TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more
particularly relates to an air conditioner.
BACKGROUND
[0002] With the development of the air conditioning industry, consumers' demand for size
and appearance of an air conditioner is increasing. However, the size of the air conditioner
may affect the performance of the air conditioner. Currently, on the condition that
the size of the air conditioner is determined, a size of an air inlet of the air conditioner
cannot be too small in order to ensure the amount of intake air. Meanwhile, a filter
screen needs to be additionally provided to prevent abnormalities, such as dust, from
entering the air inlet. However, the addition of the filter screen greatly affects
the amount of the intake air, so that the size of the air inlet has to be increased,
which may unfavorably affect the appearance of the air conditioner as well.
[0003] No matter a wall mounted air conditioner, a floor standing air conditioner, or a
corner hung air conditioner in conventional art, the size of the air inlet thereof
cannot be adjusted. Therefore, there is a need to provide an air conditioner with
a variable air intake area. The area of the air inlet can be increased when the requirement
for the intake air amount is relatively large, and area of the air inlet can be reduced
when the air conditioner is not being used, or when the requirement for the intake
air amount is relatively small, without affecting the appearance of the air conditioner.
SUMMARY
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner to solve the
problem that the air intake area of the existing air conditioner cannot be adjusted.
[0005] In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a technical solution
as follows. An air conditioner includes an air conditioner body, air intake plates,
and a filter screen. The air conditioner body is provided with an air inlet and an
air outlet. The air intake plates cover the air inlet and each has an air intake grid.
The air intake plates are hingedly connected to the air conditioner body and are capable
of being switched between an expanded state and a closed state. The filter screen
is disposed between the air intake plates and the air inlet, and the filter screen
is configured to filter air entering the air conditioner body from the air intake
grid.
[0006] According to the air conditioner provided by the present invention, the air intake
plates are designed to be a structure capable of expanding and closing. When the air
intake plates are in the expanded state, air is taken in through the entire air inlet
instead of from the air intake grid, thereby increasing the air intake area. When
the air intake plates are in the closed state, the air intake area is reduced, but
the amount of the intake air reaches a certain extent, without affecting the appearance
of the air conditioner.
[0007] In addition, the air conditioner according to the above-mentioned embodiment of the
present invention can include additional technical features as follows.
[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the number of the air intake plates are
two. The two air intake plates are respectively mounted on two sides of the air conditioner
body. The two air intake plates are respectively a first air intake plate and a second
air intake plate. One side of the first air intake plate is hingedly connected to
the air conditioner body via a first rotating mechanism.
[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, another side of the first air intake plate
is detachably connected to the air conditioner body via a connecting mechanism.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting mechanism is a snap-fit
structure.
[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first rotating mechanism includes
a gear and a toothed fixing member meshed with each other. The toothed fixing member
has a plurality of teeth evenly spaced and distributed along a circular arc. The gear
is mounted on the air conditioner body. The toothed fixing member is disposed on an
inner side of the first air intake plate.
[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, two toothed fixing members are respectively
disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the inner side of the first air intake
plate. The air conditioner body is provided with two gears mating with the two toothed
fixing members.
[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, a central angle corresponding to the circular
arc is 90 degrees.
[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, one side of the second air intake plate
is hingedly connected to the air conditioner body via a second rotating mechanism.
[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second rotating mechanism is a hinge.
[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, another side of the second air intake
plate is connected to the air conditioner body via a push-pull mechanism configured
to make the other side of the second air intake plate distant from and adjacent to
the air conditioner body.
[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the push-pull mechanism includes a linear
reciprocal moving mechanism, the linear reciprocal moving mechanism includes a fixing
portion and a linear moving portion connected with each other. The fixing portion
is mounted on the air conditioner body. The linear moving portion is connected to
the second air intake plate.
[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the push-pull mechanism includes a gear
and a rack. The gear is mounted on the air conditioner body. The rack is respectively
connected to the gear and the second air intake plate.
[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first air intake plate and the second
air intake plate are respectively located at the two sides of the air conditioner
body, and the two sides are adjacent to each other. The first air intake plate and
the second air intake plate rotate in opposite directions during expanding.
[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter screen is a flexible filter
screen.
