AIR CONDITIONER

FIELD

The present disclosure relate to an air conditioner having a condensate guide structure configured to guide condensate falling from a heat exchanger to a main drain.

BACKGROUND

An air conditioner may be a device that keeps the air in a space to be air-conditioned (hereinafter, referred to as an “indoor space”) in a state appropriate for the purpose and use. For example, an air conditioner may suck in the warm air in the indoor space, exchange heat with a low-temperature refrigerant, and then discharge the cooled air to the room to cool the room when operating in a cooling mode. For example, an air conditioner may suck in the cold air in the indoor space, exchange heat with a high-temperature refrigerant, and then discharge the heated air to the room to heat the room when operating in a heating mode.

Air conditioners may be typically divided into integrated and separated air conditioners depending on whether the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are separated. In the integrated air conditioner, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are formed of a single unit and, in the separated air conditioner, the indoor unit is installed in an indoor space for air conditioning, and the outdoor unit is installed in an outdoor space and connected to the indoor unit through a pipe. The indoor unit of the air conditioner includes a heat exchanger for heat exchange with the air sucked in from the outside, and condensate generated during heat exchange may build up on the surface of the heat exchanger and fall down. A main drain structure may be provided in the indoor unit of the air conditioner to receive the condensate generated during heat exchange and discharge the condensate to the outside.

Meanwhile, among various types of separated air conditioners, the ceiling-mounted air conditioner is installed on the ceiling so that the front surface facing the ground (e.g., the floor surface of the indoor space) is exposed to the outside, and most components are accommodated inside the ceiling. In particular, in the ceiling-mounted air conditioner, the heat exchanger is mostly disposed to be inclined from the ground surface (or ceiling surface) inside the housing and, in such a case, a wing-shaped condensate receiving structure is provided under the inclined surface of the heat exchanger to prevent the condensate generated on the surface of the heat exchanger from falling to the ground surface (or ceiling surface).

The wing-shaped condensate receiving structure provided in the ceiling-mounted air conditioner may cause resistance to the air sucked in through the intake of the housing, disturbing supply of the sucked air to the heat exchanger. Further, the condensate receiving structure hinders downsizing of the air conditioner by its own volume inside the housing.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, there may be provided an air conditioner including a condensate guide structure that is desirable for downsizing of the housing of the indoor unit by less occupying the indoor space without increasing resistance to the air supplied to the heat exchanger.

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a heat exchanger extending at an incline at a first angle from a ground; a main drain disposed adjacent to a lower end portion of the heat exchanger and configured to receive condensate from the heat exchanger; and a condensate guide structure disposed on a lower side of the heat exchanger and configured to guide the condensate from the heat exchanger toward the ground to the main drain, wherein the condensate guide structure comprises a mesh structure configured to allow air introduced from outside the air conditioner heading to the heat exchanger to pass therethrough and prevent the condensate from passing therethrough.

According to an example, the mesh structure of the condensate guide structure may be disposed on the lower side of the heat exchanger at an angle equal to or larger than the first angle.

According to an example, the heat exchanger may include a first area overlapping the mesh structure of the condensate guide structure and a second area not overlapping the mesh structure, along a vertical direction, wherein a size of the main drain is at least as large as a size of the second area and the main drain is configured to cover the second area on the lower side of the heat exchanger.

According to an example, the mesh structure may include a plurality of condensate receiving members spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, each of the plurality of condensate receiving members having one end portion positioned to contact the lower side of the heat exchanger.

According to an example, each of the plurality of condensate receiving members may be disposed to contact each other on a projection plane to the ground.

According to an example, each of the plurality of condensate receiving members may be disposed to form an angle larger than the first angle.

According to an example, the condensate guide structure may include a plurality of first condensate drain members extending along a lower side of each of the plurality of condensate receiving members and configured to provide a flow path for guiding the condensate flowing down from each corresponding condensate receiving member to the main drain.

According to an example, each of the plurality of first condensate drain members may include a drain recess having a recess formed downward in an upper surface.

According to an example, the condensate guide structure may include a second condensate drain member disposed between adjacent first condensate drain members to provide a path for guiding the condensate downward.

According to an example, each of the plurality of condensate receiving members may include a plurality of first holes, each first hole having a width smaller than a diameter of a droplet of the condensate, and wherein the condensate guide structure comprises a plurality of air holes defined by the plurality of first condensate drain members and the second condensate drain member, each air hole having a width larger than the width of each first hole.

According to an example, each of the plurality of first condensate drain members and the second condensate drain member may include a drain recess having a recess formed downward in an upper surface.

According to an example, each of the plurality of first condensate drain members may be configured to fluidly communicate with the second condensate drain member connected to a corresponding first condensate drain member.

According to an example, the condensate guide structure may include a support frame connecting between the plurality of condensate receiving members.

According to an example, the mesh structure may include a plurality of holes having a width smaller than a diameter of a droplet of the condensate.

According to an example, the air conditioner may further include an air intake provided on the lower side of the heat exchanger, wherein the mesh structure may be positioned between the heat exchanger and the air intake.

According to an example, the mesh structure may be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger.

In various embodiments of the disclosure, there may be provided a condensate guide structure under a heat exchanger disposed to be inclined from a ground inside an air conditioner, to guide condensate falling from the heat exchanger to a main drain. The condensate guide structure disposed under the heat exchanger may be configured to have a mesh structure and, although positioned above the intake, pass the air introduced through the intake without significant resistance and smoothly supply the air to the heat exchanger and stop transmission of the condensate falling from the heat exchanger, thereby decreasing (making compact) the occupancy space and reducing the resistance to the air flow.

Effects of the present invention are not limited to the foregoing, and other unmentioned effects would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description. In other words, unintended effects in practicing embodiments of the disclosure may also be derived by one of ordinary skill in the art from example embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure may be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a configuration related to a cooling cycle of an air conditioner according to an example;

FIG. 2 is a function block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner in terms of function and control according to an example;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner according to an example;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of the air conditioner of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating a heat exchanger, a main drain, and a condensate guide structure as viewed from a side according to some embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 6A is a view illustrating a main drain and a condensate guide structure as viewed from a side according to an example;

FIG. 6B is a view illustrating the condensate guide structure is separated from FIG. 6A according to an example;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating a main drain and a condensate guide structure as viewed from a side according to some embodiments; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views illustrating a main drain and a condensate guide structure as viewed from a side according to an example.

In connection with the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals may be used to denote the same or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure defined by the claims and their equivalents. Various specific details are included to assist in understanding, but these details are considered to be exemplary only. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms as used herein are provided merely to describe some embodiments thereof, but are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As used herein, the term ‘and/or’ should be understood as encompassing any and all possible combinations by one or more of the enumerated items. As used herein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

When a (e.g., first) component is mentioned as “coupled to,” “connected to,” “supported by,” or “contacting” another (e.g., second) component with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” the component may be directly or indirectly coupled to, connected to, supported by, or contact the other component.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “have,” as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Throughout the specification, when one component is positioned “on” another component, the first component may be positioned directly on the second component, or other component(s) may be positioned between the first and second component.

As used herein, the terms “configured to” may be interchangeably used with the terms “suitable for,” “having the capacity to,” “designed to,” “adapted to,” “made to,” or “capable of” depending on circumstances. The term “configured to” does not essentially mean “specifically designed in hardware to.” Rather, the term “configured to” may mean that a device can perform an operation together with another device or parts. For example, a ‘device configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C’ may be a dedicated device to perform the corresponding operation or may mean a general-purpose device capable of various operations including the corresponding operation.

