Recessed cabinet type air conditioner indoor unit

Abstract

The application provides a kind of built-in cabinet type air conditioner indoor unit, and relates to air conditioning technical field.The built-in cabinet type air conditioner indoor unit comprises: a shell, which is provided with an opening on the front side;A volute, the volute and the shell form an air inlet duct, and an air outlet duct is formed in the volute;Panel, provided at the opening, the panel is provided with an air outlet connected with the air outlet duct, the panel can be moved relative to the shell in a direction perpendicular to the front side, and can be switched between the retracted position and the extended position;Air deflector, rotatingly arranged at the air outlet, for opening or closing the air outlet;When the panel is in the extended position, the panel and the shell form an air return opening, and the air return opening is communicated with the air inlet duct;When the panel is in the retracted position and the air deflector closes the air outlet, the panel is embedded in the opening, so that the front side of the shell presents a flat closed surface.The built-in cabinet type air conditioner indoor unit of the application can be closed and installed on the remaining surface except the front side, and can be inlaid in the cabinet or wall body, thereby having concealment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of air conditioning technology, and particularly relates to an embedded cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit. Background Technology

[0002] Built-in cabinet air conditioner indoor units refer to floor-standing air conditioning indoor units that can be installed entirely or partially embedded inside cabinets, walls, or other custom-made furniture. Compared to traditional freestanding cabinet units, their core design goal is to achieve integration with the interior decoration style, improving space utilization and visual aesthetics by concealing the air conditioner itself.

[0003] To achieve recessed installation of cabinet air conditioner indoor units, the air inlet and outlet are typically located on the front side (front) of the unit casing. This technical solution solves the problem of needing to reserve air intake space around the machine when installing traditional cabinet air conditioner indoor units. However, when the indoor unit is not in use, the air inlet on the front is still exposed, making it impossible to form a visually uniform flat surface with the recessed installation environment (such as cabinet doors).

[0004] In related technologies, it is easy to think of using an independent damper assembly to cover the air inlet when the air conditioner is not running. However, the damper assembly not only increases the complexity of the structure and the number of parts, leading to increased costs and reduced reliability, but may also generate noise due to moving parts, and it is difficult to achieve a seamless appearance that is completely flush with the air inlet panel, still affecting the overall aesthetics and sealing performance.

[0005] In addition, when using the above-mentioned cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, the air inlet and outlet on the front are close together, which can easily cause airflow short-circuiting. This will not only reduce the heat exchange efficiency and energy efficiency of the air conditioner, but may also lead to a shorter air delivery distance, uneven indoor temperature distribution, and may cause airflow turbulence and noise problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art. Therefore, This invention provides a recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, comprising: The outer casing has an opening on its front side. A volute is disposed within the outer shell, and the volute and the outer shell enclose each other to form an air inlet duct. An air outlet duct is formed inside the volute, and the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct are connected to form an air duct. An indoor heat exchanger is installed in the air inlet duct to exchange heat with the air in the air inlet duct. A heat exchange fan is disposed in the air outlet duct, and the axial direction of the heat exchange fan extends along the height direction of the outer casing. A panel is provided at the opening, and the panel is provided with an air outlet that communicates with the air outlet duct. The panel can move relative to the outer shell in a direction perpendicular to the front side. An air guide plate is rotatably mounted at the air outlet to open or close the air outlet. A drive mechanism is disposed inside the housing and is connected to the panel, used to drive the panel to move linearly between the retracted position and the extended position; When the panel is in the extended position, a return air vent is formed between the panel and the outer casing. The return air vent is connected to the air intake duct and is used to allow indoor air to enter the air intake duct. When the panel is in the retracted position and the air guide plate closes the air outlet, the panel is embedded in the opening so that the front side of the housing presents a flat, closed surface.

[0007] The above technical solution offers the following advantages or beneficial effects: Through the linear telescopic movement of the panel, it intelligently switches between extended and retracted positions. When the panel is extended, a return air vent is formed using the gap between the panel and the opening edge of the outer casing, achieving efficient air intake. When the panel is retracted, the return air vent completely disappears, and the air guide plate closes, completely sealing the front side of the casing, perfectly integrating into the home environment and achieving fully embedded installation of the cabinet air conditioner indoor unit. When this cabinet air conditioner indoor unit is embedded, all sides except the front of the casing can be completely enclosed within the wall or cabinet, greatly improving the neatness and aesthetics of the indoor space.

[0008] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the air outlet is located in the middle of the panel and its length extends along the height direction of the housing; when the panel is in the extended position, two return air inlets are formed on both sides of the panel in the width direction.

[0009] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: two large-area return air inlets are formed on both sides of the panel, which significantly increases the air intake area and provides sufficient air intake guarantee for embedded installation.

[0010] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the air duct is a dual cross-flow air duct, and two independent air outlet ducts are formed inside the volute. The air outlet ends of the two air outlet ducts are arranged opposite to the air outlet. Two air guide plates are provided corresponding to the air outlet ducts and are rotatably connected to the volute.

