Patent Description:
In general, an air conditioner refers to a device that adjusts temperature, humidity, airflow, and air distribution suitably for human activities by using a refrigeration cycle, and removes dust and the like contained in the air. The refrigeration cycle includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a blower fan as main constituent elements.

Air conditioners may be classified into split-type air conditioners in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are separately installed and integrated-type air conditioners in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are installed together in one cabinet. An indoor unit of the split-type air conditioner includes a heat exchanger to perform heat exchange of air sucked into a panel and a blower fan to suck indoor air into the panel and blow the sucked air to an indoor room.

Indoor units of conventional air conditioners have been manufactured to minimize the heat exchanger and maximize wind speed and air volume by increasing revolutions per minute (RPM) of the blower fan. Accordingly, air discharge temperature decreases, and air is discharged to an indoor space through a long narrow flow path.

<CIT> describes an air conditioner having an air intake, a heat exchanger, a blowing unit, front and side air outlets and a service cover capable of conveniently servicing a motor and a fan.

Air conditioners have multiple air outlets are also described in <CIT>; <CIT>.

While direct contact with discharged air may cause chilliness and discomfort to users, a far distance from the discharged air may cause hot and unpleasant feelings.

In addition, when the RPM of the blower fan is increased to increase the wind speed, noise may be increased. A radiation air conditioner that conditions air without using a blower fan requires a larger panel to obtain the same air conditioning capabilities as an air conditioner using a blower fan. Also, the radiation air conditioner has a very low cooling speed and manufacturing costs thereof are very high.

Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an air conditioner that discharges air using various methods.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an air conditioner that heats and cools indoor air at a minimum wind speed providing a pleasant and comfortable environment for a user.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an air conditioner that cools air via convection at a minimum wind speed and cools air via radiation through a cool air region formed in neighboring areas.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner according to claim <NUM>. Features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

As is apparent from the above description, an air conditioner according to the present disclosure may discharge heat-exchanged air at different wind speeds.

In addition, a method of blowing heat-exchanged air may be changed in accordance with an environment of a user.

Furthermore, because indoor air may be conditioned without directly blowing heat-exchanged air to the user, user's satisfaction may be improved.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In the following, those embodiments that do not fall within the scope of the claims relate to exemplary embodiment of the disclosure that are not covered by the claimed invention.

The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as "including" or "having," etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

It will be understood that, although the terms "first", "second", etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component discussed below could be termed a second component, and similarly, the second component may be termed the first component without departing from the teachings of this disclosure.

A refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner is performed by using a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle includes a series of processes involving compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and supplies low-temperature air after exchanging heat between high-temperature air and a low-temperature refrigerant.

The compressor compresses and discharges a refrigerant gas in a high-temperature high-pressure state, and the discharged refrigerant gas is introduced into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and heat is discharged to the surroundings through the condensation process. The expansion valve expands the liquid phase refrigerant in the high-temperature and high-pressure state which is condensed by the condenser into a liquid phase in a low-pressure state. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve. The evaporator achieves refrigeration effects via heat exchange with a material to be cooled using latent heat of the refrigerant and returns the refrigerant gas in a low-temperature and low pressure state to the compressor. Throughout this cycle, a temperature of indoor air may be controlled.

An outdoor unit of the air conditioner refers to a part of the refrigeration cycle including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger. The expansion valve may be provided in an indoor unit or outdoor unit, and an indoor heat exchanger is provided in an indoor unit of the air conditioner.

The present disclosure provides an air conditioner that cools an indoor space. An outdoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. Hereinafter, an indoor unit including the indoor heat exchanger is referred to as an air conditioner, and the indoor heat exchanger is referred to as a heat exchanger for descriptive convenience.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An indoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having at least one opening <NUM> and defining an appearance thereof, a heat exchanger <NUM> configured to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing <NUM>, an air blower unit <NUM> configured to circulate air into or out of the housing <NUM>, and an air discharge unit <NUM> configured to discharge air blown from the air blower unit <NUM> out of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes a front panel 10a having at least one opening <NUM>, a rear panel 10b disposed at the rear of the front panel 10a, side panels 10c disposed between the front panel 10a and the rear panel 10b, and upper and lower panels 10d disposed at upper and lower parts of the side panels 10c. At least two openings <NUM> having a circular shape may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a lengthwise direction of the front panel 10a. The rear panel 10b may be provided with a suction unit <NUM> such that external air is sucked into the housing <NUM>.

The suction unit <NUM> is arranged at the rear panel 10b disposed at a rear side of the heat exchanger <NUM> to guide air outside the housing <NUM> into the housing <NUM>. The air flowing into the housing <NUM> through the suction unit <NUM> absorbs or loses heat while passing through the heat exchanger <NUM>. Heat-exchanged air while passing through the heat exchanger <NUM> is discharged out of the housing <NUM> via a discharge unit by the air blower unit <NUM>.

The air blower unit <NUM> includes a blower fan <NUM> and a grille <NUM>.

