Air outlet structure and air conditioner

Abstract

The air outlet structure comprises an air duct assembly, a fan blade assembly and a driving assembly, the fan blade assembly is arranged in the air duct assembly, and the driving assembly is in transmission connection with the air duct assembly and used for driving the air duct assembly to rotate around a preset axis so as to switch the air outlet direction. According to the air conditioner, the driving assembly can stably output rotating power and drive the air duct assembly to rotate around the preset axis, the orientation of the air outlet of the air duct assembly is directly changed through rotation of the air duct assembly, reversible switching between upper air outlet and lower air outlet is achieved, and a complex switching mechanism does not need to be additionally arranged. The air duct assembly provides an adaptive installation and airflow channel for the fan blade assembly, the driving assembly provides accurate rotating power, the three assemblies are tightly matched, the structure is compact, excessive space does not need to be occupied, the overall compactness of the air outlet structure is guaranteed, reversible up-down air outlet is achieved on the basis of a single fan blade structure, and the air outlet efficiency is improved. The technical problems existing in the prior art are effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioner technology, and in particular to an air outlet structure and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] In traditional wall-mounted air conditioners, the single-blade design is widely used due to its advantages such as simple structure, controllable cost, and stable operation. However, existing single-blade air outlet structures have key technical limitations: restricted by the fixed layout of the air duct, they can only achieve single-direction airflow or simple up-and-down airflow switching, and cannot achieve reversible adjustment of up-and-down airflow, making it difficult to meet users' needs for flexible switching of airflow direction in different usage scenarios. To achieve reversible up-and-down airflow, existing technologies often require a dual-blade structure, using two sets of blades and corresponding drive mechanisms to control the up-and-down airflow separately. This not only leads to a complex air outlet structure and increased assembly difficulty, but also increases production costs and equipment failure rates, while occupying more internal space in the air conditioner and affecting the overall structural compactness. Therefore, how to achieve reversible up-and-down airflow through a simple and reliable design based on the single-blade structure has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in existing air outlet structures. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present invention provide an air outlet structure and an air conditioner, which solves the technical problem that existing air outlet structures with single blades are difficult to achieve reversible up and down air outlet, or require a double blade structure to achieve reversible up and down air outlet, resulting in complex structures.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, according to one aspect of this application, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air outlet structure, the air outlet structure including an air duct assembly, a fan blade assembly, and a drive assembly, the fan blade assembly being disposed inside the air duct assembly, and the drive assembly being convexly connected to the air duct assembly for driving the air duct assembly to rotate around a preset axis to switch the air outlet direction.

[0005] In some embodiments, the air duct assembly includes an air duct body, a volute tongue, a volute shell, and a folding drive unit. The volute tongue and the volute shell are respectively disposed at the air outlet end of the air duct body, and the folding drive unit is connected to the volute tongue and the volute shell to drive them to fold or unfold.

[0006] In some embodiments, the folding drive unit includes a first motor and a second motor disposed at the end of the air duct body, the first motor being connected to the volute tongue and the second motor being connected to the volute housing.

[0007] In some embodiments, the volute tongue includes a volute tongue rotating plate and a first rotating shaft, the volute shell includes a volute shell rotating plate and a second rotating shaft, the air outlet end of the air duct body is provided with a first shaft hole adapted to the first rotating shaft and a second shaft hole adapted to the second rotating shaft, the volute tongue rotating plate is rotatably connected to the air duct body through the first rotating shaft, and the volute shell rotating plate is rotatably connected to the air duct body through the second rotating shaft.

[0008] In some embodiments, the mating surface between the volute tongue rotating plate and the air duct body is provided with a first stepped stop, the mating surface between the volute shell rotating plate and the air duct body is provided with a second stepped stop, and the air duct body is provided with a boss limiting position at a corresponding position. The first stepped stop and the second stepped stop cooperate with the boss limiting position to realize the positioning of the volute tongue and volute shell after folding.

[0009] In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a rotary drive motor disposed at the end of the duct body, a first gear, and a second gear. The first gear and the second gear mesh, the first gear is sleeved on the output shaft of the rotary drive motor, and the second gear is fixedly connected to the end of the duct body. The rotary drive motor can drive the duct body to rotate through the first gear and the second gear.

[0010] In some embodiments, when the air duct assembly is in the upward air outlet state, its air outlet is arranged obliquely towards the outer panel side, and the angle A between the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤A≤150°; when the air duct assembly is in the downward air outlet state, its air outlet is arranged obliquely towards the inner wall side, and the angle B between the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤B≤150°.

[0011] According to another aspect of this application, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioner, the air conditioner including a housing assembly, a heat exchanger and the aforementioned air outlet structure, the air outlet structure and the heat exchanger are both installed inside the housing assembly, the heat exchanger is arranged in an inverted V-shaped semi-enclosed structure on the outside of the air duct assembly, and the air duct assembly is rotatable within the semi-enclosed space of the heat exchanger.

[0012] In some embodiments, when the duct assembly is rotated to the upper air outlet state, the air outlet direction of the fan assembly is arranged toward the inverted V-shaped inner surface of the heat exchanger, so that the airflow is diffused through the heat exchanger and then sent out.

[0013] In some embodiments, the housing assembly includes a bottom shell and an outer shell, the bottom shell being fixedly disposed inside the outer shell, and the air duct body being mounted on the bottom shell; the air duct body is further provided with a first sealing limiting structure, and the bottom shell is provided with a second sealing limiting structure, and after the air duct body is rotated into position, the first sealing limiting structure can dock with the second sealing limiting structure.

[0014] In some embodiments, the upper part of the housing is provided with an air inlet, and a plurality of grille plates are provided inside the air inlet. The extending direction of the grille plates is parallel to the airflow direction when the air is discharged from the air duct assembly.

[0015] In some embodiments, the lower part of the housing is provided with a first downwind opening and a second downwind opening, the first downwind opening being located inside the housing, and the second downwind opening being located outside the first downwind opening and used only for air intake.

[0016] In some embodiments, when the duct assembly is in a downward air outlet state, the air outlet of the duct body is sealed and connected to the first downward air outlet, and the first downward air outlet is arranged to be inclined outward, with the angle C between it and the vertical direction satisfying 20°≤C≤60°.

[0017] In some embodiments, when the duct assembly is switched to the downward air outlet state, the outer wall of the duct body and the inner wall of the housing cooperate to seal and block the second downward air outlet.

[0018] In some embodiments, neither of the two edges of the heat exchanger extends beyond the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the air outlet structure of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: The air outlet structure provided by the present invention includes an air duct assembly, a fan blade assembly, and a drive assembly. The fan blade assembly is disposed inside the air duct assembly, and the drive assembly is connected to the air duct assembly for driving the air duct assembly to rotate around a preset axis to switch the air outlet direction.

