <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the working water tank <NUM> has a drainage port <NUM>. It may be understood that, during long-term operation of the steam generating device <NUM>, the water inside the working water tank <NUM> is heated and evaporated into steam by the electric heater <NUM> for a long time. Since impurities, such as chloride ions, calcium ions, or the like, in the water are hardly taken away by the steam, these impurities may have concentrations higher and higher under long-term accumulation, and thus corrode not only the working water tank <NUM>, but also other detecting elements in the working water tank <NUM>, which influences an operation reliability of the steam generating device <NUM>. The Impurities brought in the water tend to be scaled in the working water tank <NUM>, and the thicker a scale layer, the more difficult the removal. In addition, the steam in the working water tank <NUM> inevitably carries water mist with impurities during discharge, and when the content of the impurity in the water is too high, the sprayed water mist also influences health of people. Thus, the working water tank <NUM> is required to be cleaned periodically, and by providing the drainage port <NUM>, cleaned sewage may be drained out of the working water tank <NUM> through the drainage port <NUM>, thereby improving cleanliness of the working water tank <NUM>.

Furthermore, when the working water tank <NUM> is required to be repaired or an emergency occurs and the water in the working water tank <NUM> is necessary to be drained, the water in the working water tank <NUM> may be drained through the drainage port <NUM>. Specifically, the drainage port <NUM> is provided in a bottom of the working water tank <NUM> and may be connected with a sink or bathroom equipment through a drainage pipe, the water discharged from the working water tank <NUM> may automatically flow into the sink or a urinal by gravity, and a drainage valve <NUM> is further provided at the drainage port <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the air conditioning device <NUM> (referring to <FIG>) further includes: a water supplementing tank <NUM> communicated with the water source; and a communicating pipe <NUM> having one end communicated with the water supplementing tank <NUM> and the other end communicated with the working water tank <NUM>. The water supplementing tank <NUM> may be configured to timely deliver and supplement water to the working water tank <NUM>, and the problem that the working water tank <NUM> is unable to be supplemented with water due to temporary water cut may be solved by providing the water supplementing tank <NUM>, such that the working water tank <NUM> may still work continuously during short-time water cut, thereby improving the working reliability and safety of the air conditioning device <NUM>.

For example, in some examples of the present invention, one water supplementing tank <NUM> is provided, and a plurality of working water tanks <NUM> are provided and communicated with the water supplementing tank <NUM> through the communicating pipes <NUM> respectively.

For another example, in some examples of the present invention, a plurality of water supplementing tanks <NUM> are provided, a plurality of working water tanks <NUM> are provided, and the plurality of water supplementing tanks <NUM> are fitted with the plurality of working water tanks <NUM> in one-to-one correspondence.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the communicating pipe <NUM> is configured as a U-pipe. It may be understood that after the water supplementing tank <NUM> is communicated with the working water tank <NUM> through the U-pipe, a liquid level in the water supplementing tank <NUM> is flush with a liquid level in the working water tank <NUM>, when the working water tank <NUM> has a low liquid level, the water supplementing tank <NUM> also has a relatively low liquid level, and when the working water tank <NUM> has a high liquid level, the water supplementing tank <NUM> also has a relatively high liquid level. Thus, the liquid level in the working water tank <NUM> may be controlled within an appropriate range by controlling the liquid level in the water supplementing tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a one-way valve <NUM> is provided at the U-pipe to enable fluid to flow only from the water supplementing tank <NUM> to the working water tank <NUM>, thus avoiding that the water in the working water tank <NUM> flows back into the water supplementing tank <NUM> under the action of the high-pressure steam, and meanwhile avoiding that the steam in the working water tank <NUM> flows back into the water supplementing tank <NUM>, so as to guarantee uniqueness of a flowing direction of the steam in the working water tank <NUM>. It should be noted that the one-way valve <NUM> enables the fluid to flow only from the water supplementing tank <NUM> to the working water tank <NUM>, and meanwhile may prevent the steam in the working water tank <NUM> from flowing back into the water supplementing tank <NUM>.

