Air conditioner for controlling two-directional airflow

Abstract

This invention relates to an air conditioner for controlling two-directional airflow that features two airflow channels: one upper outlet and two lower outlets. The internal structure consists of a cross-flow fan, evaporator, air grille, upper air duct, lower air duct, divider pipe, upper fan cover, lower fan cover, dampers, and air outlets. Inside the cross-flow fan, there are ring- shaped support plates, solid ring-shaped support plates, and fan blades. The ring-shaped support plates and solid ring-shaped support plates are arranged alternately along the length of the cross- flow fan. The solid ring-shaped support plates are positioned between the ring-shaped support plates. This design allows the air conditioner to effectively control two-directional airflow, capable of expelling air up to 5 meters and reducing air blockages and turbulent noise.

Description

[0001] AIR CONDITIONER FOR CONTROLLING TWO-DIRECTIONAL AIRFLOW

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] Engineering related to air conditioners for controlling two-directional airflow

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] In general, floor-mounted air conditioners, such as console-type air conditioners, often use a turbo fan to distribute cool or warm air. The working principle involves using the turbo fan to draw air from the front panel, which is equipped with a bell-mouth that helps streamline the airflow into the front of the turbo fan. The air is then distributed in all directions, with air louvers (casing) guiding the air to exit from the upper and lower outlets accordingly. However, when the turbo fan is used in consoles, there is a limitation when a higher airflow volume is needed. Normally, the motor speed must be increased, which causes the console unit to vibrate due to the heavy weight of the turbo fan, resulting in an imbalance when rotating at higher speeds. To resolve this issue, the idea of switching to a cross-flow fan was introduced. The cross-flow fan distributes air crosswise (auxiliary air), which can separate the airflow into two directions. This necessitates the redesign of air louvers to properly direct the airflow.

[0006] The design of air louvers for floor-mounted or console-type air conditioners units (floor mounted console) must consider several factors to achieve optimal performance. One of the key factors is the ability to distribute air consistently. Designing the air louvers with an appropriate shape and angle ensures that the air is distributed equally, preventing areas of concentrated airflow or zones where air does not reach.

[0007] Another factor to consider is minimizing pressure loss. The design of the air louvers must take airflow into account to ensure minimal pressure loss, which enhances the air conditioner's cooling or heating efficiency. Reducing pressure loss also reduces the workload on the motor, decreases energy consumption, and extends the lifespan of the air conditioner.

[0008] In an international patent database and Thai patent database, there have been inventions related to cross-flow fans with different structures or components. For example:

[0009] U.S. Patent Publication No. US9638195B2, titled “Cross Flow Fan,” is disclosing a crossflow fan consisting of solid support plates installed periodically along the length of the fan. The fan blades are vertically installed around the entire circumference of the support plates. These blades are designed with their thickest portion positioned at 40-60% from the inner curve, which helps to reduce air turbulence and minimize energy loss due to airflow. Chinese Patent Publication No. CN108757556A, titled “Cross Flow Wind Wheel and Air Conditioning Indoor Unit,” is disclosing a cross-flow fan consisting of solid support plates installed periodically along the length of the fan. The fan blades are vertically installed around the entire circumference of the support plates. The edges of the support plates are cut at angles between 30° to 60°, allowing the tips of the adjacent blades to meet. Additionally, the support plates can also be in the form of rings.

[0010] Australian Patent Publication No. AU2014200103B2, titled “Cross-flow Fan and Air Conditioner,” is disclosing a cross-flow fan consisting of solid support plates. The fan blades are vertically installed around the entire circumference of the support plates. These blades feature hollows on the suction surface or the convex surface of the blades, with their thickness decreasing from the base of the blades to the tips.

[0011] It can be clearly observed that the prior inventions have claimed air conditioners with two air outlets and cross-flow fans, where the support plates can be either in the form of rings or solid plates which having similar objectives to the present invention.

[0012] The air conditioner for controlling two -directional airflow is developed to ensure even air distribution, while also reducing issues of airflow concentration or areas where air cannot reach. The design allows air to flow through two outlets: the upper outlet, where air is directed toward the center, and the lower outlet, where air is directed toward the left and right sides. The system includes dampers and air outlets that help reduce turbulent noise. The cross-flow fan is designed with ring-shaped support plates with perforated walls and solid ring-shaped support plates with solid walls. The fan blades are positioned at an angle of 5 to 10 degrees, allowing the air conditioner to efficiently control the airflow in two directions.

