Air conditioner with changeable air inlet direction

Abstract

The application provides an air conditioner with changeable air inlet direction, comprising a casing and an air supply heat exchange assembly. The casing comprises a body and a front panel, air inlets are arranged on the left side wall and the right side wall of the body, and an air outlet is arranged on the front panel. The air supply heat exchange assembly is reversibly installed in the casing to selectively suck indoor air through one air inlet for heat exchange, and discharge the air after heat exchange through the air outlet. The front panel is fixedly connected to the front side of the air supply heat exchange assembly. Alternatively, the front panel is reversibly installed on the body. The scheme can switch the air inlet direction of the air conditioner, so that the user can freely select the installation position of the air conditioner, and the switching process is quick and convenient, which can improve the user experience.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, in particular to an air conditioner capable of changing the direction of incoming air. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the accelerating development of home integration trend, modern home design pays more and more attention to the harmony and unity of electrical equipment and the overall environment. In this context, electrical appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines have successfully achieved embedded installation. For example, a refrigerator can be installed at a corner of a wall, with its side and back close to the wall. For another example, a refrigerator can be installed in a furniture cabinet (such as a TV cabinet, a cupboard, a wardrobe, a display cabinet, etc.), with its side, back, top cover, and base close to the furniture cabinet partition. However, due to the orientation of the air inlet and air outlet, air conditioners still face many challenges in integrating into an integrated home environment.

[0003] To improve the embeddability, related technologies propose a solution of side air inlet and front air outlet to embed and install an air conditioner at a corner of a wall or at one side end of a furniture cabinet. For example, an air conditioner can be embedded and installed at a left corner of a wall or at a right end of a TV cabinet, with the air inlet at the right side of the air conditioner and the air outlet at the front side. However, once the user selects an air conditioner, the air conditioner cannot be embedded and installed at a right corner of a wall or at a left end of a TV cabinet, otherwise the air inlet will be blocked. The above solution greatly limits the user's freedom of modification and the use experience is poor. SUMMARY

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present application is proposed to provide an air conditioner capable of changing the direction of incoming air to overcome the above problems or at least partially solve the above problems, aiming to solve the problem that existing air conditioners cannot freely change the direction of incoming air.

[0005] Specifically, the present application provides the following technical solutions:

[0006] An air conditioner capable of changing the direction of incoming air comprises a casing and an air supply heat exchange assembly.

[0007] The casing comprises a body and a front panel, the left side wall and the right side wall of the body are each provided with an air inlet, and the front panel is provided with an air outlet.

[0008] The air supply heat exchange assembly is installed in the casing in an up-down reversible manner to selectively draw indoor air through one of the air inlets for heat exchange, and discharge the heat-exchanged air through the air outlet.

[0009] The front panel is fixedly connected to the front side of the air supply heat exchange assembly, or the front panel is installed in the body in an up-down reversible manner.

[0010] The present application also provides an air conditioner capable of changing the direction of incoming air, comprising a casing and an air supply heat exchange assembly.

[0011] The casing comprises a body and a front panel, air inlets are arranged on left and right side walls of the body, and an air outlet is arranged on the front panel. The air outlet is located in the middle of the front panel in the transverse and vertical directions.

[0012] The air supply and heat exchange assembly is reversibly installed in the casing to selectively suck indoor air through one of the air inlets for heat exchange and discharge the heat-exchanged air through the air outlet.

[0013] The front panel is detachably fixedly connected to the body.

[0014] Optionally, a water collecting tray is further fixedly arranged in the casing, and the water collecting tray is located on the lower side of the air supply and heat exchange assembly.

[0015] Optionally, the air supply and heat exchange assembly comprises a heat exchanger, an air duct and a fan.

[0016] The heat exchanger is arranged close to the air inlet on the left side wall or close to the air inlet on the right side wall to exchange heat with the incoming indoor air.

[0017] The air duct extends from the air outlet side of the heat exchanger to the air outlet.

[0018] The fan is arranged in the air duct to facilitate the indoor air to flow through the heat exchanger and be discharged from the air outlet.

[0019] Optionally, the air supply and heat exchange assembly further comprises an upper support plate and a lower support plate arranged in an up-down interval, and the heat exchanger and the fan are both installed between the upper support plate and the lower support plate.