The terms “upper side”, “lower side”, and “front and rear directions” used in the disclosure are defined with respect to the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

In the disclosure, the above-described description has been made mainly of specific embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to such specific embodiments, but should rather be appreciated as covering all various modifications, equivalents, and/or substitutes of various embodiments. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements.

Hereinafter, various exemplary air conditioners are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a configuration related to a cooling cycle of an air conditioner according to an example.

For example, the air conditioner 100 may include a compressor 101 that compresses the refrigerant to change to a high-temperature and high-pressure state, an outdoor heat exchanger 102 that allows heat exchange between outdoor air and refrigerant, an expansion device 103 that expands the refrigerant to change to a low-temperature and low-pressure state, and an indoor heat exchanger 104 that allows heat exchange between indoor air and refrigerant. The air conditioner 100 may include a refrigerant pipe 105 connecting the compressor 101, the outdoor heat exchanger 102, the expansion device 103, and the indoor heat exchanger 104. In an example, the refrigerant may circulate in the order of the compressor 101, the outdoor heat exchanger 102, the expansion device 103, and the indoor heat exchanger 104 through the refrigerant pipe 105. In an example, the refrigerant may circulate in the order of the compressor 101, the indoor heat exchanger 104, the expansion device 103, and the outdoor heat exchanger 102.

The air conditioner 100 may include a flow path switching valve 106 for switching the circulation path of the refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe 105. The flow path switching valve 106 may include, e.g., a four-way valve. The flow path switching valve 106 may be connected to a suction part 101a of the compressor 101. The flow path switching valve 106 may be connected to the discharge part 101b of the compressor 101. The flow path switching valve 106 may be connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 102. The flow path switching valve 106 may be connected to the indoor heat exchanger 104. The flow path switching valve 106 may switch the circulation path of the refrigerant depending on the operation mode (e.g., a cooling operation mode or a heating operation mode) of the air conditioner 100. The flow path switching valve 106 may allow the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged through the discharge part 101b from the compressor 101 to flow to the outdoor heat exchanger 102 or the indoor heat exchanger 104 according to the operation mode of the air conditioner 100. The flow path switching valve 106 may allow the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger 104 or the outdoor heat exchanger 102 to flow to the suction part 101a of the compressor 101 according to the operation mode of the air conditioner 100.

In an example, the air conditioner 100 may include an accumulator 107. One end of the accumulator 107 may be connected to the suction part 101a of the compressor 101. The other end of the accumulator 107 may be connected to the flow path switching valve 106. Through the flow path switching valve 106, a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger 104 or the outdoor heat exchanger 102 may flow into the accumulator 107. When the refrigerant in which a refrigerant liquid and a refrigerant gas are mixed is introduced, the accumulator 107 may separate the refrigerant gas from the refrigerant liquid and provide the refrigerant gas from which the refrigerant liquid is separated to the suction part 101a of the compressor 101.

The compressor 101 may suck the refrigerant gas through the suction part 101a and compress the sucked refrigerant gas and convert it into a high-temperature and high-pressure state. The compressor 101 may discharge the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas through the discharge part 101b. The compressor 101 is a capacitive variable compressor, and may vary the capacitance by changing the frequency according to a driving control command.

The outdoor heat exchanger 102 may be typically disposed outdoors. In the outdoor heat exchanger 102, heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air may be achieved by a phase change (e.g., condensation or evaporation) of the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 102. For example, during cooling mode operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 102 may condense the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant introduced from the compressor 101. During cooling mode operation, latent heat may be discharged to outdoor air while the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is condensed while passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 102. During the heating mode operation, in the outdoor heat exchanger 102, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant may be evaporated, and latent heat may be absorbed from the outdoor air while the refrigerant is evaporated. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, in an example, one or more temperature sensors for temperature detection of outdoor air may be disposed at an adjacent position of the outdoor heat exchanger 102.

The air conditioner 100 may include an outdoor blower 108 that generates forced circulation of outdoor air so that heat exchange in the outdoor heat exchanger 102 is smooth. The outdoor blower 108 may be disposed adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 102. Although not illustrated in detail, the outdoor blower 108 may include one or more blower fans and fan motors. The fan motor of the outdoor blower 108 may provide a driving force to the blower fan through a shaft.

The expansion device 103 may lower the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 102 when operating in the cooling mode. The expansion device 103 may lower the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant introduced from the indoor heat exchanger 104 during the heating mode operation. In an example, the expansion device 103 may lower the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant using the throttling effect. The expansion device 103 may include an orifice capable of reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path. The refrigerant passing through the orifice may decrease in temperature and pressure. In an example, the expansion device 103 may be implemented as an electronic expansion valve that may adjust the opening ratio (an electronic expansion valve that may adjust the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the valve's flow path in a partially opened state to the cross-sectional area of the valve's flow path in a fully opened state). In such a case, the amount of refrigerant passing through the expansion device 103 may be controlled depending on the opening ratio of the electromagnetic expansion valve. In an example, the expansion device 103 may be implemented as a capillary device.

The indoor heat exchanger 104 may be disposed indoors. In the indoor heat exchanger 104, heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air may be achieved by a phase change (e.g., evaporation or condensation) of the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 104. For example, during cooling mode operation, the refrigerant passing through the expansion device 103 may flow into the indoor heat exchanger 104 and evaporate from the indoor heat exchanger 104. While the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger 104, latent heat may be absorbed from the surrounding air, thereby cooling the surrounding air. When operating in the heating mode, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor 101 may be introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 104 and condensed, and latent heat may be released into indoor air. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the indoor heat exchanger 104 may include a refrigerant flow path through which refrigerant flows and a plurality of heat exchange fins provided to increase the heat exchange area. Although not illustrated in this drawings, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the indoor heat exchanger 104 may be obliquely disposed at an angle from the ground.

In the cooling mode operation, water vapor contained in the air may be condensed and liquefied on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 104 by heat exchange between the surrounding indoor air and the refrigerant performed in the indoor heat exchanger 104. The condensate formed on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 104 may fall downward. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 may include a main drain (or main drain tray) disposed under the indoor heat exchanger 104 to collect condensate falling from the indoor heat exchanger 104. The condensate accommodated in the main drain may be drained to the outside through a drain hose. The main drain may be provided to support the indoor heat exchanger 104 from below, but is not limited thereto. According to an example of the disclosure, when the indoor heat exchanger 104 is obliquely disposed at an angle from the ground, a condensate guide structure configured to guide the falling condensate to the main drain may be disposed under the indoor heat exchanger 104.

The air conditioner 100 may include an indoor blower 109 that generates forced circulation of indoor air so that heat exchange in the indoor heat exchanger 104 is smooth. The indoor blower 109 may be disposed adjacent to the indoor heat exchanger 104. Although not specifically illustrated, in an example, the indoor blower 109 may be disposed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 104 with respect to the air flow direction in the space where the indoor blower 109 is installed, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The indoor blower 109 may include one or more blower fans and fan motors. The fan motor of the indoor blower 109 may provide a driving force to the blower fan through a shaft. In an example, the blower fan may include one of an axial fan that sucks air in the rotation axis direction of the fan motor and discharges air in the rotation axis direction, a diagonal fan that sucks air in the rotation axis direction of the fan motor and discharges air in a direction between the axial direction and the radial direction, a centrifugal fan and cross flow fan that suck air in the rotation axis direction of the fan motor and discharges the air in the circumferential direction, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In the disclosure, the description focuses primarily on the case where the air conditioner 100 has cooling cycle-related components, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example, the air conditioner may be configured using a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element may cool or heat the surrounding air through heat generation and cooling through the Peltier effect.

