Coupling, ceiling machine and air conditioner

Abstract

This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, disclosing a coupling, a ceiling-mounted unit, and an air conditioner. The coupling includes two connecting seats, with a transmission shaft connecting the two seats. The transmission shaft is a flexible shaft, capable of torsional deformation under external force and recovering its deformation through its own flexibility when no external force is applied. The deformation of the transmission shaft under external force prevents torsional force caused by misoperation from being transmitted to the clips securing the air guide plate. Instead, the torsional force is absorbed by the transmission shaft, ensuring the air guide plate is securely mounted on the ceiling-mounted unit's connecting plate and preventing the clips from coming loose. This provides the coupling and air guide plate with a certain tolerance for torsional deformation caused by user or installer misoperation, preventing situations where airflow cannot be guided due to user or installer error, and saving on repair costs due to loose air guide plate clips.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, specifically to a coupling, a ceiling-mounted unit, and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Ceiling-mounted air conditioners are a common type of air conditioning equipment. They typically have four air guide vanes arranged in a quadrilateral, controlling the airflow direction in four directions. To reduce production costs, the four air guide vanes can be divided into two groups, with each group sharing a single motor. In this case, a coupling needs to be added between two perpendicular air guide vanes. The two ends of the coupling are connected to the two air guide vanes via universal joints to transmit the motor's power.

[0003] Air guide plates are usually fixed to the mounting plate by snap-fit ​​connections. Under normal use, the air guide plates will not fall off the mounting plate. However, if the user operates improperly or the installer operates incorrectly, the two air guide plates in the same group may twist in opposite directions. This will cause the snap-fit ​​that fixes the air guide plates to loosen, causing the air guide plates to fall off and thus affecting the air guiding function of the ceiling air conditioner. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a coupling, a ceiling-mounted unit, and an air conditioner to improve the coupling's fault tolerance regarding user misoperation of the air guide plate or installer misoperation of the air guide plate.

[0005] This application provides a coupling, including:

[0006] Two connecting seats, with a transmission shaft connecting the two connecting seats;

[0007] The transmission pair shaft is a flexible transmission shaft, which can undergo torsional deformation when subjected to external force and can recover its deformation through its own flexibility when not subjected to external force.

[0008] In some embodiments, the coupling has a first state and a second state. When in the first state, there is a first gap between the two connecting seats, and when in the second state, there is a second gap between the two connecting seats.

[0009] Wherein, the first interval distance is greater than the second interval distance, the transmission pair shaft can undergo torsional deformation when subjected to external force to switch the coupling from the first state to the second state, and the transmission pair shaft can switch the coupling from the second state to the first state through its own flexibility when not subjected to external force.

[0010] In some embodiments, the coupling has a first state and a second state. When in the first state, the transmission shaft has a first length, and when in the second state, the transmission shaft has a second length.

[0011] Wherein, the first length is less than the second length, the transmission shaft can undergo torsional deformation when subjected to external force to switch the coupling from the first state to the second state, and the transmission shaft can switch the coupling from the second state to the first state through its own flexibility when not subjected to external force.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least two transmission shafts are provided between the two connecting seats;

[0013] In the first state, the at least two transmission pair shafts are spaced apart and parallel to each other;

[0014] Alternatively, in the first state, the at least two transmission shafts are spaced apart and not parallel.

[0015] In some embodiments, it also includes:

[0016] A transmission main shaft is connected between the at least two transmission auxiliary shafts and the connecting seat.

[0017] In some embodiments, there are two drive shafts, which are respectively connected to the opposite ends of the at least two drive shafts. The opposite ends of the at least two drive shafts are respectively connected to a connecting seat through one of the drive shafts.

[0018] In some embodiments, it also includes:

[0019] Two support units are respectively connected to the two drive shafts on one side facing each other;

[0020] The at least two transmission shafts are connected between the two support units.

[0021] In some embodiments, each of the support units is provided with a connection hole, one end of the transmission shaft passes through the connection hole of one of the support units, and the other end of the transmission shaft passes through the connection hole of another of the support units;

[0022] Alternatively, one end of the transmission shaft is bonded to one of the support units, and the other end of the transmission shaft is bonded to the other support unit;

[0023] Alternatively, one end of the transmission shaft is fixed to one of the support units by fasteners, and the other end of the transmission shaft is fixed to another of the support units by fasteners.

