Air conditioning device

Abstract

An air conditioning device (10) comprises a main body (13) provided with an air outlet aperture (16) and a cover (17) located at a distance above the air outlet aperture (16) so as to define, with an inner side (18) of the main body (13), an air passage (15) having a substantially C-or U-shaped slot (14) for air exiting from the air conditioning device (10).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present utility model relates to an air conditioning device. For example, but not limiting in general, the air conditioning device can be a cooling, heating, purifying, humidifying, dehumidifying or similar device, in particular portable. BACKGROUND

[0002] Portable air conditioners (PAC) are small household appliances for conditioning the air in a room. They can be obtained in different layouts, of which the single block is the most common. They contain all the components of the cooling cycle in a single unit. Typically, the condenser, the compressor and the throttle valve are located at the lowest level of the unit, while the evaporator is located above them.

[0003] The air is usually sucked from the back of the unit. If the air passes through the condenser, it is released to the environment through a duct. If the air passes through the evaporator, it is released to the environment after being cooled. The following discussion relates only to the evaporator side of the unit.

[0004] The air is sucked into the unit by a fan. On the evaporator side, the fan is usually represented by a tangential fan in the case of units with low cooling power, or by a centrifugal fan with a volute in the case of units with higher cooling power.

[0005] In the latter case, due to the flow inside the fan, the air cannot be distributed uniformly at the fan outlet or at the unit outlet. As a result, the cooling air can be very asymmetric between the right and left sides of the room. This can lead to situations of discomfort for the user.

[0006] A solution is needed to reduce this asymmetry and thus the lack of uniform temperature between the left and right sides of the room.

[0007] In most cases, the air outlet of the evaporator is located above the unit, so the flow of cold air is mainly directed towards the ceiling of the room.

[0008] As a result, when the cold air coming from the ceiling moves downwards due to the natural convection inside the room, the user who is usually sitting in front of the unit can only benefit from the temperature decrease after a certain time.

[0009] In order to reduce the time spent feeling comfortable, the user can redirect the air towards himself with the help of a deflector. However, the air flow is usually very cold and fast, meaning that the user does not feel comfortable anyway.

[0010] A solution is needed to reduce the time spent cooling the room without compromising the thermal comfort of the user.

[0011] Figure 1A known air conditioning device 11 is shown, in which the hole 12 for the discharge of air from the evaporator is located on the upper surface of the device 11, from which the cold air leaves the unit, cooling the environment.

[0012] The hole 12 has a substantially rectangular shape. In some cases, due to the choice of the fan of the evaporator, which is usually centrifugal, the air at the outlet of the unit is not uniformly distributed.

[0013] The air flow at the outlet is mainly directed upwards, to generate air circulation in the entire environment.

[0014] It will then be uneven between the right and left side of the room. In this case, the air movement can be uncomfortable and the cooling time in the occupied zone can be long. The elevation angle ε is usually close to 70°, while the hole aperture angle a is usually less than 120° and is asymmetric between the right and left side of the unit.

[0015] Therefore, there is a need to perfect an air conditioning device which is able to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0016] In particular, one purpose of the present application is to provide an air conditioning device which allows a uniform and comfortable distribution of the indoor air, significantly limiting the typical asymmetry of the known devices, and possibly allowing an effective direction of the flow.

[0017] Another purpose of the present application is to provide an air conditioning device, in particular portable, which aims to maintain the comfort of the user, the temperature uniformity in the occupied zone in the room, and at the same time, if such a device is used for refrigeration, to reduce the refrigeration time without the need to modify the refrigeration device.

[0018] The Applicant has designed, tested and implemented the present application to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages. SUMMARY

[0019] The present application is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics or variants of the main application idea.

[0020] According to the above purposes, the air conditioning device according to the present application comprises a main body provided with an air outlet hole. The air conditioning device further comprises a cover located at a certain distance above the air outlet hole so as to define, together with the inner side of the main body, an air passage having a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped slot for the exit of air from the air conditioning device.

[0021] Thanks to the slot, it is possible to obtain an air conditioning device which allows a uniform and comfortable distribution of the indoor air, significantly limiting the typical asymmetry of the known devices.

[0022] The air conditioning device, in particular a portable air conditioning device, allows to maintain the comfort of the user, the uniformity of the temperature in the occupied area of the room, and if the device is used for cooling, to simultaneously reduce the cooling time without the need to modify the cooling device.

[0023] According to another aspect of the utility model, the cover is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction by an angle which varies between about 15° and about 40°.

[0024] According to another aspect of the utility model, the airflow is distributed at the outlet of the slot according to an opening angle having about 180°.

[0025] According to another aspect of the utility model, the inner side of the main body is inclined with respect to the vertical direction by an angle which is defined by about 50-55°.

[0026] According to another aspect of the utility model, the slot has two side portions and a front portion with respect to the cover.

