EP1950502A1

EP1950502A1 - Air conditioner with actuating means for movable front panel to enable opening/closing of the air inlet

Info

Publication number: EP1950502A1
Application number: EP07252776A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hyon Chel Park; Seung Hoon Yang
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2007-01-26
Filing date: 2007-07-11
Publication date: 2008-07-30

Abstract

The present invention relates to air conditioners. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air conditioner in which a front panel, moving backward and forward closely and smoothly, opens/closes a plurality of air suction openings, to discharge conditioned air upward /downward, for securing an adequate air flow rate to be heat exchanged, making convenient opening/closing control of a flow passage according to various modes, and enabling convenient securing of a driving motor.

For this, the present invention provides an air conditioner including a driving source unit mounted in a case for generating driving force, a front panel movably mounted in front of the case for opening/closing an air suction opening, a power transmission unit for transmission of the driving force from the driving source unit to the front panel, and the power transmission unit having a body portion moving together with the front panel and a guide portion for supporting the body portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to air conditioners. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air conditioner in which a front panel, moving backward and forward closely and smoothly, opens/closes a plurality of suction openings, for effective heat exchange of room air, and discharges the room air in upward and downward with a reduced flow resistance, and which has a motor that can be fixedly secured, simply.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, in the air conditioners each for cooling or heating a room by using a refrigerating cycle having a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger, there are split type air conditioners and package type air conditioners.
Though the split type air conditioners and package type air conditioners are the same in view of function, the split type air conditioner has the indoor unit having a cooling/heat dissipation device, a room fan and a room fan motor mounted thereto, the outdoor unit having a heat dissipation/cooling device, an outdoor fan and an outdoor fan motor mounted thereto, and refrigerant pipe lines connected between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and the package type air conditioner has unitized cooling/heat dissipation functions, for mounting to an opening in a wall of a house, or a window with securing device, directly.
FIG. 14 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a related art air conditioner, and FIG. 15 illustrates a section of an assembly of the related art air conditioner.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the related art air conditioner is provided with a case 102, a front frame 110 mounted to a front of the case 102 having an air suction opening 104, suction grill 106, and air discharge opening in a lower side of a front or an underside, a suction grill 112 rotatably connected to the front of the front frame 110, a motor 114 mounted to the case 102, a fan 116 connected to the motor 114, and a heat exchanger 118 arranged between the fan 116, the front air suction opening 104, and the suction grill 106.
The front frame 110 has the front air suction opening 104 in the front, the suction grill 106 in a top formed as a unit, and a pre-filter 105 for filtering foreign matters from the air drawn through the air suction opening 104.
The suction grill 112, provided for protecting the front air suction opening and the pre-filter 105, has an upper portion rotatably connected to an upper portion of the front frame 110.
Mounted to an inner side of a lower side of the front frame 110, there are a condensed water pan 119 for receiving condensed water falling from the indoor heat exchanger 118, and a discharge grill 124 having a louver 120 for changing left/right directions of air from the air discharge opening 108, and a vane 122 for changing up/down directions of the air.
In the related art air conditioner, if the fan 116 is rotated by the motor 114, room air in front of the suction grill 112 has foreign matters filtered with the filter 105 as the room air passes through the suction grill 112 and the front air suction opening 104, and is drawn through a space between the front frame 110 and the case 102.
Room air over the front frame 110 passes through the upper suction grill 106, and is drawn through the space between the front frame 110 and the case 102.
The room air drawn thus is cooled or heated by refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 118 as the room air passes through the indoor heat exchanger 118, guided by the louver 120 and the vane 122 after the room air passes through the fan 116, and discharged to the room passing through the air discharge opening 108.
However, the above related art air conditioner has the following disadvantage.
Because the related art air conditioner has the room air drawn through the front and upper suction grills, and discharged to the room through the underside after being cooled/heated at the heat exchanger 118, the related art air conditioner has a problem in that, if the related art air conditioner is installed at a low place, a time period required for uniform spreading of the cold air throughout the room is long in cooling, and, if installed at a high place, the air is discharged to a face of the user in heating, to give unpleasant feeling to the user.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

