Patent Application
20240230147
The disclosure relates to a diffuser, and for example, to an air diffuser installed indoors and configured to draw in and discharge air through a duct for ventilation or temperature control of indoor air.
Generally, a diffuser is installed on a ceiling and connected to an air duct inside the ceiling, and serves to supply outside air into the room or exhaust indoor air.
A damper disposed in the diffuser moves up and down to adjust a height and to open and close a flow path. When the damper lowers and opens the flow path, the diffuser may supply air from outside into the room. A direction of air flowing into the room may be adjusted according to a shape of the damper.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a diffuser capable of adjusting a direction of discharged airflow.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a diffuser capable of simultaneously discharging airflow in a horizontal direction and downward.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a diffuser capable of adjusting a radial angle of discharged airflow.
An example embodiment of the present disclosure provides a diffuser including: a main body configured to be connected to an air duct installed on a ceiling, and including an air outlet; a first airflow guide configured to move up and down with respect to the main body to open and close at least a portion of the air outlet, and configured to guide an airflow discharged from the air outlet in response to the air outlet being opened, the first airflow guide including an opening provided to allow air to pass through the first airflow guide; and a second airflow guide configured to move up and down with respect to the main body and the first airflow guide to open and close the opening of the first airflow guide, and including a downwardly inclined surface provided to guide an airflow discharged from the opening in response to the opening being opened.
The first airflow guide may be configured to guide the airflow, discharged from the air outlet, to a horizontal direction, and the second airflow guide may be configured to guide the airflow, discharged from the opening of the first airflow guide, downward.
In response to the air outlet being opened as the first airflow guide moves down from the main body, and in response to the opening of the first airflow guide being opened as the second airflow guide moves down from the first airflow guide, a portion of the airflow discharged from the air outlet may be guided through a first flow path formed between the air outlet and the first airflow guide, and another portion of the airflow discharged from the air outlet may be guided through a second flow path formed between the opening of the first airflow guide and the downwardly inclined surface.
In response to the air outlet being opened as the first airflow guide moves down from the main body, and in response to the opening of the first airflow guide being closed by the second airflow guide, the airflow discharged from the air outlet may be guided through a flow path formed between the air outlet and the first airflow guide.
In response to the air outlet of the main body being partially closed by the first airflow guide, and in response to the opening of the first airflow guide being opened as the second airflow guide moves down from the first airflow guide, the airflow discharged from the air outlet may be guided through a flow path formed between the opening and the downwardly inclined surface.
The first airflow guide may include a guide plate surrounding the opening and configured to guide the airflow, discharged from the air outlet of the main body, to a horizontal direction.
The first airflow guide may further include a first protrusion formed on a lower surface of the guide plate adjacent to the opening and configured to guide the airflow discharged from the opening.
The first airflow guide may further include a second protrusion formed on an upper surface of the guide plate adjacent to the opening and configured to guide the airflow, discharged from the air outlet of the main body, to the guide plate or the opening.
The second airflow guide may include a rod disposed on an upper part of the downwardly inclined surface and configured to move up and down inside the main body, and a rib-shaped bridge protruding from an outer peripheral surface of the rod and configured to guide an up and down movement of the airflow discharged from the air outlet of the main body.
The bridge may include an inner end provided to be in contact with the rod and an outer end opposite to the inner end. As the outer end of the bridge is in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the opening, the second airflow guide may be supported by the first airflow guide.
The diffuser may further include a rod support including a through-hole through which the rod is configured to pass, and provided to be in contact with an inner surface of the main body to allow the rod to be supported inside the main body.
The rod support may include a through-hole portion formed in a cylindrical shape and including the through-hole, and a rib provided to protrude from an outer peripheral surface of the through-hole and configured to be in contact the inner surface of the main body and configured to guide an up and down movement of an airflow discharged from the air duct.
The first airflow guide may be rotatably coupled to the main body and configured to move up and down according to a rotational position with respect to the main body to open or close the air outlet of the main body. The second airflow guide may be detachably coupled to the first airflow guide, and in response to the first airflow guide rotating forward and backward in a state in which the second airflow guide is coupled to the first airflow guide, the second airflow guide may be configured to rotate forward and backward to move up and down from the main body.
The diffuser may further include a blocking plate extending along a circumferential direction of the first airflow guide and configured to block a portion of a flow path extending horizontally along an upper surface of the first airflow guide.
