CEILING-TYPE AIR CONDITIONER

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a ceiling-type air conditioner including: an upper housing having a cylindrical shape, a heat exchanger having in an annular shape and disposed inside the upper housing, a blowing fan disposed on the inside of the heat exchanger and configured to draw in air and heat exchange the drawn-in air with the heat exchanger. In addition, the ceiling-type air conditioner may include a lower housing including an outlet disposed on a radially outer side of the heat exchanger and configured to discharge the heat exchanged air to the outside of the upper housing and having an annular shape and an inlet panel through which external air is drawn in by the blowing fan, the lower housing movable in a vertical direction between a first position and a second position different from the first position, and a middle housing disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing and including a plurality of discharge holes disposed outside the outlet in a radial direction of the lower housing, wherein the lower housing is configured to open the outlet when placed in the first position, and to close the outlet when placed in the second position, so that the air heat exchanged with the heat exchanger is discharged through the plurality of discharge holes.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field

The disclosure relates to an indoor unit of a ceiling-type air conditioner.

Description of Related Art

In general, an air conditioner is a device that is equipped with a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a blowing fan, and controls indoor temperature, humidity, airflow, and the like using a refrigeration cycle. An air conditioner may be classified into a separate type, which has an indoor unit placed indoors and an outdoor unit placed outdoors, and an integrated type, in which both the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are placed in one housing.

The air conditioner includes a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and air, a blowing fan that moves air, and a motor that drives the blowing fan to cool or heat the room.

For a ceiling-type air conditioner, the indoor unit may be mounted on the ceiling of an indoor room. The indoor unit of the ceiling-type air conditioner may draw in indoor air, exchange heat with the heat exchanger, and then discharge the heat-exchanged air. The indoor unit may include an outlet provided on the ceiling to discharge the heat-exchanged air downward.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a ceiling-type air conditioner, including a circular indoor unit mounted on the ceiling, including a plurality of modes with different air discharge structures.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a ceiling-type air conditioner including a separate flow path through which the heat-exchanged from a heat exchanger air may bypass when the structure through which air is discharged changes.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a ceiling-type air conditioner capable of preventing and/or reducing dew condensation when air is discharged through a discharge hole separate from an outlet.

According to an example embodiment of the disclosure, a ceiling-type air conditioner includes: an upper housing having a cylindrical shape, a heat exchanger having an annular shape disposed within the upper housing, a blowing fan disposed on the inside of the heat exchanger and configured to draw in air and heat exchange the drawn-in air with the heat exchanger, an outlet disposed on a radially outer side of the heat exchanger configured to discharge the heat exchanged air to the outside of the upper housing, the outlet having an annular shape, a lower housing including an inlet panel configured to draw in external air using the blowing fan and movable in a vertical direction between a first position and a second position different from the first position, and a middle housing disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing and including a plurality of discharge holes disposed outside the outlet in a radial direction of the lower housing, wherein the lower housing is configured to open the outlet based on being placed in the first position, and to close the outlet based on being placed in the second position, wherein the air heat exchanged with the heat exchanger is configured to be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes.

The lower housing may be movable vertically between the first position and the second position, the first position being placed on a lower side of the second position.

The middle housing may include a discharge base in which the plurality of discharge holes is formed, and a divider extending upwardly from the discharge base and configured to separate a flow path through which airflow discharged through the outlet flows and a flow path through which airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes flows.

The divider may include a plurality of distribution ports arranged to direct the air heat exchanged from the heat exchanger to the flow path through which the airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes flows.

The ceiling-type air conditioner may further include an open/close member comprising a door configured to open the plurality of distribution ports based on the lower housing being in the second position and to close the plurality of distribution ports based on the lower housing being in the first position.

The open/close member may be hinge-coupled to the divider.

The open/close member may extend vertically to be slidable in an up and down direction.

The lower housing may include a guide surface inclined to face the middle housing, and a first discharge airflow discharged through the outlet is configured to be guided radially outwardly of the upper housing by the guide surface.

The discharge base may have a downward convex shape, and a second discharge airflow may be configured to be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes may be discharged wider than the first discharge airflow.

The ceiling-type air conditioner may further include a guide disposed between the middle housing and the upper housing configured to guide the air passing through the plurality of distribution ports to the plurality of discharge holes.

The guide may extend from the divider and be configured to the discharge base to separate a flow path through which the airflow flowing through the plurality of distribution ports and toward the plurality of discharge holes flows.

The guide may be provided in a plurality and spaced apart from each other and configured to distribute the airflow passing through the plurality of distribution ports to a radially outer side of the upper housing.

Based on the lower housing being placed in a third position between the first position and the second position, the airflow discharged through the outlet may be configured to be discharged downwardly, and the airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes may be configured to be discharged to a radially outer side of the upper housing.

The outlet may be disposed between the lower housing and the middle housing, and based on the lower housing being placed in the second position, the lower housing and the middle housing may be configured to meet and close the outlet.