[0020] The air outlet structure of this invention utilizes the coordinated operation of a duct assembly, a blade assembly, and a drive assembly. Using a single-blade blade assembly as the sole airflow drive component, it maintains the advantages of a simple, cost-effective single-blade structure, eliminating the need for dual blades and two drive mechanisms, thus avoiding the complex assembly and high failure rate issues associated with dual-blade structures. The drive assembly provides stable rotational power, driving the duct assembly to rotate around a preset axis. The rotation of the duct assembly directly changes the orientation of its air outlet, achieving reversible switching between upward and downward airflow without the need for additional complex switching mechanisms. Furthermore, the duct assembly provides a suitable installation and airflow channel for the blade assembly, while the drive assembly provides precise rotational power. The three components work closely together in a compact structure, requiring minimal space and ensuring the overall compactness of the air outlet structure. This achieves reversible upward and downward airflow based on a single-blade structure, effectively solving the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0021] The air conditioner provided by this invention is designed based on the above-mentioned air outlet structure. Its beneficial effects are the same as those of the air outlet structure, and will not be repeated here.

[0022] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an air outlet structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the air outlet structure when it is in the downward air outlet position, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an air outlet structure in the form of an upward air outlet, provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the air outlet structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention, showing the air duct body in a rotating state. Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of an air outlet structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 A side view of an air outlet structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air outlet structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention, showing the volute tongue and volute shell in an unfolded state. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air outlet structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention, in which the volute tongue and volute shell are in a folded state; Figure 9 This is an exploded front view of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the disassembled structure of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fan blade assembly in an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present invention; Figure label explanation: 1. Air duct assembly; 11. Air duct body; 111. Boss limiting; 112. First sealing limiting structure; 12. Volute tongue; 121. First stepped stop; 13. Volute housing; 131. Second stepped stop; 14. Folding drive unit; 141. First motor; 142. Second motor; 2. Fan blade assembly; 3. Drive assembly; 31. Rotary drive motor; 32. First gear; 33. Second gear; 4. Housing assembly; 41. Bottom shell; 42. Outer shell; 411. Second sealing limiting structure; 421. Upper air outlet; 422. Grille plate; 423. First lower air outlet; 424. Second lower air outlet; 5. Heat exchanger. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the specific embodiments, structures, features, and effects according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. In the following description, different "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments can be combined in any suitable form.

[0026] In the description of this invention, it should be clearly stated that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence; the terms "vertical," "lateral," "longitudinal," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," "down," "horizontal," etc., indicate orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are merely for the convenience of describing this invention, and do not mean that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or position, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0027] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0029] Example 1 This embodiment provides an air outlet structure, such as Figures 1-8 As shown, the air outlet structure includes an air duct assembly 1, a fan blade assembly 2, and a drive assembly 3. The fan blade assembly 2 is disposed inside the air duct assembly 1, and the drive assembly 3 is connected to the air duct assembly 1 for driving the air duct assembly 1 to rotate around a preset axis to switch the air outlet direction.

[0030] The air duct assembly 1 is the core load-bearing and airflow guiding component of the air outlet structure. Its interior forms a channel adapted to the installation and airflow of the fan blade assembly 2, providing fundamental support for switching the airflow direction. More specifically, the inner wall of the channel in the air duct assembly 1 conforms to the rotation trajectory of the fan blade assembly 2, guiding the airflow smoothly along a preset path and avoiding airflow obstruction or noise problems caused by turbulent airflow. The fan blade assembly 2 is the airflow driving component. After being installed inside the air duct assembly 1, it generates negative pressure through its high-speed rotation, drawing external air into the channel of the air duct assembly 1. The thrust of the blades then pushes the airflow to the outlet. Furthermore, the size, number, and shape of the blades in the fan blade assembly 2 match the channel of the air duct assembly 1, maximizing airflow delivery efficiency and ensuring a large and stable airflow volume. The drive component 3 is a power output component that establishes a reliable transmission connection with the air duct component 1. It can output stable rotational power according to usage requirements, driving the air duct component 1 to rotate precisely around a preset axis. The torque and speed of its power output are adapted to ensure that the air duct component 1 can switch the air outlet direction smoothly without jamming, and can accurately stop at the preset position, ensuring the reliability of the air outlet direction switching.

[0031] The fan blade assembly 2 is fixedly installed in a preset mounting position inside the air duct assembly 1. The relative positions of the two remain fixed, ensuring that the fan blade assembly 2 always drives the airflow stably within the channel of the air duct assembly 1 when rotating, and will not cause airflow leakage or obstruction due to relative displacement. The drive assembly 3 forms a transmission engagement with the end of the air duct assembly 1. When it is necessary to switch the air outlet direction, the drive assembly 3 starts and outputs rotational power, driving the air duct assembly 1 to rotate around a preset axis. At this time, the fan blade assembly 2 rotates synchronously with the air duct assembly 1. During the rotation, the fan blade assembly 2 continues to rotate to generate a stable airflow. Under the guidance of the channel of the air duct assembly 1, the airflow is always discharged in the current air outlet direction. More specifically, the drive assembly 3 drives the air duct assembly 1 to rotate to the preset upper or lower air outlet position and then stops. The fan blade assembly 2 continues to drive the airflow, and the stable air outlet in the corresponding direction is achieved through the guidance of the air duct assembly 1. The cooperation of the three ensures both the smoothness of the air outlet direction switching and the stability and smoothness of the air outlet in each state.

[0032] Existing single-blade air outlet structures cannot achieve reversible up-and-down airflow, while dual-blade structures suffer from drawbacks such as structural complexity, high cost, and large space occupation. The air outlet structure in this embodiment utilizes the coordinated operation of the duct assembly 1, the blade assembly 2, and the drive assembly 3. Using the single-blade blade assembly 2 as the sole airflow driving component, it maintains the advantages of a simple and cost-effective single-blade structure, eliminating the need for dual blades and two sets of drive mechanisms, thus avoiding the complex assembly and high failure rate issues associated with dual-blade structures. The drive assembly 3 provides stable rotational power, driving the duct assembly 1 to rotate around a preset axis. The rotation of the duct assembly 1 directly changes the orientation of its air outlet, achieving reversible switching between up-and-down airflow without the need for additional complex switching mechanisms. Furthermore, the duct assembly 1 provides a suitable installation and airflow channel for the blade assembly 2, and the drive assembly 3 provides precise rotational power. The three components work closely together in a compact structure, requiring minimal space and ensuring the overall compactness of the air outlet structure. This achieves reversible up-and-down airflow based on a single-blade structure, effectively solving the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0033] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the air duct assembly 1 includes an air duct body 11, a volute tongue 12, a volute shell 13, and a folding drive unit 14. The volute tongue 12 and the volute shell 13 are respectively disposed at the air outlet end of the air duct body 11. The folding drive unit 14 is connected to the volute tongue 12 and the volute shell 13 to drive them to fold or unfold.

