Dehumdifier

Abstract

 The present invention provides a dehumidifier, including a main body (1) in which air intake units (34) and an air discharge unit are formed, a front panel (10) configured to include a filter for purifying indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units, and detachably coupled to the main body through locking projections (12) formed in the front panel, a desiccant rotor (45) for dehumidifying the indoor air passing through the filter, and detachable members (20) provided in the main body (1) and configured to bind the locking projections (12) when the front panel (10) is coupled to the main body (1). Accordingly, the front panel (10) can be conveniently coupled to the main body (1) in one operation. Further, in the case where a user detaches the front panel (10) from the main body (1) in order to replace the filter, the user can conveniently detach the front panel from the main body by applying external force to the detachable members (20).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a dehumidifier and, more particularly, to a dehumidifier including a detachable member, enabling a user to conveniently detach a front panel from a main body.

Background of the Invention

[0002] In general, dehumidifiers can be classified according to their operation method as dehumidifiers using a cooling cycle and dehumidifiers using a desiccant rotor.

[0003] Dehumidifiers using a cooling cycle are problematic in that a compressor must be provided, and the compressor generates noise and occupies space. Accordingly, dehumidifiers using a desiccant rotor are more common nowadays.

[0004] The desiccant rotor has the property of absorbing moisture in the air and dehumidifies while passing indoor air. The desiccant which has absorbed the moisture is reconditioned using hot air.

[0005] The air that has been used to recondition the desiccant rotor has high temperature and high humidity and is discharged to the outside. Here a problem arises because the dehumidifier must be placed outside a building or, if placed indoors, an additional exhaust duct must be provided.
In the case where the hot, moist air that has reconditioned the desiccant is circulated within the dehumidifier, there is no need to provide the additional exhaust duct. There is another advantage in that the dehumidifier may be placed at a position desired by a user.

[0006] In order to circulate the hot, moist air, the moisture needs to be removed. Accordingly, a condensing heat exchanger for removing the moisture from the hot, moist air is generally provided in a space between an indoor air intake port and the desiccant rotor. That is, the humidity is lowered based on the principle that moisture within the hot, moist air is condensed through heat exchange between the hot, moist air and normal-temperature air.

[0007] A filter for filtering foreign substances, etc. from the air is generally placed in the air intake duct for sucking the air into the dehumidifier. A user periodically detaches the filter from the main body and cleans out the foreign substances, etc.

[0008] In order to replace the filter within the main body, a part of the main body must be detached, and the filter is detached from the main body by detaching, in general, the front panel.

[0009] However, in the case where the front panel is detached from the main body, a fastening member for fastening the front panel and the main body must be detached, and an additional tool for detaching the fastening member is required. Consequently, it is complicated and time-consuming for a user to detach the front panel from the main body to periodically replace the filter.

Summary of the Invention

[0010] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a dehumidifier which enables a user to conveniently detach a front panel from a main body.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifier in which the front panel and the main body can be conveniently coupled to each other without using an additional fastening member.

[0012] To achieve the above objects, a dehumidifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a main body in which air intake units and an air discharge unit are formed, a front panel configured to include a filter for purifying indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units, and detachably coupled to the main body through locking projections formed in the front panel, a desiccant rotor for dehumidifying the indoor air passing through the filter, and detachable members provided in the main body and configured to couple to, or bind, the locking projections when the front panel is coupled to the main body.

[0013] Each of the detachable members may include a button unit through which external force is transferred, an elastic unit deformed by the external force and configured to provide elastic force opposite to the direction of deformation, and a locking unit detachably coupled to each of the locking projections of the front panel by the elastic force.

[0014] Further, the locking unit may be coupled to each of the locking projections by the elastic force and released from each of the locking projections by deformation of the elastic unit due to the external force. The locking unit may be placed between the button unit and the elastic unit. A part of the button unit may be exposed outside of the main body.

[0015] The air intake units may be formed on respective side faces of the main body, and the front panel comprises a filter duct for introducing the indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units into the filter placed in the front panel. Further, the front panel comprises a filter placement unit to which the filter is coupled, and the filter is detachably, slidingly coupled to the filter placement unit.