The downwardly inclined surface may include an outer peripheral surface of a cone.
Another example embodiment of the present disclosure provides a diffuser including: a main body configured to be connected to an air duct installed on a ceiling, and including an air outlet; a first airflow guide configured to move up and down with respect to the main body to open and close at least a portion of the air outlet, and configured to guide an airflow, discharged from the air outlet, to a horizontal direction in response to the air outlet being opened, the first airflow guide including an opening provided to allow air to pass through the first airflow guide; and a second airflow guide coupled to the first airflow guide configured to move up and down in response to the first airflow guide moving up and down with respect to the main body, and configured to move up and down with respect to the first airflow guide to be separated from the first airflow guide to open and close the opening of the first airflow guide, and configured to guide an airflow, discharged from the opening in response to the opening being opened, downward.
The first airflow guide may include a guide plate configured to guide the airflow, discharged from the air outlet of the main body, to the horizontal direction. The guide plate may surround the opening.
The first airflow guide may include a protrusion protruding convexly from upper and lower surfaces of the guide plate adjacent to the opening and configured to guide the airflow discharged from the air outlet and the airflow discharged from the opening.
The second airflow guide may include a cone-shaped downwardly inclined surface configured to guide the airflow, discharged from the opening, downward.
The downwardly inclined surface of the second airflow guide may be coupled to or separated from an inner peripheral surface of the protrusion of the first airflow guide.
A user can use a diffuser according to the user's purpose because the diffuser is configured to adjust a direction of discharged airflow.
A diffuser may simultaneously discharge an airflow in a horizontal direction and downward, thereby preventing and/or reducing the spread of pollutants in indoor air.
A diffuser may adjust a radial angle of discharged airflow and thus the air supply may be concentrated in a desired space.
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:
Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of various embodiments of the disclosure, and may be modified in various different ways to replace the embodiments and drawings of the disclosure.
In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function.
The terms used herein are used to describe the 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, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, the 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.
The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The diffuser 1 may include a main body 10 and dampers 30 and 50. The main body 10 may include an air duct connector 11. The air duct connector 11 may be connected to an air duct installed on a ceiling to allow outside air to flow into the main body. The air duct connector 11 may be embedded in the ceiling. In the present disclosure, it is illustrated that the air duct connector 11 has a cylindrical shape, but the shape of the air duct connector 11 is not limited thereto.
The main body 10 may include a flange 12. The flange 12 may be formed at a lower part of the air duct connector 11. The flange 12 may guide an airflow flowing into the air duct connector 11 to allow the airflow to be discharged in a horizontal direction. The flange 12 may be in close contact with a ceiling surface where the diffuser 1 is installed. In the present disclosure, it is illustrated that the flange 12 has a circular shape, but the shape of the flange 12 is not limited thereto.
The main body 10 may include an air outlet 13 configured to discharge air introduced from the air duct connector 11 into an indoor space (refer to
The dampers 30 and 50 may move up and down with respect to the main body 10 to open and close the air outlet 13 of the main body 10. The dampers 30 and 50 may be raised and lowered while rotating with respect to the main body 10. The dampers 30 and 50 may be lowered from the main body 10 to open the air outlet 13 of the main body 10. The dampers 30 and 50 may be raised toward the main body 10 to close the air outlet 13 of the main body 10. A flow path between the main body 10 and the dampers 30 and 50 may be opened and closed as the dampers 30 and 50 are raised and lowered. The dampers 30 and 50 may include a first airflow guide 30 and a second airflow guide 50.
The first airflow guide 30 may include a guide plate 31 and an opening 32. The opening 32 may be provided to allow an airflow discharged through the air outlet 13 to pass through the first airflow guide 30. The opening 32 may be formed at a center of the first airflow guide 30. The opening 32 may be formed in a circular shape.
The guide plate 31 may be formed to surround the opening 32. The guide plate 31 may be formed as a disk. A diameter of the guide plate 31 may be less than a diameter of the flange 12. The diameter of the guide plate 31 may be greater than a diameter of the air outlet 13.
The first airflow guide 30 may include protrusions 33 and 34 provided to protrude convexly from upper and lower surfaces of the guide plate 31 adjacent to the opening 32.
