AIR CONDITIONER

Abstract

An air conditioner includes heat exchangers, an actuator configured to generate pulse-type air current by vibration of a diaphragm, a manifold connected to the actuator and having a plurality of blast ports to configured to blast multiple pulse-type air currents over a large area, and a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface configured to transfer the multiple pulse-type air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports in a long distance. Therefore, the air conditioner can be useful in reducing generation of noise and being miniaturized.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2013-0150619 and 10-2014-0101061, filed on Dec. 5, 2013 and Aug. 6, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an air conditioner, and, more particularly, to an air conditioner from which a blower fan and a motor are excluded but which has an alternative blowing unit instead of the blower fan and the motor.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an air conditioner is a home appliance configured to cool the interior of a room, which includes an indoor unit having a heat exchanger and a blower fan and disposed in the interior of the room, an outdoor unit having a heat exchanger, a blower fan, a compressor and a condenser and disposed in the exterior of the room, and a refrigerant pipe configured to connect the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to circulate a refrigerant.

The blower fans of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit promote the heat exchange between the refrigerant and air by generating the forced flow of air, which makes it possible to effectively carry out heat exchange. The blower fan of the indoor unit aspirates hot air in the interior of a room into the indoor unit, allows the hot air to flow toward a heat exchanger and discharges the air cooled through the heat exchanger into the interior of the room. Also, the blower fan of the outdoor unit may carry out heat exchange between the outdoor air and the refrigerant.

In conventional air conditioners having such a structure, fluid friction sounds caused by rotation of the blower fan, and driving sounds of a motor configured to drive the blower fan are inevitably generated. Such noises get louder with an increase in rotational speed of the blower fan.

Also, because the blower fan and the heat exchanger should be individually disposed at proper positions to achieve the flow velocity greater than a predetermined range in the entire region of the heat exchanger, there are limitations to miniaturization and design improvement of the air conditioner.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an air conditioner capable of reducing generation of noise by excluding a conventional blower fan and motor.

Also, it is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide an air conditioner capable of excluding a conventional blower fan and motor to achieve miniaturization, thinning and design improvement.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner including a main body having an inlet port and an outlet port, heat exchangers, a pulse-type air current generation unit configured to generate a pulse-type air current, and a manifold connected to the pulse-type air current generation unit to blast multiple pulse-type air currents over a predetermined area due to a change in pressure caused by the pulse-type air current generated at the pulse-type air current generation unit.

Here, the pulse-type air current generation unit may include a diaphragm that vibrates, a cavity whose volume is altered according to the vibration of the diaphragm, and an actuator having an orifice formed at one side of the cavity.

Here, the manifold may include an inner path which is connected to the orifice and in which a vibration pressure is generated according to a change in the volume of the cavity.

Here, the manifold may include a plurality of blast ports configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents caused by the vibration pressure in the inner path.

Here, the plurality of blast ports may be arranged spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the inner path.

Also, the air conditioner may further include a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member configured to guide the air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports.

Here, the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member may include a curved surface having an airfoil shape.

Also, the manifold may include the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member.

Here, the manifold may have a loop shape.

Here, the manifold may include a first blast unit and a second blast unit, and each of the first blast unit and the second blast unit may include the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member.

Here, the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the first blast unit may be provided at an inner surface of the first blast unit, and the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the second blast unit may be provided at an inner surface of the second blast unit.

Here, the heat exchangers may be disposed between the first blast unit and the second blast unit.

Alternatively, the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the first blast unit may be provided at an outer surface of the first blast unit, and the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the second blast unit may be provided at an outer surface of the second blast unit.

Here, the heat exchangers may be disposed outside the first blast unit and the second blast unit.

Also, the air conditioner may be a wall-mounted air conditioner in which the inlet port is provided at an upper portion of the main body and the outlet port is provided at a lower portion of the main body.

Also, the air conditioner may be a ceiling-type air conditioner in which the inlet port and the outlet port are provided at a lower portion of the main body.

Also, the air conditioner is characterized in that the actuator may include a first actuator and a second actuator, both of which are connected to the manifold.

Also, the air conditioner is characterized in that the first actuator and the second actuator may include a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, respectively, both of which vibrate out of phase with each other.

Also, the air conditioner is characterized in that the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm may vibrate with a phase difference of 90° or 270°.

Also, the air conditioner is characterized in that it may further include a control unit configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator independently.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes a main body having an inlet port and an outlet port, heat exchangers, a large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit including an actuator configured to generate a pulse-type air current and a manifold connected to the actuator and having a plurality of blast ports, and a long-distance air current transfer unit configured to guide the multiple pulse-type air currents generated at the large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit a long distance. Here, the air outside the main body is aspirated through the inlet port by the air currents formed through the large-area pulse-type air current generation unit and the long-distance air current transfer unit, heat-exchanged through the heat exchanger, and discharged through the outlet port.