[0016] The dehumidifier having the above structure according to the present invention has the following advantages.
First, a user can detach the front panel from the main body by simply applying external force to the detachable members. Accordingly, a user can conveniently detach a filter placed in the front panel from the main body.

[0017] Second, the front panel can be coupled to the main body in one operation without using an additional fastening member. Accordingly, a user can conveniently replace the filter by detaching the front panel from the main body and coupling it to the main body again.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of some exemplary embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing major elements of the dehumidifier shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when a front panel is detached from a main body;

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the front panel according to the present exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when detachable members and fixing projections are detached from the main body;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of a portion in which the detachable member and the fixing projections are coupled to each other in the present exemplary embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the portion shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an exploded plan view of the portion shown in Fig. 7.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

[0019] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that they can be readily implemented by those skilled in the art. In describing the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same parts, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0020] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dehumidifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing major elements of the dehumidifier shown in Fig. 1.

[0021] The overall structure of the dehumidifier according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

[0022] The dehumidifier according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured to suck in indoor air, absorb moisture from the indoor air, and discharge the dehumidified indoor air. To this end, a main body 1 includes air intake units 34 for sucking in air and an air discharge unit for dehumidifying and discharging the sucked-in indoor air. In the present exemplary embodiment, the air intake units 34 are placed on the left and right sides of the main body 1 and over the air discharge unit.

[0023] A front panel 10, the front surface of a bucket 2, right and left panels 30 and 35, an upper panel 3, a base 8, an upper rear panel 7, and a lower rear panel 6 constitute the external appearance of the main body 1.

[0024] The rear panels 6 and 7 form the rear portion of the main body 1. The rear panels 6 and 7 include the upper rear panel 7 and the lower rear panel 6. The lower rear panel 6 is detachably coupled to the main body 1. A power cord fixing unit (not shown) for fixing a power cord supplying electric power to the main body 1 may be placed within the lower rear panel 6.

[0025] The base 8 forms the bottom of the main body 1. A wheel assembly is placed within the base 8. The wheel assembly includes a wheel for helping the movement of the dehumidifier and a wheel support to which the wheel is rotatably coupled. The top surface of the base 8 is open, and a drain fan 5 is placed on the top surface of the base 8. The bucket 2 is slidingly and detachably coupled to the base 8.

[0026] The drain fan 5 forms the top surface of the base 8. A condensing heat exchanger 100, a rotor frame 47, a ventilator 9, and so on are placed over the drain fan 5. One or more holes through which condensed water discharged from the condensing heat exchanger 100 is discharged to the bucket 2 under the drain fan 5 are formed in the drain fan 5.

[0027] The bucket 2 forms a space for collecting the condensed water introduced via the drain fan 5. In the case where the bucket 2 is slidingly coupled to the base 8 and condensed water is collected in the bucket 2, a user detaches the bucket 2 from the base 8 and empties it outside. The right and left panels 30 and 35, the front panel 10, and the upper panel 3 are described later.

[0028] Meanwhile, a ventilator 9, a dehumidification rotor 45, a reconditioning fan 50, a reconditioning air heating member 60, and the condensing heat exchanger 100 are placed within the main body 1.

[0029] The ventilator 9 is a kind of a dehumidification fan for sucking indoor air through the air intake units and discharging the indoor air to the air discharge unit via the main body 1. The rear surface of the ventilator 9 is opened so that the ventilator 9 together with the upper rear panel 7 forms a ventilation duct. An air intake hole is formed in the front surface of the ventilator 9. An open outlet unit is formed on the top surface of the ventilator 9. A fan motor and a fan coupled to the rotation shaft of the fan motor are included within the ventilator 9. An outlet grill may be placed in the outlet unit.

[0030] The dehumidification rotor 45 functions to adsorb moisture in the indoor air sucked in by the ventilator 9 and to recycle the absorbed moisture at low temperature. The dehumidification rotor 45 is placed between the ventilator 9 and the condensing heat exchanger 100.