The air conditioner 100 may include one or more outdoor units installed outdoors and one or more indoor units installed indoors. In an example, the compressor 101, the outdoor heat exchanger 102, and the expansion device 103 described above may be disposed in the outdoor unit. In an example, the above-described indoor heat exchanger 104 may be disposed in the indoor unit. However, the disposition position of each of the above-described components is not limited. For example, the position of the expansion device 103 is not limited to the outdoor unit, but may be disposed in the indoor unit as necessary.

The description in the disclosure focuses on the case where the air conditioner 100 is of a separate type with an outdoor unit installed outdoors and an indoor unit installed indoors, respectively, but the disclosure is not limited to this. In an example, the air conditioner 100 may be configured as an integrated type in which a compressor 101, an outdoor heat exchanger 102, an expansion device 103, and an indoor heat exchanger 104 are disposed in a single case placed indoors.

In the case of the separated air conditioner 100, the outdoor unit may be connected to the indoor unit to allow fluid communication through the refrigerant pipe. The outdoor unit may be communicatively connected to the indoor unit. In an example, control information (or command) of the air conditioner 100 input by the user or received from the outside may be transferred from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit.

In the case of an air conditioner including a plurality of indoor units, some of the indoor units may be operated in the cooling mode and the rest of the indoor units may be simultaneously individually in the heating mode. When operating the plurality of indoor units, in order to effectively respond to the cooling or heating load according to the number of indoor units operated, the air conditioner may be used with connecting the plurality of compressors or the plurality of outdoor units connected in parallel with each other.

The air conditioner 100 may be classified according to the installation type/position of the indoor unit. For example, air conditioners may be divided into a standing type in which the indoor unit is placed upright in an indoor space, a wall-mounted type installed to be attached to the wall, and a ceiling-mounted type installed on the ceiling. In an example, the air conditioner 100 includes a plurality of indoor units, some indoor units may be configured in the standing type, and some indoor units may be configured in the wall-mounted type, but the disclosure is not limited to a specific form.

FIG. 2 is a function block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner in terms of function and control according to an example. In FIG. 2, it is illustrated that the air conditioner 100 includes one indoor unit 200 and one outdoor unit 300, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In FIG. 2, among the components related to the refrigerant cycle described above with reference to FIG. 1, the indoor heat exchanger 104 and the indoor blower 109 are included in the indoor unit 200, and the compressor 101, the outdoor heat exchanger 102, the outdoor blower 108, the expansion device 103, and the flow path switching valve 106 are included in the outdoor unit 300, but the disclosure is merely an example, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 200 may include a housing (e.g., housing 10 of the FIG. 3). The indoor unit 200 may include one or more air intakes 71 formed in the housing. Indoor air may be introduced into the housing through the air intake 71.

In an example, the indoor unit 200 may include a filter 73 that filters foreign substances in air introduced into the housing through the air intake 71. Although not specifically illustrated, the filter 73 may include a plurality of filter modules, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, various types of filters, including electric dust collection filters, HEPA filters, antibacterial filters, and deodorization filters, may be provided inside the air intake 71 in the housing, but the disclosure is not limited to a specific filter type and number.

In an example, the indoor unit 200 may include one or more air discharge ports 75 formed in the housing. In an example, the air discharge port 75 may have an opening shape configured to be opened and closed according to the operation state of the air conditioner 100. In an example, the air discharge port 75 may be configured to include a plurality of air through holes of fine size distributed over all or some areas of one surface of the housing, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example, the air discharge port 75 of the indoor unit 200 may be disposed in any area of the front surface, side surface, upper surface, and/or rear surface of the housing, but is not limited to a specific form. Air introduced into the housing through the air intake 71 and flowing inside the housing may be discharged to the outside of the housing through the air discharge port 75. When the indoor unit 200 includes a plurality of air discharge ports 75, air may be selectively discharged to the outside of the housing through one or more of the plurality of air discharge ports 75.

The indoor unit 200 may include an airflow guide 214 that controls whether air is discharged through the air discharge port 75 and guides the air discharge direction. For example, the airflow guide 214 may include a door blade positioned near each air discharge port 75 to open and close the air discharge port 75 and guide the discharge direction of air through the air discharge port 75. For example, the airflow guide 214 may include one or more blower fans for controlling the discharged airflow, but is not limited thereto. In an example, the airflow guide may be omitted.

In an example, the indoor unit 200 may include a communication unit 215 that supports signal transmission/reception to/from the outside. In an example, the communication unit 215 may receive and/or transmit a wired/wireless signal to/from an external wired/wireless communication system, an external server, and/or other devices according to a predetermined wired/wireless communication protocol. In an example, the communication unit 215 may include one or more modules to connect the air conditioner 100 to one or more networks. In an example, the communication unit 215 may include at least one of a mobile communication module, a wireless Internet module, a short-range communication module, and/or a location information module.

In an example, the mobile communication module may transmit/receive wireless signals with at least one of an external base station, an external terminal, and an external server through the mobile communication network according to any communication protocol among various communication protocols for mobile communication. The wireless signals may include various types of data signals. In an example, the wireless signals may include voice call signals, video call signals, and text/multimedia message signals, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

For example, the wired/wireless Internet module may support wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi direct, digital living network alliance (DLNA), wireless broadband (WiBro), world interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), long term evolution (LTE), or long term evolution-advanced (LTE-A), but is not limited thereto. In an example, the wired/wireless Internet module of the communication unit 215 may transmit/receive data according to at least one wired/wireless Internet technology among Internet technologies not listed above.

The short-range communication module may be intended for, e.g., short-range communication and may support short-range communication using at least one of Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra-wideband (UWB), ZigBee, near-field communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, or wireless universal serial bus (USB) technology. The short-range communication module may support, e.g., wireless communication between the air conditioner 100 and a wireless communication system, between the air conditioner 100 and another device, or between the air conditioner 100 and a network in which the other device is positioned through a short-range wireless communication network.

The location information module may be, e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) module or a Wi-Fi module as a module for obtaining the location of the air conditioner 100. When the air conditioner 100 utilizes the GPS module, the air conditioner 100 may receive information about the location of the air conditioner 100 using the signal transmitted from the GPS satellite. When the air conditioner 100 utilizes the Wi-Fi module, the air conditioner 100 may receive information about the location of the air conditioner 100 based on information about a wireless access point (AP) that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from the Wi-Fi module.

In an example, the communication unit 215 may receive the configuration data signal input by the user on the mobile terminal of the user in the form of a wireless signal according to a predetermined wireless communication protocol. In an example, the communication unit 215 may receive information and/or a command for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100 from an external server in the form of a signal according to a predetermined wired/wireless communication protocol. The communication unit 215 may transfer various received signals to first controller 220 to be described below. In an example, the communication unit 215 may transmit various data generated or obtained on the air conditioner 100 in the form of a wired/wireless signal according to a predetermined wired/wireless communication protocol, e.g., to a mobile terminal of the user or an external server.

