AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE

Abstract

 The present invention relates to an air conditioning device. In the present invention, a first discharge port (17) is formed on the front surface of a housing (10), and a second discharge port (18) is formed on an outer surface facing the floor of the indoor space in which the housing (10) is installed. The second discharge port (18) is opened and closed by a first vane (730) of a vane assembly (70), and the first vane (730) is installed, inclined, so as to protrude to the outside of the second discharge port (18) and thus guide discharged air. Air is discharged through the first discharge port (17) so as to flow along the upper portion of the indoor space, and air currents discharged through the second discharge port (18) may be combined therewith.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning device.

Background Art

[0002] An air conditioning device is intended to maintain air in an indoor space in an optimal state according to a purpose. For example, the air conditioning device generally removes indoor heat to the outside in summer to relatively lower an indoor air temperature. In addition, in winter, the air conditioning device may relatively increase a temperature of air discharged therefrom so that the indoor space has a relatively higher temperature than an outdoor space.

[0003] The air conditioning device provides heat-exchanged air into an indoor space in which air conditioning is desired, and it is necessary to appropriately discharge air in consideration of a position of a user located in the indoor space. For example, it is necessary to adjust a direction in which air is discharged so that air is not directly delivered to the user.

[0004] In particular, in an air conditioning device installed adjacent to or in close contact with one side wall of an indoor space, or installed on a wall, or installed in a window on the wall, for example, a stand-type, a wall-mounted type, or a window-type air conditioning device, air discharged therefrom is mostly directly delivered to a user. For example, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0146110, which is Patent Document 1, discloses an indoor unit of a wall-mounted air conditioning device, in which air is discharged through a discharge port in a downwardly inclined manner, so that heat-exchanged air may be directly delivered to a user.

[0005] In addition, in Korean Patent No. 10-0234964, which is Patent Document 2, an air conditioning device is configured to discharge air toward a lower front portion thereof, so that heat-exchanged air may be directly delivered to a user. Further, as in Patent Document 1, since a discharge port for discharging air into an indoor space is provided on one surface of an exterior of the air conditioning device, discharged air patterns cannot be formed in various manners.

[0006] That is, in most cases, a discharge port through which air is discharged from an air conditioning device is formed to be open only toward a front side of the air conditioning device. Of course, in a stand-type air conditioning device, there may be discharge ports that are opened upwardly and downwardly along left and right side surfaces. However, in such a case, the discharge ports cannot form an airflow in conjunction with a discharge port formed on a front surface.

[0007] Further, Korean Patent No. 10-0679838, which is Patent Document 3, and Korean Patent No. 10-2201562, which is Patent Document 4, disclose an air conditioning device installed on a ceiling, in which air is inevitably discharged mainly toward a floor of an indoor space. In particular, since discharge ports are all formed to be oriented toward the floor of the indoor space, there is a limitation in controlling a direction of discharged air by using a vane.

Disclosure

Technical Problem

[0008] An objective of the present disclosure is to solve the conventional problems as described above, and to form discharge ports on a front surface of an air conditioning device and on an outer surface adjacent to the front surface and oriented toward a floor of an indoor space, respectively, so as to discharge air having various airflows into the indoor space.

[0009] An objective of the present disclosure is to allow air discharged from the plurality of discharge ports formed in the air conditioning device to cooperate with each other to form an airflow.

[0010] An objective of the present disclosure is to use a vane assembly to adjust directions of air discharged through the plurality of discharge ports formed in the air conditioning device.

[0011] An objective of the present disclosure is to allow a first vane and a second vane included in the vane assembly to cooperate with each other so as to guide an airflow.

Technical Solution

[0012] In order to achieve the above-described objectives, in the present disclosure, a first discharge port may be formed on a front surface of a housing, and a second discharge port may be formed on a portion of an outer surface of the housing oriented toward a floor of an indoor space.

[0013] The first discharge port and the second discharge port may be formed in parallel so as to be adjacent to each other.

[0014] Air discharged from the first discharge port may flow toward an upper portion of the indoor space.

[0015] Air discharged from the second discharge port may be combined with the air discharged from the first discharge port so as to flow.

[0016] In the present disclosure, a vane assembly may guide a flow direction of air while a first vane and a second vane thereof are simultaneously driven by a driving source.

[0017] An air conditioning device of the present disclosure may include the housing constituting an exterior of the device and having an intake port provided at one side of the housing so that air from the indoor space is introduced into the housing through the intake port, the first discharge port provided on the front surface thereof, and the second discharge port provided on the outer surface thereof oriented toward the floor of the indoor space; a driving fan installed inside the housing and configured to generate an airflow; a heat exchanger installed inside the housing and configured to perform heat exchange between air sucked from the indoor space and a working fluid, the heat exchanger positioned between the intake port and the driving fan; and a vane assembly having the first vane configured to open and close the second discharge port and to guide an airflow, and the second vane configured to operate in conjunction with the first vane and to guide an airflow.

