AIR CONDITIONER

Abstract

The air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, a heat exchanger disposed within the housing, a fan for blowing air exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet, a first position for opening the outlet and a second position for covering the outlet and a door including a plurality of holes for discharging air out of the housing at the second position. The air blowing method of the air discharged from the air conditioner may be different.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0121675, filed on Sep. 22, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the disclosure relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner using an improved air discharging method.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an air conditioner is equipment that adjusts the temperature, humidity, airflow, distribution, etc. to conditions suitable for human activity using a refrigeration cycle. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a fan, etc. as main components constituting the refrigeration cycle.

The air conditioner can be classified into a split type air conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are separated and installed, and a window type air conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are installed together in a single cabinet. The indoor unit of the split type air conditioner includes a heat exchanger to heat-exchange air inhaled to the inside of the panel, and a fan to inhale indoor air to the inside of the panel and to again discharge the inhaled air to an indoor space. The indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner has been manufactured to miniaturize the heat exchanger and to raise the RPM of the fan to thereby maximize wind speed and air flow. As a result, the discharge temperature is lowered, and the discharged air forms a narrow, long flow path to be discharged to indoor space.

When a user is directly exposed to the discharged air, the user may feel the cold and displeasure. On the other hand, when the user is not exposed to the discharged air, the user may feel the heat and displeasure.

Also, if the user increases the RPM of the fan in order to raise wind speed, noise increases. Also, a radiant air conditioner of conditioning air without using a fan requires a large panel in order to achieve the same capability as the air conditioner with the fan. Furthermore, the radiant air conditioner has a very low cooling rate, and requires high construction cost.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an air conditioner capable of using various air discharge methods.

The present disclosure also provides an air conditioner of cooling and heating indoor space at minimum wind speed at which a user can feel pleasant.

The present disclosure also provides an air conditioner of performing cooling through convection by minimizing wind speed, and of implementing radiant cooling in the adjacent area.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing, a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet and, a door configured to be movable between a first position at which the door opens the outlet, and a second position at which the door closes the outlet, the door including a plurality of holes configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing when the door is at the second position.

The door is configured to slide between the first position and the second position.

A part of the front portion of the housing is curved, and the door is curved, and disposed on the front portion of the housing.

The housing and the outlet extend in a vertical direction which is the longitudinal direction of the housing and the outlet, the fan is a cross-flow fan.

The door is in the shape of a roll when the door is at the first position, and when the door is at the second position, the door is unrolled to close the outlet.

The door includes a fabric material.

The door forms a portion of the housing.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing, a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet; and a blade configured to be movable between a guide position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a closed position at which the blades closes the outlet, the blade including a plurality of holes configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing when the blade is at the closed position.

The blade is configured to rotate between the guide position and the closed position.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, and a discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to the outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing, a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet, a blade configured to be movable between a guide position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a closing position at which the blade closes the outlet and a flow path guide configured to guide air blown by the fan. The flow path guide includes a guide body configured to guide the blown air to the outlet when the outlet is opened and a through hole formed in the guide body, and configured to discharge the blown air through the plurality of holes when the outlet is closed by the blade.

The outlet includes first and second outlets spaced apart from each other, and the flow path guide includes first and second flow path guides configured to form first and second flow paths through which air blown by the fan diverges to flow to the first and second outlets.

The air conditioner further includes a display unit disposed between the first and second outlets. The through-hole is formed at an area forming walls of the first and flow paths in the first and second flow path guides.

The blade includes a blade body configured to move between the guide position and the closed position and a plurality of holes formed in the blade body, and configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing together with the plurality of holes of the discharge plate, when the blade is at the closed position.

The housing and the outlet extend in a vertical direction which is the longitudinal direction of the housing and the outlet, and the fan is a cross-flow fan.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes a housing having an outlet, and a discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to the outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the housing, a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet and a flow path guide configured to guide air blown from the fan. The flow path guide is movable between a first position at which the flow path guide forms a first flow path to guide air to the outlet, and a second position at which the flow path guide forms a second flow path that is wider than the first flow path by moving from the first position to guide air into the plurality of holes.

