Integral type air conditioner and front panel thereof

Abstract

A front panel for an integral type air conditioner is provided. The front panel includes a side intake hole formed at a side portion thereof such that air from a space to be air conditioned is taken in there through. The front panel also has a discharge hole through which the intake air is discharged.

1 . A front panel for an air conditioner comprising: 
 a side intake hole formed at a side portion of the front panel such that air is taken in there through;    a discharge hole through which the intake air is discharged;    a discharge door for selectively shielding the discharge hole; and    a door opening/closing assembly for opening/closing the discharge door.    
   
   
       2 . The front panel structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the door opening/closing assembly comprises: 
 a driving motor arranged on the front panel for generating a rotational power;    a rotational shaft formed by extending a central shaft of the driving motor;    a pinion installed on the rotational shaft; and    a rack in mesh engagement with the pinion and fixed to the discharge door.    
   
   
       3 . The front panel structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the door opening/closing assembly further comprises: 
 a second pinion; and    a second rack.    
   
   
       4 . The front panel structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the door opening/closing assembly is formed at a rear surface of the discharge door.  
   
   
       5 . The front panel structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front intake hole formed at a front side thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The front panel structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge hole is formed at a front upper portion of the front panel.  
   
   
       7 . The front panel structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the front panel has a front surface which is rounded in a forward direction of the front panel.  
   
   
       8 . The front panel structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front intake hole formed at a front lower portion thereof.  
   
   
       9 . An integral type air conditioner comprising: 
 a compressor;    an air guide for partitioning the air conditioner into an indoor unit part and an outdoor unit part and guiding air flow;    an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a working fluid circulated by the compressor and an external air;    a fan for forcibly generating air flow in the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger;    a motor for providing a rotational force to rotate the fan;    a cabinet forming an appearance of the air conditioner; and    a front panel formed at a front side of the cabinet, the front panel having: 
 a side intake hole through which air is taken in through a side portion of the cabinet; and  
 a discharge hole formed at a predetermined location and through which cooled air is discharged.  
   
   
   
       10 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , further comprising a discharge door for selectively opening/closing the discharge hole.  
   
   
       11 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a discharge door for opening/closing the discharge hole; and    a door opening/closing assembly for allowing the discharge door to be operated.    
   
   
       12 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , further comprising a discharge door for opening/closing the discharge hole in an up and down direction.  
   
   
       13 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a discharge door for opening/closing the discharge hole; and    a door opening/closing assembly including: 
 a rack fixed on the discharge door for opening/closing the discharge door; and  
 a pinion fixed on a fixed portion of the front panel.  
   
   
   
       14 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , further comprising a front intake hole formed at a front lower portion of the front panel where the front intake hole extends in a horizontal direction.  
   
   
       15 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , further comprising a front intake hole formed at a front portion of the front panel where the front intake hole extends in a horizontal direction.  
   
   
       16 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , wherein the side intake hole is formed at sides of the integral type air conditioner.  
   
   
       17 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 9 , wherein the side intake hole extends in a longitudinal direction.  
   
   
       18 . An integral type air conditioner comprising: 
 a compressor;    a base panel on which the compressor is mounted;    an air guide for partitioning the air conditioner into an indoor unit part and an outdoor unit part and guiding air flow;    an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a working fluid circulated by the compressor and an external air;    a fan for forcibly generating air flow in the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger;    a motor for providing a rotational force to rotate the fan;    a cabinet forming an appearance of the air conditioner;    a front panel formed at a front side of the cabinet and having a discharge hole through which cooled air is discharged;    a discharge door for opening/closing the discharge hole upward or downward; and    a door opening/closing assembly for opening and closing the discharge door.    
   
   
       19 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 18 , wherein the air guide allows air to be discharged toward the front surface/the upper surface of the air conditioner.  
   
   
       20 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 18 , further comprising a filter formed at an upper portion of the air guide, for filtering discharged air.  
   
   
       21 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 18 , wherein the air guide comprises a passage guide for allowing a flow direction of the air discharged into an indoor space to be switched.  
   
   
       22 . An integral type air conditioner comprising: 
 a compressor;    a base panel on which the compressor is mounted;    an air guide for partitioning the air conditioner into an indoor unit part and an outdoor unit part and guiding air flow;    an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between a working fluid circulated by the compressor and an external air;    a fan for forcibly generating air flow in the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger;    a motor for providing a rotational force to rotate the fan;    a cabinet forming an appearance of the air conditioner;    a front panel formed at a front side of the cabinet and having a discharge hole through which cooled air is discharged;    a discharge door for opening/closing the discharge hole upward or downward; and    a door opening/closing assembly for opening and closing the discharge door.    
   
   
       23 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 22 , wherein the door opening/closing assembly comprises: 
 a passive motion part fixed to the discharge door; and    an active motion part formed at a fixed portion of the front panel.    
   
   
       24 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 22 , wherein the compressor is placed at a center portion with respect to a left side and a right side of the outdoor unit part.  
   
   
       25 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a second fan, wherein the fan and the second fan forcibly generate air flow in the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger.    
   
   
       26 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a second fan, where the fan and the second fan forcibly generate air flow in the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger wherein the compressor is formed at a center portion of the fan and the second fan.    
   
   
       27 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 23  wherein the passive motion part of the door opening/closing assembly is a rack.  
   
   
       28 . The integral type air conditioner according to  claim 23 , wherein the active motion part of the door opening/closing assembly is a pinion.