[0018] The first discharge port may be formed at a lower portion of a front surface of the housing, and the second discharge port may be formed to extend in parallel with the first discharge port.

[0019] The second discharge port may be provided on the outer surface oriented toward the floor of the indoor space while sharing an edge with the front surface of the housing on which the first discharge port is formed.

[0020] The air conditioning device may further include a discharge unit provided with an inclined surface having an inclination oriented toward a front upper portion of the first discharge port so as to guide air discharged from the first discharge port.

[0021] The air conditioning device may further include a horizontal louver provided in the discharge unit and having the inclination oriented toward the front upper portion of the first discharge port so as to guide air discharged from the first discharge port.

[0022] The air conditioning device may further include a discharger having a flow path formed to allow air to flow to the first discharge port and the second discharge port.

[0023] The discharger may be provided inside the first discharge port and the second discharge port, and the vane assembly may be installed within the flow path.

[0024] The first vane may protrude outward from the second discharge port and be positioned to be inclined toward the floor so as to guide an airflow.

[0025] When the first vane opens the second discharge port, the second vane may be positioned behind the first vane and be configured to be either continuous with the first vane or spaced apart from the first vane so as to guide an airflow.

[0026] The second vane positioned behind the first vane may be operated such that a rear end of the first vane is positioned above a front end of the second vane.

[0027] The vane assembly may include: a driving source; a driving link configured to rotate by receiving driving force from the driving source and provided with a first vane driving part and a second vane driving part; the first vane connected to and driven by the first vane driving part; and the second vane connected to and driven by the second vane driving part.

[0028] The first vane may be connected to a second end portion of a first vane link having a first end portion connected to a discharger installed in the housing.

[0029] The second vane may include rotation center shafts provided at opposite end portions thereof and rotatably installed in the discharger.

[0030] The second vane may include connection auxiliary parts, and the rotation center shafts of the connection auxiliary parts may be rotatably hung in the discharger.

[0031] The first discharge port may be configured to remain open, the second discharge port may be opened and closed by the first vane, and an airflow discharged through the second discharge port and guided by the first vane may be combined with an airflow discharged from the first discharge port to flow within the indoor space.

[0032] A link body may constitute a framework of the driving link, a driving source connecting part connected to a driving shaft of the driving source may be provided on a first outer surface of the link body, and the first vane driving part and the second vane driving part may be provided on a second outer surface of the link body.

[0033] The first vane driving part may be connected to a first hole of a first link connecting part formed at an end portion of the first vane.

[0034] The second vane driving part may be connected to a second vane link connected to a connection hole of a second link connecting part of the second vane.

Advantageous Effects

[0035] The air conditioning device according to the present disclosure may have at least one of the following effects.

[0036] In the present disclosure, the first discharge port and the second discharge port may respectively be formed adjacent to each other on a front surface of an outer surface of the air conditioning device and on an outer surface adjacent to the front surface, and air discharged through the discharge ports may cooperate to form an airflow. The vane assembly may be used such that air may be discharged toward a front upper portion through the first discharge port formed on the front surface and air may be discharged toward a lower portion of the second discharge port and toward a front portion of the first discharge port through the second discharge port formed on the outer surface adjacent to the front surface. Accordingly, there is an effect that various airflows may be formed through the first discharge port and the second discharge port.

[0037] In the present disclosure, air discharged through the first discharge port and the second discharge port, which is adjacent to each other, may cooperate with each other to form an airflow. That is, an airflow discharged through the first discharge port and an airflow discharged through the second discharge port may be combined to collectively form an airflow oriented toward the front upper portion of the air conditioning device, thereby preventing the airflow from being directly delivered to a user.

[0038] In the present disclosure, the vane assembly may be used to adjust a direction of air discharged through the second discharge port and a direction of air discharged through the first discharge port, and the first vane and the second vane of the vane assembly may cooperate with each other to control a direction of air discharged through the second discharge port. When the second discharge port is closed by the first vane, the second vane may guide a flow of air discharged through the first discharge port. Accordingly, air discharged from the air conditioning device may form various airflows.

[0039] In the present disclosure, the first vane and the second vane may cooperate with each other to guide a flow of air discharged through the second discharge port. That is, the first vane and the second vane may be positioned continuously to form a flow of air discharged through the second discharge port. Further, in conjunction with a degree of rotation of the first vane, the second vane may also rotate to guide an airflow, thereby allowing air to be discharged in various patterns.