The flow path guide includes a fixed guide disposed adjacent to the fan, and a rotation guide rotatably disposed on the fixed guide such that the widths of the first and second flow paths are different between when the flow path guide is at the first position and when the flow path guide is at the second position.

The air conditioner further includes a blade configured to be movable between a guide position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a closed position at which the blade closes the outlet. When the flow path guide is at the second position, the blade is positioned at the closed position.

The end of the flow path guide corresponds to the outlet when the flow path guide is at the first position, and the end of the flow path guide corresponds to the end of the discharge plate when the flow path guide is at the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of the operation of an air conditioner in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams of operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams of operation of an air conditioner in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating an operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a path-guide of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a cross section of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a cross section of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are diagrams of operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are diagrams illustrating the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and thus it is to be understood that various modified examples, which may replace the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification, are possible when filing the present application.

In addition, the same reference numerals or symbols shown in the drawings of the present specification indicate members or components that perform the substantially same function.

The terms used in the present specification are used to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be understood that when the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, components, or combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, components, members, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component could be termed a second component, and, similarly, a second component could be termed a first component, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A refrigeration cycle constituting an air conditioner may be configured with a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle may perform a series of processes of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation to heat-exchange high-temperature air with low-temperature refrigerants and then to supply low-temperature air to a room.

The compressor may compress refrigerant gas to high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, and discharge the compressed gas. The discharged refrigerant gas may enter the condenser. The condenser may condense the compressed refrigerant into a liquid state, and emit heat during the condensation process. The expansion valve may expand the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed by the condenser to a liquid-phase refrigerant of low pressure. The evaporator may heat-exchange the refrigerant with an object to be cooled using the evaporative latent heat of the refrigerant to achieve the refrigerating effect, and return the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas to the compressor. Through the refrigeration cycle, the air conditioner can adjust the air temperature of the room.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include the compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger in the refrigeration cycle. The expansion valve may be disposed in any one of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and the indoor heat exchanger may be disposed in the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner for cooling indoor space, wherein an outdoor heat exchanger serves as a condenser, and an indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, an indoor unit including an indoor heat exchanger will be referred to as an air conditioner, and the indoor heat exchanger will be referred to as a heat exchanger.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 3 and 4 are views for describing the operation of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an air conditioner 1 may include a housing 10 having an inlet 12 and an outlet 14, a heat exchanger 20 to exchange heat with air entering the inside of the housing 10, and a fan 30 to circulate air to the inside or outside of the housing 10.

The housing 10 may have a substantially circular cross section, and may have a cylindrical shape as a whole. However, the shape of the housing 10 is not limited to this.

The housing 10 may include a blade 16 to guide air being blown through the outlet 14. The blade 16 may be located on the outlet 14 to control the direction of air blowing through the outlet 14, and may block the outlet 14 to close the outlet 14. More specifically, the blade 16 may rotate between a guide position at which it is disposed in a direction that is parallel to the blowing direction of air, and a closing position at which it blocks blowing of air.

The fan 30 may be a cross-flow fan although not limited to this. In the current embodiment, the housing 10 and the outlet 14 may extend in a vertical direction that is the longitudinal direction, and the fan 30 which is a cross-flow fan may extend in the vertical direction in the inside of the housing 10.

The heat exchanger 20 may be disposed in the inside of the housing 10 to perform heat-exchange with air entered through the inlet 12. That is, the heat exchanger 20 may absorb or transfer heat from air entered through the inlet 12. Below the heat exchanger 20, a drain panel (not shown) may be disposed to collect water condensed in the heat exchanger 20.

The air conditioner 1 may include a flow path guide 40. The flow path guide 40 may be formed between the fan 30 and the outlet 14 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 14 may be located at one end of the flow path guide 40.

The air conditioner 1 may include a door 50. The door 50 may open or close the outlet 14 of the housing 10. The door 50 may be movable between a first position 50a at which it opens the outlet 14, and a second position 50b at which it closes the outlet 14. In the current embodiment, the door 50 may slide between the first position 50a and the second positions 50b, although the operation of the door 50 is not limited to this.

Since the housing 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape, the door 50 may also be curved. More specifically, the front surface of the housing 10 may be at least partially curved, and the door 50 may also be curved to correspond to the curved front surface of the housing 10.