[0034] The main body of the air duct 11 is the core load-bearing and basic framework of the entire air duct assembly 1. Its outlet end has a reserved installation structure adapted to the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13, providing a stable assembly benchmark for the two. At the same time, it forms a basic channel for airflow, playing a core role in guiding airflow. The volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 are respectively connected to both sides of the outlet end of the air duct main body 11 through a rotating structure. The two and the channel of the air duct main body 11 form a complete airflow guiding space. Their core function is to seal the gap of the outlet of the air duct main body 11, preventing airflow leakage or eddy currents during transportation, and ensuring that the airflow can flow smoothly along the preset path. Furthermore, the shape of the two connects with the inner wall of the channel of the air duct main body 11, which can reduce airflow resistance and improve air outlet efficiency. The folding drive unit 14 is installed on the air duct body 11 and directly connected to the volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13. Its function is to output driving force and precisely control the folding or unfolding action of the volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13 according to the rotation requirements of the air duct, so as to create space conditions for the rotation of the air duct assembly 1, while ensuring the smoothness and reliability of the action execution.

[0035] When it is necessary to switch the air outlet direction and the air duct assembly 1 is about to rotate, the folding drive unit 14 is activated first, outputting driving force to the volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13, causing them to rotate and fold around their respective connection points with the air duct body 11, as shown. Figure 8 As shown, it fits tightly against the outer wall of the air duct body 11. At this time, the overall space occupied by the air duct assembly 1 is greatly reduced, avoiding interference between the volute tongue 12, volute housing 13 and other components during rotation. When the air duct body 11 rotates to the preset upper or lower air outlet position, the folding drive unit 14 is activated again, driving the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 to rotate in the opposite direction and unfold, as shown. Figure 7 As shown, it precisely aligns with the air outlet end of the duct body 11, re-forming a complete and sealed airflow channel. This combination produces two key effects: firstly, through the linkage between the folding drive unit 14 and the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13, the clearance space required for the duct assembly 1 to rotate is significantly reduced, solving the problem that traditional ducts require a large amount of space for rotation due to their fixed structure, resulting in a larger overall volume and making the structure more compact; secondly, the complete duct formed by the volute tongue 12, volute housing 13, and duct body 11 after unfolding effectively avoids airflow leakage and turbulence, ensuring smooth and stable airflow.

[0036] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, the folding drive unit 14 includes a first motor 141 and a second motor 142 disposed at the end of the air duct body 11. The first motor 141 is connected to the volute tongue 12, and the second motor 142 is connected to the volute shell 13.

[0037] The core components of the folding drive unit 14 are the first motor 141 and the second motor 142, both of which are installed at the ends of the air duct body 11. This installation position does not occupy the airflow channel space inside the air duct body 11, and it also allows the motors to form a short-distance transmission connection with the volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13, reducing power loss during power transmission. More specifically, the end-mounted method also makes the overall structural layout more regular and avoids spatial interference between the motors and other components. The first motor 141 establishes a direct transmission connection with the volute tongue 12, and the second motor 142 establishes a direct transmission connection with the volute housing 13. This one-to-one connection method enables independent control of the volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13. Furthermore, the power output of each motor can be precisely applied to the corresponding component, without any action delay or interference problems caused by sharing a power source, ensuring that the volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13 can flexibly perform folding or unfolding actions according to actual needs.

[0038] When the air duct assembly 1 needs to rotate to switch the air outlet direction, the first motor 141 can drive the volute tongue 12 to fold independently, and the second motor 142 can drive the volute housing 13 to fold independently. The two can complete the action synchronously or in a preset sequence, ensuring that the overall space occupied by the air duct assembly 1 is greatly reduced and avoiding collisions and interference with other components during rotation. More specifically, the independent drive method makes the action response faster and avoids the problem of action jamming or asynchrony caused by a single power source driving two components. This structure does not require a complex linkage transmission mechanism, simplifies the overall design of the folding drive unit 14, reduces the probability of failure, and at the same time, the connection distance between the motor installed at the end and the corresponding component is short, and the power transmission is more direct and efficient. This allows the volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13 to accurately align with the air duct body 11 when unfolded, ensuring the integrity of the air duct and ensuring smooth airflow.

[0039] In a specific embodiment, the volute tongue 12 includes a volute tongue rotating plate and a first rotating shaft, the volute shell 13 includes a volute shell rotating plate and a second rotating shaft, the air outlet end of the air duct body 11 is provided with a first shaft hole adapted to the first rotating shaft and a second shaft hole adapted to the second rotating shaft, the volute tongue rotating plate is rotatably connected to the air duct body 11 through the first rotating shaft, and the volute shell rotating plate is rotatably connected to the air duct body 11 through the second rotating shaft.

[0040] The core components of the volute tongue 12 are the volute tongue rotating plate and the first rotating shaft. The first rotating shaft is fixed to the end of the volute tongue rotating plate. The volute housing 13 is composed of the volute housing rotating plate and the second rotating shaft. The second rotating shaft is also fixed to the end of the volute housing rotating plate. The dimensions of these two rotating shafts are precisely designed to fit the corresponding shaft holes. The air outlet end of the air duct body 11 has specially reserved first and second shaft holes. The positions of these two shaft holes correspond one-to-one with the positions of the rotating shafts on the volute tongue rotating plate and the volute housing rotating plate. More specifically, the inner walls of the shaft holes are smooth and the dimensions are closely matched with the rotating shafts, which not only allows the rotating shafts to be inserted smoothly, but also prevents loosening or shaking during rotation. The volute tongue plate is inserted into the first shaft hole through the first rotating shaft, forming a stable rotational connection with the air duct body 11. The volute shell plate is inserted into the second shaft hole through the second rotating shaft, also forming a rotational connection with the air duct body 11. Furthermore, this connection method allows the volute tongue plate and the volute shell plate to rotate flexibly around their respective rotating shafts, providing reliable structural support for subsequent folding or unfolding actions, while ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted rotation process.

[0041] When the air duct assembly 1 needs to rotate to switch the air outlet direction, the volute tongue plate can rotate and fold around the first rotation axis towards the air duct body 11, and the volute housing plate can rotate and fold around the second rotation axis towards the air duct body 11. After folding, both can fit tightly against the outer wall of the air duct body 11, greatly reducing the overall space occupied by the air duct assembly 1 and avoiding collisions or interference with other components during rotation. More specifically, the folded structure allows the air duct assembly 1 to smoothly complete a 180° rotation within a limited space without reserving too much clearance space, making the overall air outlet structure more compact. When the air duct assembly 1 rotates to the target air outlet position, the volute tongue plate and the volute housing plate can rotate and unfold in opposite directions. Through the positioning action of the rotating shaft and the shaft hole, they can accurately align with the air outlet end of the air duct body 11, forming a complete and smooth airflow channel, ensuring that the airflow will not leak or become turbulent during the delivery process. Furthermore, this reliable rotational connection method does not require a complex transmission mechanism, has a simple structure and high stability, reduces the probability of failure, and allows for rapid response of folding and unfolding actions, ensuring the efficiency and reliability of air outlet direction switching.

