Outflow assembly and local air conditioning device

Abstract

An outflow assembly configured to control airflow from an air conditioner is disclosed. The outflow assembly includes a nozzle having an upstream end and a downstream end from which the gas flow flows to and out of the downstream end. The outflow assembly also includes a gas flow straightener within the nozzle and having an upstream side facing the upstream end and a downstream side facing the downstream end, the gas flow passing through the gas flow straightener toward the downstream end. The airflow straightener gradually reduces the sectional area of the airflow on the upstream side. In this manner, the airflow straightener reduces vorticity and turbulence in the airflow exiting the nozzle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a local air conditioning device, in particular a personal air conditioning device for cooling one or more persons. The present invention also relates to an outflow assembly for controlling the air flow leaving the air conditioning device. Background Art

[0002] Conventional air conditioning devices mainly work by spraying cold air into an enclosed space to be cooled. The cold air mixes with the air in the enclosed space to relatively uniformly reduce the temperature of the entire enclosed space. Generally, the air is sprayed through one or more vents by a fan in the air conditioner at a relatively high speed to promote the mixing of air throughout the enclosed space.

[0003] The air in the cooling space absorbs heat from the walls, floor, people, and other objects in the cooling space. When warm air passes through an open window, door, vent, or gap in a structural element, additional heat enters the cooling space. As a result, a large amount of energy is consumed to cool the entire enclosed space.

[0004] The air conditioner has an evaporator heat exchanger on the heat absorption side, which absorbs heat from the air in the cooling space (including the latent heat obtained by condensing water vapor into liquid water). The air conditioner also has a condenser heat exchanger on the heat emission side, where the absorbed heat reappears. In many air conditioners, outside air passes through the condenser and its temperature rises as it absorbs heat from the condenser. Absorbing heat typically utilizes the evaporation of a refrigerant gas, and the compression and liquefaction of the refrigerant gas use energy that causes further heat to be generated at the heat emission side. Therefore, the heat transferred to the warm outside air at the condenser is greater than the heat absorbed from the cooling space air at the evaporator by an amount approximately equal to the electrical energy supplied to the compressor and the fan.

[0005] In the case of a split system air conditioner, the heated air leaves the condenser heat exchanger outside the enclosed space, and the cooled conditioned air leaves the evaporator heat exchanger inside the enclosed space. The split system air conditioner uses a fan to drive air through the evaporator and condenser heat exchangers, consuming further energy. Similarly, the split system air conditioner is dedicated to cooling the entire space.

[0006] Portable air conditioners and industrial site coolers are also available. Such air conditioners and coolers are placed inside the space to be cooled and use large diameter air pipes to vent the heated air flow from the space - for example, through a window.

[0007] Most of the energy used in these conventional air conditioning configurations only causes the cooling of the building structure and the objects within the cooled space, as well as the removal of heat entering through the roof or ceiling, walls, floor, and especially through open or covered pores such as windows and doors.

[0008] By localizing the cooling effect of the air conditioner, a significant amount of energy can be saved. To make a person feel comfortable, it is usually sufficient to keep the upper body and face cooled. This principle has been described in U.S. Patent 6,425,255 to Karl Hoffman, issued on July 30, 2002 (filed on December 26, 2000). Further improvements have been described in U.S. Patent 2002 / 0121101 to Asir lyadurai Jebaraj, issued on September 5, 2002 (filed on January 2, 2002). This patent also references Chinese Patents CN2259099 (San Jianhua et al.) and CN1163735 (Tan Mingsen et al.), which describe a mosquito net with conditioned air, where the outside air is conditioned and supplied into the enclosure, and all air is discharged outside the enclosure.

[0009] It is evident from the above that there is a need for a local personal air conditioning system where the conditioned air is more effectively used to cool a person located nearby. Some systems achieve this by directing a cooled air stream onto a bed for sleep applications. The bed provides the infrastructure along which the air stream flows. However, such systems may not be suitable for cooling a person in a seated and standing position without such infrastructure - note that if the floor is considered as the infrastructure, all the air between the floor and the upper body and / or head of the person would need to be cooled, which significantly reduces the energy savings of local cooling.

[0010] Similarly, turbulence in the jet (i.e., the outflow of air from the air conditioner) promotes mixing with the surrounding air. For a cooled air outflow, this mixing increases the temperature of the jet and decreases the velocity of the jet, both of which reduce the cooling sensation at a given distance from the device. Small velocity fluctuations in the jet are amplified as vortices form around the jet due to the friction between the moving air in the jet and the substantially stationary indoor air.

[0011] To generate an air flow through an air conditioner, a fan is common. Each fan drives or sucks air through a heat exchanger (whether on the heat absorption side or the heat emission side). A fan positioned upstream (with respect to the flow direction of the air flow) of the heat exchanger increases the velocity fluctuations because air leaves different parts of the fan at different speeds and in different directions. The non-uniform velocity reduces the heat transferred to the air flow and the heat transferred from the air flow. To achieve a more uniform velocity of the air flow through the heat exchanger, the fan can be positioned downstream (with respect to the flow direction of the air flow) to suck air through the heat exchanger. This reduces the velocity fluctuations at the heat exchanger but increases the turbulence and vorticity of the air flow leaving the fan. This increases the mixing with the surrounding air.

[0012] Mixing with the surrounding air is useful for an air conditioner suitable for cooling an entire space, but is not desirable for an effective local personal air conditioner. In the latter case, an air flow straightener can be used. One such air flow straightener uses a honeycomb structure made of thin sheet metal such as aluminum. However, this straightener accumulates dust and generally cannot be cleaned without damaging the honeycomb structure. Additionally, a significant amount of pressure is required to urge air through the fine parallel air passages, thereby increasing the power required to generate air movement.