To solve the problems, it would be desirable to provide an air conditioner of which control of cooling/heating operation is convenient, and which has no great installation height limitation, enables not only uniform spreading the cold air throughout the room in cooling, but also indirect discharge of the warm air in heating to eliminate the unpleasant feeling of the user, and can reduce a flow passage resistance, and cool/heat the room air, adequately.
It would also be desirable to provide an air conditioner in which a front panel can be moved closely and smoothly, and secured accurately at a limited position, and a driving motor and a securing device can be secured, conveniently.
Accordingly, the invention provides an air conditioner that includes a driving source unit mounted in a case for generating driving force, a front panel movably mounted in front of the case for opening/closing an air suction opening, a power transmission unit for transmission of the driving force from the driving source unit to the front panel, and the power transmission unit having a body portion moving together with the front panel and a guide portion for supporting the body portion.
The power transmission unit transmits the driving force so as to move the front panel in forward/backward, and the power transmission unit transmits the driving force so as to move the front panel horizontally.
The driving source unit is a driving motor, and the power transmission unit includes a pinion gear connected to a rotation shaft of the driving motor, and a rack rail connected to the front panel, the rack rail for engagement with the pinion gear.
The rack rail includes a body portion having a rack gear for engagement with the pinion gear, a guide portion spaced from the body portion, and a connection portion connected between the body portion and the guide portion.
Preferably, the case further includes a guide portion supporter for supporting movement of the guide portion, and the case further includes a body portion supporter for supporting movement of the body portion.
More preferably, the rack rail includes a stopper at a rear end for being held by a holder on the case at a limited position of moving locus of the rack rail.
In the meantime, the rack rail has a hinge hole at a front end.
Preferably, the driving source unit and the power transmission unit are provided to every one of the plurality of front panels, the driving source unit and the power transmission unit are provided to every one of the front panels formed as one pair in up/down direction with a space therebetween, and the driving source unit and the power transmission unit are provided to every one of the plurality of front panels at opposite corners thereof, respectively.
Preferably, the case further includes air discharge openings in a top and/or a bottom.
The power transmission units are connected with a cooperating unit such that the power transmission units are driven by one driving source unit.
Alternatively, the power transmission unit is formed as one unit with the front panel.
In another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a case having a heat exchanger, a fan, and a driving motor mounted thereto, a front panel in front of the case for opening/closing air suction opening, a power transmission unit for transmitting driving force from the driving source unit to the front panel, and a driving motor securing device having a holding portion at one side of a body thereof for preventing front direct falling off of the motor, the body portion housing the driving motor so that the driving motor securing device can be mounted to the case in a state the driving motor securing device has the motor housed therein.
The driving motor securing device has a cut-away opened rear portion of the holding portion.
The driving motor securing device further includes a fastening hole on the other side of the body.
The driving motor securing device has a narrow elasticity providing groove formed from a front end to backward in the middle of an underside thereof.
The driving motor securing device includes mounting legs each including a supporting portion and a bent portion.
The case includes a seating holder for holding opposite sides of the driving motor securing device.
First, an adequate flow rate of room air can be secured at the heat exchanger, flow passage open/close control for various modes is convenient, the front panel moves stably, and uniform spreading of the air being discharged can be induced in cooling/heating operation while the air conditioner is not limited by an installation height of the air conditioner substantially.
Second, flow resistance of air introduced from a room can be reduced, to make upward/downward discharge smoother, and the indirect discharge of hot air while the indirect discharge of hot air does not interfere with the inflow of air from front resolves user unpleasant feeling.
Third, the driving unit having a combination of the rack rail connected to every separated front panel and the pinion permits close and smooth movement of the front panels in forward/backward horizontally, and accurate securing at a limited position.
Fourth, the ready and convenient mounting/dismounting and rigid securing of the driving motor securing device having the driving motor placed therein to the case permits stable operation of the front panel regardless of vibration of the driving motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.