The grille <NUM> may be arranged in an air discharge direction of the blower fan <NUM>. Although a mixed flow fan is used as the blower fan <NUM> according to this embodiment, types of the blower fan <NUM> are not limited thereto and the blower fan <NUM> may have any structure so long as external air flowing into the housing <NUM> is discharged out of the housing <NUM>. For example, the blower fan <NUM> may be a crossflow fan, a turbo fan, or a sirocco fan. Although the number of the blower fan <NUM> is not limited, at least one blower fan <NUM> is provided to correspond to the at least one opening according to the present embodiment. The blower fan <NUM> is disposed in front of the suction unit <NUM>, and the heat exchanger <NUM> may be disposed between the blower fan <NUM> and the suction unit <NUM>. A first discharge unit <NUM> may be disposed in front of the blower fan <NUM>.

The air blower unit <NUM> may include a fan drive unit <NUM> disposed at the center of the blower fan <NUM> and used to drive the blower fan <NUM>. The fan drive unit <NUM> may include a motor.

The grille <NUM> is arranged in front of the blower fan <NUM> to guide an air flow. In addition, the grille <NUM> may be disposed between the blower fan <NUM> and the air discharge unit <NUM> to minimize external influences applied to the blower fan <NUM>.

The grille <NUM> may include a plurality of wings <NUM>. The plurality of wings <NUM> may adjust a blowing direction or volume of air blown from the blower fan <NUM> toward the air discharge unit <NUM> by adjusting the number, shape, and alignment angle thereof.

A door operating unit <NUM>, which will be described later, may be disposed at the center of the grille <NUM>. The door operating unit <NUM> and the fan drive unit <NUM> may be aligned in a straight line in a forward/backward direction. According to this structure, a plurality of wings <NUM> of the grille <NUM> may be arranged in front of wings of the blower fan <NUM>.

The air blower unit <NUM> includes a duct <NUM>. The duct <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape surrounding the blower fan <NUM> to guide an air flow into the blower fan <NUM>. That is, air sucked through the suction unit <NUM> and having passed through the heat exchanger <NUM> is guided into the blower fan <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> may be arranged between the blower fan <NUM> and the suction unit <NUM> to absorb heat from air sucked through the suction unit <NUM> or transfer heat to the sucked through the suction unit <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> may include a tube <NUM> and headers <NUM> coupled to upper and lower sides of the tube <NUM>. However, types of the heat exchanger <NUM> are not limited.

At least one heat exchanger <NUM> is disposed in the housing <NUM> such that the number of the heat exchanger <NUM> corresponds to that of the opening.

The air discharge unit <NUM> is provided in the housing <NUM> such that air heat-exchanged in the housing <NUM> is discharged out of the housing <NUM>. The air discharge unit <NUM> includes the first discharge unit <NUM> and a second discharge unit <NUM>, which will be described later.

<FIG> and <FIG> are exploded perspective views of the air conditioner according to the embodiment. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of <FIG>.

The air conditioner <NUM> may operate in a plurality of operation modes. The plurality of operation modes may include a first mode in which heat-exchanged air is discharged through the opening <NUM> provided in the housing <NUM> and a second mode in which heat-exchanged air is discharged through a discharge plate <NUM> provided in the housing <NUM>. The operation modes may also include a third mode in which heat-exchanged air is discharged through both the opening <NUM> and the discharge plate <NUM>. The discharge plate <NUM> will be described later.

The first mode, the second mode, and the third mode are configured such that heat-exchanged air is discharged respectively through the first discharge unit <NUM>, the second discharge unit <NUM>, and both the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM> which will be described later. That is, air heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger <NUM> may be discharged out of the air conditioner <NUM> through the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM> by the blower fan <NUM>.

Although heat-exchanged air is discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM> in the first mode, all of the heat-exchanged air may not be discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>. Instead, heat-exchanged air may also be partially discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>. In other words, the first mode may be configured such that most of the heat-exchanged air is discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>. In the same manner as in the first mode, the second mode may be configured such that most of the heat-exchanged air is discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>.

Air having passed through the air blower unit <NUM> can be discharged out of the housing <NUM> through the air discharge unit <NUM>.

The air discharge unit <NUM> includes the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>. Heat-exchanged air can be discharged through at least one of the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>. Furthermore, heat-exchanged air may be discharged selectively through either the first discharge unit <NUM> or the second discharge unit <NUM>.

The first discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air through the opening provided at the housing <NUM>. When the air conditioner <NUM> is in the first mode, heat-exchanged air is discharged out of the housing <NUM> through the first discharge unit <NUM>. The first discharge unit <NUM> is configured such that heat-exchanged air is directly discharged to the outside. The first discharge unit <NUM> may be exposed to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

The first discharge unit <NUM> may be arranged in an air blowing direction of the blower fan <NUM> such that heat-exchanged air is directly discharged to the outside. That is, the first discharge unit <NUM> may be disposed in front of the blower fan <NUM> of the air blower unit <NUM> such that the air blown from the air blower unit <NUM> is directly discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>.

Air blown from the blower fan <NUM> can flow through a first discharge flow path 41a (refer to <FIG>) arranged between the blower fan <NUM> and the first discharge unit <NUM>. The first discharge flow path 41a may be defined by a discharge guide unit <NUM>.

The first discharge unit <NUM> may be formed by a guide opening unit <NUM>. The guide opening unit <NUM> may be connected to the opening <NUM> and may be provided to form the first discharge unit <NUM> along an inner circumferential surface thereof. The guide opening unit <NUM> is exposed to the outside via the opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and a door unit <NUM>, which will be described later, may be moved to be mounted to the guide opening unit <NUM>. The guide opening unit <NUM> may be arranged in the opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and form the first discharge unit <NUM> along the inner circumferential surface thereof.

