WO2006078083A2

WO2006078083A2 - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2006078083A2
Application number: PCT/KR2005/000192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kyoung Suk Lim; Jang Woo Lee; Young Ho Hong; Geun Bae Hwang; Sam Chul Ha; Chul Jin Choi; Nae Hyun Park; Jeong Hwan Koo; Dong Joo Han; Gi Dong Kwon
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2005-01-24
Filing date: 2005-01-24
Publication date: 2006-07-27
Also published as: CN101061354B; CN101061354A; WO2006078083A3

Abstract

Air conditioner of a new structure which can reduce a total size of the air conditioner, and reduce noise in operation, while providing a high air flow rate and a high air pressure. The air conditioner includes a cabinet having a plurality of air passages (100a, 100b) for drawing and discharging air, a heat exchanger (11) in the cabinet, a helical fan (13) having a cylindrical hub (132), and a plurality of blades (133) each formed on an outside circumferentical surface of the hub (132) twisted along an axis direction of the hub (132) in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub (132), for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet, a driving motor (12) under the helical fan (13) for rotating the helical fan (13) in one direction, a motor mount (18) mounted in the cabinet for supporting the driving motor (12), and an air guide (19) over the helical fan (13) for guiding air from the helical fan (13) to flow to an outer side.

Description

AIR CONDITIONER Technical Field

The piesent invention relates to air conditioners, and more particularly, to an air

conditioner of a new structure which can reduce a total size of the air conditioner, and

reduce noise in operation, while providing a high air flow rate and a high air pressure.

Background Art

As well known, the air conditioner is an appliance which provides people a

comfortable temperature environment by cooling a room with heat of vaporization of

refrigerant absorbed when the refrigerant is vaporized at a vaporizer again after

refrigerant gas compressed at a compressor is liquefied at a condenser, and

depressurized through an expansion valve, or by heating the room by performing such a

refrigerating cycle, reversely.

Of the air conditioners, a package type air conditioner is installed on a floor of a

room to cool a comparatively large space. Structure and operation of a related art

package type air conditioner will be described, with reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, an indoor unit of the related art package type air

conditioner is provided with a heat exchanger 6 on an upper side of an inside of a

cabinet 1 having an air inlet 2 in a lower portion and an air outlet 3 in an upper portion

for cooling air, and a centrifugal fan 4 under the heat exchanger 6 for drawing air

through the air inlet 2 and blowing the air toward, the heat exchanger 6.

Accordingly, as the centrifugal fan 4 is put into operation, air is introduced into

the cabinet 1 through the air inlet 2 in the lower portion of the cabinet I₃ passes through,

and heat exchanged to be cooled down at, the heat exchanger 6 over the centrifugal fan 4, and discharged into the room through the air outlet 3 in the upper portion of the

cabinet 1.

Though not shown, an outdoor unit of the package type air conditioner is

provided with a compressor for compressing the refrigerant to high temperature and

high pressure, and discharging the refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the

refrigerant from the compressor, and a fan.

In the meantime, as means for blowing air, the related art package type air

conditioner is provided with the centrifugal fan, such as a sirocco fan, or a turbo fan.

The centrifugal fans have a very difficult problem in making small sized and

slim air conditioner because the centrifugal fans have a flow characteristic in which an

air inlet direction and an air discharge direction are perpendicular to each other, to

impose much restriction on position and direction of installation of the centrifugal fan in

designing the air conditioner, and to require a larger fan if a fan with a high flow rate is

required.

Of course, though an axial fan, which draws and discharges air in an axial

direction, almost does not impose iestriction on position and direction of installation of

the fan, the requirement for an increased diameter of the axial fan for obtaining an air

pressure of higher than a certain level coming from a lower air pressure of the axial fan

increases a size of the air conditioner at the end. Therefore, no axial fan is used in the

indoor unit of a general air conditioner.

In the meantime, in order to solve such a problem, Japanese Laid Open patent

No. H8-216229 (laid open on Aug. 27, 1996) discloses a fan for an air conditioner, and

a method for fabricating the same, in which a plurality of blades are arranged along an elongated cylindrical hub in a helix or screw shape, to increase the air pressure and air

flow rate even if the air flow direction is axial.

However, the overlapped, and continuous blade arrangement of the air

conditioner fan causes difficult in fabrication of the fan by a general injection molding,

to require a special extrusion molding, which is not favorable for mass production, and

to increase a production cost of the air conditioner.

Thus, because the use of the centrifugal type fan, such as the sirocco fan or the

turbo fan, as means for blowing air not only imposes restriction on position and

direction of installation of the centrifugal fan in designing the air conditioner, but also

requires a larger sized fan in proportion to a requirement for a higher air flow rate,

fabrication of a small sized and slim air conditioner has a very difficult problem.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner of a new

structure which can reduce a total size of the air conditioner, and reduce noise in

operation, while providing a high air flow rate and a high air pressure.

Particularly, the object of the present invention lies on providing a new air

conditioner which has reduced total noise and an improved air blowing characteristics

by employing a high efficiency fan which can provide an air flow characteristic of high

flow rate and high air pressure, as well as by improving an inside structure of the air

conditioner effectively to optimize fan related surrounding structures.

The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing an air

conditioner including a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and

discharging air, a heat exchanger in the cabinet, a helical fan having a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub

twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other

end of the hub, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction

of the cabinet, a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction, a motor mount mounted in the cabinet for supporting the driving motor, and

an air guide over the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer

side.

In another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a cabinet

having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air, a heat exchanger in

the cabinet, a helical fan having a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed

on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the

hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub such that the blade has a

helix index of 2, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction

of the cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan for increasing a static pressure, a

driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one direction, a motor

mount for supporting the driving motor, and an air guide over the helical fan for guiding

air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

helix index of 2 and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°. for forced

blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet; an orifice on

^• arpiirid the helical fan, a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating_.the helical fan

in one direction, a motor mount for supporting the driving motor, and an air guide over

the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

helix index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an angle

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades- within a range of 30°. and there are

dimples in a back surface thereof, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a

vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan, a driving motor

under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one direction, a motor mount for

supporting the driving motor, and an air guide over the helical fan for guiding air from

the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

In another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes ^'a cabinet

helix index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the blade

having dimples in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back

surface of the blade, and a rib on the back surface in a length direction thereof for

serving as a sinew of the blade, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a

under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one direction, a motor mount under

the driving motor for supporting the driving motor, and an air guide over the helical fan

for guiding air fiom the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°. the blade

surface of the blade, a rib on the back surface in a length direction thereof for serving as

a sinew of the blade, and a raised portion of which thickness is formed thicker than

other portion at an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower edge

toward which the air flows, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a

the driving motor for supporting the driving motor, and an air guide over the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

having a plurality of air passages for drawing and dischaiging air, a heat exchanger in

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the blade

vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan, resonators on an

outside surface of the orifice for extracting waves of specific frequencies by using

resonance, a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction, a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor, and

side.

on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub such that the blade has a

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades λvithin a range of 30°, the blade

a sinew of the blade, and a raised portion of which thickness is foπned thicker than

other portion at an upper surface and/or a lowei surface of the inlet side of a lower edge

vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan. resonators on an

direction, a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor, an

air guide over the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side,

and a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for preventing

the backflow toward a center portion of the fan from occurring in a space between the

helical fan and the air guide.

having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air. a heat exchanger in

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the blade having dimples in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back

•a sinew of the. blade, and- a raised portion of which thickness is formed, thicker than

other portion -at an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower edge

outside surface of the orifice for extracting waves of specific frequencies by. using

air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for guiding air

from the helical fan to flow to an outer side, the air guide having an inlet and an outlet

in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area very small

compared to an inside space, and a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of

the air guide, for preventing the backflow toward a center portion of the fan from

occurring in a space between the helical fan and the air guide.

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, for forced

blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan. resonators on an outside surface of the orifice for extracting

waves of specific frequencies by using resonance, a driving motor under the helical fan

for rotating the helical fan in one direction, a motor mount under the driving motor for

the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

the cabinet, a helical fan having an hourglass shaped hub. and a plurality of blades each

formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hourglass shaped hub twisted along

an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub

such that the blade has a helix index of 2. and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is

greater than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range

of 30°, the blade having dimples in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents

tailing the back surface of the blade, a rib on the back surface in a length direction

thereof for serving as a sinew of the blade, and a raised portion of which thickness is

formed thicker than other portion at an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet

side of a lower edge toward which the air flows, for forced blow of air in an axial

direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan,

resonators on an outside surface of the orifice for extracting waves of specific

frequencies by using resonance, a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the

helical fan in one direction, a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the

driving motor, an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical

fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side, the air guide having an inlet and an outlet in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area

very small compared to an inside space, and a cone shaped air guide at a center of an

underside of the air guide, for preventing the backflow toward a center portion of the

fan from occurring in a space between the helical fan and the air guide.

the cabinet, a helical fan having a cone shaped hub, and a plurality of blades each

formed on an outside circumferential surface of the cone shaped hub twisted along an

axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub such

that the blade has a helix index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater

than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°,

the blade having dimples in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing

the back surface of the blade, a rib on the back surface in a length direction thereof for

serving as a sinew of the blade, and a raised portion of which thickness is formed

thicker than other portion at an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a

lower edge toward which the air flows, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which

is a vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan, resonators on

an outside surface of the orifice for extracting waves of specific frequencies by using

resonance. a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area very small compared to an inside space, and a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of

the air guide, for preventing the backfiow toward a center portion of the fan from

• • ^• - occurring in a space between the helical fan and the air -guide. . _. . _{. .} • •. _. •_.