Description of Drawings

[0040] 

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of an air conditioning device according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of the air conditioning device of the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a vane assembly used in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the vane assembly illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a configuration of the vane assembly installed in a discharger in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a main configuration of the vane assembly used in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a first vane of the vane assembly closes a second discharge port in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view illustrating a configuration of a discharge unit in the air conditioning device of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a driving link constituting the air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a first vane link constituting the air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view and an enlarged view illustrating the first vane constituting the air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a second vane link constituting the air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view and an enlarged view illustrating a second vane constituting the air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14(a) is an operational state view illustrating a state in which the first vane closes the second discharge port, and FIG. 14(b) is an operational state view illustrating a state in which the first vane opens the second discharge port.

FIG. 15 is an operational state view illustrating a state in which air is discharged only through the first discharge port in the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an operational state view illustrating a state in which air is discharged through the first discharge port and the second discharge port and an airflow is combined in the present disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating a state in which airflows discharged through the first discharge port and the second discharge port are combined in the present disclosure.

FIGS. 18 to 23 are operational state views sequentially illustrating states in which installation angles of the first vane and the second vane are changed to vary an operation mode in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Best Mode

[0041] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with exemplary drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that identical components are given the same numerals as much as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. In addition, when describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed description of the related known configuration or function hinders understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the present specification, a wall-mounted indoor unit is presented as the air conditioning device. However, the present disclosure may also be applied to a stand-type air conditioning device or a window-type air conditioning device. This will be described in more detail below.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a housing (10) may constitute an exterior of the air conditioning device. When viewed from the front, the exterior of the air conditioning device including the housing (10) may have a shape close to a rectangular prism elongated in left and right directions.

[0044] In addition to the housing (10), a chassis (20), which will be described below, may also constitute a part of the exterior. In the illustrated embodiment, a lower surface and a rear surface of the housing (10) may be open, and the lower surface and the rear surface of the air conditioning device may be constituted by the chassis (20) to be described below. Of course, the lower surface and the rear surface of the housing (10) may be in a closed state. That is, the housing (10) may constitute the entire exterior of the air conditioning device. Further, in the present embodiment, the chassis (20), which is positioned at open portions of the housing (10) and constitutes the exterior, may also be regarded as a part of the housing (10).

[0045] The housing (10) may have an overall substantially rectangular prism shape with edges formed as curved surfaces. The housing (10) may include a front surface (11), which is an outer surface facing a front side of the air conditioning device, and side surfaces (12) on opposite sides of the front surface (11). The front surface (11) and the side surfaces (12) may be adjacent to each other and may be substantially perpendicular to each other. In the housing (10), an outer surface oriented toward the upper portion of the air conditioning device may be an upper surface (13). The upper surface (13) may have an overall slight inclination toward the front side.

[0046] The air conditioning device illustrated in the drawings may include a lower surface (14), which is a lower outer surface thereof. As described above, the lower surface (14) may be formed by the housing (10) or may be formed by the chassis (20). In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis (20) forms the lower surface (14).

[0047] An intake port (16) may be formed in the upper surface (13) of the housing (10). The intake port (16) may be a portion through which air in a space to be air-conditioned is sucked into the housing (10). As illustrated in FIG. 2, most of the intake port (16) may be formed as through openings and have a grid structure. A mesh structure may be installed in the through openings of the grid structure so that air may freely flow.

[0048] A first discharge port (17) may be formed in the front surface (11) of the housing (10). The first discharge port (17) may be formed at a relatively lower portion of the front surface (11) of the housing (10). That is, the first discharge port (17) may be formed at a position adjacent to the lower surface (14) of the housing (10). In the illustrated embodiment, the first discharge port (17) may be formed to extend in left and right directions when viewed from the front of the housing (10). The first discharge port (17) may be open toward the front of the housing (10).

[0049] A second discharge port (18) may be formed in the lower surface (14) of the housing (10). The second discharge port (18) may be open toward a floor of a space in which the air conditioning device is installed. That is, an imaginary line indicating an opening direction of the first discharge port (17) and an imaginary line indicating an opening direction of the second discharge port (18) may be substantially perpendicular to each other.