[0042] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the mating surface between the volute tongue rotating plate and the air duct body 11 is provided with a first stepped stop 121, and the mating surface between the volute shell rotating plate and the air duct body 11 is provided with a second stepped stop 131. The air duct body 11 is provided with a boss limiting 111 at a corresponding position. The first stepped stop 121 and the second stepped stop 131 cooperate with the boss limiting 111 to realize the positioning of the volute tongue 12 and the volute shell 13 after folding.

[0043] The mating surface between the volute tongue rotating plate and the air duct body 11 is specially designed with a first stepped stop 121, while the mating surface between the volute shell rotating plate and the air duct body 11 is provided with a corresponding second stepped stop 131. The shapes of these two stepped stops are precisely matched so that they can reliably cooperate with the boss limit 111 at the corresponding position on the air duct body 11 when the volute tongue 12 and volute shell 13 are folded. The boss limit 111 on the air duct body 11 is an outward protruding structure. More specifically, when the folding drive unit 14 drives the volute tongue 12 and volute shell 13 to fold, the volute tongue rotating plate will rotate around the first rotating axis and the volute shell rotating plate will rotate around the second rotating axis in the direction of the air duct body 11. As the rotation angle gradually increases, the volute tongue rotating plate and the volute shell rotating plate will slowly approach the boss limit 111, forming a rigid limit and preventing the rotating plate from continuing to rotate, thereby precisely controlling the folding angle. Furthermore, this combination not only prevents the volute tongue 12 and volute shell 13 from being over-folded, which could lead to structural deformation or damage, but also allows the folded rotating plate to fit tightly against the outer wall of the air duct body 11 without loosening or shaking. This ensures that the overall volume of the air duct assembly 1 is minimized during rotation, effectively reducing the clearance space required for rotation and avoiding interference with surrounding components such as the heat exchanger 5.

[0044] In a specific embodiment, the drive assembly 3 includes a rotary drive motor 31, a first gear 32, and a second gear 33 disposed at the end of the air duct body 11. The first gear 32 and the second gear 33 mesh with each other. The first gear 32 is sleeved on the output shaft of the rotary drive motor 31, and the second gear 33 is fixedly connected to the end of the air duct body 11. The rotary drive motor 31 can drive the air duct body 11 to rotate through the first gear 32 and the second gear 33.

[0045] The rotary drive motor 31 is fixedly installed at the end of the air duct body 11. This installation method avoids occupying the airflow channel inside the air duct, making the overall structural layout more regular, while shortening the power transmission path and reducing energy loss. The first gear 32 is tightly fitted onto the output shaft of the rotary drive motor 31, forming a firm connection between the two, ensuring that the power of the rotary drive motor 31 can be fully transmitted to the first gear 32 without relative slippage. The second gear 33 is fixedly connected to the end of the air duct body 11, and its position is precisely aligned with the first gear 32. The teeth of the first gear 32 and the second gear 33 mesh with each other. The size and spacing of the teeth are adapted to ensure smooth and jam-free meshing. More specifically, the rotary drive motor 31 is the core power source of the entire drive assembly 3. Its function is to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and output stable rotational power. The first gear 32, as an intermediate component for power transmission, is responsible for receiving the power from the rotary drive motor 31 and transmitting it to the second gear 33, thus acting as a bridge for power transmission. The second gear 33 is directly connected to the air duct body 11, converting the received rotational power into the force that drives the air duct body 11 to rotate, and is the execution component for power transmission.

[0046] When the airflow direction needs to be switched, the rotary drive motor 31 starts first, and its output shaft begins to rotate, driving the first gear 32 mounted on it to rotate synchronously. Since the first gear 32 and the second gear 33 are in a meshing state, the rotation of the first gear 32 will drive the second gear 33 to rotate in the opposite direction through the meshing action between the teeth. Furthermore, the second gear 33 is fixedly connected to the duct body 11, and there is no gap between the two relative to each other. Therefore, the rotation of the second gear 33 will directly drive the duct body 11 to rotate around the preset axis. Throughout the entire process, the rotary drive motor 31 provides a continuous and stable power input, and the first gear 32 and the second gear 33 ensure precise and efficient power transmission through meshing transmission. The three work together to allow the duct body 11 to rotate smoothly and easily to the preset airflow position, realizing the switching of the airflow direction.

[0047] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, when the air duct assembly 1 is in the upward air outlet state, its air outlet is arranged obliquely towards the outer panel side, and the angle A between the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤A≤150°; when the air duct assembly 1 is in the downward air outlet state, its air outlet is arranged obliquely towards the inner wall side, and the angle B between the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤B≤150°.

[0048] When the air duct assembly 1 is in the top air outlet state, its air outlet is deliberately angled outward towards the panel side, rather than vertically or inwardly. The angle A formed by the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction is controlled between 110°≤A≤150°. This angle range is precisely set by combining the airflow delivery requirements and the installation space of the air duct assembly 1. It will not cause the airflow to rush directly to the ceiling or be obstructed during delivery due to the angle being too small, nor will it cause the airflow to diffuse too quickly and the blowing distance to be insufficient due to the angle being too large. When the air duct assembly 1 is switched to the bottom air outlet state, the air outlet is angled inward towards the wall side. The angle B formed by the airflow direction and the vertical direction also meets the requirement of 110°≤B≤150°. This inward tilting design can adapt to the spatial layout after the air duct assembly 1 is rotated, avoid interference with surrounding components, and meet the subsequent cooperation requirements with the shell structure. More specifically, the slanted outer panel design for the top air outlet allows the airflow driven by the fan assembly 2 to be smoothly delivered forward along the preset tilt direction, reducing airflow backflow and turbulence at the air outlet. This effectively solves the problem of limited airflow caused by the obstructed airflow path in traditional top air outlets, making top air outlets smoother and covering a wider range. The slanted inner wall design for the bottom air outlet allows the airflow to be better adjusted through the subsequent shell structure without the need for additional complex components, avoiding the problem of congestion caused by improper airflow direction. Furthermore, the 110° to 150° angle range balances airflow delivery efficiency and spatial adaptability, ensuring both a large and stable airflow volume without increasing wind resistance or operating noise due to unreasonable angle design. At the same time, when the air duct assembly 1 rotates to switch the airflow direction, the air outlet can better adapt to the overall structural layout, supporting the compact design of the air outlet structure and avoiding the problem of an excessively large shell volume due to improper airflow direction design.