[0011] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The air duct is a dual cross-flow duct, which allows for the parallel operation of two heat exchange fans, significantly improving the total air volume and air delivery power, and meeting the user's greater cooling / heating needs. Two independent air outlet ducts, combined with air guide plates, allow for more precise airflow control, improving comfort.

[0012] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, in a cross section perpendicular to the height direction of the outer casing, the rotation axes of the two air guide plates are located in the central region of the opening; the air guide ends of the two air guide plates move towards each other to guide the airflow from the air outlet duct to both sides of the air outlet.

[0013] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the two air guide plates guide the airflow from the two air outlets to both sides of the air outlet, which can realize wide-angle diffusion air supply, expand the air supply coverage, and improve comfort.

[0014] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the panel includes a panel body and a frame, the air outlet is opened through the panel body, and the frame is disposed on the side of the panel body near the heat exchange fan and surrounds the air outlet. When the panel is in the extended position, the frame is at least partially fitted around the air outlet of the volute to maintain a communication path between the air outlet and the air outlet duct.

[0015] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: By setting the frame on the back of the panel, when the panel is extended, the frame can be sleeved on the outer periphery of the air outlet of the volute, forming a "sliding plug-in air duct interface", which ensures that the airflow path from the volute to the air outlet is continuous and sealed, effectively preventing air leakage, ensuring that the air outlet power is not lost, and also reducing the vortex noise caused by airflow leakage.

[0016] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, in a cross-section perpendicular to the height direction of the housing, the volute includes a mating portion that engages with the frame. The dimension h of the mating portion in a direction perpendicular to the front side is greater than the travel of the panel, so that the frame isolates the return air vent from the air outlet.

[0017] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: by setting the depth dimension h of the mating part of the volute to always be greater than the panel's moving stroke, it ensures that the panel frame remains sleeved with the volute in all moving positions, completely isolating the return air area and the air outlet area in physical space, ensuring that all air entering from the return air inlet must flow along the designed air duct path (through the indoor heat exchanger and heat exchange fan) before being discharged from the air outlet, thus eliminating the possibility of airflow short circuit.

[0018] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, the end edge of the frame away from the panel body is connected to the corresponding end edge of the panel body via an arcuate surface protruding toward the air outlet.

[0019] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the arc surface provides a smooth guiding surface for the airflow entering from the return air inlet, which not only significantly reduces the local resistance loss when the air enters from the return air inlet and turns to flow into the internal air intake duct, but also reduces the turbulent noise caused by the airflow impacting the right angle, making the air conditioner operate more quietly.

[0020] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the drive mechanism includes: A rack is provided on the panel, and the rack extends in a direction perpendicular to the front side. A gear is rotatably disposed relative to the housing, and the gear meshes with the rack; A drive motor is connected to the gear to drive the gear to rotate. The rotation of the gear drives the rack to move, thereby moving the panel.

[0021] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: the drive mechanism, through the meshing transmission of gears and racks, accurately and reliably converts the rotational motion of the drive motor into the linear reciprocating motion of the panel perpendicular to the front side, effectively ensuring that the panel switches stably and accurately between the extended position and the retracted position.

[0022] According to an embodiment of this disclosure, sealing plates are provided at both ends of the volute in the height direction, and the sealing plates, together with the panel and the outer shell, form an air inlet cavity, which is connected to the air inlet duct. When the panel is in the extended position, the air inlet cavity is connected to the air inlet duct and the indoor environment.

[0023] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: by forming air intake chambers at the upper and lower ends of the volute, the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner has additional channels for air intake from the top and bottom gaps between the panel and the outer casing, in addition to the return air vents on both sides of the panel. This achieves multi-directional and three-dimensional air intake, thereby greatly reducing the air intake resistance of the whole unit and making it easier to obtain sufficient air intake in a compact embedded space.

[0024] According to embodiments of this disclosure, a recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit is also provided, comprising: The outer casing has an opening on its front side. A volute is disposed within the outer shell, and the volute and the outer shell enclose each other to form an air inlet duct. An air outlet duct is formed inside the volute, and the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct are connected to form an air duct. An indoor heat exchanger is installed in the air inlet duct to exchange heat with the air in the air inlet duct. A heat exchange fan is disposed in the air outlet duct, and the axial direction of the heat exchange fan extends along the height direction of the outer casing. A panel is provided at the opening, and the panel is provided with an air outlet that communicates with the air outlet duct. The panel can move relative to the outer shell in a direction perpendicular to the front side. An air guide plate is rotatably mounted at the air outlet to open or close the air outlet. A drive mechanism is disposed inside the housing and is connected to the panel, used to drive the panel to move linearly between the retracted position and the extended position; When the indoor unit of the built-in cabinet air conditioner is turned on, the panel extends from the opening away from the outer casing, so that a return air vent is formed between the panel and the outer casing. The return air vent, the air duct and the air outlet are connected in sequence to form a circulating air path that draws air from the room, performs heat exchange and sends it back to the room. When the built-in cabinet air conditioner indoor unit is closed, the panel retracts and is embedded in the opening, and the air guide plate closes the air outlet so that the front side of the housing presents a flat, closed surface.