5 having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air, a heat exchanger in

the cabinet, a helical fan of a multi-staged structure by thermal fusion, the ^'helical fan

having a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on an outside

circumferential surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix

starting from one end to the other end of the hub, and extended beyond an upper end

10 and a lower end of the hub in a vertical direction by predetermined lengths such that the

blade has a helix index of 2. and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an

angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the

blade having dimples in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the

back surface of the blade, a rib on the back surface in a length direction thereof for

15 serving as a sinew of the blade, and a raised portion of which thickness is formed

20 resonance, a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

from the helical fan to flow to an outer side, the air guide having an inlet and an outlet in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area very small

the air guide, for preventing the backflow^' toward a center portion of the fan from

occurring in a space between the helical fan and^' the air guide.

having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air, a heat exchanger in

the cabinet, a helical fan of a multi-staged structure by thermal fusion, the helical fan

having a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on an outside

and a lower end of the hub in a vertical direction by predetermined lengths such that the

blade has a helix index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is smaller than an

angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades, the blade having dimples in a

back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back surface of the blade,

a rib on the back surface in a length direction thereof for serving as a sinew of the blade,

and a raised portion of which thickness is formed thicker than other portion at an upper

surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower edge toward which the air

flows, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the

cabinet, an orifice on around the helical fan, resonators on an outside surface of the

orifice for extracting waves of specific frequencies by using resonance, a driving motor

the driving motor for supporting the driving motor, an air guide of a vacant box shape

with rounded edges over the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side, the air guide having an inlet and an outlet in upper and lower surfaces each

having a flow passage sectional area very small compared to an inside space, and a cone

shaped air guide ^'at -a center .of an underside of the air guide, for preventing the backflow

toward a center portion of the fan from occurring in a space^' between the helical fan and

the air guide.

the cabinet, a helical fan including a main helical fan having a cylindrical hub, and a

plurality of blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the

hub, and extended beyond an upper end and a lower end of the hub in a vertical

direction by predetermined lengths, and a sub-helical fan of the same shape built-up

with the main helical fan. such that the blade has a helix index of 2, and a blade rotation

angle α of the blade is greater than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of

blades within a range of 30°, the blade having dimples in a back surface thereof for

eliminating eddy currents tailing the back surface of the blade, a rib on the back surface

in a length direction thereof for serving as a sinew of the blade, and a raised portion of

which thickness is formed thicker than other portion at an upper surface and/or a lower

surface of the inlet side of a lower edge toward which the air flows, for forced blow of

air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on around

the helical fan, resonators on an outside surface of the orifice for extracting waves of

specific frequencies by using resonance, a driving motor under the helical fan for

rotating the helical fan in one direction, a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor, an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges

over the helical fan for guiding ah from the helical fan to flow to an outer side, the air

guide having an inlet and an outlet in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow

passage sectional area very small compared to an inside space, and a cone shaped air

guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for preventing the backflow toward a

center portion of the fan from occurring in a space between the helical fan and the air

guide.

hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, and extended beyond an

upper end and a lower end of the hub in a vertical direction by predetermined lengths,

and a cylindrical housing on around the blades formed as one body with the blades,

such that the blade has a helix index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is

resonators on an outside surface of the orifice for extracting waves of specific frequencies by using resonance, a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the

fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side, the air guide having an

inlet and an outlet in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area

fan from occurring in a space between the helical fan and the air guide.

having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air. a heat exchanger in

hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, such that the blade has a

having a constant width in an axial direction, for forced blow of air in an axial direction

which is a vertical direction of the cabinet, a driving motor under the helical fan for

rotating the helical fan in one direction, a motor mount under the driving motor for

supporting the driving motor, a motor supporter between a driving motor and a motor

mount, having a multi-staged motor coupling portion extended in an axial direction of

the motor for raising a position of the motor, and an air guide over the helical fan for

guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

In another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air, a heat exchanger in

on an outside circumferential surface of the -hub twisted along an axis direction of the

the driving motor for supporting the driving motor, and a motor supporter between a

driving motor and a motor mount, having a multi-staged motor coupling portion

extended in an axial direction of the motor for raising a position of the motor.

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the blade having a constant width in an axial direction, for forced blow of air in an axial direction

which is a vertical direction of the cabinet, a driving motor for rotating the helical fan in

one- direction, a motor mount /under the driying motor, for supporting the driving motor,

a motor supporter between a driving motor and a motor mount, having a multi-staged

motor coupling portion extended in an axial direction of the motor for raising a position

of the motor, and an air guide over the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to

flow to an outer side.

blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet, an orifice on

around the helical fan, resonators on an outside surface of the orifice for extracting

supporting the driving motor, and a motor supporter between a driving motor and a

motor mount, having a multi-staged motor coupling portion extended in an axial

direction of the motor for raising a position of the motor, and an air guide over the

helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side. Brief Description of Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further

understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together

with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates a key part section of a related art air conditioner;

FIG 2 illustrates a key part section of an air conditioner in accordance with a

preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment fan applicable to the

aii conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a key part section showing a coupled state of the fan in FIG 3

with a motor;

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the fan in FIG. 3:

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an orifice;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate front and side views of the orifice in FIG. 6,

respectively;

FIG. 8 illustrates a reference perspective view for explaining a shape of

resonator applicable to an orifice;

FIG. 9 illustrates a reference graph showing an effect of application of a

resonator;

FIG. 10 illustrates a reference graph for explaining an effect of application of a

sound absorbing material to an inside of a resonator;

FIG. 11 illustrates a reference perspective view showing a structure both for

preventing reverse flow to a center portion of air flow discharged from a helical fan, and reducing noise;

FIG. 12 illustrates a reference diagram for explaining a principle of a muffler

^■ effect .performed by an air guide .of the .present invention; ■.

FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a discharge head and an air guide in

accordance with another preferred embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a motor mount applicable to the air

conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vibration insulating

member in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 illustrates a reference graph showing an effect of application of the

vibration insulating material of FIG. 14;

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a structure of an outlet grill of a discharge head,

Wherein,

FIG. 17A illustrates a perspective view of a state before a discharge head rises,

and

FIG. 17B illustrates a perspective view of an exposed state after a discharge

head rises;

FIG. 18 illustrates a reference graph showing an effect of application of a top

grill;

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment fan with an

hourglass shaped hub applicable to the air conditioner in FIG. 2; FIG. 21 illustrates a perspective view of a fourth embodiment fan with a

truncated cone shaped hub applicable to the air conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 22 illustrates a perspective view of a fifth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 23 illustrates a plan view of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 illustrates a front view of FIG 22:

FIG. 25 illustrates a side view of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 illustrates a perspective view of a sixth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 27 illustrates a plan view of FIG. 26:

FIG. 28 illustrates a front view of FIG. 26:

FIG. 29 illustrates a side view of FIG 26;

FIG. 30 illustrates a perspective view of a seventh embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 31 illustrates a plan view of FIG. 30:

FIG. 32 illustrates a front view of FIG. 30;

FIG. 33 illustrates a side view of FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 illustrates an exploded perspective view of FIG. 30;

FIG. 35 illustrates a perspective view of an eighth embodiment fan with a

cylindrical housing attached to an outer perimeter thereof applicable to the air

conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 36 illustrates a front view of FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 illustrates a perspective viev/ of a ninth embodiment fan applicable to the air conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 S illustrates a perspective view of a tenth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2;

FIG. 39 illustrates a perspective view of an^" eleventh embodiment fan applicable

to the air conditioner in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 40 illustrates a perspective view of a twelfth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Preferred embodiments of the air conditioner of the present invention will be

described in details with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 2 illustrates a key part

section of an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present

invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the air conditioner includes a cabinet 10 having a plurality

of air passages 10Oa₃ and 100b in upper and lower portions respectively, and a heat

exchanger 11 of a substantially V shape under the fan inside of the cabinet 10.

The air passages 100a in a lower portion of the cabinet 10 are formed oppositely,

in a front and a rear or a left and a right of the cabinet 10, so that air can flow each

portion of the V shaped heat exchanger 11.

In the cabinet 10, there are a helical fan 13 and a driving motor 12 for forced

drawing of an external air through one of the air passages 100a, and 10Ob₃ and blowing

the air to flow in a vertical axis direction to the other one of the air passages 100a, and

100b.

The driving motor 12 is fixedly secured to an inside of the cabinet with a motor mount 18, and the helical fan 13 is rotatably coupled to a rotation shaft 12a of the motor.

Over the helical fan 13, there is a box shaped air guide 19 for blocking air

discharged in a circumferential direction from the helical fan from flowing in a reverse

direction through a center portion, so ^'as to guide the air to flow upward smoothly.

It is preferable that the driving motor 12 is mounted such that an upper portion

thereof is placed inside of a hub 132 of the helical fan 13 to a certain extent. That is, a

top of a body of the driving motor 12 is positioned inside of the hub 132, such that the

top is positioned higher than a bottom of the hub.

Because the driving motor 12 is positioned inside of a lower portion of the

helical fan 13, this enables to put a shaft coupling portion of the helical fan 13 and the

driving motor 12 at a center of gravity of the helical fan 13, to permit to reduce

vibration at the time of rotation of the helical fan 13, and a total height of the air

conditioner.

The air guide 19 also serves as a muffler for reducing noise, of which detailed

structure and operation will be described later.