Here, the actuator may include a diaphragm that vibrates.

Also, the long distance transfer unit may include a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes a main body having an inlet port and an outlet port, heat exchangers, an actuator including a diaphragm that vibrates, a cavity whose volume is altered according to the vibration of the diaphragm, and an actuator having an orifice formed at one side of the cavity, and a manifold including an inner path which is connected to the orifice and in which a vibration pressure is generated according to a change in the volume of the cavity, a plurality of blast ports configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents by a vibration pressure of the inner path, and a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member provided adjacent to the plurality of blast ports to guide the multiple pulse-type air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes a main body, a heat exchanger installed at the main body, first and second actuators configured to generate air currents in order to carry out heat exchange at the heat exchanger, and a manifold connected to the first actuator and the second actuator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of an actuator of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a dissection of the manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the flow of air on Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a dissection of the manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a view showing the flow of air on Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view showing an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of an air conditioner according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 20 is a view showing the control flow of the air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

A refrigerant cycle configured to realize an air conditioner is achieved using a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The air conditioner may exchange heat between air and a refrigerant going through a series of processes including compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation, and supply the air-conditioned air into an interior space.

The compressor compresses a refrigerant gas under a high-temperature and high-pressure condition, and emits the compressed refrigerant gas. Then, the emitted refrigerant gas is allowed to flow into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant in a liquid phase. In a condensation process, heat may radiate to the surrounding environment.

The expansion valve expands the high-temperature/high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant condensed at the condenser into a low-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant expanded through the expansion valve, and allows the high-temperature/high-pressure refrigerant gas to return into the compressor. The evaporator may realize a refrigeration effect by heat exchange with an object to be cooled using evaporative latent heat of the refrigerant. The air conditioner may use such a refrigerant cycle to adjust the temperature of air in the interior space.

An outdoor unit of the air conditioner refers to a part composed of a compressor and an exterior heat exchanger used during the refrigerant cycle. The expansion valve may be present at one place on either the indoor unit or the outdoor unit, and the interior heat exchanger may be provided at the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

The interior heat exchanger and the exterior heat exchanger may be provided as heat exchangers having the same shape. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of description, both of the interior heat exchanger and the exterior heat exchanger are referred to as the heat exchangers. FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8, and 12 to 15 show various embodiments of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and FIGS. 16 and 17 show one embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.

The indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include a pulse-type air current generation unit configured to generate a pulse-type air current, and a manifold connected to the pulse-type air current generation unit to blast multiple pulse-type air currents over a predetermined area due to a change in pressure caused by the pulse-type air current generated at the pulse-type air current generation unit. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the pulse-type air current generation unit including an actuator will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining the operation of an actuator of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a view showing a dissection of the manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a view showing the flow of air on Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner may include a main body 110 configured to form the appearance, and heat exchangers 121 and 122 disposed inside the main body 110. Also, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner includes an actuator 130 configured to generate a pulse-type air current, and a manifold 140 connected to the actuator 130 and configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents in a large area.

The main body 110 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An inlet port 111 through which air in the interior of a room is aspirated may be provided at an upper portion of the main body 110, and an outlet port 112 through which the air cooled through the heat exchangers 121 and 122 is discharged again indoors may be provided at a lower portion of the main body 110. Therefore, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to this embodiment may be installed on an interior wall to cool the interior of the room.

The heat exchangers 121 and 122 may be provided in plural numbers, and disposed in two rows. The heat exchangers 121 and 122 may be in the form of a fin tube, which includes tubes 121a and 122a through which a refrigerant flows, and heat exchanger fins 121b and 122b coupled to the tubes 121a and 122a to enlarge a heat transfer area, respectively. However, the aspect of the present disclosure is not limited to the number and kind of the heat exchangers.

Unlike the case that the heat exchangers are disposed to surround a blower fan, with the blower fan being disposed at the center thereof, so that the flow of air in the entire region of the heat exchangers are formed at a scale greater than a predetermined size in an indoor unit of a typical conventional wall-mounted air conditioner, the heat exchangers 121 and 122 according to this embodiment may be disposed in a substantially vertical and straight manner. Also, the heat exchangers 121 and 122 may be disposed inside the manifold 140. Such disposition of the heat exchangers 121 and 122 will be described again in detail.

The actuator 130 is to generate a pulse-type air current. That is, the actuator 130 is a device configured to generate a pulse-type air current. The schematic configuration of such an actuator 130 is as shown in FIG. 3. The actuator 130 may have a substantially thin and rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, the shape of the actuator 130 is not limited.

The actuator 130 may include a housing 131, at least one diaphragm 132 connected to the housing 131 to vibrate, a cavity 133 that is a space formed by the housing 131 and the at least one diaphragm 132, and an orifice 134 formed at one side of the cavity 133. The cavity 133 may have a variable volume according to the vibration of the diaphragm 132. According to this embodiment, two diaphragms 132 are provided, but a single diaphragm 132 may be provided, or three or more diaphragms may be provided.