In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an assembly of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 illustrates a section of an assembly of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 illustrates a section of an assembly of an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a driving unit of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a driving unit of an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate perspective views each showing a driving unit of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a driving motor securing device of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 illustrates a front view of a driving motor securing device of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 illustrates a section of a driving motor securing device of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a related art air conditioner; and
FIG. 15 illustrates a section of an assembly of a related art air conditioner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the air conditioner includes a case 200, a front frame 300, a front panel 400, a driving unit 500, a suction flow passage 700 formed with a discharge unit 600, a heat exchange flow passage 800, and a discharge flow passage 900.
The case 200 has a portion of each of an inside, a front, an upper side and a lower side opened, and a heat exchanger 210 vertically mounted therein parallel to the front, and one pair of fans 220 mounted in rear of the heat exchanger 210 arranged in an up/down direction with a space therebetween.
It is preferable that a central portion of the heat exchanger 210 has a shape that can reduce a flow resistance of air introduced thereto from the room and induce a slanted direction movement of the air, and, besides, as shown in FIG. 5, the heat exchanger 210 may have a rectangular shape for convenience of fabrication.
There are one pair of the front frames 300 secured to the front of the case 200 in an up/down direction with a space therebetween, and a display unit 310 arranged in a lateral direction between the two front frames 300.
The front frame 300 has an air suction opening 320 in a front for drawing room air from a front direction, with a filter 325 mounted thereto.
One pair of the front panels 400 are arranged in an up/down direction with the display unit 310 therebetween in conformity with the front frames 300, for moving forward /backward to open/close the air suction opening 320 in the front of the front frame 300.
Each of the front panel 400 includes a flat front portion 410 and bent portions 420 on opposite sides each bent backward and extended from opposite edges of the flat portion 410 to move along sloped opposite sides of the front frame 300.
Referring to FIG.4, as another preferred embodiment of the present invention, if there are one pair of the front panels 400 arranged in a lateral direction with a vertical space therebetween, it is preferable that the display unit 310 is arranged in a vertical direction between the left and the right front panels 400.
Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, the driving unit 500, provided for moving the front panels 400 backward/forward from the front frames 300 horizontally, includes a driving source unit 510 and a power transmission unit 520.
It is preferable that the driving unit 500 is mounted to opposite corners of each of the front panels 400.
The driving source unit 510 may be, for an example, a driving motor 511 for generating driving force, and the power transmission unit 520 may be a pinion gear 521 and a rack rail 522 for transmission of the driving force from the driving source unit 510 to the front panel 400.
The pinion gear 521 is fixed to a rotation shaft 512 for receiving rotation force from the driving motor 511, and the rack rail 522 has a body portion 5221, a guide portion 5222, and a connection portion 5223 for converting the rotation force of the pinion gear 521 to reciprocating movement.
The body portion 5221 has a rack gear 5221a formed on an underside thereof for engagement with the pinion gear 521, the guide portion 5222 is arranged parallel to the body portion spaced therefrom, and the connection portion 5223 connects one sides of each of the body portion 5221 and the guide portion 5222, vertically.
That is, the rack rail 522 having the body portion 5221, the guide portion 5222, and the connection portion 5223 forms a □ shape in overall.
The case 200 has a guide hole (not shown) for receiving the rack rail 522 when the rack rail 522 moves in/out of the front frame 300 following rotation of the pinion gear 521.
Particularly, the body portion 5221 at an upper portion has a ledge 5221b which is in contact with a body portion supporter 240 formed at an upper portion of the case 200, for moving forward/backward, smoothly.
The body portion 5221 has a hinge hole 5221c at an upper portion of a front end, to which the front panel 400 is connected with a hinge pin 5221d, such that the body portion 5221 is forwardly/backwardly movable together with the front panel 400.
As another embodiment of the present invention, instead of the connected of the body portion 5221 to the front panel 400 with the hinge pin 5221d, the body portion 5221 may be formed as one unit with the front panel 5221.
The guide portion 5222 at an underside is in contact with a guide portion supporter 245 spaced downward from the body portion supporter 240 of the case 200, for moving forward/backward smoothly, to guide the entire rack rail 522.
In the meantime, the body portion 5221 at a rear end has a hook shaped stopper 5221e for holding a holder 250 at an upper portion of the case 200 so that the body portion 5221 moves forward no more when the rack rail 522 moves to a front limit.
Referring to FIG. 7, as another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pinion gears 521 at opposite sides of the front panel 400 may be made to cooperate, with a cooperating unit, such as a horizontal shaft 530.
In this case, even if only one driving motor 511 is provided to each side of the front panel 400, both of the power transmission units 520 can be driven at a time.