The first airflow guide 30 may include a first protrusion 33 provided to protrude convexly from the lower surface of the guide plate 31 adjacent to the opening 32. That is, the first protrusion 33 may be provided to protrude downward from a portion with which the guide plate 31 and the opening 32 are in contact.
The first airflow guide 30 may include a second protrusion 34 provided to protrude convexly from the upper surface of the guide plate 31 adjacent to the opening 32. That is, the second protrusion 34 may be provided to protrude upward from a portion with which the guide plate 31 and the opening 32 are in contact.
The first airflow guide 30 may include a first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 for coupling to the main body 10. The first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 may be formed on the guide plate 31. The first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 may be formed to protrude from the upper surface of the guide plate 31.
The second airflow guide 50 may include a rod 51 and a downwardly inclined surface 52. The rod 51 may be formed as a cylinder. The rod 51 may be formed on an upper part of the downwardly inclined surface 52 and configured to move up and down inside the main body 10. The downwardly inclined surface 52 may include an outer peripheral surface of a cone. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the downwardly inclined surface 52 may be provided in another shape as long as the downwardly inclined surface is capable of guiding air downward.
The second airflow guide 50 may include a downwardly inclined surface cover 57. The downwardly inclined surface cover 57 may be coupled to a lower part of the downwardly inclined surface 52. The downwardly inclined surface 52 and the downwardly inclined surface cover 57 may form a cone. Although not shown in the drawing, a stepping motor configured to transmit power to the diffuser 1 may be installed in an inner space formed by the downwardly inclined surface 52 and the downwardly inclined surface cover 57. A sensor configured to detect a concentration of pollutants may be installed in the inner space.
The second airflow guide 50 may include a bridge 53. The bridge 53 may be formed to protrude from an outer peripheral surface of the rod 51. The bridge 53 may be provided in the shape of a rib 22. The bridge 53 may include an inner end that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rod 51 and an outer end located on the opposite side of the inner end. The bridge 53 may include an outer surface 54 corresponding to the outer end. The outer surface 54 may be provided in a shape corresponding to an inner peripheral surface of the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30. The bridge 53 may be provided in plurality.
The second airflow guide 50 may include a locking protrusion 55 formed on an upper part of the rod 51. A diameter of the locking protrusion 55 may be greater than a diameter of the rod 51. In the present disclosure, it is illustrated that a shape of the locking protrusion 55 has a cylinder, but the shape of the locking protrusion 55 is not limited thereto.
The diffuser 1 may include a rod support 20. The rod support 20 may be disposed inside the main body 10. The rod support 20 may be in contact with the inside of the main body 10 to allow the rod 51 to be supported inside the main body 10. The rod support 20 may include a through-hole portion 21 and the rib 22.
The through-hole portion 21 may form a through-hole to allow the second airflow guide 50 to pass therethrough. The through-hole may correspond to the shape of the rod 51 to allow the rod 51 of the second airflow guide 50 to pass therethrough. In the present disclosure, it is illustrated that a shape of an outer peripheral surface of the through-hole portion 21 is a cylinder, but the shape of the through-hole portion 21 is not limited thereto.
The rod support 20 may be in contact with an inner surface of the main body 10. The rod support 20 may include the rib 22 provided to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the through-hole portion 21. The rib 22 may guide the up and down movement of the airflow discharged from the air duct. The rib 22 may be provided in plurality. The rib 22 may include an inner end in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the through-hole portion 21 and an outer end located opposite to the inner end. The outer surface forming the outer end of the rib 22 may be in contact with the inner surface of the main body 10.
The diffuser 1 may include a blocking plate 90. The blocking plate 90 may be inserted into a blocking groove 91 formed in the main body 10. The blocking groove 91 may be formed in the flange 12 of the main body 10. The blocking groove 91 may extend along a circumferential direction. The blocking plate 90 may be formed to extend along a circumferential direction of the blocking groove 91. A bottom surface of the blocking plate 90 may be formed to correspond to the blocking groove 91.
The main body 10 may include the air outlet 13 configured to discharge air introduced from the air duct into the indoor space. The air outlet 13 may be formed inside the main body 10. Air may be discharged to the outside of the diffuser 1 through the air outlet 13 and then introduced into the indoor space.
The dampers 30 and 50 may close the lower part of the main body 10. The dampers 30 and 50 may close the air outlet 13.
