WO2008078906A2

WO2008078906A2 - Controller assembly of air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2008078906A2
Application number: PCT/KR2007/006685
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang-Hoon Jeong; Il-Han Yun; Dong-Bum Hwang
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2006-12-27
Filing date: 2007-12-20
Publication date: 2008-07-03
Also published as: EP2095033A2; WO2008078906A3

Abstract

Provided is a controller assembly (300) of an air conditioner. The controller assembly includes a controller (320) and an installation plate (340). The controller (320) is provided with a plurality of manipulation buttons (322) to control an operating state of one of an indoor unit (192) and an outdoor unit. The installation plate is fixed on a wall surface, and detachably coupled on one side of the controller to support the controller. The installation plate is provided with an electric cord receiving groove (342) receiving an electric cord (P), and a power supply terminal (340a) supplying power from an outside. A power connection terminal (320a) is provided on one side of the controller to selectively contact the power supply terminal and deliver the power supplied from the supply terminal to an inside of the controller.

Description

Description CONTROLLER ASSEMBLY OF AIR CONDITIONER

Technical Field

[1] The present disclosure relates to a controller assembly of an air conditioner including a separate installation plate to facilitate installation and service. Background Art

[2] Generally, an air conditioner is a cooling/heating system for cooling an indoor space through repeated operations of suctioning warm air from the indoor space, exchanging heat with refrigerant of low temperature, and discharging the air to the indoor space, or heating the indoor space through a reverse operation. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion value, and an evaporator to form a series of cycles.

[3] Particularly, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit mostly installed in an outdoor space, and an indoor space mostly installed inside a building. The condenser (outdoor heat exchanger) and the compressor are installed in the outdoor unit. The evaporator (indoor heat exchanger) is installed in the indoor unit.

[4] A controller is required to manipulate the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The controller is generally attached on an inner wall surface of a building using an adhesion member.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[5] Embodiments provide a controller assembly of an air conditioner including a separate installation plate attached on a wall surface to allow a controller to be selectively separated, thereby improving service performance.

[6] Embodiments also provide a controller assembly of an air conditioner that improves installation efficiency by installing a power connection terminal and a power supply terminal to an installation plate and a controller, respectively, and allowing the terminals to touch contact points when the controller is coupled to the installation plate installed on a wall surface.

Technical Solution

[7] In one embodiment, a controller assembly of an air conditioner includes: a controller provided with a plurality of manipulation buttons to control an operating state of one of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit; and an installation plate fixed on a wall surface, and detachably coupled on one side of the controller to support the controller, the installation plate being provided with an electric cord receiving groove receiving an electric cord, and a power supply terminal supplying power from an outside, a power connection terminal being provided on one side of the controller, and the power connection terminal selectively contacting the power supply terminal to deliver the power supplied from the power supply terminal to an inside of the controller. [8] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Advantageous Effects

[9] According to the present disclosure, a separate installation plate is further provided to selectively separate the controller. Therefore, even when the controller is destroyed or needs repairing, the controller can be easily separated through a simple process of drawing the controller, so that service performance improves.

[10] Since coupling is completed by merely fitting the controller in the installation plate installed on a wall surface when the controller is installed, installation efficiency improves.

[11] Also, the power connection terminal and the power supply terminal contact each other during a process of coupling the controller to the installation plate, destruction and cutting of an electric cord that have been generated upon separation of the controller are prevented, and a safety accident due to a short circuit and an electric shock is prevented. Brief Description of the Drawings

[12] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

[13] FIG. 2 is a front exploded perspective view illustrating a controller assembly of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

[14] FIG. 3 is a rear exploded perspective view illustrating a controller assembly of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

[15] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I of FIG. 1.

[16] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a controller and an installation plate are separated from a controller assembly of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

[17] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a controller and the upper portion of an installation plate are coupled in a controller assembly of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[18] The construction of an air conditioner according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

[19] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

[20] Generally, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit 100 installed in an indoor space to exchange heat with indoor air, an outdoor unit (not shown) connected to the indoor unit 100 through a refrigerant pipe (not shown), and installed in an outdoor space to allow heat to be exchanged between outdoor air and refrigerant, and a controller assembly 300 allowing a user to manipulate the operations of the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit.

[21] Since the general construction of the outdoor unit (not shown) is well known in the art, detailed description thereof is omitted. The indoor unit 100 is generally installed in the same indoor space where the controller assembly 300 is installed.

[22] The indoor unit 100 is installed such that the upper portion of the indoor unit 100 is inserted into and fixed in a ceiling of the indoor space, and the lower surface of the indoor unit 100 is exposed to a lower side of the ceiling.