The first discharge unit <NUM> can be opened and closed by the door unit <NUM>.

The door unit <NUM> opens and closes the first discharge unit <NUM>, and heat-exchanged air is discharged to the outside of the housing <NUM> selectively through the first discharge unit <NUM>. Heat-exchanged air may flow into at least one of the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM> by opening and closing the first discharge unit <NUM>.

The door unit <NUM> is moved between a door open position 60a (refer to <FIG>) in which the first discharge unit <NUM> is opened and a door closed position 60b (refer to <FIG>) in which the first discharge unit <NUM> is closed. The door unit <NUM> may be configured to move between the door open position 60a and the door closed position 60b in the forward/backward direction.

More particularly, the door unit <NUM> may include a door blade <NUM> and a door operating unit <NUM> configured to operate the door blade <NUM>.

The door blade <NUM> may be formed in a circular shape to correspond to the shape of the first discharge unit <NUM>. When the door unit <NUM> is located at the door open position 60a, the door blade <NUM> is spaced apart from the guide opening unit <NUM>. When the door unit <NUM> is in the door closed position 60b, the door blade <NUM> is brought into contact with the guide opening unit <NUM> to close the first discharge unit <NUM>.

The door blade <NUM> may include a blade body <NUM> having a circular shape to correspond to the shape of the first discharge unit <NUM> and a blade coupling unit <NUM> extending from the blade body <NUM> and coupled to the door operating unit <NUM>.

The blade body <NUM> may be provided in a plate form with an almost circular shape. In addition, the blade body <NUM> may be configured such that one surface thereof faces the outside of the housing <NUM> and the other surface faces the air blower unit <NUM>.

A display may be provided at the one surface of the blade body <NUM> such that an operating state of the air conditioner <NUM> is displayed thereon or the air conditioner <NUM> may be manipulated thereby.

The door operating unit <NUM> may be configured to move the door blade <NUM>. The door operating unit <NUM> may include a motor (not shown). The door operating unit <NUM> may be coupled to the blade coupling unit <NUM> of the door blade <NUM> to move the door blade <NUM>.

The aforementioned grille <NUM> may be arranged around the door operating unit <NUM>. Air blown from the blower fan <NUM> disposed at the rear side of the grille <NUM> may be discharged forward after passing through the grille <NUM>.

The second discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air through an external panel. When the air conditioner <NUM> is in the second mode, heat-exchanged air is discharged to the outside of the housing <NUM> through the second discharge unit <NUM>. Through this configuration, heat-exchanged air may be discharged to the outside with a reduced wind speed. The second discharge unit <NUM> is formed in the discharge plate <NUM>, which will be described later, and has a plurality of discharge holes penetrating inner and outer surfaces of the discharge plate <NUM>. The opening <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is arranged at the discharge plate <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, without being limited thereto. That is, for example, in an unclaimed embodiment the opening <NUM> and the discharge plate <NUM> may be disposed at different surfaces of the housing <NUM>.

When heat-exchanged air is discharged out of the housing <NUM> through the second discharge unit <NUM>, air blown by the blower fan <NUM> can flow through the second discharge flow path 50a formed between the blower fan <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>. The second discharge flow path 50a may be formed by the discharge guide unit <NUM> and a discharge panel <NUM>, which will be described later.

The external panel may include an appearance panel <NUM> defining an appearance thereof and the discharge panel <NUM> configured to discharge heat-exchanged air. Although the discharge panel <NUM> is a constituent element of the external panel, it may also be a constituent element of the discharge unit.

The discharge panel <NUM> is configured to form the second discharge flow path 50a. Heat-exchanged air can be discharged out of the air conditioner <NUM> through the second discharge flow path 50a formed by the discharge panel <NUM> and a discharge plate <NUM>, which will be described later, at low speed.

Although the structure in which the discharge panel <NUM> is disposed on the front surface of the air conditioner <NUM> has been described as illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> according to the present embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the discharge panel <NUM> may also be disposed on at least one surface selected from the group consisting of the front surface, right side surface, left side surface, rear surface, and upper surface of the air conditioner <NUM>.

The discharge panel <NUM> includes a flow path forming frame <NUM> and the discharge plate <NUM>.

The flow path forming frame <NUM> may separate the inside of the housing <NUM> from the second discharge flow path 50a. Heat-exchanged air may not flow into the housing <NUM> again by the flow path forming frame <NUM>. According to the present embodiment, the flow path forming frame <NUM> extends from the grille <NUM> to be connected to the appearance panel <NUM>.

The second discharge unit <NUM> is formed in the discharge plate <NUM>. The discharge plate <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM> may be referred to as a plate discharge unit.

Although the shape of the second discharge unit <NUM> is not limited, it has a plurality of discharge holes according to the present invention. The second discharge unit <NUM> is configured to penetrate the front and rear surfaces of the discharge plate <NUM>. The discharge plate <NUM> is disposed at an outer portion than the flow path forming frame <NUM> to form the second discharge flow path 50a between the flow path forming frame <NUM> and the discharge plate <NUM>.

The second discharge unit <NUM> may have a discharge region formed in at least one portion of the discharge plate <NUM>. A plurality of discharge holes may be uniformly distributed in the discharge region or concentrated at one portion thereof. According to the present embodiment, a plurality of discharge holes is uniformly distributed in the discharge region.