In an example, the indoor unit 200 may include an input unit 216. The input unit 216 may include any type of user input means including a button, a switch, or a touch pad. The user may directly input setting data (e.g., desired indoor temperature, operation mode setting of cooling/heating/dehumidification/air cleaning, discharge port selection setting, and/or air volume setting) through the input unit 216. In an example, the input unit 216 may include an infrared sensor. The user may remotely input configuration data through a remote controller, and the input configuration data may be received by the input unit 216 as an infrared signal. In an example, the input unit 216 may include a microphone. Setting data by the user's voice may be obtained through a microphone. The setting data (e.g., desired indoor temperature, operation mode setting of cooling/heating/dehumidification/air cleaning, discharge port selection setting, and/or air volume setting) obtained from the user through the input unit 216 may be transferred to the first controller 220 to be described below. In an example, the setting data from the user, obtained through the input unit 216 may be transmitted to the outside through the communication unit 215.

In an example, the indoor unit 200 may include a camera 217. The camera 217 may obtain image information about the surrounding space surrounding the indoor unit 200. The camera 217 may be positioned, e.g., on the upper front surface of the housing of indoor unit 200, but is not limited thereto. The image information about the surrounding space obtained by the camera 217 may be transferred to the first controller 220 described below. In an example, the image information about the surrounding space obtained by the camera 217 may be transmitted to the outside through the communication unit 215.

In an example, the indoor unit 200 may include one or more indoor unit environment detection sensors 218 disposed in a space inside or outside the housing. For example, the indoor unit environment detection sensor 218 may include one or more temperature sensors and/or humidity sensors disposed in a predetermined space (e.g., a position of an upper end of the air intake 71, but not limited thereto) inside or outside the housing of the indoor unit 200. In an example, the indoor unit environment detection sensor 218 may include a refrigerant temperature detection sensor for detecting the refrigerant temperature of a refrigerant pipe passing through the indoor unit 200 (e.g., the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipe 105 passing through the indoor heat exchanger 104). For example, the indoor unit environment detection sensor 218 may include respective refrigerant temperature detection sensors that detect the inlet, middle, and/or outlet temperatures of the refrigerant pipe 105 passing through the indoor heat exchanger 104, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example, each piece of environmental information detected by the indoor unit environment detection sensor 218 may be transferred to the first controller 220 described below. In an example, the environmental information detected by the indoor unit environment detection sensor 218 may be transmitted to the outside through the communication unit 215.

The indoor unit 200 may include a display unit 219. In an example, the display unit 219 may display various setting data obtained from the user or the outside through the communication unit 215 and/or the input unit 216. The display unit 219 may display various sensing information (e.g., the current indoor temperature measured by the temperature sensor, or the current indoor humidity measured by the humidity sensor) obtained from the indoor unit environment detection sensor 218 and/or a outdoor unit environment detection sensor 311 described below, the current operating status of the air conditioner 100, and/or various warning/error messages. The display unit 219 may be one of various visual display means capable of displaying images, characters, numbers, etc., including an LED panel, an LCD panel, an OLED panel, and a micro LED panel, but is not limited to a specific type of display means. In an example, the display unit 219 may include any type of audio display means including a speaker, and may display each of the above-described information as an auditory signal through the audio display means.

The indoor unit 200 may include a first controller 220. The first controller 220 may include a processor 221 and a memory 222. In an example, the memory 222 may store a control algorithm for operating the air conditioner 100 and related data. In an example, the processor 221 may generate an operation control command for one or more of the components of the air conditioner 100 based on information stored in the memory 222 and information obtained from other components.

In an example, the processor 221 of the first controller 220 may receive various input/setting information from the communication unit 215 and/or the input unit 216. The processor 221 may receive image information obtained by the camera 217 and obtain information such as an environmental condition of a space in which the indoor unit 200 is installed, e.g., the size of an indoor space, the number of occupants, or the positions of occupants from the received image information. The processor 221 may receive various sensing information obtained from each environment detection sensor provided in the air conditioner 100, such as an indoor unit environment detection sensor 218 and/or an outdoor unit environment detection sensor 311 to be described below.

In an example, the processor 221 of the first controller 220 may generate an operation control command for each component of the indoor unit 200 based on various information received from the communication unit 215, the input unit 216, the camera 217, and/or each environment detection sensor. For example, the processor 221 may generate a command to control whether indoor blower 109 is driven and the rotational speed. For example, the processor 221 may generate a command for controlling the operation state of the airflow guide 214. For example, the processor 221 may generate a command for controlling whether and how information is displayed through the display unit 219. For example, the processor 221 may generate a command to control the operation state of each of the communication unit 215, the input unit 216, the camera 217, and/or the indoor unit environment detection sensor 218.

In an example, the processor 221 of the first controller 220 may transmit data to be used for operation control of each component of the outdoor unit 300 to a second controller 320 of the outdoor unit 300 to be described below. The data transferred to the second controller 320 may include, e.g., at least some of input/setting information or environment detection information obtained by the first controller 220. In an example, the processor 221 of the first controller 220 may generate a control command for each component of the outdoor unit 300, and may transmit the generated control command to the second controller 320.

The outdoor unit 300 may include one or more outdoor unit environment detection sensors 311. The outdoor unit environment detection sensor 311 may be disposed at an arbitrary position inside or outside the outdoor unit 300. The outdoor unit environment detection sensor 311 may include, but is not limited to, a temperature detection sensor to detect the air temperature around the outdoor unit 300, a humidity detection sensor to detect the air humidity around the outdoor unit 300, and/or a refrigerant temperature detection sensor to detect the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipe 105 passing through the outdoor unit 300. In an example, the outdoor unit environment detection sensor 311 may include, but is not limited to, a refrigerant temperature detection sensor for detecting the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipe 105 in the discharge part 101b of the compressor 101. In an example, each piece of environmental information sensed by the outdoor unit environment detection sensor 311 may be transferred to the second controller 320.

The outdoor unit 300 may include the above-described second controller 320. The second controller 320 may be communicatively coupled to the first controller 220 of the indoor unit 200. Like the first controller 220, the second controller 320 may include a processor 321 and a memory 322. In an example, the memory 322 may store a control algorithm for operating the air conditioner 100 and related data. In an example, the processor 321 may generate an operation control command for one or more of the components of the outdoor unit 300, such as the compressor 101, the outdoor blower 108, the expansion device 103, and/or the flow path switching valve 106, based on information stored in the memory 322, information received from the first controller 220, and/or information received from the outdoor unit environment detection sensor 311.

The outdoor unit 300 may include a compressor 101. The compressor 101 may receive a driving control command from the second controller 320. The compressor 101 may be operated or stopped based on the received driving control command. The compressor 101 may be operated by a predetermined capacity according to the received driving control command. The compressor 101 may suction the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant gas through the suction part 101a by a predetermined capacity based on the received driving control command, and may compress the suctioned refrigerant gas. As described above, the compressor 101 may discharge the compressed, high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas through the discharge part 101b.