[0020] The air duct is fixedly connected between the upper support plate and the lower support plate.

[0021] Optionally, the air duct is integrally formed with the upper support plate and the lower support plate.

[0022] Optionally, the casing further comprises an upper panel and a lower panel, and the upper panel and the lower panel are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the front panel.

[0023] The air supply and heat exchange assembly is connected between the upper panel and the lower panel through the upper support plate and the lower support plate.

[0024] Optionally, a sliding groove is arranged on each of the left and right side walls, and the upper support plate and the lower support plate are slidably installed in the sliding grooves in the front-rear direction.

[0025] Optionally, the air inlets and the air outlet both extend in the vertical direction.

[0026] The fan is a cross-flow fan wheel, and the fan is arranged vertically.

[0027] The heat exchanger is arranged vertically, and the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchange section and a second heat exchange section which are at an acute angle. The first heat exchange section is at the back side of the fan. The second heat exchange section is at the left side or the right side of the fan, and the second heat exchange section is at an angle of 95-115 degrees with the front panel.

[0028] Optionally, a covering device is arranged at the air inlet, and the covering device is configured to cover the two air inlets alternatively or simultaneously.

[0029] The application further provides an air conditioner capable of changing the air inlet direction, comprising a casing, an air supply heat exchange assembly and a water pan.

[0030] An air supply opening is arranged on the front panel of the casing, and an air inlet is arranged on the left side wall or the right side wall of the casing.

[0031] The air supply heat exchange assembly is fixedly connected to the casing, so as to suck indoor air through the air inlet for heat exchange, and discharge the air after heat exchange through the air supply opening.

[0032] The water pan is fixedly connected to the casing. The water pan is arranged oppositely in two, and is arranged at the upper side and the lower side of the air supply heat exchange assembly respectively, so that at least one water pan is arranged at the lower side of the air supply heat exchange assembly when the casing is installed upside down.

[0033] The air conditioner capable of changing the air inlet direction of the application can install the air supply heat exchange assembly upside down in the casing. By installing the air supply heat exchange assembly upside down, the connection relationship between the air supply heat exchange assembly and the two air inlets of the left and right side walls can be switched, and the actual air inlet during the operation of the air conditioner can be switched from the left side to the right side or from the right side to the left side. The user can freely select the installation position of the air conditioner, and the switching process is quick and convenient, which can improve the user experience. On the other hand, by fixing the front panel to the front side of the air supply heat exchange assembly or installing the front panel upside down in the body, the position of the front panel and the air supply opening can be adjusted simultaneously when the air supply heat exchange assembly is installed upside down, so that the air supply opening maintains the corresponding relative relationship with the air supply heat exchange assembly.

[0034] The air conditioner with changeable air inlet direction of the application, the air supply heat exchange assembly can be installed upside down in the cabinet, by upside down of the air supply heat exchange assembly, the connection relationship between the air supply heat exchange assembly and the two air inlets of the left and right side walls can be switched, and then the actual air inlet of the air conditioner during operation can be switched from the left side to the right side or from the right side to the left side. The user can freely select the installation position of the air conditioner, and the switching process is quick and convenient, which can improve the user experience. On the other hand, by setting the air outlet in the middle of the front panel in the horizontal and vertical directions, and detachably fixing the front panel to the body, the front panel is detached before the air supply heat exchange assembly is upside down, and the front panel is reattached after the air supply heat exchange assembly is upside down, so that the air outlet can keep the corresponding relative relationship with the air supply heat exchange assembly.

[0035] The air conditioner with changeable air inlet direction of the application, by upside down installation of the cabinet and the air supply heat exchange assembly, the air inlet of the air conditioner can be switched from the left side to the right side or from the right side to the left side, so that the user can freely select the installation position of the air conditioner, and the switching process is quick and convenient, which can improve the user experience. On the other hand, by setting the water pan on both sides of the air supply heat exchange assembly, the condensed water generated by the air supply heat exchange assembly can still be collected after the cabinet is upside down, preventing the condensed water from leaking.