[0031] The dehumidification rotor 45 includes a desiccant 44 and a desiccant wheel 43 to which the desiccant 44 is fixed. The desiccant 44 adsorbs moisture within the indoor air while the indoor air passes through the dehumidification rotor 45 and recycles the absorbed moisture. The desiccant wheel 43 surrounds the circumference of the desiccant 44.

[0032] The desiccant 44 is generally configured to have a circular plate and is surrounded by the desiccant wheel 43. A fixing hole for fixing the desiccant 44 to the center of the dehumidification rotor 45 is formed in the desiccant 44.

[0033] The desiccant 44 may have a variety of shapes and materials. The desiccant 44 according to the present exemplary embodiment may have a shape in which paperboard and corrugated paper, made of ceramics fiber, are alternately wound up in a cylindrical shape. The desiccant 44 may also be made of meso-silica (SiO₂), such as nano-carbon balls (NCBs). NCBs have excellent hygroscopic properties owing to well-developed pores and surface area, and are capable of being reconditioned at a low temperature of about 60°C or less.

[0034] NCBs have a spherical carbon structure 200nm to 500nm in diameter that includes a spherical hollow core unit and a mesoporous carbon cell unit. NCBs include fine pores each having a diameter of 2nm to 50nm. The pores of typical activated carbon have a wide surface area (BET), a wide mesoporous area, and do not clog.

[0035] The desiccant 44 is partitioned into an area into which moisture within indoor air is absorbed while the indoor air passes through the desiccant 44 (hereinafter referred to as a 'dehumidification area'), and an area from which moisture evaporates into reconditioning air while the reconditioning air passes through the desiccant 44 (hereinafter referred to as a 'reconditioning area'). The respective areas alternate by rotation of the desiccant 44 so that moisture is absorbed and evaporated.

[0036] The reconditioning area generally has a fan shape. The reconditioning area is placed to face a reconditioning air heating member 60 to be described later.

[0037] The desiccant wheel 43 includes an edge unit configured to have a ring shape and to surround the circumference of the desiccant 44, a fixing unit configured to fix the desiccant 44, and a connection unit configured to connect the edge unit and the fixing unit and radially formed between the edge unit and the fixing unit.

[0038] A rotor supporter 41 for rotatably supporting the dehumidification rotor and a rotor frame 47 on which the rotor supporter 41 is mounted are placed within the main body 1.

[0039] A reconditioning air distribution member 90 is coupled to the front surface of the rotor supporter 41. The rear surface of the reconditioning air distribution member 90 is open, and reconditioning air passing through the rotor supporter 41 is introduced into the reconditioning air distribution member 90.

[0040] The rotor frame 47 functions as a kind of a barrier for partitioning the inside of the main body 1 into a rear space in which the ventilator 9 is placed and a front space in which the condensing heat exchanger 100 is placed. The front surface of the rotor frame 47 has an aperture formed therein, through which the indoor air and the reconditioning air passing through the desiccant 44 pass. An aperture unit through which reconditioning air passing through an exhaust duct 80 to be described later passes is formed in the rotor frame 47.

[0041] A control box placement unit on which a control box 22 for controlling the dehumidifier is mounted is formed over the rotor frame 47.

[0042] The reconditioning fan 50 applies circulation force to induce circulation of reconditioning air within the main body 1. That is, the reconditioning fan 50 functions to suck in air passing through the exhaust duct 80 and discharge it to the reconditioning air heating member 60.

[0043] The reconditioning air heating member 60 heats the reconditioning air discharged from the reconditioning fan 50 and supplies hot reconditioning air to the dehumidification rotor 45. The reconditioning air heating member 60 includes heaters 63, a first heater cover 65 configured to cover the heaters 63 and communicate with the reconditioning fan 50, and a second heater cover 61 placed between the first heater cover 65 and the dehumidification rotor and coupled to the first heater cover 65.

[0044] The second heater cover 61 functions as a kind of air guide for preventing the air heated by the heaters 63 from leaking to the area between the heaters 63 and the dehumidification rotor so that the air moves towards the dehumidification rotor.