[0025] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: The recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit, through the linear telescopic movement of the control panel of the drive mechanism and the coordinated opening and closing of the air guide plate, enables the panel to automatically extend and form a return air vent when the air conditioner is turned on, thereby constructing a complete circulating air path from the return air vent, heat exchange through the air duct, and then being sent out through the air outlet, ensuring efficient ventilation and heat exchange; when closed, the panel is completely retracted and the air guide plate is closed, making the front of the air conditioner flush with the front side of the outer casing to form a flat and closed surface without openings, realizing completely hidden installation in cabinets or walls, which not only significantly saves space and improves the aesthetics of the room, but also solves the installation limitation of traditional cabinet air conditioners that require space to be reserved around the perimeter due to air intake requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the appearance of an indoor unit of a cabinet-type air conditioner according to one embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an indoor unit of a cabinet-type air conditioner embedded in a cabinet according to an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the indoor unit of the cabinet-type air conditioner when it is turned on, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of an indoor unit of a cabinet-type air conditioner embedded in a cabinet when it is turned on, according to one embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 5 This is a front view of the indoor unit of the cabinet-type air conditioner when it is closed, according to an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Sectional view at point AA; Figure 7 This is a front view of the indoor unit of the cabinet-type air conditioner when it is turned on, according to one embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Sectional view at point BB; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the panel structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 10 This is a structural schematic diagram of the panel from another perspective according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the cabinet-type air conditioner in one embodiment of this disclosure when it is turned on; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a volute disposed in an outer shell according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 13 This is a partial schematic diagram of the indoor unit of the cabinet-type air conditioner being turned on according to another embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the indoor unit of the cabinet-type air conditioner when it is closed, according to another embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the indoor unit of the cabinet-type air conditioner when it is turned on, according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

[0027] In the above figures: 100 for recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit; 200 for cabinet; 10 for casing; 20 for indoor heat exchanger; 30 for heat exchange fan; 1 for outer shell; 11 for opening; 2 for panel; 21 for panel body; 22 for frame; 23 for arc surface; 3 for volute; 31 for mating part; 4 for air duct; 41 for air inlet duct; 42 for air outlet duct; 5 for air guide plate; 6 for return air outlet; 7 for air outlet; 8 for drive mechanism; 81 for rack and pinion; 82 for gear; 83 for drive motor; 9 for air inlet cavity; 91 for sealing plate. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will now be described in detail through exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that, without further description, elements, structures, and features in one embodiment may be advantageously incorporated into other embodiments.

[0029] The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit 100 provided by this invention can have various embodiments, as described below. Figures 1-15 The indoor unit 100 of the recessed cabinet air conditioner is described.

[0030] It should be noted that the recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100 is the indoor unit of the air conditioner. (Reference) Figure 2The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit 100 is installed inside a cabinet (cabinet 200) or wall in the room for heat exchange with the indoor environment. In addition, the air conditioner also includes an outdoor unit, which is usually located outdoors and is used to carry heat from the room to the outside.

[0031] refer to Figure 1 The recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100 may include a housing 10. The housing 10 is installed indoors and forms the overall appearance of the recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100. The interior of the housing 10 defines a receiving space for accommodating various components of the recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100.

[0032] refer to Figure 1 The housing 10 is generally rectangular in shape. The housing 10 has a top and a bottom, which are opposite each other in the height direction (vertical direction). The left and right sides of the housing 10 are opposite each other in the length direction (horizontal direction), and the front and rear sides of the housing 10 are opposite each other in the width direction (front-back direction).

[0033] The casing 10 is installed on the floor of an indoor space, with the front of the casing 10 facing the user and the rear of the casing 10 facing the wall.

[0034] It should be noted that the directions described in the text are based on the direction in which the user faces the indoor unit 100 of the cabinet air conditioner. Specifically, the side of the indoor unit 100 facing the user when in use is defined as the front side, and the opposite side is defined as the rear side. The left and right sides are distinguished by the direction in which the user faces the indoor unit 100 of the cabinet air conditioner.

[0035] In some embodiments of this application, an air duct 4 is defined inside the housing 10, and the indoor unit 100 of the cabinet air conditioner may include an indoor heat exchanger 20, which extends along the height of the housing 1 in the longitudinal direction. The indoor heat exchanger 20 is disposed in the air duct 4 and is used to exchange heat with the air entering the housing 10.

[0036] An air conditioner may include an outdoor heat exchanger and a compressor, which are installed in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.

[0037] Air conditioners may include a throttling device for limiting airflow. The throttling device can be provided in either the indoor or outdoor unit of the air conditioner.

