Abstract: An apparatus for summing capacities of outdoor units in a multiple air conditioner comprises self-capacity storage devices mounted in outdoor units, respectively, for storing self-capacities of the outdoor units and outputting the self-capacities of the outdoor units when necessary, an outdoor unit capacity summing part mounted in one outdoor unit of the outdoor units for receiving the capacities of the outdoor units outputted from the respective self-capacity storage devices to calculate the total capacity of all the outdoor units, and a control device for receiving the result of the calculation performed by the outdoor unit capacity summing part to control the operation of the multiple air conditioner. The possibility of incorrect input of the capacities of the outdoor units is eliminated, and therefore, more accurate control of the multiple air conditioner is accomplished.

Abstract: A control method of a multi-air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units is connected to one outdoor unit and refrigerant flow amount is adjusted by electronic expansion valves comprises a share step in which a plurality of indoor units exchanges their operation information, a comparison and judgment step in which each above indoor unit compares and judges its operation status based on the exchanged operation information, and an adjustment step in which each above indoor unit adjusts refrigerant flow amount supplied to each indoor unit based on the compared and judged operation status.

Abstract: An air conditioner having a service valve assembly which comprises a connection body connected with a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows, and having a penetration passage through which the refrigerant flows; an opening/closing unit disposed in the connection body, and having a blocking hole for opening/closing the passage of the refrigerant flowing through the penetration passage; a plurality of ports disposed at the connection body, respectively, by a particular interval therebetween, connected with the penetration passage, and having an opened end portion, respectively; and a filter unit removably coupled to each end portion of the ports such that the refrigerant flowing through the penetration passage is bypassed to the ports to thus be filtered thereby, whereby it is possible to basically solve the problem in a blocking caused by moisture and foreign materials within a circulation system of the air conditioner, and to simplify the construction of the system by being provided with a filter

Abstract: A multi type air conditioner comprises: an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger heat-exchanged with the outdoor air, a compressor compressing a refrigerant, and a first four-way valve and a second four-way valve switching a refrigerant flow path; indoor units performing at least one of cooling operation and heating operation; and a distributor including a low pressure pipe connected between the first four-way valve and each of the indoor units, a high pressure pipe connected between the second four-way valve and each of the indoor units, and a refrigerant pipe connected between the outer heat-exchanger and each of the indoor units. Accordingly, flow resistance of a refrigerant is reduced in heating operation, thereby improving heating performance and heating efficiency, and the amount of refrigerant accumulated within a high pressure pipe is minimized in cooling operation, thereby improving cooling performance and cooling efficiency.

Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-unit air conditioner is disclosed which is capable of preventing frost from being formed on the outer surface of a refrigerant line. In order to control an air conditioner including an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units corresponding to the out door unit, and a plurality of refrigerant lines for connecting the indoor units to the outdoor unit, respectively, the method includes the steps of measuring respective states of the refrigerant lines using a measurement sensor, determining respective states of the refrigerant lines, based on measurement data obtained by the measurement sensor, and controlling an operation state of an operating one or operating ones of the indoor units, in accordance with the determined state of the refrigerant line associated with the operating indoor unit or each operating indoor unit.

Abstract: A multi type air conditioner comprises: an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger heat-exchanged with the outdoor air, a compressor compressing a refrigerant, and a first four-way valve and a second four-way valve switching a refrigerant flow path; indoor units performing at least one of cooling operation and heating operation; and a distributor including a low pressure pipe connected between the first four-way valve and each of the indoor units, a high pressure pipe connected between the second four-way valve and each of the indoor units, and a refrigerant pipe connected between the outer heat-exchanger and each of the indoor units. Accordingly, flow resistance of a refrigerant is reduced in heating operation, thereby improving heating performance and heating efficiency, and the amount of refrigerant accumulated within a high pressure pipe is minimized in cooling operation, thereby improving cooling performance and cooling efficiency.

Abstract: An air conditioner having a service valve assembly which comprises a connection body connected with a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows, and having a penetration passage through which the refrigerant flows; an opening/closing unit disposed in the connection body, and having a blocking hole for opening/closing the passage of the refrigerant flowing through the penetration passage; a plurality of ports disposed at the connection body, respectively, by a particular interval therebetween, connected with the penetration passage, and having an opened end portion, respectively; and a filter unit removably coupled to each end portion of the ports such that the refrigerant flowing through the penetration passage is bypassed to the ports to thus be filtered thereby, whereby it is possible to basically solve the problem in a blocking caused by moisture and foreign materials within a circulation system of the air conditioner, and to simplify the construction of the system by being provided with a filter

Abstract: A multi type air-conditioner comprises: an outdoor unit having outdoor heat exchangers heat-exchanged with outdoor air and a compressor for compressing a refrigerant; indoor units for performing either cooling or heating; a high pressure pipe connected between a discharge side of the compressor and the indoor units; a low pressure pipe connected between a suction side of the compressor and the indoor units; and a refrigerant exhauster provided between the high pressure pipe and the low pressure pipe, for discharging a liquid refrigerant to the low pressure pipe when the liquid refrigerant is accumulated in the high pressure pipe, whereby degradation of cooling capability due to a lack of refrigerant can be prevented by minimizing accumulation of the liquid refrigerant in the high pressure pipe in a cooling operation mode.