TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an air conditioner. In particular the present invention relates to an air conditioner with a louver used to adjust the output air flow.

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 output 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 can 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. Air conditioner / heat pump manufacturers.

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 as set out in the appended claims.

In accordance with the invention an air-conditioner comprising a frame and comprising a louver at an air outlet of the air-conditioner is provided. The louver is configured to be moved by a first displacement mechanism. The first displacement mechanism comprises a first pin fixedly mounted in relation to the frame of the air-conditioner. The first displacement mechanism also comprises a second pin. Further the displacement mechanism comprises a first louver link for holding the louver, and the louver link comprises a slot arranged to receive the second pin. The displacement mechanism also comprises a first crank connected in a first end to the first pin and in a second end to the first louver link. Hereby an easy to operate displacement mechanism for moving the louver is provided. The displacement mechanism can be operated using a single actuator motor and at the same time provide a large degree of movement freedom such that a large range of louver positions can be obtained using a mechanism of low complexity.

The displacement mechanism can be configured to be operated manually or the displacement mechanism can be configured to be driven by a motor.

In accordance with one embodiment multiple displacement mechanisms can be provided. For example, at least a second displacement mechanism can be provided that comprises a third pin fixedly mounted in relation to the frame of the air-conditioner and a fourth pin. The second disablement mechanism can also comprise a second louver link for holding the louver. The second louver link can comprise a slot arranged to receive the fourth pin. Also, the second displacement mechanism can comprise a second crank connected in a first end to the third pin and in a second end to the second louver link. The second displacement mechanism can typically be similar or identical to the first displacement mechanism. Hereby a robust movement of the louver can be obtained.

In accordance with some embodiments at least one or all of the crank(s) are formed in one piece. Thus, it is possible to form the crank (or cranks if multiple displacement mechanisms are used) in one single piece making the manufacturing cost low. In other words, only one single crank is needed for each displacement mechanism.

In accordance with some embodiments the louver can be formed in one piece with at least one louver link. Hence it is possible to manufacture the louver link in one piece with the louver making the manufacturing cost low and with a high robustness for the movement of the louver.

In accordance with some embodiments, the louver is formed with at least two blades. Hereby a more efficient air flow can be achieved for some

implementation.

In accordance with some embodiments, the second pin is fixedly mounted in relation to the frame of the air-conditioner. Hereby an efficient first implementation can be obtained.

In accordance with some embodiments, the second pin is mounted on the crank and the first louver link is rotatable around a joint being fixed in relation to the frame of the air-conditioner. Hereby an efficient second implementation can be obtained.

In accordance with some embodiments, at least the first pin is rotatable. Hereby it is possible to drive the displacement mechanism by rotating the first pin. For example, a motor can provided to drive the displacement mechanism, and connecting the motor to the first pin. The air-conditioner can be any type of air-conditioner and advantageously in a split air-conditioner where the mechanism is provided in the indoor unit of the split air-conditioner. The louver can then be mounted at the air output 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. 1 is a first view of an air conditioner with a louver having a displacement mechanism in accordance with a first embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a second view of an air conditioner with a louver having a

displacement mechanism in accordance with a first embodiment,

Fig. 3 is a third view of an air conditioner with a louver having a displacement mechanism in accordance with a first embodiment,

Fig. 4 is a view of an air conditioner with a louver having a displacement mechanism in accordance with a second embodiment,

Fig. 5 is a view of an air conditioner with a louver having multiple

displacement mechanisms, and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a displacement mechanism driven by a motor.

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. Also, some components typically used in an air- conditioner have been omitted to more clearly show the invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

In Fig. l a cross-sectional view of an air-conditioner to is depicted. The air- conditioner to is in Fig. l an indoor unit of a split air conditioner, but the air- conditioner 10 could be any type of air conditioner. The air-conditioner 10 comprises a frame 12 housing the components of the air conditioner. The air conditioner comprises a fan 14 configured to blow air out from the air conditioner 10 via an air outlet 16. The air outlet 16 is provided with a louver 20. The louver 20 can be moved using a displacement mechanism 22.

In Fig. 1, the louver 20 is positioned in a downward position where air blown by the fan 14 is directed downwards. This position of the louver 20 can typically be used to distribute heated air into a room.