[0038] Air conditioners execute a refrigeration cycle using a compressor, condenser, throttling device, and evaporator. The refrigeration cycle involves a series of processes including compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, supplying refrigerant to the conditioned and heat-exchanged air.

[0039] The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas at low temperature and low pressure and discharges it at high temperature and high pressure. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser.

[0040] The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and the heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process.

[0041] The throttling device causes the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser to expand into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant.

[0042] The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant that expands in the throttling device and returns the refrigerant gas, now at a low temperature and low pressure, to the compressor. The evaporator achieves its cooling effect by utilizing the latent heat of refrigerant evaporation to exchange heat with the material being cooled. Throughout the cycle, the air conditioner regulates the temperature of the indoor space.

[0043] Of the indoor heat exchanger 20 and the outdoor heat exchanger, one is a condenser and the other is an evaporator. When the indoor heat exchanger 20 is used as a condenser, the air conditioner is used as a heater in heating mode. When the indoor heat exchanger 20 is used as an evaporator, the air conditioner is used as a cooler in cooling mode.

[0044] Specifically, reference Figure 1 , Figure 12 The housing 10 may include an outer shell 1, and the front side of the outer shell 1 is provided with an opening 11.

[0045] refer to Figure 3 The housing 10 may include a panel 2, which is located at the opening 11. The panel 2 and the housing 1 together define an accommodating space.

[0046] refer to Figure 11 The indoor unit 100 of the cabinet air conditioner may include a volute 3, which is disposed in the outer casing 1. The volute 3 and the outer casing 1 together define an air duct 4.

[0047] For details, please refer to Figure 6 The volute 3 and the outer shell 1 enclose each other to form an air inlet duct 41, and an air outlet duct 42 is formed inside the volute 3. The air inlet duct 41 and the air outlet duct 42 are connected to form the aforementioned air duct 4. The indoor heat exchanger 20 is located in the air inlet duct 41 and is used to exchange heat with the air in the air inlet duct 41.

[0048] The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit 100 may include a heat exchange fan 30, which is disposed in the air outlet duct 42. The heat exchange fan 30 drives the heat exchanged airflow in the air inlet duct 41, after heat exchange, to flow to the air outlet duct 42. The heat exchange fan 30 is a cross-flow fan, and the axial direction of the heat exchange fan 30 extends along the height direction of the outer casing 1.

[0049] In this embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger 20 is directly installed in the air inlet duct 41, ensuring that all the air drawn in must flow through the indoor heat exchanger 20 before reaching the fan, thus achieving forced and efficient heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 20 without airflow short circuit.

[0050] refer to Figure 9 , Figure 10 The panel 2 is provided with an air outlet 7, which is connected to the air outlet duct 42. The air outlet 7 serves as the outlet for the heat exchange airflow inside the casing 10, allowing the heat exchange airflow inside the duct 4 to flow out through the air outlet 7.

[0051] The heat exchange fan 30 provides power for the entire air circulation in the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner. Its arrangement in the air outlet duct 42 can effectively draw in the air after heat exchange and give it kinetic energy, ensuring sufficient air pressure and air volume to deliver the regulated air to the room.

[0052] The recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100 may include an air guide plate 5, which is rotatably disposed at the air outlet 7 to open or close the air outlet 7. When the air guide plate 5 opens the air outlet 7, it can guide the heat exchange airflow flowing out of the air outlet duct 42.

[0053] In this embodiment, the air guide plate 5 enables dynamic adjustment of the opening and closing of the air outlet 7 and the direction of airflow. When closed, it can seal the air outlet 7, ensuring aesthetics and dust prevention when the machine is off; when open, it can flexibly guide the direction of airflow, meeting the user's comfort needs and contributing to the uniform distribution of indoor air.

[0054] In related technologies, to achieve embedded installation of the indoor unit of a cabinet air conditioner, there is a technical solution that places the air inlet and outlet 7 on the front side (front) of the casing 10. This technical solution solves the defect that traditional cabinet air conditioner indoor units need to reserve air intake space around the machine during installation. However, when the cabinet air conditioner indoor unit is not in use, its front air inlet is still exposed, which cannot form a visually uniform flat surface with the embedded installation environment (such as cabinet door panel).

[0055] To address the aforementioned technical issues, a common approach is to use an independent damper assembly to shield the air inlet when the air conditioner is not running. However, this damper assembly not only increases structural complexity and the number of parts, leading to higher costs and reduced reliability, but it can also generate noise due to moving parts and makes it difficult to achieve a seamless appearance that is completely flush with panel 2, affecting overall aesthetics and sealing performance.

[0056] In addition, when the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner with the above structure is in use, the air inlet and air outlet 7 on the front are close together, which makes it very easy for airflow short-circuiting to occur (that is, part of the airflow blown out of the air outlet 7 is directly sucked back by the nearby air inlet without fully participating in the indoor air circulation). This will not only reduce the heat exchange efficiency and energy efficiency of the air conditioner, but may also lead to a shorter air delivery distance, uneven indoor temperature distribution, and may cause airflow turbulence and noise problems.

