Abstract: An evaporator utilizes micro-channel tubes, and more particularly, has a structure of a heat exchanger using micro-channel tubes, which is applied to an evaporator of a household air conditioner. The evaporator, using micro-channel tubes, includes a first heat exchanging unit including a pair of upper and lower headers, and a plurality of the micro-channel tubes erected vertically between the headers so that condensed water flows downward, and a second heat exchanging unit, installed adjacent to the first heat exchanging unit, includes a pair of upper and lower headers, and a plurality of the micro-channel tubes erected vertically between the headers so that condensed water flows downward. A plurality of return pipes connect upper headers of neighboring heat exchanging units to transmit refrigerant between the neighboring heat exchanging units.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided that is capable of performing heat exchange more efficiently by using slits. The heat exchanger includes a refrigerant pipe for allowing a refrigerant to flow therethrough, at least one fin disposed such that the refrigerant pipe penetrates through the at least one fin for performing heat exchange with air passing by the at least one fin, at least one slit formed by partially cutting out the at least one fin, and at least one slit fin extending from the at least one fin adjacent to one side edge of the at least one slit for inducing turbulent flow in air flowing along a flow channel spaced a predetermined distance from the at least one fin. The width of the at least one slit is greater than or equal to ? of the diameter of the refrigerant pipe. Turbulent flow is induced in air flowing through the heat exchanger by one side edge of the slit disposed downstream of the flow direction of air. Consequently, heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger is improved.

Abstract: A mold to mold an integral turbofan having a rotating plate joined to a drive motor, an outer ring concentrically disposed outside of the rotating plate with a spacing therebetween, a plurality of blades radially arranged on a front face of the rotating plate and integrally connected at rear ends thereof to the rotating plate and the outer ring, and a shroud integrally formed with front ends of the blades. The mold includes a first half having first, second and third front parts forming a front face of the rotating plate, the shroud and the outer ring, respectively, and a second half combining with the first half, and including a first rear part forming a rear face of the rotating plate, a plurality of second rear parts forming a rear face of the shroud and the blades, and a third rear part forming a rear face of the outer ring.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a turbofan, which facilitates a manufacturing process and reduces a defective fraction of products during the manufacturing process by providing joining portions of the turbofan with corresponding plane surfaces. The turbofan includes a rotating plate coupled at a center thereof to a shaft of a drive motor, a plurality of blades radially arranged on a peripheral area of a front face of the rotating plate, and a ring-shaped shroud coupled to front ends of the plurality of blades. The method includes forming the ring-shaped shroud and first parts of the plurality of blades integrally, forming the rotating plate and remaining second parts of the plurality of blades integrally, and joining the first parts to corresponding second parts by fusion bonding.

Abstract: A turbofan to reduce noise through a suppression of turbulent air flow at an outlet thereof and also to guide the air discharged from the outlet in a specific discharging direction, and an air conditioner equipped with the turbofan to improve an efficiency of a heat exchange. The turbofan includes a rotating plate coupled to a shaft of a drive motor, a plurality of blades radially arranged on a peripheral area of a front face of the rotating plate, a ring-shaped shroud joining to ends of the plurality of blades, and a flow guide rib extending from a peripheral edge of the rotating plate in a rearward direction to guide the air discharged from the turbofan.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a turbofan, which facilitates a manufacturing process and reduces a defective fraction of products during the manufacturing process by providing joining portions of the turbofan with corresponding plane surfaces. The turbofan includes a rotating plate coupled at a center thereof to a shaft of a drive motor, a plurality of blades radially arranged on a peripheral area of a front face of the rotating plate, and a ring-shaped shroud coupled to front ends of the plurality of blades. The method includes forming the ring-shaped shroud and first parts of the plurality of blades integrally, forming the rotating plate and remaining second parts of the plurality of blades integrally, and joining the first parts to corresponding second parts by fusion bonding.

Abstract: A turbofan to reduce noise through a suppression of turbulent air flow at an outlet thereof and also to guide the air discharged from the outlet in a specific discharging direction, and an air conditioner equipped with the turbofan to improve an efficiency of a heat exchange. The turbofan includes a rotating plate coupled to a shaft of a drive motor, a plurality of blades radially arranged on a peripheral area of a front face of the rotating plate, a ring-shaped shroud joining to ends of the plurality of blades, and a flow guide rib extending from a peripheral edge of the rotating plate in a rearward direction to guide the air discharged from the turbofan.