[0045] Meanwhile, the reconditioning air which has been heated while passing through the reconditioning air heating member 60 is introduced into the reconditioning air distribution member 90 via the reconditioning area of the desiccant 44.

[0046] The reconditioning air distribution member 90 is placed between the reconditioning area of the desiccant 44 and the condensing heat exchanger 100. Accordingly, the reconditioning air output from the reconditioning area enters the reconditioning air distribution member 90. The reconditioning air is then distributed and introduced into the condensing heat exchanger 100.

[0047] The condensing heat exchanger 100 performs heat exchange between the reconditioning air passing through the reconditioning air distribution member 90 and the indoor air. That is, the condensing heat exchanger 100 condenses the reconditioning air which has absorbed moisture while passing through the reconditioning area of the desiccant 44 using the indoor air, and then discharges the reconditioning air from which moisture has been removed to the reconditioning fan 50 through the exhaust duct 80. Condensed water is discharged to the drain fan 5 through a discharge hole formed under the condensing heat exchanger 100.

[0048] Meanwhile, the condensing heat exchanger 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of heat exchange plates which enable it to maximize the heat exchange area of reconditioning air and indoor air.

[0049] The reconditioning air from which moisture has been removed while passing through the condensing heat exchanger 100 is again sucked into the reconditioning fan 50 through the exhaust duct 80 formed in communication with the condensing heat exchanger 100.

[0050] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when the front panel 10 is detached from the main body 1, and Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the front panel 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment.

[0051] Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the front panel 10 forms an external appearance of the upper front portion of the main body 1. No additional devices are formed at the front surface of the front panel 10 so that a variety of designs can be made on the front surface of the front panel 10 to enhance the appearance of the dehumidifier.

[0052] Fixing projections 11, locking projections 12, a filter placement unit 13, and a filter duct 15 are formed on the rear portion of the front panel 10.

[0053] The fixing projections 11 project toward the rear side of the front panel 10. The number of fixing projections 11 may be one or more, and the position of the fixing projections 11 may vary depending on the shape of the front panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, for example, two fixing projections 11 are formed on an upper portion, which belongs to the rear side of the front panel 10. The fixing projections 11 are coupled to the respective fixing projection grooves 3a of the upper panel 3 and are configured to fix the front panel 10 to the main body 1.

[0054] The locking projections 12 engage respective detachable members 20 to be described later and are coupled thereto, thereby fixing the front panel 10 to the main body 1. The locking projections 12 project toward the rear side of the front panel 10. The number of locking projections 12 may be one or more. In the present exemplary embodiment, two locking projections 12 are illustrated on the lower rear sides of the left and right sides of the front panel 10.

[0055] The two locking projections 12 have the same structure, so only the locking projection 12 formed on the right side of the front panel 10 is described for simplicity. The locking projection 12 on the right side engages the locking unit 23 of the detachable member 20 through a locking projection hole 31 formed in the right panel 30. Accordingly, the locking projection 12 projects a specific length from the rear surface of the front panel 10. A part of the end of the locking projection 12 projects in the left and right directions and is configured to engage and connect to the locking unit 23. An inclined plane 12a (refer to Fig. 8) is formed at a part of the end of the locking projection 12. The inclined plane 12a is inserted into the locking projection hole 31 of the right panel 30 and causes the locking projection 12 and the locking unit 23 to be coupled to each other while sliding together with the inclined plane 23a of the locking unit 23. Accordingly, the locking projection 12 and the locking unit 23 are coupled to each other in one operation. In the same manner, the left-side locking projection 12 is also coupled to the left panel 35.

[0056] The filter placement unit 13 projects from the rear surface of the front panel 10. The filter 14 is slidingly coupled to the filter placement unit 13 or detached from the filter placement unit 13. The filter 14 may be slidingly coupled to or detached from the filter placement unit 13 in the right or left direction of the front panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, the filter 14 is illustrated as being slidingly coupled to or detached from the filter placement unit 13 in upward and downward directions of the front panel 10. Meanwhile, a plurality of filters 14 may be provided, and filter placement units 13 are formed according to the number of filters.