The displacement mechanism 22 can in accordance with one embodiment comprise a first pin 24 fixedly mounted in relation to the frame 12 of the air- conditioner 10. Also, a second pin 26 is provided. The displacement mechanism 22 further comprises a first louver link 28 for holding the louver 20. The louver link 28 comprises a slot 30 arranged to receive the second pin

26. Also, a first crank 32 is provided. The first crank can be connected in a first end 31 to the first pin 24 and in a second end 33 to the first louver link 28. The louver 20 can in accordance with some embodiments be made integral with the louver link 28. In some embodiments the louver 20 comprises multiple blades 36, 38. In the embodiment shown in Fig.i two blades, a first blade 36 and a second blade 38 are provided. However, it is also envisaged to provide more than two blades or a single blade 36.

When in use, the louver 20 can be moved between different positions using the displacement mechanism 22. This allows the air directing louver 20 to have a wide range of movement and thus, of air directing possibilities. Due to the construction of the displacement mechanism 22, the louver 20 can be adjusted in a wider range than conventional louvers by using only one displacement mechanism 22. The displacement mechanism 22 only has one degree of freedom making it possible to maneuver the louver into a wide range of position only using a single motor or, when the louver is adjusted manually, one hand grip.

The displacement mechanism 22 can advantageously be made planar and can in some embodiments comprise only two free binary links, one grounded base link, two rotating joints and one pin-in-slot joint. One of the free links can be rigidly connected to the louver 20 as a louver link 28 and is connected to the fixed base link by either a rotating joint or a pin-in-slot joint. The other free link, the crank 32 has one grounded rotating joint which may or may not be coupled to an actuator such as a motor.

The louver link 28 and the crank 32 can be connected to each other by for example a moving rotating joint or by a pin-in-slot joint providing one degree of freedom.

In Fig. 2, the louver 20 of the air-conditioner 10 is positioned in a forward position where air blown by the fan 14 is directed in a forward direction. This position of the louver 20 can typically be used to distribute cooled air into a room.

As can be seen the angular displacement between the different positions of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 can be made very large by only movement in one dimension of the displacement mechanism 22 such as using only one motor. The displacement mechanism 22 as described herein allows for a combined rotational and displacement movement, the mechanism can change the louver angle by 120 degrees without reducing the air outlet area in the extreme positions

In addition, any angular displacement between the outmost positions of Fig.

1 and Fig. 2 is also possible to position the louver 20 in. In Fig. 3, the louver 20 is placed in a neutral, in between position.

In Fig. 4, a second embodiment of the displacement mechanism 22 is depicted. In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the second pin 26 is mounted on the first crank 32. Also, the first louver link 28 is rotatable around a joint 39 being fixed in relation to the frame 12 of the air-conditioner 10. To make the displacement of the louver 20 more robust and also to better support the louver 20 multiple displacement mechanisms 22 can be provided along the length of the louver. For example, two or three displacement mechanisms 22 can be provided. In accordance with some embodiments at least two displacement mechanisms 22 and 22a, one at each end of the louver 20 are provided as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig 5, an embodiment with a configuration having one displacement mechanism 22 at each end of the louver 20 is depicted. Thus, a first displacement mechanism 22 is provided at one end of the louver 20 and a second displacement 22a is provided at the other, second end of the louver 20. When a second displacement mechanism 22a is provided, the second displacement mechanism will can be provided with the corresponding or identical elements as the first displacement mechanism 22. Thus, in accordance with one embodiment the second displacement mechanism 22a can comprise a third pin fixedly mounted in relation to the frame of the air-conditioner and a fourth pin. Also, a second louver link for holding the louver can be provided. The second louver link comprises a slot arranged to receive the fourth pin. The second crank is connected in a first end to the third pin and in a second end to the second louver link.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the displacement according to the first embodiment is depicted but any type of displacement mechanism can be used. For example, two displacement mechanisms according to the embodiment of Fig. 4 can be used instead.

In Fig. 6, an implementation where the displacement mechanism 22 is driven by a motor 40 is depicted. The motor 40 can advantageously be arranged to drive the pin 12. In accordance with another embodiment, the first pin 24 can be rotatable and drive the displacement mechanism 22. However, the motor 40 can also be arranged to drive another part of the displacement mechanism

22.