The outdoor unit 300 may include an outdoor heat exchanger 102. In the outdoor heat exchanger 102, heat exchange may be performed between the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 102 and outdoor air. In an example, as described above, the outdoor unit 300 may include an outdoor blower 108 that generates forced air for heat exchange between the outdoor heat exchanger 102 and outdoor air. In an example, the outdoor blower 108 may receive a driving control command from the second controller 320. The outdoor blower 108 may include one or more blower fans and fan motors. The fan motor of the outdoor blower 108 may rotate at a predetermined speed based on the driving control command received from the second controller 320, and may transfer a rotational driving force to the blower fan through the shaft. By rotation of the blower fan of the outdoor blower 108, air flow and heat exchange around the outdoor heat exchanger 102 of the air conditioner 100 may be smoothly performed.

The outdoor unit 300 may include an expansion device 103. The expansion device 103 may receive a control command from the second controller 320. As described above, the expansion device 103 may lower the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant introduced from the outdoor heat exchanger 102 or the indoor heat exchanger 104. In an example, the expansion device 103 may be implemented as an electronic expansion valve. In an example, the electronic expansion valve constituting the expansion device 103 may adjust the opening degree based on a control command from the second controller 320.

The outdoor unit 300 may include a flow path switching valve 106. The flow path switching valve 106 may receive a control command from the second controller 320. The flow path switching valve 106 may switch the circulation path of the refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe 105 based on the received control command. For example, the flow path switching valve 106 may be controlled to be opened/closed according to a control command from the second controller 320, and the opening degree may be adjusted. In an example, the flow path switching valve 106 may allow the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 101 to be transferred to the outdoor heat exchanger 102 (e.g., during cooling mode operation) according to a control command from the second controller 320. For example, the flow path switching valve 106 may allow high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 101 to be transferred to the indoor heat exchanger 104 (e.g., during heating mode operation) according to a control command from the second controller 320.

In FIG. 2 and related descriptions, the air conditioner 100 is illustrated and described as including the first controller 220 disposed in the indoor unit 200 and the second controller 320 disposed in the outdoor unit 300, respectively, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example, the operation controller disposed in the indoor unit 200 and/or the outdoor unit 300 may collectively control the operations of each component of the air conditioner 100.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner according to an example. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of the air conditioner of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in an embodiment, the air conditioner 100 may include a housing 10, a blower fan 20, a heat exchanger 104, a flow path guide 40, a main drain 50, a condensate guide structure 60, and a ceiling panel 70.

According to an example, the housing 10 may be buried inside the ceiling surface C (the area buried inside the ceiling surface C is shown by dashed line in FIG. 3). In an example, the housing 10 is shown to have a hexahedral box shape as a whole with an open lower portion, but the disclosure does not limit the specific shape of the housing.

According to an example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the housing 10 buried upward in the Y-axis direction inside the ceiling surface C may include an empty space therein.

According to an example, the housing 10 may include an insulating member 11 disposed on the inner outer wall of the housing 10 to surround the empty space inside the housing 10. The insulating member 11 may be, e.g., foamed polystyrene, or the like, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, the empty space inside the housing 10 may include an air conditioning space 12 in which air flow occurs and air conditioning is performed. In the air conditioning space 12, components of the air conditioner 100 such as the blower fan 20, the heat exchanger 104, and the condensate guide structure 60 may be disposed.

According to an example, although not specifically illustrated, the empty space inside the housing 10 may include a control space (not illustrated) formed on one side of the air conditioning space 12. The control space may mean a space except for a space (e.g., the air conditioning space 12) in which air flows until air is sucked into and discharged from the inner space of the housing 10. For example, the control space may be a space in which various electronic components for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100 are disposed.

According to an example, the blower fan 20 may be disposed inside the housing 10 (e.g., the air conditioning space 12). The blower fan 20 may be, e.g., a crossflow fan having a rotation shaft (not illustrated) extending long along the length direction (e.g., X-axis direction) of the housing 10. The blower fan 20 may be rotated by a motor (not illustrated) having one side coupled to the rotation shaft. In this case, an air flow may be formed in the air conditioning space 12 by the rotation of the blower fan 20. The air flow may be formed in the direction from the air intake 71 to the discharge port 75 to be described below. Specifically, when air flow is formed by the rotation of the blower fan 20, the air introduced into the housing 10 through the air intake 71 may be heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger 104 to be heated/cooled and then discharged into the indoor space through the discharge port 75.

According to an example, the heat exchanger 104 may be disposed inside the housing 10 (e.g., the air conditioning space 12). In an example, the heat exchanger 104 may be positioned between the air intake 71 to be described below and the blower fan 20. The heat exchanger 104 may be obliquely disposed inside the housing 10. For example, the heat exchanger 104 may have a lower end portion disposed on a lower side of the blower fan 20, and may extend obliquely from the lower end portion toward the upper space of the air intake 71 at a predetermined slope from the ground. In this case, the side space (side area) of the heat exchanger 104 facing the ground or the air intake 71 therebelow increases, and the contact surface between the air sucked through the air intake 71 and the heat exchanger 104 increases, thereby enhancing heat exchange efficiency. Further, as the inclination angle of the heat exchanger 104 from the ground or horizontal plane decreases, the vertical distance (e.g., the distance with respect to the Y-axis) occupied by the heat exchanger 104 decreases, and accordingly, the height of the housing 10 also decreases overall, thereby contributing to downsizing of the air conditioner 100. As the inclination angle of the heat exchanger 104 from the ground or horizontal plane decreases, the horizontal distance occupied by the heat exchanger 104 (e.g., the distance in the Z-axis direction) may increase, and accordingly, the horizontal area in which condensate may fall from the heat exchanger 104 may increase.

The inclined side portion of the heat exchanger 104 may be disposed to extend long along the length direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) of the housing 10. In an example, the heat exchanger 104 may be configured in two rows, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example, although not specifically illustrated, the heat exchanger 104 may be composed of a main heat exchanger and a sub heat exchanger.

According to an example, the flow path guide 40 may be configured to guide the air sucked from the air intake 71 to the discharge port 74. In an example, the flow path guide 40 may be configured to surround the blower fan 20 and the heat exchanger 104 disposed in the air conditioning space 12. In an example, the flow path guide 40 may extend long along the length direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) of the housing 10. In an example, the flow path guide 40 may be formed to protrude downward from the upper portion of the air conditioning space 12 inside the housing 10. In an example, the flow path guide 40 may be provided so that at least one portion has a curved surface to correspond to the shape of the blower fan 20 in one area of the air conditioning space 12 adjacent to the blower fan 20. In this case, the flow path guide 40 may guide the air sucked from the air intake 71 to flow to the discharge port 75 when the blower fan 20 is driven, and may prevent the sucked air from flowing in the opposite direction to the sucked direction (e.g., backflow).

According to an example, the main drain 50 may be configured to accommodate condensate formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 104 by a heat exchange process occurring in the heat exchanger 104. In an example, the main drain 50 may be disposed to support a portion of the lower side of the heat exchanger 104. In an example, the main drain 50 may be provided to have a horizontal length in the Z-axis direction shorter than the horizontal length in the Z-axis direction of the heat exchanger 104. In an example, the main drain 50 may have a concave recess supporting the lower end portion of the heat exchanger 104. The condensate guided by the condensate guide structure 60 to be described below may be accommodated in the recess of the main drain 50, and the condensate may be discharged to the outside through a drain hose (not illustrated) connected to the recess.

