TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an air conditioner. In particular the present invention relates to a filter unit for an air conditioner.

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.

Most air-conditioners are provided with an air filter for filtering the air passing through the air conditioner. In particular, air can be filtered in the indoor part of the air conditioner when the air-conditioner is of a split type. The filter is typically located inside or above but before the heat exchanger to collect dust or particles to provide better air quality in the indoor space where the air conditioner is located. While providing for a better air-quality the filter typically also has the negative effect that the air flow rate through the air-conditioner drops and this effects performance of the air-conditioner negatively.

For example, CN201476182U shows a filter unit that can be attached to an indoor unit of a split air-conditioner.

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 filtering in an air- conditioner

These objects and or others are obtained by an air conditioner and a filter unit as set out in the appended claims.

As has been realized by the inventors, existing filter air filter mechanisms for air conditioners are designed small in size or are given low efficiency in order to avoid air flow rate drop. As a result, filtration performance is very limited to not reduce air conditioning performance. This is however not desired, in particular in areas suffering from bad air conditions such as smog. Another example of when it is not desired to compromise with the air-filtering is in indoor spaces having high requirements as to air quality, such as hospitals or in residences where people with higher demands on air-quality are staying.

As has been further realized by the inventors, conventional air-conditioners are provided with a fixed filter solution that is pre-inserted or installed on the air conditioners. With such a fixed installation, the filtering mechanism cannot take into account the variations in air quality, but the filtering provided as constant even though the air quality can shift within a broad range.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, a filtering unit is provided that can change the filtering function by opening or closing the filter unit thereby enabling the filtering to be different at different points in time.

In accordance with the invention a filter unit configured to be mounted on an air-conditioner is provided. The filter unit comprises a moving part holding at least one filter. The moving part is configured to be driven between at least a first position and a second position. Hereby the filter of the moving part can be driven between a position where air is filtered to a higher degree and a position where air is filtered to a lower degree. In other words, the filtering can be varied by moving the moving part between the at least first position and second position. The at least one filter can be implemented by a filter module placed in the moving part.

In accordance with one embodiment, in the first position, the filter unit is configured to be in a completely closed position where all air passing through the filter unit passes through the moving part. Hereby a mode with a high degree of filtering can be obtained.

In accordance with one embodiment, the moving part is configured to rotate between the at least first position and second position. Hereby an efficient moving mechanism can be provided that is easy to implement and which can move the filter between an open position with no or relatively little air passing through the filter and a closed position with all or relatively much air passing through the filter. In accordance with one embodiment, the moving part is configured to be moved continuously between an open position and a closed position. Hereby only a part of the air through the air-conditioner can be filtered and the other part enter the air-conditioner unfiltered.

In accordance with one embodiment, the filter unit is a separate unit having a separate power supply. Hereby the filter unit can be a stand-alone unit that can be bought and installed separately from the air-conditioner itself. It will then become possible to supplement an existing air-conditioner with a filter unit providing all the benefits provided by the filter unit as described herein.

In accordance with one embodiment, a motor is provided in the filter unit for driving the moving part. Hereby the filter unit can be driven automatically and also there is no need to rely on driving means from an external source.

In accordance with one embodiment, a particle sensor and or a gas sensor can be provided in the filter unit. Hereby the filtering can be made in response to the existing air conditions and filtering need only take place when there is determined to be a need. In accordance with one embodiment a visual indicator can be used to indicate the air quality. In accordance with one embodiment, the filter unit is configured to set the position of the moving part in response to the output from the particle and or gas sensor.

In accordance with one embodiment a remote-control input configured to receive an input signal to control the position of the moving part is provided. Hereby a user can set the desired position for the filter unit. For example, a user may want to increase the air-conditioning at the expense of air-quality at some time or vice versa.

In accordance with one embodiment the filter unit is configured to be mounted on the air-inlet of an indoor unit of a split air conditioner. Hereby the filter unit can be easily mounted on an existing air-conditioner without having to modify the existing air-conditioner.

The invention also extends to an air conditioner having a filter unit in accordance with the above. In particular, the air-conditioner can be a split air-conditioner with the filter unit is mounted on the air inlet 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:

Figs la and lb show a general view of an openable filter unit for an air conditioner,

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective illustrating a filter unit mounted on an indoor unit of an air-conditioner, and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the filter unit depicted in Fig. 2.

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 filter unit as described herein is shown mounted on an indoor unit of a split air-conditioner, but the filter unit could equally be mounted on any type of air conditioner. Also, the filter unit is described as being placed on the air intake of the air conditioner, but it is also envisaged that the filter unit can be located at the air-exhaust. Some components can be omitted from different embodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

As has been realized, it can be advantageous to adapt the air-filtering to the current need for air filtering. This is obtained by a filter unit that can be placed either in a first position where filtering is performed or in a second position where filtering is not performed or at least performed to a lesser extent than in the first position. Hereby it is achieved that the filtering can be adapted to the current need for air filtering in the air-conditioner.