[0024] In some embodiments, each of the support units is configured as circular, elliptical, polygonal, or spiral, and the side of each support unit away from the drive shaft to which it is connected is the connecting side, and at least two of the connecting sides are spaced circumferentially.

[0025] This application also provides a ceiling machine, including an air guide structure, wherein the air guide structure is provided with a coupling as described above.

[0026] This application also provides an air conditioner, including the ceiling unit as described above.

[0027] The coupling provided in this embodiment connects two connecting seats via a flexible transmission countershaft. When a user or installer mistakenly operates the air guide plates, causing them to twist in opposite directions, the transmission countershaft can deform under external force. This prevents the torsional force caused by the misoperation from being transmitted to the clips fixing the air guide plates. Instead, the torsional force is absorbed by the transmission countershaft, allowing the air guide plates to be securely installed on the ceiling machine's connecting plate and preventing the clips from coming loose. After the user or installer removes the external force applied to the air guide plates, the transmission countershaft can recover its deformation through its own flexibility, facilitating the transmission of motor power during normal use. The coupling with the above structure has a certain tolerance for torsional deformation caused by user or installer misoperation, preventing situations where air cannot be guided due to user or installer misoperation, and saving maintenance costs caused by loose air guide plate clips. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The technical solution and other beneficial effects of this application will become apparent from the following detailed description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 This is an exploded structural diagram of the coupling provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the coupling provided in the first state according to an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the coupling provided in the second state according to an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of the coupling provided in the embodiment of this application, installed in a ceiling-mounted machine state.

[0033] Figure label:

[0034] 10-Connecting seat, 20-Transmission main shaft, 30-Transmission secondary shaft, 40-Support unit, 410-Connecting hole, 420-Connecting side. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0036] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0037] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0038] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0039] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, various specific examples of processes and materials are provided in this application, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0040] For details, please refer to Figures 1 to 4 This application provides a coupling for connecting two vertically distributed air guide plates on a ceiling-mounted air conditioning unit. The coupling includes two connecting seats 10, with a transmission shaft 30 connected between them. The transmission shaft 30 can undergo torsional deformation under external force and can recover its deformation through its own flexibility when no external force is applied. The two connecting seats 10 are respectively used to connect the universal joints of the air guide plates.

[0041] In this embodiment, a flexible transmission shaft 30 connects the two connecting seats 10. When the user or installer accidentally operates the air guide plate, causing the two air guide plates to twist in opposite directions, the transmission shaft 30 can deform under the action of external force. This prevents the torsional force caused by the misoperation from being transmitted to the buckle fixing the air guide plate. Instead, the torsional force caused by the misoperation is absorbed by the torsion of the transmission shaft 30, allowing the air guide plate to be securely installed on the connecting plate of the ceiling machine, preventing the buckle fixing the air guide plate from falling off (or most of the torsional force is absorbed by the torsion of the transmission shaft 30, and some residual torsional force is transmitted to the connecting plate between the air guide plate and the ceiling machine, but since the residual force is small, it will not affect the fixation of the air guide plate).

[0042] After the user or installer removes the external force that caused the misoperation of the air guide plate, the transmission shaft 30 can recover its deformation through its own flexibility, so as to transmit the power of the motor during normal use.

[0043] The coupling with the above structure has a certain tolerance for torsional deformation caused by user or installer misoperation, avoiding the situation where air cannot be guided due to user or installer misoperation, and saving maintenance costs caused by loosening of air guide plate clips.

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, the connector 10 has a pair of parallel and oppositely arranged connector ears, and each connector ear has a mounting hole. The connector 10 is connected to the universal joint of the air guide plate through the mounting holes of the connector ears and the connection of the fasteners.

[0045] In some embodiments, the coupling has a first state and a second state. When in the first state, there is a first gap between the two connecting seats 10. When in the second state, there is a second gap between the two connecting seats 10. The first gap is greater than the second gap. The transmission shaft 30 can undergo torsional deformation when subjected to external force, causing the coupling to switch from the first state to the second state. When not subjected to external force, the transmission shaft 30 can use its own flexibility to switch the coupling from the second state to the first state.

[0046] It is understandable that when the coupling is in the first state, the transmission countershaft 30 is linear, and when the coupling is in the second state, the transmission countershaft 30 is torsional. Due to the torsional deformation of the transmission countershaft 30, the distance between the two connecting seats 10 will be slightly shortened, reducing it from the first distance to the second distance. In this embodiment, since the connecting seats 10, transmission countershaft 30, and the aforementioned transmission main shaft 20 and support unit 40 are all made of plastic, the deformation of the plastic parts themselves can offset the impact of this shortened distance on the coupling, preventing the clips securing the air guide plate from falling off during the transition from the first state to the second state.