[0050] The second discharge port (18) may be also positioned relatively forward on the lower surface (14). That is, the second discharge port (18) may be formed at a position adjacent to the first discharge port (17). In the illustrated embodiment, the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18) may be formed to extend in parallel with each other with an edge defined between the adjacent outer surfaces. Of course, as another example, an edge connecting the front surface (11) and the lower surface (14) may be formed as a curved surface, and the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18) may be formed adjacent to each other.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, a wall-mounted air conditioning device is presented, and thus the second discharge port (18) is formed in the lower surface (14) of the housing (10). However, for example, when the present disclosure is applied to a stand-type air conditioning device, a front portion of the stand-type air conditioning device may protrude relatively compared to other portions of the housing. The second discharge port (18) may be formed on an outer surface that is perpendicular to the front surface of the protruding portion and is oriented toward a floor of a space to be air-conditioned. In this case, heights of the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18) from the floor at which they are positioned may be higher than a height of a general user. Such a configuration in which the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18) are disposed may be equally applied to a window-mounted air conditioning device.

[0052] The chassis (20) may be installed inside the housing (10). In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis (20) may constitute the rear surface and the lower surface of the exterior of the air conditioning device. A driving fan (30), a control box (32), a heat exchanger (40), a discharger (60), and the like, which will be described below, may be installed on the chassis (20). The chassis (20) may be installed inside the housing (10) and serve as a framework.

[0053] A rear guide (22) may be formed on the chassis (20) and may serve to guide air flowing inside the housing (10). A space defined by the rear guide (22) may be referred to as a flow-path forming space (24). The driving fan (30) may be installed in the flow-path forming space (24). Air may flow through a region between an outer surface of the driving fan (30) and an inner surface of the rear guide (22). The control box (32) may serve to control an operation of the air conditioning device. The control box (32) may be mounted on one side of the chassis (20).

[0054] The heat exchanger (40) may be installed in a space formed by the housing (10) and the chassis (20). The heat exchanger (40) may be a part configured to perform heat exchange between air and a working fluid. The heat exchanger (40) may be installed on the housing (10) and the chassis (20) so as to surround the driving fan (30). Heat exchange may occur while air passes through the heat exchanger (40).

[0055] A left-right louver assembly (50) may be installed in a region in which air flows between the driving fan (30) and the rear guide (22). The left-right louver assembly (50) may not be necessarily required. The left-right louver assembly (50) may serve to control a direction of air flowing in the flow-path forming space (24).

[0056] The discharger (60) may be positioned at a front end of the rear guide (22) of the chassis (20). The discharger (60) may include a flow path (60') through which air that has passed through the flow-path forming space (24) flows. The discharger (60) may be provided with a discharge unit (62) and a vane assembly (70), which will be described below. For this purpose, a first hanging portion (61) may be provided in the flow path (60'). The first hanging portion (61) may be a portion on which one side of a first vane link (720), which will be described below, is hung. A second hanging portion (61') may be provided in the flow path (60'). Rotation center shafts (753') of connection auxiliary parts (753) of a second vane (750), which will be described below, may be rotatably hung on the second hanging portion (61'). Such a configuration is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0057] In the discharger (60), the discharge unit (62) may be installed between portions corresponding to the first discharge port (17). The configuration of the discharge unit (62) is well illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8. The discharge unit (62) may guide air so as to be discharged through the first discharge port (17). A discharge flow path (64) may be formed through the discharge unit (62) in a front-to-rear direction, and an inclined surface (66) may be formed on a bottom of the discharge flow path (64). The discharge unit (62) may allow the inclined surface (66) to guide a direction of air discharged through the first discharge port (17). Accordingly, the air discharged through the first discharge port (17) may be guided toward the front upper portion of the housing (10). A horizontal vane (67) may be provided in the discharge flow path (64). The horizontal vane (67) may have the same inclination as the inclined surface (66). That is, the horizontal vane (67) may have an angle to guide air toward the front upper portion.

[0058] Next, the configuration of the vane assembly (70) configured to guide air discharged through the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18) inside the housing (10) will be described. The vane assembly (70) may include a first vane (730) and a second vane (750), wherein the first vane (730) may open and close the second discharge port (18) and control a direction of air discharged through the second discharge port (18). The second vane (750) may operate together with the first vane (730), and may selectively serve to guide air flowing inside the housing (10) to the first discharge port (17), and to guide air discharged through the second discharge port (18) in cooperation with the first vane (730).

[0059] FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrate the configuration of the vane assembly (70). The vane assembly (70) may include a driving source (700) configured to provide driving force for operations of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750). As the driving source (700), a step motor may be used.

[0060] A driving link (710) may be connected to a driving shaft of the driving source (700). The configuration of the driving link (710) is well illustrated in FIG. 9. The driving link (710) may be rotated about the driving shaft by driving force of the driving source (700). In the illustrated embodiment, two driving sources (700) may be used, one provided at each of opposite ends of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750). Accordingly, two sets of the driving link (710) and related components may also be used. Of course, depending on design conditions such as left-right lengths of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750), a single driving source (700) may be used.

