Air-conditioning apparatus with vibration-damper

Abstract

An air-conditioning apparatus, for treating air in enclosed environments, endowed with a constructive arrangement capable of absorbing vibrations of its inner components. The air-conditioning apparatus includes at least a cabinet, arranged to accommodate internal components of the apparatus, endowed with at least an outer face. The apparatus includes at least an absorber capable of absorbing vibrations from internal components of the apparatus. The absorber means is disposed tangentially to at least an outer face of the cabinet.

Claims

1. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising a cabinet arranged to accommodate internal components of the apparatus, the cabinet having a plurality of outer faces, wherein said apparatus comprises a vibration absorber configured to be disposed between the plurality of outer faces of the cabinet and a surrounding wall of an environment where the apparatus is installed for dampening the transmission of vibrations and sound between the cabinet and the surrounding wall, the vibration absorber having a profile including a U-shaped cavity defined by a first wall and a second wall parallel to and thicker than the first wall, wherein the vibration absorber is disposed tangentially to the plurality of outer faces of said cabinet; wherein the vibration absorber defines a first encasing frame which simultaneously touches at least two of the plurality of outer faces of the cabinet; wherein the second wall has a profile endowed with an H-shaped, enclosed longitudinal cavity.

2. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration absorber is made of flexible polymer.

3. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flexible polymer consists of an elastomer.

4. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elastomer consists of nitrile rubber or pure rubber.

5. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the vibration absorber further comprises a second encasing frame.

6. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said first encasing frame is associable to an internal side of the surrounding wall of said environment where the apparatus is installed and the second encasing frame is associable to an outer side of the surronding wall of said environment.

7. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer faces of the cabinet comprises a lower outer face, a left-side outer face, an upper outer face and a right-side outer face that form an internally hollow rectangular prism.

8. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer faces of the cabinet includes a lower outer face and the vibration absorber extends along opposite ends of the lower outer face of the cabinet.

9. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer face includes a left-side outer face and the vibration absorber extends along opposite ends of the left-side plurality of outer faces of the cabinet.

10. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer face includes an upper outer face and the vibration absorber extends along opposite ends of the upper plurality of outer faces of the cabinet.

11. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer face includes a right-side outer face and the vibration absorber extends along opposite ends of the right-side plurality of outer faces of the cabinet.

12. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration absorber consists of a single part that extends along the plurality of outer faces of the cabinet.

13. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vibration absorber is associated to the plurality of outer faces of the cabinet by an adhesive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The objectives, technical effects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description below which makes reference to the accompanying drawings. Said drawings are schematic, their dimensions and proportions may not correspond to reality, since they are intended merely to illustrate the invention in a didactic manner and illustrate exemplary but not limitative embodiments of the invention, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an air-conditioning apparatus installed on a wall, according to a first particular embodiment of the present invention, in which the absorber means is shown in partial cut-away;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an air-conditioning apparatus according to a second particular embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective (front) view of the absorber means of the air-conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective (rear) view of the absorber means of the air-conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a structure of the absorber means shown in FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the profile of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a profile of a support base of the absorber means shown in FIG. 4;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the profile of the support base shown in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of an air-conditioning apparatus according to a third particular embodiment of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective (rear) view of the absorber means of the air-conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of a profile of the absorber means shown in FIG. 10;

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the profile shown in FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a first way of installing the third embodiment of the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention, using two absorber means;

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates a second way of installing the third embodiment of the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention, using two absorber means; and

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates a third way of installing the third embodiment of the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention, using two absorber means.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(17) Initially, it has to be highlighted that the air-conditioning apparatus 1, object of the present invention, will now be described according to particular but not limitative embodiments, since their embodiments could be carried out in different ways and variations and in accordance with the desired application.

(18) Preferentially, but not compulsorily, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 of the invention is of the window type, for installation in households or business establishments. Alternatively, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 may consist, for example, of a split-type or may be used in an industrial application.

(19) According to FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 comprises at least a cabinet 2 arranged to accommodate internal components of the apparatus 1. Said internal components consist of, for example, compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, thermostat, ventilator/blower etc., which are associated to each other by means of ducts and coils, so as to make up the cooling or heating system. Electrical or electronic circuits and systems also associated to the internal components may be present if the air-conditioning apparatus is controlled by electronic means.

(20) The cabinet 2 is endowed with at least an outer face 4, 5, 6, 7, and, in the particular embodiment of the invention, the cabinet 2 comprises four outer faces 4, 5, 6, 7, namely, a lower outer face 4, a left-side outer face 5, an upper outer face 6 and a right-side outer face 7, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9.

(21) Further, according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the four outer faces 4, 5, 6, 7 of the cabinet 2 form an internally hollow rectangular prism. In this cabinet arrangement 2, the outer faces 4, 5, 6, 7 are associated to a front panel and a rear panel, also comprised by apparatus 1. In other words, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 of the invention has particularly the format of a rectangular box whose sides are formed by the outer faces 4, 5, 6, 7, a front panel and a rear panel. Naturally, other formats and designs of the cabinet 2 can be used.