[0036] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a better understanding of the preferred embodiments, and are not to be considered as restrictive of the application. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals refer to similar components throughout the several views. In the drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner and a furniture cabinet according to an embodiment of the application;

[0039] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the application;

[0040] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the application; Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner after switching the air inlet of the air conditioner from the right side to the left side according to an embodiment of the application;

[0041] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the application;

[0042] Figure 5is a schematic structural view of an air supply heat exchange assembly and a water pan of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 6 is a schematic front view of an air supply heat exchange assembly and a water pan of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of a horizontal section of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 8 is a schematic front view of a cabinet of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 9 is a schematic sectional view of a covering device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 10 is a schematic structural view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0048] Reference Signs:

[0049] 200, cabinet; 210, body; 212, lower panel; 214, left side wall; 216, right side wall; 218, upper panel; 220, front panel; 230, sliding slot; 310, air inlet; 320, air outlet; 400, air supply heat exchange assembly; 410, heat exchanger; 412, first heat exchange section; 414, second heat exchange section; 420, air duct; 430, fan; 442, upper support plate; 444, lower support plate; 500, water pan; 600, covering device; 700, display screen; 800, furniture cabinet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the application, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the application, not limitation of the application. In fact, many variations and modifications of the application can be made that fall within the scope of the application. For instance, features from one example can be combined with features from a different example to create a further example. Thus, it should be apparent that the application is not limited to the examples provided herein but can be practiced with the scope and spirit of the application. In the drawings, the same reference numbers signify the same or similar elements.

[0051] Reference will now be made to Figures 1 to 10This invention describes an air conditioner according to embodiments of the present invention. The terms "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "top," "bottom," "lateral," and "longitudinal," etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are used solely for the purpose of facilitating and simplifying the description of the invention, 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. To illustrate the structure of the device, some of the accompanying drawings are shown in perspective.

[0052] In the description of this embodiment, it should be understood that the term "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified. When a feature "includes or contains" one or more of the features it covers, unless otherwise specifically described, this indicates that other features are not excluded and may be further included.

[0053] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "some examples," "one example," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0054] For air conditioners recessed into a corner (e.g., the left corner), one side (e.g., the left side) and the back are usually close to the wall, and indoor air can only be drawn in through an air inlet on the other side (e.g., the right side), while the air outlet on the front side (usually the front panel) directs air forward. Similarly, for air conditioners recessed into one end of a furniture cabinet (e.g.,...)... Figure 1 For the air conditioner located on the right side of the TV cabinet, it can only be accessed through one side (e.g., Figure 1 Air enters from the right side and is delivered through the front panel. However, the same air conditioner cannot be installed in the opposite position (such as the right corner of a wall or the left end of a furniture cabinet), otherwise the air intake will be blocked. To accommodate left-right orientation, on the one hand, manufacturers need to produce two symmetrical air conditioners, leading to increased manufacturing costs. On the other hand, if a user accidentally chooses the wrong orientation when purchasing an air conditioner, or if the user wants to renovate and change the installation location of the air conditioner after a period of time, the originally purchased air conditioner may no longer be suitable.

[0055] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner and a furniture cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 1 As shown, and with reference Figures 2-10The air conditioner 100 with changeable air inlet direction provided by the embodiment of the present application comprises a casing 200 and an air supply heat exchange assembly 400.

[0056] The casing 200 comprises a body 210 and a front panel 220, and the left side wall 214 and the right side wall 216 of the body 210 are respectively provided with air inlets 310, and the front panel 220 is provided with an air outlet 320.

[0057] The air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is reversibly installed in the casing 200, so as to selectively draw indoor air through one air inlet 310 for heat exchange, and discharge the air after heat exchange through the air outlet 320.

[0058] The front panel 220 is fixedly connected to the front side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400, or the front panel 220 is reversibly installed in the body 210.

[0059] The casing 200 can also generally comprise a back plate, a base, a top cover and the like. The installation mode of the air conditioner 100 can be vertical, i.e. the base of the air conditioner 100 is placed on the bottom plate of the cabinet or the floor in the cabinet. The installation mode of the air conditioner 100 can also be wall-mounted, i.e. the back plate of the air conditioner 100 is hung on the back plate of the cabinet or the wall in the cabinet. The installation mode of the cabinet air conditioner 100 can also be ceiling-mounted, i.e. the top cover of the air conditioner 100 is hung on the top plate of the cabinet or the roof in the cabinet.