[0027] According to another aspect of the utility model, the width of the slot is significantly reduced on the side portions from the front portion to the rear portion of the air conditioning device.

[0028] According to another aspect of the utility model, the air passage has a passage cross section which decreases from a first air inlet end to a second air outlet end, the slot being positioned at the second air outlet end.

[0029] According to another aspect of the utility model, the air conditioning device comprises a deflector positioned upstream of the air passage.

[0030] According to another aspect of the utility model, the air conditioning device comprises a mobile element equipped with an additional air outlet hole.

[0031] According to another aspect of the utility model, the mobile element is rotatable between a closed position, in which the mobile element is substantially integral with the cover, and one or more open positions, in which the mobile element has a different angle of inclination with respect to the cover.

[0032] According to another aspect, the air conditioning device comprises an intermediate wall and a flap formed on the cover and movable between a first position in which the flap is in contact with the intermediate wall and a second position in which the flap defines, together with the intermediate wall, an outlet hole separate from the slot. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0033] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the utility model will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given by way of non-restrictive example only, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0034] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of an air conditioning device known in the prior art;

[0035] Figure 2a and 2b are two three-dimensional views of the air conditioning device of the present utility model;

[0036] Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the area where the air is discharged from the air conditioning device;

[0037] Figure 4 is Figure 2a a top view of the air conditioning device of

[0038] Figure 5a , 5b and 5c are three schematic sections of three positions of the mobile air outlet element;

[0039] Figure 6 is a sectional view of the outlet area of the air conditioning device of the present utility model according to a variant;

[0040] Figure 7 is a sectional view of the outlet area of the air conditioning device of the present utility model according to another variant;

[0041] Figure 8 is a sectional view of the outlet area of the air conditioning device of the present utility model according to another variant.

[0042] We must clarify that the wording and terminology used in this description, as well as the drawings regarding how to describe them in the drawings, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the utility model, with the aim of providing a non-limiting example of the utility model itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0043] For ease of understanding, the same reference numerals have been used, wherever possible, to identify common and like elements throughout the drawings. It will be appreciated that elements and features of one embodiment can be readily adapted or combined with other embodiments as appropriate, without departing from the scope of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] We will now refer in detail to possible embodiments of the utility model, of which one or more embodiments are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings. The wording and terminology used here are also for the purpose of providing a non-limiting example.

[0045] With reference to the drawings, in particular to Figure 2a , Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the air conditioning device 10 comprises a main body 13 provided with an air outlet hole 16.

[0046] As a non-limiting example, the air conditioning device 10 can be portable, for example, an air conditioning device connectable to the external environment through a single or double pipe, known in the industry as "single pipe" or "double pipe".

[0047] The hole 16 is in particular located in the upper part of the body 13.

[0048] The air conditioning device 10 further comprises at least one cover 17 located at a distance above the hole 16 so as to define, together with the inner side 18 of the body 13, an air passage 15 having a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped slot 14 for the air exiting from the air conditioning device 10.

[0049] Thanks to this slot 14 or slit, the air flow exiting from the air conditioning device 10 is distributed in a substantially uniform manner on a substantially horizontal or slightly upwardly inclined plane.

[0050] In particular, the air flow at the outlet can be distributed on a space formed on a substantially horizontal plane having a certain thickness coinciding with the height hi of the front of the slot 14.

[0051] The inclination angle e of the cover 17 with respect to the horizontal direction O varies between 15° and 40°, thus it is much less than the 70 degrees usually provided in known devices. This allows to obtain an air flow slightly upwardly inclined from the outlet of the slot 14 and thus more directed towards the user in the room.

[0052] The geometry of the slot 14 is designed to redistribute the air flow uniformly in the occupied area of the room.

[0053] In particular, referring to Figure 4 , the substantially C-shaped or U-shaped shape allows to obtain an air flow forming an angle a of about 180° upon exiting from the slot 14 according to figures 2 and Figure 4 .

[0054] In this way, the air flow is distributed uniformly both in front of the air conditioning device 10 and on its sides.

[0055] The slot 14 has two side portions 14a and a front portion 14b with respect to the cover 17. As shown in Figure 4 , preferably, the width of the slot 14 decreases from the front to the rear of the air conditioning device 10 on the two side portions 14a. This allows to better cool the occupied area in the room and prevent the entry of cold air into the evaporator.

[0056] The average width of the front portion 14b of the slot 14 can be about 17-19 mm, the average width of the side portions 14a can be about 7-9 mm.

[0057] As shown in Figure 3As shown, the inclination of the inner side 18 of the main body 13 with respect to the vertical direction V can be defined by an angle δ of about 50-55°, which is particularly suitable for properly cooling the occupied area.