[23] Also, the indoor unit 100 includes a front panel 110 forming an edge portion of a lower appearance, a suction grill 120 installed on the central portion of the front panel 110 to allow indoor air to flow into the indoor unit 100, a cabinet 130 forming the upper appearance of the indoor unit 100 and mounting a plurality of parts therein, and a base (not shown) shielding the upper surface of the cabinet 130 and simultaneously supporting the weights of the plurality of parts mounted inside the indoor unit 100. These elements form the appearance on the whole.

[24] The front panel 110 has a quadrangular plate shape whose central portion are punched in a quadrangular shape. An air intake hole 112 is formed in the central portion of the front panel 110. The suction grill 120 is located at the air intake hole 112 to selectively filter foreign substances contained in air flowing into the indoor unit 100 through the air intake hole 112.

[25] For this purpose, the suction grill 120 has a size corresponding to that of the air intake hole 112 so that air containing foreign substances may not flow into the indoor unit 100. An air filter (not shown) selectively filtering the foreign substances contained in the air may be installed on the upper surface of the suction grill 120.

[26] The air filter is formed of a flexible material, and has a front side where fine holes

(not shown) are punched. Therefore, the foreign substances contained in the air that has flowed into the indoor unit 100 through the air intake hole 112 do not pass through the fine holes but remain to attach on the lower surface of the air filter (not shown). Therefore, stacking of the foreign substances inside the indoor unit 100 is prevented.

[27] Also, the suction grill 120 guides indoor air so that the indoor air may flow into the indoor unit 100. For this purpose, air flow holes 122 are formed long with an equal interval in the whole side of the suction grill 120.

[28] The airflow holes 122 vertically pass through the suction grill 120 and are configured such that the inner central space of the indoor unit 100 communicates with the indoor space.

[29] Therefore, while the indoor unit 100 operates, indoor air can flow into the indoor unit

100 through the airflow holes 122, and is guided by air discharge holes 114 to flow back to the indoor space.

[30] Also, the air discharge holes 114 having a horizontally long rectangular shape are formed in front/back and left/right of the front panel 110. The air discharge holes 114 are designed for guiding indoor air such that the indoor air suctioned into the indoor unit 100 through the air intake hole 112 may be discharged back to the indoor space. The air discharge holes 114 are configured such that the inside of the indoor unit 100 communicates with an indoor space.

[31] Louvers 116 are mounted inside the air discharge hole 114 to force the flowing direction of air discharged to the indoor space through the air discharge hole 114. The louvers 116 have a quadrangular plate shape corresponding to the shape and the size of the air discharge hole 114, and are installed to be rotatable with respect to both ends thereof.

[32] Also, a louver motor (not shown) is coupled to one end of the louver 116. When power is applied, the louver motor generates rotational force. The louver motor is axially coupled to the louver 116 to deliver rotational force to the louver 116.

[33] Also, louver motors are provided by the number of the louvers 116. That is, one louver motor is coupled to one louver 116. Therefore, the plurality of louver motors are selectively operated to operate the plurality of louvers 116 independently.

[34] In more detail, only one of four louver motors is operated to allow only one louver

116 axially coupled to the corresponding louver motor to repeatedly rotate by a predetermined angle, or all of the four louver motors are operated to allow all the louvers 116 to rotate.

[35] With this structure, when the upper surface of the louver 116 and air discharged through the air discharge hole 114 contact each other, a contact angle between the louver 116 and the discharged air changes every moment as the louver motor rotates, so that the louver 116 forces the discharged air to be discharged in various directions.

[36] A drain pan 150 is provided on the upper side of the front panel 110. The drain pan

150 is designed for collecting condensed water generated on the outer surface of an indoor heat exchanger 160 while refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 160, which will be described later, and indoor air exchange heat. The drain pan 150 has a larger size than the outer size of the indoor heat exchanger 160 seen from an upper direction.

[37] Also, a water collecting space (not shown) recessed downward is formed in the upper surface of the drain pan 150. The water collecting space is designed for collecting condensed water generated on the outer surface of the indoor heat exchanger (not shown) where a heat exchange operation occurs between indoor air and refrigerant.

[38] A through hole 154 is circularly punched in the central portion of the drain pan 150.

Therefore, indoor air can vertically flow through the air intake hole 112 and the through hole 154.

[39] The above-described cabinet 130 is provided on the outer side of the indoor heat exchanger 160. The cabinet 130 includes a plurality of plates coupled to each other to form an octagon when seen from above. The cabinet 130 forms the front/back and left/ right appearances of the indoor unit 100 to shield the inside of the indoor unit 100.

