Air Conditioner

The present application is continuation of International Application No PCT/CN2025/090150, filed on Apr. 21, 2025, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202410504257.4, filed on Apr. 24, 2024, Chinese Patent Application No. 202420873009.2, filed on Apr. 24, 2024, Chinese Patent Application No. 202510391694.4, filed on Mar. 29, 2025, Chinese Patent Application No. 202520583526.0, filed on Mar. 29, 2025, Chinese Patent Application No. 202520583563.1, filed on Mar. 29, 2025, and Chinese Patent Application No. 202520583689.9, filed on Mar. 29, 2025. The entire disclosures of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air conditioning, and in particular to an air conditioner.

An air conditioner is usually composed of major components such as a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a fan. Among the main components, the compressor is responsible for driving a refrigerant circulation, the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger respectively serve as a condenser and an evaporator for releasing heat and absorbing heat, and the fan is used for accelerating an air flow to enhance heat exchange efficiency.

There is provided an air conditioner for starting a target function according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The technical solution is as below:

Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air conditioner. The air conditioner comprises: a housing, which forms an outer shell of the air conditioner, where an accommodating space is disposed in the housing; a refrigerant circuit, disposed in the accommodating space, where the refrigerant circuit comprises a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchanger connected end to end; an air inlet pipe, provided outside the housing, where the air inlet pipe is used for introducing outdoor air; and an outdoor air duct shell, wherein an air inlet end of the outdoor air duct shell is in communication with the air inlet pipe, and is in communication with an outdoor space through the air inlet pipe, and an air outlet end of the outdoor air duct shell faces the outdoor heat exchanger. A drainage hole is disposed on an inner bottom surface of the outdoor air duct shell, and a water guiding structure is disposed below the drainage hole. A water collection groove is disposed in the accommodating space and is disposed below the water guiding structure. Water in the outdoor air duct shell is capable of being discharged downward through the drainage hole and flowing into the water collection groove through the water guiding structure.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, but not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments provided by the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those ordinarily skilled in the art fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

In related air conditioners, an air conditioner generally includes an air inlet pipe connected to the outdoors. During weather such as strong wind and heavy rain, rainwater easily enters the air conditioner through the air inlet pipe and flows to a ground surface along an outer shell of the air conditioner, causing customer complaints.

To solve the foregoing problem, as shown in, in an air conditioner disposed in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the air conditioner comprises a housing. The housingis configured to be an outer shell of the exterior of the air conditioner. An interior of the housingis used for providing a mounting space.

In some embodiments, the housinghas a rectangular hollow structure. A length direction of the housingis disposed along a height direction, so that the air conditioner is disposed upright at a site of use, which increases a height of the air conditioner and reduces space occupation of the air conditioner.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the housingcomprises a main shell. The main shellis disposed to extend along the height direction. A height dimension of the main shellis greater than a left-right width dimension and a front-rear width dimension of the main shell, so as to increase the height of the housingand reduce the space occupation of the housing.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the housingcomprises a chassis. The chassisis disposed at a bottom of the main shell. An accommodating spaceis formed above a top of the chassisand inside the main shell. The accommodating spaceis used as a mounting space for other components of the air conditioner.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, a circumferential side of the chassisis provided with a base foot. The base footis disposed to extend toward an outer periphery direction of the chassis, and the base footis used for increasing a contact area between a bottom of the housingand a ground surface, thereby improving reliability of support of the chassisfor the air conditioner and improving stability of the air conditioner.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, a plurality of the base feetare provided. The plurality of base feetare connected sequentially end-to-end, so that the plurality of base feetare disposed circumferentially around the circumferential side of the chassis. In this way, the plurality of base feetform an annular structure disposed on an outer circumferential side of the chassis, which improves a structural strength among the plurality of base feetand forms a complete annular structure; at the same time, bumping of a user against the base footis avoided, improving safety in use of the air conditioner.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit is disposed in the housing. The refrigerant circuit is disposed in the accommodating space. The refrigerant circuit comprises a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchangerconnected end to end. A refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit composed of the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger. During a refrigerant circulation process, the outdoor heat exchangerand the indoor heat exchangerserve as a condenser and an evaporator, respectively, to cause the refrigerant to evaporate and absorb heat in the evaporator and to condense and release heat in the condenser, so that a refrigerating cycle or a heating cycle of the air conditioner can be executed.