[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter screen includes a first filter
screen body, a second filter screen body, and a third filter screen body. The first
filter screen body is connected to the air conditioner body and the first air intake
plate. The second filter screen body is connected to the first air intake plate and
the second air intake plate. The third filter screen body is connected to the air
conditioner body and the second air intake plate. When the first air intake plate
and the second air intake plate are in the expanded state, the first filter screen
body, the second filter screen body, the third filter screen body, the first air intake
plate, and the second air intake plate jointly form a screen cover covering the air
inlet.
[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the first filter screen body includes
a first portion and a second portion. Two opposite sides of the first portion are
respectively connected to the air conditioner body and an upper end of the first air
intake plate. Two opposite sides of the second portion are respectively connected
to the air conditioner body and a lower end of the first air intake plate.
[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the second filter screen body includes
a third portion and a fourth portion. Two opposite sides of the third portion are
respectively connected to the air conditioner body and an upper end of the second
air intake plate. Two opposite sides of the fourth portion are respectively connected
to the air conditioner body and a lower end of the second air intake plate.
[0024] Some advantages of the above additional aspects are set forth in the following description,
and others thereof are apparent from the following description or can be understood
by implementing the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025]
FIG 1 is a schematic structural view of a first air intake plate of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 2 is a schematic structural view of a second air intake plate of the air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 3 is a top view of the air intake plates of the air conditioner in a closed state
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 4 is a side view of the air intake plates of the air conditioner in the closed
state according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 5 is a top view of the air intake plates of the air conditioner in an expanded
state according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 6 is a side view of the air intake plates of the air conditioner in the expanded
state according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 7 is a perspective view of the air intake plates of the air conditioner in the
expanded state according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 8 is a schematic view showing a mounting position of the air intake plates of
the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] In the drawings, reference numbers representing respective components are listed
as follows:
1. air conditioner body; 2. first air intake plate; 3. second air intake plate; 4.
toothed fixing member; 5. push-pull mechanism; 6. mating portion; 7. first filter
screen body; 8. second filter screen body; 9. air intake grid; 10. room.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The principles and features of the present invention are described below in combination
with the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative examples are merely used for
explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
invention.
[0028] As shown in FIGs. 1 to 8, embodiments of an air conditioner are provided. The air
conditioner includes an air conditioner body 1, air intake plates, and a filter screen.
The air conditioner body 1 is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet (not shown).
Specifically, the air inlet and the air outlet are disposed on a housing of the air
conditioner body 1. The air intake plate covers the air inlet. The air intake plate
has an air intake grid 9 through which an external air flow enters the air conditioner
body 1. The air intake grid 9 is also provided with a filter screen. The air intake
plates are hingedly connected to the air conditioner body 1, so that the air intake
plates are capable of being switched between an expanded state and a closed state.
The filter screen is disposed between the air intake plates and the air inlet, and
the filter screen is configured to filter air entering the air conditioner body 1
from the air intake grids 9.
[0029] In this configuration, the air intake plates are designed to be a structure capable
of expanding and closing. When the air intake plates are in the expanded state, air
is taken in through the entire air inlet instead of only from the air intake grids
9, increasing the air intake area. When the air intake plates are in the closed state,
the air intake area is reduced, but the amount of the intake air reaches a certain
extent, without affecting the appearance of the air conditioner.
[0030] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the number of the air intake plates is two.
The two air intake plates are respectively mounted on two sides of the air conditioner
body 1. The two air intake plates are respectively a first air intake plate 2 and
a second air intake plate 3, as shown in the drawings. One side of the first air intake
plate 2 is hingedly connected to the air conditioner body 1 via a first rotating mechanism.
Another side of the first air intake plate 2 is detachably connected to the air conditioner
body 1 via a connecting mechanism. In this way, the first air intake plate 2 is capable
of being expanded and closed through the first rotating mechanism, and a connection
relationship between the first air intake plate 2 and the air conditioner body 1 can
be ensured in the closed state, thereby improving the connection stability therebetween.
[0031] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the connecting mechanism is a snap-fit structure
(not shown). The snap-fit structure includes a snap-fit clip and a snap-fit slot capable
of mating with each other. The first air intake plate 2 is provided with one of the
snap-fit clip and the snap-fit slot, and the air conditioner body 1 is provided with
another of the snap-fit clip and the snap-fit slot. This configuration facilitates
the connection and the disconnection between the air conditioner body 1 and the first
air intake plate 2 and reduces the cost.