[0013] Summary of the Invention

[0014] This invention relates to an air conditioner for controlling two-directional airflow that features two airflow channels: one upper outlet and two lower outlets. The internal structure consists of a cross-flow fan, evaporator, air grille, upper air duct, lower air duct, divider pipe, upper fan cover, lower fan cover, dampers, and air outlets. Inside the cross-flow fan, there are ringshaped support plates, solid ring-shaped support plates, and fan blades. The ring-shaped support plates and solid ring-shaped support plates are arranged alternately along the length of the crossflow fan. The solid ring-shaped support plates are positioned between the ring-shaped support plates. This design allows the air conditioner to effectively control two -directional airflow, capable of expelling air up to 5 meters. The objective of this invention is to improve the air conditioner so that it can exchange air and eject it in two directions, with the ability to directly expel airflow up to 5 meters. This is achieved through a structural design that allows the air conditioner to push air over a long distance. Additionally, dampers and air outlets are incorporated to facilitate the reducing of air blockages and turbulent noise, which impacts noise pollution.

[0015] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 shows the airflow direction in the air conditioner.

[0017] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner, illustrating the airflow when the lower air outlet is open at cross-section A.

[0018] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner, illustrating the airflow when the lower air outlet is open at cross-sections B and C.

[0019] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner, illustrating the airflow when the upper air outlet is open at cross-section A.

[0020] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner, illustrating the airflow when the upper air outlet is open at cross-sections B and C.

[0021] Figure 6 shows one view of the cross-flow fan.

[0022] Figure 7 shows the design of the ring-shaped support plate and the solid ring-shaped support plate.

[0023] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] This invention relates to an air conditioner for controlling two -directional airflow, capable of directing airflow up to 5 meters. This is achieved by designing the cross-flow fan as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The cross-flow fan consists of ring-shaped support plates, solid ring-shaped support plates, and fan blades. The internal structure of the air conditioner is designed to allow air to flow through two outlets: one upper outlet and two lower outlets. Figure 1 shows the airflow direction in the air conditioner, where the upper outlet directs air toward the center, and the lower outlets direct air toward the left and right sides.

[0025] The central air conditioning unit 1 is equipped with an evaporator 102, which is directly mounted with the air grille 103. The evaporator 102 functions to absorb heat from the incoming air and convert it into cool air. The cooled air is then blown by the cross-flow fan 101 through the divider pipe 106 and the upper fan cover 107, which is mounted with the cross-flow fan 101. The divider pipe 106 and the upper fan cover 107 help expel or direct the air out through either the upper air duct 104 or the lower air duct 105, reaching up to 5 meters. The lower air duct 105 is mounted with the air outlet 110, and at the end of the air outlet 110, there is a damper 109 to reduce air blockages or turbulent noise when either the upper air duct 104 or lower air duct 105 is closed.

[0026] The first end air conditioning unit 2 and the second end air conditioning unit 3 are equipped with an evaporator 102, which is directly mounted with the air grille 103. The evaporator 102 functions to absorb heat from the incoming air and convert it into cool air. The cooled air is then directed to the cross-flow fan 101, which is mounted with the divider pipe 106 and the lower fan cover 108. These components help guide the airflow out through either the upper air duct 104 or the lower air duct 105.

[0027] The cross-flow fan 101 consists of ring-shaped support plates 12 with perforated walls that have an opening diameter of 7 to 9 centimeters, solid ring-shaped support plates 11 with solid walls, and fan blades 13.

[0028] The ring-shaped support plates 12 and the solid ring-shaped support plates 11 are arranged along the length of the cross-flow fan 101. The solid ring-shaped support plates 11 are positioned alternately between the ring-shaped support plates 12. Each of the ring-shaped support plates 12 and solid ring-shaped support plates 11 is spaced 6 to 8 centimeters apart.

[0029] The fan blades 13 are designed as straight blades, each with a width of 0.1 to 1 centimeter, a length of 1 to 3 centimeters, and a diameter of 9 to 12 centimeters. They are vertically installed and positioned at an angle of 5 to 10 degrees along the entire circumference of the ring-shaped support plates 12 and the solid ring-shaped support plates 11, extending along the length of the cross-flow fan (101) for the air conditioner.