[0049] The specific working process of the air outlet structure provided in Example 1 is as follows: When the air conditioner is turned on, it is in the downward air outlet state by default. At this time, the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 of the air duct assembly 1 are kept in the unfolded state under the action of the folding drive unit 14. The fan blade assembly 2 continuously rotates around its own axis to generate a stable airflow. The airflow is guided by the air duct assembly 1 and discharged from the air outlet on the side of the wall at an angle. The angle B between the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤B≤150°. This angle design allows the airflow to better adapt to the subsequent structure and avoids the problems of uneven airflow and noise caused by air condensation. When switching to the top-outlet mode is required, the folding drive unit 14 is activated first, driving the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 to fold around the first and second rotating axes respectively towards the air duct body 11, tightly fitting the outer wall of the air duct body 11. This significantly reduces the space required for the air duct assembly 1 to rotate and avoids interference with other components during rotation. Subsequently, the rotation drive motor 31 of the drive assembly 3 is activated, driving the first gear 32 mounted on its output shaft to rotate. The first gear 32 meshes with the second gear 33 fixed at the end of the air duct body 11, smoothly transmitting power to the air duct body 11 and driving the air duct body 11 to rotate around a preset direction. The axis rotates, and the fan blade assembly 2, because it is fixedly installed inside the air duct body 11, will rotate synchronously with the air duct body 11 to ensure the relative position of the airflow channel is stable. When the air duct assembly 1 rotates to the preset upper air outlet position, the folding drive unit 14 is activated again, driving the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 to unfold in the opposite direction. The stepped stop and the boss limit are re-engaged to achieve a sealed connection. At this time, the air outlet of the air duct assembly 1 is arranged obliquely to the outer panel side, and the angle A between the airflow direction and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤A≤150°, making the upper air outlet smoother and the blowing distance farther, solving the problem of not blowing far due to the unsmooth airflow path in the traditional upper air outlet. Throughout the entire operation, the single-blade fan assembly 2 continuously rotates to provide airflow power. Combined with the foldable duct assembly 1 and the precise transmission drive assembly 3, it not only achieves flexible switching between reversible up and down airflow, but also reduces the space required for duct rotation through the folding design, making the structure more compact and avoiding the problem of an oversized housing. At the same time, the sealing fit and angle design ensure smooth airflow, no air leakage or short circuit, reduce operating noise, and take into account both practicality and comfort.

[0050] Example 2 This embodiment provides an air conditioner, such as Figures 9-12 As shown, the air conditioner includes a housing assembly 4, a heat exchanger 5, and the air outlet structure described in Embodiment 1. The air outlet structure and the heat exchanger 5 are both installed inside the housing assembly 4. The heat exchanger 5 is arranged in an inverted V-shaped semi-enclosed structure on the outside of the air duct assembly 1. The air duct assembly 1 can rotate within the semi-enclosed space of the heat exchanger 5.

[0051] The housing assembly 4 serves as the overall load-bearing foundation, housing the air outlet structure and heat exchanger 5. This ensures that the layout of each component is neat and the connection is firm, providing reliable structural support for subsequent operation. The heat exchanger 5 is specially designed in an inverted V shape and is arranged in a semi-enclosed manner on the outside of the air duct assembly 1. This shape and layout are not arbitrarily designed, but precisely adapted to the rotation requirements of the air duct assembly 1. More specifically, the inverted V-shaped structure can naturally form an enclosing space that just accommodates the air duct assembly 1. Its two sides will not exceed the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly 2, so that it will not block the rotation path of the air duct assembly 1, and the air duct assembly 1 will always be within the semi-enclosed range of the heat exchanger 5. This ensures that the air duct assembly 1 will not collide or interfere with the heat exchanger 5 during rotation, and smoothly achieves the switching between upper and lower air outlets.

[0052] This embodiment utilizes an inverted V-shaped semi-enclosed layout, significantly improving the space utilization of the heat exchanger 5 and the air duct assembly 1. It eliminates the need for excessive extra space to accommodate the rotation of the air duct assembly 1, effectively solving the problem of bulky air conditioners caused by the large space required for air duct rotation in traditional structures. This results in a smaller and more compact air conditioner. Furthermore, the semi-enclosed structure allows the airflow from the air duct assembly 1 to be more concentrated in contact with the heat exchanger 5 under any airflow conditions, creating conditions for efficient heat exchange. Simultaneously, this integrated layout avoids space waste caused by component dispersion, maintaining the simplicity of the single-blade structure. Reversible up-and-down airflow can be achieved without a dual-blade structure, reducing structural complexity and improving operational stability. This allows the air conditioner to meet users' needs for a compact product while maintaining practical functionality.

[0053] In a specific embodiment, when the air duct assembly 1 is rotated to the upper air outlet state, the air outlet direction of the fan blade assembly 2 is arranged towards the inverted V-shaped inner surface of the heat exchanger 5, so that the airflow is diffused through the heat exchanger 5 and then sent out.

[0054] After the air duct assembly 1 rotates to the preset top air outlet state, the air outlet direction of the fan blade assembly 2 is precisely set, pointing exactly towards the inverted V-shaped inner surface of the heat exchanger 5. This inverted V-shaped inner surface is the inner wall surface facing the air duct assembly 1 when the heat exchanger 5 is arranged in a semi-enclosed structure outside the air duct assembly 1. Its shape precisely matches the air outlet trajectory of the fan blade assembly 2, allowing the airflow generated by the continuous rotation of the fan blade assembly 2 to directly blow onto this inner surface. More specifically, when the airflow acts on the inverted V-shaped inner surface, the inverted V-shaped structure of the heat exchanger 5 directly disperses the originally concentrated airflow, allowing the airflow to diffuse evenly to both sides, while effectively slowing down the airflow speed and avoiding the discomfort caused by concentrated airflow blowing directly. The dispersed airflow can more comprehensively cover the heat exchange area of ​​the heat exchanger 5, fully completing the cooling and heat exchange process. Furthermore, this design, which utilizes the structure of the heat exchanger 5 itself to disperse the airflow, eliminates the need for additional specialized air-dispersing components. It allows the airflow after heat exchange to enter the airflow channel of the air duct component 1 in a gentle and uniform manner along the diffusion direction, and finally exit from the corresponding air outlet. This achieves a windless cooling effect and improves user comfort.

[0055] In a specific embodiment, the housing assembly 4 includes a bottom shell 41 and an outer shell 42. The bottom shell 41 is fixedly disposed inside the outer shell 42, and the air duct body 11 is mounted on the bottom shell 41.