The diaphragm 132 is flexible, and provided in a deformable manner. The diaphragm 132 may vibrate at a constant cycle. As shown in FIG. 3, the diaphragm 132 may be deformed to be convex or concave at a constant cycle. That is, the diaphragm 132 may vibrate at a predetermined frequency, and is preferred to have a frequency of approximately 50 Hz to 100 Hz.

The diaphragm 132 may be deformed due to a piezoelectric effect. The diaphragm 132 may include a plurality of piezoelectric elements stacked with each other in a reverse polarization direction. When electric power is applied to the piezoelectric elements, the diaphragm 132 may be deformed by elongating one piezoelectric element and compressing the other piezoelectric element. As the capacity of the electric power applied to the piezoelectric elements increases, the diaphragm 132 may be deformed to a higher extent.

When an electric potential of the electric power applied to the piezoelectric elements is reversed, a deformation direction of the diaphragm 132 may also be reversed. Therefore, the diaphragm 132 may vibrate due to a periodic change of the electric power applied to the piezoelectric elements. A sheet made of an elastic material may be provided between the piezoelectric elements.

The actuator 130 may further include a power generator (not shown) configured to generate electric power applied to the piezoelectric elements, and a control unit 3 (FIG. 20) configured to receive an input signal to control application of the electric power to the piezoelectric elements. The control unit 3 will be described later.

The volume of the cavity 133 may periodically vary due to periodic vibration of the diaphragm 132, and the air may periodically flow in and out through the orifice 134 according to a change in volume of the cavity 133.

That is, the air in the cavity 133 may flow out through the orifice 134 when the volume of the cavity 133 decreases, whereas the external air may flow in the cavity 133 through the orifice 134 when the volume of the cavity 133 increases.

As a result, the pulse-type air current may periodically flow out (A) or in (B) through the orifice 134 according to a change in the periodic volume of the cavity 133. The amounts of the air currents flowing out and in through the orifice 134 for a predetermined period of time may be the same.

As shown in FIG. 3, the orifice 134 may serve as the inlet port and the outlet port for the pulse-type air current. That is, the actuator 130 may aspirate and discharge the pulse-type air current through one orifice. Also, the actuator 130 may be formed to provide an inlet port and an outlet port separately.

The indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to this embodiment includes a manifold 140 connected to the orifice 134 of the actuator 130 to generate such a pulse-type air current at a wider area. That is, the manifold 140 serves to blast multiple pulse-type air currents into a large area due to the pulse-type air current generated at the actuator 130. Here, the range of the large area is not limited, and generally spans to cover the size of the heat exchangers of the air conditioner.

The manifold 140 may have a rod shape having an approximately rectangular section, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The section of the manifold 140 may be in various shapes such as circular, oval and triangular shapes as well as the rectangular shape. The manifold 140 may not essentially have a linear shape. As necessary, the manifold 140 may have a bent shape.

The manifold 140 includes inner paths 151 and 161 connected to the orifice 134 to generate a vibration pressure according to a change in volume of the cavity 133, and a plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents generated by the vibration pressure of the inner paths 151 and 161.

That is, the manifold 140 is assembled into the actuator 130 so that the inner paths 151 and 161 are connected to the orifice 134 of the actuator 130. Hereinafter, the assembly of the actuator 130 and the manifold 140 is referred to as an actuator 130/manifold 140 assembly.

The vibration pressure according to the change in the volume of the cavity 133 is transferred to the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 through the inner paths 151 and 161 to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents through the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162.

Also, the pulse-type air current periodically flow out and in through the plurality of respective blast ports 152 and 162. In this case, the amounts of the air current flowing out and in for a predetermined period of time are the same.

The inner paths 151 and 161 are closed spaces except for an entrance (not shown) connected to the orifice 134, and the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162. Therefore, the energy may be in the form of pressure, and may be transferred from the orifice 134 to the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 via the inner paths 151 and 161.

As shown in FIG. 4, the manifold 140 may be provided to have a loop shape. That is, the manifold 140 may include first and second blast units 150 and 160 configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents, and first and second connection units 171 and 172 configured to connect the first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160.

The first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160 are separately provided in an approximately straight manner, and spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals. The first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160 have a plurality of blast ports 152 and 162, respectively. The plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 may be provided to be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160.

The shape of the manifold 140 is not limited to the loop shape, and thus the manifold 140 may be simply in a rod shape or any other shapes. In this case, it is satisfactory as long as the inner paths 151 and 161 are closed spaces except for an entrance connected to the orifice 134, and the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162.

According to this embodiment, the plurality of blast ports 152 of the first blast unit 150 and the plurality of blast ports 162 of the second blast unit 160 are provided to face each other. That is, the plurality of blast ports 152 of the first blast unit 150 are provided at an inner lateral surface of the first blast unit 150, and the plurality of blast ports 162 of the second blast unit 160 are provided at an inner surface of the second blast unit 160.