[0061] A link body (711) may constitute a framework of the driving link (710). In the illustrated embodiment, the link body (711) may have a disc shape. The link body (711) may have various shapes other than the disc shape, as long as the link body (711) does not interfere with surrounding components.

[0062] A driving source connecting part (712) may be provided on one surface of the link body (711). A driving shaft of the driving source (700) may be inserted into and coupled to the driving source connecting part (712). The driving source connecting part (712) may be formed at a rotation center of the link body (711).

[0063] A first vane driving part (713) may be provided on the link body (711). The first vane driving part (713) may be integrally formed on a surface opposite to a surface on which the driving source connecting part (712) is provided. The first vane driving part (713) may have a cantilever shape extending by a predetermined length. The first vane driving part (713) may be connected to the first vane (730) to transmit driving force thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, the first vane driving part (713) may be bent to have a predetermined radius of curvature. A connection pin (713') may be provided at a free end portion of the first vane driving part (713). The connection pin (713') may have a snap-fitting structure. The connection pin (713') may have an overall cylindrical shape, but may include multiple elastic pieces, and each of the elastic pieces may have a hooking protrusion (not shown) at a free end portion thereof.

[0064] A second vane driving part (714) may be provided on the link body (711). The second vane driving part (714) may be formed to protrude from the surface of the link body (711) on which the first vane driving part (713) is formed. The second vane driving part (714) may be connected to the second vane (750) to transmit driving force thereto. A connection pin (715) may be formed on the second vane driving part (714). The connection pin (714) may have a cylindrical shape. The connection pin (714) may have the same structure as the connection pin (713') of the first vane driving part (713). A hooking protrusion (716) may be formed on the connection pin (714). The hooking protrusion (716) may serve to prevent the connection pin (715) from being separated from the second vane (750).

[0065] While the driving link (710) is rotated by driving force of the driving source (700), the first vane (730) may be driven through the first vane driving part (713), and at the same time, the second vane (750) may be driven through the second vane driving part (714). That is, the driving link (710) may drive the first vane (730) and the second vane (750) simultaneously by the driving force of the driving source (700).

[0066] A first end portion of the first vane link (720) may be rotatably connected to the discharger (60). A second end portion of the first vane link (720) may be rotatably connected to the first vane (730). The first vane link (720) may allow the first vane (730) to be connected to and supported by the discharger (60). The configuration of the first vane link (720) is well illustrated in FIG. 10. A first link body (721) may constitute a framework of the first vane link (720). The first link body (721) may have a bar shape. Connection pins (723, 723') may be provided at opposite end portions of the first link body (721), respectively. Configurations of the connection pins (723, 723') may be the same as that of the connection pin (713') provided on the first vane driving part (713) of the driving link (710). Of course, the configurations of the connection pins (723, 723') may be different from that of the connection pin (713'). The connection pins (723, 723') may have various snap-fitting structures, or may have the same structure as the connection pin (715) of the second vane driving part (714).

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, multiple first vane links (720) are used. The number of the first vane links (720) may be determined according to a left-right length of the first vane (730). In the illustrated embodiment, four first vane links (720) are used.

[0068] In the illustrated embodiment, the connection pins (723, 723') of the first vane link (720) may protrude from the opposite ends of the first link body (721) in opposite directions. However, depending on design conditions, the connection pins (723, 723') may be formed to protrude from the same side of the first link body (721).

[0069] Among the connection pins (723, 723') of the first vane link (720), the connection pin (723') may be rotatably connected to the discharger (60). As illustrated in FIG. 5, the connection pin (723') may be rotatably installed on the first hanging portion (61) or on one side of the discharger (60). The other connection pin (723) may be rotatably installed in a link connection auxiliary part (733) of the first vane (730).

[0070] The structure of the first vane (730) is well illustrated in FIG. 11. The first vane (730) may include a first vane body (731) having a substantially plate shape as a framework. The first vane body (731) may have a rectangular plate shape. The first vane body (731) may have an area to shield the second discharge port (18). That is, the first vane (730) may close the second discharge port (18), such that air may be prevented from being discharged through the second discharge port (18) in a specific mode.

[0071] First link connecting parts (732) may be provided at opposite ends of an inner surface of the first vane body (731). The first link connecting parts (732) may be perpendicular to the first vane body (731). Each of the first link connecting parts (732) may have a substantially plate shape. A first hole (732') and a second hole (732") may be formed in the first link connecting part (732). The connection pin (713') of the first vane driving part (713) of the driving link (710) may be inserted through and installed in the first hole (732'). The connection pin (723) of the first vane link (720) is rotatably inserted into the second hole (732").