[0058] The inner side 18 substantially defines the inclination of the direction of the air exiting from the slot 14 and is a compromise that allows the cover 17 not to be too straight in the vertical direction, but also not too low in the horizontal direction.

[0059] According to some embodiments, there is in particular one slot 14 and it is continuous along the C-shaped or U-shaped arch, so as to have a uniform and localised flow.

[0060] According to some embodiments, the upper cover 17 is fixed, so as to have a substantially constant stability in the flow distribution.

[0061] The front height hi of the slot 14 is sized so as to achieve an optimal air flow from the evaporator of the air conditioning device 10.

[0062] In particular, the front height hi allows to obtain a limited air pressure drop and a high air volume at the outlet, so as to have a fast cooling time of the room. At the same time, the slot 14 cannot be too high in the front, because in this case the flow would not be optimally directed towards the room and on a substantially horizontal plane.

[0063] It has been proven that the optimal compromise for achieving a fast cooling of the room and an optimal direction of the flow is to size the height hi so that it is comprised between about 20 mm and about 25 mm.

[0064] The volumetric flow rate of the air at the outlet can be about 140-380 m3 / h.

[0065] The channel 15 has a first air inlet end 20 and a second air outlet end 21, in Figure 3 In particular, the slot 14 is located at the second air outlet end 21.

[0066] In order to achieve a better flow, the channel 15 preferably has a substantially decreasing cross section from the first end 20 to the second end 21, so as to have a maximum air speed in the outlet cross section, i.e. the cross section corresponding to the slot 14.

[0067] According to some embodiments, the channel 15 is defined at the top by the lower side 29 of the cover 17 and at the bottom by the inner side 18 defining the internal compartment of the main body 13.

[0068] According to some embodiments, the inner side 18 has a curved shape, which curves from the inner side to the outer side of the main body 13.

[0069] The deflector 22 can be positioned upstream of the channel 15, in particular close to the first end 20, asFigure 3 is shown.

[0070] The deflector 22 has the function of reducing turbulence and distributing the flow more effectively to the passage 15 at the inlet.

[0071] The deflector 22 is positioned in particular downstream of the evaporator of the air conditioning device 10.

[0072] According to some embodiments, the deflector 22 can comprise a plurality of shields 23 mounted substantially parallel to the height of the body 13.

[0073] According to some embodiments, a mobile air outlet element 24 can be provided on the cover 17, see Figure 2b and Figures 5a-5b .

[0074] The mobile element 24 provides an additional air outlet hole 31 integrated therein.

[0075] The mobile element 24 provides a closed position (see Figure 2a and 5a ) and a plurality of open positions (see for example Figure 2b , 5b and 5c).

[0076] In Figure 5b , the mobile element 24 is in the intermediate position, while in Figure 5c , the mobile element 24 is completely raised so as to direct the air flow also substantially towards the ceiling and the occupied area of the room, which is reached mainly through the slot 14.

[0077] In particular, the mobile element 24 can rotate about an axis Y substantially transverse to the cover 17. In this way, the air flow exiting from the mobile element 24 is suitably directed to the front of the cover 17 and of the air conditioning device 10. The pin for hinging the mobile element 24 to the cover 17 can be provided along the axis Y.

[0078] As shown in Figure 5b and 5c , the mobile element 24 is housed in a seat 25 formed in the cover 17, so that in the closed positions of Figure 2a and Figure 5a , it is substantially embedded. Therefore, in the closed position, the mobile element 24 is substantially integrated in the cover 17.

[0079] The mobile element 24 comprises a first lower wall 26 and a second upper wall 27, between which an air passage 28 is formed. The lower wall 26 is in particular convex, as shown in Figure 2b , and in the closed configuration of the mobile element 24, the lower wall 26 is aligned with the lower side 29 of the cover 17, as shown in Figure 5a .

[0080] The upper wall 27 can in particular be flat and, in the closed configuration of the mobile element 24, is aligned with the upper side 30 of the cover 17.

[0081] The channel 28 provides, at one end, an outlet aperture 31 and, at the opposite end, an air inlet aperture 19 facing the body 13. The aperture 19 is substantially downstream of the aperture 16 of the body 13.

[0082] The channel 28 provides a reduced cross-section between the inlet aperture 19 and the outlet aperture 31 so as to have a maximum air speed corresponding to the aperture 31.

[0083] The aperture 31 can have a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped configuration, which allows to obtain, at the outlet of the mobile element 24, an air flow according to an angle of approximately 180°, which guarantees the best uniformity over a wide diffusion zone. To this end, the lower wall 26 and the upper wall 27 can have a semicircular, crescent or similar shape.

[0084] The channel 28 is in fluid communication with the channel 15, sending air towards the slot 14. In particular, some of the air entering the channel 15 from the inlet end 20 is conveyed into the channel 28.