[0057] To achieve embedded installation of the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner, in some embodiments of this application, the panel 2 is configured to be movable relative to the outer casing 1 in a direction perpendicular to the front side. The panel 2 can switch between a retracted position and an extended position.

[0058] In this embodiment, the movable design of panel 2 allows the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner to extend panel 2 to form a circulating air path when needed, and retract panel 2 to achieve complete concealment when not in use, thereby effectively solving the contradiction between aesthetics and functionality in embedded installation.

[0059] Specifically, reference Figure 8 When panel 2 is in the extended position, a return air vent 6 is formed between panel 2 and housing 1. The return air vent 6 is connected to the air intake duct 41 and is used to allow indoor air to enter the air intake duct 41. In other words, the return air vent 6 serves as an inlet for external air to flow into the housing 10, allowing indoor airflow to enter the air intake duct 41 through the return air vent 6.

[0060] In this embodiment, the return air vent 6 that is naturally formed when the panel 2 extends provides a clear and smooth air intake path, ensuring sufficient air intake under embedded installation conditions. At the same time, since the air intake is dynamically formed by the movement of the panel 2, there is no need to set up a normally open grille or independent damper, which simplifies the structure and avoids the problem of long-term exposure of the return air vent (air intake) in traditional solutions.

[0061] refer to Figure 6 When panel 2 is in the retracted position and air guide plate 5 closes air outlet 7, panel 2 is embedded in opening 11 so that the front side of housing 1 presents a flat closed surface.

[0062] In this embodiment, when the panel 2 is in the retracted position, the panel 2 is flush with the front side of the outer casing 1, and the air guide plate 5 closes the air outlet 7, so that the front of the cabinet air conditioner indoor unit presents a complete flat surface without holes or air outlets, achieving true "visual invisibility", perfectly integrating into the cabinet or wall, greatly improving the integrated aesthetics of the indoor space, and effectively preventing dust from entering the interior of the unit.

[0063] The indoor unit of a cabinet air conditioner may include a drive mechanism 8. The drive mechanism 8 is located inside the housing 1 and is connected to the panel 2, used to drive the panel 2 to move linearly between the retracted position and the extended position.

[0064] By setting up the drive mechanism 8, the movement of the panel 2 is automated and precisely controlled, ensuring that the panel 2 is stable and reliable during extension and retraction. The structure is also compact, requiring no manual operation from the user, thus improving the product's intelligence and ease of use.

[0065] In this embodiment, the panel 2 intelligently switches between extended and retracted positions through its linear telescopic movement. When the panel 2 retracts, the return air vent 6 completely disappears, ensuring that the surface of the panel 2 is flush with or forms a continuous surface with the front side of the outer casing 1. At this time, the air guide plate 5 closes the air outlet vent 7, thus completely sealing the front side of the outer casing 1. The combination of these two features completely eliminates the visual and physical presence of the air conditioner, achieving a high degree of concealment. (Reference) Figure 2 The above-mentioned configuration allows the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner to be completely enclosed in the wall or cabinet 200, except for the front side of the outer casing 1, when it is embedded in the wall, greatly improving the cleanliness and aesthetics of the indoor space.

[0066] In some embodiments of this application, when the built-in cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100 is turned on, the panel 2 extends from the opening 11 away from the outer casing 1, so that a return air vent 6 is formed between the panel 2 and the outer casing 1, and the air guide plate 5 opens the air outlet 7. At this time, the return air vent 6, the air duct 4 and the air outlet 7 are connected in sequence to form a circulating air path that draws air from the room, performs heat exchange and then sends it back to the room.

[0067] When the built-in cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100 is working, the indoor airflow enters the air inlet duct 41 from the return air inlet 6 under the operation of the heat exchange fan 30. The indoor airflow in the air inlet duct 41 flows through the indoor heat exchanger 20 for heat exchange. The heat-exchanged airflow enters the air outlet duct 42 and is discharged to the outside through the air outlet 7, thereby enabling the cabinet air conditioner indoor unit to cool and heat, play a role in regulating the indoor temperature, and achieve the user's comfortable temperature.

[0068] When the built-in cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100 is closed, the panel 2 retracts and is embedded in the opening 11, and the air guide plate 5 closes the air outlet 7 so that the front side of the casing 1 presents a flat and closed surface.

[0069] In some embodiments of this application, the air outlet 7 is located in the center of the panel 2, and there is only one air outlet 7, with its length extending along the height direction of the outer casing 1. (See reference...) Figure 8 When panel 2 is in the extended position, two return air vents 6 are formed on both sides of panel 2 in the width direction. The return air vents 6 extend along the height direction of housing 10.

[0070] In this embodiment, two large-area return air inlets 6 are formed on both sides of the panel 2, significantly increasing the air intake area and providing sufficient air intake guarantee for embedded installation. At the same time, the return air inlets 6 are located on the front side of the outer casing 1 but not on the same side as the air outlet 7, so that the air intake and air outlet areas are naturally separated in structure, effectively avoiding airflow short-circuiting and ensuring the integrity of the air circulation path and heat exchange efficiency.