The door 50 may include a door body 52, and a plurality of holes 54 formed in the door body 52. The door body 52 may be curved as described above in order to cover the outlet 14. The plurality of holes 54 may be formed in at least one portion of the door body 52. In the current embodiment, a plurality of holes 54 may be formed in the entire area of the door body 52. The plurality of holes 54 can discharge air to the outside of the housing 10 even when the door 50 is at the second position 50b.

The door 50 may discharge heat-exchanged air flowing to the outlet 14 to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of holes 54. Thereby, it is possible to air-condition indoor space without transferring heat-exchanged air directly to the user.

Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner according to the above-described configuration will be described.

First, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 14 will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the door 50 may be located at the first position 50a at which it opens the outlet 14. Air entering the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be guided by the flow path guide 40 to thus be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 14.

In this case, since the air conditioner 1 blows heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 14, the air conditioner 1 can adjust indoor temperature more quickly than the case of blowing heat-exchanged air through the plurality of holes.

Next, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of holes 54 of the door 50 will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the door 50 may be located at the second position 50b at which it closes the outlet 14. Air entered the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be guided by the flow path guide 40 to thus be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through a plurality of holes 54 formed in the door 50.

In this case, since the air conditioner 1 blows the heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of holes 54 of the discharge plate, the blown air may not be transferred directly to the user, thereby improving the user's feeling of satisfaction.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those described above will be omitted.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views for describing the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an air conditioner 100 may include a door 150.

The door 150 may include a door body 152, and a plurality of holes 154 formed in the door body 152.

The door body 152 may be rollable, and may close the outlet 14 when it is unrolled. The plurality of holes 154 may be formed in at least one portion of the door body 152. The door 150 may be formed of a fabric material so that it is rollable, although not limited to this.

The door 150 may move between a first position 150a at which it is in the shape of a roll to open the outlet 14, and a second position 150b at which it is unrolled to close the outlet 14.

The operation of the air conditioner 100 when the door 50 is at the first position 150a or the second position 150b of the door 50 has been described above in the previous embodiment.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those described above will be omitted

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views for describing the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The air conditioner 200 may include a housing 210 having an inlet 212 and an outlet 214, a heat exchanger 220 to exchange heat with air entered the inside of the housing 210, and a fan 230 to circulate air to the inside or outside of the housing 210.

The housing 210 may have a substantially circular cross section, and may have a cylindrical shape as a whole. However, the shape of the housing 210 is not limited to this.

In the current embodiment, the fan 230 may be a cross-flow fan, although not limited to this.

The heat exchanger 220 may be disposed in the inside of the housing 210 to exchange heat with air entered through the inlet 212. That is, the heat exchanger 220 may absorb or transfer heat from air entered through the inlet 212. Below the heat exchanger 220, a drain panel (not shown) may be disposed to collect water condensed in the heat exchanger 220.

The air conditioner 200 may include a flow path guide 240. A flow path guide 240 may be formed between the fan 230 and the outlet 214 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 214 may be located at one end of the flow path guide 240.

The housing 210 may include a blade 216 to guide air being blown through the outlet 214. The blade 216 may be located on the outlet 214 to control the direction of air blowing through the outlet 214, and may block the outlet 214 to close the outlet 214. More specifically, the blade 216 may rotate between a guide position 216a at which it is disposed in a direction that is parallel to the blowing direction of air, and a closing position 216b at which it blocks blowing of air.

The blade 216 may include a blade body 217 rotatably moving with respect to the housing 210, and a plurality of holes 218 formed in the blade body 217. The plurality of holes 218 of the blade 216 may discharge air to the outside of the housing 210 when the blade 216 is at the closed position 216b.

Air discharged from the air conditioner 200 may be discharged through the outlet 214, or may be discharged through the plurality of holes 218 when the blade 216 closes the outlet 214.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, description about the same configurations as those described above will be omitted.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are views for describing the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, an air conditioner 300 may include a housing 310 having an inlet 312 and an outlet 314.