Specifically, during the refrigerating cycle, the outdoor heat exchangerserves as the condenser, and the indoor heat exchangerserves as the evaporator. During the heating cycle, the outdoor heat exchangerserves as the evaporator, and the indoor heat exchangerserves as the condenser.

It should be noted that both the refrigerating cycle and the heating cycle include a series of processes, involving compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and supplying the refrigerant to air that has been conditioned and has undergone heat exchange.

The compressoris used for compressing a refrigerant gas and discharging the compressed refrigerant gas. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser.

The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and heat is released to the ambient environment through the condensing process.

The evaporator evaporates the expanded refrigerant, and causes the refrigerant gas in a low-temperature and low-pressure state to return to the compressor. The evaporator can achieve a refrigerating effect through heat exchange with the surrounding environment by utilizing latent heat of evaporation of the refrigerant.

During the whole circulation, the air conditioner may adjust the temperature of the indoor space to improve the comfort level of the indoor space and enhance the usage experience of the user.

As shown in,, and, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises an outdoor fan assembly. The outdoor fan assemblyis disposed opposite to the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor fan assemblyis used for introducing outdoor air into an interior of the housingto perform heat exchange with the outdoor heat exchanger, forming a heat exchange air flow.

For example, during the refrigerating cycle, the outdoor heat exchangerserves as the condenser, and the outdoor fan assemblydraws external air and blows the external air toward the outdoor heat exchangerto dissipate heat from the outdoor heat exchanger, so as to reduce a temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger. During the heating cycle, the outdoor heat exchangerserves as the evaporator, and the outdoor fan assemblydraws the external air and blows the external air toward the outdoor heat exchangerto raise a temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, so as to increase the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger.

As shown in,, and, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises an indoor fan assembly. The indoor fan assemblyis disposed opposite to the indoor heat exchanger. The indoor fan assemblyis used for introducing indoor air into the interior of the housingto perform heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger, forming a heat exchange air flow.

For example, during the refrigerating cycle, the indoor heat exchangerserves as the evaporator, and the indoor fan assemblydraws indoor air from outside the housing, blows the indoor air toward the indoor heat exchangerto perform heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger, reduces a temperature of the air flowing through the indoor heat exchanger, and blows the air with the reduced temperature back indoors, so as to reduce an air temperature indoors.

As another example, during the heating cycle, the indoor heat exchangerserves as the condenser, and the outdoor fan assemblydraws the indoor air from outside the housing, blows the indoor air toward the indoor heat exchangerto perform heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger, raises the temperature of the air flowing through the indoor heat exchanger, and blows the air with the raised temperature back indoors, so as to raise the air temperature indoors.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor fan assembly, the indoor heat exchanger, and the indoor fan assemblyare respectively disposed in the accommodating spaceinside the housing, such that the housingprovides a covering and protective effect, which can prevent damage to the structure caused by erosion of foreign matter from the outside or impact of an external force, thereby improving structural reliability of the air conditioner and ensuring normal operation of the air conditioner.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the accommodating spaceinside the housingcomprises three layers of sub-spaces. The three layers of sub-spaces are a first sub-space, a second sub-space, and a third sub-spacedisposed sequentially from bottom to top. The compressoris disposed in the first sub-space. The outdoor heat exchangerand the outdoor fan assemblyare disposed in the second sub-space. The indoor heat exchangerand the indoor fan assemblyare disposed in the third sub-space. In this way, through the three layers of sub-spaces from bottom to top, components such as the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor fan assembly, the indoor heat exchanger, and the indoor fan assemblyare dispersedly disposed at different height positions inside the housing, which is conducive to increasing an overall height of the air conditioner, reducing width and thickness dimensions of the air conditioner, and reducing space occupation of the air conditioner at a site of use.