[0060] The air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is reversibly installed in the casing 200, specifically, in the accommodating space provided in the body 210. The air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can comprise a heat exchanger 410, a fan 430 and an air duct 420 and the like, and is detachably connected to the inside of the body 210 through a frame. In this way, when the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is reversed, the frame is directly reversed, which is relatively simple to operate.

[0061] The outlet of the air duct 420 of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is located at the front side, so as to be connected with the air supply port 320 on the front panel 220 correspondingly. When the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is in the first installation state, the air inlet side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can be arranged at the right side and opposite to the air inlet port 310 on the right side wall 216. At this time, the air conditioner 100 forms an air flow loop of right side air inlet and front side air supply. When it is needed to change the air inlet direction, the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can be dismounted from the cabinet 200, and then mounted again after being turned upside down (for example, being rotated by 180 degrees around an axis extending along the front-rear direction). At this time, the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is in the second installation state, the air inlet side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is located at the left side and opposite to the air inlet port 310 on the left side wall 214, so as to form an air flow loop of left side air inlet and front side air supply. In this way, the user can freely select the installation position of the air conditioner 100, and the switching process is quick and convenient, so as to improve the user experience.

[0062] In the embodiment, the front panel 220 is fixedly connected to the front side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400, and the air supply port 320 is always connected with the outlet of the air duct 420 of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 correspondingly. In this way, when the air inlet direction is switched, the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 and the front panel 220 can be dismounted from the main body together, and then mounted again after being turned upside down. Since the process of switching the air inlet port 310 does not need to additionally dismount the front panel 220, the switching efficiency can be improved.

[0063] In some other embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figures 2-3 the front panel 220 can be mounted on the main body 210 in a manner of being turned upside down. The front panel 220 can be detachably mounted on the front side of the main body 210 in the form of threaded fasteners, buckles or the like. When the air inlet direction is switched, the front panel 220 can be first dismounted from the main body 210, the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can be dismounted from the cabinet 200, and then mounted again after being turned upside down. Then, the front panel 220 is turned upside down (for example, being rotated by 180 degrees around an axis extending along the front-rear direction), and finally mounted on the front side of the main body 210. Since the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 and the front panel 220 are both turned upside down, the air supply port 320 on the front panel 220 is always kept corresponding to the outlet of the air duct 420 of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400. In the embodiment, the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can be directly exposed outside by first dismounting the front panel 220 from the main body, so as to facilitate the quick dismounting of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 from the main body and the quick mounting of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 in the main body.

[0064] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 4 the air conditioner 100 comprises a cabinet 200 and an air supply heat exchange assembly 400.

[0065] The casing 200 comprises a body 210 and a front panel 220, the left side wall 214 and the right side wall 216 of the body 210 are each provided with an air inlet 310, and the front panel 220 is provided with an air outlet 320. The air outlet 320 is located in the middle of the front panel 220 in the transverse and vertical directions.

[0066] The air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can be installed upside down in the casing 200 to selectively suck indoor air through one air inlet 310 for heat exchange, and discharge the heat-exchanged air through the air outlet 320.

[0067] The front panel 220 is detachably fixedly connected to the body 210.

[0068] In the embodiment, the air outlet 320 is located in the middle of the front panel 220 in the transverse and vertical directions, that is, the outlet of the air duct 420 of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 corresponding to the air outlet 320 is also located in the middle in the transverse and vertical directions. In this way, no matter whether the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is in the first installation state or the second installation state, the position of the air outlet 320 remains unchanged.

[0069] When switching the air inlet direction, the front panel 220 can be first removed from the body 210, then the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can be removed from the casing 200, and then the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can be installed upside down in the casing 200, and finally the front panel 220 can be reinstalled on the front side of the body 210. In this way, the position of the air outlet 320 remains unchanged before and after switching the air inlet direction, the switching operation is relatively simple, and the air conditioner 100 as a whole has a symmetrical aesthetic appearance.

[0070] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 5 The casing 200 further fixedly has a water collecting tray 500, and the water collecting tray 500 is located on the lower side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400.