[0032] Specifically, as shown in FIG 1, in the present embodiment, the first rotating mechanism
includes a gear (not shown) and a toothed fixing member 4 meshed with each other.
The toothed fixing member has a plurality of teeth evenly spaced and distributed along
a circular arc. The gear is mounted on the air conditioner body 1. The toothed fixing
member 4 is disposed on an inner side of the first air intake plate 2.
[0033] Preferably, in the present embodiment, two toothed fixing members 4 are respectively
disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the inner side of the first air intake
plate 2. The air conditioner body 1 is provided with two gears mating with the two
toothed fixing members 4. By disposing the toothed fixing members 4 at both the upper
end and the lower end of the first air intake plate 2, the connection between the
first air intake plate 2 and the air conditioner body 1 is more stable, and the rotation
therebetween is more stable. In addition, a central angle corresponding to the above-mentioned
circular arc is preferably 90 degrees; that is, the circular arc corresponds to the
quarter-circular plate as shown in FIG 1. The plurality of teeth are evenly spaced
and distributed on the circular arc surface of the quarter-circular plate. By designing
the central angle corresponding to the circular arc to be 90 degrees, the requirements
of the first air intake plate 2 for a rotation radius and a rotation angle are satisfied,
and the material consumption of the circular plate is saved.
[0034] Specifically, in the present embodiment, one side of the second air intake plate
3 is hingedly connected to the air conditioner body 1 via a second rotating mechanism
(not shown). The second rotating mechanism can be a hinge. The hinges in various types
can be used so long as the second air intake plate 3 can be rotated with respect to
the air conditioner body 1. Since the structure of the hinge is well known in the
related art, the specific structure thereof is not described in the present embodiment.
[0035] Specifically, in the present embodiment, another side of the second air intake plate
3 is connected to the air conditioner body 1 via a push-pull mechanism 5. The push-pull
mechanism 5 is configured to make the other side of the second air intake plate 3
distant from and adjacent to the air conditioner body 1.
[0036] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the push-pull mechanism 5 includes a linear
reciprocal moving mechanism. The linear reciprocal moving mechanism includes a fixing
portion and a linear moving portion connected with each other. The fixing portion
is mounted on the air conditioner body 1. The linear moving portion is connected to
the second air intake plate 3.
[0037] The linear reciprocal moving mechanism in various types and structures, such as an
air cylinder, an electric cylinder, a ball bearing screw, and the like, can be used.
In the present embodiment, the push-pull mechanism 5 is preferably a gear and a rack
with simple structures. The gear is mounted on the air conditioner body 1, and the
rack is respectively connected to the gear and the second air intake plate 3. As shown
in FIG 2, in the present embodiment, a mating portion 6 is disposed on the second
air intake plate 3 and mated with the rack. The rack is detachably connected to the
mating portion 6.
[0038] In addition, it should be noted that the gear of the first rotating mechanism and
the gear of the linear reciprocal moving mechanism are different gears, and both can
be driven to rotate by a driving mechanism (not shown). The driving mechanism is controlled
by a control device. When the air intake area needs to be increased, the driving mechanism
can be actuated by the control device to drive the gears or one of the gears to rotate,
thereby realizing the rotations of the first air intake plate 2 and the second air
intake plate 3. The driving mechanism and the control device can be omitted, and thus
the above-mentioned first air intake plate 2 and the second air intake plate 3 can
be expanded manually; and in this case, both gears are driven gears.
[0039] In addition, in the present embodiment, the structure of the filter screen is improved
on the basis of the above-mentioned structure. A conventional filter screen is fixedly
disposed between an air intake plate and an air inlet. Air enters the air conditioner
through meshes of the conventional filter screen, so that the air entered the air
conditioner from the air intake grid 9 is filtered. The diameters and the number of
the meshes of the conventional filter screen are constant; thus, the air intake area
is constant. However, in the present embodiment, the filter screen is designed to
be variable, and the air intake area of the filter screen can be maximized by unfolding
the folded filter screen.