Individual units of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described

in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the helical fan 13 applicable to the air conditioner of

the present invention, called also as 'taegeuk fan' includes an elongated cylindrical hub

132 fixedly secured to a rotation shaft 12a of the driving motor 12, and two blades 133

each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub 132 twisted along a helical

line around an axis of the hub 132 starting from one end to the other end of the hub 132

and extended beyond the hub 132 both in upward and downward. The blade 133 has a shape in which a portion of the blade 133 starting from a

point in contact with a bottom of the hub 132 to an outer tip of a lower edge of the blade

^{• •} .133 is cut away, such .that the. lower end of the blade 133 has a shape of a pointed

triangle, substantially. " ^{' • •}■

As can be known from the plan view of FIG. 5, the helical fan 13 of the present

invention has a blade rotation angle 'α', an angle of turn of the blade 133 starting from

a point the blade 133 starts to an end thereof when the fan is seen from above, of approx.

210°. In this instance, in the plan view, the blade 133 has no area overlapped or

interfered with an opposite blade 133.

That is, even though the fan has the blade rotation angle of approx. 210° which

is a maximum angle one blade draws in a circumferential direction greater than 180°,

the blades 133 of the helical fan 13 of the present invention are formed such that the

blades 133 have no area overlapped or interfered with each other for good workability

in fabrication of the fan.

If the blade rotation angle 'α' becomes greater to 210°, an exit angle of air

becomes greater, to reduce noise at an end edge of the blade compared to a case the

blade rotation angle 'α' is 180°.

In the meantime, the blade 133 is formed in a fashion in which the blade 133

draws a helix on an outside circumferential surface of the hub 132, wherein the helix a

portion of the blade 133 in contact with the outside circumference of the hub 132 draws

can be defined as ^cy=xh' when the hub is developed, where ^cy' denotes a dependent

variable, 'x' denotes an independent variable, ^ch' denotes a helix index, an axis direction

of the hub is defined as an X-axis direction, and a circumferential direction of the hub is defined as a Y-axis direction).

The helical fan 13 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the

present invention is formed such that a helix index, a value expressing a twist angle of

the blade 133 with respect to the axis direction of the hub, is within a iange of 1.8 ~ 2.2,

preferably 2.

That is, the greater the helix index, the more the blade is tilted with iespect to

the axis line of the hub 132, which implies an increased air flow rate as the blade pushes

up more air in the axis line direction.

Moreover, if the helix index becomes greater, the air flow rate can be increased

even though noise coming from friction with air increases slightly at the same rotation

speed, and when it is intended to keep the same air flow rate without increasing the air

flow rate, the rotation speed may be reduced, which reduces noise of the motor,

resulting in no increase of total system noise, at the end.

If a hub ratio Dh/Db is defined as a ratio of a diameter 'Dh' of the hub to a

diameter 'Db' of the blade 133, the helical fan 13 has the best air pressure, and air flow

rate as the hub ratio of 0.5 when a width of the blade is large.

Moreover, as a result of test, it is known that the helical fan 13 shows a good

flow characteristic when a tilting angle of the blade 133 is increased gradually as the

blade 133 goes from an inlet to an exit such that the exit angle θe is grater than an inlet

angle θi.

Especially, as the result of test, it is known that noise is the lowest when the

inlet angle θi of the blade 133 is approx. 35° if other conditions are the same, because

an incident angle of air almost conforms to a stream line, when occurrence of turbulence is minimized.

The exit angle θe is formed to be 45°, to discharge air at 45°, which flows along

a circumferential direction, thereafter. •

In the meantime, the blade 133 has a ^'width direction section of ^'an 'S'^' or a

division line of a 'taegeuk pattern' substantially, and it is preferable that the section is

stretched nearly to a straight line (i.e., a shape curvature is reduced) gradually as the

blade 133 goes from an upper side to a lower side, to make air flow at the inlet side

smooth, and to accumulate and discharge the air from the inlet side at the exit side, to

raise a static pressure of the discharged air.

Moz"eover, an advantage of an improved vibration characteristic can be obtained

at a level of 1 : 1.5 thickness ratio th : tb of the hub 132 to the blade 133.

Forming the thickness of the blade 133, not constant, but thicker at a portion

near to the hub 132 than the tip at an outer side in a radial direction of the hub 132 is

favorable in view of vibration, because center of gravity of the blade 133 is moved to an

inner side in the radial direction, to reduce moment generated at the time of rotation of

the fan, that reduces the vibration.

In the meantime, the helical fan 13 of the embodiment has a rib 136 on a back

surface of the blade 133 along a length direction for serving as a sinew. The rib 136 has

a length at least one third of a length of the blade 133, and is formed on a side near to

the tip with reference to a center of the width of the blade in a direction the same with a

twisted direction of the blade or similar thereto.

If the thickness of the blade 133 is formed thin for making weight of the helical

fan lighter, the blade vibrates at the time of rotation of the blade. The rib 136 on the back surface of the blade 133 reinforces an overall strength of the blade 133 to prevent

the vibration from occuπing, and to pi event the blade from resonating with other

components of the air conditioner

The blade 133 has a raised portion 137 of which thickness is formed thicker

than other portion at an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower

edge towaid which the air flows, for, alike the rib 136 on the back surface of the blade

133, preventing the blade 133 from vibrating due to the air flowing thereto as a main

purpose, and addition to this, preventing an eddy current from occurring in a region in

rear of the raised portion 137 of the blade 133 toward which the air flows initially even

if the fan rotates at a speed higher than lOOOrpm.

That is, even though vibration and noise is liable to occur at a portion the

thickness is formed thin at an inside surface of the cut away portion formed starting

from a point in contact with a bottom of the hub 132 to an outer tip of a lower edge of

the blade 133 by air flows thereto, the noise and vibration can be reduced by providing

the thick raised portion 137 near to the air inlet of the lower edge of the blade 133 to

break the eddy current to make a boundary layer thinner.

In the meantime, in the back surface of the helical blade 133, there are dimples

138 like a golf ball, for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back surface of the blade.

Turbulence occurred by the dimples 138 on a lower side of the back surface of the blade

133 causes active mix of fluid, to prevent change of air flow until the air leaves the

blade 133, which reduces a form resistance, to reduce noise.

Even though preferred embodiment of the dimple 138 is circular, the dimple

138 may have a variety of shapes, such as a pentagon, square, a polygon close to a circle, and so on, and, because the shape, number, depth, and diameter of the dimple influence

to the form resistance substantially, it is required to design the dimple taking above

factors into account, adequately. In general, the more the dimple, the more favorable for

elimination of the eddy current, there are cases in the other way around.

It is required that the helical fan 13 of the embodiment takes an overall pattern

of the dimples 138 in the back surface of the blade 133, which is a negative pressure

surface, into account appropriately, by making spaces of columns and/or rows of the

dimples 138 the same or to differ along a length direction of the blade 133.

For reference, depending on a Reynolds number, a fluid low may be laminar or

turbulent, and the Reynolds number which can reduce the form resistance occurred by a

pressure difference on front and back surfaces of the blade caused by the dimple in the

back surface of the blade 133 is in a range of approx. 40,000 ~ 400,000. A Reynolds

number greater or smaller than above range makes a total resistance greater, on the

contrary.

In the meantime, the hub 132 has a horizontal coupling plate 134 at a middle

portion for coupling with an end portion of a rotation shaft 12a coupled with a motor. It

is preferable that coupling plate 134 has a substantially flat central portion and an

upwardly curved outer portion, for reinforcement of strength.

On an upper surface and lower surface of the coupling plate 134, there are a

plurality of reinforcing ribs 135 extended in a radial direction and formed as one body

with the coupling plate 134, to reinforce strength of the coupling plate 135, further. It is

preferable that the reinforcing ribs 135 are symmetry with respect to the coupling plate

134, and each has a height which becomes the greater as it goes from an inner side to an outer side.

Though two blades 133 are formed at opposite positions, different from this,

two or more than two blades may be formed at regular intervals along a circumferential

direction, which configurations will be noticed in following embodiments.

As the helical fan 13 of the embodiment rotates, air enters to the inlet side at the

lower edge of the blade 133, flows along surfaces of the hub 132 and the blade 133 in

the axis direction, and discharged through the exit side at a top edge thereof.

In the meantime, there are cylindrical orifice 15 with opened top and bottom on

an right outside of the helical fan 13 to surround the outside of the helical fan 13, for

raising a static pressure of the air moved by the helical fan 13, and serving as a passage

for blowing a fixed rate of air, continuously.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, it is preferable that the orifice 15 is formed as one

body symmetry on left and right sides of a rotation shaft 12a substantially, each with

edge portions thereof in contact with an inside wall of the cabinet 10.

The orifice 15 has a substantially straight middle portion, and enlarged upper

and lower portions, each of which is enlarged outwardly gradually, through which the

air is introduced and discharged.

It is preferable that each of the enlarged portions is curved at a predetermined

curvature, and it is more preferable that a radius of curvature of the inlet portion of the

orifice 15 is greater than a radius of curvature of the exit portion of the orifice 15.

Referring to FIG. 1, on an outside surface of the orifice 15, there are resonators

151 each for extracting a specific frequency of wave by using resonance, for reducing

noise occurred at a specific frequency band caused by eddy currents at a fan inlet edge. That is, noise is caused by the eddy currents at a lower side of the orifice 15,

which has different frequency characteristics at different points if the noise is measured

at the outside surface of the orifice 15. Taking this into account, if resonators designed

to meet respective noise characteristics are mounted at positions where noises of

specific frequency bands occur, noises of relevant frequency bands can be reduced.