[0047] In other embodiments of this application, the coupling has a first state and a second state. When in the first state, the transmission shaft 30 has a first length, and when in the second state, the transmission shaft 30 has a second length. The first length is less than the second length. The transmission shaft 30 is adapted to undergo torsional deformation under external force to switch the coupling from the first state to the second state. The transmission shaft 30 can switch the coupling from the second state to the first state through its own flexibility when not under external force.

[0048] Understandably, based on the torsional deformation of the transmission shaft 30, the length of the transmission shaft 30 can be slightly lengthened to allow the coupling to switch from the first state to the second state. This lengthening of the transmission shaft 30 keeps the overall length of the coupling constant, preventing the clips securing the air guide plate from dislodging during the transition from the first to the second state.

[0049] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, at least two transmission shafts 30 are provided between the two connecting seats 10. When both couplings are in the first state, the at least two transmission shafts 30 are spaced apart and parallel. The parallel and spaced arrangement of the at least two transmission shafts 30 facilitates torsional deformation under external force and torsional recovery through their own flexibility after the external force is removed.

[0050] In other embodiments of this application, when the couplings are all in the first state, at least two transmission shafts 30 are spaced apart and not parallel. The at least two non-parallel transmission shafts 30 can also undergo torsional deformation under external force and recover torsional deformation through their own flexibility after the external force is removed.

[0051] like Figure 2 As shown, this view illustrates the shape of each transmission pair shaft 30 when the coupling is in its first state, corresponding to the state when the coupling is working normally or there is no human error. In this state, each transmission pair shaft 30 is in a straight line. Figure 3 As shown, this view illustrates the configuration of each transmission shaft 30 when the coupling is in the second state, corresponding to the state of the coupling when misoperated by the user or installer, in which case each transmission shaft 30 is twisted.

[0052] It should be noted that although at least two of the transmission shafts 30 are flexible transmission shafts, they still possess a certain degree of rigidity to ensure that the transmission shafts 30 can transmit the driving force of the motor when the motor drives the air guide plate to rotate. Understandably, the flexibility of the transmission shafts 30 is mainly reflected in their deformation under external force, allowing the coupling to switch between the first and second states and absorb torsional forces caused by misoperation; the rigidity of the transmission shafts 30 is mainly reflected in their ability to transmit the torsional force of the motor on the air guide plate (the torsional force of the motor on the air guide plate is much smaller than the external torsional force during misoperation), ensuring that each air guide plate can swing normally.

[0053] In some embodiments, at least two transmission shafts 30 may have the same diameter, and the spacing between any two adjacent transmission shafts 30 may be the same. The longer the length of the at least two transmission shafts 30, the greater the overall flexibility of the at least two transmission shafts 30.

[0054] In some embodiments, at least two transmission shafts 30 may have the same length, and the spacing between any two adjacent transmission shafts 30 may be the same. The smaller the diameter of the at least two transmission shafts 30, the greater the overall flexibility of the at least two transmission shafts 30.

[0055] When the diameter, length and spacing of the transmission pair shafts 30 are fixed, the fewer the number of transmission pair shafts 30, the greater the overall flexibility of at least two transmission pair shafts 30.

[0056] When the diameter, length and number of transmission shafts 30 are fixed, the larger the distance between any two adjacent transmission shafts 30, the stronger the overall flexibility of at least two transmission shafts 30.

[0057] Understandably, to obtain the optimal flexibility and rigidity parameters, the length, diameter, spacing, and number of the transmission pair shafts 30 can be changed. Changing one or more of these parameters can yield the corresponding optimal flexibility and rigidity parameters.

[0058] In this embodiment, the material of the transmission shaft 30 is not limited, as long as it has both flexibility and a certain degree of rigidity.

[0059] In some embodiments, the coupling further includes a drive shaft 20, which is connected between the drive auxiliary shaft 30 and the connecting seat 10.

[0060] The number of transmission main shafts 20 can be set to one. An asymmetrical coupling is formed by one transmission main shaft 20 in conjunction with two connecting seats 10 and at least two transmission auxiliary shafts 30. The transmission main shaft 20 can provide torsional stiffness to prevent the coupling from twisting during motor drive, which could cause jamming or failure to transmit power.