For example, the first airflow guide 30 may close the lower part of the main body 10. The first airflow guide 30 may close at least a portion of the air outlet 13. The guide plate 31 of the first airflow guide 30 may close a portion of the air outlet 13. A remaining portion of the air outlet 13 corresponding to the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30 may be closed by the second airflow guide 50. That is, the air outlet 13 may be closed by the first airflow guide 30 and the second airflow guide 50. A portion of the air outlet 13 may be closed by the guide plate 31 of the first airflow guide 30, and a remaining portion thereof may be closed by the downwardly inclined surface 52 of the second airflow guide 50.
The first airflow guide 30 may be in contact with the lower part of the main body 10. The upper surface of the guide plate 31 of the first airflow guide 30 may be in contact with the lower surface of the flange 12 of the main body 10. As the first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 is locked to a first airflow guide coupling groove 44 of the main body 10, the guide plate 31 may be fixed in a state of being in contact with the main body 10. Particularly, as a lower support portion 42 of the first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 is supported by being locked to the first airflow guide coupling groove 44, the guide plate 31 may be maintained in contact with the main body 10. (For convenience, this is referred to as the ‘closed state of the first flow path 70’).
The second airflow guide 50 may close the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30. The downwardly inclined surface 52 of the second airflow guide 50 may be in contact with the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30 to close the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30. The downwardly inclined surface 52 of the second airflow guide 50 may be in contact with the inner surface of the first protrusion 33 of the first airflow guide 30. The downwardly inclined surface 52 of the second airflow guide 50 may close the remaining portion of the air outlet 13 that is not closed by the first airflow guide 30.
As a second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 is locked to a second airflow guide coupling groove 61 of the first airflow guide 30, the second airflow guide 50 may be fixed in a state of being in contact with the first airflow guide 30. (For convenience, this is referred to as the ‘closed state of the second flow path 80’ see, e.g.,
The first airflow guide 30 may move down from the main body 10. The first airflow guide 30 may be rotatably coupled to the flange 12 of the main body 10. That is, the first airflow guide 30 may move up and down according to a rotational position with respect to the main body 10 to open and close the air outlet 13.
The second airflow guide 50 may be detachably coupled to the first airflow guide 30. The second airflow guide 50 in a state of being coupled to the first airflow guide 30 may move up and down together the first airflow guide 30 when the first airflow guide 30 moves up and down. That is, the second airflow guide 50 may move up and down from the main body 10 while rotating forward and backward together with the first airflow guide 30 when the first airflow guide 30 rotates forward and backward.
The air outlet 13 of the main body 10 may be opened by the downward movement of the first airflow guide 30. By the downward movement of the guide plate 31, a space through which air is discharged may be formed between the lower part of the main body 10 and the upper part of the guide plate 31. That is, the first flow path 70 may be formed. The first flow path 70 may be formed along the upper surface of the first airflow guide 30. The first flow path 70 may be formed to discharge an airflow to the horizontal direction. The first airflow guide 30 may guide the airflow, which is discharged from the air outlet 13, in the horizontal direction. The guide plate 31 may guide the first flow path 70 in the horizontal direction of the ceiling.
The second protrusion 34 of the first airflow guide 30 may guide the airflow that flows through the first flow path 70. The second protrusion 34 may guide the airflow, which is discharged from the air outlet 13, to the guide plate 31 or the opening 32. The second protrusion 34 may protrude convexly upward from the upper surface of the guide plate 31 adjacent to the opening 32. For example, the second protrusion 34 may allow one end of the guide plate 31, which is in contact with the opening 32, to form a gently curved surface, thereby smoothly guiding the flow of air that passes through the first flow path 70. Further, the second protrusion 34 may reduce noise that is generated when the airflow is discharged through the first flow path 70.
The rib 22 of the rod support 20 may guide the airflow within the main body 10. For example, the rib 22 may guide the flow of air that flows into the air duct connector 11 and is discharged from the air outlet 13. The rib 22 may concentrate an area of the airflow toward the air outlet 13 and increase an airflow rate. The rib 22 may be provided in plurality. A total cross-sectional area of the plurality of ribs 22 may be less than ⅓ of the area of the inner peripheral surface of the main body 10 with which the ribs are in contact.