As shown in,, and, in some embodiments, an outer wall of the housingis provided with an indoor air inlet. The indoor air inletis in communication with an exterior of the housing. The indoor air inletis in communication with an indoor space. The indoor air inletis disposed on an outer wall corresponding to the third sub-space, and the indoor air inletis disposed opposite to an air inlet end of the indoor heat exchangerand the indoor fan assembly. In this way, when the indoor fan assemblyis in operation, the indoor fan assemblycan draw indoor air into the interior of the housingthrough the indoor air inletto perform heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger, and the air after heat exchange is discharged again to the indoor space outside the housingthrough an air outlet end of the indoor fan assembly.

As shown in,, and, in some embodiments, the outer wall of the housingis provided with an indoor air outlet. The indoor air outletis in communication with the exterior of the housing. The indoor air outletis in communication with the indoor space. The indoor air outletis disposed on the outer wall corresponding to the third sub-space, and the indoor air outletis disposed opposite to the air outlet end of the indoor fan assembly. In this way, when the indoor fan assemblyis in operation, the indoor fan assemblydraws the indoor air through the indoor air inlet, and after performing heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger, the indoor air is discharged again to the indoor space outside the housingthrough the air outlet end of the indoor fan assemblyand the indoor air outlet.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the outer wall of the housingis provided with an air deflector. The air deflectoris rotatably disposed at the indoor air outlet. A plurality of the air deflectorsare provided, and the plurality of air deflectorsare disposed side by side at the indoor air outlet. When the air deflectorrotates, the air deflectoropens or closes the indoor air outlet. When the air deflectorrotates to open the indoor air outlet, the air deflectorcan also change an air outlet direction of the indoor air outlet.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises an air inlet pipe. The air inlet pipeis disposed in a space outside the housing. The air inlet pipeis used for introducing outdoor air. One end of the air inlet pipeis in communication with an air inlet end of the outdoor fan assembly. The other end of the air inlet pipeis in communication with an outdoor space. An air outlet end of the outdoor fan assemblyis disposed to face the outdoor heat exchanger. In this way, the outdoor fan assemblycan draw air from the outdoor space through the air inlet pipe, introduce the outdoor air into the interior of the housing, and blow the outdoor air toward the outdoor heat exchangerto raise or lower a temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger.

As shown inand, the air conditioner comprises an air outlet pipe. The air outlet pipeis disposed in the space outside the housing. The air outlet pipeis used for exhausting air to the outdoors, so as to discharge air inside the housingto the outdoors. One end of the air outlet pipeis in communication with an interior space of the housing. The other end of the air outlet pipeis in communication with the outdoor space. In this way, when the outdoor fan assemblyis in operation, the outdoor fan assemblycan draw air from the outdoor space through the air inlet pipe, introduce the outdoor air into the interior of the housing, and blow the outdoor air toward the outdoor heat exchanger, and cause the air inside the housingthat has flowed through the outdoor heat exchangerto be discharged to the outdoor space through the air outlet pipe, achieving an outdoor air circulation.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the air inlet pipeis also used for exhausting air, and the air outlet pipeis also used for intaking air. The air outlet pipecan introduce outdoor air into the interior of the housingfor heat exchange with the outdoor heat exchanger. The air after heat exchange can be delivered to the outdoors through the air inlet pipeunder an action of the outdoor fan assembly.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air inlet pipeand the air outlet pipeare disposed on an outer side of the third sub-space. An upper part of the housingis provided with a receiving regionrecessed in an outer wall corresponding to the third sub-space. The air inlet pipeand the air outlet pipeare disposed in the receiving region, such that the air inlet pipeand the air outlet pipeare disposed above the second sub-space, and such that the air inlet pipeand the air outlet pipeare disposed above the outdoor heat exchangerand the outdoor fan assembly.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air inlet pipeand the air outlet pipeare disposed side by side in the receiving regionon the outer wall of the housing. A lower end of the air inlet pipeis in communication with the air inlet end of the outdoor fan assembly. A lower end of the air outlet pipeis in communication with the second sub-spaceinside the housing. An upper end of the air inlet pipeand an upper end of the air outlet pipeare connected to the outdoor space. During an mounting process of the air conditioner, the air inlet pipeand the air outlet pipeare elongated and are installed and fixed on a wall or a window, thereby communicating with the outdoor space.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises a second water receiving tray. The second water receiving trayis disposed in the accommodating spaceinside the housing. The second water receiving trayis disposed in a region between the first sub-spaceand the second sub-space. The outdoor heat exchangeris provided above the second water receiving tray. The second water receiving trayis used for receiving condensate water flowing down from an outer wall of the outdoor heat exchanger. When the air conditioner performs heating, a refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat in the outdoor heat exchanger, which causes a surface temperature of the outdoor heat exchangerto decrease, and water vapor in the air condenses into water upon encountering cold, thereby falling into the second water receiving trayat a bottom of the outdoor heat exchanger, and being collected in the second water receiving trayor discharged through a drainage outlet on the second water receiving tray, which can prevent the condensate water from dripping onto the ground surface and causing a risk of the air conditioner slipping and a person falling.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, a bottom port of the air outlet pipeis disposed in a space above the second water receiving tray. After rainwater from the outdoors enters the housingthrough the air outlet pipe, the rainwater is received by the second water receiving tray, which prevents the rainwater from flowing directly to other regions inside the housing, or seeping out of the housingto flow to the ground surface.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, a side wall of the second water receiving trayis provided with a first drainage outlet. The first drainage outletis provided with a drain valve. The drain valveblocks the first drainage outlet. When the drain valveopens the first drainage outlet, the first drainage outletis in communication with an exterior of the second water receiving tray, and water in the second water receiving trayflows out of the second water receiving traythrough the first drainage outlet.