[0061] like Figure 1 As shown, the number of transmission main shafts can also be set to two, with the two transmission main shafts 20 respectively connected to the opposite ends of the transmission auxiliary shaft 30. The opposite ends of the transmission auxiliary shaft 30 are respectively connected to a connecting seat 10 through a transmission main shaft 20.

[0062] A symmetrical coupling is formed by two main drive shafts 20, two connecting seats 10, and at least two auxiliary drive shafts 30. The main drive shafts 20 can provide torsional stiffness to prevent the coupling from twisting during motor drive, which could cause jamming or failure to transmit power.

[0063] For example, the length of the main drive shaft 20 can be greater than the length of the secondary drive shaft 30, and the diameter of the main drive shaft 20 can be greater than the diameter of the secondary drive shaft 30. In this case, during the transmission of the motor's torque, the main transmission path is on the main drive shaft 20, and the shorter secondary drive shaft 30 can ensure that the motor's torque is insufficient to cause deformation. The specific lengths and diameters of the main drive shaft 20 and the secondary drive shaft 30 can be selected based on different ceiling machine models. Of course, the cross-sections of the main drive shaft 20 and the secondary drive shaft 30 can also be set to other shapes such as elliptical, square, or polygonal, as long as the main drive shaft 20 can transmit the motor's torque and the secondary drive shaft 30 can transmit the motor's torque and absorb the torque caused by human error.

[0064] For ceiling-mounted ceiling machines of the same model, the total length of the main drive shaft 20 and the secondary drive shaft 30 is a fixed value. The longer the main drive shaft 20, the shorter the secondary drive shaft 30. In this case, to ensure the overall flexibility of at least two secondary drive shafts 30, the diameter of the secondary drive shaft 30 can be reduced, the spacing between any two adjacent secondary drive shafts 30 can be increased, or the number of secondary drive shafts 30 can be reduced. Conversely, the shorter the main drive shaft 20, the longer the secondary drive shaft 30. In this case, to ensure the overall flexibility of at least two secondary drive shafts 30, the diameter of the secondary drive shaft 30 can be increased, the spacing between any two adjacent secondary drive shafts 30 can be decreased, or the number of secondary drive shafts 30 can be increased.

[0065] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the coupling also includes two support units 40, which are respectively connected to the two main drive shafts 20 on one side facing each other, wherein the secondary drive shaft 30 is connected between the two support units 40.

[0066] like Figure 1 As shown, the diameter of the support unit 40 is larger than the diameter of the transmission main shaft 20. The support unit 40 is used to transition between the transmission main shaft 20 and the transmission secondary shaft 30, so as to further disperse the at least two transmission secondary shafts 30, which is more conducive to the torsion of the at least two transmission secondary shafts 30.

[0067] Each support unit 40 is provided with at least two connecting holes 410. One end of each transmission shaft 30 passes through a connecting hole 410 of one support unit 40, and the other end of each transmission shaft 30 passes through a connecting hole 410 of another support unit 40, thereby fixing the position of the transmission shaft 30. The at least two connecting holes 410 may be offset from the position of the main transmission shaft 20, or the at least two connecting holes 410 may be provided at positions corresponding to the main transmission shaft 20 on the support unit 40.

[0068] When the transmission shaft 30 is connected to the support unit 40, the transmission shaft 30 is inserted into the connection hole 410 of the support unit 40. The connection can be secured by adhesive bonding, welding, fasteners, or by attaching a flexible washer to the transmission shaft 30 before inserting it into the connection hole 410 of the support unit 40. Different securing methods can be selected based on the materials used to manufacture the transmission shaft 30 and the support unit 40.

[0069] The number of transmission shafts 30 matches the number of connecting holes 410, and the diameter of the transmission shafts 30 matches the diameter of the connecting holes 410. For example... Figure 1 As shown, each support unit 40 is provided with four connecting holes 410. At this time, four transmission shafts 30 are provided accordingly. The two ends of each transmission shaft 30 are respectively installed in the corresponding connecting holes 410 of the support units 40 on both sides.

[0070] In other embodiments of this application, each support unit 40 may be provided with two, three, five or more connecting holes 410. In this case, a corresponding number of transmission shafts 30 are provided, and the two ends of each transmission shaft 30 are respectively installed in the corresponding connecting holes 410 of the support units 40 on both sides.