[0072] In the illustrated embodiment, the first vane (730) may be rotatably supported on the discharger (60) by using four first vane links (720). The first vane (730) may include two link connection auxiliary parts (733) so that two of the four first vane links (720) are hung thereon. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the remaining first vane links (720) may be inserted into and hung on the second holes (732") of the two link connection auxiliary parts (733) and the two first link connecting parts (732).

[0073] A second vane link (740) may function to connect the second vane (750) to the driving link (710) so as to transmit driving force of the driving source (700) to the second vane (750). The configuration of the second vane link (740) is well illustrated in FIG. 12. A second link body (741) may constitute a framework of the second vane link (740). The second link body (741) may have a flat and elongated plate shape. A connection pin (741') may be formed at one end portion of the second link body (741). The connection pin (741') may be rotatably connected to the second vane (750). A hooking protrusion (741") may protrude from a free end portion of the connection pin (741'). The hooking protrusion (741") may protrude in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the connection pin (741').

[0074] A connection hole (742') may be formed at an opposite end portion of the second link body (741) on which the connection pin (741') is formed. The connection hole (742') may be used for connection with the driving link (710). A protrusion passage hole (742") may be formed at one side of the connection hole (742'). The protrusion passage hole (742") may communicate with the connection hole (742'). The protrusion passage hole (742") may be a portion into which the connection pin (715) of the second vane driving part (714) of the driving link (710) is rotatably inserted. The hooking protrusion (716) of the connection pin (715) may pass through the protrusion passage hole (742") and be movably hung on an opposite side of the second link body (741).

[0075] The second vane (750) may be positioned within a flow path formed in the discharger (60) and serve to guide air passing through the flow path. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the second vane (750) may include a second vane body (751) having a long rectangular shape as a framework. A left-right length of the second vane body (751) may be substantially the same as that of the first vane body (731). A front-to-rear width of the second vane body (751) may be relatively smaller than a front-to-rear width of the first vane body (731).

[0076] Second link connecting parts (752) may be provided at opposite ends of the second vane body (751). The second link connecting parts (752) may be formed to protrude in one direction from opposite ends of the second vane body (751). The connection pin (741') of the second vane link (740) may be connected to each of the second link connecting parts (752). For this purpose, a connection hole (752') may be formed in the second link connecting part (752). The connection pin (741') of the second vane link (740) may be rotatably inserted into the connection hole (752'). A hooking protrusion passage hole (752") may be formed in the connection hole (752'). The hooking protrusion passage hole (752") may communicate with the connection hole (752'). The hooking protrusion (741") of the second vane link (740) may pass through the hooking protrusion passage hole (752") and maybe movably hung on an opposite side of the second link connecting part (752).

[0077] The connection auxiliary parts (753) may be provided to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval between the second link connecting parts (752) located at the opposite ends of the second vane body (751). The rotation center shafts (753') may be provided in the connection auxiliary parts (753), respectively. Each of the rotation center shafts (753') may be rotatably hung on the second hanging portion (61') provided in the discharger (60).

[0078] Rotation center shafts (755) may be respectively provided at opposite end portions of the second vane body (751). As schematically illustrated in FIG. 5, the rotation center shafts (755) may be rotatably installed in one inner surface of the flow path (60') of the discharger (60).

[0079] In the illustrated embodiment, the first vane (730) and the second vane (750) may have left-right lengths that are longer than front-to-rear widths thereof. Accordingly, the driving source (700) and the driving link (710) may be provided at the opposite end portions of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750), such that the first vane (730) and the second vane (750) operate uniformly over entire left-right lengths thereof. Accordingly, components operating in cooperation with the driving link (710) may be provided at the opposite end portions of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750). However, when the left-right lengths of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750) are short, the driving source (700) and the driving link (710) may be provided at only one side. This also applies to the first vane link (720), the second vane link (740), and the connection auxiliary part (753).

[0080] Hereinafter, an operation of the air conditioning device according to the present disclosure having the above-described configuration will be described.

[0081] First, as illustrated in FIG. 14(a), when the first vane (730) closes the second discharge port (18), air may be discharged only through the first discharge port (17). In this case, the second vane (750) may serve to guide air toward the first discharge port (17). When air is discharged through the first discharge port (17), the air may be guided by the inclined surface (66) and the horizontal vane (67) and be discharged toward the front upper portion of the first discharge port (17). Accordingly, heat-exchanged air may be discharged toward a relatively higher position in a space for air conditioning, that is, toward a position higher than a user's head, thereby preventing the heat-exchanged air from directly reaching the user. Such a state in which the heat-exchanged air is guided and discharged only through the first discharge port (17) is illustrated in FIG. 15.

