OUTLET AIR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an air conditioner. In particular the present invention relates to an air conditioner with a louver for providing

comfortable outlet air.

BACKGROUND

Air conditioning is a collective expression for conditioning air into a desired state. It could be heating the air during cold periods, cooling the air during warmer periods or for cleaning the air if it contains unwanted particles.

However, the expression air conditioning is most often used when

emphasizing cooling. As a product, air conditioners can look and be used in various ways, but they all share the same basic technology. The air- conditioner comprises a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and typically also an expansion device.

There are different types of air-conditioners. One type of air-conditioner can be referred to as a split air-conditioner. In a split air conditioner, the condenser and the evaporator are located in two different separated units that are interconnected via pipes to circulate a refrigerant from one unit to the other.

Another type of air-conditioner can be referred to as a Packaged Air

Conditioner. A Packaged Air Conditioner (AC) can be said to be a type of self- contained system, in which all the cooling cycle components, such as the compressor, condenser, expansion device, evaporator and control system are enclosed in a single package. In any case, the final output from the air-conditioner is conditioned air blown into a room or some other space. It is typically desired that the air is delivered at low noise, in a sufficient amount and also the process of delivering air should be energy efficient. To direct the air into the room a so-called louver can be used at the air outlet from the air-conditioner. Thus, a louver can be described as a movable element provided to displace air blown by a fan of the air-conditioner. One or more such movable elements or louvers can be provided at the air outlet. The louver(s) can deflect the air stream and aim it at a specific direction. Louvers are of particular importance in air conditioning / heat pump units, where the ability to deliver the conditioned air in different directions. Hereby it can be made possible to improve the performance of the air-conditioner and the user comfort. In accordance with some implementations one horizontal louver which can be adjusted (automatically or manually) to direct the air up and down is combined with a number of vertical louvers which can be adjusted (automatically or manually) to direct the air from side to side. This will allow a 3-dimensional air directing.

Further, US 2018/172288 describes an air conditioner comprising a louver having holes. There is a constant desire to improve air conditioners. Hence, there exists a need for an improved air conditioner.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved air- conditioner. In particular, it is an object to improve the delivering of conditioned air from an air-conditioner.

These objects and or others are obtained by an air conditioner comprising a louver as set out in the appended claims. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an air conditioner comprising a louver is provided. The louver can be located at an air-outlet from the air-conditioner for directing outlet air. The air conditioner can comprise a displacement mechanism for displacing the louver in relation to the air-conditioner air outlet. The louver comprises a multitude of holes and the louver is adapted to be positioned by the displacement mechanism in an angled position displaced out from the air outlet at an angle where outlet air is deflected both in an upwards direction and in a downwards direction. Hereby air streams can be formed that can collide in the centre of the room. The air streams can create two vortices of slow-moving air, which give the user a sensation of being surrounded by cool air. The holes in the louver allow a small amount of air through them, which helps prevent condensation from forming in the back side of the louver when the air conditioner is working under high humidity conditions. In accordance with one embodiment, the holes are elliptically shaped. Hereby the air can flow through the holes in an efficient manner.

In accordance with one embodiment, the holes are formed diagonally through the louver. Hereby the air resistance can be reduced for air flowing through the holes. In accordance with one embodiment, the air conditioner is a split air conditioner and the louver is mounted on the air outlet of the indoor unit of the split air-conditioner. Hereby an efficient implementation in a split air- conditioner can be obtained.

In accordance with one embodiment, the angled position is such that more air is deflected in an upwards direction than in a downwards direction. For example, the angled position is such that at least 60 % of the air is directed in an upwards direction. Also, the angled position can be such that at least 20 % of the air is directed in a downwards direction. Hereby an efficient air- distributing in a room can be achieved. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a louver is provided. The louver is configured to be mounted on an air-conditioner such that air flows through the louver when the louver is in a closed position over an air outlet from the air-conditioner. The louver comprises a multitude of holes wherein the holes have an elliptical shape. Hereby a very low air velocity can be obtained for the air leaving the air-conditioner. At the same time the air resistance is low and the noise level can be reduced.

In accordance with one embodiment, the holes are formed diagonally through the louver. Hereby the holes can be set at a desired angle and in particular at an angle coinciding with the angle of the air outlet whereby the air -resistance can be even further reduced.

In accordance with one embodiment, a displacement mechanism for opening and closing the louver over the air-conditioner air outlet is provided. Hereby different modes of operation of the louver can be obtained. In particular, the displacement mechanism can be configured to set the louver in at least two different closed positions, wherein in said two different closed positions the louver is at different angles with respect to the air outlet. Hereby different air flows can be obtained to suit the need of a user.

The louver as set out herein can be mounted in an air conditioner. In particular the air conditioner can be a split air conditioner and where the louver is mounted on the air outlet of the indoor unit of the split air- conditioner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view of a louver with elliptical holes

Fig. 2 is a close up view of elliptical holes and the configuration thereof,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view from the side of a louver,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an air-conditioner provided with a louver, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an air-conditioner provided with a louver positioned in a gentle cooling position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, like or similar components of different embodiments can be exchanged between different embodiments. For example, the louver as described herein is shown mounted on an indoor unit of a split air-conditioner, but the louver could equally be mounted on any type of air conditioner. Some components can be omitted from different embodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. In order to reduce the air speed of air outlet from an air-conditioner, a louver comprising a large number of small holes can be placed over the air-outlet. Hereby the air can be more evenly spread throughout the room with at a very low air speed. In particular an air-speed below 3m/s or 1 m/s or below 0.3 m/s.