A size of the resonator varies with the position of mounting of the resonator,

because, if frequency spectrums of different points of the outside of the orifice are

analyzed, it can be noted that frequencies at which the noise occur vary with the points,

and the resonators are designed in different sizes according to the frequency

characteristics.

Referring to FIG. 8, since the resonator 151, serving as a dynamic vibration

absorber, has a frequency band intended to tune fixed according to width, height, an

depth of the resonator 151, by designing the resonator 151 with above design

parameters fixed appropriately, noise of a specific frequency band can be reduced.

effectively.

FIG. 9 illustrates a graph showing a noise reduction effect in a case the

resonator 151 is applied to a portion where noise of a specific frequency band occurs,

comparing noise levels before and after application of the resonator 151.

Referring to FIG. 10, if a sound absorbing material (not shown) is applied to an

inside of the resonator 151, a noise reduction effect at a wider band can be expected.

The sound absorbing material may be glass wool, sponge, fire retarding fabric, and so

on in a form one or two or more than two thereof are combined.

In the meantime, FIG. 11 illustrates a reference perspective view showing an air guide 19 both for preventing backflow to a center portion of air discharged from a

helical fan, and reducing noise.

The air conditioner of the present invention has a box shaped air guide 19

mounted in a space over the helical fan 13 for maintaining air flow discharged in a

circumferential direction from the helical fan until the air is discharged through a

discharge head 20.

That is, the air is discharged from the helical fan 13 at 45°, and flows along a

circumferential direction, with a fast flow speed at an outer side and almost no flow at a

center side.

According to this, if there is no air guide 19, an intense vortex is formed in a

space before the air is discharged through the dischaige head 20, to cause a backflow in

which the outer air flow fails to rise, but flows to a center portion, to cause a flow path

loss.

Taking this into account, the air conditioner of the present invention has the air

guide 19 of a vacant box having rounded edges mounted thereon for maintaining a flow

path to an outer side, for reducing the flow path loss caused by the backflow.

In the meantime, once the air guide 19 is mounted, though the flow path loss

can be reduced thus, a backflow in a space between the helical fan 13 and the air guide

19 is unavoidable. The present invention provides a cone shaped air guide 19 at a center

of an underside of the air guide 19 again, for preventing the backflow from occurring in

the space.

That is, the cone shaped air guide 190 in the space between the helical fan 13

and the air guide 19 guides the air from the fan toward the discharge head 20 through the outer side smoothly. Though it is the most preferable that the cone shaped air guide

190 has a shape of a truncated cone, it may have a shape of a simple cone. If it is not a

cone.shape,- but a cylindrical shape, almost the sanje effect can be expected.

In the meantime, the air guide also serves as a muffler which reduces 'noise,

under a principle of an expansion type silencer in which noise is made lower by

diffusing the noise from a small tube to a large space.

According to this, the air guide 19 of the present invention has an inlet 191 and

an outlet 192 in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area

very small compared to a flow passage sectional area (see FIG. 13 for the outlet 191 in

the top surface).

Accordingly, the air conditioner of the present invention can reduce a BPF

(Blade Passing Frequency) noise caused by a muffler effect of the air guide 19 at a

particular frequency band.

In the meantime, though the air pressure drops if a fan is provided with a

muffler, the air conditioner of the present invention has no air pressure drop because the

air is discharged from the helical fan 13 at 45°, and flows along a circumferential

direction, so as to apply the air pressure to an outer side of the air guide 19 mostly.

Contrary to this, the air guide 19 fixes noise at a center portion thereof.

FIG. 12 illustrates a reference diagram for explaining a principle of a muffler

effect performed by the air guide 19 of the present invention. In general, the greater a

difference between an inlet sectional area and an inside sectional area, the higher the

noise reduction effect, and major factors of the noise reduction performance are a length

and a sectional area ratio of the muffler. In the meantime, FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of the discharge head 20

and the air guide 19 in accordance with another preferred embodiment, wherein a

structure is shown in which the discharge head is movable in up/down direction along

guide grooves 195 in the air guide 19, still providing the muffler effect.

If the stiucture has the air guide 19 formed only with the guide grooves 195

simply along which the discharge head 20 moves up/down, though no adequate muffler

effect can be expected, as shown in FIG 13, if a leakage preventing member (not

shown) is applied to each of the guide grooves 195 for preventing air from leaking

while making the discharge head 20 moves up/down along the guide grooves 195,

moving up/down of the discharge head 20 is possible while providing the muffler effect.

The leakage preventing member may have a shape of a curtain having a cut

middle portion, oi an elastic dense brush shape so that a guide rod 210 of the discharge

head 20 can move up/down therethrough and a portion thereof having the guide rod 210

just passed is closed.

In above description, though, as driving means and power transmission means

for moving up/down the discharge head 20. there may be a variety of systems, such as a

ball screw system, or pinion and rack system, and as moving up/down guide means for

the discharge head 2O₃ there may be a variety of structures too, detailed description and

drawing will be omitted.

In the meantime, FIG. 14 illustrates a structure of a motor mount 18, including a

circular motor supporter mounting portion 181 for fixedly securing a motor supporter

21 thereto, four supporting arms 184a ~ 184d extended from the motor supporter

mounting portion 181 in four directions outwardly, and an outer frame 185 connected between outer ends of the supporting arms 184a ~ 184d.

The motor supporter 21, having a multi-staged motor coupling portion 212

extended in a motor axis direction, is secured to the motor supporter mounting portion

ISl of the motor mount 18. That is, there is a motor supporter 21 between the driving

motor 12 and the motor mount 18.

When seen from above, the motor mount 18, having the motor supporter

mounting portion 181, the supporting arms 184a, 184b, 184c, and 184d, and the outer

frame 185, forms a square.

The motor supporter mounting portion 181 has fastening holes 181a for

fastening fastening members, and the motor mount 18, constructed from relatively thin

steel plate compared to the motor supporter 21, has beads 181b of a cross shape on a

surface of the motor supporter mounting portion 181 of the motor mount 18, for

reinforcing strength.

There are reinforcing ribs 188 formed perpendicular to a horizontal plane at the

motor supporter mounting portion 181, the supporting arms 184a ~ 184d, and the outer

frame 185.

In the meantime, the motor supporter 21 mounted on the motor supporter

mounting portion 181, having the multi-staged motor coupling portion 212, has a cross

shaped slot 211 in conformity to the cross shaped bead on the motor supporter mounting

portion 181 in bottom surface of the motor supporter 21.

The cross shaped slot 211 in the bottom surface of the motor supporter 21 has

anti-vibration rubbers 183 of EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber) or an SBR (styrene

butadiene rubber) at ends thereof. The anti-vibration rubber 183 has a hourglass shape, and a pass through hole at a center for passing a fastening member.

The anti-vibration rubber 183 is mounted at an outermost portion of the cross

shaped slot 211, for suppressing vibiation transmitted to the motor mount 18 caused by

the driven motor.

Together with this, the multi-staged motor coupling portion 212 has fastening

holes 212a in correspondence to the fastening hole 120a in the leg 120 extended

downward from the motor 12.

A process for mounting the driving motor in the air conditioner of the present

invention will be described ,

At fust, the and- vibration member 183 is placed in a circular hole portion at the

end of the cross shaped slot 211 in the bottom surface of the motor supporter 21. Then,

the motor supporter 21 is seated on the motor supporter mounting portion 181 of the

motor mount 18, and fastening members, such as bolts, are fastened so as to pass

through the anti-vibration rubbers 183, for fixedly securing the motor supporter 21 to

the motor mount 18.

Next, in a state lower ends of legs extended downward from the driving motor

12 are placed on stepped portions of the motor supporters 21 respectively, fastening

members are fastened to pass through the fastening holes in the legs of the driving

motor 12 and the coupling portion 212 of the motor supporter 21 corresponding thereto,

for fixedly securing the driving motor 12 to the motor supporter 21.

According to above motor mount structure of the present invention, the space

between the helical fan 13 and the motor mount 18 is optimized, to provide an effect of

reducing aforementioned BPF noise. Having a structure in which the motor mount is coupled to the motor supporter

21, not in a state bent in a horizontal direction, but in a vertical state, the motor mount

of the present invention can maximize a horizontal distance between the helical fan 13

and the leg, which minimizes noise caused by friction with end portions of the fan.

Moreover, the leg of the driving motor 12 is, not bent in the horizontal direction,

but vertical, to make a height of an underside surface of the driving motor 12 higher by

a height 'h' (see FIG. 14) to the stepped portion of the motor supporter 21, to secure an

adequate space under the fan, that enables reduction of BPF noise over a wide

frequency band.

In the meantime, according to the motor mount 18 structure of the embodiment,

since the circular motor supporter mounting portion 181 for fixedly securing the motor

supporter 21 thereto has an area almost the same with the driving motor 12 which is

minimum, to minimize interference with air flowing into the helical fan 13, the noise

caused by the interference with the air flow can be reduced.

Of course, in order to reduce vibration occurred during operation of the driving

motor 12, a vibration absorbing packing (not shown) of rubber or synthetic resin can be

mounted vertically between an inside surface of the leg 120 of the driving motor 12 and

an outside surface of the motor coupling portion 212 of the motor supporter 21.

.Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 14, the air conditioner of the present invention has

a vibration insulating member 22 between the rotation shaft 12a of the driving motor 12

and the fan coupling portion for preventing anomalous noise caused by harmonics.