The upper housing may include an insulation covering an outer circumferential surface of the upper housing adjacent to the plurality of discharge holes.

According to an example embodiment of the disclosure, a ceiling-type air conditioner includes: a first housing including an upper housing and a middle housing having a cylindrical shape and being movable in a vertical direction between a first position and a second position different from the first position, a heat exchanger disposed within the housing and having an annular shape, a second housing having a circular shape formed around a central axis of the first housing, including an inlet panel having an inlet, and detachably coupled to the first housing, a blowing fan configured to heat exchange air drawn-in through the inlet with the heat exchanger, an outlet disposed outside the inlet panel and having an annular shape configured to discharge the heat exchanged air downwardly from the first housing, and a plurality of discharge holes formed by the middle housing and disposed outside the discharge holes, wherein the first housing is configured to open the outlet based on being placed in the first position, and to close the outlet based on being placed in the second position, so that the air heat exchanged with the heat exchanger is discharged through the plurality of discharge holes.

The first housing may be movable vertically between the first position and the second position, the first position being located on an upper side of the second position.

The middle housing may include a discharge base in which the plurality of discharge holes is formed, and a divider extending upwardly from the discharge base and configured to separate a flow path through which airflow discharged through the outlet flows and a flow path through which airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes flows.

According to an example embodiment of the disclosure, a ceiling-type air conditioner includes an upper housing having a cylindrical shape, an annular heat exchanger disposed within the upper housing and disposed on the inside of the upper housing in a radial direction of the upper housing, a lower housing having a circular shape around an central axis of the upper housing and including an inlet panel configured to draw in air toward the heat exchanger, a blowing fan configured to heat-exchange air drawn-in through the inlet panel with the heat exchanger, a middle housing disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing, having an annular shape, and including a plurality of discharge holes, an outlet having an annular shape disposed between the lower housing and the middle housing and configured to discharge air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger to the outside of the upper housing, and a discharge guide disposed between the lower housing and the middle housing and configured to open and close the outlet, wherein based on the discharge guide opening the outlet, the air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger is discharged through the outlet, and based on the discharge guide closing the outlet, the air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger is discharged through the plurality of discharge holes.

The middle housing may include a discharge base on which the plurality of discharge holes are formed and a divider extending upwardly from the discharge base, and the divider may include a plurality of distribution ports disposed adjacent to the discharge base configured to allow the air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger to be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes based on the discharge guide closing the outlet, and the divider may further include an open/close member comprising a door configured to open the plurality of distribution ports when the discharge guide member closes the outlet.

According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, the ceiling-type air conditioner, particularly in a normal mode in a circular indoor unit mounted on the ceiling of an indoor room, may be provided with a structure for discharging air in a wind-free mode that is different from a structure for discharging air.

According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, the ceiling-type air conditioner may be provided with a separate flow path through which indoor air may bypass when the structure through which air is discharged is changed.

According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, the ceiling-type air conditioner may prevent and/or reduce dew condensation that may occur when air is discharged through the plurality of discharge holes placed outside the outlet other than the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit of a ceiling-type air conditioner mounted on a ceiling, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling-type air conditioner taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1 when a lower housing is disposed in a first position according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ceiling-type air conditioner taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1 when the lower housing is disposed in a second position according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of the ‘OA’ section of FIG. 2 according to various embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of the ‘OB’ section of FIG. 3 according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating examples of the indoor unit to which an open/close member is further included according to various embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a control system of the ceiling air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a guide member disposed between the lower housing and an upper housing added to the example illustrated in FIG. 4 according to various embodiments;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a cross-sectional view illustrating example airflow when the lower housing is disposed in a third position according to various embodiments;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the upper housing provided with an insulation to prevent/reduce dew condensation in the indoor unit of the ceiling-type air conditioner according to various embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an indoor unit when a first housing is disposed in the first position according to various embodiments;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit when the first housing is disposed in the second position according to various embodiments; and

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are enlarged cross-sectional views showing a discharge guide member opening or closing an outlet according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of various example embodiments of the disclosure and may be used in various different ways.

In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function.

Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the various example embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, the terms “including”, “having”, and the like are used to specify features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, figures, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, “primary”, “secondary”, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are simply used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, a first element may be termed as a second element, and a second element may be termed as a first element. The term of “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items.

As used herein, the terms “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, and the like are defined with reference to the drawings and are not intended to limit the shape and location of each component.

Hereinafter, a ceiling-type air conditioner will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example, but is not limited to being mounted on the ceiling.

Referring to FIG. 1, an indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner may be mounted on a ceiling L of an indoor room. At least a portion of the indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner may be embedded in the ceiling L.

The indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner may include a housing 10 having a substantially cylindrical shape. The housing 10 may include an inlet 110 arranged to draw external air into the indoor room, and an outlet 70 arranged to discharge the indoor air to the outside. The housing 10 may include a plurality of discharge holes 43 disposed outside the outlet 70.