The housing 310 may include a door 350. The door 350 may form at least one portion of the housing 310. That is, the housing 310 may include a housing body 311 forming the outer appearance, and a door 350 configured to slide with respect to the housing body 311. The door 350 may also form a portion of the housing 310.

The door 350 may include a door body 352, and a plurality of holes 354 formed in the door body 352. The door body 352 may be curved so as to be slidable with respect to the housing body 311 that is curved, and may close the outlet 314. The plurality of holes 354 may be formed in at least one portion of the door body 352. In the current embodiment, the plurality of holes 354 may be formed in the entire area of the door body 352.

The door 350 may slide between a first position 350a at which it opens the outlet 314, and a second position 350b at which it closes the outlet 314.

Air discharged from the air conditioner 300 may be discharged through the outlet 314, or may be discharged through the plurality of holes 354 when the door 350 closes the outlet 314.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those described above will be omitted.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views for describing the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 shows a flow path guide of the air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, an air conditioner 400 may include a discharge plate 460. The discharge plate 460 may form a portion of the housing 10.

The discharge plate 460 may include a plurality of holes 462 disposed adjacent to the outlet 14. The discharge plate 460 may form at least one portion of the housing 10, wherein the inner surface of the discharge plate 460 may face the inner space of the housing 10, and the outer surface of the discharge plate 460 may face the outside of the housing 10.

The air conditioner 400 may include a flow path guide 440. The flow path guide 440 may be formed between the fan 30 and the outlet 414 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 414 may be located at one end of the flow path guide 440. The outlet 414 may be located at the end of the flow path guide 440.

The air conditioner 400 may include a plurality of outlets 414a and 414b, and first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b. The first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b may guide first and second flow paths 448a and 448b through which air blown by the fan 30 flows to the plurality of outlets 414a and 414b.

The flow path guide 440 may include a guide body 442, and a through hole 444 formed in the guide body 442. The through hole 444 of the flow path guide 440 may enable blown air to flow into the plurality of holes 462 of the discharge plate 460, when the outlet 414 is closed by the blade 416 which will be described later. The shape of the through hole 444 formed in the guide body 442 is not limited. For example, the through hole 444 may be formed along a direction in which air is guided, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. According to another example, as shown in FIG. 13, the guide body 443 may be formed in the longitudinal direction of the housing 10, and a plurality of through holes 445 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction in such a way to be spaced from each other.

The housing 10 may include a blade 416 to guide air being blown through the outlet 414. The blade 416 may be located on the outlet 414 to control the direction of air blowing through the outlet 414, or to block the outlet 414 to close the outlet 414. More specifically, the blade 416 may rotate between a guide position 416a at which it is disposed in a direction that is parallel to the blowing direction of air, and a closing position 416b at which it blocks blowing of air.

The blade 416 may include a blade body 417 configured to be rotatable with respect to the housing 10, and a plurality of holes 418 formed in the blade body 417. The plurality of holes 418 of the blade 416 may discharge air to the outside of the housing 10, when the blade 416 is at the closed position 416b. However, the shape of the blade 416 is not limited to this. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a plurality of holes 418 may be formed in the blade 416. Also, as shown in FIG. 14, the blade 419 may open and close the outlet 14 without having any hole.

Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner according to the above-described configuration will be described.

First, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 414 will be described.

Referring to FIG. 11, the blade 416 may be positioned at a guide position 416a at which it opens the outlet 414. Air entered the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. The heat-exchanged air blown from the fan 30 may be guided by the guide body 442 of the flow path guide 440 to thus be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 414.

Next, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of holes 462 and 418 will be described.

Referring to FIG. 12, the blade 416 may be located at the closed position 416b at which it closes the outlet 414. Air entered to the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may pass through the through hole of the flow path guide 440 to be discharged through the plurality of holes 462 of the discharge plate 460, since the outlet 414 is closed by the blade 416. The air blown by the fan 30 may also be discharged through the plurality of holes 462 of the blade 416.

That is, when the blade 416 closes the outlet 414, blown air may be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of holes 462 of the discharge plate 460 and the blade 416.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those described above will be omitted.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The air conditioner 500 may include a flow path guide 440.

A flow path guide 440 may be formed between the fan 30 and the outlet 414 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 414 may be located at one end of the flow path guide 440. The outlet 414 may be located at the end of the flow path guide 440.