[0057] The filter duct 15 is formed in a space between the filter placement unit 13 and the rear surface of the front panel 10. The filter duct 15 functions to guide air entering through the air intake units 34 formed on both sides of the main body 1 through the filter 14. That is, the air sucked into the air intake unit 34 on the sides of the main body 1 is introduced into the space between the front panel 10 and the filter 14 via the filter duct 15 and then passes through the filter 14.

[0058] The right and left panels 30 and 35 form side faces of the main body and have handles formed thereon so that a user can manually move the dehumidifier. The right and left panels 30 and 35 have the same structure except for their positions, so only the right panel 30 is described below for simplicity.

[0059] A hole is formed at a position where the bucket 2 to be described later is placed, which belongs to the bottom of the right panel 30, so that an additional hose capable of discharging water collected in the bucket 2 to the outside can be coupled to the hole.

[0060] The locking projection hole 31 through which the locking projection 12 of the front panel 10 passes is formed in the front surface of the right panel 30. The locking projection 12 is coupled to or detached from the locking unit 23 of the detachable member 20 while entering or exiting from the locking projection hole 31. A button unit hole 33 through which the button unit 21 of the detachable member 20 passes is formed on the side face of the right panel 30. The button unit 21 is exposed to the outside of the main body 1 through the button unit hole 33 and is configured to move in the right and left directions in the button unit hole 33 by external force applied by a user and the elastic force of an elastic unit 25 to be described later. Further, grooves 38 to which the respective fixing units 27 of the detachable members 20 are fixed are formed within the right panel 30.

[0061] The upper panel 3 forms the top surface of the main body 1. An air discharge unit, and a display unit and a control unit for enabling a user to check the operation state of the dehumidifier and control the dehumidifier, are placed in the upper panel 3. The fixing projection grooves 3a to which the respective fixing projections 11 of the front panel 10 are coupled are formed in the upper panel 3. The fixing projection grooves 3a are formed based on the positions and the number of the fixing projections 11 of the front panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, two fixing projection grooves 3a formed on the front surface of the upper panel 3 are illustrated.

[0062] Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the dehumidifier of the present exemplary embodiment when the detachable members and the fixing projections are detached from the main body, Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of a portion in which the detachable members and the fixing projections of the present exemplary embodiment are coupled to each other, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the portion shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is an exploded plan view of the portion shown in Fig. 7.

[0063] The structure of the detachable members 20 according to the present exemplary embodiment, a process of coupling the fixing projections of the front panel 10, and a process of detaching the front panel 10 from the main body 1 are described below with reference to Figs. 5 to 8.

[0064] The detachable members 20 are provided in the main body 1 and detachably coupled to the respective fixing projections 11 of the front panel 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, the detachable members 20 are respectively provided in the right and left panels 30 and 35. The two detachable members 20 have the same structure and positions, so only the detachable member 20 placed in the right panel 30 is described. Each of the detachable members 20 includes the button unit 21, the locking unit 23, the elastic unit 25, and the fixing unit 27. The above elements may be coupled separately, but, in the present exemplary embodiment, they are formed as one body.

[0065] The button unit 21 is configured to penetrate the button unit hole 33 of the right panel 30 and be placed therein. Accordingly, a part of the button unit 21 is exposed to the outside of the main body 1. If a user applies external force to the button unit 21, the button unit 21 slidingly moves into the button unit hole 33. The external force enables the locking unit 23 to be detached from the locking projection 12 while the locking unit 23 moves into the main body. The elastic unit 25 elastically contracts so that the user can detach the front panel 10 from the main body.

[0066] If the user releases the external force applied to the button unit 21 when the front panel 10 has been detached from the front panel 10, the elastic unit 25 that has contracted elastically returns to its original state before the external force was applied. Accordingly, the button unit 21 and the locking unit 23 also return their positions.