The inlet 110 may be disposed in an inlet panel 100 disposed on a lower side of the housing 10. A receiver 71 may be disposed adjacent to the outlet 70. The receiver 71 may receive a signal to enable the indoor unit 1 to turn on/off or switch modes based on a control of a user.

The indoor unit 1 may include a separate cover member (not shown) disposed on the lower side of the housing 10. The cover member may have a rectangular shape or a circular shape depending on the shape in which the indoor unit is mounted on the ceiling L.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 1 taken along the line I-I′ of FIG. 1 when a lower housing 30 is positioned in a first position according to various embodiments. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 1 taken along the line I-I′ of FIG. 1 when the lower housing 30 is positioned in a second position according to various embodiments. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the OA section of FIG. 2 according to various embodiments. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the OB section of FIG. 3 according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 (which may be referred to as FIGS. 2 to 5), the indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner may include the substantially cylindrical housing 10, a heat exchanger 50 disposed within the housing 10, and a blowing fan 60 causing air to flow.

The housing 10 has a substantially circular shape when viewed from a vertical direction, and may be arranged as an overall cylindrical shape. The housing 10 may include an upper housing 20 disposed within the ceiling L and the lower housing 30 detachably coupled to a lower side of the upper housing 20. The housing 10 may include a middle housing 40 disposed between the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30.

The inlet panel 100 including the inlet 110 through which air is drawn may be disposed in a central portion of the lower housing 30, and the outlet 70 through which air is discharged may be disposed outside a radial direction (X direction) of the inlet 110. The outlet 70 may have an annular shape when viewed in the vertical direction.

A filter 120 may be coupled to an upward direction (Z direction) of the inlet panel 100 to filter out dust from the air drawn into the inlet 110.

The heat exchanger 50 may be disposed in an annular shape within the upper housing 20.

The heat exchanger 50 may be placed on a drain tray 80 to collect condensed water generated by the heat exchanger 50 in the drain tray 80.

The blowing fan 60 may be disposed within the heat exchanger 50 in the radial direction. The blowing fan 60 may be a centrifugal fan that draws in air in an axial direction and discharges the drawn-in air in the radial direction. The indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner may be provided with a blowing motor 61 for driving the blowing fan 60. The air drawn in by the blowing fan 60 may exchange heat with the heat exchanger 50.

The middle housing 40 may be mounted on a downward side of the upper housing 20 (−Z direction) or on a radially inner side (−X direction). The middle housing 40 may include the plurality of discharge holes 43. More particularly, the plurality of discharge holes 43 may be disposed on the radially outer side (X direction) of the lower housing 30 at the outlet 70 to discharge air in the indoor unit 1 to the outside through a separate flow path. The plurality of discharge holes 43 may be arranged in an annular shape that is larger than the discharge hole 70 when viewed from the vertical direction.

The middle housing 40 may extend from an upper side of the upper housing 20 to be adjacent to a border of an outer circumferential surface 21 of the upper housing 20. The middle housing 40 may include a divider 42 located on the radially outer side (X direction) of the heat exchanger 50 to partition a discharge base 41 forming the discharge holes 43 and a flow path through which the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 50 flows.

The divider 42 may extend upwardly (Z direction) from the discharge base 41 to meet an upper portion of the upper housing 20. The divider 42 may be provided to separate a first discharge flow path 70a located on the radially inner side (−X direction) of the upper housing 20, and a second discharge flow path 43a located on the radially outer side (X direction) of the upper housing 20 in the divider 42.

The first discharge flow path 70a may be a flow path through which a first discharge airflow discharged through the outlet 70 flows, and the second discharge flow path 43a may be a flow path through which a second discharge airflow discharged through the plurality of the discharge holes 43 flows.

The discharge base 41 may have a convex shape facing downward. The discharge base 41 may include the plurality of discharge holes 43 to enable air to be discharged downwardly. Such a configuration may allow the second discharge airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 43 to be discharged while being dispersed more widely than the first discharge airflow.

The divider 42 may have a shape extending in the vertical direction (Z direction, −Z direction). The divider 42 may include a plurality of distribution ports 44.

The plurality of distribution ports 44 may be provided such that air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 50 penetrates into a space between the middle housing 40 and the upper housing 20. The air that has passed through the plurality of distribution ports 44 may be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of discharge holes 43.

The plurality of distribution ports 44 may be provided with a size larger than the size of the plurality of discharge holes 43. The plurality of distribution ports 44 may be formed from the upper portion of the upper housing 20 to a vicinity of the outlet 70 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. In contrast, the plurality of distribution ports 44 may be formed only on an upper portion or a lower portion of the divider 42.

The outlet 70 may be provided on the radial inner side (−X direction) of the housing 10 relative to the plurality of discharge holes 43 and disposed between the middle housing 40 and the lower housing 30.

On the radial outer side (X direction) of the heat exchanger 50, a communication flow path 51 may be provided through which air drawn in in the axial direction (Z direction) through the inlet panel 100 flows after heat exchange by the heat exchanger 50.