[0056] The housing assembly 4 consists of a bottom shell 41 and an outer shell 42. The bottom shell 41 is securely fixed inside the outer shell 42, forming a tightly fitted overall structure. The bottom shell 41, as the core load-bearing component, provides a flat and stable reference surface for the installation of subsequent components, while the outer shell 42 wraps around the outside, providing overall protection and a neat appearance. The duct body 11 is directly mounted on the bottom shell 41, with its installation position precisely positioned to ensure that the duct body 11 maintains a preset horizontal state and spatial position without any offset or loosening. More specifically, this layered installation design makes the assembly logic of each component clearer. The bottom shell 41 not only provides protection for the outer shell 42 but also provides targeted support for the duct body 11, avoiding the installation inaccuracies that might occur if the duct body 11 were directly connected to the outer shell 42. Furthermore, after the duct body 11 is installed on the bottom shell 41, it can more accurately fit the semi-enclosed space of the heat exchanger 5, ensuring that the duct assembly 1 always moves within the preset path when rotating, and will not collide or interfere with the heat exchanger 5 or the outer shell 42. At the same time, the stable support of the bottom shell 41 makes the duct body 11 more stable during rotation and operation, reducing vibration and noise caused by unstable installation, and also preventing the displacement of the duct body 11 from affecting the accuracy of the air outlet direction. This makes the internal structure of the entire air conditioner more compact, effectively utilizes space, solves the problem of space waste and poor stability caused by messy component installation in traditional structures, and improves the overall reliability of operation.

[0057] like Figure 3 As shown, the air duct body 11 is also provided with a first sealing and limiting structure 112, and the bottom shell 41 is provided with a second sealing and limiting structure 411. After the air duct body 11 is rotated into position, the first sealing and limiting structure 112 can dock with the second sealing and limiting structure 411.

[0058] A first sealing and limiting structure 112 is specially provided on the main body of the air duct 11, while a corresponding second sealing and limiting structure 411 is provided on the bottom shell 41. The shapes and sizes of these two structures are precisely matched so that they fit together perfectly, and their installation positions strictly correspond to the preset positions after the main body of the air duct 11 is rotated, ensuring the accuracy of the docking. More specifically, when the drive component 3 drives the main body of the air duct 11 to rotate and switch the air outlet direction, as the main body of the air duct 11 gradually approaches the target position of the upper or lower air outlet, the first sealing and limiting structure 112 will slowly move closer to the second sealing and limiting structure 411 until the main body of the air duct 11 is fully rotated into place, at which point the two will be precisely aligned and tightly fitted, forming a stable docking state. Furthermore, this docking not only serves as a reliable limiting mechanism, preventing excessive rotation of the duct body 11 and avoiding poor docking between the duct outlet and the outer casing outlet due to positional misalignment, ensuring that it stops at the accurate position every time it switches; it also forms an effective sealing effect, blocking the gap between the duct body 11 and the bottom shell 41, preventing airflow from leaking out of the gap and causing short circuits, and preventing airflow from being discharged directly without passing through the heat exchanger 5, thus affecting the heat exchange effect; at the same time, no additional sealing gaskets or limiting components are needed, making the structure simpler, reducing failure points, saving internal space, meeting the design requirements of a compact overall structure, and improving the stability and heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0059] In a specific embodiment, the upper part of the outer shell 42 is provided with an upper air vent 421, and a plurality of grille plates 422 are provided inside the upper air vent 421. The extending direction of the grille plates 422 is parallel to the airflow direction when the air is vented from the air duct assembly 1.

[0060] The upper part of the outer casing 42 is specially provided with an upper air vent 421. The position of the upper air vent 421 is precisely positioned to correspond exactly to the air outlet of the air duct assembly 1 when the air is being discharged, providing a dedicated channel for airflow discharge. Multiple grille plates 422 are evenly arranged inside the upper air vent 421. These grille plates 422 are not randomly placed; their extension direction is strictly calibrated to be parallel to the airflow direction when the air is being discharged from the air duct assembly 1. This allows the airflow to pass through smoothly and also guides the airflow in an orderly manner. More specifically, the even distribution of multiple grille plates 422 ensures that the airflow passing through the upper air vent 421 experiences balanced force, avoiding turbulence caused by uneven local airflow velocity. The design of extending in a direction parallel to the airflow direction minimizes the obstruction when the airflow passes through the grille plates 422, allowing the airflow to be smoothly transported forward along the preset path without any backflow or eddy currents. Furthermore, this design can compress the airflow forward, effectively preventing the airflow from blowing directly upwards to the ceiling. This solves the problem of poor comfort caused by the airflow rushing directly to the ceiling when the air is vented in the traditional way. At the same time, there is no need to add additional components such as air guides, making the structure of the outer casing 42 simpler and saving internal space. It meets the design requirements of a compact single-blade structure, making the upward airflow smoother and the blowing distance farther. It also improves user comfort, simplifies the overall structure, and reduces the possibility of malfunctions.

[0061] In a specific embodiment, the lower part of the outer casing 42 is provided with a first downwind opening 423 and a second downwind opening 424. The first downwind opening 423 is located inside the outer casing 42, and the second downwind opening 424 is located outside the first downwind opening 423 and is only used for air intake.

[0062] The lower part of the outer casing 42 is rationally designed with a first downdraft 423 and a second downdraft 424. These two vents are distributed symmetrically, with the first downdraft 423 located on the inner side of the outer casing 42, closer to the wall, and the second downdraft 424 located on the outer side of the first downdraft 423, closer to the panel. This design fully utilizes the space at the bottom of the outer casing 42, avoiding wasted space, and clearly delineates the functional areas of the two vents. The second downdraft 424 is specifically designed for air intake only and does not participate in air exhaust. This functional division ensures more orderly airflow and prevents interference between intake and exhaust air. More specifically, the inner first down-vent 423, being close to the air outlet of the duct assembly 1 after rotation, can better coordinate with the air outlet of the duct body 11 to achieve airflow delivery when the duct assembly 1 switches to the down-exit state. Meanwhile, the outer second down-vent 424 focuses on air intake, without needing to handle air outlet functions, maximizing the air intake area and allowing air to enter the air conditioner more smoothly, solving the problem of insufficient air intake volume in traditional single air inlets. Furthermore, this dual down-vent design achieves increased air intake area without additional expansion of the outer casing 42, meeting the design requirements of a compact overall structure. Sufficient air intake provides a stable airflow source for the fan blade assembly 2, ensuring a large and smooth airflow, avoiding problems such as weak airflow or noise during operation due to insufficient air intake. At the same time, the clear division of functions makes the structural design simpler, eliminating the need for additional complex dampers or switching components, improving both usability and operational reliability.

[0063] In a specific embodiment, when the air duct assembly 1 is in a downward air outlet state, the air outlet of the air duct body 11 is sealed and connected with the first downward air outlet 423, and the first downward air outlet 423 is arranged at an outward tilt, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the angle C between it and the vertical direction satisfies 20°≤C≤60°.