The air conditioner 500 may include a plurality of outlets 414a and 414b and first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b. The first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b may guide the first and second flow paths 448a and 448b through which air blown by the fan 30 flows to the plurality of outlets 414a and 414b.

A display unit 570 may be positioned between the first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b. For the configuration, the first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b may have a plurality of through holes 444 at areas forming the walls of the flow paths 448a and 448b in the first and second flow path guides 441a and 441b.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those described above will be omitted

FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 are views for describing the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 16, 17, and 18, an air conditioner 600 may include a discharge plate 460. The discharge plate 460 may form a portion of the housing 10.

The discharge plate 460 may include a plurality of holes 462 disposed adjacent the outlet 14. The discharge plate 460 may form at least one portion of the housing 10, wherein the inner surface of the discharge plate 460 may face the inner space of the housing 10, and the outer surface of the discharge plate 460 may face the outside of the housing 10.

The housing 10 may include a blade 416 to guide air being blown through the outlet 414. The blade 416 may be located on the outlet 414 to control the direction of air blowing through the outlet 414 or to close the outlet 414 to block the outlet 414. More specifically, the blade 416 may rotate between a guide position 416a at which it is disposed in a direction parallel to the blowing direction of air, and a closing position 416b at which it blocks blowing of air.

The blade 416 may include a blade body 417 configured to be rotatable with respect to the housing 10, and a plurality of holes 418 formed in the blade body 417. The plurality of holes 418 of the blade 416 may discharge air to the outside of the housing 10, when the blade 416 is at the closed position 416b. However, the shape of the blade 416 is not limited to this. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a plurality of holes 418 may be formed in the blade 416. Also, as shown in FIG. 18, the blade 416 may close the outlet 414 without having any hole.

The air conditioner 600 may include a flow path guide 640. A flow path guide 640 may be formed between the fan 30 and the outlet 414 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 414 may be located at one end of the flow path guide 640. The outlet 414 may be located at the end of the flow path guide 640.

The flow path guide 640 may include a fixed guide 642, and a variable guide 644 rotatably formed at the end of the fixed guide 642 so as to increase the width of a flow path.

The flow path guide 640 may move between a first position 640a at which it forms a first flow path to guide air to the outlet 414, and a second position 640b at which it forms a second flow path that is wider than the first flow path by moving from the first position 640a to guide air to the discharge plate 460.

More specifically, the flow path guide 640 may move between the first position 640a at which the variable guide 644 guides air blown from the fan 30 to the outlet 414, and the second position 640b at which the variable guide 644 moves from the first position 640a to widen the flow path and guides air to the discharge plate 460. The variable guide 644 may move to discharge air to the discharge plate 460, when the outlet 414 is closed. When the flow path guide 640 is at the second position 640b, air may also be discharged through the plurality of holes 418 of the blade 416

Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner according to the above-described configuration will be described.

First, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 414 will be described.

Referring to FIG. 16, the blade 416 may be located at a guide position 416a at which it opens the outlet 414. Air entered to the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be guided by the flow path guide 640 to be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 14.

Next, operation in which air blown by the fan 30 is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of holes will be described.

Referring to FIG. 17, the blade 416 may be located at the closed position 416b at which it closes the outlet 414. Air entered the inside of the housing 10 through the inlet 12 may exchange heat with the heat exchanger 20, and then pass through the fan 30. At this time, the flow path guide 640 may be positioned at the second position 640b so that the width of a flow path is wider than when the flow path guide 640 is at the first position 640a. The heat-exchanged air blown by the fan 30 may be discharged to the outside through the plurality of holes 418 of the discharge plate 460 and/or the blade 416 along the flow path widened by the variable guide 644, since the outlet 414 is closed by the blade 416.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Hereinafter, descriptions about the same configurations as those described above will be omitted.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are views for describing the operation of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, an air conditioner 700 may include a flow path guide 740. The flow path guide 740 may be formed between the fan 30 and the outlet 414 to guide the flow of air. The outlet 414 may be located at one end of the flow path guide 740. The outlet 414 may be located at the end of the flow path guide 740.