As the first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 is locked to the first airflow guide coupling groove 44 of the main body 10, the guide plate 31 may be fixed in a state of being lowered at a predetermined distance from the main body 10. For example, as an upper support portion 41 of the first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 is supported by being locked to the first airflow guide coupling groove 44, the guide plate 31 may be maintained in a state of being spaced apart from the flange 12 by a vertical length of a connecting portion 43 of the first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40. (For convenience, this is referred to as the ‘open state of the first flow path 70’.)
In the upward airflow discharge mode, the second flow path 80 (see, e.g.,
That is, because the first flow path 70 is in the open state and the second flow path 80 is in the closed state in the upward airflow discharge mode, all airflow discharged through the air outlet 13 may move to the first flow path 70. The airflow discharged through the air outlet 13 may be discharged in the horizontal direction of the ceiling through the first flow path 70.
Indoor air contains pollutants such as fine dust or moisture. Pollutants or moisture are usually concentrated in the upper part of the indoor space. The diffuser 1 may be driven in the upward airflow discharge mode to discharge air, which is introduced from the air duct, in the horizontal direction of the ceiling. By discharging outside air in the horizontal direction of the ceiling, pollutants or moisture concentrated in the upper part of the indoor space may be prevented and/or reduced from spreading. In addition, when supplying cooling air in the summer, the cooling air may be discharged in the horizontal direction through the first flow path 70 and thus the cooling air may be easily diffused in the indoor space.
In the simultaneous airflow discharge mode, the first flow path 70 is in the open state. (Description the same as that of
The second airflow guide 50 may move down from the first airflow guide 30 and the main body 10. The second airflow guide 50 may be detachably coupled to the first airflow guide 30. That is, the second airflow guide 50 in a state of being coupled to the first airflow guide 30 may move up and down together according to the up and down movement of the first airflow guide 30. The second airflow guide 50 in a state of being separated from the first airflow guide 30 may move up and down separately from the first airflow guide 30. The second airflow guide 50 may rotate and descend from the first airflow guide 30.
The second airflow guide 50 may be lowered from the first airflow guide 30 and the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30 may be opened. As the downwardly inclined surface 52 of the second airflow guide 50 in contact with the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30 moves downward, the opening 32 may be opened. As the downwardly inclined surface 52 is lowered, a space through which air is discharged may be formed between the lower part of the first airflow guide 30 and the upper part of the downwardly inclined surface 52. That is, the second flow path 80 may be formed. The second flow path 80 may be formed along the downwardly inclined surface 52. The second flow path 80 may be formed to discharge the airflow downward. The downwardly inclined surface 52 may guide the second flow path 80 downward of the ceiling.
The second airflow guide 50 may guide the airflow, which is discharged from the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30, downward. That is, the airflow discharged from the air outlet 13 may move to the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30 and be discharged downward through the second flow path 80.
The first protrusion 33 of the first airflow guide 30 may guide the airflow passing through the second flow path 80. For example, the first protrusion 33 may allow one end of the guide plate 31, which is in contact with the opening 32, to be formed into a gently curved surface, thereby smoothly guiding the flow of air passing through the second flow path 80. The first protrusion 33 may adjust a downward angle at which the airflow discharged from the opening 32 moves. In addition, because the first protrusion 33 is formed to protrude downward from the lower surface of the guide plate 31, the first protrusion 33 may guide the air, which moves to the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30, to flow downward. As the downwardly inclined surface 52 moves downward, the discharge angle of the airflow may be close to the downward vertical direction. That is, the discharge angle of the airflow passing through the second flow path 80 may be changed according to a distance in which the second airflow guide 50 is separated from the first airflow guide 30, and the first protrusion 33 may reduce an amount of change in the discharge angle of the airflow that is according to a separation distance of the second airflow guide 50. That is, the first protrusion 33 serves as a damping function that prevents and/or reduces the discharge angle of the airflow from rapidly changing according to the separation distance of the second airflow guides 50.
A shortest distance from the lower end of the first protrusion 33 to the downwardly inclined surface 52 may be less than twice a shortest distance from the inner peripheral surface of the opening 32 to the outer surface of the rod 51.
The bridge 53 may guide the up and down movement of the airflow discharged from the air outlet 13. The bridge 53 may prevent and/or reduce recirculation of the airflow passing through opening 32. The bridge 53 may concentrate the airflow passing through opening 32 and increase the flow rate. The bridge 53 may be formed in a wedge shape. A plurality of bridges 53 may be provided, and the total cross-sectional area of the plurality of bridges 53 in the vertical direction may be less than or equal to ⅓ of the area of the opening.