[0067] When the front panel 10 is coupled to the main body 1, the locking unit 23 engages the locking projection 12 and connects thereto. One end of the locking unit 23 is coupled to the button unit 21 and released from the locking projection 12 while moving into the main body due to external force applied by the user. In the same manner as the above-described locking projection 12, the other end of the locking unit 23 projects right and left and is therefore coupled to the locking projection 12 while engaging the locking projection 12. The inclined plane 23a is formed at a part of the end of the locking unit 23. Accordingly, the locking projection 12 slides together with the inclined plane 12a, thereby causing the locking projection 12 and the locking unit 23 to be coupled to each other.

[0068] One end of the locking unit 23 is coupled to the elastic unit 25. The elastic unit 25 functions to release the locking unit 23 from the locking projection 12 while being deformed by external force applied by the user. If the external force is removed, the elastic unit 25 elastically returns to its original shape, thereby moving the locking unit 23 and the button unit 21 to their original positions.

[0069] Meanwhile, the locking unit 23 and the locking projection 12 may be detachably coupled to each other without using the elastic unit 25. However, in the present exemplary embodiment, the elastic unit 25 is used to detachably couple the locking unit 23 and the locking projection 12. Accordingly, there is an advantage in that the locking projection 12 and the locking unit 23 can be detachably coupled to each other in one operation. In the state where the locking projection 12 and the locking unit 23 are coupled to each other, the elastic unit 25 pushes the locking unit 23 in a direction where the locking unit 23 is elastically coupled to the locking projection 12. Accordingly, the locking projection 12 and the locking unit 23 are firmly coupled to each other, so the front panel 10 is also firmly coupled to the right and left panels 30 and 35.

[0070] The fixing unit 27 is formed at the end of the elastic unit 25 and configured to fix the detachable member 20 to the inside of the right panel 30. That is, the fixing unit 27 is fixed to the groove 38 formed in the right panel 30. Consequently, the button unit 21 and the locking unit 23 are moved in the right and left directions by external force applied by the user and the elastic force of the elastic unit 25. The elastic unit 25 elastically contracts and is restored. However, the fixing unit 27 does not move or deform, but functions to fix the detachable member 20.

[0071] The detachment process of the front panel 10 is described below.

[0072] The fixing projections 11 of the front panel 10 are coupled to the respective fixing projection grooves 3a of the upper panel 3, and the locking projections 12 of the front panel 10 are coupled to the respective locking units 23 of the detachable members 20 through the locking projection holes 31 and 36 formed in the right and left panels 30 and 35. In this case, the locking units 23 are closely adhered to the locking projections 12 by the elastic force of the elastic units 25 of the detachable members 20. Accordingly, the front panel 10 and the main body 1 can be firmly coupled to each other. When the user replaces the filter 14, the user applies external force to the button units 21. The external force applied to the button units 21 enables the button units 21 to move, and also enables the locking units 23 coupled to the respective button units 21 to move. Accordingly, the respective locking units 23 are released from the locking projections 12. Accordingly, the respective locking projections 12 can exit from the locking projection holes 31 and 36 of the right and left panels 30 and 35. At this time, the respective fixing projections 11 of the front panel 10 are coupled to the fixing projection grooves 3a.

[0073] When the user detaches the front panel 10 from the main body 1, the respective fixing projections 11 are detached from the fixing projection grooves 3a, and the user can slidingly detach the filter 14 from the filter placement unit 13.

[0074] When the user has detached the front panel 10 from the main body 1, the user's external force has been removed from the detachable members 20. Accordingly, the detachable members 20 are restored to their original positions before the external force was applied to the detachable members 20 by the elastic force of the elastic unit 25.

[0075] After the filter 14 is cleaned, the user slidingly couples the filter 14 to the filter placement unit 13 and then couples the front panel 10 to the main body 1.

[0076] In this case, the user first couples the fixing projections 11 to the respective fixing projection grooves 3a. The user inserts the locking projections 12 into the respective locking projection holes 31 and 36 of the right and left panels 30 and 35 while closely adhering the front panel 10 to the main body 1. Accordingly, the locking projections 12 are coupled to the respective locking units 23 through the locking projection holes 31 and 36.