[0013] Some local air conditioners use deflectors to control the angle of the air ejected from the air conditioner. A disadvantage of this configuration is that some mixing occurs as the air jet passes along the lower side of the deflector, increasing the average level of turbulence and vorticity in the air jet emerging from the end of the deflector. This mixing causes an increase in the average temperature of the air jet because the thermal energy in the air remains constant. This mixing also causes a reduction in the average jet velocity because the momentum in the original air jet must remain constant. When the conditioned air jet passes from the end of the air deflector towards a nearby user, the increased turbulence and vorticity increase the subsequent mixing with the indoor air. This effect limits the maximum distance at which the user perceives an adequate cooling effect.

[0014] A related problem in designing a low-power local air conditioning device involves waste heat removal. In places where natural ventilation is scarce, the warm air discharged from the hot side of the air conditioner can significantly heat the air in the indoor part. The additional heat in the air ultimately reduces the amount of cooling received by the user and increases the radiant heat received from the surfaces. This undesirable effect increases with the increase in the insulation of the room, thereby reducing the amount of heat that can be absorbed by the indoor structure.

[0015] Therefore, such air conditioners typically employ waste heat discharge pipes. However:

[0016] - Additional energy is required to urge air through the pipes, increasing the energy consumption and heat generation;

[0017] - The air conditioner must be close enough to a vent opening (e.g., a window) that the ducting can reach;

[0018] - The ducting conflicts with the aesthetics of the interior and is difficult to attach to the vent opening;

[0019] - The air discharged from the interior through the discharge ducting reduces the pressure inside the room, causing warm outside air to enter the room through gaps in the structure and vents, and reducing the cooling effect inside the room;

[0020] - Condensation forms on the cold components of the air conditioner and, in cases where it is removed (dispose) in the warm air stream leaving the air conditioner, the rate of removal is less than the rate at which water is drawn into the room in the warm air entering the room through the action of the discharge ducting, thereby increasing humidity and reducing comfort.

[0021] It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above difficulties, or at least provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Disclosed is an out - flow assembly for use with a local air conditioner. The out - flow assembly is configured to direct a jet of conditioned air towards the head and neck of one or more nearby persons. This is advantageous because cooling the head and neck is generally sufficient to make a person feel comfortable. By way of illustration, when a person is sleeping, their entire body is typically covered by bedding except for the head and neck. The temperature inside the bedding is typically about 30 to 36 °C with a relatively high humidity. A normal person sitting in such an environment would feel uncomfortably hot. However, the sleeping person is comfortable because their face and neck are exposed to air at a much lower temperature (typically 15 to 25 °C). Thus, a local air - conditioning device according to the present disclosure can provide a feeling of comfort in an uncomfortably hot environment by providing a cold air stream around the head and neck of a person who may be seated or standing.

[0023] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention primarily address the need to cool one or more nearby seated or standing persons. Enclosing these persons with a fabric enclosure is not desirable as they need to freely and easily move to other parts of the space when needed. Thus, the present invention addresses the need to direct a jet of cold air towards the face and upper body of one or more nearby persons.

[0024] As used herein, the terms "evaporator" and "condenser" (and the like) are used to refer, respectively, to the components of an air conditioning device that extract heat from and transfer heat to an air stream. Although these terms have specific uses in some contexts, they are intended to cover all relevant forms of heat transfer to or from an air stream, such as via evaporation, condensation, the Seebeck effect, the Peltier effect, the Thomson effect, etc. Accordingly, the present disclosure should not be limited to compression refrigerant cooling processes.

[0025] According to the present disclosure, there is provided an outflow assembly configured to control an air stream from an air conditioner, comprising:

[0026] a nozzle having an upstream end and a downstream end, an air stream flowing from the upstream end to the downstream end and exiting from the downstream end; and

[0027] an air stream straightener within the nozzle and having an upstream side facing the upstream end and a downstream side facing the downstream end, the air stream passing through the air stream straightener toward the downstream end, wherein the air stream straightener gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of the air stream on the upstream side.

[0028] There is also disclosed a local air conditioning device, comprising:

[0029] a heat absorption side, comprising:

[0030] an air inlet through which a first air stream enters the heat absorption side;

[0031] an evaporator heat exchanger that transfers heat from the first air stream to produce a conditioned cold air stream; and

[0032] a conditioned cold air outlet through which the conditioned cold air stream exits the heat absorption side;

[0033] a heat emission side, comprising:

[0034] an air inlet through which a second air stream enters the heat emission side;

[0035] a condenser heat exchanger that transfers the heat captured by the evaporator heat exchanger to the second air stream to produce a heated air stream; and

[0036] a warm air outlet for guiding the heated air stream away from the local air conditioning device; and

[0037] an outflow assembly as described herein, the outflow assembly being positioned to receive an air stream from one of the conditioned cold outlet and the warm air outlet, the air stream being one of a conditioned cold air stream and a heated air stream.

[0038] There is also disclosed herein a local air conditioning device, comprising:

[0039] (a) The heat emission side, comprising:

[0040] (i) An indoor air inlet;

[0041] (ii) A condenser fan;

[0042] (iii) A condenser heat exchanger; and

[0043] (iv) A warm air outlet, which is located on the upper section of the unit and is used to direct hot air in an upward direction; and

[0044] (b) The heat absorption side, comprising:

[0045] (i) A return air inlet;

[0046] (ii) An evaporator fan;

[0047] (iii) An evaporator;

[0048] (iv) An air flow straightening component;

[0049] (v) A conditioned air outlet, which is located in the upper section of the unit; and

[0050] (vi) A nozzle, which is provided with a suitable pivoting component for directing the flow of conditioned air from the outlet towards the user; and

[0051] (c) A motor, which is used to drive the evaporator fan and the condenser fan,

[0052] wherein the air flow straightening component comprises a suitable combination of the following: vanes or relatively rough parallel air passages with minimal flow resistance, open cell plastic foam with minimal flow resistance, and one or more inclined or tapered wire meshes with minimal flow resistance, to reduce the velocity fluctuations caused by turbulence or vorticity in the air flow.