The flow path guide 740 may be variable. That is, the flow path guide 740 may move between a first position 740a at which it guides air blown by the fan 30 to the outlet 414, and a second position 740b at which it guides air to the outlet 414 and the discharge plate 460 by moving from the first position 740a to widen the width of a flow path. The end of the flow path guide 740 may correspond to the outlet 414 at the first position 740a, and correspond to the end of the discharge plate 460 at the second position 740b.

The air conditioner according to the present disclosure can discharge heat-exchanged air at different wind speed.

Also, the air conditioner according to the present disclosure can change a method of blowing heat-exchanged air depending on a user's environment.

In addition, the air conditioner according to the present disclosure can adjust heat-exchanged air so as not to be blown directly to the user, thereby improving the user's feeling of satisfaction.

The present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments. However, the exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only, and the disclosure is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements within the scope of the disclosure may be made.

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet;a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing;a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet; and,a door configured to be movable between a first position at which the door opens the outlet, and a second position at which the door closes the outlet, the door including a plurality of holes configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing when the door is at the second position.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door is configured to slide between the first position and the second position.

3. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein a part of the front portion of the housing is curved, and the door is curved, and disposed on the front portion of the housing.

4. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the housing and the outlet extend in a vertical direction which is the longitudinal direction of the housing and the outlet, the fan is a cross-flow fan.

5. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door is in the shape of a roll when the door is at the first position, and when the door is at the second position, the door is unrolled to close the outlet.

6. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door includes a fabric material.

7. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the door forms a portion of the housing.

8. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet;a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing;a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet; anda blade configured to be movable between a guide position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a closed position at which the blades closes the outlet, the blade including a plurality of holes configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing when the blade is at the closed position.

9. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the blade is configured to rotate between the guide position and the closed position.

10. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet, and a discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to the outlet;a heat exchanger disposed in the inside of the housing;a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet;a blade configured to be movable between a guide position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a closing position at which the blade closes the outlet; anda flow path guide configured to guide air blown by the fan, wherein the flow path guide comprises:a guide body configured to guide the blown air to the outlet when the outlet is opened; and,a through hole formed in the guide body, and configured to discharge the blown air through the plurality of holes when the outlet is closed by the blade.

11. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the outlet includes first and second outlets spaced apart from each other, and the flow path guide includes first and second flow path guides configured to form first and second flow paths through which air blown by the fan diverges to flow to the first and second outlets.

12. The air conditioner of claim 11, further comprising a display unit disposed between the first and second outlets, and wherein the through-hole is formed at an area forming walls of the first and flow paths in the first and second flow path guides.

13. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the blade comprises: a blade body configured to move between the guide position and the closed position; anda plurality of holes formed in the blade body, and configured to discharge air to the outside of the housing together with the plurality of holes of the discharge plate, when the blade is at the closed position.

14. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the housing and the outlet extend in a vertical direction which is the longitudinal direction of the housing and the outlet, and the fan is a cross-flow fan.

15. An air conditioner comprising: a housing having an outlet, and a discharge plate having a plurality of holes disposed adjacent to the outlet;a heat exchanger disposed in the housing;a fan configured to blow air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger toward the outlet; anda flow path guide configured to guide air blown from the fan, andwherein the flow path guide is movable between a first position at which the flow path guide forms a first flow path to guide air to the outlet, and a second position at which the flow path guide forms a second flow path that is wider than the first flow path by moving from the first position to guide air into the plurality of holes.

16. The air conditioner of claim 15, wherein the flow path guide comprises: a fixed guide disposed adjacent to the fan;, anda rotation guide rotatably disposed on the fixed guide such that the widths of the first and second flow paths are different between when the flow path guide is at the first position and when the flow path guide is at the second position.

17. The air conditioner of claim 15, further comprising a blade configured to be movable between a guide position at which the blade guides air blown by the fan, and a closed position at which the blade closes the outlet, and wherein when the flow path guide is at the second position, the blade is positioned at the closed position.

18. The air conditioner of claim 15, wherein the end of the flow path guide corresponds to the outlet when the flow path guide is at the first position, and the end of the flow path guide corresponds to the end of the discharge plate when the flow path guide is at the second position.