Here, the inner surface of the first blast unit 150 and the inner surface of the second blast unit 160 refer to surfaces adjacent to a space between the first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160.

In this case, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to this embodiment may be configured so that the heat exchangers 121 and 122 are arranged between the first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160. Therefore, the multiple pulse-type air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 move from top to bottom toward the heat exchangers 121 and 122, and the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchangers 121 and 122 may be improved. In this case, the heat exchanger fins 121b and 122b of the heat exchangers 121 and 122 may be disposed vertically so that the heat exchanger fins 121b and 122b do not interrupt the flow of an air current.

According to this embodiment, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner has the plurality of such actuator 130/manifold 140 assemblies. The plurality of actuator 130/manifold 140 assemblies may have the same structure, and may be disposed under and on the heat exchangers 121 and 122. Unlike this configuration, however, one actuator 130/manifold 140 assembly may be disposed at a central region of the heat exchangers 121 and 122, or one or more actuator 130/manifold 140 assemblies may also be disposed at proper positions.

Meanwhile, the multiple pulse-type air currents flowing out through the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 have vortex characteristics. Therefore, the flow velocity of the multiple pulse-type air currents flowing out through the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 may be rapidly reduced within a short distance.

Therefore, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner includes a long-distance air current transfer unit configured to guide the multiple pulse-type air currents generated at a large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit to a long distance. According to this embodiment, the long-distance air current transfer unit includes Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164 configured to induce a Coand{hacek over (a)} effect to guide the air currents to a long distance by relieving a decrease in flow velocity. The Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164 may be provided to guide the air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162.

According to this embodiment, the Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164 include a curved surface having an airfoil shape. The Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164 having such an airfoil shape may aspirate the surrounding air and eject a larger amount of an air current to a long distance.

According to this embodiment, such Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164 are formed integrally with the manifold 140. Upstream sides of the Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164 are arranged adjacent to the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 of the manifold 140. Therefore, the multiple pulse-type air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 of the manifold 140 may be directly sucked into the Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164.

The Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164 are formed at the first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160 of the manifold 140, respectively, and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface 154 of the first blast unit 150 and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface 164 of the second blast unit 160 are provided at an inner surface of the first blast unit 150 and an inner surface of the second blast unit 160, respectively, to face each other.

Here, the inner surface of the first blast unit 150 and the inner surface of the second blast unit 160 refer to surfaces adjacent to a space between the first blast unit 150 and the second blast unit 160, as described above.

Unlike this embodiment, however, it is possible that the Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces are provided at a separate Coand{hacek over (a)} member (not shown) rather than the manifold 140, and the Coand{hacek over (a)} members may be arranged adjacent to the plurality of blast ports 152 and 162 of the manifold 140.

According to another aspect, it may be noted that the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure has an alternative blowing unit with which a conventional blower fan and motor are replaced, and the alternative blowing unit includes a large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents in a large area, and a long-distance air current transfer unit configured to guide the multiple pulse-type air currents generated at the large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit to a long distance.

The large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit is configured to include an actuator 130 configured to generate a pulse-type air current using the vibration of the diaphragm 132, and a manifold 140 connected to the actuator 130 and having a plurality of blast ports 152 and 162, and the long-distance air current transfer unit is configured to include the Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 154 and 164.

In such a configuration, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to this embodiment may force the air to flow smoothly without any configurations of the conventional blower fan and drive motor. Therefore, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner may reduce noise and achieve thinning and miniaturization designs.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 10 is a view showing a dissection of the manifold of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 11 is a view showing the flow of air on Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 11, the structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as the first embodiment may be omitted for clarity.

The indoor unit 200 of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment uses a manifold 240 having a different shape than that of the first embodiment. In this case, the indoor unit 200 of the air conditioner includes a main body 210 configured to form the appearance, heat exchangers 221 and 222 disposed inside the main body 210, an actuator 230 configured to generate a pulse-type air current, and a manifold 240 connected to the actuator 230 and configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents in a large area.

The main body 210 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An inlet port 211 through which the air in the interior of a room is aspirated may be provided at an upper portion of the main body 210, and an outlet port 212 through which the air cooled through the heat exchangers 221 and 222 is discharged again indoors may be provided at a lower portion of the main body 210. Therefore, the indoor unit 200 of the air conditioner according to this embodiment may be installed on an interior wall to cool the interior of the room.

The heat exchangers 221 and 222 may be provided in plural numbers, and disposed in two rows. The heat exchangers 221 and 222 may be in the form of a fin tube, which includes tubes 221a and 222a through which a refrigerant flows, and heat exchanger fins 221b and 222b coupled to the tubes 221a and 222a to enlarge a heat transfer area, respectively. However, the number and kind of the heat exchangers are not limited.