The communication flow path 51 may branch into the first discharge flow path 70a through which the first discharge airflow discharged through the outlet 70 flows, and the second discharge flow path 43a through which the second discharge airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 43 flows.

The heat-exchanged air may flow downward (−Z direction) in the communication flow path 51 so as to correspond to a longitudinal direction of the divider 42 to flow through the first discharge flow path 70a, and may pass through the plurality of the distribution ports 44 of the divider 42 to flow through the second discharge flow path 43a. The second discharge flow path 43a may be a space between the middle housing 40 and the upper housing 20.

The lower housing 30 may include a guide surface 32 that is disposed adjacent to the outlet 70 and faces the middle housing 40. The guide surface 32 may be formed to be inclined downwardly to face the radial outer side (X direction) of the upper housing 20. Such a structure may cause the first discharge airflow discharged through the outlet 70 to be guided outwardly from the central axis of the upper housing 20.

The lower housing 30 may be movable between a first position and a second position that is different from the first position. The first position of the lower housing 30 may be a lowered position, and the second position of the lower housing 30 may be a raised position. The lower housing 30 may be disposed on the radially inner side (−X direction) of the upper housing 20 than the middle housing 40 to be movable between the first position and the second position in the vertical direction.

When the lower housing 30 is located in the first position, the lower housing 30 may be spaced apart from the middle housing 40 to allow the outlet 70 to be opened. When the lower housing 30 is located in the second position, the lower housing 30 may meet the middle housing 40 to allow the outlet 70 to be closed.

The lower housing 30 may include the inlet 110 formed in the central portion around a central axis of the upper housing 20, further include the outlet 70 formed on the outside of the inlet 110 and the plurality of discharge holes 43 formed on the outside of the outlet 70.

When the lower housing 30 is placed in the first position, external air may flow upward through the inlet 110 disposed around the central axis of the upper housing 20, exchange heat, and then be discharged through the outlet 70 in the radially outer side (X direction) of the upper housing 20. In addition, when the lower housing 30 is placed in the second position, external air may flow in from the lower side through the inlet 110 disposed in the central portion of the lower housing 30 and then be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 43.

The ceiling-type air conditioner 1 may allow air to flow upwardly through the lower housing 30 that may be movable in the vertical direction. The air introduced through the lower housing 30 may be heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 50 adjacent to the inlet panel 110 and then be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through a separate flow path depending on the position of the lower housing 30.

Such a structure may allow, when the lower housing 30 is disposed in the second position in the ceiling-type air conditioner 1, the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 50 to pass through the plurality of discharge holes 43 without significantly chaining the direction of the flow path.

When the lower housing 30 is located in the first position, it may be defined as a normal mode, and when the lower housing 30 is located in the second position, it may be referred to, for example, as a wind-free mode. The intensity of the wind volume in the wind-free mode may be approximately 50% or less than the intensity of the wind volume in the normal mode.

In the normal mode, most of the air heat exchanged with the heat exchanger 50 due to the resistance caused by the high air flow rate near the plurality of distribution ports 44 may pass through the first discharge flow path 70a to be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the outlet 70.

In the wind-free mode, the outlet 70 may be closed and the air that has exchanged heat with the heat exchanger 50 may pass through the plurality of distribution ports 44 at a relatively slower flow rate than in the normal mode. The air that has passed through the distribution ports 44 may pass through the plurality of the second discharge flow path 43a to be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the plurality of discharge holes 43.

The second discharge airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 43 in the wind-free mode may have a weaker wind intensity than the first discharge airflow discharged through the outlet 70 in the normal mode.

With such a configuration, the indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner may draw in indoor air, cool the drawn-in air, and then discharge the cooled air into the indoor room through the outlet 70 or the plurality of discharge holes 43, or draw in indoor air, heat the drawn-in air, and then the discharge the heated air into the indoor room through the outlet 70 or the plurality of discharge holes 43.

With the configuration of normal mode and wind-free mode, the user may control the indoor unit 1 by selecting the desired mode. In the wind-free mode, the lower housing 30 may be moved upward (Z direction), so that a weaker wind than the wind discharged in the normal mode may be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 43, thereby reducing the user's discomfort.

Furthermore, the drain tray 80 may include a coupling portion 81 arranged to guide the lower housing 30, which may be movable in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 50. The coupling portion 81 may be arranged to form a coupling groove 81a. The coupling groove 81a may have a structure into which a coupling protrusion 31 having a shape that protrudes in the upward direction (Z direction) of the lower housing 30 is inserted.

Such a structure is not limited to FIGS. 2 to 5, and it is sufficient for the lower housing 30 to be movable up and down.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the indoor unit 1 (see FIG. 1) may further include open/close members 146, 147, and 248 that open and close the plurality of distribution ports 144 and 244. When the lower housing 30 is in the first position, that is, in the normal mode, the open/close members 146, 147, and 248 may close the plurality of distribution openings 144 and 244. In contrast, when the lower housing 30 is in the second position, that is, in the wind-free mode, the open/close members 146, 147, and 248 may be arranged to open the plurality of distribution openings 144 and 244.