[0040] Specifically and firstly, as shown in FIG 7, in the present embodiment, the first
air intake plate 2 and the second air intake plate 3 are respectively located at two
adjacent sides of the air conditioner body 1. The first air intake plate 2 and the
second air intake plate 3 rotate in opposite directions during the expending. In other
words, a distance between a position at which the first air intake plate 2 is hinged
to the air conditioner body 1 and a position at which the second air intake plate
3 is hinged to the air conditioner body 1 is the farthest.
[0041] In the present embodiment, on the basis of the above-mentioned positional relationship
between the first air intake plate 2 and the second air intake plate 3, the filter
screen is designed to be a flexible filter screen, which is a filter screen with a
variable and foldable structure. The filter screen includes three parts: a first filter
screen body 7 connected to the air conditioner body 1 and the first air intake plate
2, a second filter screen body 8 connected to the first air intake plate 2 and the
second air intake plate 3, and a third filter screen body (not shown) connected to
the air conditioner body 1 and the second air intake plate 3. When the first air intake
plate 2 and the second air intake plate 3 are in the expanded state, the first filter
screen body 7, the second filter screen body 8, the third filter screen body, the
first air intake plate 2, and the second air intake plate 3 jointly form a screen
cover covering the air inlet, thereby maximizing the air intake area.
[0042] Specifically, the first filter screen body 7 includes a first portion located at
an upper position and a second portion located at a lower position. Two opposite sides
of the first portion are respectively connected to the air conditioner body 1 and
an upper end of the first air intake plate 2. Two opposite sides of the second portion
are respectively connected to the air conditioner body 1 and a lower end of the first
air intake plate 2.
[0043] Similarly, the second filter screen body 8 includes a third portion located at an
upper position and a fourth portion located at a lower position. Two opposite sides
of the third portion are respectively connected to the air conditioner body 1 and
an upper end of the second air intake plate 3. Two opposite sides of the fourth portion
are respectively connected to the air conditioner body 1 and a lower end of the second
air intake plate 3.
[0044] As shown in FIGs. 5 to 7, with this configuration, the filter screen is unfolded
when the first air intake plate 2 and the second air intake plate 3 are expanded,
such that the filter screen is completely in an unfolded state, thereby increasing
the air intake area. As shown in FIGs. 3 to 4, when the requirement for the air intake
area is lower, the first air intake plate 2 and the second air intake plate 3 can
be closed to have the filter screen in the folded state without affecting the air
intake effect.
[0045] As shown in FIG 8, two air conditioners of the present embodiment are respectively
mounted at two opposite corners of a room 10. There is a distance between the air
inlet, at the side perpendicular to the wall-mounting surface, and a wall. When the
air conditioner is turned on, both the first air intake plate 2 and the second air
intake plate 3 are opened to a preset angle, and the flexible filter screen is in
the unfold state. There are three air intake places: the first place is the air intake
grid 9 of the first air intake plate 2, the second place is the air intake grid 9
of the second air intake plate 3, and the third place is the flexible filter screen,
so that the air intake area can be increased and the amount of intake air can be increased.
Meanwhile, it can be seen from the drawing that, when the air conditioner is hung
at the corner, all of the air intake places are at relatively concealed locations,
and the air inlet is barely visible from a common living place of a user, thereby
improving the overall aesthetics of the air conditioner.
[0046] In describing the present invention, it should be understood that a directional relationship
or a positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside"
or the like is merely on the basis of the directional relationship or the positional
relationship shown in the drawings, intended to facilitate describing the present
invention and simplify the description, instead of indicating or implying that the
device in question has to involve a specific direction, to be constructed and operated
in the specific direction, and should not be understood as a limitation of the present
invention.
[0047] In addition, the terms "first", "second" or the like are used only for the purpose
of description and should not be understood as indicating or implying a relative importance
or implicitly indicating the number of technical features in question. Therefore,
a feature which is defined by the term "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly
include one or more of the features. In describing the present invention, the term
"a plurality of' means two or more, unless otherwise specifically stated.
[0048] In the present invention, the terms "mount", "connect", "engage" and the like should
be interpreted broadly, unless otherwise specified and limited. For example, the "connect"
can be "fixedly connect" "detachable connect", "integrate with" or the like. For a
person skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood
in the present invention based on the specific situations.