The discharge region may be formed in at least one portion of the discharge plate <NUM>. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the discharge region may be formed throughout the entire surface of the discharge plate <NUM>.

The third mode is a mode in which heat-exchanged air is distributed and discharged through both the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>. Distributed volumes of the heat-exchanged air into the respective discharge units may be determined by settings and controlled by a controller.

The air discharge unit <NUM> may include the first discharge flow path 41a through which heat-exchanged air flows into the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge flow path 50a through which heat-exchanged air flows into the second discharge unit <NUM>. The first discharge flow path 41a and the second discharge flow path 50a may be referred to as a discharge flow path and a radial discharge flow path, respectively.

Air blown by the blower fan <NUM> can flow through at least one of the first discharge flow path 41a and the second discharge flow path 50a.

In the first mode, air blown by the blower fan <NUM> may flow through the first discharge flow path 41a formed between the blower fan <NUM> and the first discharge unit <NUM>. In addition, in the second mode, air blown by the blower fan <NUM> may flow through the second discharge flow path 50a formed between the blower fan <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>.

The air discharge unit <NUM> may include the discharge guide unit <NUM>. Air blown by the blower fan <NUM> may be controlled by the discharge guide unit <NUM>. The discharge guide unit <NUM> may be disposed in front of the air blower unit <NUM> such that air flowing from the air blower unit <NUM> flows through at least one of the first discharge flow path 41a and the second discharge flow path 50a.

The discharge guide unit <NUM> may include a guide body <NUM> and a guide groove <NUM>.

The guide body <NUM> is configured to form the first discharge flow path 41a therein. The guide body <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape with a hollow area. More particularly, the guide body <NUM> may have a tubular shape having one side facing the air blower unit <NUM> and the other side facing the first discharge unit <NUM>.

The guide groove <NUM> is formed such that the second discharge flow path 50a passes thereby. The guide groove <NUM> may be formed at the guide body <NUM>. The shape of the guide groove <NUM> is not limited, and the guide groove <NUM> may have any shape disposed at the guide body <NUM> and enabling air to flow in an outward direction of the guide body <NUM>. According to the present embodiment, the guide groove <NUM> may be formed to have a plurality of holes arranged along the circumference of the guide body <NUM>.

In the first mode, the door unit <NUM> opens the first discharge unit <NUM>. In this case, air blown from the air blower unit <NUM> passes through the first discharge flow path 41a formed inside the guide body <NUM> to be discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>.

In the second mode, the door unit <NUM> closes the first discharge unit <NUM>. In this case, one side of the guide body <NUM> is blocked by the door unit <NUM>, and air blown from the air blower unit <NUM> passes by the guide groove <NUM> formed at the guide body <NUM> to be discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating coupling between the discharge plate and the housing according to the embodiment. <FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating coupling between the discharge plate and the guide opening unit according to the embodiment.

The discharge plate <NUM> may include plate coupling units 15a and 15b. The plate coupling units 15a and 15b are configured such that the discharge plate <NUM> is coupled to the housing <NUM> or the guide opening unit <NUM>.

The plate coupling unit 15a may be formed along outer edges of the discharge plate <NUM> to be coupled with the housing <NUM>. Also, the plate coupling unit 15b may be formed along outer edges of the opening <NUM> of the discharge plate <NUM> to be coupled with the guide opening unit <NUM>.

The plate coupling units 15a and 15b may protrude from the discharge plate <NUM>. The plate coupling units 15a and 15b may have plate-holding grooves 16a and 16b having a hole shape, and the plate-holding grooves 16a and 16b may be hooked by holding protrusions <NUM> and 43b, which will be described later.

The plate coupling units 15a and 15b may include the first plate coupling unit 15a by which the discharge plate <NUM> is coupled to the housing <NUM> and the second plate coupling unit 15b by which the discharge plate <NUM> is coupled to the guide opening unit <NUM>.

At least one first plate coupling unit 15a may be arranged along the outer edges of the discharge plate <NUM>. The first plate coupling unit 15a is coupled to the housing <NUM> such that the housing <NUM> is coupled to the discharge plate <NUM>.

The first holding protrusion <NUM> may be disposed at a position of the housing <NUM> corresponding to the first plate coupling unit 15a. According to the present embodiment, the first holding protrusion <NUM> is disposed at outer edges of the flow path forming frame <NUM> to correspond to the first plate coupling unit 15a. However, arrangement of the first holding protrusion <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the first holding protrusion <NUM> may be disposed at the housing <NUM> to correspond to the first plate coupling unit 15a to couple the housing <NUM> with the discharge plate <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the discharge plate <NUM> is brought into close contact with the housing <NUM>, a first plate-holding groove 16a of the first plate coupling unit 15a is hooked by the first holding protrusion <NUM>. Accordingly, the discharge plate <NUM> may be mounted to the housing <NUM>.

The numbers of the first plate coupling unit 15a and the first holding protrusion <NUM> are not limited.

At least one second plate coupling unit 15b may be arranged along the outer edges of the opening <NUM>. The second plate coupling unit 15b is coupled to the guide opening unit <NUM> such that the guide opening unit <NUM> is coupled to the discharge plate <NUM>.