[0077] In more detail, the inclined plane 12a formed at the end of each of the locking projections 12 slides into the inclined plane 23a formed at the end of each of the locking units 23, so the locking projections 12 are inserted into the right and left panels 30 and 35. The locking projections 12 are coupled to the respective locking units 23 while passing through the respective ends of the inclined planes 23a of the locking units 23.

[0078] A process of condensing reconditioning air, a process of dehumidifying indoor air, and a process of discharging condensed water and moisture within the main body 1 in the above-constructed dehumidifier according to the present invention are described below.

[0079] First, reconditioning air circulates through a reconditioning duct when the reconditioning fan 50 rotates. That is, the reconditioning air passing through the reconditioning fan 50 is heated in the reconditioning air heating member 60 making its temperature rise. The hot reconditioning air reconditions the reconditioning area of the desiccant 44. The reconditioning air is then introduced into the condensing heat exchanger 100 via the reconditioning air distribution member 90.

[0080] The reconditioning air introduced into the condensing heat exchanger 100 undergoes heat exchange with indoor air while flowing up and down through a plurality of heat exchange plates. During this heat exchange process, moisture within the reconditioning air is condensed. The condensed reconditioning air is reintroduced into the reconditioning fan 50 via the exhaust duct 80 and the aperture unit of the rotor frame 47. That is, the reconditioning air circulates within the main body according to the above cycle.

[0081] Meanwhile, the indoor air is sucked through the air intake units of the main body and undergoes heat exchange with the reconditioning air flowing through the reconditioning air duct while passing through an indoor air duct of the condensing heat exchanger 100. The moisture of the indoor air passing through the condensing heat exchanger 100 is absorbed by the desiccant 44 while the indoor air passes through the dehumidification area of the desiccant 44. The dehumidified indoor air is then discharged to the interior of a room through the blower fan 9 and the air discharge unit of the main body 1.

[0082] Meanwhile, water condensed in the condensing heat exchanger 100 is collected in the bucket 2 via the drain fan 5. The user detaches the bucket 2 from the base 8 and empties it outside.

[0083] While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A dehumidifier, comprising:

a main body in which air intake units and an air discharge unit are formed;

a front panel configured to include a filter for purifying indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units, and detachably coupled to the main body through locking projections formed in the front panel;

a desiccant rotor for dehumidifying the indoor air passing through the filter; and

detachable members provided in the main body and configured to bind the locking projections when the front panel is coupled to the main body.

2. The dehumidifier of claim 1, wherein each of the detachable members comprises:

a button unit through which external force is transferred; an elastic unit deformed by the external force and configured to provide elastic force opposite to the direction of deformation; and

a locking unit detachably coupled to each of the locking projections of the front panel by the elastic force.

3. The dehumidifier of claim 2, wherein the locking unit is coupled to each of the locking projections by the elastic force and released from each of the locking projections by deformation of the elastic unit due to the external force.

4. The dehumidifier of claim 2, wherein the locking unit is placed between the button unit and the elastic unit.

5. The dehumidifier of claim 2, wherein a part of the button unit is exposed outside of the main body.

6. The dehumidifier of claim 5, wherein:

the main body comprises right and left panels forming side faces of the main body, and

button unit holes through each of which a part of the button unit is exposed are respectively formed in the right and left panels.

7. The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:

the air intake units are formed on respective side faces of the main body, and

the front panel comprises a filter duct for introducing the indoor air sucked-in by the air intake units into the filter placed in the front panel.

8. The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:

the front panel comprises a filter placement unit to which the filter is coupled, and

the filter is detachably, slidingly coupled to the filter placement unit.

9. The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:

a fixing projection is formed in the front panel, and

a groove to which the fixing projection is coupled is formed in the main body.

10. The dehumidifier of any preceding claim, wherein:

the main body comprises right and left panels forming side faces of the main body, and

locking projection holes through which the respective locking projections passes are formed in the right and left panels.

Drawing