It should be noted that, in order to guarantee the working safety of the steam generating device <NUM>, the water supplementing tank <NUM> may be set to deliver and supplement water to the working water tank <NUM> only when no steam is generated in the working water tank <NUM>. Or, when an air pressure in the working water tank <NUM> is the same as an air pressure in the water supplementing tank <NUM>, the water supplementing tank <NUM> delivers and supplements water to the working water tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the water supplementing tank <NUM> has a ball cock <NUM> for controlling communication or disconnection between the water supplementing tank <NUM> and the water source. It may be appreciated that when the liquid level in the water supplementing tank <NUM> is below a preset height, the ball cock <NUM> may control the water source to be communicated with the water supplementing tank <NUM>, thus replenishing the water supplementing tank <NUM> with water; when the liquid level in the water supplementing tank <NUM> reaches the preset height, the ball cock <NUM> controls the water source to be disconnected from the water supplementing tank <NUM>. Thus, by providing the ball cock <NUM>, the water supplementing tank <NUM> may be communicated with the water source in time under the condition that the water supplementing tank <NUM> is short of water, and disconnected from the water source in time under the condition that the water supplementing tank <NUM> is not short of water.

It may be understood that, during operation of the air conditioning device <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present application, an electric heating device in the steam generating device <NUM> may heat the water in the working water tank <NUM> to generate the steam, and when the pressure of the steam in the working water tank <NUM> is higher than the pressure at the steam outlet <NUM>, under the action of the steam pressure, the high-pressure steam in the working water tank <NUM> may sequentially flow through the steam outlet <NUM> and the steam delivery line <NUM>, and then be conveyed into the indoor unit <NUM>, and delivered to the indoor space along with the air flow in the indoor unit <NUM>.

When the working water tank <NUM> has a small amount of water, the water supplementing tank <NUM> may replenish water into the working water tank <NUM> through the communicating pipe <NUM>, and when the liquid level in the water supplementing tank <NUM> is lower than the set height, the ball cock <NUM> may control the water supplementing tank <NUM> to be communicated with the water source, thereby replenishing water into the water supplementing tank <NUM>. Specifically, the water supplementing tank <NUM> may be connected with a faucet through a water inlet pipe, and the faucet is turned on when the water supplementing tank <NUM> is required to be supplemented with water.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the water supplementing tank <NUM> is in communication with a water source in the kitchen or toilet, which may be either tap water or purified water, thus lowering a mounting difficulty of the water supplementing tank <NUM>, and meanwhile reducing a distance between the water supplementing tank <NUM> and the water source, and achieving convenient and practical advantages.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the water supplementing tank <NUM> may include a water tank body and a water inlet valve, the water tank body has an outer wall integrally provided with a mounting base and is provided with a water inlet, and the water inlet valve is mounted to the mounting base and connected with the water inlet.

Specifically, when mounted at the water tank body, the water inlet valve is fitted with the mounting base to reliably fix the water inlet valve, which is beneficial to improving a working reliability of the water inlet valve; meanwhile, the mounting base and the water inlet valve are integrally formed, which is beneficial to guaranteeing a structural strength between the water tank body and the mounting base, realizes convenient formation and simple fabrication, and omits redundant assembling parts and connecting processes, thus facilitating an improvement in an assembling efficiency of the water supplementing tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the water supplementing tank <NUM> further includes a detection device provided within the water tank body, the water tank body has a water overflow port, the detection device is configured to send a water overflow signal when the water level within the water tank body is above a preset water level, and the water inlet valve is closed when the detection device sends the water overflow signal. It may be understood that the signal is transmitted between the detection device and the water inlet valve, and when the detection device outputs the water overflow signal, the water inlet valve is closed, so as to ensure that the water overflow amount of the water supplementing tank <NUM> is not too large, which is beneficial to improving the working reliability of the water supplementing tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the steam outlets <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence to the steam delivery lines <NUM>. It may be understood that, when a plurality of steam outlets <NUM> are provided, a plurality of steam delivery lines <NUM> are also provided, thus not only facilitating reduction of connection and mounting difficulties of the plural steam delivery lines <NUM> and the plural steam outlets <NUM>, but also reducing repairing and later maintenance difficulties, saving mounting and later maintenance time, and improving mounting and repairing efficiencies.