The guide opening unit <NUM> may have a guide insert groove 43a into which the second plate coupling unit 15b is inserted. When the discharge plate <NUM> is brought into close contact with the guide opening unit <NUM>, the second plate coupling unit 15b may be inserted into the guide opening unit <NUM> via the guide insert groove 43a. The guide insert groove 43a may be arranged along the circumference of the guide opening unit <NUM> to correspond to the second plate coupling unit 15b disposed at the outer edges of the opening <NUM>.

The second plate coupling unit 15b is inserted into the guide insert groove 43a, and the inserted second plate coupling unit 15b may couple the discharge plate <NUM> with the guide opening unit <NUM> as a second holding protrusion 43b is hooked by a second plate-holding groove 16b as illustrated in <FIG>. As such, the opening <NUM> may be connected to the first discharge unit <NUM> by coupling the discharge plate <NUM> with the guide opening unit <NUM>.

Although the numbers of the second plate coupling unit 15b, the second holding protrusion 43b, and the guide insert groove 43a are not limited, four of each arranged at predetermined distances are illustrated according to the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, operation of the air conditioner according to the present disclosure will be described.

<FIG>, <FIG> are views illustrating operation of the air conditioner according to the embodiment.

Heat of external air flowing into the housing <NUM> is exchanged by the heat exchanger <NUM>. Air conditioned by the heat exchanger <NUM> is discharged out of the housing <NUM> by the air blower unit <NUM>.

The air conditioner <NUM> discharges air conditioned by the heat exchanger <NUM> to the outside through at least one of the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>. That is, concentrated air conditioning may be performed through the first discharge unit <NUM> as in the first mode. Alternatively, air conditioning may be slowly performed throughout the entire room by discharging air through the second discharge unit <NUM> as in the second mode.

The first discharge unit <NUM> may be opened or closed by operating the door unit <NUM>. When the first discharge unit <NUM> is opened, heat-exchanged air is discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>. When the first discharge unit <NUM> is closed, heat-exchanged air is discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>.

The first mode will be described in detail.

<FIG> illustrate the air conditioner operating in the first mode.

In the first mode, heat-exchanged air is discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>. In the first mode, the door unit <NUM> is located at the door open position 60a, and the door blade <NUM> is spaced apart from the guide opening unit <NUM>, thereby opening the first discharge unit <NUM>.

In this case, air flowing from the air blower unit <NUM> flows toward the first discharge unit <NUM> through the first discharge flow path 41a formed by the guide body <NUM>.

When discharged out of the housing <NUM> through the first discharge unit <NUM>, air is discharged to the outside at a wind speed obtained by the air blower unit <NUM>.

Then, the second mode will be described.

<FIG> illustrate the air conditioner operating in the second mode.

In the second mode, heat-exchanged air is discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>. In the second mode, the door unit <NUM> is located at the door closed position 60b, and the door blade <NUM> is brought into contact with the guide opening unit <NUM> to close the first discharge unit <NUM>.

In this case, air flowing from the air blower unit <NUM> passes through the guide groove <NUM> formed at the guide body <NUM> because the first discharge unit <NUM> is blocked by the door blade <NUM>. Accordingly, air flowing from the air blower unit <NUM> flows toward the second discharge unit <NUM> after passing through the second discharge flow path 50a.

If air is discharged out of the housing <NUM> through the second discharge unit <NUM>, the wind speed of air is reduced while passing through a plurality of discharge holes. Thus, air is discharged to the outside at a low wind speed.

According to this configuration, indoor air may be cooled or heated at a wind speed that is pleasant and comfortable for a user.

In the aforementioned descriptions, the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM> may also be referred to as a high-speed discharge unit and a low-speed discharge unit, respectively.

The third mode is a mode in which heat-exchanged air is distributed into the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM> to be discharged out of the housing <NUM>. Volumes of distributed air into each discharge unit may be controlled by settings or the controller. Also, the distributed volumes may be controlled by surrounding environment by using a temperature sensor.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

In this regard, descriptions presented above will not be repeated herein.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a discharge guide unit according to an embodiment.

A discharge guide unit <NUM> may be disposed in front of the air blower unit <NUM> such that air flowing from the air blower unit <NUM> flows through at least one of the first discharge flow path 41a and the second discharge flow path 50a.

The discharge guide unit <NUM> may be formed of at least one of a mesh material and a porous material.

The guide groove <NUM> is formed such that the second discharge flow path 50a passes thereby. The guide groove <NUM> may be formed at the guide body <NUM>. The shape of the guide groove <NUM> is not limited, and the guide groove <NUM> may have any shape disposed at the guide body <NUM> and enabling air to flow in an outward direction of the guide body <NUM>. Because the discharge guide unit <NUM> is formed of a mesh or porous material according to the present embodiment, the guide groove <NUM> may be a porous portion formed at the guide body <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are views illustrating a discharge guide unit according to an embodiment.

A discharge guide unit <NUM> includes a first guide unit <NUM> and a second guide unit <NUM>.

The first guide unit <NUM> may include a guide body 246a and a guide groove 246b.

The guide body 246a may have a cylindrical shape with a hollow area. More particularly, the guide body <NUM> may have a tubular shape having one side facing the air blower unit <NUM> and the other side facing the first discharge unit <NUM>.

The guide groove 246b may be formed at the guide body 246a. The shape of the guide groove 246b is not limited. The guide groove 246b may have any shape disposed at the guide body 246a and enabling air to flow therein. The guide groove 246b may be formed to have a plurality of holes arranged along the circumference of the guide body 246a according to the present embodiment.

