Multifunctional circulation system enabling purification of outside air

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11320158-B2
Application number	US-201816609139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2018
Priority date	May 11, 2017
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A multifunctional storage system includes a storage chamber and a machinery chamber provided on a side of the storage chamber. The system further includes a dehumidification part dehumidifying circulating air flowing in the storage chamber; a circulating air inlet and a circulating air outlet enabling the storage chamber and the machinery chamber to communicate; and a circulation filter unit supplying moisture to circulating air supplied to the storage chamber via the circulating air inlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multifunctional storage system, comprising:
a storage chamber;
a machinery chamber provided at a side of the storage chamber;
a dehumidification device configured to dehumidify circulating air flowing in the storage chamber;
a circulating air inlet and a circulating air outlet configured to allow the storage chamber and the machinery chamber to communicate with each other;
a first flow path switching member moving between a first position, in which the circulating air inlet is opened in the machinery chamber so that the storage chamber and the machinery chamber communicate with each other, and a second position, in which the circulating air inlet is closed to block communication between the storage chamber and the machinery chamber; and
a second flow path switching member moving between a third position, in which the circulating air outlet is opened in the machinery chamber so that the storage chamber and the machinery chamber communicate with each other, and a fourth position, in which the circulating air outlet is closed to block communication between the storage chamber and the machinery chamber;
wherein the machinery chamber further comprises:
an intake port and an exhaust port configured to allow outside air to communicate with the machinery chamber; and
a purification filter unit configured to filter the outside air introduced through the intake port.

2. The multifunctional storage system of claim 1 , wherein the storage chamber is heated by the dehumidification device.

3. The multifunctional storage system of claim 1 , wherein the machinery chamber further comprises:
a fan unit configured to circulate outside air or circulating air in one direction;
a first flow path configured to allow the intake port and the fan unit to communicate with each other; and
a second flow path configured to communicate with each of the exhaust port, the fan unit, the first flow path, and the storage chamber.

4. The multifunctional storage system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second flow path switching members allow the second flow path to selectively communicate with the exhaust port or the storage chamber.

5. The multifunctional storage system of claim 3 , wherein the machinery chamber further comprises:
a supply water tank;
a condensate water tank; and
a circulation filter unit configured to supply moisture to the circulating air supplied to the storage chamber via the circulating air inlet,
wherein the circulation filter unit is provided on the first flow path, the circulation filter unit receives moisture from the supply water tank, and condensate water generated from the circulating air of the storage chamber and the machinery chamber is stored in the condensate water tank.

6. The multifunctional storage system of claim 3 , wherein the second flow path is located above the fan unit and the first flow path.

7. The multifunctional storage system of claim 3 , wherein the circulating air inlet and the circulating air outlet are located between the second flow path and the storage chamber, the circulating air inlet is configured to communicate with the fan unit such that the circulating air is exhausted from the machinery chamber toward the storage chamber, and the circulating air outlet is configured to circulate the circulating air from the storage chamber toward the machinery chamber.

8. The multifunctional storage system of claim 7 , wherein a portion in communication with the circulating air inlet in the storage chamber is inclined upward, so that the circulating air introduced from the circulating air inlet is exhausted into the storage chamber while forming a predetermined angle from a bottom surface of an inside of the storage chamber.

9. The multifunctional storage system of claim 3 , wherein in a clothing management mode where the dehumidification device operates, natural humidifying air generated by the circulation filter unit is supplied to the storage chamber and circulated therein in a state in which the machinery chamber is blocked from the outside air and communicates with the storage chamber.

10. The multifunctional storage system of claim 9 , wherein, in the clothing management mode, the circulating air inlet and the circulating air outlet are opened, and the intake port and the exhaust port are closed.

11. The multifunctional storage system of claim 9 , wherein the natural humidifying air is supplied to the storage chamber by the fan unit and circulated therein.

12. The multifunctional storage system of claim 9 , wherein, in the clothing management mode, the circulating air that flows by the fan unit circulates through the machinery chamber and the storage chamber while sequentially flowing through the second flow path, the circulating air inlet, the storage chamber, the circulating air outlet, the second flow path, the first flow path and the fan unit.

13. The multifunctional storage system of claim 9 , wherein, in the clothing management mode, warm air is generated by heat generated from the fan unit and the dehumidification device and is exhausted to the storage chamber.

14. The multifunctional storage system of claim 13 , wherein, in the clothing management mode, the natural humidifying air is primarily exhausted to the storage chamber and the warm air is exhausted to the storage chamber after the exhaust of the natural humidifying air is stopped.

15. The multifunctional storage system of claim 3 , wherein, in an air purifying mode for filtering the outside air, the machinery chamber is blocked from the storage chamber and communicates with the outside air so that the outside air filtered by the purification filter unit is exhausted to an outside.

16. The multifunctional storage system of claim 15 , wherein, in the air purifying mode, the circulating air inlet and the circulating air outlet are closed, and the intake port and the exhaust port are opened.

17. The multifunctional storage system of claim 16 , wherein, in the air purifying mode, the outside air introduced through the intake port sequentially flows through the purification filter unit, the first flow path, the fan unit, the second flow path and the exhaust port.

18. The multifunctional storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a door configured to cover front surfaces of the machinery chamber and the storage chamber except for the intake port, wherein the door includes a controller and an exhaust door configured to open and close the exhaust port, the exhaust door being opened in an air purifying mode and closed in a clothing management mode.

19. The multifunctional storage system of claim 1 , wherein a recirculation module comprising a recirculation fan is provided at an upper end of the storage chamber, and the recirculation module exhausts the circulating air toward a lower portion of an inside of the storage chamber.

20. The multifunctional storage system of claim 1 , wherein the system has a full circulation mode and a full blocking mode, wherein the system is in the full circulation mode, the machinery chamber communicates with both the outside air and the storage chamber, and wherein the system is in the full blocking mode, the machinery chamber is blocked from both the outside air and the storage chamber.

Assignees

• Coway Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Dong Wook
• Park Chan Jung
• Kwon Sun Dug
• Yun Byung Soo
• Lee Dong Hun
• Back In Kyu

Classifications

• A47B61/00 Primary

  Wardrobes · CPC title

• F24F8/133

  by direct contact with liquid, e.g. with sprayed liquid · CPC title

• F24F8/125 Primary

  using wet filter elements · CPC title

• F24F3/14

  by humidification; by dehumidification · CPC title

• D06F71/34

  Heating arrangements; Arrangements for supplying or removing steam or other gases · CPC title