The plurality of distribution ports 144 and 244 may be formed on an upper portion of the divider 142 as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 or may be formed on an lower portion of the divider 242 as shown in FIG. 9.

The open/close members 146, 147, and 248 may be coupled to the middle housing 40 so as to be adjacent to the second discharge flow paths 143a and 243a. The open/close members 146, 147, and 248 may include a hinged door 146 and sliding doors 147 and 248. The sliding doors 147 and 248 may include a lower sliding door 147 and an upper sliding door 248.

The hinge door 146 may be provided in a plurality of members and accordingly have a blade shape when viewed from the vertical direction. The sliding doors 147 and 248 may be provided as one member and have an annular shape when viewed from the vertical direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above structures, and it is sufficient to open and close the plurality of distribution ports 144 and 244.

Referring to FIG. 6, the hinge door 146 may be hinge-coupled to the upper portion of the divider 142 through a hinge coupling portion 146a. The hinge door 146 may rotate about an axis of the hinge coupling portion 146a.

In the normal mode, the hinge door 146 may close the plurality of distribution ports 144, so that the air in the communication flow path 51 may be discharged through the outlet 70. In the wind-free mode, the hinge door 146 may open the plurality of distribution ports 144, so that the air in the communication flow path 51 may pass through the second discharge flow path 143a and be discharged downwardly through the plurality of discharge ports 143.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the lower sliding door 147 may be coupled to the lower portion of the divider 142 to be slid to be exposed upward (Z direction) from the lower sliding door case 147a.

In the normal mode, the lower sliding door 147 may slide upward (Z direction) to close the plurality of distribution ports 144, so that the heat-exchanged air may pass through the communication flow path 51 and the first discharge flow path 70a to be discharged to the outlet 70.

In the wind-free mode, the lower sliding door 147 may be inserted into the lower sliding door case 147a to open the plurality of distribution ports 144, so that the heat-exchanged air may pass through the communication flow path 51 and the second discharge flow path 143a to be discharged to the plurality of discharge holes 143.

Referring to FIG. 9, the upper sliding door 248 may be coupled to the upper portion of the divider 242 to be slid to be exposed downward (−Z direction) from an upper sliding door case 248a. The plurality of distribution ports 244 may be disposed on the lower side of the divider 242 (−Z direction).

Corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 8, in the wind-free mode, the heat-exchanged air may pass through the communication flow path 51 and the second discharge flow path 243a to be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 243.

Such a configuration may result in the wind-free mode being available and the air in the housing 10 (see FIG. 2), which has been heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 50 in the normal mode, being discharged through the outlet 70 as much as possible. As a result, the ceiling-type air conditioner may be prevented or inhibited from performing poorly even if the user desires a strong wind.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10, the user may transmit a command to a controller 260 through an inputter (e.g., including input circuitry) 250, and the controller (e.g., including control/processing circuitry) 260 may control an outputter (e.g., including output circuitry) 270. In this case, the outputter 270 may be the lower housing 30 or the open/close members 146, 147, and 248. In other words, according to the user input, the indoor unit 1 may receive a signal through the receiver 71, and move the lower housing 30 up and down to correspond to the normal mode or the wind-free mode through the controller 260 or move the open/close members 146, 147, and 248.

Referring to FIG. 11, a guide member (e.g., guide) 45 disposed between the middle housing 40 and the upper housing 20 may be further included.

The air placed in the second discharge flow path 43a (see FIG. 5) disposed between the middle housing 40 and the upper housing 20 may not be properly distributed to the plurality of discharge holes 43. To address such a problem, the guide member 45 may partition the second discharge flow path 43a such that the air passing through the plurality of distribution ports 44 may be guided to the plurality of discharge holes 43. In other words, when passing through from an upper portion of the plurality of distribution ports 44, the air may flow through a third discharge flow path 43aa, when passing through from an middle thereof, the air may flow through a fourth discharge flow path 43ab, and when passing through from an lower portion thereof, the air may flow through a fifth discharge flow path 43ac.

In other words, the guide member 45, including guides 45a and 45b, may extend from the divider 42 to the discharge base 41 to separate the second discharge flow path 43a through which the air in the communication flow path 51 flows through the plurality of distribution ports 44 and into the plurality of discharge holes 43. The guide member 45 may have a cylindrical shape when viewed from the vertical direction. The guide member 45 may be provided as a plurality, and the plurality of guide members 45a and 45b may be spaced apart from each other to distribute the airflow passing through the plurality of distribution ports 44 to the radially outer side (X direction) of the upper housing 20.

Such a structure may cause, in the wind-free mode, the air passing through the plurality of distribution ports 44 to be smoothly distributed and the air to be discharged downwardly (−Z direction) through the plurality of discharge holes 43, thereby preventing and/or reducing the performance of the indoor unit from deteriorating.