[0030] Example of Airflow in the Air Conditioner

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, the airflow is illustrated in the case where the upper air duct 104 is closed in the central air conditioning unit 1. When the cross-flow fan 101 rotates counterclockwise, air flows from the air grille 103 to the evaporator 102 for heat exchange. After that, the air inside the air conditioner is directed through the divider pipe 106 and the upper fan cover 107 toward the upper air duct 104. However, since the upper air duct 104 is closed, the air flows downward through the opened damper 109, allowing the trapped air from the upper duct to reverse flow into the air outlet 110 and exit through the lower air duct 105, which remains open.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the airflow is illustrated in the case where the upper air duct 104 is closed in both the first end air conditioning unit 2 and the second end air conditioning unit 3. When the cross-flow fan 101 rotates counterclockwise, air flows from the air grille 103 to the evaporator 102 for heat exchange. Afterward, the air inside the unit is directed through the divider pipe 106 and the lower fan cover 108 toward the lower air duct 105, which remains open.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the airflow is illustrated in the case where the upper air duct 104 is open and the lower air duct 105 is closed in the central air conditioning unit 1. When the crossflow fan 101 rotates counterclockwise, air flows from the air grille 103 to the evaporator 102 for heat exchange. Afterward, the air inside the air conditioner is directed through the divider pipe 106 and the upper fan cover 107 toward the upper air duct 104. The air trapped in the lower air duct 105 will flow upward through the air outlet 110 and pass through the damper 109, which opens to allow the air to exit through the upper air duct 104.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the airflow is illustrated in the case where the upper air duct 104 is open and the lower air duct 105 is closed in both the first end air conditioning unit 2 and the second end air conditioning unit 3. When the cross-flow fan 101 rotates counterclockwise, air flows from the air grille 103 to the evaporator 102 for heat exchange. Afterward, the air inside the air conditioner is directed through the divider pipe 106 and the lower fan cover 108 toward either the lower air duct 105 or the upper air duct 104, and then circulates back into the air conditioner.

[0035] Any modifications or changes can be clearly understood and made by those skilled in the art, provided that remain within the scope and intent of the inventions as described in the claims attached herewith.

[0036] Best Mode of Invention

[0037] As Described in the Detailed Description of the Invention.

Claims

Claims1. An air conditioner for controlling two -directional airflow comprising; a central air conditioning unit (1) comprises an evaporator (102), which is directly mounted with an air grille (103) to allow the cool air from the evaporator (102) move to a cross-flow fan (101) which provided to mounted with a divider pipe (106) and an upper fan cover (107) to help directing the air out through an upper air duct (104) or a lower air duct (105), the lower air duct (105) is mounted with the air outlet (110), and at the end of the air outlet (110), there is a damper (109) to reduce air blockages or turbulent noise when the upper air duct (104) or lower air duct(105) is closed; a first end air conditioning unit (2) and a second end air conditioning unit (3) comprise an evaporator (102), which is directly mounted with the air grille (103) to allow the cool air from the evaporator (102) move to a cross-flow fan (101) which provided to mounted with the divider pipe(106) and a lower fan cover (108) to help directing the air out through the upper air duct (104) or the lower air duct (105); the cross-flow fan (101) for the air conditioner comprises the ring-shaped support plates (12) with perforated walls, the solid ring-shaped support plates (11) with solid walls, and a fan blades (13); the ring-shaped support plates (12) are provided with the perforated wall and the solid ringshaped support plates (11) are provided with solid wall where the ring-shaped support plates (12) and the solid ring-shaped support plates (11) are arranged inside the cross-flow fan (101) longitudinally while the solid ring-shaped support plates (11) are positioned alternately between the ring-shaped support plates (12); the fan blades (13) are designed as straight fan blades which are vertically installed and positioned at an angle of 5 to 10 degrees along the entire circumference of the ring-shaped support plates (12) and the solid ring-shaped support plates (11), extending along the length of the crossflow fan (101) for the air conditioner.

2. The air conditioner for controlling two-directional airflow according to claim 1, wherein the cross-flow fan (101) in the central air conditioning unit (1) is provided to rotate counterclockwise.

3. The air conditioner for controlling two -directional airflow according to claim 1, wherein the cross-flow fan (101) in the first end air conditioning unit (2) and the second end air conditioning unit (3) are provided to rotate counterclockwise.

4. The air conditioner for controlling two -directional airflow according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped support plate (12) and the solid ring-shaped support plate (11) are spaced 6 to 8 centimeters apart.

5. The air conditioner for controlling two -directional airflow according to claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped support plate (12) is provided to have the opening with diameters of 7 to 9 centimeters.

6. The air conditioner for controlling two -directional airflow according to claim 1, wherein the fan blades (13) have a width of 0.1 to 1 centimeter, a length of 1 to 3 centimeters, and a diameter of 9 to 12 centimeters.

7. The air conditioner for controlling two-directional airflow, according to claim 1, wherein the fan blades (13) are positioned at the optimal angle of 5 degrees.

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