The heat exchangers 221 and 222 may be disposed in a substantially vertical and straight manner. Unlike the first embodiment, such heat exchangers 221 and 222 may be arranged outside the manifold 240.

The actuator 230 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment, and thus a description of the configuration thereof is omitted for clarity.

The manifold 240 includes inner paths 251 and 261 connected to an orifice of the actuator 230 and configured to generate a vibration pressure according to a change in volume of a cavity, a plurality of blast ports 252 and 262 configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents due to the vibration pressure of the inner paths 251 and 261, and Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 254 and 264 configured to increase a flow velocity and a flow rate by relieving vortex characteristics of the multiple pulse-type air currents.

The manifold 240 may be provided to have a loop shape. That is, the manifold 240 may include first and second blast units 250 and 260 configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents, and first and second connection units 271 and 272 configured to connect the first blast unit 250 and the second blast unit 260.

The first blast unit 250 and the second blast unit 260 have a plurality of blast ports 252 and 262 and Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 254 and 264, respectively. The first blast unit 250 and the second blast unit 260 are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals, which are narrower than those of the first embodiment.

Also, the plurality of blast ports 252 and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface 254 of the first blast unit 250 are provided at an outer surface of the first blast unit 250, and the plurality of blast ports 262 and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface 264 of the second blast unit 260 are provided at an outer surface of the second blast unit 260.

Here, the outer surface of the first blast unit 250 and the outer surface of the second blast unit 260 refer to surfaces opposite to surfaces adjacent to a space between the first blast unit 250 and the second blast unit 260.

In this case, the heat exchangers 221 and 222 may be disposed outside the first blast unit 250 and the second blast unit 260, respectively. When it is assumed that the heat exchanger disposed outside the first blast unit 250 is referred to as a first heat exchanger 221 and the heat exchanger disposed outside the second blast unit 260 is referred to as a second heat exchanger 222, the multiple pulse-type air currents blasted from the first blast unit 250 may move from top to bottom toward the first heat exchanger 221, and the multiple pulse-type air currents blasted from the second blast unit 260 may move from top to bottom toward the second heat exchanger 222.

Therefore, heat exchange efficiency in the heat exchangers 221 and 222 may be improved, and cooling efficiency may be enhanced. The heat exchanger fins 221b and 222b of the first heat exchanger 221 and the second heat exchanger 222 may be disposed vertically so that the heat exchanger fins 221b and 222b do not interrupt the flow of an air current.

FIG. 12 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as in the other embodiments is omitted for clarity.

The third embodiment of the present disclosure is an example in which a blowing unit according to an aspect of the present disclosure is applied to a ceiling-type indoor unit capable of being installed on the ceiling. The indoor unit 300 of the air conditioner includes a main body 310, a heat exchanger 321 disposed inside the main body 310, and a blowing unit configured to force the air to flow.

An inlet port 311 through which the air in the interior of a room is aspirated is provided at a lower central region of the main body 310, and an outlet port 312 through which the air cooled through the heat exchanger 321 is discharged again indoors is provided at the lower outskirts of the main body 310. Therefore, the indoor unit 300 of the air conditioner may be installed on an interior ceiling.

One or more heat exchangers 321 may be disposed at an inner upper side of the main body 310. According to this embodiment, the four heat exchangers 321 may be disposed to have a substantially rectangular loop shape.

The blowing unit configured to force the air to flow may be an actuator/manifold assembly having a structure similar to that of the first or second embodiment as described above. According to this embodiment, an actuator 330/manifold 340 assembly similar to that of the first embodiment is disposed above the outlet port 312. The four actuator 330/manifold 340 assemblies are provided, and disposed to have a substantially rectangular loop shape. Also, an actuator (not shown)/manifold 370 assembly may also be disposed above the inlet port 311.

In such a configuration, the air aspirated into the main body 310 through the inlet port 311 provided at the lower central region of the main body 310 may be heat-exchanged to be cooled through the heat exchanger 321 disposed at the inner upper side of the main body 310, and then discharged indoors through the outlet port 312 disposed at the lower outskirts of the main body 310 to cool the interior of a room.

FIG. 14 is a view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. A description of the same configuration as in the other embodiments may be omitted for clarity.

The indoor unit 400 of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment includes a main body 410 configured to form the appearance, heat exchangers 421 and 422 disposed inside the main body 410, an actuator 430 configured to generate a pulse-type air current, and manifolds 440 and 445 connected to the actuator 430 and configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents in a large area. The actuator 430 has the same configuration as in the described above embodiments, and thus a description of the configuration thereof is omitted for clarity.

The main body 410 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. An inlet port 411 through which the air in the interior of a room is aspirated may be provided at an upper portion of the main body 410, and an outlet port 412 through which the air cooled through the heat exchangers 421 and 422 is discharged again indoors may be provided at a lower portion of the main body 410. Therefore, the indoor unit 400 of the air conditioner according to this embodiment may be installed on an interior wall to cool the interior of the room.