[40] Also, the lower end of the cabinet 130 contacts and couples to the upper edge portion of the front panel 110, and the upper end of the cabinet 130 couples to the lower surface of the base (not shown).

[41] Therefore, when the base (not shown) and the front panel 110 couple to the upper/ lower ends of the cabinet 130, a space is formed inside the indoor unit 100 to receive a plurality of parts.

[42] Meanwhile, an orifice 180 is provided inside the drain pan 150. The orifice 180 guides indoor air such that the indoor air may flow into the indoor unit. The orifice 180 is circularly punched.

[43] A plasma filter 190 is provided on the lower left side of the orifice 180. The plasma filter 190 generates plasma and electrifies foreign substances contained in air to adsorb the foreign substances. The front/rear ends of the plasma filter 190 are coupled to lower one side of the orifice 180 using a coupling member.

[44] Also, a dust collecting filter (not shown) is further provided on the upper side of the plasma filter 190. The dust collecting filter is designed for filtering one more time fine foreign substances that have not been removed despite a secondary filtering operation of the air filter and the plasma filter 190.

[45] The indoor unit 100 purifies indoor air in three steps using the air filter, the plasma filter 190, and the dust collecting filter 194 to make an indoor space more pleasant.

[46] A control box 196 is provided on the lower right side of the orifice 180. The control box 196 is designed for controlling the operation of the indoor unit 100. A space of a predetermined size is formed inside the control box 196 to mount a printed circuit board (PCB) 198 therein.

[47] Meanwhile, a grill elevating unit 200 is provided to the back/forth of the orifice 180.

The grill elevating unit 200 is designed for selectively elevating the suction grill 120. The grill elevating unit 200 is installed between the orifice 180 and the front panel 110.

[48] The grill elevating unit 200 includes a plurality of elevating kits 220 generating rotational force to force up/down movement of the suction grill 120, and a wire 240 selectively wound upon operation of the elevating kits 220 to deliver the rotational force generated by the elevating kits 220 to the suction grill 120.

[49] Therefore, when the elevating kits 220 pull the wire 240, the suction grill 120 moves in an upper direction to shield the air intake hole 112. When the elevating kits 220 release the wire 240, the air intake hole 112 maintains its open state.

[50] Meanwhile, one side inside the indoor unit 100, that is, the inside of the control box

196 is connected to the controller assembly 300 using an electric cord P. More specifically, the upper end of the electric cord P is connected to the control box 196, and the lower end of the electric cord P is laid under a wall surface in the indoor space and connected to the inside of the controller assembly 300.

[51] Therefore, a signal generated when a user manipulates the controller assembly 300 can simultaneously control the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit.

[52] The construction of the controller assembly 300 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[53] FIG. 2 is a front exploded perspective view illustrating a controller assembly of an air conditioner according to an embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a rear exploded perspective view illustrating a controller assembly of an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

[54] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the controller assembly 300 includes a controller 320 having a plurality of manipulation buttons 322 on a front side thereof to control the operations of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and an installation plate 340 fixed on an indoor wall surface and coupled to one side of the controller 320 to support the controller 320.

[55] A display window 324 displaying an operating state of the air conditioner upon manipulation of the manipulation buttons 322 is provided on the front upper side of the controller 320. Therefore, a user can check the operating state of the air conditioner through the display window 324 when manipulating the controller 320.

[56] Fitting protuberances 326 protruding to the front are provided the left/right sides on the rear upper end (refer to FIG. 3) of the controller 320. The fitting protuberances 326 are fit-coupled to protuberance receiving holes 344, which will be described later, to allow the upper portion of the controller 320 to be restricted to the upper portion of the installation plate 340.

[57] That is, the fitting protuberances 326 include an interference portion 327 protruding to the left (refer to FIG. 3), and a seat guide 328 extending in a triangle shape downward from the interference portion 327.

[58] The interference portion 327 protrudes to the rear from the upper end of the controller 320. A height difference groove 327a recessed downward is formed in the upper surface of the interference portion 327. A height difference portion 345, which will be described later, is received in the height difference groove 327a. [59] Therefore, when the height difference portion 345 is fitted in the height difference groove 327a of the interference portion 327, the upper end of the controller 320 is fixed to the installation plate 340, so that the up/down movement of the controller 320 with respect to the installation plate 340 is restricted.

[60] The seat guide 328 has an inclination from the lower end of the interference portion

327 to the lower side. The seat guide 328 is provided in a pair. Accordingly, a seat space 328a is formed between the one pair of seat guides 328.