[0071] For example, the two return air inlets 6 are symmetrically arranged. The symmetrical return air inlets 6 extending along the height on both sides help to achieve a uniform and stable airflow field, which improves the aerodynamic performance and noise reduction of the whole unit.

[0072] In some embodiments of this application, the air duct 4 is a dual cross-flow air duct.

[0073] It should be noted that dual cross-flow duct refers to the presence of two independent cross-flow fans and volute duct systems arranged side-by-side within the indoor unit of this cabinet-type air conditioner. Dual cross-flow duct can significantly improve the total air volume and air delivery power, achieving a wider and more uniform air delivery effect.

[0074] In this embodiment, two independent air outlet ducts 42 are formed inside the volute 3, and the air outlet ends of the two air outlet ducts 42 are arranged opposite to the air outlet 7. Two air guide plates 5 are provided corresponding to the air outlet ducts 42, and the two air guide plates 5 are rotatably connected to the volute 3.

[0075] The two air guide vanes 5 can be controlled independently. The two independent air outlet ducts 42, together with the air guide vanes 5, can control the airflow more precisely, improving comfort and the flexibility of the air delivery direction.

[0076] In some embodiments of this application, in a cross-section perpendicular to the height of the outer casing 1, the rotation axes of the two air guide plates 5 are located in the central region of the opening 11. (See reference...) Figure 8 The air guide ends of the two air guide plates 5 move towards each other to guide the airflow from the air outlet 42 to both sides of the air outlet 7.

[0077] In this embodiment, the two air guide plates 5 respectively guide the airflow from the two air outlet ducts 42 to both sides of the air outlet 7, which can realize wide-angle diffusion air supply, expand the air supply coverage, and improve comfort.

[0078] In some embodiments of this application, panel 2 may include panel body 21, as shown in the reference. Figure 9 , Figure 10 The air outlet 7 is located on the main panel 21.

[0079] In this embodiment, the panel body 21 is adapted to the opening 11, and the air outlet 7 is provided on the panel body 21, so that the panel body 21 has both appearance decoration and air outlet functions, with a simple structure and easy processing and assembly.

[0080] The panel 2 may include a frame 22, which is located on the side of the panel body 21 near the heat exchange fan 30. The frame 22 surrounds the air outlet 7.

[0081] The frame 22 serves as the back reinforcement structure of the panel body 21. On the one hand, it enhances the overall rigidity of the panel 2. On the other hand, its surrounding arrangement of the air outlet 7 provides a reliable connection basis between the panel 2 and the internal air duct 4, and is the physical carrier for realizing dynamic sealing and air duct connection.

[0082] When the panel 2 is in the extended position, the frame 22 is at least partially fitted around the air outlet of the volute 3 to maintain a communication path between the air outlet 7 and the air outlet duct 42.

[0083] In this embodiment, the frame 22 set on the back of the panel 2 can be sleeved around the air outlet of the volute 3 when the panel 2 is extended, forming a "sliding plug-in air duct interface". This ensures that the airflow path from the air outlet duct 42 of the volute 3 to the air outlet 7 is continuous and sealed, effectively preventing air leakage and ensuring that the air outlet power is not lost. It also reduces the vortex noise caused by air leakage.

[0084] In some embodiments of this application, in a cross-section perpendicular to the height direction of the outer casing 1, the volute 3 may include a mating portion 31, which is sleeved onto the frame 22. (See reference...) Figure 11 The dimension h of the mating part 31 in the direction perpendicular to the front side is greater than the travel of the panel 2, so that the frame 22 isolates the return air vent 6 from the air outlet 7.

[0085] In this embodiment, by setting the depth dimension h of the mating part 31 of the volute 3 to always be greater than the moving stroke of the panel 2, it is ensured that the frame 22 of the panel 2 remains sleeved with the volute 3 in all moving positions, thus completely isolating the return air area and the air outlet area in physical space. This ensures that all air entering from the return air inlet 6 must flow along the designed air duct path (through the indoor heat exchanger 20 and the heat exchange fan 30) before being discharged from the air outlet 7, eliminating the possibility of airflow short circuit.

[0086] In some embodiments of this application, the end edge of the frame 22 away from the panel body 21 is connected to the corresponding end edge of the panel body 21 through an arc surface 23 protruding toward the air outlet 7.

[0087] Specifically, in this embodiment, a guide portion is provided between the frame 22 and the panel body 21, and the arc surface 23 forms the side of the guide portion away from the air outlet 7.

[0088] The arc surface 23 provides a smooth guiding surface for the airflow entering from the return air inlet 6, which not only significantly reduces the local resistance loss when the air enters from the return air inlet 6 and turns to flow into the internal air intake duct 41, but also reduces the turbulence noise caused by the airflow impacting the right angle, making the air conditioner operate more quietly.