[0064] When the air duct assembly 1 is switched to the downward air outlet state, the air outlet of the air duct body 11 will achieve a tight seal with the first downward air outlet 423. This connection method ensures that there are no gaps between the two, preventing airflow from leaking from the connection point during the delivery process and ensuring that the airflow can be discharged along the preset path. The first downward air outlet 423 is not arranged vertically, but is deliberately set to be tilted outward. The angle C formed by it and the vertical direction is strictly controlled between 20°≤C≤60°. This angle range is precisely determined by combining the air outlet requirements and the spatial layout of the outer shell 42. It will not cause the airflow to hit the ground directly or be obstructed due to the angle being too small, nor will it cause the wind resistance to increase or the air outlet direction to deviate from the expected direction due to the angle being too large. More specifically, the sealed connection design effectively prevents airflow short-circuiting, avoiding the direct discharge of some airflow without heat exchange. This ensures that each stream of air undergoes sufficient heat exchange before being delivered, improving performance. The outward tilt allows the airflow to naturally form a downward and forward blowing direction, achieving the desired air outlet angle without the need for additional air guides. This solves the problem of high wind resistance and uneven airflow caused by traditional structures relying on additional air guides. Furthermore, the 20° to 60° angle range balances airflow smoothness and coverage, resulting in more even airflow and preventing localized areas of excessively strong or weak airflow. This tilted design, combined with the sealed connection, reduces airflow backflow and congestion at the outlet, effectively reducing operating noise. It also allows the first lower air outlet 423 to better fit the overall structure of the outer casing 42 without occupying extra space, meeting the compact design requirements of the air outlet structure. This allows the air conditioner to maintain good airflow while maintaining a smaller overall size.

[0065] In a specific embodiment, when the air duct assembly 1 is switched to the downward air outlet state, the outer wall of the air duct body 11 and the inner wall of the outer shell 42 cooperate to seal and block the second downward air outlet 424.

[0066] When the air duct assembly 1 switches to the downward air outlet state, the air duct body 11 rotates to the preset downward air outlet position under the drive of the drive assembly 3. At this time, the outer wall of the air duct body 11 will form a precise fit with the inner wall of the outer shell 42. This fit is based on the structural adaptation design of the two. The contour of the outer wall matches the shape of the corresponding position of the inner wall of the outer shell 42, which can completely cover the opening of the second downward air outlet 424 and achieve a sealing and blocking effect. More specifically, this fit does not require the addition of additional sealing gaskets or dampers. The air duct body 11 and the outer shell 42 themselves can block the air from entering or leaving the second downward air outlet 424, avoiding the problem that the second downward air outlet 424 becomes an airflow channel in the air outlet state, causing some airflow to leak or flow back without heat exchange, and ensuring that the airflow can flow along the preset path. Furthermore, sealing and blocking the second downvent 424 allows for a more singular and orderly airflow path. All air entering the air conditioner must pass through the heat exchanger 5 via a preset air intake path before being discharged from the first downvent 423, ensuring sufficient heat exchange and improving performance. At the same time, this structure simplifies the overall design, eliminating the need for additional drive components to control the opening and closing of the second downvent 424, saving internal space and making the air conditioner more compact.

[0067] In a specific embodiment, neither of the two sides of the heat exchanger 5 exceeds the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly 2.

[0068] The heat exchanger 5 is arranged in an inverted V-shaped semi-enclosed structure on the outside of the air duct assembly 1. Both sides of the heat exchanger 5 are strictly controlled to not exceed the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly 2. Here, the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly 2 refers to the horizontal reference plane where the rotation center of the fan blade assembly 2 is located. The two sides of the heat exchanger 5 neither extend upwards nor downwards beyond this reference plane, but rather fit symmetrically and adaptively with the outer layout of the air duct assembly 1. More specifically, this design is based on the core requirement that the air duct assembly 1 needs to rotate within the semi-enclosed space of the heat exchanger 5. The inverted V-shaped structure itself provides a rotation channel for the air duct assembly 1, and the fact that the two sides do not exceed the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly 2 further ensures that during the rotation of the air duct assembly 1, its ends, volute tongue 12, and volute casing 13 will not collide with or obstruct the two sides of the heat exchanger 5 when folded or unfolded, making the rotation smoother. Furthermore, this positional limitation does not require increasing the installation space of the heat exchanger 5 or widening the rotation radius of the air duct assembly 1 to avoid it. Instead, it makes the layout of the two more compact through precise size matching, effectively utilizing the vertical space inside the air conditioner. This avoids the problem of the overall air conditioner becoming larger and the structure becoming bulky due to the edge of the heat exchanger 5 extending too far. At the same time, it creates reasonable spatial conditions for the airflow to fully contact the heat exchanger 5.

[0069] When the air conditioner is turned on, it is in the downward air outlet state by default. At this time, the air duct assembly 1 is located in the preset downward air outlet position. The volute tongue 12 and the volute housing 13 are kept unfolded under the action of the folding drive unit 14. The first downward air outlet 423 is arranged outward at an angle C with the vertical direction, which satisfies 20°≤C≤60°. No additional air guide plate is needed to allow the airflow to blow downward and forward, avoiding the problems of high wind resistance and obstructed airflow. At the same time, the outer wall of the air duct body 11 fits with the inner wall of the outer shell 42, which perfectly seals and blocks the second downward air outlet 424 on the outside, preventing the airflow from leaking directly without heat exchange and ensuring the uniqueness of the airflow path. The bottom shell 41 of the housing assembly 4 is fixed inside the outer shell 42. The air duct body 11 is firmly installed on the bottom shell 41, providing stable support for the entire operation process. The heat exchanger 5 is arranged in an inverted V-shaped semi-enclosed structure on the outside of the air duct assembly 1. Its two sides do not exceed the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly 2, which does not hinder the rotation of the air duct assembly 1 and makes full use of space, making the air conditioner smaller and more compact. At this time, the fan blade assembly 2 continues to rotate around its own axis. Air enters the air conditioner from the upper air inlet 421, which serves as the air inlet. After heat exchange by the heat exchanger 5, it is blown into the airflow channel of the air duct assembly 1 by the fan blade assembly 2. It is then discharged obliquely to the air outlet on the wall side of the air duct body 11. The angle B between the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤B≤150°, which can better adjust the air outlet direction through the structure of the outer shell 42, avoiding the problem of loud operating noise caused by air congestion. Finally, the airflow is smoothly blown into the room through the first lower air inlet 423, achieving efficient temperature control.

[0070] When switching to the top air outlet state is required, the folding drive unit 14 is activated first. Its first motor 141 drives the volute tongue 12 to fold around the first rotating shaft, and the second motor 142 drives the volute housing 13 to fold around the second rotating shaft towards the air duct body 11, tightly fitting the outer wall of the air duct body 11. This significantly reduces the clearance space required for the rotation of the air duct assembly 1, solving the problem of the large space required for traditional air duct rotation, which leads to the bulky overall air conditioner design and makes the structural design more compact. Subsequently, the rotation drive motor 31 of the drive assembly 3 is activated, driving the first gear 32 sleeved on its output shaft to rotate. The first gear 32 meshes with the second gear 33 fixed at the end of the air duct body 11, smoothly transmitting power to the air duct body 11. This drives the air duct assembly 1 to rotate smoothly within the semi-enclosed space of the heat exchanger 5. The fan blade assembly 2 rotates synchronously because it is fixedly installed inside the air duct body 11, ensuring the relative position of the airflow channel is stable and preventing airflow turbulence caused by misalignment. After the air duct assembly 1 rotates to the preset upper air outlet position, the folding drive unit 14 is activated again, driving the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 to unfold in the opposite direction. The stepped stop and the boss limit 111 re-form a sealed connection. At this time, the air outlet of the air duct assembly 1 is arranged obliquely to the outer panel side, and the angle A with the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤A≤150°. With the grille plate 422 inside the upper air outlet 421 that is parallel to the air outlet direction, it can not only press the air forward to make the upper air outlet smoother and the blowing distance farther, but also effectively prevent the airflow from blowing directly to the ceiling, thus improving the comfort of use.