[0053] The effectiveness of the local air conditioning device depends on minimizing as much as possible the velocity fluctuations caused by turbulence at the conditioned air outlet. The effectiveness can also depend on selecting the shape of the outlet to minimize the mixing of the conditioned air jet with the surrounding indoor air. In some embodiments, the air flow straightener reduces turbulence and vorticity and is provided with a circular nozzle, since a circular cross-section produces the least mixing of the air jet with the surrounding air due to the circle having the highest perimeter-to-area ratio. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0055] Figure 1 Shows the main internal parts of the local air conditioning device when viewed from the right side;

[0056] Figure 2a Shows an enlarged view of an adjusted air outlet shroud and nozzle configuration;

[0057] Figure 2b Shows a front view of the nozzle configuration inside the adjusted air outlet shroud;

[0058] Figure 3 Shows an enlarged view of an adjusted air outlet shroud and nozzle configuration, where the shroud is at a lower elevation angle;

[0059] Figure 4 Shows an enlarged view of an adjusted air outlet shroud and nozzle configuration, where the shroud is rotated fully downward when the device is not in use; and

[0060] Figure 5 Shows an alternative configuration of an adjusted air outlet nozzle, which can also be used to direct the flow of warm air from the condenser fan outlet duct. Detailed Description

[0061] An outflow assembly for reducing turbulence and vorticity in the airflow exiting an air conditioner device will now be described. Since a typical application of an air conditioner is to cool air, a great deal of consideration is required in managing the conditioned cold airflow. However, relatively little consideration has been given to the management of heated airflow, to which heat from the conditioned cold airflow is transferred. This outflow assembly can be used with either or both of the conditioned cold airflow and the heated airflow. When used with the conditioned cold airflow, the outflow assembly can precisely direct the air to a desired location, typically the head and / or neck of a person. When used with the heated airflow, the outflow assembly can precisely direct the air through a vent or opening spaced apart from the air conditioner device, without the need for a tube or other device extending between the device and the vent or opening.

[0062] Assuming that the velocity fluctuations caused by turbulence and vorticity in the flow of conditioned air are small compared to the mean flow velocity within the nozzle, the air jets formed by the nozzles will reach nearby users in a manner that mixes minimally or very little with the surrounding indoor air, especially when compared to an air conditioning system (standard air conditioner) that cools a space as a whole. Thus, for a given energy usage, the cooling effect experienced by the user will be significantly greater than that of a standard air conditioner, both from reducing the temperature rise in the conditioned air flow due to mixing and from reducing the average velocity reduction due to mixing.

[0063] In some embodiments, an out - flow assembly according to the present disclosure can be attached to an existing air - conditioner device—for example, by coupling to a warm - air outlet on the heat - emission side of the air - conditioner device, or by coupling to a cooled, conditioned - air outlet of the air - conditioner device. In other embodiments, the out - flow assembly according to the present disclosure forms part of the air - conditioner device.

[0064] To illustrate the use of the out - flow assembly described herein, the out - flow assembly shown is attached, connected, or otherwise engaged to an outlet or effluent port of an air - conditioner device. However, in some embodiments, the out - flow assembly can be provided as a separate product for the air - conditioner device.

[0065] Refer to Figure 1 , the local air - conditioning device 100 includes a heat - absorption side 101 for absorbing heat from the air stream 112 and a heat - emission side 102 for transferring heat to the air stream 130. The heat - absorption side 101 includes:

[0066] - an air inlet 113;

[0067] - an evaporator heat exchanger 114; and

[0068] - a conditioned - air outlet 120.

[0069] The air inlet 113 can be referred to as a return - air inlet in some embodiments. This is because it can draw air from the interior of the room, which may have been at least partially cooled. The air inlet 113 includes a filter screen, which is not necessarily required in some embodiments. The first air stream 112 enters the heat - absorption side 101 through the air inlet 113. It also passes through the screen 111, which can remove dust or simply have sufficient pores to not restrict the air flow but prevent dust and insects from entering the air - conditioner device 100.

[0070] The evaporator heat exchanger 114 transfers heat from the first air stream 112 to produce a conditioned cold air stream 124. Without departing from the function of the air - conditioner described herein, the conditioned cold air stream 124 can be referred to as a conditioned air stream, a conditioned air flow, an air stream, and other similar terms.

[0071] The conditioned cold air stream exits the heat absorption side 101 through the conditioned air outlet 120. In the present embodiment, an air stream straightener 119 is provided at the conditioned air outlet 120. The air stream straightener 119 can include any suitable structure or material. For example, the air stream straightener 119 can be a series of narrow channels (also referred to as "passages"), each of the narrow channels can be any desired width such as 3 mm to 6 mm. Alternatively, the air stream straightener 119 can include a honeycomb channel structure, a series of parallel vanes, ribs, or other structures. To further reduce vorticity and turbulence in the air stream passing through the conditioned air outlet 120, the conditioned air outlet 120 can include open-cell foam or other porous material through which the conditioned air stream passes.

[0072] To draw the air stream 112 into the heat absorption side 101 and drive the conditioned air stream 124 out of the heat absorption side 101, an evaporator fan 116 is provided. The evaporator fan is arranged between the inlet 113 and the outlet 120.

[0073] The air conditioner device 100 further includes a conditioned air outlet hood 128. The air outlet hood 128 has an open state as shown, in which the conditioned air stream 124 can leave the air conditioner device. The air outlet hood 128 also has a closed state when not in use, which will be discussed with reference to Figure 4 When the air conditioner device 100 is not in use, the closed state prevents dust and other contaminants from entering.

[0074] Further referring to Figure 1 , the heat emission side 102 of the air conditioner device includes:

[0075] - An air inlet 131;

[0076] - A condenser heat exchanger 132; and

[0077] - A warm air outlet 136.

[0078] A second air stream 130 enters the heat emission side 102 through the air inlet 131. The air inlet 131 also includes a screen 161 for the same purpose as the screen 111 - both can operate as filter screens.