[0085] The mobile element 24 can then be rotated between a closed position, in which the air flow is discharged only through the fixed slot 14, and a fully open position, in which, preferably, most of the air flow is discharged through the aperture 31 in a direction at a different angle, see Figure 5b and 5c .

[0086] According to these embodiments, when the mobile element 24 is closed, there is a single air flow that exits from the slot 14 along a first trajectory F1, while when the mobile element 24 is rotated, a second air flow is formed along a second trajectory F2 and through the additional aperture 31. Preferably, when the mobile element 24 is rotated, the flow along the second trajectory F2 increases, while the flow along the first trajectory F1 decreases correspondingly.

[0087] Figure 6 A variant of the outlet region of the air conditioning device 10 according to the present invention is shown, in which the slot 14 is substantially identical to the slot described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 2a-4 .

[0088] According to this embodiment, the cover 17 is movable in the vertical direction ε between a first position, in which the lower side 29 is substantially in contact with the fixed intermediate wall 32, and a second position, in which the lower side 29 is distanced from the intermediate wall 32 and forms a second slot 34, whereby, in addition to the air flow along the first trajectory F1, a second air flow is generated along the second trajectory F2 through the second slot 34.

[0089] Figure 7 A variant of the outlet area of the air conditioning device 10 according to the present application is shown, in which the slot 14 is substantially identical to the slot described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 2a-4 and the cover 17 is fixed.

[0090] Figure 8 Another variant of the outlet area of the air conditioning device 10 according to the present application is shown, in which the slot 14 is substantially identical to the slot described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 2a-4 .

[0091] According to this embodiment, the channel 15 can be defined at the bottom by the inner side 18 and at the top by the intermediate wall 32, which together with the inner side 18 defines the channel converging between the inlet end 20 and the outlet end 21.

[0092] An openable cover 33 can be provided on the cover 17, for example rotatable with respect to the axis Y between a first position, in which the cover 33 is substantially aligned with the upper side 30 of the cover 17, the free end of the cover 33 being substantially positioned in contact with the intermediate wall 32, and a second position, in which the cover 33 is raised with respect to the upper side 30 and defines, together with the intermediate wall 32, an outlet aperture 35 separate from the slot 14.

[0093] Also in this case, as a function of the movement of the cover 33, a second air flow is generated along the trajectory F2, in which the flow rate increases along the second trajectory F2 and decreases along the first trajectory Fl when the cover 33 passes from the first position towards the second position, and vice versa.

[0094] The air conditioning device 10 of the present application advantageously allows to increase the comfort of the users inside the room, to reduce the cooling times and to deliver the air flow in a uniform and effective manner on a wide area of the room.

[0095] It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts can be made to the air conditioning device described above, without departing from the field and scope of the present application as defined by the claims.

[0096] It should also be clear that, although the present application has been described with reference to some specific embodiments, a person of skill in the art shall be capable of achieving other equivalent forms of air conditioning device having the features set forth in the claims, and therefore all these equivalent forms are within the field and scope of the present application.

[0097] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the reference signs placed in parentheses is to facilitate their reading and they cannot be considered as limiting factors of the field of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An air conditioning device (10) comprising a main body (13) provided with an air outlet hole (16), characterized in that, The air conditioning device (10) comprises a cover (17) located at a distance above the air outlet hole (16) so as to define, together with the inner side (18) of the main body (13), an air passage (15) having a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped slot (14) for the exit of air from the air conditioning device (10).

2. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized by The cover (17) is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction (O) by an angle e varying between about 15° and about 40°.

3. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized by The air flow is distributed according to an angle a of about 180° at the outlet of the slot (14).

4. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized by The inclination of the inner side (18) of the main body (13) with respect to the vertical direction V is defined by an angle d of about 50-55°.

5. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized by The slot (14) has two side portions (14a) and a front portion (14b) with respect to the cover (17).

6. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 5, characterized by The width of the slot (14) significantly decreases from the front to the rear of the air conditioning device (10) on the side portions (14a).

7. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized by The air passage (15) has a passage section decreasing from a first air inlet end (20) to a second air outlet end (21), the slot (14) being located at the second air outlet end (21).

8. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized by The air conditioning device (10) comprises a deflector (22) located upstream of the air passage (15).

9. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by The air conditioning device (10) comprises, on the cover (17), a mobile element (24) equipped with an additional air outlet hole (31).

10. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to claim 9, characterized by The mobile element (24) is rotatable between a closed position, in which it is substantially integrated in the cover (17), and one or more open positions. In the one or more open positions, the mobile element (24) is differently inclined with respect to the cover (17).

11. The air conditioning apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by The air conditioning device (10) comprises an intermediate wall (29) and a closure cap (33) formed on the cover (17) and movable between a first position, in which it is in contact with the intermediate wall (29), and a second position, in which it defines, together with the intermediate wall (29), an outlet hole (35) separate from the slot (14).

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