[0082] When air is discharged through the second discharge port (18), the first vane (730) may operate to open the second discharge port (18). In addition, depending on a degree to which the first vane (730) opens the second discharge port (18), an amount of air discharged through the second discharge port (18) may vary, and depending on an angle at which the first vane (730) is installed at an inlet of the second discharge port (18), a direction of air discharged through the second discharge port (18) may vary. FIG. 14(b) illustrates one example of a state in which the second discharge port (18) is opened.

[0083] As described above, in order to allow heat-exchanged air to be discharged through the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18) by opening the second discharge port (18) by using the first vane (730), the first vane (730) and the second vane (750) are required to be operated.

[0084] The second vane (750) may be driven simultaneously with the first vane (730) by using the single driving link (710). Accordingly, as the first vane (730) operates, an angle of the second vane (750) may also change.

[0085] In order to drive the first vane (730) and the second vane (750), the driving source (700) of the vane assembly (70) may operate. When the driving source (700) operates and the driving shaft rotates, the driving link (710) may rotate. With the rotation of the driving link (710), the first vane driving part (713) and the second vane driving part (714) may operate simultaneously. The first vane (730) may be operated by the first vane driving part (713). The second vane link (740) may be operated by the second vane driving part (714) so as to operate the second vane (750).

[0086] In more detail, based on FIG. 14(a), when the driving link (710) is rotated in a direction of arrow A by the driving source (700), the first vane driving part (713) may operate such that a connection pin (713") of the first vane driving part (713) moves in a direction of arrow A'. Accordingly, the first vane (730) may rotate and, with reference to the drawing, the first vane (730) may move toward a lower left side. In this case, a movement trajectory of the first vane (730) may be formed by the first vane link (720), and the first vane (730) may rotate about a portion at which the first vane link (720) is connected to the discharger (60), without protruding beyond a predetermined extent.

[0087] Meanwhile, the second vane link (740) connected to the second vane driving part (714) of the driving link (710) may drive the second vane (750), and the second vane (750) may move while drawing a circular trajectory about each of the rotation center shafts (755). Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 14(a), the second vane link (740) may rotate in a direction of arrow B, and the second vane (750) may move while drawing a circular trajectory in a direction of arrow B' about the rotation center shaft (755).

[0088] In this manner, when the driving link (710) rotates by a predetermined angle, the second discharge port (18) may be opened to reach a state illustrated in FIG. 14(b), and heat-exchanged air may be discharged even through the second discharge port (18). In this case, a direction in which the heat-exchanged air is delivered may be determined according to an angle at which the first vane (730) is inclined downward toward the front with reference to the drawing.

[0089] In addition, FIG. 16 illustrates a state in which the first vane (730) opens the second discharge port (18) such that heat-exchanged air is simultaneously discharged through the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18). As can be seen, an airflow discharged through the first discharge port (17) and an airflow discharged through the second discharge port (18) may be combined with each other in front of the housing (10). This is because a velocity of air guided and discharged through the second discharge port (18) by the first vane (730) is relatively higher than a velocity of air discharged through the first discharge port (17), such that a pressure difference is generated by a Bernoulli principle and the two airflows are combined in front of the housing (10).

[0090] Such a state can be clearly seen in a graph illustrated in FIG. 17. That is, it can be seen that, as a distance from a virtual extension line of the first vane (730) increases, an airflow discharged from the second discharge port (18) moves upward from the vane extension line and flows.

[0091] FIGS. 18 to 23 illustrate operation modes that vary depending on angles of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750). This will be described with reference to the first vane (730). Basic modes of the first vane (730) may include a closed mode (in which air is discharged through the first discharge port (17)), a cooling mode, and a heating mode. Here, a basic state of the cooling mode is illustrated in FIG. 18, and a basic state of the heating mode is illustrated in FIG. 23.

[0092] In the cooling mode, as illustrated in FIG. 18, a vane angle (A) formed by the first vane (730) may be set to be in a range of 0° to 35°. In addition, a height difference (B) between the first vane (730) and the second vane (750) may be set to be 0 mm or greater. Based on FIG. 18, the vane angle (A) of the first vane (730) is 20°, and the height difference (B) is 1.5 mm.

[0093] In the basic state of the heating mode illustrated in FIG. 23, the first vane (730) may have a vane angle (A) set to be in a range of 50° to 90°. The second vane (750) may rotate to a position at which the second vane (750) does not contact the rear guide (22), such that a direction of a rear airflow is guided as much as possible toward a lower direction.