[0079] The condenser heat exchanger 132 transfers the heat captured by the evaporator heat exchanger 114 into the second air stream 130 to produce a heated air stream 140. The warm air outlet 136 takes the heated air stream from the condenser heat exchanger 132 and directs it away from the local air conditioning device 100. In each case, the outlets 120, 136 can direct the air in an upward direction or any other desired direction. Since warm air tends to rise relative to cooler air, the warm air outlet 136 can direct the heated air stream in an upward direction - upward being defined relative to the floor or other surface on which the air conditioner device 100 is positioned. The outlets 120, 136 can direct the air streams in different relative directions - for example, one outlet can direct the air stream upward while the other outlet can direct it laterally or downward.

[0080] To draw the air stream 130 into the heat emission side 102 and drive the heated air stream 140 out of the heat emission side 102, a condenser fan 134 is provided. The condenser fan 134 is arranged between the inlet 131 and the outlet 136.

[0081] Between each inlet 113, 131 and the corresponding heat exchanger 114, 132 are plenum chambers 115, 133. In each case, the plenum chambers 115, 133 are volumes in which the turbulence and vorticity in the air stream that has passed through the corresponding heat exchangers 114, 132 are distributed throughout the air stream before the air stream enters the corresponding fans 116, 134.

[0082] The fans 116, 134 can be driven by separate motors respectively. To reduce power consumption, the present embodiment includes a single motor 135 for driving the evaporator fan 116 and the condenser fan 134. A particular advantage of the configuration in which the evaporator fan impeller 116 and the condenser fan impeller 134 are both attached to the same shaft passing through the motor 135 is that only one motor is required to drive the two fans. This reduces costs and provides a relatively compact physical configuration of the components.

[0083] The air conditioner device 100 also includes an outflow assembly generally denoted by 162. The outflow assembly 162 is positioned to receive the conditioned air stream from the conditioned air outlet 119. The outflow assembly 162 is configured to control the air stream from the air conditioner device, particularly to direct it to the target location with minimal turbulence and vorticity so as to avoid mixing with the air in the room in which the air conditioner device is arranged. Currently, the outflow assembly 162 is positioned at the conditioned air outlet 119. However, in some embodiments, the outflow assembly is positioned at the warm air outlet 136 to receive the heated air stream from the warm air outlet 136, or separate outflow assemblies can be provided at each of the outlets 119, 136.

[0084] The outflow assembly 162 includes a nozzle 122 having an upstream end 122a and a downstream end 122b. An air flow passing through the outflow assembly from the air conditioner device flows from the upstream end 122a to the downstream end 122b and exits from the downstream end 122b. In some embodiments, the nozzle 122 is a pivoting nozzle that jets a stream of conditioned air towards a person and receives the conditioned air from the conditioned air outlet 119.

[0085] The nozzle can be directly connected to the respective outlets 119, 136 and can thus have a fixed orientation relative to the respective outlets 119, 136. In the present embodiment, the nozzle 122 is connected to the outlet 119 by a flexible duct 121 - the flexible duct 121 is currently an expandable bellows. The flexible duct 121 connects the nozzle 122. Inside or contained by the nozzle 122 is an air flow straightener 123. The air flow straightener 123 has an upstream side 123a facing the upstream end 122a and a downstream side 123b facing the downstream end 122b. The air flow passes through the air flow straightener 123 towards the downstream end 122b. The cross-sectional area of the air flow gradually decreases from the upstream side 123a to the downstream side 123b (relative to the direction in which the air flow passes through the air flow straightener 123). Conversely, the cross-sectional area of the air flow on the downstream side can gradually increase (relative to the direction in which the air flow passes through the air flow straightener 123). When the air flow passes through the air flow straightener 123, the air flow is straightened. This helps to reduce turbulence and vorticity that would otherwise cause the air flow to mix with the surrounding air in the room. Instead, the straightened air flow can be jetted from the air conditioner over a certain distance with high precision to cool a person's head and neck in the case of conditioned air outflow and to vent the heated air from a vent or an opening (such as a window) in the case of heated air flow.

[0086] The gradual decrease in the cross-sectional area of the air flow starting from the upstream side 123a reduces the tendency to form flow vortices in the boundary layer near the inner surface of the nozzle. This is in contrast to a flat panel air flow straightener that extends perpendicular to the air flow across the cross-sectional area of the nozzle. Such a flat panel air flow straightener straightens the air to some extent but requires a greater force from the fan, increases the amount of turbulence and vorticity that needs to be removed from the air flow, and also produces a higher pressure step change than the air flow straightener 123, which increases the energy required to drive the fan 116. The air flow straightener 123 gradually straightens the air flow, minimizing the velocity fluctuations within the air flow at the nozzle outlet - i.e., at the downstream end 123b.

[0087] Figure 1The air conditioner device 100 shown is a possible physical configuration of related components. For the sake of clearly explaining the principles involved in the embodiments of the present invention, details of the interconnected tubes, electrical connections, and structural components have been omitted. In this embodiment, the fan 134 and the evaporator fan 116 are considered centrifugal fans, for example.

[0088] The path followed by air as it passes through the heat absorption (i.e., cold) side of the air conditioner 100 is described in further detail below. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the warm air path on the heat supply (i.e., heating up) side of the air conditioner is similar in principle.

[0089] Air enters the air inlet (or return air inlet) 113 and passes through the return air inlet filter screen 111 before passing through the space between the fins of the evaporator heat exchanger 114. The air leaving the evaporator heat exchanger 114 enters the air supply space 115 before being drawn into the inlet of the evaporator fan (including the centrifugal fan impeller) 116 driven by the motor 135, which can be an electric motor. The air supply space 115 is arranged to ensure that the air flow crosses the entire area of the evaporator heat exchanger 114 at a relatively uniform speed, thus maximizing the heat exchanger efficiency. The air leaving the centrifugal fan impeller 116 enters the duct 118 that surrounds the impeller 116 and extends to the outlet 119. The air passing through the duct 118 flows substantially vertically upward through the air flow straightener 119, which currently includes a plurality of parallel passages. Then, the air passes through the open-cell foam 163 held in the conditioned air outlet 120. The conditioned air passes through the flexible duct 121 and through the nozzle 122, which jets the conditioned air flow in a substantially horizontal direction (if the nozzle 122 is selected to direct the convection in the horizontal direction) towards the position of the person using the air conditioner device 100.