[0071] In the top-discharge mode, the fan blade assembly 2 continuously rotates to provide stable power. Air enters from both the second downspout 424 and the first downspout 423, increasing the air intake area and avoiding insufficient air intake. The airflow is directly blown by the fan blade assembly 2 towards the inverted V-shaped heat exchanger 5. The heat exchanger 5 disperses the concentrated airflow, effectively slowing down the airflow velocity and allowing the airflow to fully contact and exchange heat with the heat exchanger 5. This "first through the fan blades, then through the heat exchanger" path allows the fins of the heat exchanger 5 to achieve good heat exchange without being designed too densely, saving materials and reducing costs, while avoiding the problems of high air intake resistance and surge noise caused by dense fins. The heat-exchanged air gathers in the air conditioner outlet cavity to form a high-pressure air zone. Utilizing the principle of high pressure moving to low pressure, it is then rectified and guided by the grille plate 422 of the top air outlet 421 and gently blown into the indoor space, achieving a windless cooling effect and completely solving the pain point of traditional air conditioners blowing cold air directly into people.

[0072] When it is necessary to switch back to the downward air outlet state, the folding drive unit 14 drives the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 to fold again. The air duct assembly 1 rotates in the opposite direction under the cooperation of the rotary drive motor 31 and gear transmission. After it reaches the position, the volute tongue 12 and volute housing 13 unfold, and the air duct body 11 re-seals and blocks the second downward air outlet 424, restoring the downward air outlet operation state. The entire working process achieves reversible upward and downward air outlets with only a single fan blade assembly 2, eliminating the need for a dual fan blade structure, effectively saving space and making the air conditioner more compact. At the same time, through clever structures such as the folding air duct, the semi-enclosed layout of the heat exchanger, and the design of the air outlet angle, multiple motors and dampers are not required, making control simple and lower in cost. It ensures smooth air outlets, sufficient heat exchange, and low operating noise, while making the overall structure more compact and reliable, fully meeting users' needs for air conditioning comfort, compactness, and low noise.

[0073] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An air outlet structure, characterized in that, The air outlet structure includes an air duct assembly, a fan blade assembly, and a drive assembly. The fan blade assembly is disposed inside the air duct assembly, and the drive assembly is connected to the air duct assembly for driving the air duct assembly to rotate around a preset axis to switch the air outlet direction.

2. The air outlet structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air duct assembly includes an air duct body, a volute tongue, a volute shell, and a folding drive unit. The volute tongue and the volute shell are respectively disposed at the air outlet end of the air duct body, and the folding drive unit is connected to the volute tongue and the volute shell to drive them to fold or unfold.

3. The air outlet structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The folding drive unit includes a first motor and a second motor disposed at the end of the air duct body. The first motor is connected to the volute tongue, and the second motor is connected to the volute shell.

4. The air outlet structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The volute tongue includes a volute tongue rotating plate and a first rotating shaft. The volute shell includes a volute shell rotating plate and a second rotating shaft. The air outlet end of the air duct body is provided with a first shaft hole adapted to the first rotating shaft and a second shaft hole adapted to the second rotating shaft. The volute tongue rotating plate is rotatably connected to the air duct body through the first rotating shaft, and the volute shell rotating plate is rotatably connected to the air duct body through the second rotating shaft.

5. The air outlet structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The volute tongue rotating plate has a first stepped stop on the mating surface with the air duct body, and the volute shell rotating plate has a second stepped stop on the mating surface with the air duct body; the air duct body has a boss limiting position at the corresponding position, and the first stepped stop and the second stepped stop cooperate with the boss limiting position to realize the positioning of the volute tongue and volute shell after folding.

6. The air outlet structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive assembly includes a rotary drive motor, a first gear, and a second gear disposed at the end of the air duct body. The first gear and the second gear mesh with each other. The first gear is sleeved on the output shaft of the rotary drive motor, and the second gear is fixedly connected to the end of the air duct body. The rotary drive motor can drive the air duct body to rotate through the first gear and the second gear.

7. The air outlet structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the air duct assembly is in the upward air outlet state, its air outlet is arranged obliquely towards the outer panel side, and the angle A between the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤A≤150°; when the air duct assembly is in the downward air outlet state, its air outlet is arranged obliquely towards the inner wall side, and the angle B between the airflow direction of the air outlet and the vertical direction satisfies 110°≤B≤150°.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes a housing assembly, a heat exchanger, and an air outlet structure as described in any one of claims 1-7. The air outlet structure and the heat exchanger are both installed inside the housing assembly. The heat exchanger is arranged in an inverted V-shaped semi-enclosed structure on the outside of the air duct assembly. The air duct assembly is rotatable within the semi-enclosed space of the heat exchanger.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the air duct assembly rotates to the upper air outlet state, the air outlet direction of the fan blade assembly is set towards the inverted V-shaped inner surface of the heat exchanger, so that the airflow is diffused through the heat exchanger and then sent out.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that, The housing assembly includes a bottom shell and an outer shell. The bottom shell is fixedly disposed inside the outer shell, and the air duct body is installed on the bottom shell. The air duct body is also provided with a first sealing limiting structure, and the bottom shell is provided with a second sealing limiting structure. After the air duct body is rotated into position, the first sealing limiting structure can dock with the second sealing limiting structure.

11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, characterized in that, The upper part of the outer casing is provided with an air inlet, and multiple grille plates are provided inside the air inlet. The extending direction of the grille plates is parallel to the airflow direction when the air is discharged from the air duct assembly.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 10, characterized in that, The lower part of the outer casing is provided with a first downwind opening and a second downwind opening. The first downwind opening is located inside the outer casing, and the second downwind opening is located outside the first downwind opening and is only used for air intake.

13. The air conditioner according to claim 12, characterized in that, When the air duct assembly is in the downward air outlet state, the air outlet of the air duct body is sealed and connected with the first downward air outlet. The first downward air outlet is arranged to be inclined outward, and the angle C between it and the vertical direction satisfies 20°≤C≤60°.

14. The air conditioner according to claim 12, characterized in that, When the air duct assembly is switched to the downward air outlet state, the outer wall of the air duct body and the inner wall of the outer shell can cooperate to seal and block the second downward air outlet.

15. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that, Neither of the two edges of the heat exchanger extends beyond the horizontal plane of the center of the fan blade assembly.

Images