[0071] In other embodiments of this application, one end of each transmission shaft 30 is bonded to one of the support units 40, and the other end of each transmission shaft 30 is bonded to another support unit 40. It is understood that directly bonding the transmission shaft 30 to the support unit 40 with adhesive can also ensure a stable connection between the transmission shaft 30 and the support unit 40.

[0072] In other embodiments of this application, one end of each transmission shaft 30 is fixed to one of the support units 40 by fasteners, and the other end of each transmission shaft 30 is fixed to another support unit 40 by fasteners. It is understood that directly locking the transmission shaft 30 and the support unit 40 with fasteners can also ensure a stable connection between the transmission shaft 30 and the support unit 40. The fasteners include, but are not limited to, screws, bolts, etc.

[0073] In some embodiments, each support unit 40 is configured as circular, elliptical, polygonal or spiral, and the side of each support unit 40 away from the drive shaft 20 to which it is connected is the connecting side 420, and the connecting holes 410 are configured at least two circumferentially spaced on the connecting side 420.

[0074] like Figure 1 As shown, the circular support unit 40, in conjunction with at least two connecting holes 410 distributed circumferentially, allows at least two transmission shafts 30 to be distributed circumferentially, which is beneficial for the torsional deformation and flexible recovery of the at least two transmission shafts 30.

[0075] In other embodiments of this application, the at least two connecting holes 410 on the support unit 40 may also be distributed in other shapes. For example, five connecting holes 410 may be provided on the support unit 40, and the five connecting holes 410 may be located at the five corners of the pentagon; or three connecting holes 410 may be provided on the support unit 40, and the three connecting holes 410 may be located at the three corners of the triangle.

[0076] In other embodiments of this application, the support unit 40 may also be configured as an ellipse, polygon, spiral or other shape, as long as the support unit 40 can have at least two connection holes 410 while connecting to the transmission spindle 20.

[0077] The connecting hole 410 on the support unit 40 can be a through hole or a non-through hole, so that the transmission shaft 30 can be inserted into the connecting hole 410.

[0078] In some embodiments, the drive shaft 20 includes a rigid drive shaft. The rigid drive shaft, as the drive shaft 20, can provide torsional stiffness, preventing twisting during motor drive that could cause jamming or transmission failure.

[0079] Specifically, the drive spindle 20 can be made of plastic, which reduces production costs and provides good rigidity. Correspondingly, the connecting seat 10 and the support unit 40 are also made of plastic. In this case, the connecting seat 10, drive spindle 20, and support unit 40 can be integrally injection molded, giving them good connection stability and structural stability.

[0080] In other embodiments of this application, the transmission spindle 20 may also be made of other rigid materials, the connecting seat 10 and the support unit 40 may also be made of other rigid materials, and the transmission spindle 20, the connecting seat 10 and the support unit 40 may be made of the same or different materials.

[0081] The coupling provided in this application embodiment can connect two air guide plates in the same group of air guide plates, reducing the number of motors in the ceiling machine from four to two, greatly reducing production costs. At the same time, this coupling can improve its tolerance to user or installer errors in manipulating the air guide plates, preventing the coupling clips from loosening due to misoperation and saving maintenance costs.

[0082] like Figure 4 As shown in the figure, this application embodiment also provides a ceiling machine, including an air guide structure, wherein the air guide structure is provided with a coupling as in the foregoing embodiment.

[0083] The ceiling-mounted air conditioner in this embodiment incorporates the aforementioned coupling within its air-guiding structure. This coupling connects two connecting seats 10 via a flexible transmission shaft 30. When a user or installer mistakenly operates the air guide plates, causing them to twist in opposite directions, the transmission shaft 30 deforms under external force. This prevents the torsional force from being transmitted to the clips securing the air guide plates; instead, the transmission shaft 30 absorbs the torsional force, ensuring the air guide plates are securely mounted on the ceiling-mounted air conditioner's connecting plates and preventing the clips from coming loose. After the user or installer removes the force applied to the air guide plates, the transmission shaft 30 recovers its deformation through its flexibility, allowing it to transmit motor power during normal use. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner with this structure has a certain tolerance for torsional deformation caused by user or installer error, preventing situations where airflow is impossible due to user or installer error and saving on maintenance costs associated with loose air guide plate clips.

[0084] Specifically, the air guide structure may include four air guide plates arranged in a quadrilateral shape. These four air guide plates form two sets of air guide plates. The two air guide plates in the same set are connected by the aforementioned coupling to transmit the torsional force of the motor, driving the air guide plates to oscillate. This installation method reduces the number of motors required; specifically, it reduces the number of motors by two. This lowers the production cost of the ceiling-mounted air guide machine while tolerating user error (manually reversing the movement of two air guide plates in the same set during use) or installation error (manually reversing the movement of two air guide plates in the same set during installation).