The second guide unit <NUM> may be slidably moved with respect to the first guide unit <NUM>. Particularly, the second guide unit <NUM> may be slidably moved in the forward/ backward direction with respect to the first guide unit <NUM>. The second guide unit <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape with a hollow area.

The second guide unit <NUM> selectively opens and closes the guide groove 246b of the first guide unit <NUM>. That is, the second guide unit <NUM> may be moved with respect to the first guide unit <NUM> between an open position 247a and a closed position 247b. Particularly, when the second guide unit <NUM> is at the open position 247a, the second guide unit <NUM> is disposed to be spaced apart from the first guide unit <NUM> to open the guide groove 246b of the first guide unit <NUM>. When the second guide unit <NUM> is in the closed position 247b, the second guide unit <NUM> is in close contact with the first guide unit <NUM> to close the guide groove 246b of the first guide unit <NUM>. The second guide unit <NUM> may have a shape corresponding to that of the first guide unit <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> such that the second guide unit <NUM> is slidably moved between the open position 247a and the closed position 247b to come into close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first guide unit <NUM>. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and a second guide unit <NUM> may be slidably moved between an open position 248a and a closed position 248b to come into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first guide unit <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Hereinafter, the discharge guide unit will be described with regard to the operation mode of the air conditioner.

When the air conditioner <NUM> is in the first mode, the door unit <NUM> is located at the door open position 60a. In this case, the second guide unit <NUM> is located at the closed position 247b.

When the second guide units <NUM> and <NUM> are at the closed positions 247b and 248b, the guide groove 246b of the first guide unit <NUM> is closed. Thus, heat-exchanged air inside the air conditioner <NUM> may be discharged only through the first discharge unit <NUM> via the first discharge flow path 41a formed inside the discharge guide unit <NUM>. In this case, because the second discharge flow path 50a is closed by the second guide units <NUM> and <NUM>, heat-exchanged air is not discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>.

When the air conditioner <NUM> is in the second mode, the door unit <NUM> is located at the door closed position 60b. In this case, the second guide units <NUM> and <NUM> are located at the open positions 247a and 248a.

When the second guide units <NUM> and <NUM> are located at the open positions 247a and 248a, the guide groove 246b of the first guide unit <NUM> is opened. Thus, heat-exchanged air inside the air conditioner <NUM> may be discharged only through the second discharge unit <NUM> via the second discharge flow path 50a formed to pass the guide groove 246b of the discharge guide unit <NUM>. In this case, because the first discharge flow path 41a is closed by the door unit <NUM>, heat-exchanged air is not discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating a discharge guide unit according to an embodiment.

The first guide unit <NUM> may include a guide body 346a and a guide groove 346b.

The first guide body 346a may have a cylindrical shape with a hollow area. More particularly, the first guide body <NUM> may have a tubular shape having one side facing the air blower unit <NUM> and the other side facing the first discharge unit <NUM>.

The first guide groove 346b may be formed at the first guide body 346a. The shape of the first guide groove 346b is not limited. The first guide groove 346b may have any shape disposed at the first guide body 346a and enabling air to flow therein. The first guide groove 346b may be formed to have a plurality of holes arranged along the circumference of the first guide body 346b according to the present embodiment.

The second guide unit <NUM> selectively opens and closes the first guide groove 346b of the first guide unit <NUM>. That is, the second guide unit <NUM> may be slidably moved along the circumferential direction of the first guide unit <NUM>. The second guide unit <NUM> may have a cylindrical shape with a hollow area. The second guide unit <NUM> may be provided in close contact with an outer circumferential surface of the first guide unit <NUM>. However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and the second guide unit <NUM> may be in close contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first guide unit <NUM>.

The second guide unit <NUM> may include a second guide body 347a and a second guide groove 347b. The second guide body 347a corresponds to the first guide body 346a, and the second guide groove 347b corresponds to the first guide groove 346b.

The discharge guide unit <NUM> is moved between an open position 345a and a closed position 345b. Particularly, when the discharge guide unit <NUM> is located at the open position 345a, the first guide groove 346b of the first guide unit <NUM> is located at the same position as that of the second guide groove 347b of the second guide unit <NUM>. Thus, air may pass through the first and second guide grooves 346b and 347b.

When the discharge guide unit <NUM> is located at the closed position 345b, the first guide groove 346b of the first guide unit <NUM> may be located at the same position as that of the second guide body 347a of the second guide unit <NUM>. On the contrary, the second guide groove 347b of the second guide unit <NUM> may be arranged at the same position as that of the first guide body 346a of the first guide unit <NUM>. Through this alignment, the first and second guide grooves 346b and 347b are closed respectively by the second guide body 347a and the first guide body 346a. Thus, air cannot pass through the first and second guide grooves 346b and 347b.

The first guide unit <NUM> may be slidably moved in the circumferential direction of the second guide unit <NUM> such that the discharge guide unit <NUM> is moved between the closed position 345b and the open position 345a. Reversely, the second guide unit <NUM> may also be slidably moved in the circumferential direction of the first guide unit <NUM>.

When the air conditioner <NUM> is in the first mode, the door unit <NUM> is located at the door open position 60a. In this case, the discharge guide unit <NUM> is located at the closed position 345b.

