Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner including a housing and a fan within the housing is provided. The fan may be configured to draw air into the housing and direct air radially outward. A heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat with the air drawn into the housing. Also, at least one airflow guide may be configured to extend into a flow path of the air so that the flow of air is guided through the heat exchanger along a surface of the airflow guide.

1 . An air conditioner comprising: 
 a housing;    a fan provided within the housing, the fan being configured to draw air into the housing and direct air radially outward;    a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with the air drawn into the housing; and    at least one airflow guide configured to extend into a flow path of the air so that the flow of air is guided through the heat exchanger along a surface of the airflow guide.    
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger has multiple sides provided radially outward of the fan, 
 wherein the airflow guide is provided radially inward of the heat exchanger at a position spaced from a center of a corresponding side which the airflow guide is configured to guide air through.    
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein the airflow guide is provided within a first region of a corresponding side of the heat exchanger such that an angle formed between the flow direction of air and the corresponding air flow guide is smaller that an angle formed between the flow direction of air and a center of the corresponding side of the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , further comprising a noise reduction hole provided in a surface at which the airflow guide and the flow of air meet.  
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow guide comprises a plurality of spaced-apart airflow guides provided on corresponding sides of the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow guide extends in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the air which is directed radially outward by the fan.  
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow guide is formed on a connector which connects the heat exchanger to the housing.  
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 7 , wherein the connector includes an inner surface provided at an inner side of the heat exchanger and an outer surface provided at an outer side of the heat exchanger, the airflow guide extending from the inner surface of the connector.  
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner according to  claim 8 , wherein the inner surface and the outer surface define a through-hole through which air passes.  
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow guide is coupled to a tube of the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner according to  claim 10 , wherein the airflow guide includes a coupling part which couples the airflow guide to the tube.  
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow guide extends from a fin of the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         13 . An air conditioner comprising: 
 a housing;    a fan provided within the housing, the fan being configured to draw air within the housing and direct air radially outward;    a heat exchanger provided within the housing and radially outward of the fan, to exchange heat with air; and    an airflow guide provided radially inward of the heat exchanger, the airflow guide being configured to extend into a flow path of the air such that air drawn by the fan passes through the heat exchanger along a surface of the airflow guide,    wherein the airflow guide is provided within a first region of a corresponding side of the heat exchanger such that an angle formed between the flow direction of air and the corresponding airflow guide is smaller than an angle formed between the flow direction of air and a center of the corresponding side of the heat exchanger.    
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the airflow guide extends in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the air which is directed radially outward by the fan.  
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the airflow guide is integrally formed with the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the airflow guide is coupled to the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the airflow guide comprises a curved surface.  
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow guide is provided within a first region of a corresponding side of the heat exchanger so that an acute angle is formed between the flow direction of air and the corresponding air flow guide.  
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the airflow guide protrudes into the flow path of the air.  
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the airflow guide protrudes into the flow path of the air.