Air guide for air conditioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10436459-B2
Application number	US-201615221298-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2016
Priority date	Dec 8, 2015
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

An air conditioner includes an air guide which guides external air from an electronic component chamber to a heat exchange chamber, wherein the air guide includes a guide body which forms an air path; a water collection part which stores water introduced into the guide body; and a drainage hole of the water collection part which is provided at the water collection part to discharge the water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioner, comprising:
a case comprising a heat exchange chamber and an electronic component chamber formed at a side of the heat exchange chamber, the electronic component chamber having an electronic component part disposed therein;
a suction port provided at the case and through which air that is external to the air conditioner is introduced inside the case; and
an air guide attached to the electronic component part to guide the air introduced through the suction port from the electronic component chamber to the heat exchange chamber,
wherein the air guide comprises:
a guide body to form an air path,
a water collection part provided at a lower portion of the guide body to store water introduced into the guide body,
and a drainage hole provided at the water collection part to discharge the water,
wherein the guide body comprises:
a base plate at which the water collection part is formed,
a cover plate which is attached to an upper side of the base plate, and
a fixing plate which extends from the cover plate in a direction toward the electronic component chamber,
wherein the electronic component part comprises:
a first panel dividing the heat exchange chamber and the electronic component chamber, and having a through part,
a second panel which is arranged in a direction that intersects with the first panel, and
wherein the fixing plate passes through the through part of the first panel, and is attached to the second panel,
wherein the base plate is attached to the cover plate to form the air path, whereby the air path comprises an introduction port which is formed adjacent the electronic component chamber and a discharge port which is formed adjacent the heat exchange chamber,
wherein the base plate and the cover plate are disposed in the heat exchange chamber.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the suction port is formed at one side of a lower portion of the electronic component chamber, and the second panel of the electronic component part guides the air introduced through the suction port such that the air flows in an upward direction toward the fixing plate.

3. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the water collection part comprises:
a first inclined surface which extends from the drainage hole of the water collection part in a direction toward the electronic component chamber, and
a second inclined surface which extends from the drainage hole of the water collection part in a direction toward the heat exchange chamber,
whereby the slope of the first inclined surface is greater than the slope of the second inclined surface.

4. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the water collection part comprises:
a protrusion part which is bent and extends from one side of the drainage hole of the water collection part in a direction toward an upper side of the drainage hole of the water collection part, whereby the protrusion part guides the water stored in the water collection part to the drainage hole of the water collection part.

5. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the water collection part comprises:
a discharge pipe which extends from the drainage hole of the water collection part in a downward direction, whereby the water stored in the water collection part is discharged through the discharge pipe to the heat exchange chamber.

6. The air conditioner of claim 1 , further comprising:
a partition wall provided between the electronic component chamber and the heat exchange chamber,
wherein the air guide is provided at an upper side of the partition wall.

7. The air conditioner of claim 6 , wherein the cover plate comprises a rib which is formed at a lower surface thereof and extends in a downward direction which intersects with a flowing direction of air, whereby the rib restricts the flow of water formed on a lower surface of the base plate.

8. The air conditioner of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outside unit discharge port which is provided at the case and forms a first discharge surface for discharging air in the heat exchange chamber; and
an air guide discharge port which is provided at the air guide and forms a second discharge surface for discharging air in the electronic component chamber,
wherein the first discharge surface and the second discharge surface intersect at a preset angle.

9. The air conditioner of claim 8 , wherein the preset angle is 45° to 70° .

10. The air conditioner of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first protruding part which extends from both side ends of the base plate in an upward direction; and
a second protruding part which extends from both side ends of the cover plate in a downward direction,
wherein the second protruding part is in contact with and coupled to the first protruding part.

11. The air conditioner of claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the first protruding part is in contact with and attached to an inner surface of the second protruding part.

12. The air conditioner of claim 10 , further comprising:
an installation rib which extends from a lower end of the first protruding part in a downward direction; and
an installation groove which is provided at an outer circumferential surface of the second protruding part,
wherein the installation rib attaches to the installation groove.

13. The air conditioner of claim 1 , wherein the base plate further comprises a blocking wall which extends from the introduction port of the base plate in an upward direction, whereby the blocking wall prevents water from flowing to the introduction port.

14. The air conditioner of claim 13 , wherein the blocking wall comprises a drainage hole formed at one side thereof and passes through the base plate, whereby the blocking wall guides water located on the upper surface of the base plate so that the water is discharged through the drainage hole.

15. The air conditioner of claim 14 , wherein the blocking wall further comprises a protrusion part which extends in a direction toward a space above the drainage hole.

16. The air conditioner of claim 14 , wherein the blocking wall further comprises a discharge pipe which extends from the drainage hole in a downward direction, whereby water that is restricted by the blocking wall is discharged to the heat exchange chamber through the discharge pipe.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jeon Boohwan

Classifications

• F24F1/36

  Drip trays for outdoor units · CPC title

• F24F1/48

  characterised by air airflow, e.g. inlet or outlet airflow · CPC title

• F24F1/14 Primary

  Heat exchangers specially adapted for separate outdoor units · CPC title

• F24F13/20

  Casings or covers · CPC title

• F24F13/08

  Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates (F24F7/013, F24F13/06 take precedence) · CPC title