Sliding door assembly and air conditioner

Abstract

The utility model discloses a sliding door assembly and air conditioner, wherein the sliding door assembly is through setting air outlet frame body, drive assembly and air outlet door board, wherein the air outlet frame body is equipped with the structural column of paired arrangement, and the air outlet grid is installed between two structural columns, and is equipped with the first guide rail of extending along the length direction respectively on the side close to the grid, forms the stable guide track. Drive assembly sets up on the structural column, is used for providing the power of door board lift. The air outlet door board is located between two structural columns, is driven along the guide rail direction and moves up and down under the drive assembly, and is equipped with at least one guide component, and the guide component is composed of axle column and axle sleeve, and the axle sleeve rotatably is sleeved on the axle column, and realizes the rolling fit with the first guide rail. The scheme has reduced the friction resistance in the door board movement process obviously, has promoted the sliding smoothness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to a sliding door assembly and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] In existing cabinet air conditioners, a sliding door structure is typically used to control the opening and closing of the main air outlet. This type of sliding door assembly generally achieves linear reciprocating motion by using sliders or guide shafts on both sides of the door panel, in conjunction with guide rails fixed to the air outlet frame. The drive mechanism usually employs a motor driving a rack and pinion or belt drive. However, in practical applications, this structure often suffers from unstable door panel movement, tilting, jamming, and even shaking, severely impacting product reliability and user experience. Furthermore, unstable door panel movement can lead to a chain reaction of malfunctions such as abnormal noise, motor overload, and structural damage, reducing product lifespan. Especially in air conditioners with fresh air functions, if the door panel cannot be precisely positioned, it can cause confusion in the opening and closing logic of the fresh air outlet and the main air outlet, affecting both functionality and aesthetics. Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a sliding door assembly with a reasonable structure, stable guidance, and reliable operation to overcome the technical defects of unstable door panel movement in existing technologies. Utility Model Content

[0003] The present invention provides a sliding door assembly and an air conditioner, which aims to solve the technical problem that the door panel of the main air outlet of the air conditioner is unstable in motion during the opening and closing process under the prior art.

[0004] In a first aspect, this utility model provides a sliding door assembly comprising: an air outlet frame, having an air outlet grid, a first guide rail, and structural columns, wherein the structural columns are arranged in pairs, the air outlet grid is disposed between the two structural columns, and the two first guide rails are respectively disposed on the side of the two structural columns near the air outlet grid, the first guide rails extending along the length direction of the structural columns; a driving assembly disposed on the structural columns; and an air outlet door panel disposed between the two structural columns, the air outlet door panel being driven by the driving assembly to move along the extension direction of the first guide rails, the air outlet door panel having at least two guiding assemblies, each first guide rail having at least one guiding assembly aligned with it, each guiding assembly comprising a shaft and a bushing, the bushing being rotatably fitted onto the shaft and rollingly engaged with the first guide rail.

[0005] In a sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first guide rail is recessed from the side of the structural column near the air outlet grid towards the direction away from the air outlet grid to form a guide rail groove, and the shaft is sleeved in the guide rail groove.

[0006] In a sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly includes a drive motor, a drive gear, and a driven rack. The drive motor is disposed on the structural column, the drive gear is disposed on the drive shaft of the drive motor, the driven rack meshes with the drive gear, the driven rack extends along the length direction of the structural column, and the driven rack is connected to the air vent door panel.

[0007] In a sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, the structural column is further provided with a rack guide groove, the rack guide groove extends along the length direction of the structural column, and the driven rack is slidably disposed in the rack guide groove.

[0008] In a sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly further includes a first link, which is disposed between the driven rack and the air vent door panel, and the two ends of the first link are rotatably connected to the driven rack and the air vent door panel, respectively.

[0009] In a sliding door assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, the air outlet grid is disposed near the lower end of the structural column, and the end of the first guide rail near the lower end of the structural column is inclined away from the air outlet grid.

[0010] In a sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first guide rail is disposed on the outside of the air outlet grid, the drive motor is disposed on the inside of the air outlet grid, and the rack guide groove passes through the structural column along the inner and outer sides of the air outlet grid.