In an example, the condensate guide structure 60 may be provided under the inclined side of the heat exchanger 104. In an example, the heat exchanger 104 may be obliquely disposed above the air intake 71, in which case the condensate guide structure 60 may be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger 104 on the air flow path. For example, the condensate guide structure 60 may be disposed on the front in the Z-axis direction and below in the Y-axis direction with respect to the heat exchanger 104. According to an example, in the condensate guide structure 60, condensate formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 104 and falling downward toward the ground or ceiling surface by the heat exchange process occurring in the heat exchanger 104 may fall, and the condensate guide structure 60 may guide the condensate falling downward to the main drain 50. As described above, as the angle formed by the heat exchanger 104 from the ground or horizontal plane decreases, the horizontal distance occupied by the heat exchanger 104 may increase, and the horizontal area in which condensate may fall from the heat exchanger 104 may increase. According to an example, since the condensate guide structure 60 prevents the permeation and downward fall of condensate and guides it to the main drain 50, it is possible to prevent the outflow of condensate from the heat exchanger 104 downward (e.g., toward the intake) without the need to increase the size (e.g., horizontal length) of the main drain 50. In this drawings, the condensate guide structure 60 is disposed side by side with the heat exchanger 104 at the same angle from the ground or ceiling surface, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. As described below, a specific configuration and disposition of the condensate guide structure 60 may be variously changed, and various specific structures and arrangement relationship of the condensate guide structure 60 are described below in detail.

According to an example, the ceiling panel 70 may be attached to the ceiling surface C to cover the lower side of the internal space of the housing 10, i.e., the lower side of the air conditioning space 12. According to an example, the ceiling panel 70 may be provided to have a rectangular shape as a whole, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, the ceiling panel 70 may include an air intake 71, a suction grill 72, a filter 73, and a discharge port 75.

According to an example, the air intake 71 may be provided on the ceiling panel 70 so that air in the external indoor space is sucked into the housing 10. In an example, the air intake 71 may be disposed on one side (e.g., +Z direction) of the ceiling panel 70. In an example, the air intake 71 may be formed under the heat exchanger 104. In an example, the air intake 71 may be formed to be open downward of the ceiling panel 70. In an example, the air intake 71 may extend long in the length direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) of the ceiling panel 70.

According to an example, the suction grill 72 may be disposed on the air intake 71. In an example, the suction grill 72 may be provided to prevent foreign substances from entering the housing 10 and to protect the internal components of the air conditioner 100. In an example, the suction grill 72 may be provided in a grid structure having predetermined intervals in the horizontal and vertical directions, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, the filter 73 may be disposed inside the housing 10 to be positioned above the air intake 71. In an example, the filter 73 may be provided to filter foreign substances contained in the air sucked into the housing 10 through the air intake 71. The filter 73 may include various types of filters, such as, e.g., an electric dust collection filter, a HEPA filter, an antibacterial filter, and a deodorization filter, but the disclosure is not limited to a specific type of filter and number. In this case, foreign substances contained in the air sucked into the housing 10 through the air intake 71 may be primarily filtered by the suction grill 72 and then secondarily filtered by the filter 73.

According to an example, the discharge port 75 may be provided on the ceiling panel 70 so that air that has been heat-exchanged inside the housing 10 is discharged to the external indoor space. In an example, the discharge port 75 may be disposed on the other side of the ceiling panel 70 (e.g., in the −Z axis direction), opposite to the formation position of the air intake 71. In an example, the discharge port 75 may be formed under the blower fan 20. In an example, the discharge port 75 may be formed to be open downward of the ceiling panel 70. In an example, the discharge port 75 may extend long in the length direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) of the ceiling panel 70.

According to an example, although not specifically illustrated, the discharge port 75 may be provided with a louver structure (or vane structure) (not illustrated) configured to adjust the wind direction of air discharged to the discharge port 75. For example, the louver structure may be provided to rotate in the vertical direction within a certain angle range with respect to the ceiling surface C, and through the rotation of the louver structure, the wind direction of air discharged to the external indoor space through the discharge port 75 may be adjusted in the vertical direction.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating a heat exchanger 104, a main drain 50, and a condensate guide structure 60 as viewed from a side according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

Specifically, FIG. 5A is a view schematically illustrating a case where the condensate guide structure 60 is disposed side by side at the same angle as the heat exchanger 104 with respect to the ground (or ceiling surface), and FIG. 5B is a view schematically illustrating a case where the condensate guide structure 60 is disposed at a different angle from the heat exchanger 104 with respect to the ground (or ceiling surface).

Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B, according to an example, the condensate guide structure 60 may include a condensate receiving member 61. In FIGS. 5A-5B, the condensate guide structure 60 is simply shown by the condensate receiving member 61, and the other configuration of the condensate receiving structure 60 is omitted. According to an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may be configured to guide the condensate formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 104 by the heat exchange process occurring in the heat exchanger 104 to the main drain 50. In an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may be disposed so that at least a portion is positioned above the main drain 50. In an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may be obliquely disposed in front of the heat exchanger 104 (e.g., upstream side) on the airflow. In an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may be configured so that the condensate falling from the heat exchanger 104 does not pass through each of the plurality of holes 61c of the condensate receiving member 61 to be described below.

In an example, when the air conditioner 100 includes the condensate guide structure 60 for guiding the condensate to the main drain 50, the horizontal length L1 in the Z-axis direction of the main drain 50 may be shorter than otherwise.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the heat exchanger 104 having a length 1a in a direction extending obliquely may be obliquely disposed at a predetermined disposition angle θ2 from the ground. In an example, θ2 may be 45 degrees. For example, the heat exchanger 104 may have an obliquely extending-direction length 1a of the heat exchanger 104 and a Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w1a according to the disposition angle θ2. In an example, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w1a of the heat exchanger 104 may be, e.g., about 1a*cosθ2.

Referring to FIG. 5A, in an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may be disposed parallel to the heat exchanger 104 in front on the airflow (or upstream of the airflow) of the heat exchanger 104 and to be spaced apart downwardly by a predetermined distance. In an example, the upper end portion of the condensate receiving member 61 may contact the upper end portion of the heat exchanger 104 or may be positioned on a vertical line downward (downward in the Y-axis direction) of the upper end portion to prevent the condensate from falling, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the condensate receiving member 61 may be disposed to have a length 1b in the obliquely extending direction and to form a disposition angle θ1 from the ground. In an example, θ1 may be 45 degrees. In an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may be extended and disposed to form substantially the same angle as the disposition angle θ2 of the heat exchanger 104 from the ground. The condensate receiving member 61 may have an obliquely extending-direction length 1b of the condensate receiving member 61 and a Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w1b according to the disposition angle θ1. In an example, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w1b of the condensate receiving member 61 may be, e.g., about 1b*cosθ1.

The main drain 50 may be disposed to prevent the condensate falling from the heat exchanger 104 from flowing out downward (e.g., to the air intake 71 of FIG. 4). In an example, as the condensate receiving member 61 guides the condensate falling from the heat exchanger 104 to the main drain 50, the main drain 50 may effectively collect the condensate without the need to increase significantly in proportion to the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w1a of the heat exchanger 104. Referring to FIG. 5A, in an example, the Z-axis horizontal length L1 of the main drain 50 may be equal to or slightly larger than the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w1a of the heat exchanger 104 minus the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w1b of the condensate receiving member 61, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may include a mesh structure. For example, the mesh structure may be formed in a grid pattern in which a plurality of horizontal wires 61a spaced apart at a predetermined vertical interval (e.g., W′) and a plurality of vertical wires 61b spaced apart at a predetermined horizontal interval (e.g., W) are vertically meshed with each other. In an example, the condensate receiving member 61 may include a plurality of holes 61c formed by being surrounded by the horizontal wires 61a and the vertical wires 61b and being open for air to pass therethrough. Here, the interval (e.g., horizontal interval W or vertical interval W′) of each of the plurality of holes 61c may be referred to as a mesh interval or a pattern interval.