Though the opposite pinion gears 521 may be cooperate with the connection shaft 530, of course the opposite power transmission units 520 may be cooperate with other power transmission mechanism, such as pulley and belt, sprocket and chain, gear box, and so on as required.
Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, the air conditioner or the present invention further includes a driving motor securing device 110 for securing the driving motor 511 which is the driving source unit 510 in a state the driving motor 511 is cased in a case 200.
The driving motor securing device 110 includes a body 1110 and opposite receiving portions 1120 and 1130.
The body 1110 has opened front and upper portions for receiving the driving motor 511.
The receiving portions 1120 and 1130 extend to outer sides from edges of the body 1110 respectively, and are cut-away inwardly partly for receiving extensions 5111 of the driving motors.
One side receiving portion 1120 has a holding portion 1121 projected inwardly for preventing the driving motor extension 5111 from falling off to forward from the one side receiving portion 1120.
In addition to this, the holding portion 1121 of the one side receiving portion 1120 has a cut-away rear portion for easy placing of the driving motor extension 5111 in the one side receiving portion 1120.
In order to secure the extension 5111 of the driving motor received in the other side receiving portion 1130 formed in symmetry to the one side receiving portion 1120 with fastening means, such as a screw, a fastening hole 1131 is formed in a shape of a recess or a hole.
Particularly, for easy mounting/dismounting the driving motor 511 without applying much force, the body 1110 may have a narrow elasticity providing groove 1140 formed from a front end to backward in the middle of an underside thereof.
Moreover, the driving motor securing device 1100 may further include mounting legs 1150 for easy mounting /dismounting to/from the case 200, each including a supporting portion 1151 and a bent portion 1152.
The supporting portions 1151 extend downward from an underside of the opposite receiving portions 1120 and 1130 of the body 1110 in symmetry to each other, and the bent portions 1152 are bent outwardly from ends of the supporting portions 1151, respectively.
The case 200 has seating holders 297 for supporting the opposite bent portions 1152 of the driving motor securing device 1100, having an inside space for receiving the opposite bent portions 1152.
It is preferable that the seating holders 297 are formed at the case 200 with a space in up/down direction for supporting the opposite bent portion 1152 of the mounting legs 1150 from upper lower portions.
The discharge unit 600 has a discharge panel 610 rotatably hinged to an upper side and a lower side of the case 200 for opening/closing an air discharge opening 620 formed between the case 200 and the front frame 300.
For blowing air to a user indirectly while the air blown thus does not interfere with an air inflow from front, the discharge panel 610 rotates in front/rear directions at predetermined angles from an underside of the case 200 respectively, to open/close the air discharge opening 620.
Though the drawing shows the discharge unit 600 both at a top and a bottom of the case 200, the discharge unit 600 may be provided to one of the top and the bottom as required.
Though the front panel 400 of the present invention is provided in one pair to upper/lower sides or left/right sides in the foregoing embodiment, of course the front panel 400 may be provided in three or more than three pieces to the upper/lower sides or left/right sides, or to over or under the air discharge opening 620 selectively, as another embodiment.
The suction flow passage 700 is a passage for guiding room air from front of the air suction opening 320 so that the room air is introduced into the case 200 through the air suction opening 320 when the front panel 400 moves forward.
Because there are a plurality of front panels 400, there are also a plurality of the suction flow passages 700 formed between the front frame 300 and the front panels 400, such that a plurality of the suction flow passages 700 are opened/closed following the forward/backward movement of the front panels 400.
Particularly, if there are one pair of the front panels at the upper side and the lower side with the display unit 310 at the middle as one embodiment of the present invention, the suction flow passages 700 are formed at a middle portion, and upper and lower portions of a space between the case 200 and the front panels 400 following the movement of the front panels 400.
In detail, since the suction flow passages 700 are split at the middle portion of the space between the case 200 and the front panel 400 into two sides of an upper side and a lower side, an adequate amount of the room air can be introduced between the front panels 400.
In more detail, the suction flow passages 700 are formed throughout the middle portion of the space between the case 200 and the front panels 400 (from a left edge to a right edge) split into the upper and the lower sides, and throughout the upper portion and the lower portion of the case 200 (from a left edge to a right edge) following the movement of the front panels 400.
In this instance, it is preferable that opposite sides of the space between the case 200 and the front panel 400 are closed with the opposite bent portions 420 at the time of forward movement of the front panel 400.
As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in a case one pair of the front panel 400 are arranged in a lateral direction with a middle vertical space, the suction flow passages 700 may be formed at a middle portion, and side portions of the space between the case 200 and the front panel 400 following the forward/backward movement of the front panels 400.