For example, three steam outlets <NUM> are provided, three steam delivery lines <NUM> are provided, and the three steam outlets <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence to the three steam delivery lines <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the working water tank <NUM> has an air pressure adjustment port <NUM> communicated with the heating cavity <NUM>. The steam outlet <NUM> of the steam generating device <NUM> is communicated with the steam delivery line <NUM>, the steam delivery line <NUM> (referring to <FIG> and <FIG>) may have some bent sections, and after the steam delivery line <NUM> works for a long time, the bent sections tend to collect cooling water, which may block the flow of the steam and meanwhile cause an excessive air pressure in the steam delivery line <NUM> and the working water tank <NUM>. By providing the air pressure adjustment port in the working water tank <NUM>, the steam or the cooling liquid with the excessive air pressure in the steam delivery line <NUM> may be released periodically or when required, thereby improving steam delivery smoothness. Moreover, the pressure between the working water tank <NUM> and the water supplementing tank <NUM> may be balanced to ensure that the water supplementing tank <NUM> may timely replenish water into the working water tank <NUM>.

It should be noted that, when the working water tank <NUM> stops working, the air pressure in the working water tank and the air pressure in the water supplementing tank may be kept balanced, but the steam delivery line <NUM> (referring to <FIG> and <FIG>) may have some bent sections, and after the steam delivery line <NUM> works for a long time, the bent sections tend to collect cooling water, which may block the flow of the steam and meanwhile cause an excessive air pressure in the steam delivery line <NUM> and the working water tank <NUM>; the arrangement of the air pressure adjustment port <NUM> may timely balance the pressure between the working water tank <NUM> and the water supplementing tank <NUM>, thereby ensuring that the water supplementing tank <NUM> may timely replenish water into the working water tank <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a steam valve <NUM> is provided at the air pressure adjustment port <NUM>. By providing the steam valve <NUM>, the user may adjust the pressure of the steam in the steam delivery line <NUM> (referring to <FIG> and <FIG>) and the working water tank <NUM> more conveniently. In addition, the arrangement of the steam valve <NUM> may further ensure that the steam in the steam chamber <NUM> does not leak when the steam generating device <NUM> works, thereby guaranteeing the working reliability and safety of the steam generating device <NUM>.

Specifically, the steam valve <NUM> may be configured as a mechanical valve or an electromagnetic valve, and when the steam generating device <NUM> operates normally, the steam valve <NUM> is in a closed state.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the indoor units <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence to the steam delivery lines <NUM>. It may be understood that, when a plurality of indoor units <NUM> are provided, a plurality of steam delivery lines <NUM> are also provided, thus not only facilitating reduction of connection and mounting difficulties of the plural indoor units <NUM> and the plural steam delivery lines <NUM>, but also reducing repairing and later maintenance difficulties, saving mounting and later maintenance time, and improving mounting and repairing efficiencies. Moreover, accurate air supply to different indoor units <NUM> may be realized, for example, when part of the indoor units <NUM> have large working air volumes, steam volumes of the corresponding steam delivery lines <NUM> may be adjusted to be adapted to the air volumes of the indoor units <NUM>, which achieves the advantage of accurate humidification control.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> is located at the air outlet <NUM>. It may be understood that, when the pressure of the steam in the working water tank <NUM> is higher than the pressure at the steam outlet <NUM>, under the action of the steam pressure, the high-pressure steam in the working water tank <NUM> may sequentially flow through the steam outlet <NUM>, the steam delivery line <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM> (referring to <FIG> and <FIG>), and be mixed with the air flow delivered to the air outlet <NUM> by the indoor unit <NUM>, so as to be conveyed to the indoor space together.