[0071] The water collecting tray 500 is used to collect and contain condensate water, dehumidification water and the like generated by the upper air supply heat exchange assembly 400 during operation, so as to prevent water droplets from leaking. The water collecting tray 500 is fixedly arranged in the casing 200 and located on the lower side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400, so that the water collecting tray 500 can collect and contain the condensate water, dehumidification water and the like generated by the upper air supply heat exchange assembly 400, no matter whether the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is in the first installation state or the second installation state.

[0072] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 7 The air supply heat exchange assembly 400 comprises a heat exchanger 410, an air duct 420 and a fan 430.

[0073] The heat exchanger 410 is arranged close to the air inlet 310 on the left side wall 214 or close to the air inlet 310 on the right side wall 216 to exchange heat with the indoor air entering.

[0074] The air duct 420 extends from the air outlet side of the heat exchanger 410 to the air outlet 320.

[0075] The fan 430 is arranged in the air duct 420 to cause the indoor air to flow through the heat exchanger 410 and then be discharged from the air outlet 320.

[0076] The heat exchanger 410 is used to cool, heat, humidify, dehumidify, etc. the passing indoor air. The heat exchanger 410 is provided with a series of heat exchange fins or pipes, which can effectively transfer and exchange heat or cold on the one hand, and can also straighten the passing indoor air to reduce the disturbance at the downstream fan 430.

[0077] The air duct 420 extends from the air outlet side of the heat exchanger 410 to the air outlet 320, which mainly functions to guide and transport the air processed by the heat exchanger 410. The air duct 420 can be arranged according to the type and specification of the fan 430. The design of the air duct 420 should take into account the smoothness and uniformity of the airflow to ensure that the indoor air can pass through the heat exchanger 410 uniformly and achieve uniform temperature distribution in the entire room.

[0078] The fan 430 can be a cross-flow fan, an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, etc., which is not required here. The type and installation position of the fan 430 can be designed according to the specific use scenario and performance requirements to ensure that sufficient air volume and air pressure can be provided to meet the circulation and heat exchange requirements of the indoor air. The speed and power of the fan 430 can be adjusted by the control system to adapt to different indoor temperature and humidity conditions.

[0079] In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 410 is arranged close to one side of the air inlet 310 and on the side of the fan 430 away from the air outlet 320. That is, the heat exchanger 410 is upstream of the fan 430. Compared with arranging the heat exchanger 410 downstream of the fan 430, this scheme can prevent the heat exchanger 410 from hindering the flow rate of the air flow downstream of the fan 430, avoiding affecting the air supply speed or air supply distance.

[0080] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 5 The air supply heat exchange assembly 400 further includes an upper support plate 442 and a lower support plate 444 arranged in an up-down interval, and the heat exchanger 410 and the fan 430 are both installed between the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444.

[0081] The air duct 420 is fixedly connected between the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444.

[0082] The upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 are used to form a frame for mounting the heat exchanger 410, the fan 430 and the air duct 420. In this way, when the air supply and heat exchange assembly 400 is reversed up and down, the heat exchanger 410, the fan 430 and the air duct 420 can be reversed up and down together by reversing the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 up and down directly, which is relatively simple to operate. The upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 can be plastic components or sheet metal parts, which are not limited here.

[0083] The heat exchanger 410 can be arranged vertically, and the upper and lower ends of the heat exchanger 410 are fixedly installed on the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444, respectively. The fan 430 can be arranged vertically, and the upper and lower ends of the fan 430 can be rotatably arranged on the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444. The fan 430 can also be drivingly connected to a motor, and the motor can be fixedly connected to the upper support plate 442 or the lower support plate 444.

[0084] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, the air duct 420 is integrally formed with the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444. That is, the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 can form the upper side wall and the lower side wall of the air duct 420, respectively. Through integrated design and manufacturing processing, on the one hand, the sealing performance of the air duct 420 can be improved. On the other hand, the structural strength of the air supply and heat exchange assembly 400 as a whole can be improved to avoid deformation during disassembly or up and down reversal. Thirdly, manufacturing costs can be saved.

[0085] It should be understood that when the air duct 420 is integrally formed with the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444, the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 should be provided with water holes corresponding to the positions of the air duct 420 and the heat exchanger 410, so as to drain the condensed water and dehumidified water generated during operation into the water pan 500 below.

[0086] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figures 2-4 and Figure 8 The cabinet 200 further includes an upper panel 218 and a lower panel 212, and the upper panel 218 and the lower panel 212 are located on the upper and lower sides of the front panel 220, respectively.