[0011] In a sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, a second guide rail and a second connecting rod are provided on the outer side of the air outlet grid. The second guide rail extends along the length direction of the structural column, one end of the second connecting rod is slidably disposed on the second guide rail, and the other end of the second connecting rod is connected to the side of the air outlet door panel near the air outlet grid.

[0012] In one embodiment of the sliding door assembly of this utility model, the second connecting rod is a damping rod.

[0013] Secondly, this utility model provides an air conditioner, including the sliding door assembly described above.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: In this invention, an air outlet frame, a drive assembly, and an air outlet door panel are provided. The air outlet frame has paired structural columns, with an air outlet grille installed between the two columns. A first guide rail extending along the length direction is provided on the side near the grille, forming a stable guide track. The drive assembly is mounted on the structural columns and provides the power for the door panel to rise and fall. The air outlet door panel is located between the two structural columns and moves up and down along the guide rail direction driven by the drive assembly. It is equipped with at least one guide assembly, which consists of a shaft column and a bushing. The bushing is rotatably fitted onto the shaft column and rolls with the first guide rail. This design significantly reduces the frictional resistance during door panel movement and improves sliding smoothness. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, 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 this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the structure of the sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the structural column of the sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the air vent door panel of the sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 4 This is a partially enlarged view A of the cross-sectional structural diagram of the sliding door assembly of the present utility model embodiment, showing the air vent door panel. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention after the structural column has been cut. Figure 6 This is a partially enlarged view (B) of the structural schematic diagram of the sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention after the structural column has been cut apart; Figure 7 This is another cross-sectional schematic diagram of the sliding door assembly according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the air vent door panel of an air conditioner using the sliding door assembly in an embodiment of the present invention, in the open state. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the air vent door panel of an air conditioner using a sliding door assembly in an embodiment of the present invention, in the "fresh air" operation mode of the air conditioner, in a half-open state. Figure 10This utility model embodiment shows the air vent door panel of an air conditioner using a sliding door assembly in the closed state; Figure label explanation: 10. Air outlet frame; 11. Air outlet grille; 111. Second guide rail; 112. Second connecting rod; 12. Structural column; 13. First guide rail; 14. Rack guide groove; 20. Drive assembly; 21. Drive motor; 22. Drive gear; 23. Driven rack; 24. First connecting rod; 30. Air vent panel; 31. Shaft column; 32. Shaft sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0018] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0019] This invention addresses the technical problem of unstable movement of the main air outlet door panel in existing air conditioners during opening and closing. It proposes a sliding door assembly suitable for controlling the opening and closing of the air outlet of cabinet air conditioners, particularly for models with both main and fresh air outlets. (Refer to...) Figures 1 to 10 The sliding door assembly includes: an air outlet frame 10, which has an air outlet grille 11, a first guide rail 13, and structural columns 12. The structural columns 12 are arranged in pairs, the air outlet grille 11 is located between the two structural columns 12, and the two first guide rails 13 are respectively located on the side of the two structural columns 12 near the air outlet grille 11. The first guide rails 13 extend along the length direction of the structural columns 12; a drive assembly 20 is located on the structural columns 12; and an air outlet door panel 30 is located between the two structural columns 12. The air outlet door panel 30 is driven by the drive assembly 20 to move along the extension direction of the first guide rail 13. The air outlet door panel 30 has at least two guide components. Each first guide rail 13 is aligned with at least one guide component. The guide component includes a shaft post 31 and a bushing 32. The bushing 32 is rotatably fitted onto the shaft post 31 and can be rolled into the first guide rail 13.

[0020] The sliding door assembly includes an air outlet frame 10, a drive assembly 20, and an air outlet door panel 30. The air outlet frame 10 serves as the mounting base for the entire assembly, fixed to the lower area of ​​the air conditioner's front panel. It is equipped with an air outlet grille 11, first guide rails 13, and structural columns 12. The structural columns 12 are arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of the air outlet frame 10, forming a vertically extending strip shape. They can be made of metal or high-strength engineering plastic to ensure structural rigidity. The air outlet grille 11 is located between the two structural columns 12, covering the front end of the main air outlet and / or fresh air outlet of the air conditioner. It serves to guide airflow, prevent dust and foreign objects from entering, and enhance the aesthetic appearance. The two first guide rails 13 are positioned opposite each other on the side of the two structural columns 12 closest to the air outlet grille 11, extending along the length of the structural columns 12, forming the guide rails for the vertical sliding of the air outlet door panel 30. The first guide rail 13 can be a metal insert or a groove structure injection molded onto the structural column 12, with a cross-section that can be U-shaped, V-shaped, or dovetail-shaped, to effectively limit the bushing 32. The drive assembly 20 is disposed on at least one structural column 12, and may specifically include a drive motor 21, a drive gear 22, and a driven rack 23. The drive motor 21 can be a DC geared motor or a stepper motor, installed inside the structural column 12 or in the drive box, and drives the air vent door panel 30 to reciprocate up and down through gear and rack meshing.