In the present invention, the heat exchange flow passage 800 is a passage that guides the room air to pass through the suction flow passage 700, be introduced into the case 200 through the air suction opening 320, and be heat exchanged as the room air passes through the heat exchanger 210 in the case 200.
The heat exchange flow passage 800 is formed with the front frame 300 and the case 200 in rear of the air suction opening 320 when the front panel 400 moves forward to open the suction flow passage 700.
Particularly, since the heat exchanger 210 is vertically mounted in the heat exchange flow passage 800 and a middle portion of the heat exchanger 210 has a > shape, upward/downward slanted direction discharge of the room air introduced thereto from forward and heat exchanged thus becomes smoother.
In the meantime, in the present invention, the discharge flow passage 900 is a passage for discharging air conditioned as the air passed through the heat exchanger 800 to the room, again.
The discharge flow passages 800 are opened/closed with the discharge unit 600 at the upper portion and lower portion of the case 200 respectively, and have the air discharge openings 620 formed with the front frame 300 and the case 200.
Unexplained reference symbols in the drawings are a fan bearing unit 221, a holding projection 523, a stopper 524, a discharge unit main frame 630, a discharge panel guide unit 650, an opening/closing guide 1000, an insertion slot, and drain pan 1700.
The operation of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described.
The plurality of front panels 400 separated from each other move forward/backward by the driving units 500 horizontally, and the room air is introduced into the case 200 through the air suction openings 320 in the front of the front frame 300 following movement of the front panel 400.
In this instance, at the time the front panels 400 move forward, the plurality of suction flow passages 700 formed between the front panels 400 and the front frame 300 serve as passages for introducing the room air to the air suction openings 320.
Therefore, because the plurality of suction flow passages 700 are opened/closed as the front panels 400 are moved, air conditioning of an adequate amount of room air is made possible, an effective flow passage control becomes possible in cooling, heating and various other modes (sleeping, outing, and so on) by moving the plurality of front panels 400 backward/forward, selectively.
Especially, the driving unit which has a combination of the pinion gear 521 and the rack rail 522 connected to the front panel 400 enables stable forward/backward movement of the front panel 400 without shaking despite of an air suction flow.
Moreover, in a case the room air, introduced through the suction flow passages 700 in front of the case 200, is discharged to the air discharge openings 620 in the top and bottom of the case 200, uniform spreading of the discharged air can be induced in cooling/heating operation while an installation height of air conditioner is not limited, substantially.
In the meantime, the > shaped middle portion of the heat exchanger 210 in the case 200 reduces flow resistance in the heat exchange flow passage of the air drawn thereto, to enable smoother upward/downward discharge of the air.
The steps for mounting the driving motor 511 to the driving motor securing device 1100 will be described.
Upon placing the one side extension 5111 of the driving motor in the one side receiving portion 1120, the holding portion 1121 having an opened cut-away rear portion prevents the one side extension 5111 from falling off to forward.
In this state, if the other side extension 5111 is placed in the other side receiving portion 1130 of the driving motor securing device and a screw is fastened to the fastening hole 1131, mounting of the driving motor511 is finished, and the mounting legs 1150 of the driving motor securing device 1110 are hooked at, and secured to the seating holders 297 in the case 200.
That is, the driving motor 511 that provides driving force for moving the front panel 400 can be mounted in the case 200 quickly, and rigidly in a state the driving motor 511 is received in the driving motor securing device 1100 readily.
Moreover, the forward/backward rotation of the discharge panel 610 with reference to the case 200 to open/close the discharge flow passage 900 along a rear side of the discharge panel 610 enables indirect discharge of hot air in heating operation while the indirect hot air discharge does not interfere with an air inflow from front, thereby resolving the unpleasant feeling of the user.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The air conditioner of the present invention has the following advantages.
First, an adequate flow rate of room air can be secured at the heat exchanger, flow passage open/close control for various modes is convenient, the front panel moves stably, and uniform spreading of the air being discharged can be induced in cooling/heating operation while the air conditioner is not limited by an installation height of the air conditioner substantially.
Second, flow resistance of air introduced from a room can be reduced, to make upward/downward discharge smoother, and the indirect discharge of hot air while the indirect discharge of hot air does not interfere with the inflow of air from front resolves user unpleasant feeling.
Third, the driving unit having a combination of the rack rail connected to every separated front panel and the pinion permits close and smooth movement of the front panels in forward/backward horizontally, and accurate securing at a limited position.
Fourth, the ready and convenient mounting/dismounting and rigid securing of the driving motor securing device having the driving motor placed therein to the case permits stable operation of the front panel regardless of vibration of the driving motor.