[0094] A total of six modes, including the basic states of the cooling mode and the heating mode, are illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 23, and it is shown that angles of the first vane (730) and the second vane (750) sequentially change. While operating in one of these six modes (including the basic states of the cooling mode and the heating mode), air may be discharged simultaneously from the first discharge port (17) and the second discharge port (18), such that cooling and heating may be performed. As the modes progress from FIG. 18 to FIG. 23, it can be seen that the inclination of the first vane (730) is adjusted from being oriented toward the front lower portion of the air conditioning device to being oriented gradually further downward.

[0095] Air conditioning may be performed by setting angles of the vanes in any one of the six modes, but air conditioning may also be performed in a swing mode in which the angles of the vanes are repeatedly varied within a predetermined range between the cooling mode and the heating mode.

[0096] Even though all components constituting the embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described as being combined or operating in combination as one, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. That is, within the scope of the purpose of the present disclosure, all of the components may be selectively combined to operate in one or more combinations.

Claims

1. An air conditioning device comprising:

a housing constituting an exterior of the device and having an intake port provided at one side of the housing so that air from an indoor space is introduced into the housing through the intake port, a first discharge port provided on a front surface thereof, and a second discharge port provided on an outer surface thereof oriented toward a floor of the indoor space;

a driving fan installed inside the housing and configured to generate an airflow;

a heat exchanger installed inside the housing and configured to perform heat exchange between air sucked from the indoor space and a working fluid, the heat exchanger positioned between the intake port and the driving fan; and

a vane assembly having a first vane configured to open and close the second discharge port and to guide an airflow, and a second vane configured to operate in conjunction with the first vane and to guide an airflow.

2. The air conditioning device of claim 1, wherein the first discharge port is formed at a lower portion of a front surface of the housing, and the second discharge port is formed to extend in parallel with the first discharge port.

3. The air conditioning device of claim 2, wherein the second discharge port is provided on the outer surface oriented toward the floor of the indoor space while sharing an edge with the front surface of the housing on which the first discharge port is formed.

4. The air conditioning device of claim 1, further comprising:
a discharge unit provided with an inclined surface having an inclination oriented toward a front upper portion of the first discharge port so as to guide air discharged from the first discharge port.

5. The air conditioning device of claim 4, further comprising:
a horizontal louver provided in the discharge unit and having the inclination oriented toward the front upper portion of the first discharge port so as to guide air discharged from the first discharge port.

6. The air conditioning device of claim 1, further comprising:
a discharger having a flow path formed to allow air to flow to the first discharge port and the second discharge port.

7. The air conditioning device of claim 6, wherein the discharger is provided inside the first discharge port and the second discharge port, and the vane assembly is installed within the flow path.

8. The air conditioning device of claim 1, wherein the first vane protrudes outward from the second discharge port and is positioned to be inclined toward the floor so as to guide an airflow.

9. The air conditioning device of claim 8, wherein when the first vane opens the second discharge port, the second vane is positioned behind the first vane and is configured to be either continuous with the first vane or spaced apart from the first vane so as to guide an airflow.

10. The air conditioning device of claim 9, wherein the second vane positioned behind the first vane is operated such that a rear end of the first vane is positioned above a front end of the second vane.

11. The air conditioning device of claim 1, wherein the vane assembly comprises: a driving source; a driving link configured to rotate by receiving driving force from the driving source and provided with a first vane driving part and a second vane driving part; the first vane connected to and driven by the first vane driving part; and the second vane connected to and driven by the second vane driving part.

12. The air conditioning device of claim 11, wherein the first vane is connected to a second end portion of a first vane link having a first end portion connected to a discharger installed in the housing.

13. The air conditioning device of claim 12, wherein the second vane comprises rotation center shafts provided at opposite end portions thereof and rotatably installed in the discharger.

14. The air conditioning device of claim 13, wherein the second vane comprises connection auxiliary parts, and the rotation center shafts of the connection auxiliary parts are rotatably hung in the discharger.

15. The air conditioning device of claim 1, wherein the first discharge port is configured to remain open, the second discharge port is opened and closed by the first vane, and an airflow discharged through the second discharge port and guided by the first vane is combined with an airflow discharged from the first discharge port to flow within the indoor space.

16. The air conditioning device of claim 11, wherein a link body constitutes a framework of the driving link, a driving source connecting part connected to a driving shaft of the driving source is provided on a first outer surface of the link body, and the first vane driving part and the second vane driving part are provided on a second outer surface of the link body.

Drawing