[0021] The vent panel 30 is positioned between two structural columns 12, covering the front of the air outlet grille 11. In the closed state, it completely obscures the air outlet; in the open state, it slides upwards along the extension direction of the first guide rail 13 to expose the air outlet area. To ensure smooth and reliable movement, the vent panel 30 is equipped with at least two guide components, and each first guide rail 13 corresponds to at least one guide component, achieving symmetrical guidance on both sides. Each guide component includes a shaft post 31 and a bushing 32. The shaft post 31 is fixed to the side or back reinforcing rib of the vent panel 30 and extends vertically. The bushing 32 is rotatably fitted around the outer periphery of the shaft post 31, preferably employing a roller structure with built-in bearings, or a sliding bushing 32 made of self-lubricating materials such as oil-impregnated copper sleeves or POM sleeves. The bushing 32 is rotatably fitted in the first guide rail 13. When the air vent door panel 30 moves up and down under the drive of the drive assembly 20, the bushing 32 rolls or slides along the first guide rail 13, which significantly reduces frictional resistance and avoids jamming caused by dry friction.

[0022] In one embodiment, the bushing 32 is a composite structure with an outer ring roller. A miniature rolling bearing is provided between its inner ring and the shaft post 31. The outer ring contacts and rolls with the first guide rail 13, thereby converting sliding friction into rolling friction and further improving the smoothness of movement. In addition, the inner wall of the first guide rail 13 may be provided with a lubricating coating or inlaid with wear-resistant strips to extend its service life.

[0023] Furthermore, the sliding door assembly can be intelligently controlled in conjunction with the air conditioner's operating mode. For example, in cooling or heating mode, the drive assembly 20 controls the air vent door panel 30 to fully open, ensuring that both the main air outlet and the fresh air outlet are fully exposed. When only the fresh air mode is activated, the control panel rises to a preset height, exposing only the fresh air outlet area, preventing the main air outlet from being ineffectively exposed, improving the overall aesthetics of the unit, and preventing dust accumulation. In the off state, the door panel is fully closed, achieving a sealed protection. By incorporating a position sensor in the drive system, precise feedback and closed-loop control of the door panel position can be achieved, ensuring proper opening and closing.

[0024] The sliding door assembly proposed in this utility model effectively solves the technical problems of unstable door panel movement and easy jamming in the prior art through the guide components arranged symmetrically on both sides and the rolling cooperation structure. It realizes smooth, quiet and reliable opening and closing action, which is suitable for mid-to-high-end household and commercial air conditioning products, and has the potential to be expanded to intelligent control, modular assembly and multi-mode zone air outlet.

[0025] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 7 The first guide rail 13 is recessed from the side of the structural column 12 near the air outlet grille 11 towards the direction away from the air outlet grille 11 to form a guide rail groove, and the bushing 32 is disposed in the guide rail groove. The first guide rail 13 is formed by the inward recess of the surface of the structural column 12 near the air outlet grille 11, and its extension direction is consistent with the length direction of the structural column 12, forming a sliding channel that runs vertically through. The guide rail groove can be directly formed on the plastic structural column 12 by injection molding, or it can be set in the metal structural part by machining, which has the advantages of high processing accuracy, good consistency and compact structure. The cross-section of the guide rail groove can be U-shaped, C-shaped or trapezoidal, and its two side walls extend upward and cover at least part of the outer periphery of the bushing 32, thereby forming a lateral limit for the bushing 32. When the bushing 32 is positioned within the guide rail groove, an appropriate sliding clearance is maintained between its outer periphery and the side wall of the guide rail groove. This ensures smooth movement and effectively suppresses the swaying or jumping of the bushing 32 in the left-right direction. Especially when the air vent door panel 30 is subjected to wind pressure disturbance or mechanical vibration during opening and closing, the enveloping structure of the guide rail groove can significantly enhance the guiding rigidity, avoiding problems such as door panel tilting, jamming, or even damage to the drive mechanism due to unilateral force. To further improve wear resistance and self-lubricating performance, the inner wall of the guide rail groove can be covered with wear-resistant material, or a polytetrafluoroethylene coating or graphite lubrication layer can be applied to the surface for friction reduction treatment.