Abstract: A mold to mold an integral turbofanhaving a rotating plate joined to a drive motor, an outer ring concentrically disposed outside of the rotating plate with a spacing therebetween, a plurality of blades radially arranged on a front face of the rotating plate and integrally connected at rear ends thereof to the rotating plate and the outer ring, and a shroud integrally formed with front ends of the blades. The mold includes a first half having first, second and third front parts forming a front face of the rotating plate, the shroud and the outer ring, respectively, and a second half combining with the first half, and including a first rear part forming a rear face of the rotating plate, a plurality of second rear parts forming a rear face of the shroud and the blades, and a third rear part forming a rear face of the outer ring.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit, at least one indoor unit and a compressor. The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit by a refrigerant pipe to form a closed circuit. The refrigerant pipe is divided into high and low pressure pipes. The air conditioner further includes a refrigerant leakage detecting unit provided on the indoor unit to detect refrigerant leakage, a high pressure pipe shutoff valve provided on the high pressure pipe of the refrigerant pipe, and a low pressure pipe shutoff valve provided on the low pressure pipe of the refrigerant pipe. Refrigerant is restored into the outdoor unit by closing the high pressure pipe shutoff valve and opening the low pressure pipe shutoff valve.

Abstract: An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit, at least one indoor unit and a compressor. The outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit by a refrigerant pipe to form a closed circuit. The refrigerant pipe is divided into high and low pressure pipes. The air conditioner further includes a refrigerant leakage detecting unit provided on the indoor unit to detect refrigerant leakage, a high pressure pipe shutoff valve provided on the high pressure pipe of the refrigerant pipe, and a low pressure pipe shutoff valve provided on the low pressure pipe of the refrigerant pipe. Refrigerant is restored into the outdoor unit by closing the high pressure pipe shutoff valve and opening the low pressure pipe shutoff valve.

Abstract: A refrigerant channel switching apparatus in an air conditioner having cooling and warming functions is provided. The apparatus includes a main valve body, a direction shifting chamber formed within the main valve body and having a four connecting ports connected to an output and an input of a compressor, an indoor heat-exchanger, and an outdoor heat-exchanger, respectively, an operating chamber formed in the main valve body having a plurality of connecting ports, an operational guide member contained in the operating chamber and disposed to rotate in the operating chamber, a partition formed with the operational guide member in a body and disposed to rotate within the direction shifting chamber of the main valve body, a pilot valve connected to the connecting ports of the operating chamber and causing the direction shifting chamber to switch a connection between a compressor, an indoor heat-exchanger, and an outdoor heat-exchanger.

Abstract: Disclosed are a device and a method for vacuumizing an air conditioner having multiple compressors and multiple condensers respectively connected with the compressors by multiple refrigerant pipes. The refrigerant pipes are interconnected by a connection pipe. An inlet of one of the compressors and the connection pipe are connected to a manifold. A vacuum pump is connected to the manifold. The inlets of compressors other than the compressor connected to the manifold and an outlet of the condensers are closed. Thus, the compressors and the condensers form a closed circuit. When the vacuum pump operates, the inner space of the closed circuit is vacuumized. Since many compressors and condensers can be vacuumized using a single vacuum pump, the cost of manufacturing a vacuumizing device is reduced.

Abstract: A multiple type air conditioner has an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units. The outdoor unit has a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger. Each indoor unit has an indoor heat exchanger. A bypass pipe connects the outdoor heat exchanger to the compressor, and the opening degree of the bypass pipe is controlled by a bypass valve. The temperature of the refrigerant circulating from the indoor heat exchanger to the compressor is sensed by a sensor. As the temperature of the refrigerant sensed by the sensor increases, the opening degree of the bypass pipe decreases. Thus, the amount of refrigerant supplied to the indoor heat exchanger and that of refrigerant bypassed by the bypass pipe are controlled according to the temperature of the refrigerant, whereby the cooling efficiency is enhanced. Further, the difference in pressure between the refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger and that flowing out of the bypass pipe is lowered, whereby noise is reduced.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a water tub, a spin basket, and a clothes agitator. A vertical dehydrating shaft is fixed to the spin basket, and a laundering shaft extends coaxially within the dehydrating shaft. Upper and lower ends of the laundering shaft are connected to the agitator and a motor respectively, whereby rotation of the motor is always transmitted to the agitator. In order to selectively connect the dehydrating shaft to the laundering shaft (e.g., during a spin-drying operation), a connecting gear is mounted on the dehydrating shaft for rotation therewith and for vertical movement relative thereto. A power-driven actuator is provided for selectively moving the connecting gear up or down. When the connecting gear moves down, lower teeth thereon become operably connected to the motor so that the dehydrating shaft and laundering shaft rotate together.