In the above case, in order for the air passing through the plurality of distribution ports 44 to be smoothly distributed through the plurality of discharge holes 43, the width of each flow path of the second discharge flow path 43a may be formed differently. More particularly, since the resistance may increase depending on the length of the flow path, the width of the fourth discharge flow path 43ab may be formed to be larger than that of the fifth discharge flow path 43ac, which has the shortest length of the flow path among the third discharge flow paths 43aa to the fifth discharge flow paths 43ac. Likewise, the width of the third discharge flow path 43aa, which has a longer length of the flow path of the fourth discharge flow path 43ab, may be formed to be larger.

Referring to FIG. 12, a case in which the lower housing 30 is disposed in a third position between the first position and the second position to allow air to be discharged from both the outlet 70 and the plurality of discharge holes 43 will be described in greater detail.

When the lower housing 30 is disposed in the third position, the lower housing 30 may be spaced apart from the middle housing 40. The third position may be closer to the second position than to the first position. The size of the outlet 70 when the lower housing 30 is disposed in the third position may be smaller than the size of the outlet 70 when the lower housing 30 is disposed in the first position.

When the lower housing 30 is placed in the third position, approximately 30% of the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 50 may be discharged through the outlet 70. In this case, air may be discharged from both the outlet 70 and the plurality of discharge holes 43.

The first discharge airflow discharged through the outlet 70 may flow along the guide surface 32 and then be discharged downwardly (−Z direction) of the lower housing 30. Such a structure may cause the second discharge airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 43 to be discharged to the radially outer side (X direction) of the upper housing 20. In other words, the second discharge airflow may reduce the amount of air drawn into the lower housing 30 by the first discharge airflow. In particular, during a heating operation, the second discharge airflow may be drawn back into the lower housing 30 for reasons such as density. In the case of the heating operation, the lower housing 30 may be placed in the third position.

In other words, a portion of the second discharge airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 43 may be drawn back into the housing 10 (see FIG. 2) through the inlet panel 110 of the lower housing 30, thereby causing the performance of the ceiling-type air conditioner to deteriorate. To prevent or avoid such a situation, the lower housing 30 may be placed in the third position so that both the outlet 70 and the plurality of discharge holes 43 may discharge wind. As a result, the ceiling-type air conditioner may be prevented and/or reduced from deteriorating in performance and maintained a wind intensity similar to that in the wind-free mode.

Referring to FIG. 13, in the normal mode, the lower housing 30 may open the outlet 70 to allow cool air to flow through the first discharge flow path 70a, and in the wind-free mode, the lower housing 30 may close the outlet 70 to allow cool air to flow through the second discharge flow path 43a.

In wind-free mode, cool air may flow through the second discharge flow path 43a located outside the first discharge flow path 70a in the radial direction (X direction) of the upper housing 20. The outer circumferential surface 21 of the upper housing 20 may be made of a plastic material, and may be adjacent to the second discharge flow path 43a, so a temperature difference with the external air may occur. In this case, dew may form on a portion of the outer circumferential surface 21 of the upper housing 20.

To prevent and/or reduce such a phenomenon, the upper housing 20 adjacent to the plurality of discharge holes 43 may be arranged to include an insulation 22. The insulation 22 may be a structure that covers the outer circumferential surface 21, and may prevent and/or reduce the outer circumferential surface 21 from coming into contact with the temperature of the external air.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an indoor unit 301 when a first housing 311 is placed in the first position according to various embodiments. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 301 when the first housing 311 is placed in the second position according to various embodiments. With reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, a ceiling-type air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

In contrast to the indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner according to an example embodiment (see FIG. 1), the indoor unit 301 of the ceiling-type air conditioner according to an embodiment may not be provided with a lower housing 330 movable in the vertical direction. Alternatively, an upper housing 320 and a middle housing 340 may be arranged to be movable in the vertical direction.

The upper housing 320 and the middle housing 340 may be the first housing 311. The lower housing 330 may be a second housing 312.

An outlet 370 may be disposed between the lower housing 330 and the middle housing 340, and a plurality of discharge holes 343 may be formed in a discharge base 341. In addition, a plurality of distribution ports 344 may be formed in a divider 342.

The first housing 311 including the upper housing 320 and the middle housing 340 may be placed in the first position in the normal mode and in the second position in the wind-free mode.

The first housing 311 may open the outlet 370 in the normal mode, and close the outlet 370 in the wind-free mode. In other words, the first housing 311 may be placed higher when placed in the first position than when placed in the second position, and may be movable up and down between the first and second positions. The first housing 311 may be disposed on the radially outer side (X direction) of a heat exchanger 350 than the second housing 312 and may be moved between the first position and the second position in the vertical direction. The second housing 312 may include an inlet 410 disposed at a central portion around a central axis of the first housing 311. From the inlet 410, the outlet 370 formed on the radially outer side of the first housing 311 may be disposed, and the plurality of discharge holes 343 formed on the radially outer side of the first housing 311 may be disposed.