[0026] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 7The drive assembly 20 includes a drive motor 21, a drive gear 22 and a driven rack 23. The drive motor 21 is located on the structural column 12, the drive gear 22 is located on the drive shaft of the drive motor 21, the driven rack 23 meshes with the drive gear 22, the driven rack 23 extends along the length of the structural column 12, and the driven rack 23 is connected to the air vent door panel 30.

[0027] The drive motor 21 is mounted on the structural column 12, preferably inside the structural column 12 or in a pre-designed motor housing cavity, to avoid exposing the structure and affecting the appearance, and to improve dust and interference resistance. The drive motor 21 can be a DC geared motor or a stepper motor, featuring fast start / stop response, high control precision, and smooth operation. It is suitable for applications requiring precise stopping at multiple positions, such as differentiated control of the air outlet opening height in different operating modes of an air conditioner. The drive gear 22 is mounted on the drive shaft of the drive motor 21 and rotates synchronously with the motor shaft. The drive gear 22 is typically made of engineering plastic, possessing high meshing strength and wear resistance. Its tooth shape matches the driven rack 23, ensuring no slippage or backlash during transmission. The driven rack 23 extends along the length of the structural column 12 and is fixedly mounted on one side of the structural column 12 or embedded in a pre-designed rack guide groove 14, with its tooth surface facing the drive gear 22 for stable meshing. The length of the driven rack 23 covers the entire stroke range of the air vent door panel 30, ensuring that the driving gear 22 always maintains effective engagement with the rack throughout the entire process from the door panel being fully closed to fully open, thus avoiding tooth disengagement or power interruption.

[0028] The driven rack 23 is fixedly connected to the air vent door panel 30, preferably to the reinforcing parts on both sides of the upper part of the door panel, to ensure uniform force distribution and synchronous transmission. When the drive motor 21 starts, the driving gear 22 rotates under the drive shaft, and through meshing with the driven rack 23, converts the rotational motion into linear motion, thereby pushing or pulling the air vent door panel 30 to move up and down along the extension direction of the first guide rail 13. Because the gear and rack mechanism has high transmission rigidity and positioning accuracy, it can effectively avoid problems such as slippage, elongation, and uneven tension that may occur in belt drives, and is especially suitable for sliding door structures with large self-weight or high requirements for opening and closing synchronization.

[0029] Furthermore, to improve transmission smoothness and noise reduction performance, a reduction gear set can be added between the drive gear 22 and the drive motor 21 to form a multi-stage reduction structure. This reduces the output speed and increases the output torque, making the door panel opening and closing process smoother and reducing impact noise. Meanwhile, the tooth profile of the driven rack 23 can be designed as a helical tooth structure. Compared to spur teeth, helical teeth mesh more smoothly and produce lower noise, making them suitable for home air conditioning environments with high requirements for quiet operation.

[0030] To further enhance system reliability, mechanical limit structures, such as limit bosses or buffer pads, can be installed at both ends of the driven rack 23. When the air vent door 30 reaches its fully open or fully closed limit position, the door or connecting piece contacts the limit structure to prevent overtravel from damaging the gears or motor. In addition, limit sensors can be installed to automatically cut off power or reverse the motor after it reaches a predetermined stroke, achieving both hardware and software protection.