[0089] It should be noted that the specific parameter settings of the arc surface 23 can be optimized and determined according to the actual airflow speed, duct structure size and overall noise control target.

[0090] In some embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 12 , Figure 13 Sealing plates 91 are provided at both ends of the volute 3 in the height direction. The sealing plates 91, the panel 2, and the outer shell 1 enclose an air inlet cavity 9. The air inlet cavity 9 is connected to the air inlet duct 41.

[0091] Continue to refer to Figure 13 When panel 2 is in the extended position, air inlet cavity 9 connects air inlet duct 41 with the indoor environment. At this time, indoor air can enter the cavity and then enter air inlet duct 41 from the cavity. Therefore, indoor air can enter the duct from all sides of panel 2, thereby reducing air flow resistance.

[0092] It is understandable that the sealing plates 91 at both ends of the volute 3 in the height direction are spaced apart from the two ends of the panel body 21 in the height direction, and this space directly constitutes the height dimension of the air inlet cavity 9 in the vertical direction.

[0093] In this embodiment, by forming air inlet chambers 9 at the upper and lower ends of the volute 3, the indoor unit of the cabinet air conditioner, in addition to the return air vents 6 on both sides of the panel 2, also has channels for air intake from the top and bottom gaps between the panel 2 and the outer casing 1. When the panel 2 is in the extended position, air can converge from the upper and lower edges of the panel 2 and work in conjunction with the return air vents 6 on both sides to achieve multi-directional, three-dimensional air intake, thereby greatly reducing the air intake resistance of the entire unit and facilitating sufficient air intake in a compact embedded space.

[0094] In some embodiments of this application, the drive mechanism 8 is located at the top and bottom of the frame 22. For example, see reference... Figures 13-15 The drive mechanism 8 is located in the air inlet cavity 9. This layout makes full use of the vertical space behind the panel 2, avoids interference with internal components such as air ducts, and optimizes the internal structure of the whole machine.

[0095] The drive mechanism 8 may include a gear 82, which is rotatably disposed relative to the housing 1.

[0096] The drive mechanism 8 may include a rack 81, which is disposed on the panel 2. A gear 82 meshes with the rack 81.

[0097] The rack 81 is located on the side of the panel 2 facing the heat exchange fan 30, and the rack 81 extends in a direction perpendicular to the front side.

[0098] In this embodiment, the rack 81 is directly disposed on the back of the panel 2 and extends along the moving direction of the panel 2, making the transmission path of the driving force the shortest and most direct. Simultaneously, the rack 81, as a long, rigid strip, extends longitudinally and is fixed to the back of the panel 2, essentially forming a longitudinal reinforcing rib of the panel 2. This significantly enhances the bending stiffness of the panel 2 in its extended state, thereby ensuring the smoothness and quietness of the movement process.

[0099] refer to Figure 15 The drive mechanism 8 may include a drive motor 83, which is connected to a gear 82 and is used to drive the gear 82 to rotate. The rotation of the gear 82 drives the rack 81 to move, thereby moving the panel 2.

[0100] The meshing of gear 82 and rack 81 forms a precise rotary-linear motion conversion pair with a constant transmission ratio and no slippage, ensuring that the rotary motion of drive motor 83 is accurately and reliably converted into the linear displacement required by panel 2. At the same time, the structure has a self-locking characteristic, which helps to keep the position of panel 2 stable when power is off.

[0101] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 8 transmits the rotational motion of the drive motor 83 precisely and reliably through the meshing of the gear 82 and the rack 81, thereby converting the panel 2 into a linear reciprocating motion perpendicular to the front side. This effectively ensures that the panel 2 switches stably and accurately between the extended and retracted positions, improving the product's intelligence level and user experience.

[0102] For example, continue to refer to Figure 15 The drive motor 83 is mounted on the sealing plate 91. One end of the rack 81 is connected to the frame 22, and the rack 81 can slide on the sealing plate 91 in a direction perpendicular to the front side. The drive mechanism 8 has two racks 81. A reinforcing plate is vertically arranged in the middle of the sealing plate 91, and the two racks 81 are respectively arranged on both sides of the reinforcing plate.

[0103] In this embodiment, the main components of the drive mechanism 8 (drive motor 83, gear 82) are directly mounted on the sealing plate 91, which serves as one of the boundaries of the air duct, achieving deep physical integration between the drive mechanism 8 and the indoor unit structure of the air conditioner. This not only eliminates the need for additional brackets or mounting structures but also makes full use of the space around the air duct, achieving an extremely compact internal layout for the entire unit and providing key support for the miniaturization and compactness required for embedded installation.