[0090] Reference Figure 3 , the outflow assembly 162 includes a frame or frame member 125 that connects the outflow assembly 162 to the cover 128. A section of the nozzle made of a (non-permeable) flexible material such as plastic joins the air outlets 120, 136 to the folded or pivotable section 121 of the outflow assembly 162, providing a flexible member for conveying the conditioned air from the outlets 120, 136 to the nozzle 122. This flexibility enables the direction of the nozzle 122 to be adjusted manually or by motor-driven components independently of the air conditioning device 100 in order to adjust the direction of the jet of the conditioned air. As described herein, using a fabric on the outer side of the non-permeable flexible material substantially eliminates surface condensation and also provides very little additional resistance when adjusting the direction of the nozzle. This allows a very small drive motor to change the direction of the nozzle when needed.

[0091] For ease of pivoting, the frame is currently attached to a pivot portion 126 which includes a first portion 126a connected (e.g., pivotally connected) to the cover 128 and a second portion 126b connected to the outflow assembly 162. The first portion 126a and the second portion 126b are movable relative to each other to change the direction of the nozzle 122 and thus the direction of the airflow through the outflow assembly 162. The first portion 126a and the second portion 126b are currently plates connected together by a pin 126c which allows the two plates 126a, 126b to pivot relative to each other. It should be understood that full control of the direction of the airflow through the nozzle 122 requires the nozzle 122 to be able to pivot about two axes. For illustrative purposes, the axis provided by the pin 126c is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the cover 128 at the hinge point or line 129, and the second axis is parallel to the hinge point or line 129 and is provided at a pivot portion 127 that attaches the plate 126a to the cover 128.

[0092] Accordingly, the nozzle structure 122 is pivotally attached to the frame member 125 at the pivot portion 126 such that the direction of the nozzle can be changed from side to side as shown - i.e., in a plane extending perpendicular to the page as Figure 2a shown. The frame member 125 is also pivotally attached to the adjustable air outlet cover 128 at the pivot portion 127 such that the elevation angle of the nozzle can be adjusted as Figure 3 shown (compared to Figure 2a ). These nozzle direction adjustments can be manual (by providing appropriate friction at the pivot portions), or by means of motors within the adjustable air outlet cover 128, such as small electric motors (not shown, one motor for each axis of rotation). The adjustable air outlet cover is pivotally attached 129 to the housing 142 in such a way that the elevation angle of the cover can be adjusted to raise or lower the angle of the stream of conditioned air directed towards the user. Figure 3 A lower elevation angle is shown in

[0093] . The angle of the cover 128 can be adjusted manually by providing appropriate friction at the pivot portion 129, or by means of an electric motor (not shown). Figure 2b and Figure 4 As shown in reference to Figure 2b and Figure 4 , the present nozzle 122 has an extended state (

[0094] shown) and a contracted state ( Figure 2b shown), in the extended state the airflow passes through the nozzle, and the contracted state is for storage of the outflow assembly 162. For ease of contraction and expansion of the nozzle 122, the nozzle can be formed of a flexible material. However, unless the flexible material is taut when the nozzle is extended, it may introduce additional turbulence at the interface between the flexible material and the airflow passing through the nozzle. In Figure 2bIn the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle 122 is formed by a plurality of interconnected panels, some of which are denoted by the reference numeral 122c. The interconnected panels 122c are hinged together so that the nozzle 122 can move between an extended state and a retracted state - thus, when the local air conditioning device is not in use, the nozzle can be retracted within the protective cover 128, thereby minimizing the overall space requirement. In the present embodiment, there are six panels 122c. To ensure that the nozzle 122 opens into a substantially regular polygonal shape and can retract flat as Figure 4 shown, it is desirable that the number of panels 122c be even.

[0095] In any case, the nozzle 122 includes a plurality of panels configured to have suitable folding or pivoting capabilities such that the nozzle 122 can be stored in a flat or retracted form when not in use. Although the nozzle 122 is Figure 2b shown to be composed of six substantially rectangular (generally rectangular but tapering towards the downstream end 122b) panels, alternative shapes, numbers of panels, and nozzle configurations are also possible. One advantage of the deflector configuration is that it also serves as a dust cover when the appliance is not in use. When the deflector is rotated to the downward position or closed state (see Figure 4 ), very little space needs to be allocated for the deflector in the design of the air conditioner device because it serves as a cover for other components of the air conditioner device. In addition to providing rigid internal ribs, the thickness of the air deflector is generally mainly due to the foam insulator applied to the lower side. This insulating foam reduces the heat absorption from the air deflector and reduces the tendency for moisture to condense on the outer side of the air deflector when the air conditioner is used in a humid atmosphere. Condensation causes many problems and inconveniences to the user, such as the risk of slipping when water drops onto the floor, or dripping onto the carpet, promoting more rapid deterioration of the carpet, and potentially growing bacteria or mold in the carpet over time.

[0096] For embodiments with a nozzle having a rigid shape - such as circular - if it is rotated or folded into the body of the air conditioner when not in use, additional space is required within the housing of the air conditioner device. Either the air conditioner must be larger and potentially heavier, or the internal components must be made smaller, and thus may be less efficient or require longer lengths of tubing to convey air between the internal components. Alternatively, the nozzle has to be disassembled from the air conditioner and stored separately when not in use. Therefore, a retractable and / or removable outflow assembly is very useful.

[0097] The nozzle 122 can move from a contracted state to an expanded state under the action of gravity, such as when the panel 122c is heavy enough. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge portion between the panels 122c may include one or more force-applying elements, such as springs, to apply a force to the nozzle 122 in the expanded state. For the same purpose, the force-applying element may also be included in the nozzle elsewhere.

[0098] In some embodiments, for example, when a hood is provided and the nozzle 122 (directly or through a frame) is connected to the hood, when the hood 128 is lifted into the operating position, the nozzle panel 122c either falls into an open configuration because the panels pivot freely relative to each other, or a small spring or force-applying element between the panels provides sufficient torque at the hinge line to fully open the nozzle 122. In other embodiments, two or more panels may be selectively hinged (e.g., locked in a position where the panels are parallel, or opened to increase the nozzle width) such that the width of the nozzle can be changed according to requirements.