[0031] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 7 The structural column 12 is also provided with a rack guide groove 14, which extends along the length of the structural column 12. The driven rack 23 is slidably disposed in the rack guide groove 14. The rack guide groove 14 is provided on the inner or outer surface of the structural column 12, and its extension direction is consistent with the length direction of the structural column 12, forming a vertically penetrating receiving channel for embedding and fixing the driven rack 23. When the drive motor 21 drives the driving gear 22 to rotate, the driven rack 23 moves linearly back and forth along the rack guide groove 14 under the action of meshing force, and a sliding fit relationship is formed between its outer wall and the inner wall of the guide groove. In order to reduce frictional resistance and reduce operating noise, a self-lubricating coating, such as molybdenum disulfide or polytetrafluoroethylene coating, can be provided on the inner surface of the rack guide groove 14, or a wear-resistant rubber layer can be covered on the surface of the driven rack 23 or a copper bushing can be embedded to achieve low friction and quiet operation. The presence of the rack guide groove 14 helps to improve the integration and appearance of the overall structure. Because the driven rack 23 is housed inside the structural column 12 or in a side wall groove, the cluttered appearance caused by exposed transmission components is avoided, making the sliding door assembly more compact and aesthetically pleasing. This is especially suitable for high-end cabinet air conditioning products with high requirements for appearance design. Simultaneously, the guide groove structure also has a certain dustproof and foreign object intrusion prevention function, preventing dust, hair, and other debris from entering the gear meshing area and extending the service life of the transmission system. Multiple detection points, such as magnetic markers or conductive contacts, are set at specific heights in the guide groove. Combined with sensors or induction plates installed on the driven rack 23, the current position of the air vent door panel 30 can be accurately identified. The control system can determine whether the door panel has reached the fully open, half-open, or closed position based on this signal, thereby achieving closed-loop control and abnormal alarm.

[0032] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 7The drive assembly 20 also includes a first link 24, which is located between the driven rack 23 and the air vent panel 30. The two ends of the first link 24 are rotatably connected to the driven rack 23 and the air vent panel 30, respectively. This first link 24, located between the driven rack 23 and the air vent panel 30, and rotatably connected to both ends, forms a flexible transmission connection structure. This structure reliably transmits the linear motion of the driven rack 23 to the air vent panel 30, while allowing for minor assembly deviations or path offsets during movement, thereby improving the adaptability and operational stability of the entire drive system.

[0033] The first link 24 is a rigid member, which can be made of metal or high-strength engineering plastic, and has sufficient tensile and compressive strength and bending stiffness to ensure power transmission efficiency. One end of the first link 24 is rotatably connected to a fixed connection point of the driven rack 23 via a pin, hinge joint, or universal joint structure. The other end is rotatably connected to the upper reinforcing area of ​​the air vent door panel 30 via a similar hinge, preferably to the mounting ears or connecting brackets on both sides of the top of the door panel. The two connection points are aligned vertically or arranged at a slight inclination, so that the first link 24 mainly bears axial tensile and compressive forces during the lifting and lowering of the door panel, reducing bending moment.

[0034] Since both ends of the first connecting rod 24 are rotatable, it can swing freely within a certain angle range. Therefore, even if there is a slight misalignment between the motion trajectory of the driven rack 23 and the air vent panel 30, or if the connection point is misaligned due to assembly errors, the connecting rod can still smoothly transmit power without generating additional stress. This structural design significantly reduces the requirements for the machining accuracy and assembly alignment of parts, which helps to reduce production costs and improve product consistency. At the same time, if the air vent panel 30 is subjected to external interference during opening and closing, such as airflow disturbance or light impact from foreign objects, the hinged structure of the connecting rod can absorb some of the impact energy, playing a certain buffering role and preventing direct transmission to the gear and rack transmission system, thus protecting the drive motor 21 and the meshing pair.

[0035] Furthermore, referring to Figures 1 to 7 The first link 24 can also integrate damping or elastic elements to form an intelligent opening and closing mechanism with a slow-start and slow-stop function. For example, a miniature hydraulic damper or spring buffer structure can be set at the first link 24 itself or at its connection fulcrum to provide resistance when the door panel approaches the fully open or closed position, achieving a slow arrival, reducing impact noise, and improving the user experience. In addition, by setting a torque sensing element at the connection part of the first link 24, changes in transmission load can be monitored in real time. When abnormal resistance is detected, such as jamming or obstruction by foreign objects, the control system can immediately stop the motor or reverse the movement to achieve overload protection and safety protection.