The heat exchangers 421 and 422 may be provided in plural numbers, and disposed in two rows. The heat exchangers 421 and 422 may be in the form of a fin tube, which includes tubes 421a and 422a through which a refrigerant flows, and heat exchanger fins 421b and 422 coupled to the tubes 421a and 422a to enlarge a heat transfer area, respectively. However, the number and kind of the heat exchangers are not limited.

The heat exchangers 421 and 422 may be disposed to be curved, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In addition of the shapes shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the heat exchangers 421 and 422 may be disposed at the indoor unit 400 of the air conditioner to be curved in various shapes. Thus, the indoor unit 400 of the air conditioner may be manufactured in various shapes.

Also, the manifolds 440 and 445 may be provided in various shapes. For example, each of the manifolds 440 and 445 having different shapes may be connected to the actuator 430, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Therefore, an inner space of the indoor unit 400 of the air conditioner may be effectively used according to the various shapes of the heat exchangers 421 and 422.

Also, each of the manifolds 440 and 445 may be disposed at the indoor unit 400 of the air conditioner to effectively carry out heat exchange. For example, the manifolds 440 and 445 may be disposed adjacent to the heat exchangers 421 and 422, and may also be disposed adjacent to the outlet port 412, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of description, the manifold disposed adjacent to the heat exchangers 421 and 422 is referred to as a first manifold 440, and the manifold disposed adjacent to the outlet port 412 is referred to as a second manifold 445.

The first manifold 440 may be provided to have a loop shape. The first manifold 440 includes inner paths 451 and 461 configured to generate a vibration pressure, a plurality of blast ports 452 and 462 configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents due to the vibration pressure of the inner paths 451 and 461, and Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 454 and 464 configured to increase a flow velocity and a flow rate by relieving vortex characteristics of the multiple pulse-type air currents.

Also, the first manifold 440 may include first and second blast units 450 and 460 configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents, and first and second connection units 471 and 472 configured to connect the first blast unit 450 and the second blast unit 460.

The first blast unit 450 and the second blast unit 460 have a plurality of blast ports 452 and 462 and Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 454 and 464, respectively. The first blast unit 450 and the second blast unit 460 are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals, which are relatively narrow.

In this case, the heat exchangers 421 and 422 may be disposed outside the first blast unit 450 and the second blast unit 460, respectively. That is, the first manifold 440 may be disposed between the heat exchangers 421 and 422 to blast the pulse-type air current toward the respective heat exchangers 421 and 422.

The second manifold 445 may be provided to have a loop shape. Also, the second manifold 445 includes inner paths 456 and 466, a plurality of blast ports 457 and 467 configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents, and Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 459 and 469.

Also, the second manifold 445 may include first and second blast units 455 and 465 configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents, and first and second connection units 476 and 477 configured to connect the first blast unit 455 and the second blast unit 465.

The first blast unit 455 and the second blast unit 465 have a plurality of blast ports 457 and 467 and Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 459 and 469, respectively. The first blast unit 455 and the second blast unit 465 are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals, which are relatively wide. That is, the first blast unit 455 and the second blast unit 465 of the second manifold 445 may be provided to be spaced apart at wider intervals than those of the first blast unit 450 and the second blast unit 460 of the first manifold 440.

In this case, the second manifold 445 may be disposed so that the outlet port 412 is positioned between an inner side of the first blast unit 455 and an inner side of the second blast unit 465. That is, the second manifold 445 may be disposed at the outlet port 412 to forcibly convect the air in the indoor unit 400 of the air conditioner.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 16.

It is apparent that the above-described pulse-type air current generation unit and manifold is also applicable to the outdoor unit 500 of the air conditioner. For example, one embodiment of the outdoor unit 500 of the air conditioner having a compressor 10 mounted at one side thereof is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

The outdoor unit 500 of the air conditioner includes a main body 510 configured to form the appearance, a heat exchanger 520 disposed inside the main body 510, an actuator 530 configured to generate a pulse-type air current, and a manifold 540 connected to the actuator 530 and configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents in a large area. The actuator 530 has the same configuration as in the above-described embodiments, and thus a description of the configuration thereof is omitted for clarity.

The main body 510 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In an inlet port 511 through which the air outside a room is aspirated may be provided at an upper portion of the main body 510, and an outlet port 512 through which the air passing through the heat exchanger 520 is discharged again outdoors may be provided at the front surface of the main body 510.

The heat exchanger 520 may be in the form of a fin tube, which includes a tube 520a through which a refrigerant flows, and a heat exchanger fin 520b coupled to the tube 520a to enlarge a heat transfer area. However, the number and kind of the heat exchanger are not limited.

Also, the manifold 540 may be disposed in a plural number at the outdoor unit 500 of the air conditioner to effectively carry out heat exchange. For example, the manifold 540 may be disposed at the rear portion of the heat exchanger 520, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The manifolds 540 may be provided in a plural number so that the manifolds 540 are arranged at the rear portion of the heat exchanger 520. Hereinafter, the respective manifolds 540 may be provided in various shapes, and may be provided in the same shape as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Hereinafter, the manifold 540 present singly will be described.