[0099] The nozzle 122 tapers towards the downstream end 123b. This reduces the cross-sectional area of the nozzle 122 towards the downstream end 123b. The reduction in the cross-sectional area of the nozzle 122 caused by the taper can be any desired amount, such as about 20%. The taper accelerates the conditioned air flow 124 as it passes through the air flow straightener in the nozzle 122, thereby reducing turbulence and vorticity. The air flow straightener includes any screen, filter, or device shaped to gradually straighten the air flow as described above. In some embodiments, inclined panels or screens are used, which extend at an angle to the flow (i.e., not parallel to the air flow and not directly, transversely across the nozzle), to gradually reduce the cross-sectional area of the air flow on the upstream side 123b. In this embodiment, the air flow straightener 123 includes a tapered mesh screen 123. The air flow straightener reduces the relative magnitude of the velocity changes in the air flow caused by turbulence and vorticity. This enables the downstream end 122b of the nozzle 122 to precisely direct the air flow to a person, or through a vent opening, with only a small amount of mixing with the air in the room.

[0100] In some embodiments, the air stream straightener 123 includes a screen that uniformly reduces the cross-sectional area of the nozzle 122 from the perimeter of the cross-section towards the center of the air stream. For example, a circular nozzle such as nozzle 122 may include a conical mesh screen 123 as the air stream straightener that terminates at the center of the air stream within the nozzle 122, while a square nozzle may include a pyramidal mesh screen as the air stream straightener. In other embodiments, the reduction in cross-sectional area is non-uniform across the cross-sectional area of the nozzle 122 - for example, the screen does not terminate at the center of the air stream within the nozzle 122. Additionally, in some embodiments, for a small amount of the discharged gas, the nozzle should completely surround the flow of conditioned or heated air until the conditioned or heated air reaches the downstream end 122b of the nozzle 122. This prevents premature mixing of the conditioned air with the room air. As a result, the air leaving the nozzle is at a lower temperature and has a higher air flow velocity compared to a deflector configuration that typically generates some vorticity due to surface friction between the air stream and the deflector.

[0101] Experiments have shown that by using a fully enclosed pivoting circular nozzle incorporating an air stream straightener as described herein, the proportion of room air mixed with the conditioned air stream at a distance of 1 meter from the local air conditioning device can be reduced from approximately 2 times the amount of conditioned air with a commercial air deflector configuration to approximately 1 time the amount of conditioned air. Such a large reduction in mixing results in a significantly increased comfort level at greater distances from the local air conditioning device.

[0102] Furthermore, the air stream straightener 123 may include multiple elements, which include a screen of one or more filters (e.g., a conical mesh screen), vanes, ribs, and other devices. These elements may be spaced along the outflow assembly in such a way - for example, such that a vein or rib aligns the air stream with the upstream side 123a to direct air onto the upstream side 123a, or the air leaving the air stream straightener 123 from the downstream side 123b may be controlled. Additionally, the air stream straightener 123 may be positioned closer to the downstream end 122b of the nozzle 122 than to the upstream end 122a. The air flow accumulation through the nozzle causes boundary layer turbulence due to friction with the walls of the nozzle.

[0103] The outflow assembly 162 may include at least one side opening - each side opening being a hole or a gap. A small amount of air is discharged through small gaps and holes in the nozzle panel, in the flexible duct 121, and / or elsewhere in the outflow assembly. This helps reduce the condensation formed on the cold outer surface of the nozzle 122.

[0104] One problem faced by existing air conditioner systems is condensation on the outer surface of the nozzle when cooler air passes through the interior of the nozzle. Condensation can be minimized by reducing the heat transferred through the nozzle structure, for example, by applying a layer of insulating material. However, the insulating material increases the thickness of the nozzle and makes it more difficult to shrink the nozzle for storage when the device is not in use. Another means of reducing condensation is to configure the nozzle to be covered by a fabric that allows a small amount of conditioned air to pass through holes or gaps in the nozzle structure. Although a small portion of the conditioned air leaks through the fabric, it can prevent moisture buildup and eliminate the condensation problem. Additionally, any condensate quickly diffuses through the fabric by wicking, much like oil is drawn up from a reservoir to a wick in the case of an oil lamp. This increases the surface area of the moisture exposed to the air and helps to promote the evaporation of the condensed water.

[0105] A suitable substantially circular nozzle can be composed of a set of rigid frame components or panels encapsulated within a porous fabric and configured such that the nozzle folds into a compact form when the device is not in use.

[0106] To this end, the outflow assembly 162 can also include a fabric cover (not shown) on each side opening that extends over at least a portion of one or both of the nozzle 122 and the flexible duct 121. In such an embodiment, the fabric cover should be formed of a porous fabric so that it can wick water away from the nozzle 122. Since a small amount of air passes through at least one side opening and thus through the fabric cover, the water that condenses on the cold outer surface of the nozzle 122 laterally diffuses into the fabric and is evaporated by the exiting air. In particular, in the case where the air exiting the outflow assembly 162 is taken from a heated effluent and also when it is taken from a conditioned gas effluent, it is cooled by transferring heat to the water to evaporate the water. The cooled exiting gas slowly sinks (see Figure 1 166) and re-enters the return air inlet 113 below the nozzle 122.

[0107] Although a fabric cover has been proposed, the outflow assembly 162 alternatively can include an insulating layer for reducing the heat reservoir that flows out of the outflow assembly laterally (relative to the direction of the airflow through the outflow assembly).