The bridge 53 may be in contact with the opening 32 and thus the second airflow guide 50 may be supported by the first airflow guide 30. The outer surface 54 of the bridge 53 may be supported on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 32, and thus the second airflow guide 50 may be fixed in a state of being lowered from the main body 10 and the first airflow guide 30. That is, the outer surface 54 of the bridge 53 may be provided to correspond to the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30.
The second airflow guide 50 may be fixed in the state of being lowered from the main body 10 and the first airflow guide 30 as the locking protrusion 55 formed on the upper part of the rod 51 is supported by being locked to the rod support 20. (For convenience, this is referred to as the ‘open state of the second flow path 80’.)
That is, in the simultaneous airflow discharge mode, both the first flow path 70 and the second flow path 80 are open, and thus a portion of the airflow discharged through the air outlet 13 moves to the first flow path 70 and a remaining portion thereof moves to the second flow path 80. Air moving into the first flow path 70 is discharged horizontally and air moving into the second flow path 80 is discharged downward. At this time, the rate of airflow moving to the first flow path 70 or the second flow path 80 may be adjusted according to the number or shape of the bridges.
As the diffuser 1 is operated in the simultaneous airflow discharge mode, the air introduced from the air duct may be discharged not only in the horizontal direction of the ceiling but also downward. By simultaneously discharging outside air horizontally and downward from the ceiling, it is possible to cover not only pollutants and moisture concentrated in the upper part of the indoor space but also pollutants and moisture settled in the lower part of the indoor space, so as to prevent and/or reduce the spread of the pollutants and moisture. For example, when the diffuser 1 is installed and operated in conjunction with a kitchen hood, pollutants in the air inside a kitchen may be prevented and/or reduced from spreading to spaces other than the kitchen.
In the downward airflow discharge mode, the first flow path 70 is in the closed state. (Description the same as that of
In the downward airflow discharge mode, the second flow path 80 is in the open state. (Description the same as that of
That is, because the first flow path 70 is closed and the second flow path 80 is open in the downward airflow discharge mode, all of the airflow discharged through the air outlet 13 may move to the second flow path 80. The airflow discharged through the air outlet 13 may be discharged downward through the second flow path 80.
When the diffuser 1 is installed in a bathroom, etc., air may be discharged downward in the downward airflow discharge mode. Therefore, a user who has finished showering can be more directly exposed to the airflow, and thus it is possible to improve the feeling of use. In addition, when supplying heating air in the summer, the heating air may be easily diffused in the indoor space by discharging the heating air downward through the second flow path 80.
As mentioned in
The first airflow guide 30 may move up and down from the main body 10. The first airflow guide 30 may be raised and lowered from the lower part of the main body 10. The first airflow guide 30 may move in the vertical direction while rotating in place with respect to the main body 10.
The first airflow guide 30 may be rotatably coupled to the main body 10. The first airflow guide 30 may include the first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40. The first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 may couple the first airflow guide 30 and the main body 10. The first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 may be rotatably coupled to the flange 12 of the main body 10.
The first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 may be formed to protrude from the upper surface of the guide plate 31. The first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 may be provided in plurality.
The first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40 may include the connecting portion 43, the upper support portion 41, and the lower support portion 42. The connecting portion 43 may be provided to extend in the vertical direction. In the present disclosure, it is illustrated that the connecting portion 43 has a plate shape, but the shape of the connecting portion 43 is not limited thereto. The connecting portion 43 may be arranged between the upper support portion 41 and the lower support portion 42 to connect the upper support portion 41 and the lower support portion 42.
The upper support portion 41 may be provided at an upper end of the connecting portion 43. The lower support portion 42 may be provided at a lower end of the connecting portion 43. When a direction from a central axis of the main body 10 to the outer peripheral surface is referred to as a direction A, a maximum length of the upper support portion 41 and the lower support portion 42 in the direction A may be greater than the length of the connecting portion 43 in the direction A. The upper support portion 41 and the lower support portion 42 may be provided in various shapes. In the present disclosure, it is illustrated that the upper support portion 41 is in the shape of a triangular prism and the lower support portion 42 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. However, the shapes of the upper support portion 41 and the lower support portion 42 are not limited thereto.