As shown inand, the drain valveis provided outside the housing, and the first drainage outletis in communication with the exterior of the housing. When the drain valveopens the first drainage outlet, the water in the second water receiving trayflows out to the exterior of the housingthrough the first drainage outlet.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises a first water receiving tray. The first water receiving trayis disposed in the accommodating spaceinside the housing. The first water receiving trayis disposed in a region between the second sub-spaceand the third sub-space. The indoor heat exchangeris provided above the first water receiving tray. The indoor fan assemblyis provided above the first water receiving tray. The first water receiving trayis used for receiving condensate water flowing down from an outer wall of the indoor heat exchanger. When the air conditioner performs cooling, a refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat in the indoor heat exchanger, which causes a surface temperature of the indoor heat exchangerto decrease, and water vapor in the air condenses into water upon encountering cold, thereby falling into the first water receiving trayat a bottom of the indoor heat exchanger, and being collected in the first water receiving trayor discharged through a drainage outlet on the first water receiving tray, which can prevent the condensate water from dripping onto the ground surface and causing a risk of the air conditioner slipping and a person falling.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, a bottom surface of the first water receiving trayis provided with a second drainage outlet (not shown in the figure). The second drainage outlet is provided above the outdoor heat exchangerand the second water receiving tray. Condensate water in the first water receiving trayflows to the outdoor heat exchangerthrough the second drainage outlet to cool the outdoor heat exchanger, and then flows downward to the second water receiving trayalong the outer wall of the outdoor heat exchanger. In this way, the condensate water in the first water receiving trayis discharged to be collected in the second water receiving tray, and the outdoor heat exchangeris cooled through heat exchange between the condensate water and the outdoor heat exchanger. For example, when the air conditioner performs cooling, the outdoor heat exchangerserves as a condenser and needs to dissipate heat to the outside, and the indoor heat exchangerserves as an evaporator and needs to absorb heat from the outside. Air condenses into condensate water on a surface of the indoor heat exchanger, the condensate water flows to the first water receiving trayalong the surface of the indoor heat exchanger, flows to the outer wall of the outdoor heat exchangerthrough the second drainage outlet of the first water receiving trayto dissipate heat from and cool the outdoor heat exchanger, and finally flows downward to be collected in the second water receiving trayalong the outer wall of the outdoor heat exchanger.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises a housing, the housingcomprises a main shelland a chassis, and the main shelland the chassisform an internal accommodating space. The air conditioner comprises a refrigerant circuit, where the refrigerant circuit is disposed in the accommodating space and comprises a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected end to end. One of the condenser and the evaporator is an outdoor heat exchanger, and the other is an indoor heat exchanger. The air conditioner comprises an outdoor fan assembly, where the outdoor fan assemblyis disposed on one side of the outdoor heat exchangerto drive outdoor air to flow through the outdoor heat exchangerfor heat exchange. The air conditioner comprises an indoor fan assembly, where the indoor fan assemblyis disposed on one side of the indoor heat exchangerto drive indoor air to flow through the indoor heat exchangerfor heat exchange. The air conditioner comprises a second water receiving tray, and the outdoor heat exchangeris provided above the second water receiving tray. The air conditioner comprises a first water receiving tray, and the indoor heat exchangeris provided above the first water receiving tray. The first water receiving trayis provided above the outdoor heat exchanger. The air conditioner comprises an air inlet pipe, where the air inlet pipeis used for sending outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchangerfor heat exchange. The air conditioner comprises an air outlet pipe, where the air outlet pipeis used for sending the heat-exchanged air to the outdoors under an action of the outdoor fan assembly. The air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe are provided above the outdoor heat exchanger and are spaced apart from the indoor fan assembly in a horizontal direction. The compressor is disposed at a bottom of the shell, and the first water receiving tray is provided above the compressor.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the air conditioner comprises a support member. The support memberis disposed in the housing. The support memberis disposed in the main shell. The support memberis disposed in the accommodating space. The support memberis used for supporting an internal structure of the air conditioner. For example, the support memberis used for supporting the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor fan assembly, the second water receiving tray, the indoor heat exchanger, the indoor fan assembly, the first water receiving tray, etc., thereby increasing a structural strength and structural stability of an interior of the air conditioner.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, a lower part of the support memberis disposed in the first sub-space, and a bottom end of the support memberis supported and fixed on the chassis. An upper part of the support memberis disposed in the second sub-space, and a top end of the support memberis supported on a bottom of the first water receiving tray, which facilitates mounting of the indoor heat exchangerand the indoor fan assemblyon the first water receiving tray, such that the indoor heat exchangerand the indoor fan assemblyare supported on the top end of the support memberthrough the first water receiving tray, thereby improving structural stability of the indoor heat exchangerand the indoor fan assemblyin the third sub-space.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the second water receiving trayis supported and fixed on the upper part of the support member, which facilitates mounting of the outdoor heat exchangeron the second water receiving tray, and being supported and fixed on the support memberthrough the second water receiving tray. The outdoor fan assemblyis disposed on the upper part of the support member. In this way, it is convenient to improve the structural stability of the outdoor heat exchangerand the outdoor fan assemblyin the second sub-space.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the support memberis also used for supporting any one or more of the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor fan assembly, the second water receiving tray, the indoor heat exchanger, the indoor fan assembly, and the first water receiving tray. For example, the support memberis also used for separately supporting the outdoor heat exchangerand/or the indoor heat exchanger.