The arrangement of the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> at the air outlet <NUM> reduces both connection and assembly difficulties as well as a maintenance difficulty of the steam delivery line <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> has an air duct <NUM>, the air duct <NUM> is communicated with the air outlet <NUM>, the indoor unit <NUM> further includes a heat exchanger <NUM>, the heat exchanger <NUM> is provided in the air duct <NUM>, and the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> is provided at the heat exchanger <NUM>. It may be understood that the air flow blown out from the indoor unit <NUM> firstly passes through the heat exchanger <NUM> and then is discharged into a room from the air outlet <NUM> (referring to <FIG> and <FIG>), and the arrangement of the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> at the heat exchanger <NUM> may prolong a mixing time of the steam and the air flow in the indoor unit <NUM>, such that the steam and the air flow may be mixed fully, thus improving a humidification effect.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> is located upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger <NUM> in a direction of the air flow within the air duct <NUM>. It may be understood that the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> may be provided upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger <NUM>, specifically according to a specific type of the inner unit <NUM>, an application environment and the manufacturing cost.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> is located between the heat exchanger <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM>. It may be understood that the arrangement of the other end of the steam delivery line <NUM> between the heat exchanger <NUM> and the air outlet <NUM> may not only prolong the mixing time of the steam and the air flow in the indoor unit <NUM> to fully mix the steam with the air flow, but also reduce the connection and assembly difficulties of the steam delivery line <NUM>, and meanwhile reduce the maintenance difficulty of the steam delivery line <NUM>.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, the air conditioning device <NUM> includes: the plurality of indoor units <NUM> and the steam generating device <NUM>, each indoor unit <NUM> having one air outlet <NUM> (referring to <FIG>), the steam generating device <NUM> having the plurality of steam outlets <NUM>, the plurality of steam outlets <NUM> being in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of indoor units <NUM>, each steam outlet <NUM> being communicated with the indoor unit <NUM> through the steam delivery line <NUM>, and the steam generating device <NUM> driving the steam to flow to the indoor unit <NUM> sequentially through the steam outlet <NUM> and the steam delivery line <NUM> using the pressure of the steam.

It may be understood that the steam generating device <NUM> has the plurality of steam outlets <NUM>, and the plurality of steam outlets <NUM> are in one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of indoor units <NUM>, such that the steam discharged from the plurality of steam outlets <NUM> may be delivered to the plurality of indoor units <NUM> through the independent steam delivery lines <NUM>, thereby realizing independent humidification of the plurality of indoor units <NUM>.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in <FIG>, the steam generating device <NUM> includes a plurality of steam generating modules <NUM>, each steam generating module <NUM> having a steam outlet <NUM>, the steam generating module <NUM> including a working water tank <NUM> and an electric heater <NUM>, and the working water tank <NUM> having a heating cavity <NUM> and a steam chamber <NUM>. It may be understood that each indoor unit <NUM> may correspond to one steam chamber <NUM>, and the steam chamber <NUM> may control heating power of the electric heater <NUM> according to the amount of the steam required by the indoor unit <NUM>, thereby delivering different volumes of steam of different indoor units1, then better meeting user requirements and achieving an energy saving advantage.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a drain pan <NUM> is further provided at a bottom of the steam generating device <NUM> to prevent the water in the water supplementing tank <NUM> or the working water tank <NUM> from leaking into the indoor space.

It should be noted that the air conditioning device <NUM> may be configured as a separate component, and is mounted in the kitchen or the toilet by means of a suspended ceiling, and configured to be directly communicated with tap water or purified tap water; that is, the tap water or purified tap water is supplied to the air conditioning device <NUM>; the air conditioning device <NUM> may also be integrated in and integral with an air conditioner.

In the description of the present invention, "a plurality of" means two or more unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted", "connected", and "coupled" and the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may also be inner communications of two elements. The above terms can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the description of the present invention, reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment", "some embodiments", "exemplary embodiment", "example", "specific example" or "some examples" means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In the specification, the schematic expressions to the above-mentioned terms are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the described particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Claim 1:
An air conditioning device (<NUM>), comprising:
an indoor unit (<NUM>) having an air outlet (<NUM>);
a steam generating device (<NUM>) having a steam outlet (<NUM>); and
a steam delivery line (<NUM>) having one end communicated with the steam outlet (<NUM>), the steam generating device (<NUM>) driving steam to flow to the indoor unit (<NUM>) sequentially through the steam outlet (<NUM>) and the steam delivery line (<NUM>) utilizing a pressure of the steam;
characterised in that a plurality of steam chambers (<NUM>) are provided in the steam generating device (<NUM>), each steam chamber (<NUM>) has at least one steam outlet (<NUM>), and each steam outlet (<NUM>) is in communication with at least one steam delivery line (<NUM>);
wherein the steam generating device (<NUM>) comprises:
a working water tank (<NUM>) having a heating cavity (<NUM>) communicated with a respective steam chamber (<NUM>), said steam chamber (<NUM>) being located inside or outside the heating cavity (<NUM>);
an electric heater (<NUM>) provided in the heating cavity (<NUM>); and
wherein the working water tank (<NUM>) has an air pressure adjustment port (<NUM>) in communication with the heating cavity (<NUM>).