The main body 10 may include the first airflow guide coupling groove 44. The first airflow guide coupling groove 44 may be formed on the flange 12 of the main body 10. The first airflow guide coupling groove 44 may include a lower support locking hole 46 and an upper support locking hole 45. The first airflow guide coupling groove 44 may be provided in plurality.
The lower support locking hole 46 may be provided to extend along the circumferential direction of the flange 12. The upper support locking hole 45 may be provided at a predetermined distance from the lower support locking hole 46 with respect to the direction A. The upper support locking hole 45 may overlap a portion of the lower support locking hole 46.
Referring to
Referring to
The lower support portion 42 may rotate along the lower support locking hole 46. When the lower support portion 42 rotates along the lower support locking hole 46 and then the maximum length of the hole in the direction A is reaches a region larger than the length of the lower support portion 42 in the direction A because the lower support locking hole 46 and the upper support locking hole 45 overlap, the lower support portion 42 may escape from the hole and descend. In a portion in which the area of the hole formed in the direction A is greater than the area of the lower support portion 42, the lower support portion 42 may penetrate the hole and then descend.
When the lower support portion 42 descends by penetrating the first airflow guide coupling groove 44, the connecting portion 43 may also descend by penetrating the first airflow guide coupling groove 44.
The maximum length of the upper support portion 41 in the direction A may be greater than the maximum length of the first airflow guide coupling groove 44 in the direction A. Therefore, the upper support portion 41 may be supported by being locked to the first airflow guide coupling groove 44. The lower surface of the upper support portion 41 may be supported on the upper part of the upper support locking hole 45.
That is, the first airflow guide 30 may be maintained in the state of being lowered at a predetermined distance from the main body 10. The first airflow guide 30 may be maintained to be spaced apart from the flange 12 of the main body 10 by the vertical length of the connecting portion 43. The first airflow guide 30 may move down from the main body 10, thereby opening the air outlet 13 of the main body 10. The first flow path 70 of the diffuser 1 may be open.
The second airflow guide 50 may move up and down from the first airflow guide 30 and the main body 10. The second airflow guide 50 may be raised and lowered with respect to the first airflow guide 30. The second airflow guide 50 may move in the vertical direction while rotating in place with respect to the first airflow guide 30.
The second airflow guide 50 may be detachably coupled to the first airflow guide 30. The second airflow guide 50 may be rotatably coupled to the first airflow guide 30. The second airflow guide 50 may include the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60. The second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may couple the second airflow guide 50 and the first airflow guide 30.
The second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may be formed to protrude from the downwardly inclined surface 52. The downwardly inclined surface 52 may be coupled to the first airflow guide 30.
The second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may be provided in plurality. In the present disclosure, it is illustrated that the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 has a polygonal shape, but is not limited thereto.
The first airflow guide 30 may include the second airflow guide coupling groove 61. The second airflow guide coupling groove 61 may be formed in the opening 32 of the first airflow guide 30. The second airflow guide coupling groove 61 may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 32. The second airflow guide coupling groove 61 may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first protrusion 33 of the second airflow guide 50. The second airflow guide coupling groove 61 may be provided in plurality.
The second airflow guide coupling groove 61 may include an upper groove 62 and a lower groove 63. The lower groove 63 may be formed to extend downward from the upper groove 62. A vertical length of the upper groove 62 may be greater than or equal to a vertical length of the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60.
Referring to
Referring to
The second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may rotate along the upper groove 62. The second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may rotate along the upper groove 62 and be disconnected from the first airflow guide 30 at a portion in which the lower groove 63 is formed.
For example, the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may rotate while being supported in the upper groove 62. The second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may rotate and move to the lower groove 63.
The upper groove 62 may include a lower surface provided to support the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60. The lower groove 63 may include one side surface that is bent and extends from the lower surface of the upper groove 62, and the other side surface that is located opposite to the one side and extends from the lateral side of the upper groove 62. The one side surface and the other side surface of the lower groove 63 may be connected by an inner surface of the lower groove 63. The lower groove 63 may be formed by the one side surface, the other side surface, and the inner surface connecting the one side surface and the other side surface.