[0104] The recessed cabinet air conditioner indoor unit 100 provided by this invention, through the linear telescopic movement of the control panel 2 of the drive mechanism 8 and the coordinated opening and closing of the air guide plate 5, enables the panel 2 to automatically extend and form a return air vent 6 when the air conditioner is turned on, thereby constructing a complete circulating air path from the return air vent 6, through heat exchange in the air duct, and out through the air outlet 7, ensuring efficient ventilation and heat exchange; when closed, the panel 2 is completely retracted and the air guide plate 5 is closed, so that the front of the air conditioner is flush with the front side of the outer casing 1 to form a flat and closed surface without openings 11, realizing completely hidden installation in cabinets or walls, which not only significantly saves space and improves the aesthetics of the room, but also solves the installation limitation of traditional cabinet air conditioners that require space to be reserved around the perimeter due to air intake requirements.

[0105] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0106] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. A recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, characterized in that, include: The outer casing has an opening on its front side. A volute is disposed within the outer shell, and the volute and the outer shell enclose each other to form an air inlet duct. An air outlet duct is formed inside the volute, and the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct are connected to form an air duct. An indoor heat exchanger is installed in the air inlet duct to exchange heat with the air in the air inlet duct. A heat exchange fan is disposed in the air outlet duct, and the axial direction of the heat exchange fan extends along the height direction of the outer casing. A panel is provided at the opening, and the panel is provided with an air outlet that communicates with the air outlet duct. The panel can move relative to the outer shell in a direction perpendicular to the front side. An air guide plate is rotatably mounted at the air outlet to open or close the air outlet. A drive mechanism is disposed inside the housing and is connected to the panel, used to drive the panel to move linearly between the retracted position and the extended position; When the panel is in the extended position, a return air vent is formed between the panel and the outer casing. The return air vent is connected to the air intake duct and is used to allow indoor air to enter the air intake duct. When the panel is in the retracted position and the air guide plate closes the air outlet, the panel is embedded in the opening so that the front side of the housing presents a flat, closed surface.

2. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air outlet is located in the middle of the panel and extends along the height of the outer casing in its length direction; when the panel is in the extended position, two return air inlets are formed on both sides of the panel in the width direction.

3. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air duct is a dual cross-flow air duct, and two independent air outlet ducts are formed inside the volute. The air outlet ends of the two air outlet ducts are arranged opposite to the air outlet. Two air guide plates are provided corresponding to the air outlet ducts and are rotatably connected to the volute.

4. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, In a cross section perpendicular to the height direction of the outer casing, the rotation axes of the two air guide plates are located in the middle region of the opening; the air guide ends of the two air guide plates move towards each other to guide the airflow from the air outlet duct to both sides of the air outlet.

5. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The panel includes a panel body and a frame. The air outlet is opened through the panel body. The frame is located on the side of the panel body near the heat exchange fan and surrounds the air outlet. When the panel is in the extended position, the frame is at least partially fitted around the air outlet of the volute to maintain a communication path between the air outlet and the air outlet duct.

6. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, In a cross-section perpendicular to the height direction of the outer casing, the volute includes a mating portion that engages with the frame. The dimension h of the mating portion in a direction perpendicular to the front side is greater than the travel of the panel, so that the frame isolates the return air vent from the air outlet.

7. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The end edge of the frame away from the panel body is connected to the corresponding end edge of the panel body through an arc surface protruding towards the air outlet.

8. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive mechanism includes: A rack is provided on the panel, and the rack extends in a direction perpendicular to the front side. A gear is rotatably disposed relative to the housing, and the gear meshes with the rack; A drive motor is connected to the gear to drive the gear to rotate. The rotation of the gear drives the rack to move, thereby moving the panel.

9. The recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The volute is provided with sealing plates at both ends in the height direction. The sealing plates, the panel, and the outer shell enclose an air inlet cavity, which is connected to the air inlet duct. When the panel is in the extended position, the air inlet cavity is connected to the air inlet duct and the indoor environment.

10. A recessed cabinet-type air conditioner indoor unit, characterized in that, include: The outer casing has an opening on its front side. A volute is disposed within the outer shell, and the volute and the outer shell enclose each other to form an air inlet duct. An air outlet duct is formed inside the volute, and the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct are connected to form an air duct. An indoor heat exchanger is installed in the air inlet duct to exchange heat with the air in the air inlet duct. A heat exchange fan is disposed in the air outlet duct, and the axial direction of the heat exchange fan extends along the height direction of the outer casing. A panel is provided at the opening, and the panel is provided with an air outlet that communicates with the air outlet duct. The panel can move relative to the outer shell in a direction perpendicular to the front side. An air guide plate is rotatably mounted at the air outlet to open or close the air outlet. A drive mechanism is disposed inside the housing and is connected to the panel, used to drive the panel to move linearly between the retracted position and the extended position; When the indoor unit of the built-in cabinet air conditioner is turned on, the panel extends from the opening away from the outer casing, so that a return air vent is formed between the panel and the outer casing. The return air vent, the air duct and the air outlet are connected in sequence to form a circulating air path that draws air from the room, performs heat exchange and sends it back to the room. When the built-in cabinet air conditioner indoor unit is closed, the panel retracts and is embedded in the opening, and the air guide plate closes the air outlet so that the front side of the housing presents a flat, closed surface.

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