[0036] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 7 The air outlet grille 11 is positioned near the lower end of the structural column 12, and the end of the first guide rail 13 near the lower end of the structural column 12 is inclined away from the air outlet grille 11. The lowest section of the first guide rail 13 near the lower end of the structural column 12, i.e., the lowest part of the guide rail, no longer extends vertically but gradually tilts away from the air outlet grille 11, i.e., forward, forming an arc-shaped or straight oblique transition section. When the air vent door panel 30 moves downward under the drive assembly 20 and approaches the fully closed position, the bushing 32 in the guide assembly on the door panel enters this inclined section of the guide rail. Because the direction of the guide rail changes at this point, the bushing 32, while sliding along the guide rail, pushes the entire air vent door panel 30 forward or rotates slightly around a certain point, causing the front surface of the door panel to gradually approach the outer surface of the air conditioner's front panel. The inclined section at the end of the guide rail guides the air vent door panel 30 during the closing process, causing it to make a slight forward displacement or tilting motion when it moves to the fully closed position. This achieves a tight fit between the front end of the door panel and the front panel of the air conditioner, enhancing the overall aesthetic appearance of the unit and improving the sealing performance to prevent dust, insects, or pets from entering the internal air duct through gaps.

[0037] In one embodiment, the first guide rail 13 is located on the outer side of the air outlet grille 11, and the drive motor 21 is located on the inner side of the air outlet grille 11. The rack guide groove 14 runs through the structural column 12 along both the inner and outer sides of the air outlet grille 11. The first guide rail 13 is located on the side of the structural column 12 facing the external environment, i.e., on the outer side of the air outlet grille 11, so that the guide structure of the air outlet door panel 30 is exposed in the visible area of ​​the front panel of the air conditioner. This design facilitates the direct engagement of the first guide rail 13 with the shaft column 31 and bushing 32 located on the air outlet door panel 30, ensuring that the door panel slides stably along a preset trajectory during up and down movement. Since the first guide rail 13 is located on the outer side, its rolling engagement with the bushing 32 is easy to observe and maintain, and at the same time helps to improve the structural layering and craftsmanship of the overall appearance. The drive motor 21 is located on the side of the structural column 12 facing the internal air duct, i.e., on the inner side of the air outlet grille 11, and is hidden in the internal space of the air conditioner, so as not to affect the appearance. This arrangement effectively utilizes the space behind the air outlet frame, avoiding the exposure of drive components such as motors, thus improving the overall aesthetics and protection level. The drive motor 21 is typically a small DC geared motor or stepper motor, fixedly mounted on a motor mounting bracket inside the structural column 12, and connected to the air conditioning main control board via electrical connection lines to receive start / stop and travel control signals.

[0038] To transmit driving power from the inner motor to the outer door panel, a rack guide groove 14 extending along its length is provided on the structural column 12. This rack guide groove 14 penetrates the structural column 12 along both the inner and outer sides of the air outlet grille 11, forming a through-slot structure spanning the thickness direction of the structural column 12. The driven rack 23 is slidably disposed in the rack guide groove 14, with its main body located inside the structural column 12 or penetrating the entire guide groove. One end is connected to the drive gear 22 at the output end of the drive motor 21, and the other end or middle is connected to the outer air outlet door panel 30 via the first connecting rod 24. Since the rack guide groove 14 penetrates the structural column 12, the driven rack 23 can cross the inner and outer spaces of the air outlet grille 11, effectively transmitting the power of the inner drive motor 21 to the outer air outlet door panel 30, realizing an inner-drive, outer-motor transmission mode.