The manifold 540 may be provided in a long rod shape. The manifold 540 includes an inner path 551 configured to generate a vibration pressure, a plurality of blast ports 552 configured to generate multiple pulse-type air currents due to the vibration pressure of the inner path 551, and Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 554 configured to increase a flow velocity and a flow rate by relieving vortex characteristics of the multiple pulse-type air currents.

Also, the manifold 540 may include a blast unit 550 configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents, and a connection unit 571 configured to connect the actuator 530 and the blast unit 550.

The pulse-type air currents blasted through the respective blast ports 552 may be emitted toward the heat exchanger 520 along the Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 554. The heat-exchanged air passing through the heat exchanger 520 may be emitted through the outlet port 512 from the outdoor unit 500 of the air conditioner.

FIG. 18 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 19 is a view showing an actuator and a manifold of an air conditioner according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

A plurality of actuators may be connected to a manifold. FIG. 18 shows a connection of a plurality of actuators 130a and 130b to the configuration of the manifold 140a shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 19 shows a connection of a plurality of actuators 230a and 230b to the configuration of the manifold 240a shown in FIG. 9. The two actuators are shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, but it is possible to connect three or more actuators.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of description, the actuators disposed at sides of the manifolds 140a and 240a are referred to as first actuators 130a and 230a, and the actuators disposed at the other sides of the manifolds 140a and 240a are referred to as second actuators 130b and 230b.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the manifolds 140a and 240a may include first blast units 150a and 250a and second blast units 160a and 260a, both of which are configured to blast multiple pulse-type air currents. The first blast units 150a and 250a and the second blast units 160a and 260a are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals, and each of the first blast units 150a and 250a and the second blast units 160a and 260a have a plurality of blast ports 162a and 252a. Also, the manifolds 140a and 240a may include Coand{hacek over (a)} surfaces 164a and 254a, and the like, as described above.

The manifold 140a shown in FIG. 18 is provided so that a plurality of blast ports of the first blast unit 150a and a plurality of blast ports 162a of the second blast unit 160a face each other. That is, the plurality of blast ports of the first blast unit 150a are provided at an inner surface of the first blast unit 150a, and the plurality of blast ports 162a of the second blast unit 160a are provided at an inner surface of the second blast unit 160a.

The manifold 240a shown in FIG. 19 is provided so that a plurality of blast ports 252a of the first blast unit 250a and a plurality of blast ports of the second blast unit 260a are opposite to each other. That is, the plurality of blast ports 252a of the first blast unit 250a are provided at an outer surface of the first blast unit 250a, and the plurality of blast ports of the second blast unit 260a are provided at an outer surface of the second blast unit 260a.

Also, the manifolds 140a and 240a may include first connection units 171a and 271a connected to the first actuators 130a and 230a, and second connection units 172a and 272a connected to the second actuators 130b and 230b, respectively. The pulse-type air currents generated at the first actuators 130a and 230a and the second actuators 130b and 230b may flow in the manifolds 140a and 240a to be blasted through the first connection units 171a and 271a and the second connection units 172a and 272a.

FIG. 20 is a view showing the control flow of the air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

The first actuator 130a and the second actuator 130b as described above may be driven at different phases by the control unit 3. Accurately, a first diaphragm 132a arranged inside the first actuator 130a and a second diaphragm 132b arranged inside the second actuator 130b may vibrate at different phases.

Pulse-type air currents formed at the first diaphragm 132a and the second diaphragm 132b may be blasted through blast ports. That is, the pulse-type air current formed at the first diaphragm 132a and the pulse-type air current formed at the second diaphragm 132b may be blasted through the same blast port.

The pulse-type air currents formed at the first diaphragm 132a and second diaphragm 132b may be combined so that the air discharged from the air conditioner is emitted in a non-pulse type. In this case, the first diaphragm 132a and the second diaphragm 132b may be driven to have a phase difference of 90° or 270° in order to form the discharged air in a non-pulse type.

Also, the first actuator 130a and the second actuator 130b may be driven at the same phase by the control unit 3. In this case, the first diaphragm 132a and the second diaphragm 132b may vibrate at the same phase to form a pulse-type air current. As a result, the relatively strong pulse-type air current is discharged from the air conditioner.

When the control flow of the air conditioner is described with reference to FIG. 20, a user may select a desired mode using an input unit 1. Also, a proper mode may be automatically input to the control unit 3, based on information obtained through a sensor (not shown), and the like.

The control unit 3 drives the first actuator 130a and the second actuator 130b to execute the input mode. The first diaphragm 132a and the second diaphragm 132b may vibrate, depending on the instructions of the control unit 3.