[0087] The air supply and heat exchange assembly 400 is connected between the upper panel 218 and the lower panel 212 by the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444.

[0088] The front panel 220 is between the upper panel 218 and the lower panel 212, the upper panel 218 can be connected to the top cover of the cabinet 200, and the lower panel 212 can be connected to the base of the cabinet 200.

[0089] The upper panel 218 can be used as a display and electric control part. A display screen 700 can be arranged on the upper panel 218, and a wireless window, control buttons, etc. can also be arranged. Since this part is relatively independent, the display screen 700 and the operation interface of the upper panel 218 will remain fixed regardless of the adjustment of the front panel 220, and the user does not need to worry about the change of the interface position.

[0090] The front panel 220 is focused on the air supply and heat exchange function, which is the core area of the air conditioner indoor unit to realize temperature regulation. This part can effectively supply air to provide a comfortable indoor environment for the user.

[0091] The lower panel 212 is an additional functional part, which can be diversified according to actual needs. For example, a drain port, a maintenance port, an installation air purifier, etc. can be arranged to meet different use scenarios and user needs.

[0092] Such a design not only makes each functional part relatively independent, but also greatly improves the convenience of maintenance and upgrading. For example, when the air supply and heat exchange assembly 400 needs to be up-down reversed or needs to be repaired or replaced, only the front panel 220 and the air supply and heat exchange assembly 400 need to be disassembled, without disassembling the entire cabinet 200, effectively saving maintenance time and cost.

[0093] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 8 The left side wall 214 and the right side wall 216 are both provided with a sliding groove 230, and the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 are slidably installed in the sliding groove 230 in the front-rear direction.

[0094] Specifically, the sliding groove 230 can be a U-shaped groove. The upper part of the left side wall 214 of the cabinet 200 has a sliding groove 230 for the left side of the upper support plate 442 to slide into, and the upper part of the right side wall 216 of the cabinet 200 has a sliding groove 230 for the right side of the upper support plate 442 to slide into. The openings of the two sliding grooves 230 are oppositely arranged. The lower part of the left side wall 214 of the cabinet 200 has a sliding groove 230 for the left side of the lower support plate 444 to slide into, and the lower part of the right side wall 216 of the cabinet 200 has a sliding groove 230 for the right side of the lower support plate 444 to slide into. The openings of the two sliding grooves 230 are also oppositely arranged.

[0095] The definition of the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 is only based on the relative position relationship between the two, and not based on their absolute position relative to the ground or other fixed reference. During the up-down reversing installation process, the upper support plate 442 before reversing will slide into the two sliding grooves 230 below as the lower support plate 444, and the lower support plate 444 before reversing will slide into the two sliding grooves 230 above as the upper support plate 442.

[0096] In some other embodiments, vertically arranged sliding grooves 230 can be provided on the rear side of the housing 200, with the openings of the two sliding grooves 230 facing the front side of the housing 200. During installation, the rear sides of the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 can also slide into the sliding grooves 230. In this way, the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 can be supported by the left side wall 214, the right side wall 216 and the rear side wall of the housing 200, which improves the installation stability of the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444.

[0097] In some alternative embodiments, corrugated strips are provided between the sliding groove 230 and the mating surfaces of the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444. The main function of the corrugated strips is to reduce the contact area between the two. Due to the reduction in contact area, the friction is also reduced accordingly, thereby making the sliding of the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 smoother and reducing wear and noise caused by friction. Although the corrugated strips reduce the contact area, they can still ensure the stability of the upper support plate 442 and the lower support plate 444 within the sliding groove 230. At the same time, the structural design of the corrugated strips can also distribute the stress during the sliding process, improving the durability of the entire structure.

[0098] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present invention, such as Figures 2-4 and Figure 7 As shown, both the air inlet 310 and the air outlet 320 extend vertically.

[0099] Fan 430 is a cross-flow fan, and fan 430 is set vertically.

[0100] The heat exchanger 410 is arranged vertically and includes a first heat exchange section 412 and a second heat exchange section 414 forming an acute angle β. The first heat exchange section 412 is located behind the fan 430. The second heat exchange section 414 is located to the left or right of the fan 430, and the angle α between the second heat exchange section 414 and the front panel 220 is 95-115 degrees.