[0108] As described above, the airflow 130 from the interior is also drawn through the indoor air filter screen 131 adjacent to the condenser 132, through the passages between the condenser fins, and through the air supply section 133 to the inlet of the condenser centrifugal fan impeller 134. The condenser centrifugal fan impeller 134 is mounted on the same motor shaft 117 as the evaporator centrifugal fan impeller 116 driven by the motor 135. The air leaving the centrifugal fan impeller 134 enters the duct 137 surrounding the fan and exits through the warm air outlet 136 in a substantially vertical direction. In addition, the air conditioner device 100 has a gap 141 between the duct 118 surrounding the evaporator fan 114 and the duct 137 surrounding the condenser fan 134, and air is drawn into the air conditioner device 100 through this gap. The airflow through the gap 141 passes through the electric motor 135 to the inlet of the centrifugal fan impeller 134 to provide cooling for the motor 135.

[0109] Figure 5 Alternative means for directing the conditioned air stream away from the local air conditioning device 165 towards the user are shown. Features in the various embodiments disclosed herein may be incorporated into other embodiments or interchanged with features in other embodiments while maintaining the functionality of the currently described outflow configuration. With particular reference Figure 5 , the outflow assembly 166 is detachable from the air conditioner device 165. For ease of attachment and detachment, the outflow assembly 166 includes an adapter 171 for attachment to the conditioned air outlet 120' (although a heated air outlet may be used similarly). This outflow assembly 166 is again pivotally connected to control the direction of the airflow from the air conditioner 165 towards the user. The adapter 171 supports the nozzle pivot member 172, which enables the user to adjust the direction of the conical outlet nozzle 173 to vary the direction of the conditioned air stream 124 over a wide angular range. The nozzle pivot member 172 includes an expandable bellows, which allows for a wide range of directions for the nozzle 173. The bellows provides sufficient friction to substantially prevent unwanted movement caused by the weight of the nozzle 173 and the force of the air flowing through the outflow assembly 166, while enabling manual control of the airflow 124 direction. Other types of nozzle pivot members, such as configurations of suitable pivoting nozzle mounts surrounding flexible ducts, are feasible and have been used in fluid control applications, and those skilled in the art will understand in view of this teaching. The inclined or conical mesh screen 174 within the nozzle substantially reduces the velocity fluctuations in the conditioned air stream caused by turbulence and vorticity. Optionally, additional components for reducing velocity fluctuations, such as open-cell foam airflow straighteners placed in the conditioned air outlet 120' or the adapter 171, may be used. In addition, the air conditioner device may include a cover or deflector (the cover may be shaped to act as a deflector when the outflow assembly is not attached), to which the outflow assembly may be connected.

[0110] When this configuration is used to jet cooled conditioned air to a user, the outer fabric cover can be used with a suitable discharge air flow passing through small holes or slots in the adapter 171, the nozzle pivot member 172, and / or the nozzle 173. Preferably, the nozzle outlet should be circular to minimize the mixing between the jetted air flow and the room air over the greatest possible distance. In some embodiments, the entire nozzle has a circular cross-section. The mixing of the air jet with the surrounding air occurs at the boundary separating the jet from the surrounding air. A substantially circular nozzle results in the least mixing of the air jet with the surrounding air because the perimeter of the boundary is minimized relative to its cross-sectional area. However, other nozzle outlet shapes are feasible.

[0111] Preferably, such a component for jetting the conditioned air flow away from the local air conditioner can be provided at the warm side 102 of the local air conditioner 100 so as to enable improved ventilation in a small room and to avoid the accumulation of warm air above the local air conditioner 100 in the room. The nozzle pivot member 172 and the nozzle having an internal inclined or conical mesh screen 174 enable the warm air flow to be effectively jetted through an open doorway or window while minimizing the mixing between the jetted air flow and the room air. Optionally, additional components for reducing speed fluctuations can be used, such as an open-cell foam air flow straightener placed in the conditioned air outlet 120 or the adapter 171.

[0112] Preferably, in each case, the adapter 171 can be easily attached to the housing 142 of the local air conditioner 165 at the appropriate position of the conditioned air outlet or the warm air outlet. Preferably, the attachment member is configured such that the adapter 171 can be easily removed from the housing when not needed.

[0113] Many variations are obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0114] The citation of any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an admission or any form of implication that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

[0115] In this specification and the appended claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and its variations, such as "comprises" and "comprising", mean including the stated integer, step or group of integers or steps but not excluding any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0116] Any reference in this specification to any prior publication, information derived from any such prior publication, or any known thing is not, and should not be taken as, an admission, recognition or implication that the prior publication or any information derived from such prior publication or any known thing forms part of the common general knowledge in the technical field to which this specification pertains.

[0117] Description of Reference Numerals

[0118] 100 Local air conditioning device

[0119] 101 Cold side of the air conditioning device

[0120] 102 Warm side of the air conditioning device

[0121] 111 Return air filter screen

[0122] 113 Return air inlet

[0123] 114 Evaporator heat exchanger

[0124] 115 Air supply chamber between the evaporator heat exchanger and the evaporator fan

[0125] 116 Evaporator fan impeller

[0126] 117 Fan motor drive shaft

[0127] 118 Evaporator fan duct

[0128] 119 Rough array of parallel passages or vanes for straightening the conditioned air flow

[0129] 120 Open-cell foam in the conditioned air outlet for straightening the conditioned air flow

[0130] 122 Nozzle structure made of pivotable or foldable components

[0131] 122a Upstream end of 122

[0132] 122b Downstream end of 122

[0133] 122c Panel of 122

[0134] 123 Tilted or tapered mesh screen for straightening the conditioned air flow

[0135] 123a Upstream end of 123

[0136] 123b Downstream end of 123

[0137] 124 Conditioned air flow leaving the nozzle outlet

[0138] 125 Frame carrying the nozzle

[0139] 126 Pivot part allowing the nozzle direction to change in the horizontal plane

[0140] 126a Plate of 126, connected to the hood

[0141] 126b Plate of 126, connected to the nozzle

[0142] 126c Pin connecting plates 126a and 126b

[0143] 127 Pivot mounting part for the frame inside the adjustable air outlet hood

[0144] 128 Adjustable air outlet hood

[0145] 129 Pivot part for the adjustable air outlet hood to rotate relative to the air conditioner

[0146] 131 Indoor air inlet and filter screen

[0147] 132 Condenser heat exchanger

[0148] 133 Air delivery part between the condenser heat exchanger and the condenser fan