For example, when a user wants to be exposed directly to cold air, the control unit 3 sends a signal so that the first diaphragm 132a and the second diaphragm 132b vibrate at the same phase. Accordingly, the discharged air may be relatively strongly emitted from the air conditioner to provide convenience to the user.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the air conditioner can reduce noise since a conventional blower fan and a drive motor are excluded. Also, the air conditioner can achieve thinning, miniaturization, design improvement and a reduction in material cost.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

By way of example, although the drawings and description are omitted, the technical ideas of the present disclosure are applicable to cooling-only air conditioners and heat pump-type air conditioners having cooling and heating functions as well.

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising:

a main body having an inlet port and an outlet port;

heat exchangers;

a pulse-type air current generation unit configured to generate a pulse-type air current; and

a manifold connected to the pulse-type air current generation unit to blast multiple pulse-type air currents over a predetermined area due to a change in pressure caused by the pulse-type air current generated at the pulse-type air current generation unit.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the pulse-type air current generation unit comprises:

a diaphragm that vibrates;

a cavity whose volume is altered according to the vibration of the diaphragm; and

an actuator having an orifice formed at one side of the cavity.

3. The air conditioner of claim 2, wherein the manifold comprises an inner path which is connected to the orifice and in which a vibration pressure is generated according to a change in the volume of the cavity.

4. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the manifold comprises a plurality of blast ports configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents caused by the vibration pressure in the inner path.

5. The air conditioner of claim 4, wherein the plurality of blast ports are arranged spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the inner path.

6. The air conditioner of claim 4, further comprising a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member configured to guide the air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports.

7. The air conditioner of claim 6, wherein the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member comprises a curved surface having an airfoil shape.

8. The air conditioner of claim 6, wherein the manifold comprises the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member.

9. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the manifold has a loop shape.

10. The air conditioner of claim 9, wherein the manifold comprises a first blast unit and a second blast unit, and

each of the first blast unit and the second blast unit comprises the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member.

11. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the first blast unit are provided at an inner surface of the first blast unit, and

the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the second blast unit are provided at an inner surface of the second blast unit.

12. The air conditioner of claim 11, wherein the heat exchangers are disposed between the first blast unit and the second blast unit.

13. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the first blast unit are provided at an outer surface of the first blast unit, and

the plurality of blast ports and the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member of the second blast unit are provided at an outer surface of the second blast unit.

14. The air conditioner of claim 13, wherein the heat exchangers are disposed outside the first blast unit and the second blast unit.

15. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is a wall-mounted air conditioner in which the inlet port is provided at an upper portion of the main body, and the outlet port is provided at a lower portion of the main body.

16. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is a ceiling-type air conditioner in which the inlet port and the outlet port are provided at the lower portion of the main body.

17. The air conditioner of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a first actuator and a second actuator, both of which are connected to the manifold.

18. The air conditioner of claim 17, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator comprise a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, respectively, both of which vibrate out of phase with each other.

19. The air conditioner of claim 18, wherein the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm vibrate with a phase difference of 90° or 270°.

20. The air conditioner of claim 17, further comprising a control unit configured to control the first actuator and the second actuator independently.

21. An air conditioner comprising:

a main body having an inlet port and an outlet port;

heat exchangers;

a large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit comprising an actuator configured to generate a pulse-type air current and a manifold connected to the actuator and having a plurality of blast ports; and

a long-distance air current transfer unit configured to guide multiple pulse-type air currents generated at the large-area multiple pulse-type air current generation unit to a long distance,

wherein the air outside the main body is aspirated through the inlet port by the air currents formed through the large-area pulse-type air current generation unit and the long-distance air current transfer unit, heat-exchanged through the heat exchanger, and discharged through the outlet port.

22. The air conditioner of claim 21, wherein the actuator comprises a diaphragm that vibrates.

23. The air conditioner of claim 21, wherein the long-distance air current transfer unit comprises a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member.

24. An air conditioner comprising:

a main body having an inlet port and an outlet port;

heat exchangers;

an actuator comprising a diaphragm that vibrates, a cavity whose volume is altered according to the vibration of the diaphragm, and an actuator having an orifice formed at one side of the cavity; and

a manifold comprising an inner path which is connected to the orifice and in which a vibration pressure is generated according to a change in the volume of the cavity, a plurality of blast ports configured to blast the multiple pulse-type air currents by a vibration pressure of the inner path, and a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface member provided adjacent to the plurality of blast ports to guide the multiple pulse-type air currents blasted through the plurality of blast ports.

25. An air conditioner comprising:

a main body;

a heat exchanger installed at the main body;

first and second actuators configured to generate air currents in order to carry out heat exchange at the heat exchanger; and

a manifold connected to the first actuator and the second actuator.

26. An air conditioner comprising:

a main body;

a heat exchanger installed in the main body; and

at least one air current generator to generate an air current across the heat exchanger,

wherein the air current generator is a vibrating diaphragm, and a fan is omitted from the air conditioner.