When the first housing 311 is placed in the first position, external air may flow upward through the inlet 410 disposed around the central axis of the second housing 312, exchange heat, and then be discharged through the outlet 370 in the radially outer side (X direction) of the first housing 311. In addition, when the first housing 311 is placed in the second position, external air may flow in from the lower side through the inlet 410 disposed in the central portion of the second housing 312 and then be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 343.

The ceiling-type air conditioner 1 may allow air to flow upwardly through the second housing 312. The air introduced through the second housing 312 may be heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 350 adjacent to the inlet panel 410 and then be discharged to the outside of the housing 310 through a separate flow path depending on the position of the first housing 311.

Such a structure may allow, in the ceiling-type air conditioner 1, when the first housing 311 is placed in the second position, the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 350 to pass through the plurality of discharge holes 343 without chaining the direction of the flow path.

In the wind-free mode, the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 350 may pass through a communication flow path 351 and the plurality of distribution ports 344, pass through a second discharge flow path 343a, and be discharged to the outside of the housing 310 through the plurality of discharge holes 343.

Other configurations may correspond to the configurations of the indoor unit 1 of the ceiling-type air conditioner according to an embodiment. Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the present disclosure according to an embodiment may include configurations such as the guide member 45 or the open/close members 146, 147, and 248.

With reference to FIGS. 16, 17 and 18, a structure of an indoor unit of a ceiling-type air conditioner according to various embodiments will be described in greater detail. In the indoor unit of the ceiling-type air conditioner according to an embodiment, an upper housing 520, a lower housing 530, and a middle housing 540 may be arranged to be fixed.

In contrast to the configuration described above, a coupling portion 581 may be formed lower than the coupling portion 81 (see FIG. 5) according to an example.

The middle housing 540 may include a discharge base 541, and a divider 542 extending upwardly (Z direction) from the discharge base 541. The discharge base 541 may be arranged in a curved shape to face downward. The discharge base 541 may include a plurality of discharge holes 543 disposed on the radially outer side (X direction) of the upper housing 520 of an outlet 570. The plurality of discharge holes 543 may be disposed on a lower side of the middle housing 540.

The divider 542 may include a plurality of distribution ports 544 disposed adjacent to the outlet 70. The plurality of distribution ports 544 may be formed in a lower portion of the divider 542.

The indoor unit of the ceiling-type air conditioner may include discharge guide members 572, 573, and 574 provided to open and close the outlet 70. The discharge guide members 572, 573, and 574 may be disposed between the lower housing 530 and the middle housing 540. The discharge guide members 572, 573, and 574 may open and close the outlet 70 and guide the heat exchanged air in the indoor unit to be discharged to the outside of the indoor unit.

For example, when the discharge guide members 572, 573, and 574 open the outlet 570, the air in the indoor unit may be discharged to the outside of the indoor unit through a communication flow path 551, a first discharge flow path 570a, and the outlet 570. When the discharge guide members 572, 573, and 574 close the outlet 570, the air in the indoor unit may be discharge through the communication flow path 551, the plurality of distribution ports 544, the second discharge flow path 543a, and the plurality of discharge holes 543 to the outside of the indoor unit.

The discharge guide members 572, 573, and 574 may include a hinge door 572, a sliding door 573, and a gear door 574.

Referring to FIG. 16, the hinge door 572 may be mounted on the divider 542 by a hinge coupling portion 572a disposed on a lower portion of the divider 542. The hinge door 572 may be formed to correspond to a curved surface of the divider 542. The hinge door 572 may be provided in a plurality and accordingly have a blade shape.

When the hinge door 572 is rotated to close the outlet 570, the plurality of distribution ports 544 may be opened. When the hinge door 572 meets the divider 542 so as to open the outlet 570, the plurality of distribution ports 544 may be closed. In other words, assuming that a position where the hinge door 572 opens the outlet 570 is the first position and a position where the hinge door closes the outlet 570 is the second position, the hinge door 572 may rotate between the first position and the second position. When the hinge door 572 is in the second position, at least a portion thereof may meet the lower housing 530.

Such a structure may cause both the outlet 570 and the plurality of distribution ports 544 to be controlled by one configuration of the hinge door 572.

Referring to FIG. 17, the sliding door 573 may be arranged to be exposed from a sliding door case 573a toward the outlet 70. The sliding door 573 may have an annular shape.

The sliding door 573 may be movable between the first position in which the outlet 570 is opened, and a second position in which the outlet 570 is closed.

The divider 542 may include the plurality of distribution ports 544 disposed adjacent to the sliding door 573. In particular, when the sliding door 573 is placed in the second position, one end of the sliding door 573 may meet the divider 542. The plurality of distribution ports 544 may be formed upward (Z direction) than a portion where one end of the sliding door 573 and the divider 542 meet.

An open/close member 546 may be mounted on the divider 542 at an upper side of the plurality of distribution ports 544 by a mounting portion 546a. The open/close member 546 may be similar to the open/close members 146, 147, and 248 (see FIGS. 6 to 9) according to an embodiment, and may be formed to correspond to the curved surface of the divider 542. The open/close members 546 may be provided in a plurality and accordingly have a blade shape.