[0101] Both the air inlet 310 and the air outlet 320 are elongated openings, which help optimize the distribution of airflow, thereby drawing in and expelling air more evenly, improving the cooling or heating effect of the air conditioner, and bringing users a more comfortable user experience.

[0102] The cross-flow impeller is a type of cross-flow impeller. On the one hand, it can be used with the long strip-shaped air inlet 310 and air outlet 320 to generate a large air volume. On the other hand, it can change the direction of airflow through the fan blades, making it more suitable for airflow circuits with side air inlet and front air outlet.

[0103] In this embodiment, the first heat exchange section 412 and the second heat exchange section 414 can be fixedly connected adjacently or at intervals, which can be selected and arranged as needed. When fixedly connected adjacently, a transition fillet can be arranged between the first heat exchange section 412 and the second heat exchange section 414 to improve the stability of the airflow. The included angle β between the first heat exchange section 412 and the second heat exchange section 414 is an acute angle, which facilitates wrapping the cross-flow fan at the air inlet side of the cross-flow fan, and at the same time, rectifying the airflow to optimize the stability of the airflow at the air inlet side and inside of the cross-flow fan.

[0104] The included angle α between the second heat exchange section 414 and the front panel 220 is 95-115 degrees, so that the air inlet surface of the second heat exchange section 414 is inclined to face the air inlet 310, thereby guiding the inlet airflow to pass through the second heat exchange section 414 uniformly from all parts, preventing the heat exchange area from being excessively concentrated in the middle area of the second heat exchange section 414, and causing the heat exchange capacity of the edge area of the second heat exchange section 414 to be wasted. On the other hand, the included angle α between the second heat exchange section 414 and the front panel 220 is 95-115 degrees, which is also conducive to promoting the airflow in the front side area of the air inlet 310 to flow backward and enter the heat exchanger 410, thereby improving the air suction and backflow effect.

[0105] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, a covering device 600 is arranged at the air inlet 310, and the covering device 600 is configured to cover the two air inlets 310 alternatively or simultaneously.

[0106] The air conditioner 100 is provided with air inlets 310 on the left side and the right side, but only one of them is needed in actual work. If the other air inlet 310 is not closed, it may affect the airflow circuit inside the cabinet 200, and also easily cause dust and foreign matter to enter.

[0107] The covering device 600 can be a rotating guide vane, as shown in Figure 9 Both sides of the air inlet 310 can be provided with a rotating series of guide vanes to rotate to open the air inlet 310 when needed, and to rotate to close the other air inlet 310. Of course, when the air conditioner 100 is closed, both sides of the air inlet 310 can be closed to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering.

[0108] The covering device 600 can be a baffle, which can cover the air inlet 310 from the outside or the inside. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 7As shown, the baffle can be fixedly connected to one side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 and is located on the opposite side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 in the air inlet direction. In this way, when the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is transposed up and down, the baffle will be transposed accordingly, so that the baffle can always cover the inside of the non-working air inlet 310. In some other embodiments, the baffle can be detachably fixedly installed on the outside of the air inlet 310 in the form of a threaded fastener, a buckle, a sliding groove 230, etc., to open the air inlet 310 when needed and close the air inlet 310 when not needed.

[0109] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 10 The air conditioner 100 comprises a cabinet 200, an air supply heat exchange assembly 400, and a water pan 500.

[0110] The front panel 220 of the cabinet 200 is provided with an air supply opening 320, and the left side wall 214 or the right side wall 216 of the cabinet 200 is provided with an air inlet 310.

[0111] The air supply heat exchange assembly 400 is fixedly connected in the cabinet 200 to inhale indoor air through the air inlet 310 for heat exchange and discharge the heat-exchanged air through the air supply opening 320.

[0112] The water pan 500 is fixedly connected in the cabinet 200. The water pan 500 is relatively provided with two, which are respectively located on the upper side and the lower side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400, so that at least one water pan 500 is located on the lower side of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 when the cabinet 200 is transposed up and down.