Claims

An air conditioner comprising:
a driving source unit mounted in a case for generating driving force;

a front panel movably mounted in front of the case for opening/closing an air suction opening;

a power transmission unit for transmission of the driving force from the driving source unit to the front panel, and the power transmission unit having a body portion moving together with the front panel and a guide portion for supporting the body portion.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power transmission unit transmits the driving force so as to move the front panel in forward/backward.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power transmission unit transmits the driving force so as to move the front panel horizontally.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving source unit is a driving motor, and
the power transmission unit includes;
a pinion gear connected to a rotation shaft of the driving motor, and
a rack rail connected to the front panel, the rack rail for engagement with the pinion gear.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rack rail includes;
a body portion having a rack gear for engagement with the pinion gear,
a guide portion spaced from the body portion, and
a connection portion connected between the body portion and the guide portion.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the case further includes a guide portion supporter for supporting movement of the guide portion.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the case further includes a body portion supporter for supporting movement of the body portion.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rack rail includes a stopper at a rear end for being held by a holder on the case at a limited position of moving locus of the rack rail.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rack rail has a hinge hole at a front end.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving source unit and the power transmission unit are provided to every one of the plurality of front panels.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving source unit and the power transmission unit are provided to every one of the front panels formed as one pair in up/down direction with a space therebetween.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving source unit and the power transmission unit are provided to every one of the plurality of front panels at opposite corners thereof, respectively.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the case further includes air discharge openings in a top and/or a bottom.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power transmission units are connected with a cooperating unit such that the power transmission units are driven by one driving source unit.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power transmission unit is formed as one unit with the front panel.
An air conditioner comprising:
a case having a heat exchanger, a fan, and a driving motor mounted thereto;

a front panel in front of the case for opening/closing air suction opening;

a power transmission unit for transmitting driving force from the driving source unit to the front panel; and

a driving motor securing device having a holding portion at one side of a body thereof for preventing front direct falling off of the motor, the body portion housing the driving motor so that the driving motor securing device can be mounted to the case in a state the driving motor securing device has the motor housed therein.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the driving motor securing device has a cut-away opened rear portion of the holding portion.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the driving motor securing device further includes a fastening hole on the other side of the body.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the driving motor securing device has a narrow elasticity providing groove formed from a front end to backward in the middle of an underside thereof.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the driving motor securing device includes;
mounting legs each including a supporting portion and a bent portion.
The air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the case includes a seating holder for holding opposite sides of the driving motor securing device.