[0085] In other embodiments of this application, the four air guide plates of the air guide structure can be connected sequentially by three couplings. In this case, only one motor is needed to complete the swing of the four air guide plates, which reduces the production cost of the ceiling machine while tolerating improper operation by the user or improper installation by the installer.

[0086] This application also provides an air conditioner, which includes a ceiling-mounted unit as described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0087] In this embodiment of the air conditioner, a coupling is installed in the air guide structure of the ceiling unit. The coupling connects two connecting seats 10 via a flexible transmission shaft 30. When the user or installer accidentally operates the air guide plate, causing the two air guide plates to twist in opposite directions, the transmission shaft 30 can deform under the action of external force. This prevents the torsional force caused by the accidental operation from being transmitted to the clips fixing the air guide plate. Instead, the torsional force is absorbed by the transmission shaft 30, allowing the air guide plate to be securely installed on the connecting plate of the ceiling unit, preventing the clips fixing the air guide plate from falling off. After the user or installer removes the external force from the air guide plate, the transmission shaft 30 can recover its deformation through its own flexibility, so as to transmit the power of the motor during normal use. The air conditioner with the above structure has a certain tolerance for torsional deformation caused by user or installer misoperation, avoiding the situation where air cannot be guided due to user or installer misoperation, and saving maintenance costs caused by the loosening of the air guide plate clips.

[0088] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0089] The coupling, ceiling unit, and air conditioner provided in the embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are only for the purpose of helping to understand the technical solutions and core ideas of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A coupling, characterized in that, Air guide structures used in ceiling-mounted air conditioners include: Two connecting seats are connected to a transmission shaft, which is a flexible transmission shaft. The transmission shaft can undergo torsional deformation when subjected to external force and can recover its deformation through its own flexibility when not subjected to external force. A transmission main shaft is connected between the transmission secondary shaft and the connecting seat. Two transmission main shafts are provided, and the two transmission main shafts are respectively connected to the opposite ends of the transmission secondary shaft. The opposite ends of the transmission secondary shaft are respectively connected to the connecting seat through one of the transmission main shafts. The coupling has a first state and a second state. When it is in the first state, there is a first gap between the two connecting seats. When it is in the second state, there is a second gap between the two connecting seats. Wherein, the first interval distance is greater than the second interval distance, the transmission pair shaft can undergo torsional deformation when subjected to external force to switch the coupling from the first state to the second state, and the transmission pair shaft can switch the coupling from the second state to the first state through its own flexibility when not subjected to external force.

2. The coupling as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The coupling has a first state and a second state. When it is in the first state, the transmission shaft has a first length, and when it is in the second state, the transmission shaft has a second length. Wherein, the first length is less than the second length, the transmission shaft can undergo torsional deformation when subjected to external force to switch the coupling from the first state to the second state, and the transmission shaft can switch the coupling from the second state to the first state through its own flexibility when not subjected to external force.

3. The coupling as described in claim 2, characterized in that, At least two transmission shafts are provided between the two connecting seats; In the first state, the at least two transmission pair shafts are spaced apart and parallel to each other; Alternatively, in the first state, the at least two transmission shafts are spaced apart and not parallel.

4. The coupling as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: Two support units are respectively connected to the two drive shafts on one side facing each other; The transmission shaft is connected between the two support units.

5. The coupling as described in claim 4, characterized in that, Each of the support units is provided with a connection hole, one end of the transmission shaft passes through the connection hole of one of the support units, and the other end of the transmission shaft passes through the connection hole of the other support unit; Alternatively, one end of the transmission shaft is bonded to one of the support units, and the other end of the transmission shaft is bonded to the other support unit; Alternatively, one end of the transmission shaft is fixed to one of the support units by fasteners, and the other end of the transmission shaft is fixed to another of the support units by fasteners.

6. The coupling as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the support units is configured as circular, elliptical, polygonal or spiral, and the side of each support unit away from the transmission spindle to which it is connected is the connection side, and the connection holes are configured at least two at intervals along the circumference of the connection side.

7. A ceiling-mounted air conditioner, comprising an air guiding structure, characterized in that, The air guiding structure is provided with a coupling as described in any one of claims 1-6.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, Including the ceiling machine as described in claim 7.

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