[61] The seat space 328a is recessed to have a width corresponding to that of a seat rib

346, which will be described later. The seat rib 346 is inserted into the seat space 328a to restrict left/right movement of the controller 320.

[62] Hooks 329 are provided on the left/right sides of the lower end of the controller 320.

The hooks 329 is hook-coupled to one side of the installation plate 340 to allow the controller 320 and the lower portion of the installation plate 340 to be restricted to each other. More specifically, the hooks 320 are hook-coupled to hook receiving grooves 348, which will be described later.

[63] The hook 329 has a hook shape protruding to the left (refer to FIG. 3), and has predetermined elasticity due to the shape of its own. Therefore, when a user intends to hook- couple the hooks 329 to the hook receiving grooves 348 by getting the controller 348 close to the installation plate 340, the inclined front lower portions of the hooks 329 interfere with one sides of the hook receiving grooves 348 to generate elastic restoring force upward, thereby allowing hook coupling.

[64] A power connection terminal 320a is provided to a place separated above the hooks

329. The power connection terminal 320a contacts a power supply terminal 340a, which will be described later, to deliver power to the controller 320. The power connection terminal 320a may be formed in a position corresponding to that of the power supply terminal 340a.

[65] Meanwhile, the installation plate 340 has a quadrangular plate shape, and a size corresponding to that of the rear side of the controller 320. Also, the installation plate 340 is fixed with its rear side contacting a wall surface, and restricts the controller 320 coupled on the front side of the installation plate 340 to limit detachment of the controller 320.

[66] For this purpose, coupling holes 341 circularly punched to the rear are provided in the upper/lower portions and the central portion of the installation plate 340. The coupling holes 341 are designed for maintaining an attachment of the installation plate 340 on the wall surface. Coupling members such as screws are inserted into the coupling holes 341.

[67] Therefore, when the ends of the coupling members are coupled to the wall surface after the coupling members are inserted into the coupling holes 341, the installation plate 340 is solidly fixed on the wall surface without being detached from the wall surface.

[68] An electric cord receiving groove 342 recessed to the front (to the rear in FIG. 3) is provided in the rear side of the installation plate 340. The electric cord receiving groove 342, which receives the electric cord P, is a groove allowing the electric cord P to be received inside the installation plate 340 upon installation of the installation plate 340 on the wall surface.

[69] An electric cord fixing protuberance 342a is further formed on the electric cord receiving groove 342. The electric cord fixing protuberance 342a is designed for preventing detachment of the electric cord P after the electric cord P is received in the electric cord receiving groove 342. The electric cord fixing protuberance 342a has a shape partially protruding from one end of the electric cord fixing protuberance 342a to the other end.

[70] Protuberance receiving holes 344 are provided the left/right sides of the upper end

(refer to FIG. 3) of the installation plate 340. The protuberance receiving holes 344 is fit-coupled to the fitting protuberances 326, and is punched in an about n shape when seen from the front.

[71] Also, a height difference portion 345 having a quadrangular plate shape recessed in the rear is formed on the upper end of the protuberance receiving hole 344. The height difference portion 345 is fit in the rear side of the interference portion 327, and is designed for restrict the controller 320 and the upper portion of the installation plate 340 as described above.

[72] Therefore, the height difference portion 345 may have a thickness corresponding to a separated distance between the rear end of the interference portion 327 and the front side (refer to FIG. 3) of the controller 320.

[73] The seat rib 346 protruding upward in a quadrangular plate shape is provided on the lower side inside the protrusion receiving hole 344. The seat rib 346 is inserted between the seat guides 328 provided in a pair, that is, inserted into the seat space 328a, and seated therein. The seat rib 346 has a width corresponding to a separated distance between the seat guides 328.

[74] Therefore, when the seat rib 346 is inserted into the seat space 328a, the left/right ends of the seat rib 346 line-contact the inner surfaces of the seat guides 328 to restrict left/right movements of the controller 320.

[75] The hook receiving grooves 348 are provided in the lower left/right sides of the installation plate 340. The hook receiving grooves 348 are designed for restrict the controller 320 and the lower portion of the installation plate 340. That is, the hook receiving groove 348 is hook-coupled to the hook 329.

[76] In detail, the hook receiving groove 348 is punched in a size larger than that of the longitudinal cross-section of the hook 329 to receive the hook 329 therein. The lower end of the hook receiving groove 348 is inserted into a separated gap between the rear side of the hook 329 and the front side (refer to FIG. 3) of the controller 320.

[77] Therefore, the lower end of the hook receiving groove 348 is higher than the lower end of the hook 329, and the separated gap between the rear side of the hook 329 and the front side of the controller 320 corresponds to the back/forth depth of the hook receiving groove 348.