In a noise occurring process, if harmonics which are sinusoidal waves with

frequencies integer times of a basic frequency enter into a motor, a pulsation occurs, to make a motor shaft to vibrate finely, which is transmitted to the fan to cause anomalous

noise if the motor shaft is coupled to the fan without the vibration insulating member. It

can be known that the anomalous noise iises sharply at 120, 280, and 420Hz which are

integer times of 60Hz₃ the basic frequency, and particularly shows apeak at 480Hz.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 15, by placing a vibration insulating member of a

non-circular shape in view of geometry, having a metal washer 221 with a shaft pass

through hole 221a at a center portion, and a rubber 222 with a metal washer receiving

recess 222b and a shaft pass through hole 222a on a top and a bottom of the hub of the

helical fan 13 coupled to the rotation shaft 12a, idling of the vibration insulating

member during rotation of the motor shaft and the fan is prevented, as well as vibration

transmission to the fan is cut off effectively, to prevent the anomalous noise caused by

the harmonics.

As the rubber 222 of EPDM (ethylene propylene rubbei) having intermediate

properties of natural rubber and SBR (styrcne butadiene rubber) in view of physical

properties, and stable in view of chemical properties, has a boss portion to be placed in

the center portion of the hub 132 of the helical fan 13, and a flange portion projected

from one end of the boss portion so as to form a receiving recess for receiving a non-

circular metal washer 221.

The non-circular metal washer 221 is required because, if the vibration

insulating member has the rubber 222 only, idling of the rubber is liable to occur during

rotation of the motor shaft and the fan.

That is, in a state no metal washer 221 is placed in the center portion of the

coupling plate, a center portion of the coupling plate 134 the rotation shaft 12a is connected thereto can be worn down as the rotation shaft 12a rotates at a high speed,

and when the rotation shaft 12a rotates, noise can be increased as the hub 132 oscillates

finely due to a curve of an inside circumferential surface of the center portion of the

coupling plate 134 formed at the time of injection molding of the fan. If only the metal

washer is placed, vibration of the motor rotation shaft 12a is transmitted to the fan as it

is, to cause the anomalous noise when the harmonics enters.

However, according to the present invention, the placing of the vibration

insulating member having the non-circular metal washer 221 and the rubber 222 on

each of the top and bottom sides of the coupling plate 134 enables to prevent the idling

of the vibration insulating members dm ing rotation of the motor shaft and the fan when

the rotation shaft 12a rotates at a high speed, and to prevent the anomalous noise caused

by the harmonics by cutting off transmission of vibration to the fan, effectively.

Though placing of the vibration insulating member on both of the top and the

bottom or the coupling plate 134 is favorable for preventing the anomalous noise, an

adequate performance can be expected even if the vibration insulating member is placed

only on one side of the coupling plate 134.

FIG. 16 illustrates a reference graph showing an effect of application of the

vibration insulating material of FIG. 14, wherein it can be noted that the anomalous

noise caused by the harmonics having a peak at 480Hz is eliminated as the EPDM

rubbers are applied to the top and the bottom of the fan coupling portion.

wherein FIG. 17A illustrates a perspective view of a state before a discharge head rises,

and FIG. 17B illustrates a perspective view of an exposed state after a discharge head rises.

In general, the discharge head 20 of the present invention is hidden in the

cabinet 10 before, the air conditioner is operated as shown in FIG. 17 A, and the _,.

discharge head 20 rises so as to be exposed when^' the air conditioner is Operated as

shown in FIG. 17B.

To do this, in the air conditioner of the present invention, the discharge head 20

is mounted so as to be movable in up/down direction passing through slide holes 193

(see FIG. 13) in a center portion of the air guide 19, so that the discharge head 20 moves

up/down guided by the slide holes 193 when a discharge head moving up/down motor

(not shown) mounted on an outside of the air guide 19 is operated.

FIGS. 17A and 17B each illustrates an air conditioner having a top grill 200 in a

top surface of the discharge head 20, in which case discharge of air is possible when the

air conditioner is in operation even if the discharge head 20 does not rise. That is, in

cases when the air conditioner is in operation at a low flow rate, and the like, it is

preferable that the air conditioner is operated like this.

FIG. 18 illustrates a reference graph showing an effect of application of a top

grill. As a top grill 200 is added to the discharge head, it can be noted that noise is

reduced at the same air flow rate.

In the meantime, in the foregoing air conditioner, though the cabinet 10 may

have a hexahedral shape like a general air conditioner, the cabinet 10 may have a

cylindrical shape taking the shape of the helical fan into account. In this case, not only

an overall size of the cabinet 10 can be reduced, but also, in view of design, an esthetic

characteristic can be improved compared to other related art air conditioner. The operation of the air conditioner in accordance with the present invention

will be described.

■ . • Upon, putting the air conditioner into operation, refrigerant is supplied from the

outdoor unit (not shown) having conventional compressor and condenser to the V

shaped heat exchanger, and the helical fan 13 starts to rotate as the driving motor 12 is

operated.

As the helical fan 13 rotates, air flows in through the air passages 100a in the

lower side of the cabinet 10, is cooled down as the air passes through the heat exchanger

11, and flows in an axis direction of the helical fan 13 from a lower portion to an upper

portion thereof.

Since the orifice 15 has expanded upper and lower portions, the flow of air

to/from the helical fan 13 is smooth. Especially, since the orifice 15 has an hourglass

shape, there are pressure differences at the inlet and outlet sides of the helical fan 13,

which increase the flow rate.

The air passed through the helical fan 13 is discharged to the air passage 100a

on an upper side of the cabinet 10, and cools down the room to a desired temperature.

When it is intended to heat the room with the air conditioner, the refrigerating

cycle may be operated reversely, such that the heat exchanger in the indoor unit serves

as a condenser that generates heat, for discharging heated air into the room.

Embodiments of helical fans applicable to the air conditioner of the present

invention will be described. FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective view of a second

embodiment fan applicable to the air conditioner in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 19, the second embodiment helical fan 23 includes an elongated cylindrical hub 232 fixedly secured to a vertical rotation shaft 12a rotatably

coupled to a driving motor 12, and three blades 233 each formed on an outside

circumferential surface of the hub 232 starting from one end to the other end of the hub

232 twisted in a helix around an axis and extended beyond top and bottom ends of the

hub in a vertical direction.

The blade 233 has a shape in which a portion of the blade 233 starting from a

point in contact with the bottom of the hub 232 to an outer tip of a lower edge of the

blade 233 is cut away, such that a lower end of the blade 233 has a shape of a pointed

triangle, substantially.

The helical fan 23 of the present invention has a blade rotation angle 'α', an

angle of turn of the blade 233 starting from a point the blade 233 starts to an end thereof

when the fan is seen from above, of approx. 150°. In this instance, in the plan view, the

blade 233 has no areas overlapped or interfered with adjacent blades 233.

That is, even though the fan has the blade rotation angle of approx. 150° which

is a maximum angle one blade draws in a circumferential direction greater than 120°

which is an equal division of 360° by 3 of a number of the blades, the blades 233 of the

helical fan 23 of the present invention are formed such that the blades 133 have no area

overlapped or interfered with one another for good workability in fabrication of the fan.

If the blade rotation angle 'α' becomes greater to 150°, an exit angle of air

blade rotation angle 'α' is 120°.

The helical fan 23 of the embodiment is formed such that the helix index, a

value expressing a twist angle of the blade 233 with respect to the axis direction of the hub, is -within a range of 1.8 ~ 2.2, preferably 2. That is, the greater the helix index, the

more the blade is tilted with respect to the axis line of the hub 232, which implies an

increased air flow rate as the blade pushes up more air in the axis direction.

Moreover, in the embodiment too, if the helix index becomes greater, the air

flow rate can be increased even though noise coming from friction with air increases

slightly at the same rotation speed, and when it is intended to keep the same air flow

rate without increasing the air flow rate, the rotation speed may be reduced, which

reduces noise of the motor, resulting in no increase of total system noise, at the end.

As the hub ratio Dh/Db, a ratio of a diameter 'Dh' of the hub to a diameter 'Db'

of the blade 233 is set to be 0.5, the helical fan 23 of the embodiment also has the best

air pressure, and air flow rate.

Moreover, a tilting angle of the blade 233 is increased gradually as the blade

233 goes from an inlet to an exit such that the exit angle θe is grater than an inlet angle

θi.

Especially, as a result of test, it is known that noise is the lowest when the inlet

angle θi of the blade 233 is approx. 35° if other conditions are the same, because an

incident angle of air almost conforms to a stream line, when occurrence of turbulence is

minimized.

a circumferential direction, thereafter.

In the meantime, the blade 233 has a width direction section of an 'S' or a

division line of a 'taegeuk pattern' substantially, and it is preferable that the section has

a simple arc shape which is stretched nearly to a straight line gradually as the blade 233 goes from an upper side tip to a lower side tip, as described in the foregoing

embodiment, to make air flow at the inlet side smooth, and to accumulate and discharge

the air from the inlet side at the exit side, to raise a static pressure of the discharged air.

Moreover, an advantage of an improved vibration characteristic can be obtained

at a level of 1 : 1.5 thickness ratio th : tb of the hub 132 to the blade 133.

Forming the thickness of the blade 233, not constant, but thicker at a portion

near to the hub 232 than the tip at an outer side in a radial direction of the hub 232

which is far from the hub 232 is favorable in view of vibration, because center of

gravity of the blade 233 is moved to an inner side in the radial direction, to reduce

moment generated at the time of rotation of the fan, that reduces the vibration.