[0039] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 7 The outer side of the air outlet grille 11 is also provided with a second guide rail 111 and a second connecting rod 112. The second guide rail 111 extends along the length of the structural column 12. One end of the second connecting rod 112 is slidably mounted on the second guide rail 111, and the other end of the second connecting rod 112 is connected to the side of the air outlet door panel 30 near the air outlet grille 11. The second guide rail 111 is located on the outer surface of the air outlet grille 11 or its adjacent area, extends along the length of the structural column 12, and is arranged parallel to the aforementioned first guide rail 13. The second guide rail 111 can be an independently installed metal slide rail, or it can be integrally injection molded with the air outlet frame onto the reinforcing ribs on the outer side of the structural column 12. Its cross-sectional shape can be U-shaped, C-shaped, or dovetail-shaped to effectively limit the sliding end of the second connecting rod 112. This guide rail does not directly bear the overall weight of the air outlet door panel 30, but serves as an auxiliary guiding structure to guide the movement trajectory of the second connecting rod 112, thereby constraining the degree of freedom of movement of the lower part of the air outlet door panel 30. One end of the second connecting rod 112 is equipped with a sliding head or slider, which is slidably disposed in the second guide rail 111 to form a linear sliding pair. The other end is fixedly connected to the lower area of ​​the air vent door panel 30, especially the side edge or bottom edge reinforcement near the air outlet grille 11. The connection method can be screw fastening, snap-fit ​​assembly or riveting to ensure a firm and reliable connection. When the air vent door panel 30 moves up and down along the first guide rail 13 under the drive of the drive assembly 20, the second connecting rod 112 moves synchronously, and its sliding end slides in the second guide rail 111, forcing the lower part of the door panel to maintain a movement path consistent with the extension direction of the guide rail, avoiding "nodding" or torsion phenomena caused by the cantilever effect of the door panel's own weight or the offset of the drive point.

[0040] Furthermore, the second guide rail 111 can also be provided with a corresponding inclined transition section in the end section near the lower end. When the air vent door panel 30 moves to the closed position, the sliding end of the second connecting rod 112 enters this inclined section, pushing the lower part of the door panel forward slightly, coordinating with the aforementioned upper forward movement guided by the first guide rail 13 to achieve a synchronous forward-attaching action of the entire door panel. This upward and downward linkage forward pushing mechanism allows the air vent door panel 30 to fit more tightly against the air conditioner front panel in the closed state, forming a seamless closing visual effect when the air vent door panel 30 is closed, improving operational smoothness and enhancing the customer experience.

[0041] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figures 1 to 7 The second connecting rod 112 is a damping rod. The second connecting rod 112 can also integrate damping or elastic reset functions. One end is slidably mounted in the second guide rail 111, and the other end is connected to the side of the air vent panel 30 near the air outlet grille 11. Its arrangement direction is basically consistent with or slightly inclined to the length direction of the structural column 12. The damping rod can be a hydraulic damper, a pneumatic damper, or a mechanical friction damping structure, among which the hydraulic damping rod is preferred due to its stable damping force, high adjustment accuracy, and long service life. The damping rod has a piston and a damping oil chamber inside. When the air vent panel 30 begins to close under the drive assembly 20, the piston rod of the damping rod is compressed, and the oil flows slowly through the internal throttling orifice, generating a damping force related to the movement speed, thereby limiting the closing speed of the panel and achieving smooth deceleration. In one implementation, the damping rod has a unidirectional adjustable damping characteristic, meaning it provides damping force only during the closing of the air vent door 30, while the damping force is small or almost non-existent during the opening process. This ensures the door can respond quickly to opening commands, improving efficiency. This asymmetric damping characteristic can be achieved by incorporating a one-way valve structure within the damping rod. Specifically, during the compression stroke corresponding to the closing action of the air vent door 30, the oil flows through a small throttling channel, generating significant resistance; during the extension stroke (corresponding to the opening action), the one-way valve opens, allowing the oil to flow back quickly, significantly reducing resistance. This design balances the dual requirements of "rapid opening" and "smooth closing," meeting users' expectations for a combination of dynamic and static operation of the air conditioning vent door.

[0042] Furthermore, the installation angle and connection point position of the damping rod can be adjusted according to the actual movement trajectory. For example, when combined with the inclined structure at the end of the first guide rail 13 as in the previous embodiment, and the corresponding inclined section at the end of the second guide rail 111, the damping rod will not only bear axial compressive force at the end of the door panel closing, but will also generate a certain bending moment due to the change in the direction of movement. To this end, universal joints or ball joints can be used to connect both ends of the damping rod, allowing free swing within a certain angle range and avoiding lateral force damage caused by installation deviation or movement trajectory offset.