In Figs la and lb, a general view of a filter unit 102 for an air-conditioner is depicted. The filtering unit 102 comprises a frame 104 holding the parts of the filter unit 102. The filter unit 102 further comprises a moving part 106 comprising at least one air filter 103 and a motor 108 for moving the moving part 106. By moving the moving part 106, air entering an air conditioner can either, when the moving part is in a first position be forced to pass via the at least one filter 103 of the moving part or, when the moving part is in a second position air can enter, at least partly, the air-conditioner without passing the filter of the moving part 106. Thus, by moving the moving part between at least two positions, the air entering the air-conditioner either be made to pass the filter 103 of the filter unit or not. Hereby it is made possible to only perform filtering when needed. In particular, the first position can be a completely closed position where all air entering the air-conditioner needs to pass a filter. The second position can be a fully open position where no air entering the air conditioner passes through a filter. In Figs la and lb, the moving part opens and closes using a rotating mechanism and use existing fan and air flow of split air conditioners. The filter unit can comprise filters, a motor such as a step motor. Further, a particle matter measuring sensor can be provided to provide input to a controller configured to open and close the filter unit in response to a measured particle matter value. Also, the filter unit can in accordance with some embodiments have a remote control that can be used to open and close the filter unit. The filters used can be electret and low pressure drop type filters to provide better air purification. When air purification is not needed, the filter unit can open by rotating up and the air conditioner can run on cooling or heating without any performance loss.

While a rotating mechanism is described herein, other mechanisms for changing the position of the moving part and thereby the filter(s) are possible such as moving the moving part back and forth between two positions or any other known mechanism for changing the position of a moving part that can hold an air-filter to make air either pass the through the filter or go around it when entering the air-conditioner. Further, in accordance with some embodiments the moving part can be moved continuously between an open position where no air is filtered and a closed position where all air entering the air-conditioner is filtered. In one embodiment the moving part can be placed in any position between the open position and the closed position.

In Fig. 2, an exemplary embodiment with a filter unit 102 mounted on an indoor unit 101 of a split air conditioner is shown. The filter unit 102 can in accordance with some embodiments be a separate unit that can be separately placed on top of the indoor unit 101. The filter unit can therefore in

accordance with one embodiment be separately powered. To this end a separate power cord 107 can be provided on the filter unit 102. The filter unit 102 is mounted to cover the air intake of the indoor unit 101. Thus, when the moving part 106 is in a closed position as is shown in Fig. 2, air entering the indoor unit 101 must pass through the filter of the moving part 106. On the other hand, when the moving part 106 opens, air can, at least partly, enter the indoor unit without passing through the filter of the moving part 106. In Fig. 3, a view similar to the view on Fig. 2 is shown, but where the filter unit 102 is shown in an exploded view. The filter unit 102 comprises a frame having a bottom section 117, here formed by two bars. The frame can also comprise two side sections 121, 122. The frame can in accordance with some embodiments be attachable to an air-conditioner by some suitable

attachment means such as screws or similar. In Fig. 3 the attachment means are adhesive strips 119.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the moving part comprises 106 a top cover 109. The top cover can have a grill for letting air through. Further, at least one filter can be provided. The at least one filter can be formed by filter module(s). For example, a filter module 111 can be provided in the moving part. The filter module 111 can for example comprise an IDF filter (intense dielectric filter) or any other kind of electric filter. Some other kind of conventional particle filter can also be used to capture small particles in the moving part. There can further be another filter module such as a HACD (pollutant gas absorbing carbon filter) or an active carbon filter 113 provided in the moving part. Thus, the moving part comprises at least one filter 111,

113. The moving part can be held in a cover bottom 115. Further, a sealing 116 can be provided between the cover bottom 115 and the bottom section such that when the cover bottom of the openable moving part rests against the bottom section there is a sealing provided to only allow air to enter the air- conditioner via the filter(s) of the filter unit. In other words, when the moving part 106 is closed air cannot slip by the filtering provided by the filter unit.

For controlling the position of the moving part, a controlled motor 108 can in some embodiments be provided. The motor 108 can for example be a step motor. The input signal to the controlled motor can be received from different sources and the controlled motor can be run in different modes of operation. For example, a particle sensor 140 or a gas sensor can be provided to output a signal indicative of the air quality. The output from the particle sensor 140 can be displayed and a user can, for example, via a remote control and a corresponding remote-control sensor 150 of the filter unit 102 control the position of the moving part. In another mode of operation, the position can be automatically set based on the signal from the particle sensor 140.

Using the filter unit as described herein can provide an efficient air purification when used in an air-conditioner. The filter unit can efficiently purify air from harmful or undesired particles. At the same time the efficiency of the air-conditioner can be high in that the filter unit allows for a high airflow when there is no need for air purification or when the efficiency of high performance of the air-conditioner is prioritized. This can be achieved without having to manually manipulate the filtering.