[78] The power supply terminal 340a is provided on the left side of the central portion of the installation plate 340. The power supply terminal 340a is connected to the end of the electric cord P, and contacts the power connection terminal 320a to supply power applied through the electric cord P to the power connection terminal 320a.

[79] Therefore, the power supply terminal 340a and the power connection terminal 320a may be formed at the same position and height on planes facing each other.

[80] A process of installing the controller 320 having the above-described construction on a wall surface using the installation plate 340 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

[81] To install the controller 320 to the wall surface, the end of the electric cord P laid inside the wall surface is drawn to the indoor space, and then connected to the power supply terminal 340a. After that, the electric cord P is fit in the electric cord receiving groove 342, so that it does not protrude from the rear side of the installation plat4e 340.

[82] After that, the rear side of the installation plate 340 is allowed to contact the desired position of the wall surface to which the controller 320 is to be installed, and then coupling members are inserted into the coupling holes 341. When the ends of the coupling members inserted into the coupling holes 341 are coupled on the wall surface, the installation plate 340 is not separated from the wall surface.

[83] After that, the controller 320 is inclined as illustrated in FIG. 6 to allow the fitting protuberances 326 to be inserted into the protuberance receiving holes 344. In more detail, the height difference portion 345 is inserted to the left side of the interference portion 327, and the seat rib 346 is inserted into the seat space 328a.

[84] Therefore, the left movement of the upper portion of the controller 320 is restricted by fit-coupling between the interference portion 327 and the height difference portion 345. The back/forth movement of the upper portion of the controller 320 is restricted by matching between the seat space 328a and the seat rib 346.

[85] After that, the right lower portion of the controller 320 is got close to the left lower portion of the installation plate 340 by rotating the controller 320 counterclockwise with respect to the interference portion 327 and the height difference portion 345.

[86] At this point, the hook 329 is inserted into the hook receiving groove 348, so that the inclined lower surface of the hook 329 is interfered with and warped upward. Also, the warped hook 329 is inserted into the hook receiving groove 348 while maintaining elastic restoring force.

[87] When the hook 329 is inserted into the hook receiving groove 348 completely, a state illustrated in FIG. 4 is achieved.

[88] That is, the left side of the hook 329 contacts the right side of the installation plate

340 to restrict the movement of the lower portion of the controller 320. The power connection terminal 320a and the power supply terminal 340a contact each other to deliver power applied through the electric cord P to the controller 320.

[89] The installation of the controller 320 using the installation plate 340 is completed through the above-described process. In the case where a user intends to detach the controller 320 for repairing, the user strongly pulls the lower portion of the controller 320 to the left to detach the hook 329 from the hook receiving groove 348, so that the controller 320 can be separated from the installation plate 340.

[90] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

[1] A controller assembly of an air conditioner comprising: a controller provided with a plurality of manipulation buttons to control an operating state of one of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit; and an installation plate fixed on a wall surface, and detachably coupled on one side of the controller to support the controller, the installation plate being provided with an electric cord receiving groove receiving an electric cord, and a power supply terminal supplying power from an outside, a power connection terminal being provided on one side of the controller, and the power connection terminal selectively contacting the power supply terminal to deliver the power supplied from the power supply terminal to an inside of the controller.

[2] The controller assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electric cord receiving groove is recessed to a front from a rear side of the installation plate.

[3] The controller assembly according to claim 1, wherein a fitting protuberance and a protuberance receiving hole, and a hook and a hook receiving groove are provided on one sides of the controller and the installation plate, the fitting protuberance and the protuberance receiving hole being fit-coupled to each other to allow the controller and the installation plate to restrict each other, and the hook and the hook receiving groove being hook-coupled to each other to restrict the controller and a lower portion of the installation plate to each other.

[4] The controller assembly according to claim 3, wherein an interference portion and a seat guide are provided on one side of the fitting protuberance, the interference portion passing through the protuberance receiving hole, and receiving an upper end of the protuberance receiving hole therein to interfere with one side of the protuberance receiving hole, and the seat guide including a seat space therein to guide a position on which an inner one side of the protuberance receiving hole is seated.

[5] The controller assembly according to claim 4, wherein a height difference portion and a seat rib are provided on one side of the protuberance receiving hole, the height difference portion having a height difference and being fitted to contact one side of the interference portion, and the seat rib protruding inward from one end of the protuberance receiving hole and being inserted into the seat space.

[6] The controller assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seat space has a width corresponding to that of the seat rib.

[7] The controller assembly according to claim 1, wherein the electric cord receiving groove comprises an electric cord fixing protuberance preventing detachment of the electric cord.