In the meantime, the helical fan 23 of the embodiment has a rib 236 on a back

surface of the blade 233 along a length direction for serving as a sinew. The rib 236 has

a length at least one third of a length of the blade 233, and is formed on a side near to

twisted direction of the blade or similar thereto.

If the thickness of the blade 233 is formed thin for making weight of the helical

fan lighter, the blade vibrates at the time of rotation of the blade. The rib 236 on the

back surface of the blade 233 reinforces an overall strength of the blade 233 to prevent

the vibration from occurring, and to prevent the blade from resonating with other

components of the air conditioner.

The blade 233 has a raised portion 237 of which thickness is formed thicker

than other portion at the inlet side of a lower edge of the blade 233 toward which the air

flows, for, alike the rib 236 on the back surface of the blade 233, preventing the blade 233 from vibrating due to the air flowing thereto as a main purpose, and in addition to

this, preventing an eddy current from occurring in a region in rear of the raised portion

237 of the. blade 233 toward which the air flows, initially.

That is,- in the blade 233 of the helical fan 23 of the embodiment too, even^'

though vibration and noise is liable to occur at a portion the thickness is formed thin at

an inside surface of the cut away portion formed starting from a point in contact with a

bottom of the hub 232 to an outer tip of a lower edge of the blade 233 by air flows

thereto, the noise and vibration can be reduced by providing the thick raised portion 237

near to the air inlet of the lower edge of the blade 233 to break the eddy current to make

a boundary layer thinner.

In the meantime, in the back surface of the helical blade 233 of the embodiment i too, there are dimples 238 like a golf ball, for eliminating eddy currents tailing the bεck

surface of the blade. Turbulence occurred by the dimples 238 on a lower side of the

back surface of the blade 233 causes active mix of fluid, to prevent change of air flow

until the air leaves the blade 233, which reduces a form resistance, to reduce noise.

Alikely, the dimple 138 may have a variety of shapes, such as a pentagon, a

square, a polygon close to a circle, and so on, and, because the shape, number, depth,

and diameter of the dimple influence to the form resistance substantially, it is required

to design the dimple taking above factors into account, adequately. In general, the more

the dimple, the more favorable for elimination of the eddy current, there are cases in the

other way around.

It is required that the helical fan 23 of the embodiment also takes an overall

pattern of the dimples 238 in the back surface of the blade 233, which is a negative pressure surface, into account appropriately, by making spaces of columns and/or rows

of the dimples 238 the same or to differ along a length direction of the blade 233.

FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2, including an hourglass shaped hub 332 for reducing BPF.

In this case too, elements applied to the helical fan of the first, or second

embodiment are also applicable. That is, of course, even if the dimples, and the sinew at

the back surface of the blade shown in the helical fan of the first, or second embodiment,

and the raised portion in the vicinity of the inlet side of the blade of v»hich thickness is

formed thicker than other portion are not shown in the drawing, above elements are also

applicable to the helical fan 33 of the embodiment.

With regard to the helix angle or the blades rotation angle, elements of the

foregoing embodiment are also applicable.

In the meantime, of course, above elements, - for an example, the dimples, and

the sinew at the back surface of the blade, the iaised portion at the inlet side of the blade

of which thickness is formed thicker, the helix index, forming the blade rotation angle to

have an angle greater than an angle obtained by dividing 360° by a number of the blades,

and so on - applied to above embodiments appropriate to features thereof by reflecting

technical aspects of the present invention are also applicable to fans of the following

embodiments (fourth to twelfth embodiments) appropriate to the features of the

embodiments. Therefore, for avoiding repetition of description, in cases above elements

are applicable to the following embodiments, description and illustration on the drawing

may be omitted. The basic technical aspects of the first, or second embodiment are

applicable to other embodiments, entirely. FIG. 21 illustrates a perspective view of a fourth embodiment fan with an

hourglass shaped hub applicable to the air conditioner in FIG. 2.

The embodiment shows a helical fan 43 having a truncated cone shaped hub

432 applied thereto. In this case, since the diameter of the hub becomes the smaller as it

goes toward an upper side of the hub, an upper portion width of the blade 433 can be

made larger, adequately.

That is, in comparison to a case the hub is cylindrical, since the truncated type

hub 432 of the embodiment has a small upper side diameter, a diameter of the fan can

be designed the same, even if the upper portion width of the blade 433 becomes larger.

FIG. 22 illustrates a perspective view of a fifth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2, FIG. 23 illustrates a plan view of FIG. 22, FIG. 24

illustrates a front view of FIG. 22, and FIG. 25 illustrates a side view of FIG 22. The

embodiment illustrates a case a multi-staged helical fan 53 is formed by thermal fusion.

That is, in the embodiment, as a fan for blowing air, a helical fan suggested in

the first embodiment is used, wherein two of the helical fans are stacked and portions of

hubs 532 are subjected to thermal fusion, to make the two helical fans as one body.

In this instance, though the multi-staged helical fan is illustrated to have two

stages so as to have four blades 533, the multi-staged helical fan may have three or

more than three stages. The helical fan 53 of the embodiment is favorable for providing

a high static pressure.

In the meantime, it is required to employ an appropriate number of stages

because fabrication is difficult if the fan has too many stages, and a system size of the

air conditioner having the fan applied thereto becomes large. FIG. 26 illustrates a perspective view of a sixth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2, FIG. 27 illustrates a plan view of FIG. 26, FIG. 28

illustrates a front view of FIG. 26, and FIG 29 illustrates a side view of FIG. 26. The

embodiment suggests a multi-staged helical fan 63 by thermal fusion, with a blade

rotation angle smaller than the fifth embodiment for reducing BPF noise.

That is, in the embodiment, as a fan for blowing air, while the helical fan as

suggested in the fifth embodiment is used, since BPF noise is related to the blade

rotation angle, a helical fan having a reduced blade rotation angle is used, wherein two

of above helical fans are stacked, and contact portions of the hubs 532 are subjected to

thermal fusion, to make the two helical fans into one body.

the air conditioner in FIG. 2, FIG 31 illustrates a plan view of FIG. 30, FIG. 32

illustrates a front view of FIG. 30, FIG 33 illustrates a side view of FIG. 30, and FIG. 34

illustiates an exploded perspective view of FIG. 30.

Different from the helical fan of the fifth or sixth embodiment constructed as a

multi-staged structure by thermal fusion, the embodiment suggests a helical fan 73 with

four built-up type multi-stage blades 733a and 733b.

That is, in order to reduce BPF noise occurred in a case the helical fan has two

blades, the embodiment suggests the helical fan with built-up type four blades 733a and

733b, instead of the thermal fusion, for substantial improvement of mass production.

As best shown in FIG. 34, the helical fan 73 of the embodiment includes a main

helical fan 73a and a sub-helical fan 73b, the main helical fan 73a has slots 739a in a

circumference of the main hub 732a for placing blade supporting pieces 739b of the sub-helical fan 73b therein, and the sub-helical fan 73b has a supplementary hub 732b

on an inside of the blade supporting pieces 739b of the sub-helical fan 73b for

connecting opposite blade supporting pieces.

In the meantime, for ieducing BPF noise, a blade 733b of the sub-helical fan

73b has a blade rotation angle smaller than the blade rotation angle of the blade 733a of

the main helical fan 73a.

In this instance, as best shown in FIG. 33, different from the main blade 733a of

the main helical fan 73a, the sub-helical fan 73b has not only the reduced blade rotation

angle, but also both a blade length, and a total height of the blade in a axial direction of

the hub become different, and the helix index is also different from the main blade 733a.

Particularly, in the embodiment, it can be noted that lower end of the blade

733b of the sub-helical fan 73b is not extended beyond the main hub 732a in the axial

direction.

The helical fan 73 of the embodiment can be assembled by pushing and placing

the blade supporting pieces 739b into the slots 739a in the main hub 732a, respectively.

FIG. 35 illustrates a perspective view of an eighth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2, and FIG. 36 illustrates a front view of FIG. 35. The

embodiment provides a fan 83 having a hollow cylindrical housing 835 on around the

blades 833 on an outside circumferential surface of a hub 832.

That is, though the embodiment uses a helical fan suggested in the first

embodiment as a fan for blowing air, the helical fan has a cylindrical housing 835 on

around the blades 833 attached by thermal fusion, or formed as one body, for reducing

BPF noise between fan ends and the orifice 15. FIG 37 illustrates a perspective view of a ninth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2, showing a helical fan 93 having four blades 933 on an

outside circumferential surface of a hub 932 formed by injection molding.

FIG. 38 illustrates a perspective view of a tenth embodiment fan applicable to

the air conditioner in FIG. 2. showing a helical fan 103 having five blades 1033 on an

outside circumferential surface of a hub 1032 formed by injection molding.

FIG. 39 illustrates a perspective view of an eleventh embodiment fan applicable

to the air conditioner in FIG. 2, showing a helical fan 113 having seven blades 1133 on

an outside circumferential surface of a cylindrical hub 1132.

the air conditioner in FIG. 2. showing a helical fan 123 having seven blades 1233 on an

outside circumferential surface of a cylindrical hub 1232.

That is. FIGS. 37 to 40 illustiate various cases of fans having various numbers

of blades, wherefrom it can be noted that a number and shapes of the blades can be

varied.

Particularly, according to a result of test, if a number of blades increases under

the same condition, it becomes to know that reducing a height of the hub is favorable

for reducing noise without loss of a flow rate and a static pressure characteristic.