The horizontal and vertical interval W and W′ of each of the plurality of holes 61c may be designed to be smaller than the diameter of the condensate so that the condensate falling from the heat exchanger 104 does not pass through the hole 61c. The horizontal and vertical intervals W and W′ of the hole 61c may be designed so that a ratio of the diameter of the condensate to each interval of the hole 61c has a value of about 2 to 4. In general, as condensate may have a diameter of about 4 to 6 mm, for example, each of the horizontal and vertical intervals W and W′ of the hole 61c may be designed to be about 1 to 3 mm corresponding to the general diameter of the condensate. Therefore, the condensate falling from the heat exchanger 104 to the condensate receiving member 61 may not pass through the condensate receiving member 61c (specifically, the hole 61c of the condensate receiving member 61) but may flow down along the condensate receiving member 61. However, due to the plurality of holes 61c, air may easily pass through the condensate receiving member 61 without much resistance.

Although not specifically illustrated, the air introduced into the housing 10 through the air intake 71 may flow smoothly to the heat exchanger 104 through the plurality of holes 61c of the condensate receiving member 61. The condensate generated during the heat exchange process and falling from the heat exchanger 104 may contact the plurality of wires 61a and 61b of the condensate receiving member 61 and be then guided to the main drain 50 along each of the wires by the surface tension of the condensate and gravity and may be accommodated in the main drain 50.

Referring to FIG. 5B, in an example, the heat exchanger 104 may be disposed to form a smaller disposition angle θ3 from the ground compared to FIG. 5A. In an example, θ3 may be 30 degrees. Referring to FIG. 5B, in an example, the heat exchanger 104 may have a Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2a according to the disposition angle θ3 and the obliquely extending-direction length 1a of the heat exchanger 104. In an example, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2a of the heat exchanger 104 may be, e.g., about 1a*cosθ3. Compared with FIG. 5A, as the disposition angle of the heat exchanger 104 decreases from 02 to 03, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2a of the heat exchanger 104 may increase.

Referring to FIG. 5B, in an example, the condensate receiving member 61′ may be disposed to have an angle θ1 different from the disposition angle θ3 of the heat exchanger 104 in the front (e.g., upstream) on the airflow of the heat exchanger 104. In an example, in order to prevent condensate from falling, the upper end portion of the condensate receiving member 61′ may contact the upper end portion of the heat exchanger 104, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the condensate receiving member 61′ has a length 1c along the obliquely extending direction and may be disposed at a disposition angle θ1 (e.g., 45 degrees) from the ground which is larger than the angle θ3 of the heat exchanger 104. When the condensate receiving member 61′ is disposed to form a larger angle from the ground than the heat exchanger 104, a space between the condensate receiving member 61′ and the side portion of the heat exchanger 104 is widened, thereby helping smooth air flow. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, compared to the case in FIG. 5A, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2a (e.g., about 1a*cosθ3) of the heat exchanger 104 increases, while the disposition angle θ1 of the condensate receiving member 61′ and the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2b according thereto may be the same as in FIG. 5A. Referring to FIG. 5B, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2a of the heat exchanger 104 minus the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2b of the condensate receiving member 61′ may increase, compared to the case of FIG. 5A, and the Z-axis horizontal length L2 of the main drain 50′ may increase. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the maximum vertical distance H may be obtained from the side surface of the heat exchanger 104 to the condensate receiving member 61′.

FIG. 6A is a view illustrating a main drain and a condensate guide structure as viewed from a side according to an example. FIG. 6B is a view illustrating the condensate guide structure is separated from FIG. 6A for aid in understanding. Specifically, FIGS. 6A-B illustrate an example in which the condensate guide structure is configured to include a two-stage condensate receiving member.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6B, the condensate guide structure 60″ may be configured in a multi-stage structure including a plurality of condensate receiving members 61″ disposed at a disposition angle θ1 larger than the disposition angle θ3 of the heat exchanger 104.

According to an example, the condensate guide structure 60″ may include a plurality of condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2. In an example, the condensate guide structure 60″ may include two condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 disposed to form a multi-stage structure. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, in an example, each of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 may have a length 1d larger than half of the length 1c in the obliquely extending direction of the condensate receiving member 61′ illustrated in FIG. 5B, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, in an example, each of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 may be disposed so that the upper end portion contacts the lower side of the heat exchanger 104, but the disclosure is not limited thereto

For example, the two condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval. As illustrated, the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 may be disposed to contact each other when projected on a projection plane in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) to cover the whole lower area of the heat exchanger 104 to prevent condensate from falling, but the disclosure is not limited. According to an example, the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 may be disposed to partially overlap each other when projected on a projection plane in the vertical direction. The plurality of condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 may be disposed to be inclined at substantially the same angle (e.g.,) 01-45° from the ground, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Compared to FIG. 5B, the maximum vertical distance H1 between the condensate guide structure 60″ of FIGS. 6A-6B and the heat exchanger 104 may be smaller than the maximum vertical distance H between the condensate guide structure 60′ and the heat exchanger 104 shown in FIG. 5B.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6B, in an example, the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w3b occupied by the condensate receiving member 61″ may have the sum of the obliquely extending-direction length 1d of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 and the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length according to the disposition angle θ1. In an example, the total length w3b may have, e.g., about 1d*cosθ1*2. As illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w3b occupied by the condensate receiving member 61″ is larger than the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w2b occupied by the condensate receiving member 61′ in FIG. 5B, and accordingly, the main drain 50″ of FIGS. 6A-6B may have a shorter Z-axis horizontal length L3 than that of FIG. 5B. In other words, the main drain 50″ may be more compact as the disposition angle θ1 of the condensate receiving member 61″ from the ground is larger than the disposition angle θ3 of the heat exchanger from the ground, and the condensate guide structure 60″ is configured to include a multi-stage of condensate receiving members 61″.

According to an example, the condensate guide structure 60″ including the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 of the multi-stage structure as shown in FIGS. 6A-6B may include a support portion 62. In an example, the support portion 62 may include an upper support rib 621, a lower support rib 622, and a middle support rib 623.

In an example, the upper support rib 621 may be connected to the upper end of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 to connect the upper portions of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 to each other. In an example, the lower support rib 622 may be connected to the lower end of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 to connect the lower portions of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 to each other. In an example, the middle support rib 623 may be connected to the upper/lower end of any one of the two adjacent condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 and the lower/upper end of the remaining condensate receiving member 61-1 and 61-2 to connect upper/lower portions between the adjacent condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2. In this case, the support portion 62 may support the side portions of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 to maintain a predetermined interval between the adjacent plurality of condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2, so that the shape of the condensate guide structure 60″ is maintained.

According to an example, the condensate guide structure 60″ may include a condensate drain portion 63.

In an example, the condensate drain portion 63 may include a plurality of main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 and a plurality of connection drain ribs 632.