[0149] 134 Condenser fan impeller

[0150] 135 Fan motor

[0151] 136 Condenser fan outlet duct and safety grille

[0152] 140 Warm air flow from the condenser fan outlet

[0153] 150 Condensate tray below the evaporator heat exchanger

[0154] 151 Drain trough

[0155] 152 Intermediate condensate tray

[0156] 153 Overflow pipe

[0157] 154 Cable drawer / condensate box

[0158] 155 Spray wheel motor

[0159] 156 Spray wheel

[0160] 160 Compressor

[0161] 162 Outflow assembly

[0162] 163 Open-cell foam

[0163] 165 Air conditioner device

[0164] 166 Outflow component

[0165] 171 Air outlet adapter

[0166] 172 Extendable bellows section

[0167] 173 Nozzle

[0168] 174 Conical or inclined mesh screen

Claims

1. An outflow assembly configured to control the airflow from an air conditioner, comprising: A nozzle having an upstream end and a downstream end, the airflow flowing from the upstream end to the downstream end and exiting from the downstream end; And An airflow straightener within the nozzle and having an upstream side facing the upstream end and a downstream side facing the downstream end, the airflow passing through the airflow straightener towards the downstream end, Wherein the airflow straightener gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of the airflow on the upstream side.

2. The outflow assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle tapers towards the downstream end.

3. The outflow assembly according to claim 2, wherein the nozzle tapers to reduce the cross-sectional area of the nozzle by about 20%.

4. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nozzle has a circular cross-section.

5. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the nozzle has an expanded state and a contracted state, in the expanded state, the airflow passes through the nozzle, and the contracted state is for storage of the outflow assembly.

6. The outflow assembly according to claim 5, wherein the nozzle is formed by a plurality of interconnected panels, the panels being hinged together to enable the nozzle to move between the expanded state and the contracted state.

7. The outflow assembly according to claim 6, wherein, There are an even number of panels.

8. The outflow assembly according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the nozzle further comprises one or more springs to apply a force to the nozzle in the expanded state.

9. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a flexible duct connecting the nozzle to the outflow portion of the air conditioner.

10. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising at least one side opening, each side opening being a hole or a gap.

11. The outflow assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a fabric cover on the at least one side opening.

12. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a heat insulation layer for reducing heat transfer laterally out of the outflow assembly relative to the direction of the airflow passing through the outflow assembly.

13. The outflow assembly according to claim 9, wherein the flexible duct is an expandable bellows.

14. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the airflow straightener comprises a screen that gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of the airflow on the upstream side from the perimeter of the cross-sectional area of the airflow.

15. The outflow assembly according to claim 14, wherein the cross-sectional area of the nozzle is circular and the airflow straightener has a conical shape.

16. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the airflow straightener comprises a screen that is inclined with respect to the direction of the airflow passing through the nozzle.

17. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the airflow straightener is positioned closer to the downstream end than to the upstream end.

18. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the air flow straightener further comprises one or more passages for guiding the air flow onto the upstream side or away from the downstream side.

19. The outflow assembly according to claim 18, wherein the one or more passages are formed by one or more ribs, a honeycomb structure, and / or open-cell foam.

20. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the air flow is a heated air flow.

21. The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the air flow is a conditioned cold air flow.

22. A local air conditioning device, comprising: A heat absorption side, comprising: An air inlet through which a first air flow enters the heat absorption side; An evaporator heat exchanger that transfers heat from the first air flow to produce a conditioned cold air flow; and A conditioned cold air outlet through which the conditioned cold air flow exits the heat absorption side; A heat emission side, comprising: An air inlet through which a second air flow enters the heat emission side; A condenser heat exchanger that transfers the heat captured by the evaporator heat exchanger to the second air flow to produce a heated air flow; and A warm air outlet for guiding the heated air flow away from the local air conditioning device; and The outflow assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 21, the outflow assembly being positioned to receive an air flow from one of the conditioned cold outlet and the warm air outlet, the air flow being one of the conditioned cold air flow and the heated air flow.

23. The local air conditioning device according to claim 22, comprising at least two outflow assemblies according to any one of claims 1 to 21, the at least two outflow assemblies comprising a first outflow assembly positioned to receive the conditioned cold air flow and a second outflow assembly positioned to receive the heated air flow.

24. The local air conditioning device according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising a cover that is movable between an open state and a closed state, wherein the outflow assembly has an expanded state and a contracted state, and in the expanded state, the air flow passes through the nozzle when the cover is in the open state, and the contracted state is for storage of the outflow assembly when the cover is in the closed state.

25. The local air conditioning device according to claim 24, further comprising a frame connecting the outflow assembly to the cover, the frame comprising a first part connected to the cover and a second part connected to the outflow assembly, the first part and the second part being movable relative to each other to change the direction of the nozzle, thereby changing the direction of the air flow passing through the outflow assembly.

26. The local air conditioning device according to claim 25, further comprising a motor connected to one of the outflow assembly and the frame, the motor being operable to change the direction of the nozzle.

27. A local air conditioning device, comprising: (a) A heat emission side, comprising: (i) An indoor air inlet; (ii) Condenser fan; (iii) Condenser heat exchanger; and (iv) Warm air outlet, which is located on the upper section of the unit and is used to direct hot air in an upward direction; and (b) Heat absorption side, including: (i) Suction gas inlet; (ii) Evaporator fan; (iii) Evaporator; (iv) Airflow straightening component; (v) Regulated air outlet, which is located in the upper section of the unit; and (vi) Nozzle, which is provided with a suitable pivoting component for directing the flow of regulated air from the outlet towards the user; and (c) Motor, which is used to drive the evaporator fan and the condenser fan, wherein the airflow straightening component comprises a suitable combination of the following: vanes or relatively rough parallel air passages with minimal flow resistance, open-cell plastic foam with minimal flow resistance, and one or more inclined or conical mesh screens with minimal flow resistance, to reduce the velocity fluctuations caused by turbulence or vorticity in the airflow.

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