When the sliding door 573 is in the first position, the open/close member 546 may be placed in the first position where the open/close member 546 meets the divider 542, and when the sliding door 573 is in the second position, the open/close member 546 may be placed in the second position to open the distribution ports 544.

If the user desires the normal mode, the sliding door 573 and the open/close member 546 may each be placed in the first position, and the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 550 may pass through the first discharge flow path 570a and be discharged through the outlet 570.

If the user desires the wind-free mode, the sliding door 573 and the open/close member 546 may each be placed in the second position, and the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 550 may pass through the first discharge flow path 570a and the plurality of discharge ports 544, and the second discharge flow path 543a and be discharged through the plurality of discharge holes 543.

Other configurations may correspond to the configurations of the indoor unit 1 (see FIG. 1) according to an example.

Referring to FIG. 18, a ceiling-type air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the gear door 574, a gear 574a, and a rack gear 574b, corresponding to the configurations of the sliding door 573 and the sliding door case 573a shown in FIG. 17.

The gear door 574 may also be placed in the first position to open the outlet 570 in order to correspond to the first position of the sliding door 573, and be placed in the second position to close the outlet 570 in order to correspond to the second position of the sliding door 573. The gear door 574 may be arranged to be movable toward the outlet 570 between the first position and the second position.

In the normal mode, the gear door 574 may be placed in the first position to open the outlet 570 to allow air to be discharged through the outlet 570, and in the wind-free mode, the gear door 574 may be placed in the second position to allow air to be discharged through the discharge hole 543c.

While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with reference to various example embodiments, it will be understood that the various example embodiments are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the true spirit and full scope of the present disclosure, including the appended claims and their equivalents. It will also be understood that any of the embodiment(s) described herein may be used in conjunction with any other embodiment(s) described herein.

Claims

1. A ceiling-type air conditioner, comprising: an upper housing having a cylindrical shape;a heat exchanger having in an annular shape disposed inside the upper housing;a blowing fan disposed on an inside of the heat exchanger and configured to draw in air and heat exchange the drawn-in air with the heat exchanger;an outlet disposed on a radially outer side of the heat exchanger and configured to discharge the heat exchanged air to the outside of the upper housing, the outlet having an annular shape;a lower housing including an inlet panel through which external air is configured to be drawn in by the blowing fan, and movable in a vertical direction between a first position and a second position different from the first position; anda middle housing disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing and including a plurality of discharge holes disposed outside the outlet in a radial direction of the lower housing;wherein the lower housing is configured to open the outlet based on being placed in the first position, and to open the outlet based on being placed in the second position, so that the air heat exchanged with the heat exchanger is discharged through the plurality of discharge holes.

2. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the lower housing is movable vertically between the first position and the second position, the first position being on a lower side of the second position.

3. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the middle housing includes: a discharge base in which the plurality of discharge holes is formed, anda divider extending upwardly from the discharge base to separate a flow path through which airflow discharged through the outlet is configured to flow, and a flow path through which airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes is configured to flow.

4. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the divider includes a plurality of distribution ports configured to direct the air heat exchanged from the heat exchanger to the flow path through which the airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes is configured to flow.

5. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 4, further comprising an open/close member comprising a door configured to open the plurality of distribution ports based on the lower housing being in the second position, and to close the plurality of distribution ports based on the lower housing being in the first position.

6. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 5, wherein the open/close member is hinge-coupled to the divider.

7. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 5, wherein the open/close member extends vertically and is configured to be slidable in an up and down direction.

8. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the lower housing includes a guide surface inclined to face the middle housing, wherein a first discharge airflow discharged through the outlet is configured to be guided radially outwardly of the upper housing by the guide surface.

9. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the discharge base has a downward convex shape , and a second discharge airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes is configured to be discharged wider than the first discharge airflow.

10. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 4, further comprising a guide disposed between the middle housing and the upper housing and configured to guide the air passing through the plurality of distribution ports to the plurality of discharge holes.

11. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the guide extends from the divider to the discharge base and is configured to separate a flow path through which the airflow flowing through the plurality of distribution ports and toward the plurality of discharge holes flows.

12. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the guide is provided in a plurality and spaced apart from each other and configured to distribute the airflow passing through the plurality of distribution ports to a radially outer side of the upper housing.

13. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 1, wherein based on the lower housing being placed in a third position between the first position and the second position, the airflow discharged through the outlet is configured to be discharged downwardly, and the airflow discharged through the plurality of discharge holes is configured to be discharged to a radially outer side of the upper housing.

14. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the outlet is disposed between the lower housing and the middle housing, and based on the lower housing being placed in the second position, the lower housing and the middle housing meet and close the outlet.

15. The ceiling-type air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the upper housing includes an insulation covering an outer circumferential surface of the upper housing adjacent to the plurality of discharge holes.