[0113] In this embodiment, the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 and the two water pans 500 are fixedly installed in the cabinet 200, and the cabinet 200 as a whole can be transposed up and down, so as to switch the air inlet 310 from the left side to the right side or from the right side to the left side. This allows the user to freely select the installation position of the air conditioner 100, and the switching process is quick and convenient, which can improve the user experience. On the other hand, by providing the water pan 500 on both the upper and lower sides of the air supply heat exchange assembly 400, the condensed water and dehumidified water generated by the air supply heat exchange assembly 400 can still be collected after the cabinet 200 is transposed up and down, preventing water droplets from leaking.

[0114] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 10 The display screen 700 of the air conditioner 100 is provided in the middle along the vertical direction of the front panel 220. In this way, the height of the display screen 700 can remain unchanged regardless of whether the cabinet 200 is transposed up and down, facilitating the user to interact with the air conditioner 100.

[0115] In some embodiments of the air conditioner of the present application, as shown in Figure 10As shown, the air outlet 320 is arranged at the vertically middle of the front panel 220. In this way, the height of the air outlet 320 can be kept unchanged regardless of whether the casing 200 is upside down, which helps to optimize the distribution of air flow and bring a more comfortable user experience.

[0116] It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous other arrangements without departing from the scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims, wherein like reference numerals are used to denote like features.

Claims

1. An air conditioner with adjustable air intake direction, characterized in that, The air conditioner comprises: a casing comprising a body and a front panel, air inlets being arranged on left and right side walls of the body, and an air outlet being arranged on the front panel; a heat exchange assembly installed in the casing in an up-down reversible manner to selectively draw indoor air through one of the air inlets for heat exchange and discharge the heat-exchanged air through the air outlet; wherein the front panel is fixedly connected to the front side of the heat exchange assembly, or the front panel is installed in the body in an up-down reversible manner; the heat exchange assembly comprises: a heat exchanger arranged close to the air inlet on the left side wall or the air inlet on the right side wall to exchange heat with the incoming indoor air; an air duct extending from the air outlet side of the heat exchanger to the air outlet; and a fan arranged in the air duct to facilitate the indoor air to flow through the heat exchanger and be discharged from the air outlet.

2. The air conditioner capable of changing the direction of incoming air, characterized by, The air conditioner comprises: a casing comprising a body and a front panel, air inlets being arranged on left and right side walls of the body, and an air outlet being arranged on the front panel; the air outlet is located in the middle of the front panel in the horizontal and vertical directions; a heat exchange assembly installed in the casing in an up-down reversible manner to selectively draw indoor air through one of the air inlets for heat exchange and discharge the heat-exchanged air through the air outlet; wherein the front panel is fixedly connected to the body in a detachable manner; the heat exchange assembly comprises: a heat exchanger arranged close to the air inlet on the left side wall or the air inlet on the right side wall to exchange heat with the incoming indoor air; an air duct extending from the air outlet side of the heat exchanger to the air outlet; and a fan arranged in the air duct to facilitate the indoor air to flow through the heat exchanger and be discharged from the air outlet.

3. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein The casing is further fixedly provided with a water pan, and the water pan is located on the lower side of the heat exchange assembly.

4. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by The heat exchange assembly further comprises an upper support plate and a lower support plate arranged in an up-down interval, and the heat exchanger and the fan are both installed between the upper support plate and the lower support plate; the air duct is fixedly connected between the upper support plate and the lower support plate, or the air duct is integrally formed with the upper support plate and the lower support plate.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the casing further comprises an upper panel and a lower panel, and the upper panel and the lower panel are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the front panel; the heat exchange assembly is connected between the upper panel and the lower panel through the upper support plate and the lower support plate.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the left side wall and the right side wall are both provided with a sliding groove, and the upper support plate and the lower support plate are slidably installed in the sliding groove in the front-rear direction.

7. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the air inlets and the air outlet both extend in the vertical direction; the fan is a cross-flow fan, and the fan is arranged in the vertical direction. The heat exchanger is arranged vertically, and comprises a first heat exchange section and a second heat exchange section which are at an acute angle to each other; the first heat exchange section is located at the rear side of the fan; the second heat exchange section is located at the left side or the right side of the fan, and the included angle between the second heat exchange section and the front panel is 95-115 degrees.

8. The air conditioner of any one of claims 1-2, wherein, Covering devices are arranged at the air inlets, and the covering devices are configured to cover the two air inlets alternatively or simultaneously.

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