In some embodiments, the outdoor fan assemblycomprises an outdoor air duct shell. An outdoor air duct is formed in an interior of the outdoor air duct shell. An air inlet end of the outdoor air duct shellis in communication with the outdoors, and an air outlet end of the outdoor air duct shellfaces the outdoor heat exchanger. Specifically, the air inlet end of the outdoor air duct shellis in communication with the air inlet pipe, and communicates with the outdoor space through the air inlet pipe. The air outlet end of the outdoor air duct shellis disposed to face the outdoor heat exchanger. In this way, the air duct in the outdoor air duct shellcan draw air from the outdoor space through the air inlet pipe, introduce the outdoor air into the interior of the housing, and blow the outdoor air toward the outdoor heat exchangerto raise or lower a temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger.

As shown in,, and, in some embodiments, the outdoor air duct shellcomprises a volute component. The volute componentis fixed on the support member. The air duct in the outdoor air duct shellis formed in the volute component.

It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the outdoor air duct shelldoes not adopt the volute component, that is, a volute structure is not adopted, and the outdoor air duct shelladopts an air duct shell component of another shape.

As shown inand, in some embodiments, the upper part of the support memberforms a volute portion. The volute componentis fixed on the volute portion, so that the volute componentis fixed on the support member. The volute componentand the volute portionare joined to form a volute structure, and an outdoor air duct is formed in the volute structure. That is, the volute componentand the volute portionare joined to form a complete outdoor air duct shell. The volute structure has an air inlet end and an air outlet end. The air inlet end of the volute structure is in communication with the air inlet pipe, and thus is in communication with the outdoor space. The air outlet end of the volute structure is in communication with the second sub-spaceand is disposed to face the outdoor heat exchanger.