In Fig. 1 a louver 10 for an air conditioner is shown. The louver 10 comprises a large number of holes 12. The number of holes 12 can be very large such as more than one hundred and can typically be several hundreds or even thousands of holes 12 can be provided. In Fig. 1 holes 12 are shown only over a small part of the louver 10, but it is envisaged that the holes are provided over the entire louver 10 or at least over the majority of the area of the louver 10. The purpose of the holes is to catch up the air flow direction when the louver is in a closed position over an air-conditioner air outlet. A further use of the holes will be described below in conjunction with Fig. 5. In the closed position, the louver provides for a very low output air speed.

In Fig. 2, the holes 12 and the configuration of holes 12 are shown in more detail. The holes 12 can be given any suitable shape. To reduce the air resistance of the louver, the holes can in accordance with some embodiments be made elliptical. The size of the holes can be about a few mm. Such as between 1 and 10mm. For example, the width can be about 1- 5 mm and the length can be about 2 - 10 mm. In accordance with one embodiment the width of a hole is 3 mm and the length of a hole is 4 mm. The holes 12 can have a finishing for smooth air intake. The finishing can be in the order of a

0.1 - 0.5 mm such as 0.2 or 0.3 mm. The holes 12 can be placed in a triangular pattern such that the centre positions of three adjacent holes are located at the corners of a triangle. In accordance with some embodiments the triangle can be an isosceles triangle, i.e. a triangle with two equal sides Li.

The sides of such triangles can have a length of about 3 - 15 mm. For example, when the triangle is an isosceles triangle, the two equal sides Li can be about 3 - 10 mm and the third side L2 can be longer such as 4 - 15 mm depending on the length of the two equal sides. The triangle can in

accordance with one embodiment be formed approximately as a triangle with three equal sides. In such an implementation the sides Li equals the third side L2. In accordance with some embodiments the triangular pattern is formed by letting adjacent columns of holes 12 be off-set from each other. Hereby two holes of one column will not form a rectangle with two adjacent holes in an adjacent column. Also, the holes can be made in a diagonal direction through the louver 10 as will be described in more detail below.

In Fig. 3, a cross sectional view along the line A-A in Fig 1 is shown. As is illustrated the holes 12 are formed diagonally, i.e. at an angle offset from a line perpendicular to the plane of the louver 10. Hereby it is achieved that the air does not pass straight through the louver 10 but can enter and exit the holes diagonally. The air will then not leave the air-conditioner straight out from the louver 10, but at an offset angle as is illustrated in Fig. 3. The offset angle can typically be 10 -80 degrees and or 30- 60 degrees. In accordance with one embodiment the offset angle is set to match the air flow at the air- outlet from the air-conditioner as depicted in Fig. 4. In other words, the holes are provided at an angle such that the holes are parallel to the air flow at the air outlet. Further, the louver 10 can be displaced via a displacement mechanism 14 with regard to the air flow from the fan of the air-conditioner.

In Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view of an air-conditioner 20 is depicted to illustrate a louver as described herein when installed in an air-conditioner. The air-conditioner 20 is in Fig. 4 an indoor unit of a split air conditioner, but the air-conditioner 20 could be any type of air conditioner. The air- conditioner 20 comprises a frame 21 housing the components of the air conditioner. The air conditioner comprises a fan 22 configured to blow air out from the air conditioner 20 via an air outlet 24. The air outlet 24 is provided with the louver 10. In accordance with some embodiment a single louver 10 is provided. The louver 10 can be moved using the displacement mechanism. In Fig. 5 the air-conditioner 20 is shown with the louver moved to another position. The position of the louver 10 shown in Fig. 5 can be referred to as a gentle cooling position. In the gentle cooling position, the louver 10 is in an open position. In other words, the louver 10 is moved to a position distanced from the air outlet 24. Further, the louver is moved to a position with an angle such that air leaving the air outlet 24 is deflected both upwards and downwards. In other words, when the air conditioner 20 is in use, air leaving the air-conditioner will be deflected by the louver 10 both in a direction upwards and in a direction downwards. The louver will thus be in a position where air is deflected to both sides of the louver 10. In accordance with some embodiments. The louver can be positioned in a position where more air is deflected in an upwards direction than in a downwards direction. Also, a small fraction of air will pass through the holes of the louver 10. In accordance with one embodiment the louver 10 can be positioned in a gentle cooling position where at least 60 % of the air is defected in an upwards direction. In accordance with one embodiment the louver 10 can be positioned in a gentle cooling position where at least 20 % of the air is defected in an upwards position.

In accordance with one embodiment the louver can be set in a gentle cooling position and angled it so that 70% of the air goes upwards and 30% downwards. When the air streams collide in the centre of the room, the air streams create two vortices of slow-moving air, which give the user a sensation of being surrounded by cool air. The holes in the louver allow a small amount of air through them, which helps prevent condensation from forming in the back side of the louver 10 when working in high humidity conditions.

Splitting the discharge air into one upwards stream and one downwards stream creates a surround cooling effect. In this condition the user receives the cool air in an indirect way and at low velocity. Because the louver 10 is provided with holes 12, air delivery in the gentle cooling position can be made without negative effects such as formation of condensed water on the louver. Thus, as has been realized, the provision of holes on the louver will reduce or eliminate the formation of condensed water on the outer side of the louver. This can particularly be formed when cooled air is delivered from the air-conditioner 20. Especially if the air in the room where the air-conditioner is placed is warm and humid condensed water is likely to form on the outside of the louver when cooled air is blown on the inside of the louver 10. This can be particularly troublesome if the louver is in a position referred to as a gentle cooling position above, because the condensed water will then typically drip down from the lower part of the louver and can cause discomfort and other problems where the water drips.

The use of holes on the louver will prevent or at least reduce the formation of condensed water on the outside. This is at least partly because some air will pass through the louver thereby preventing formation of condensed water on the outside of the louver 10.