When the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 moves to the lower groove 63, the lower groove 63 may not support the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60. Accordingly, the second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may be separated from the lower groove 63. The second airflow guide coupling protrusion 60 may be separated from the second airflow guide coupling groove 61, and the coupling between the second airflow guide 50 and the first airflow guide 30 may be released.
Referring to
As described in detail above with reference to
The diffuser 1 may include the blocking plate 90. The blocking plate 90 may be coupled to the main body 10. The main body 10 may include a blocking groove 91 to which the blocking plate 90 is coupled. The blocking groove 91 may be formed to penetrate the flange 12 of the main body 10. The blocking groove 91 may be formed to extend from the flange 12 along the circumferential direction. The blocking plate 90 may be inserted into the blocking groove 91. Upper and lower surfaces of the blocking plate 90 may be formed to correspond to the blocking grooves 91.
Although not shown in the drawing, the blocking plate 90 may include rubber formed at the lower part. The rubber may prevent and/or reduce wear and noise of the blocking plate 90 when the blocking plate 90 is inserted into the blocking groove 91. The rubber may be formed to correspond to the lower surface of the blocking plate 90.
The blocking plate 90 may be inserted into the blocking groove 91 and penetrate a portion between the main body 10 and the first airflow guide 30. A vertical length of the blocking plate 90 may be greater than or equal to the vertical length of the connecting portion 43 of the first airflow guide coupling protrusion 40.
The blocking plate 90 may open and close a portion of the first flow path 70. The blocking plate 90 may open and close a region at a predetermined angle of the airflow discharged horizontally from the first flow path 70. The blocking plate 90 may block a portion of the flow path that is discharged from the air outlet 13 and extends horizontally along the upper surface of the first airflow guide 30. Particularly, within an angular area where the blocking plate 90 is formed, the blocking plate 90 may block the airflow discharged horizontally.
The blocking plate 90 may move up and down with respect to the blocking groove 91. The blocking plate 90 may open and close the first flow path 70 with respect to an angular area in which the blocking plate 90 extends in the circumferential direction.
The blocking plate 90 may open and close a portion of the first flow path 70 in the simultaneous airflow discharge mode or upward airflow discharge mode of the diffuser 1.
When a portion of the first flow path 70 is closed by the blocking plate 90, the airflow discharged from the air outlet 13 may be concentrated in a required region. That is, when a portion of the first flow path 70 is closed by the blocking plate 90, the airflow may be concentrated in the remaining portion of the first flow path 70. Accordingly, the diffuser 1 may intensively supply the air in the horizontal direction to a place in which the air is needed.
For example, in order to concentrate the airflow to the kitchen where there are many air pollutants, the blocking plate 90 may be installed in a direction toward the living room to close the flow path toward a living room and concentrate the airflow into the flow path toward the kitchen. Alternatively, in order to prevent and/or reduce moisture from the bathroom from spreading into a dressing room, the blocking plate 90 may be installed in a direction toward the dressing room to close the flow path toward the dressing room and concentrate the airflow into the flow path toward the bathroom.
The first airflow guide 30 may include the protrusions 33 and 34. The protrusions 33 and 34 may be formed to protrude upward and downward at a portion in which the guide plate 31 is in contact with the opening 32. The protrusions 33 and 34 may include the first protrusion 34 and the second protrusion 33.
The second protrusion 33 may protrude downward. Therefore, the air passing through the opening 32 may be guided to move downward. A portion, in which the second protrusion 33 forms the inner peripheral surface of the opening 32, that is, an inner surface 33a of the second protrusion 33, may include a curved surface. Therefore, it is possible to dampen the angle change of the airflow passing through the opening 32. An outer surface 33b of the second protrusion 33 may include a flat surface.
The first protrusion 34 may protrude upward. When a portion in which the first protrusion 34 forms the inner peripheral surface of the opening 32 is referred to as an inner surface 34a of the first protrusion 34, an outer surface 34b of the first protrusion 34 located on the opposite side of the inner surface 34a may include a curved surface. Therefore, the first protrusion 34 may smoothly guide the flow of air moving along the upper surface of the guide plate 31. The first protrusion 34 may guide the airflow to the guide plate 31 or the opening 32.
While the 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 of skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2021-0174138 | Dec 2021 | KR | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2022/018744 designating the United States, filed on Nov. 24, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0174138, filed on Dec. 7, 2021, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/KR2022/018744 | Nov 2022 | WO |
| Child | 18612017 | US |