For example, each of the plurality of main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 may be disposed at the lower end portion of each of the plurality of condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2. In an example, the plurality of connection drain ribs 632 may be disposed to connect the two between the plurality of main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 adjacent to each other. In an example, each of the plurality of connection drain ribs 632 may be alternately disposed to have a different diagonal direction between the neighboring main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, each of the main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 of the condensate drain portion 63 may be configured to contact the lower side of the corresponding condensate receiving member 61-1 or 61-2 to provide a flow path for guiding the condensate flowing downward along the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 toward the main drain 50″. In an example, the connection drain rib 632 of the condensate drain 63 may be disposed between the neighboring main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 to provide a flow path for guiding condensate from the main drain rib (e.g., 63-2) at the upper end to the main drain rib (e.g., 63-1) at the lower side.

For example, the main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 and the connection drain rib 632 may include a groove recessed downward from the upper surface. In this case, the condensate flowing along the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 may gather in the grooves of the main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 and the connection drain rib 632, and may flow along the flow path formed by the groove. In an example, each of the plurality of main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 may have a fluid communication structure (e.g., a condensate hole or an open flow path, etc., but not limited thereto) through which condensate passes between the same and the connection drain rib 632 connected thereto.

In an example, the main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 and the connection drain rib 632 may define a plurality of air holes 633. In an example, the plurality of air holes 633 may mean an empty space that is formed by being surrounded by the main drain ribs 63-1 and 63-2 and the connection drain rib 632, and through which air sucked through the air intake 71 of the housing 10 passes. In an example, the plurality of air holes 633 may be provided to have a larger interval than the hole 61c of the condensate receiving member 61″ having the mesh structure described above. In this case, the air sucked through the air intake 71 of the housing 10 may flow smoothly to each of the plurality of holes 61c of the condensate receiving member 61″ through the plurality of air holes 633.

FIGS. 7A-7B are views illustrating a main drain and a condensate guide structure as viewed from a side according to an example. Specifically, FIGS. 7A-7B illustrates an example in which the condensate guide structure is configured to include a three-stage condensate receiving member.

FIGS. 8A-8B are views illustrating a main drain and a condensate guide structure as viewed from a side according to an example. Specifically, FIGS. 8A-8B illustrates an example in which the condensate guide structure is configured to include a four-stage condensate receiving member.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7B, in an embodiment, the condensate guide structure 60″ may include three condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, in an example, each of the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ may have a length 1 shorter than the obliquely extending-direction length 1d of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, in an example, the three condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other at a narrower interval than the arrangement interval of the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B. As illustrated, the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ may be disposed to contact each other when projected on a projection plane in the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) to cover the whole lower area of the heat exchanger 104 to prevent condensate from falling, but the disclosure is not limited. According to an example, the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ may be disposed to partially overlap each other when projected on a projection plane in the vertical direction. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, the maximum vertical distance H2 between the heat exchanger 104 and the condensate guide structure 60″ may be further reduced as compared to the maximum vertical distance H1 of FIGS. 6A-6B.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7B, the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w4b occupied by the condensate receiving member 61′″ may have the sum of the obliquely extending-direction length 1 of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ and the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length according to the disposition angle θ1. In an example, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w4b may be, e.g., about 1*cosθ1*3. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w4b occupied by the condensate receiving member 61′″ is larger than the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w3b occupied by the condensate receiving members 61-1 and 61-2 in FIGS. 6A-6B, and accordingly, the main drain 50″″ of FIGS. 7A-7B may have a shorter Z-axis horizontal length L4 than that of FIGS. 6A-6B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, the condensate guide structure 60″ has a three-stage structure including three condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′, and thus may include an upper support rib 621, a lower support rib 622, and a middle support rib 623 for maintaining the disposition structure between the three condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, the condensate guide structure 60 may include a connection drain rib 632 disposed to connect the main drain rib 63-1, 63-2, or 63-3 disposed at the lower end portion of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ and the adjacent main drain rib 63-1, 63-2, or 63-3.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8B, in an embodiment, the condensate guide structure 60″″ may include four condensate receiving members 61-1″, 61-2″, 61-3″, and 61-4″. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, in an example, each of the condensate receiving members 61-1″, 61-2″, and 61-3″ may have a length 1f shorter than the extending-direction length 1 in the extending direction of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, in an example, the four condensate receiving members 61-1″, 61-2″, 61-3″, and 61-4″ may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other at a narrower interval than the disposition interval of the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B, and the maximum vertical distance H3 between the heat exchanger 104 and the condensate guide structure 60 may be further reduced as compared to the maximum vertical distance H2 illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B.

Referring to FIGS. 8A-8B, the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w5b occupied by the condensate receiving member 61″″ may have the sum of the obliquely extending-direction length 1f of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1″, 61-2″, 61-3″, and 61-4″ and the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length according to the disposition angle θ1. The entire Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w5b of the condensate receiving member 61″ may be, e.g., about 1f*cosθ1*4. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w5b occupied by the condensate receiving member 61″″ is larger than the total Z-axis horizontal occupancy length w4b occupied by the condensate receiving members 61-1′, 61-2′, and 61-3′ in FIGS. 7A-7B, and accordingly, the main drain 50″″ may have a shorter Z-axis horizontal length L5 than that of FIGS. 7A-7B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, the condensate guide structure 60″″ has a four-stage structure including four condensate receiving members 61-1″, 61-2″, 61-3″, and 61-4″, and thus may include an upper support rib 621, a lower support rib 622, and a middle support rib 623 for maintaining the disposition structure between the four condensate receiving members 61-1″, 61-2″, 61-3″, and 61-4″. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, the condensate guide structure 60″ may include a connection drain rib 632 disposed to connect the main drain rib 63-1, 63-2, 63-3, or 63-4 disposed at the lower end portion of each of the condensate receiving members 61-1″, 61-2″, 61-3″, or 61-4″ and the adjacent main drain rib 63-1, 63-2, 63-3, or 63-4.

As shown in FIGS. 7A to 8B, the condensate guide structures 60′″ and 60″ may be provided in a variety of multi-stage structures having any plurality of condensate receiving members 61′″ and 61″″. As described above with reference to FIGS. 7A to 8B, as the number of condensate receiving members 61″″′ and 61″ increases, the maximum vertical distance H3 and H4 between the condensate guide structure 60″″′ and 60″ and the main drain 50′″ and 50″ may decrease, and the Z-axis horizontal length of the main drain 50″″′ and 50″ may also decrease. Resultantly, the size or occupancy area of the condensate guide structures 60″″′ and 60″, and the main drains 50′″ and 50″″ may become more compact.

In FIGS. 6A to 8A, when the plurality of condensate receiving members 61″, 61′″, and 61″ forming a multi-stage structure are projected on the projection plane in the vertical direction, they are disposed to contact each other without overlapping each other, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. According to an example, when the plurality of condensate receiving members in a multi-stage structure are disposed to partially overlap each other when projected on the projection plane in the vertical direction, the Z-axis horizontal occupancy length by the entire condensate guide member or the Z-axis horizontal length of the main drain according thereto may be slightly different from the above. However, the maximum vertical distance between the condensate guide structure and the main drain may decrease and the horizontal length in the Z-axis direction of the main drain may decrease as compared to when it is not configured in a multi-stage structure of a plurality of condensate guide members.

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	PCT/KR2023/015732	Oct 2023	WO
Child	19176712		US

AIR CONDITIONER

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