[0049] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described
above, it should be understood that the various embodiments are exemplary and should
not be understood as a limitation of the present invention. The person skilled in
the art can change, modify, replace, or convert the various embodiments within the
scope of the present invention.
1. An air conditioner,
characterized by comprising:
an air conditioner body (1) provided with an air inlet and an air outlet;
air intake plates covering the air inlet and each having an air intake grid (9), the
air intake plates being hingedly connected to the air conditioner body (1) and being
capable of being switched between an expanded state and a closed state; and
a filter screen disposed between the air intake plates and the air inlet, and the
filter screen being configured to filter air entering the air conditioner body (1)
from the air intake grid (9).
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of the air intake plates are two; the two air intake plates are respectively
mounted on two sides of the air conditioner body (1), and the two air intake plates
are respectively a first air intake plate (2) and a second air intake plate (3); one
side of the first air intake plate (2) is hingedly connected to the air conditioner
body (1) via a first rotating mechanism.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that another side of the first air intake plate (2) is detachably connected to the air
conditioner body (1) via a connecting mechanism.
4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting mechanism is a snap-fit structure.
5. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that the first rotating mechanism comprises a gear and a toothed fixing member (4) meshed
with each other; the toothed fixing member (4) has a plurality of teeth evenly spaced
and distributed along a circular arc; the gear is mounted on the air conditioner body
(1), and the toothed fixing member is disposed on an inner side of the first air intake
plate (2).
6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that two of the toothed fixing members (4) are respectively disposed at an upper end and
a lower end of the inner side of the first air intake plate (2); the air conditioner
body (1) is provided with two of the gears mating with the two toothed fixing members
(4).
7. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that a central angle corresponding to the circular arc is 90 degrees.
8. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that one side of the second air intake plate (3) is hingedly connected to the air conditioner
body (1) via a second rotating mechanism.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that the second rotating mechanism is a hinge.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that another side of the second air intake plate (3) is connected to the air conditioner
body (1) via a push-pull mechanism (5) configured to make the other side of the second
air intake plate (3) distant from and adjacent to the air conditioner body (1).
11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, characterized in that the push-pull mechanism (5) comprises a linear reciprocal moving mechanism, and the
linear reciprocal moving mechanism comprises a fixing portion and a linear moving
portion connected with each other; the fixing portion is mounted on the air conditioner
body (1), and the linear moving portion is connected to the second air intake plate
(3).
12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, characterized in that the push-pull mechanism comprises a gear and a rack, the gear is mounted on the air
conditioner body (1), and the rack is respectively connected to the gear and the second
air intake plate (3).
13. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the first air intake plate (2) and the second air intake plate (3) are respectively
located at the two sides of the air conditioner body (1), and the two sides are adjacent
to each other; the first air intake plate (2) and the second air intake plate (3)
rotate in opposite directions during expanding.
14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, characterized in that the filter screen is a flexible filter screen.
15. The air conditioner according to claim 14,
characterized in that the filter screen comprises:
a first filter screen body (7) connected to the air conditioner body (1) and the first
air intake plate (2);
a second filter screen body (8) connected to the first air intake plate (2) and the
second air intake plate (3); and
a third filter screen body connected to the air conditioner body (1) and the second
air intake plate (3);
when the first air intake plate (2) and the second air intake plate (3) are in the
expanded state, the first filter screen body (7), the second filter screen body (8),
the third filter screen body, the first air intake plate (2), and the second air intake
plate (3) jointly form a screen cover covering the air inlet.
16. The air conditioner according to claim 15, characterized in that the first filter screen body (7) comprises a first portion and a second portion;
two opposite sides of the first portion are respectively connected to the air conditioner
body (1) and an upper end of the first air intake plate (2); and two opposite sides
of the second portion are respectively connected to the air conditioner body (1) and
a lower end of the first air intake plate (2).
17. The air conditioner according to claim 15, characterized in that the second filter screen body (8) comprises a third portion and a fourth portion;
two opposite sides of the third portion are respectively connected to the air conditioner
body (1) and an upper end of the second air intake plate (3); and two opposite sides
of the fourth portion are respectively connected to the air conditioner body (1) and
a lower end of the second air intake plate (3).