Therefore, in a case any one of the fans of various embodiments having

numbers of blades increased is applied, fabrication of a compact product is possible,

which can reduce a height of the air conditioner while providing a high flow rate and a

high static pressure, and along with this, a variety of products can be made available.

Even in cases the fan of one of above embodiments is applied, the cabinet 10 of the air conditioner may have a variety of shapes, such as hexahedron, cylinder, or so on.

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 inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the

modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of

the appended claims and their equivalents.

Industrial Applicability

As has been described, the present invention has the following advantages.

First, since the helical fan blows air in an axial direction, the fan imposes no

restriction in installation position of the fan, and since the helical fan provides a high air

flow rate even with a small size, an overall size of the air conditioner can be reduced, to

enable to fabricate a small sized and slim air conditioner, and the availability of various

shapes of cabinet permits fabrication of various shapes of air conditioner and easy

fabrication of the air conditioner, that enables to reduce a production cost.

The prevention of backflow by means of the air guide that maintains air to flow

to an outer side permits to reduce a flow path loss.

The cone shaped air guide 190 on an underside of a center of the air guide 19

permits to prevent the backflow formed in a space between the helical fan 13 and the air-

guide toward a center portion of the fan.

The improved motor mount structure for supporting the driving motor in the

cabinet permits to reduce BPF noise.

The vibration insulating members at the coupling portions of the helical fan to

the motor shaft eliminates anomalous noise caused by harmonics. The fan with multi-staged blades, which can increase a static pressure while

blowing air in an axial direction permits to reduce an overall air conditioner system size,

and improve performance. • ^• . - . _. .

Besides these, the^' fan with multi-staged built-up type blades enhances mass

production capabilit}', and, the fan with an increased number of blades permits

production of compact products which can reduce a height of the air conditioner while

the same air flow rate and air pressure are provided.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan having a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on

an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the hub

in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, for forced blow of air in an

axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount mounted in the cabinet for supporting the driving motor; and

an air guide over the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to

an outer side.

2. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helical fan has a helix

index which is a twisted angle from the axial direction of the hub ranging 1.8 ~ 2.2.

3. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the helical fan has the

helix index of 2.

4. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 3, wherein, if the helical fan has 'n'

blades ('n' is an integer equal to, or greater than 2), a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with ^ςn\

5. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 4, wherein, if the helical fan has 'n'

blades ('n' is an integer equal to, or greater than T), a blade rotation angle α of the blade

is greater than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with 'n' within a range of 30°.

6. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein, if the helical fan has

'2' blades, the blade rotation angle α of the blade is 210°.

7. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein, if the helical fan has

'3' blades, the blade rotation angle α of the blade is 150°.

8. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

the cylindrical hub coupling to a rotation shaft of the driving motor, and

blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

hub, each of the blade being extended beyond a top end and a bottom end of the hub for

predetermined lengths in a vertical direction.

9. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the blade has a shape in

which a portion of the blade starting from a point in contact with a bottom of the hub to

an outer tip of a lower edge of the blade is cut away. 10. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the blade has no area

^"overlapped or interfered with an opposite blade. • .. .

11. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the helical fan has a hub

ratio of 0.5, the hub ratio (DIvDb) being a ratio of a diameter of the hub Dh to a

diameter of the blade.

12. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 11, wherein the blade has an angle

increased gradually as the blade goes from an inlet side to an exit side such that an exit

angle θe is greater than an inlet angle θi.

13. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the inlet angle θi of the

blade is 35°.

14. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exit angle θe of the

blade is 45°.

15. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 8₃ wherein the blades has a

width direction section of an 'S ' or a division line of a 'taegeuk pattern'.

16. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 15, wherein the blades has a width

direction section of an ^CS' or a division line of a 'taegeuk pattern', wherein the section is stretched nearly to a straight line gradually as the blade goes from an upper side to a

lower side.

17. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the helical fan has a

thickness ratio of the hub to the blade th:tb of 1 : 1.5.

18. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the blade has a

thickness which is not constant, but thicker at a portion near to the hub than the tip at an

outer side in a radial direction of the hub.

19. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the blades includes a

lib on a back surface along a length direction of the blade for serving as a sinew of the

blade.

20. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rib has a length

greater than at least 1/3 of a length of the blade.

21. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rib is formed on a

side near to the tip with reference to a middle of the width of the blade.

22. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rib is formed the

same with, or similar to a twisting direction of the blade. 23. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 19, wherein the blade includes a

raised portion of which thickness is formed thicker than other portion at an upper

flows.

24. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 19 or 23, wherein the blade has

dimples in the back surface like dimples in a golf ball.

25. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 24, wherein the dimple may have

variety of shapes, such as circle, pentagon, square, polygon near to a circle, and so on.

26. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 24. wherein the dimples are formed

such that spaces of columns and/or rows of the dimples are the same or different from

each other along a length direction of the blade.

27. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 11, the helical fan further

includes a coupling plate horizontally mounted at a middle portion of the hub for fixed

securing an end portion of the rotation shaft coupled to the motor.

28. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 27, wherein the coupling plate

includes a flat middle portion and outer portions each curved upward.

29. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 27, wherein the coupling plate includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed as one body on an upper surface and a

lower surface and extended in a radial diiection.

30. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 29, wherein the reinforcing ribs are

foimed the upper surface and the lower surface symmetry with respect to the coupling

plate, and each has a height which becomes the greater as it goes from an inner side to

an outer side.

31. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor mount

includes;

circular motor supporter mounting portion for fixedly securing the motor

supporter thereto,

a plurality of supporting arms extended from the motor supporter mounting

portion in four directions outwardly, and

an outer frame connected between outer ends of the supporting arms.

32. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 31, wherein the outer frame is fixed

secured to an inside wall surface of the cabinet.

33. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 31, wherein the motor supporter

mounting portion has fastening holes in a surface for fastening fastening members.

34. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 31, wherein the motor mount is constructed from a thin steel plate relatively thinner than the motor supporter.

35. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 34. wherein the motor supporter

mounting portion of the motor mount includes a cross shaped bead on the surface for

reinforcing strength.

36. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 34, wherein the motor supporter

mounting portion, the supporting arms, and the outer frame have ribs perpendicular to a

horizontal plane toward outlet for reinfoicing strength.

37. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 31, the helical fan further includes a

motor supporter mounted between the driving motor and the motor supporting mounting

portion of the motor mount.

38. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 37. wherein the motor supporter

includes a multi-staged motor coupling portion extended in an axial direction of the

motor.

39. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 38, wherein the motor includes legs

extended downward, and the multi-staged motor coupling portion of the motor

supporter has a fastening hole corresponding to a fastening hole in the leg.

40. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 37, wherein the motor supporter further includes a slot in a bottom thereof in conformity to the bead on the motor

supporter mounting portion.

41. The air conditioner as claimed in ^"claim 37, wherein the -slot in the bottom of'

the motor supporter has a cross shape, and anti -vibration rubber at each end of the cross

shaped slot.

42. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 41, wherein the anti- vibration

rubber is formed of EPDM (ethylene propylene rubber) or SBR (styrene butadiene

rubber).

43. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 42, wherein the anti- vibration

rubber has a hourglass shape in overall, with a pass through hole at a center for pass

through of a fastening member.

44. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 11, further comprising an

orifice mounted on around the helical fan for increasing a static pressure.

45. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 44, wherein the orifice includes

enlarged portions each having a diameter which becomes the greater as it goes from a

middle portion to an upper portion or a lower portion farther.

46. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 45, wherein the enlarged portion of the orifice has a curved shape at a piedεtermined curvature.

47. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 45, wherein the orifice has a straight

middle portion between the enlarged poitions.

48. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 45, wherein the orifice is

substantially symmetry with reference to the helical fan.

49. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 45, wherein the orifice has edge

portions in contact with inside walls of the cabinet.

50. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 45, wherein the orifice further

includes resonators on an outside surface for extracting waves of specific frequencies

respectively by using resonance.

51. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 50, wherein the resonators have

various sizes depending on positions of mounting.

52. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 51, wherein the resonator includes a

sound absorbing material applied therein.

53. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 52, wherein the sound absorbing

material is formed of at least one selected from glass wool, sponge, and fire retarding fabric.

54. The..air .conditioner as claimed_. in claim I_3. wherein the air guide has box

shaped with rounded edges, for maintaining a flow path to ^'an outer side. ^{' '}

55. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air guide has box

shaped of which inside space is vacant with rounded edges, for maintaining a flow path

to an outer side,

56. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 54 or 55, wherein the air guide

further includes a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

preventing the backflow toward a center portion of the fan from occurring in a space

between the helical fan and the air guide.

57. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 56, wherein the cone shaped air

guide has a shape of truncated cone or a cone.

58. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 56, wherein the cone shaped air

guide has a shape of a cone or a cylinder.

59. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 54 or 55, wherein the air guide

further includes a cylindrical air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

preventing the backflow from occurring in a space between the helical fan and the air guide.

^■ . . . 60. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 55, wherein the. air guide includes

an inlet and an outlet in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional

5 area very small compared to an inside space.

61. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 11, further comprising a

discharge head at a top of the cabinet for discharging heat exchanged air to a desired

direction.

10

62. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 61, wherein the discharge head is

mounted on the air guide movable in up/down direction.

63. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 62, wherein the air guide has a

15 vacant box shape with rounded edges, and includes guide grooves in an outside

circumferential surface for moving up/down of the discharge head.

64. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 63, wherein the air guide includes a

leakage preventing member applied thereto for preventing leakage of air from the guide

20 groove.

65. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 64, wherein the leakage preventing

member includes a curtain having a cut middle portion, or an elastic dense brush so that a guide iod of the discharge head can move up/do wn therethrough, and a portion thereof

having the guide rod just passed is closed.

66. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 62, wherein as driving means and

power transmission means for moving up/down the discharge head, there may be a ball

screw system, or pinion and rack system.

67. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the driving motor is

mounted such that an upper portion thereof is placed inside of the hub of the helical fan.

68. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabinet is cylindrical.

69. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

an hourglass shaped hub, and

blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

predetermined lengths in a vertical direction.

70. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a truncated cone shaped hub, and blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

predetermined lengths in a vertical direction.

71. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 70, wherein the blade has an upper

portion width enlarged to a width of the blade when the hub is cylindrical.

72. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a multi-staged structure formed by thermal fusion, including;

a cylindrical hub, and

blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

predetermined lengths in a vertical direction.

73. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a multi-staged structure formed by thermal fusion, including;

a cylindrical hub, and

blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, each of the blade being extended beyond a top end and a bottom end of the hub for

predetermined lengths in a vertical direction, wherein the blade rotation angle α of the

blade is smaller than an angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades.

74. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a main helical fan including a cylindrical hub, and blades each formed on an

outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a

helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, each of the blade being extended

beyond a top end and a bottom end of the hub for predetermined lengths in a vertical

direction, and

a sub-helical fan of the same shape, and built up with the main helical fan.

75. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 74, wherein the main helical fan

includes slots in a circumference of a main hub thereof for placing blade supporting

pieces of the sub-helical fan therein, and the sub-helical fan includes a connection

portion on an inner side of the blade supporting pieces for connecting the blade

supporting pieces.

76. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 75, wherein the connection portion

is a cylindrical supplementary hub having an outside diameter smaller than the main

hub. 66

77. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 74, wherein the sub-helical fan

includes blades each having a blade rotation angle smaller than the blade rotation angle

of the main helical fan for reducing BPF (Blade Passing Frequency) noise.

78. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 74 or 77, wherein the sub-helical fan

has a blade length and a blade total height in an axial direction of the hub different from

the main helical fan.

79. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 78, wherein the blade of the sub-

helical fan has a lower end portion not extended beyond a range of an axial direction

length of the main hub.

80. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 74 or 77, wherein the sub-helical fan

has a helix index different from the main blade.

90. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a cylindrical hub,

blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

predetermined lengths in a vertical direction, and

a cylindrical housing on around the blades attached by thermal fusion, or formed as one body with the blades.

82. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a cylindrical hub, and

four blades each formed on an outside circumfeiential surface of the hub

twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting fiom one end to the other

end of the hub, each of the blade being extended beyond a top end and a bottom end of

the hub for piedetermined lengths in a vertical direction.

83. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a cylindrical hub, and

five blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted

along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting fiom one end to the other end of the

piedetermined lengths in a vertical direction.

84. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a cylindrical hub, and

seven blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub

twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other KR2005/000192

68

the hub for predetermined lengths in a vertical direction.

85. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan

includes;

a cylindrical hub, and

eleven blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub

twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starling from one end to the other

the hub for predetermined lengths in a vertical diiection.

86. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein the helical fan has

the axial direction length of the hub reduced as a number of the blades increases.

87. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising vibration

insulating member between the rotation shaft of the driving motor and the coupling

portion of the helical fan for preventing anomalous noise caused by harmonics.

88. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 87, wherein the vibration insulating

member include;

a metal washing of a geometrically non-circular shape having a shaft pass

through hole at a center, and

a rubber having a recess for receiving the metal washer, and a shaft pass through hole formed therein.

• - . , _{. .}89. The air conditioner as claimed in claim 88, wherein the rubber is EPDM.

90. An air conditioner comprising;

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub such that the blade has a

of the cabinet,

an orifice on around the helical fan for increasing a static pressure;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount for supporting the driving motor; and

an outer side.

91. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan having a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the hub

helix index of 2 and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an angle

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a -range of -30°, for forced

blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount for supporting the driving motor; and

an outer side.

92. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan having a cylindrical hub. and a plurality of blades each formed on

obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, and there are

vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan; T/KR2005/000192

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount for supporting the driving motor; and

an air guide ^'over the -helical fan for guiding air- from the helical fan to -flow. to

an outer side.

93. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

helix index of 2. and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an angle

obtained by dividing 360^' with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the blade

vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; and

an air guide over the helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side.

94. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing- and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

having dimples in a back surface 'thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back

vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; and

an outer side. 2005/000192

73

95. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

^■a helical fan having -a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on

other portion at -an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower edge

vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; and

an outer side. 96. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

^■ other portion at an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower edge

vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor;

an outer side; and

a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for 192

75

between the helical fan and the air guide.

97. An ^'air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; 00192

76

an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for

guiding air from the helical fan to flow to an outer side, the air guide having an inlet and

an_. outlet in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area very

small compared to an inside space; and ^{■ •}

a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

between the helical fan and the air guide.

98. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; and 00192

77

an outer side.

99. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan having an hourglass shaped hub, and a plurality of blades each

formed thicker than other portion at an upper surface and/or a lowei surface of the inlet

direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; 00192

78

an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for

an outlet in upper and lower sμrfaces each having a flow passage sectional area very

small compared to an inside space; and

a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

between the helical fan and the air guide.

100. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan having a cone shaped hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on

an outside circumferential surface of the conε shaped hub twisted along an axis

direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub such that

the blade has a helix index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than

an angle obtained by dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the

is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan; resonators on an outside surface of the orifice for extracting waves of specific

fiequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor;

an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for

an outlet in upper and lower surfaces each having a flow passage sectional area very

small compared to an inside space; and

a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

pi eventing the backfiow toward a center portion of the fan from occurring in a space

between the helical fan and the air guide.

101. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan of a multi-staged structure by thermal fusion, the helical fan having

a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed on an outside circumferential

surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one

end to the other end of the hub, and extended beyond an upper end and a lower end of

the hub in a vertical direction by predetermined lengths such that the blade has a helix

index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is greater than an angle obtained by

dividing 360° with a number of blades within a range of 30°, the blade having dimples 192

80

in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back surface of the

blade, a rib on the back surface in a length direction thereof for serving as a sinew of the

blade, and a raised portion of which thickness is formed thicker than other portion at an

upper surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower edge toward which the

air flows, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the

cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor;

an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for

small compared to an inside space; and

a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

between the helical fan and the air guide.

102. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet; 192

81

end to the other end of the hub, and extended beyond' an upper end and a lower end of

index of 2, and a blade rotation angle α of the blade is smaller than an angle obtained by

dividing 360° with a number of blades, the blade having dimples in a back surface

thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back surface of the blade, a rib on the

back surface in a length direction thereof for serving as a sinew of the blade, and a

cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor;

an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for

small compared to an inside space; and a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

between the helical fan and the air guide.

103. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan including a main helical fan having a cylindrical hub, and a

hub, and extended beyond an upper end and a lower end of the hub in a vertical

with the main helical fan, such that the blade has a helix index of 2, and a blade rotation

air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance; a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount undej the driving motor for supporting the driving motor:

an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for

small compared to an inside space; and

a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

between the helical fan and the air guide.

104. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

a helical fan having a cylindrical hub, and a plurality of blades each formed, on

in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, and extended beyond an

of 30°_j the blade having dimples in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents

tailing the back surface of the blade, a rib on the back surface in a length direction 5 000192

84

. side of a lower edge toward which the air flows, for forced blow of air in an axial

^{' •} direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet; ' ^{" • '}■ ^{' ■ ' ■}

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor;

an air guide of a vacant box shape with rounded edges over the helical fan for

small compared to an inside space; and

a cone shaped air guide at a center of an underside of the air guide, for

preventing the backfiow toward a center portion of the fan from occurring in a space

between the helical fan and the air guide.

105. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

an outside circumferential surface of the hub twisted along an axis direction of the hub in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, such that the blade has a

having a constant width in an^" axial direction, for forced blow bf air in an axial direction

which is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor;

a motor supporter between a driving motor and a motor mount, having a multi-

staged motor coupling portion extended in an axial direction of the motor for raising a

position of the motor; and

an outer side.

106. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

in a helix starting from one end to the other end of the hub, such that the blade has a

having dimples in a back surface thereof for eliminating eddy currents tailing the back surface of the blade, a rib on the back surface in a length direction thereof for serving as

other portion at an uppei surface and/or a lower surface of the inlet side of a lower edge

' toward which the air flows, for forced blow of air in an axial direction which is a

vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; and

a motor supporter between a driving motor and a motor mount, having a multi-

position of the motor.

107. An air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

which is a vertical direction of the cabinet; a driving motor for iotating the helical fan in one direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor;

a motor supporter between a driving motor and a motor mount, having a multi-

position of the motor; and

an outer side.

108. Au air conditioner comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of air passages for drawing, and discharging air;

a heat exchanger in the cabinet;

blow of air in an axial direction which is a vertical direction of the cabinet;

an orifice on around the helical fan;

frequencies by using resonance;

a driving motor under the helical fan for rotating the helical fan in one

direction;

a motor mount under the driving motor for supporting the driving motor; and a motor supporter between a driving motor and a motor mount, having a multi-

position of the motor; and

an air guide' over the- helical fan for guiding air from the helical fan to. flow to

an outer side.