[0043] Furthermore, the damping rod can work in conjunction with the overall control system to achieve intelligent damping adjustment. For example, when the air conditioner enters "sleep mode," the control system can adjust the opening of the throttling orifice of the electronically controlled damping rod via electrical signals to further increase the damping force, making the door close more slowly and quietly; while in normal mode or rapid cooling mode, the damping force is reduced to improve response speed. For high-end models, a miniature displacement sensor can also be integrated to monitor the door position in real time and dynamically adjust the damping characteristics according to the stroke stage, achieving a gradual closing curve of "fast first, then slow."

[0044] This utility model also discloses an air conditioner, which includes a sliding door assembly as described in the above embodiments. This air conditioner can be a vertical cabinet structure, suitable for places requiring high-volume air conditioning such as family living rooms, offices, and commercial spaces, and is especially suitable for multi-modal air conditioning products that simultaneously possess cooling / heating, dehumidification, and fresh air exchange functions. The sliding door assembly is installed in the lower area of ​​the front panel of the air conditioner, corresponding to the main air outlet and fresh air outlet inside, and is used to control the opening and closing of the airflow channel, achieving multiple purposes such as function switching, aesthetic enhancement, and internal protection. In cooling, heating, or normal ventilation modes, the control system controls the drive motor 21 to operate, causing the air vent door 30 to rise to the fully open position, fully exposing the main air outlet and fresh air outlet, achieving maximum air outlet area and ensuring air delivery efficiency. When only the fresh air mode is activated, the control system raises the door panel to a preset middle height, preventing the main air outlet of the air conditioner from being exposed unnecessarily. This not only improves the overall appearance consistency of the unit but also reduces the risk of dust, insects, or pet hair entering through unused air outlets, enhancing product safety and ease of cleaning and maintenance.

[0045] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model 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 this utility model, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A sliding door assembly, characterized in that, include: The air outlet frame is provided with an air outlet grid, a first guide rail and structural columns. The structural columns are arranged in pairs. The air outlet grid is located between the two structural columns. The two first guide rails are respectively located on the side of the two structural columns near the air outlet grid. The first guide rails extend along the length direction of the structural column. The drive assembly is located on the structural column; An air vent panel is disposed between two structural columns. The air vent panel is driven by the driving assembly to move along the extension direction of the first guide rail. The air vent panel is provided with at least two guide components. At least one guide component is provided in alignment with each of the first guide rails. The guide component includes a shaft column and a bushing. The bushing is rotatably sleeved on the shaft column and rollably engaged with the first guide rail.

2. The sliding door assembly of claim 1, wherein, The first guide rail is recessed from the side of the structural column near the air outlet grid towards the direction away from the air outlet grid to form a guide rail groove, and the shaft sleeve is disposed in the guide rail groove.

3. The sliding door assembly of claim 1, wherein, The drive assembly includes a drive motor, a drive gear, and a driven rack. The drive motor is located on the structural column, the drive gear is located on the drive shaft of the drive motor, the driven rack meshes with the drive gear, the driven rack extends along the length of the structural column, and the driven rack is connected to the air vent panel.

4. The sliding door assembly of claim 3, wherein, The structural column is also provided with a rack guide groove, which extends along the length of the structural column, and the driven rack is slidably disposed in the rack guide groove.

5. The sliding door assembly of claim 4, wherein, The drive assembly further includes a first link, which is disposed between the driven rack and the air vent panel, and the two ends of the first link are rotatably connected to the driven rack and the air vent panel, respectively.

6. The sliding door assembly of claim 5, wherein, The air outlet grid is located near the lower end of the structural column, and the end of the first guide rail near the lower end of the structural column is inclined away from the air outlet grid.

7. The sliding door assembly of claim 4, wherein, The first guide rail is located on the outside of the air outlet grid, the drive motor is located on the inside of the air outlet grid, and the rack guide groove passes through the structural column along the inner and outer sides of the air outlet grid.

8. The sliding door assembly of claim 6, wherein, The outer side of the air outlet grille is also provided with a second guide rail and a second connecting rod. The second guide rail extends along the length of the structural column. One end of the second connecting rod is slidably disposed on the second guide rail, and the other end of the second connecting rod is connected to the side of the air outlet door panel near the air outlet grille.

9. The sliding door assembly of claim 8, wherein, The second connecting rod is a damping rod.

10. An air conditioner characterized by comprising: Includes the sliding door assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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