(22) The air-conditioners of the window type generally comprise a single cabinet, whereas a split-type conditioner normally has two cabinets, one being to accommodate components of the evaporator unit and the other to accommodate components of the condensing unit.

(23) The air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention further comprises at least an absorber means 3 capable of absorbing at least partially vibrations coming from the working of one or more internal components of the apparatus 1. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the absorber means 3 is disposed tangentially to at least an outer face 4, 5, 6, 7 of the cabinet 2. Particularly, the absorber means 3 is positioned between the cabinet 2 and a wall 11 where the apparatus 1 is installed (FIG. 1). This way, the absorber means 3 can be disposed as a stripe or furnishing in a contact region between the air-conditioning apparatus 1 and the wall 11.

(24) Particularly, the absorber means 3 is associated to the outer face 4, 5, 6, 7 of the cabinet 2 by means of adhesive, which may be provided, for example, in the form of a label (double-sided) or by applying glue.

(25) Regarding material, the absorber means 3 can be made of a flexible polymer, such as, for example, an elastomer which, in turn, may consist of nitrile rubber or pure rubber. Alternatively, other types of materials can be used that present a flexibility that is compatible with the application, such as, for example, silicone.

(26) Thus, thanks to the combination of the constructive arrangement described above and the material used, the absorber means 3 is capable of reducing, at least partially, the transmission of the vibration of the components of the apparatus 1 to the wall 11, which also lowers the level of noise transmitted by the apparatus 1 to the environment where it is installed. In other words, the absorber means 3 acts as a vibration insulator, providing an apparatus 1 more silent and suited to use in internal environments, besides providing comfort to those who occupy the internal environment and, accordingly, may be installed in environments which cannot have loud noise. Additionally, the apparatus of the invention may eliminate the need to use more expensive air-conditioning apparatuses, such as split-type apparatuses. Normally, the internal components that most contribute to the vibrations are the compressor and the ventilator, since they are associated to a relatively high-rotation gyratory movement. Said components will continue to vibrate and emit noise inside the cabinet 2, however, the absorber means 3 will act so as to absorb at least partially these vibrations and, consequently, reduce the transmission of noise of the apparatus 1 to the environment.

(27) Particularly, the absorber means 3 extends along at least two opposite faces, such as the lower outer face 4 and/or the left-side outer face 5 and/or the upper outer face 6 and/or the right-side outer face 7, so as to provide greater efficiency in absorbing the vibrations, as a greater area is covered.

(28) In the first particular embodiment of the apparatus 1 of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1, the absorber means 3 consists of a single part which extends along the perimeter of the outer faces 4, 5, 6, 7 of the cabinet 2 in a uniform manner.

(29) According to a second particular embodiment of the apparatus 1 of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 8, the absorber means 3 comprises a structure 8 and a support base 9 associated to each other. This association can be done by means of adhesive and/or encasement. Optionally, the structure 8 and the support base 9 can be made as a single part.

(30) According to FIG. 2, the structure 8 of the absorber means 3 simultaneously touches at least a portion of the left-side outer face 5, the upper outer face 6 and the right-side outer face 7 of the cabinet 2. Particularly, the structure 8 is an inverted U-shape (front view), as can be seen in FIG. 5. Further, according to FIG. 2, the support base 9 is disposed tangentially to at least a portion of the lower outer face 4 of the cabinet 2, placed between the cabinet and the wall where the apparatus is installed.

(31) The structure 8 and the support base 9 may have different profiles to each other. Particularly, according to this embodiment illustrated, the structure 8 has an L-shaped profile (cross-section), as shown in FIG. 6. Also particularly, the support base 9 may have a profile endowed with at least a U-shaped cavity, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Particularly, the profile of the support base 9 is endowed with two U-shaped cavities.

(32) In a third particular embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12, the absorber means 3 comprises at least an encasing frame 10 which simultaneously touches all the outer faces 4, 5, 6, 7 of the cabinet 2. Particularly, the encasing frame 10 has a profile endowed with a U-shaped cavity and an H-shaped longitudinal opening, as can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12. Said U-shaped cavity is arranged to fit/encase into the wall 11.

(33) In a variation of this third particular embodiment, the apparatus 1 comprises a first encasing frame 10 and the second encasing frame 10, and the first encasing frame 10 is associable to an internal side 11 of the wall 11 of the environment where the apparatus 1 is installed and the second encasing frame 10 is associable to an outer side 11 of the wall 11 of said environment, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. In this variation, the first encasing frame 10 and the second encasing frame 10 are positioned in parallel form to each other, and the distance between them may be adjusted according to the thickness of the wall 11 where the apparatus 1 is installed. For example, FIGS. 13 to 15 show three distinct installment conditions, in which the distance between the first encasing frame 10 and the second encasing frame 10 is adjusted according to the thickness of the wall 11. Owing to this arrangement, any kind of direct contact of the cabinet 2 with the wall 11 is eliminated.

(34) Although the description of the particular embodiments above draws references to commercial or residential applications the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention can be used for other types of applications and may present modifications in their form of implementation, such that the scope of protection of the invention is limited solely by the content of the accompanying claims, including all the possible equivalent variations.