When the discharge guide unit <NUM> is at the closed position 345b, the first and second guide grooves 346b and 347b are closed. Thus, heat-exchanged air inside the air conditioner <NUM> may be discharged only through the first discharge unit <NUM> via the first discharge flow path 41a formed inside the discharge guide unit <NUM>. In this case, because the first and second guide grooves 346b and 347b are closed, the second discharge flow path 50a is closed and heat-exchanged air is not discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>.

When the air conditioner <NUM> is in the second mode, the door unit <NUM> is located at the door closed position 60b. In this case, the discharge guide unit <NUM> is located at the open position 345a.

When the discharge guide unit <NUM> is at the open position 345a, the first and second guide grooves 346b and 347b are opened. Thus, heat-exchanged air inside the air conditioner <NUM> is discharged only through the second discharge unit <NUM> via the second discharge flow path 50a formed to pass the first and second guide grooves 346b and 347b of the discharge guide unit <NUM>. In this case, because the first discharge flow path 41a is closed by the door unit <NUM>, heat-exchanged air is not discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

An indoor unit of the air conditioner <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having at least one opening <NUM> and defining an appearance thereof, a heat exchanger (not shown) configured to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing <NUM>, an air blower unit <NUM> configured to circulate air into or out of the housing <NUM>, and an air discharge unit <NUM> configured to discharge air blown from the air blower unit <NUM> out of the housing <NUM>.

The air blower unit <NUM> includes a blower fan (not shown) and a grille <NUM>.

The grille <NUM> may be arranged in an air discharge direction of the blower fan. Although a mixed flow fan is used as the blower fan according to this embodiment, types of the blower fan are not limited thereto and the blower fan may have any structure so long as external air flowing into the housing <NUM> is discharged out of the housing <NUM>. For example, the blower fan may be a crossflow fan, a turbo fan, or a sirocco fan. The number of the blower fan is not limited, and at least one blower fan (not shown) is provided to correspond to the at least one opening <NUM> according to the present embodiment.

The air blower unit <NUM> may include a fan drive unit (not shown) disposed at the center of the blower fan and used to drive the blower fan. The fan drive unit may include a motor (not shown).

The grille <NUM> is arranged in front of the blower fan to guide an air flow in the housing <NUM>. In addition, the grille <NUM> may be disposed between the blower fan and the discharge unit to minimize external influences applied to the blower fan.

The grille <NUM> includes a plurality of wings <NUM> and a circular disc plate <NUM>. The grille <NUM> may be formed such that the plurality of wings <NUM> extend in a radial direction around the circular disc plate <NUM>. The plurality of wings <NUM> can adjust a blowing direction or volume of air blown from the blower fan toward the air discharge unit <NUM> by adjusting the number, shape, and alignment angle thereof.

The air discharge unit <NUM> includes a first discharge unit <NUM> and a second discharge unit <NUM>.

The first discharge unit <NUM> is formed between the plurality of wings <NUM> of the grille <NUM> to discharge air inside the housing <NUM> to the outside, and the second discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air inside the housing <NUM> through a discharge plate <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes the discharge plate <NUM> in which the second discharge unit <NUM> is formed, and the second discharge unit <NUM> has a plurality of discharge holes formed in the discharge plate <NUM>. Although the discharge plate <NUM> is disposed at the front surface of the housing <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the position of the discharge plate <NUM> is not limited thereto. The discharge plate <NUM> may also be disposed at a side surface or an upper surface.

The second discharge unit <NUM> may be formed as a plurality of discharge holes arranged in the discharge plate <NUM>, and air blown by the air blower unit <NUM> may be uniformly discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM> at a low wind speed.

The air conditioner <NUM> may have a plurality of operation modes.

The plurality of operation modes may include a first mode in which heat-exchanged air is discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>, a second mode in which heat-exchanged air is discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>, and a third mode in which conditioned air is discharged through both the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>.

An air conditioner <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having at least one opening <NUM> and defining an appearance thereof, a heat exchanger (not shown) configured to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing <NUM>, a blower fan (not shown) configured to circulate air into or out of the housing <NUM>, and an air discharge unit <NUM> configured to discharge air blown from the blower fan (not shown) out of the housing <NUM>.

The first discharge unit <NUM> is formed in the opening <NUM>. Blades 517a are arranged in the opening <NUM> to control a blowing direction of air discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>. Particularly, the opening <NUM> may be provided at a front panel 510a. The blades 517a are disposed in the opening <NUM>, and the blowing direction of air discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM> can be controlled by operating the blades 517a. The second discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air inside the housing <NUM> through a discharge plate <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes the discharge plate <NUM> in which the second discharge unit <NUM> is formed. The second discharge unit <NUM> includes a plurality of discharge holes formed in the discharge plate <NUM>. Although the discharge plate <NUM> is formed at the front surface of the housing <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the position of the discharge plate <NUM> is not limited thereto. For example, the discharge plate <NUM> may also be formed at a side surface or upper surface of the housing <NUM>.

The second discharge unit <NUM> may be formed as a plurality of discharge holes arranged in the discharge plate <NUM>, and air blown by the blower fan may be uniformly discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM> at a low wind speed.

<FIG> are views illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

An air conditioner <NUM> is installed in a ceiling.

The air conditioner <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having at least one opening <NUM> and defining an appearance thereof, a heat exchanger (not shown) configured to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing <NUM>, an air blower unit (not shown) configured to circulate air into or out of the housing <NUM>, and an air discharge unit <NUM> configured to discharge air blown from the air blower unit (not shown) out of the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be coupled to the ceiling. The air blower unit includes a blower fan (not shown).

The first discharge unit <NUM> is provided in the opening <NUM>. Blades 617a are arranged in the opening <NUM> to control a blowing direction of air discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>. The second discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air inside the housing <NUM> through a discharge panel <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes the discharge panel <NUM> in which the second discharge unit <NUM> is formed. The second discharge unit <NUM> includes a plurality of discharge holes formed in the discharge panel <NUM>. Because the housing <NUM> is arranged in the ceiling and a lower surface thereof is exposed to an indoor room the discharge panel <NUM> may be disposed on the lower surface of the housing <NUM>.

The second discharge unit <NUM> may be formed as a plurality of discharge holes arranged in the discharge panel <NUM>, and air blown by the air blower unit may be uniformly discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM> at a low wind speed.

An air conditioner <NUM> is fixedly mounted on a wall.

The air conditioner <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> having at least one opening <NUM> and defining an appearance thereof, a heat exchanger (not shown) configured to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing <NUM>, an air blower unit (not shown) configured to circulate air into or out of the housing <NUM>, and an air discharge unit <NUM> configured to discharge air blown from the air blower unit (not shown) out of the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be fixed to the wall of an indoor room. The air blower unit includes a blower fan.

The first discharge unit <NUM> is formed in the opening <NUM>. Blades 717a are arranged in the opening <NUM> to adjust a blowing direction of air discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>. The second discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air inside the housing <NUM> through a discharge panel <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes a discharge plate <NUM> in which the second discharge unit <NUM> is formed. The second discharge unit <NUM> includes a plurality of discharge holes formed in the discharge plate <NUM>. Although the discharge plate <NUM> is arranged at the front surface of the housing <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the position of the discharge plate <NUM> is not limited thereto. For example, the discharge plate <NUM> may be disposed at a side surface or upper surface of the housing <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views illustrating an air conditioner according to an unclaimed embodiment of the present disclosure.

An air cleaner <NUM> will be described as the air conditioner.

The air cleaner <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> defining an appearance thereof, a suction unit <NUM> disposed at a side of the housing <NUM> and sucking air from the outside of the housing <NUM>, and an air discharge unit <NUM> configured to discharge air sucked by the suction unit <NUM> out of the housing <NUM>.

The air cleaner <NUM> may include a dust collecting filter disposed in the housing <NUM> and filtering foreign substances contained in the air such as dust and odor particles and an air blower unit (not shown) configured to perform air blowing operation by sucking indoor air through the suction unit <NUM> and discharging clean air purified by the dust collecting filter through the air discharge unit <NUM>.

The air discharge unit <NUM> may include a first discharge unit <NUM> and a second discharge unit <NUM>.

The first discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air purified by the dust collecting filter at a high wind speed, and the second discharge unit <NUM> is configured to discharge air purified by the dust collecting filter through a discharge panel <NUM> of the housing <NUM> at a low wind speed.

The first discharge unit <NUM> may be formed as an opening provided at the housing <NUM>, and air blown by the air blower unit (not shown) may be directly discharged therethrough.

The housing <NUM> may include a discharge plate <NUM> at which the second discharge unit <NUM> is formed. The second discharge unit <NUM> includes a plurality of discharge holes formed in the discharge plate <NUM>.

The second discharge unit <NUM> may be formed as a plurality of discharge holes arranged in the discharge plate <NUM>, and air blown by the air blower unit <NUM> may be uniformly discharged through the plurality of discharge holes at a low wind speed.

The air cleaner <NUM> may have a plurality of operation modes.

The plurality of operation modes may include a first mode in which clean air is discharged through the first discharge unit <NUM>, a second mode in which clean air is discharged through the second discharge unit <NUM>, and a third mode in which clean air is discharged through both the first discharge unit <NUM> and the second discharge unit <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An air conditioner comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) comprising a discharge panel (<NUM>) including a flow path forming frame (<NUM>), a discharge plate (<NUM>), and at least one opening (<NUM>) provided in the discharge plate (<NUM>);
a heat exchanger (<NUM>) disposed in the housing (<NUM>) to exchange heat with air flowing into the housing (<NUM>); and
at least one air blower unit (<NUM>) provided to correspond to the at least one opening (<NUM>),
wherein the at least one air blower unit (<NUM>) comprises:
a blower fan (<NUM>);
a grille (<NUM>); and
a duct (<NUM>) provided in a cylindrical shape around the blower fan (<NUM>), to guide the heat-exchanged air through the blower fan (<NUM>),
wherein the at least one opening (<NUM>) is provided at a front side of the duct (<NUM>),
wherein a first discharge unit (<NUM>) is configured to discharge air through the at least one opening (<NUM>) and is opened and closed by a door unit (<NUM>), and
wherein the discharge plate (<NUM>) comprises a second discharge unit (<NUM>) having a plurality of discharge holes formed in the discharge plate (<NUM>) surrounding the at least one opening (<NUM>),
the discharge plate (<NUM>) is disposed at an outer portion of the flow path forming frame (<NUM>) to form a discharge flow path between the flow path forming frame (<NUM>) and the discharge plate (<NUM>), and
the discharge plate (<NUM>) is configured to discharge the air flowing through the discharge flow path from the at least one air blower unit (<NUM>) to the outside of the housing (<NUM>).