Indoor device for cassette type air conditioner

Abstract

An indoor device for a cassette type air conditioner is provided. The indoor device may improve an exterior appearance of the air conditioner in that a vane drive assembly to operate a vane that guides discharged air may be covered by the vane when the vane is closed. Also, first and second ends of the vane may be rounded, and an outer surface of the vane drive assembly may contact the vane to improve a flow of discharged air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An indoor device for a cassette type air conditioner, the indoor device comprising:
 a cabinet, in which a heat exchanger and a blower fan are mounted, the cabinet being configured to be installed in a ceiling of an indoor space;   a panel that defines a bottom surface of the cabinet;   a suction hole provided at a center of the panel;   at least one discharge hole provided in the panel outside of the suction hole, each of first and second ends of the at least one discharge hole being in a shape of two rounded curves that cross each other;   at least one vane having a shape corresponding to a shape of the at least one discharge hole, the at least one vane opening or closing the at least one discharge hole to guide discharged air;   at least one vane drive assembly disposed at an inner surface of the panel, the at least one vane drive assembly being coupled to first and second ends of the at least one vane to rotate the at least one vane; and   a suction grill mounted at an outer surface of the panel to cover the suction hole, wherein a stopper, which is inclined or rounded to prevent a respective end of the at least one vane from interfering therewith when the at least one vane rotates is disposed at an outer surface of the at least one vane drive assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The indoor device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane drive assembly is disposed at each of the first and second ends of the at least one discharge hole, and wherein when the at least one vane is closed, the at least one vane drive assembly is covered by the at least one vane. 
     
     
         3 . The indoor device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one vane drive assembly is disposed at a position that overlaps the at least one vane. 
     
     
         4 . The indoor device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane drive assembly comprises:
 a first case that defines an exterior thereof, the first case being mounted on the panel; and   a drive motor accommodated in the first case, the drive motor being coupled to a rotational shaft of the at least one vane to rotate the at least one vane.   
     
     
         5 . The indoor device according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one vane drive assembly further comprises:
 a second case that defines an exterior thereof, the second case being mounted on the panel; and   a support plate accommodated in the second case and having a bent plate-shaped structure, wherein the support plate elastically supports the rotational shaft of the at least one vane.   
     
     
         6 . The indoor device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane comprises:
 a plate having a shape corresponding to a shape of the at least one discharge hole;   at least one extension that extends downward from a bottom surface of the plate; and   at least one rotational shaft that protrudes laterally from the at least one extension, the at least one rotational shaft being rotatably shaft-coupled to the at least one vane drive assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The indoor device according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of vane grooves that extend in a longitudinal direction provided in the bottom surface of the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The indoor device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an insulation member, which is rounded toward the at least one discharge hole, disposed on the panel. 
     
     
         9 . The indoor device according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer edge of the suction grill comprises a concave portion that corresponds to an inner line of the at least one discharge hole. 
     
     
         10 . The indoor device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one discharge hole comprises a plurality of discharge holes, each having a vane rotatably mounted therein, and wherein the outer edge of the suction grill further comprises a plurality of protrusions that extends between the plurality of discharge holes. 
     
     
         11 . The indoor device according to  claim 10 , wherein outer ends of the plurality of protrusions connected to outer lines of the plurality of vanes. 
     
     
         12 . The indoor device according to  claim 10 , wherein the panel further comprises a rounded groove having a close loop shape that connects outer lines of the plurality of discharge holes, outer lines of the plurality of vanes, and outer lines of the plurality of protrusions to each other. 
     
     
         13 . An indoor device for an air conditioner, the indoor device comprising:
 a case, in which a heat exchanger and a blower fan are mounted, the case being configured to be installed in a ceiling of an indoor space;   a panel that defines a bottom surface of the cabinet;   a suction hole provided at a center portion of the panel;   a plurality of discharge holes disposed between the suction hole and an edge of the panel, wherein ends of each discharge hole are rounded and decrease in width;   a plurality of vanes having a shape corresponding to a shape of the plurality of discharge holes, the plurality of vanes opening or closing the plurality of discharge holes, respectively, to guide discharged air;   a plurality of vane drive assemblies disposed at an inner surface of the panel, the plurality of vane drive assemblies being coupled to first and second ends of each of the plurality of vanes, respectively, to rotate the plurality of vanes; and   a suction grill mounted at an outer surface of the panel to cover the suction hole, wherein the plurality of vane assemblies is configured to prevent respective ends of the plurality of vanes from interfering therewith when the plurality of vanes rotate, and wherein when the plurality of the vanes is closed, the plurality of vane drive assemblies is covered by the plurality of vanes, respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The indoor device according to  claim 13 , wherein each vane drive assembly comprises:
 a first case that defines an exterior thereof, the first case being mounted on the panel; and   a drive motor accommodated in the first case, the drive motor being coupled to a rotational shaft of the respective vane to rotate the respective vane.   
     
     
         15 . The indoor device according to  claim 14 , wherein each vane drive assembly further comprises:
 a second case that defines an exterior thereof, the second case being mounted on the panel; and   a support plate accommodated in the second case and having a bent plate-shaped structure, wherein the support plate elastically supports the rotational shaft of the respective vane.   
     
     
         16 . The indoor device according to  claim 1  wherein each vane comprises:
 a plate having a shape corresponding to a shape of the at least one discharge hole; 
 at least one extension that extends downward from a bottom surface of the plate; and 
 at least one rotational shaft that protrudes laterally from the at least one extension, the at least one rotational shaft being rotatably shaft-coupled to the vane drive assembly. 
 
     
     
         17 . The indoor device according to  claim 13 , further comprising an insulation member, which is rounded toward the plurality of discharge holes, disposed on the panel. 
     
     
         18 . The indoor device according to  claim 13 , wherein an outer edge of the suction grill comprises a plurality of concave portions that corresponds to inner lines of the plurality of discharge holes. 
     
     
         19 . The indoor device according to  claim 18 , wherein the outer edge of the suction grill further comprises a plurality of protrusions that extends between the plurality of discharge holes. 
     
     
         20 . The indoor device according to  claim 19 , wherein the panel further comprises a rounded groove having a close loop shape that connects outer lines of the plurality of discharge holes, outer lines of the plurality of vanes, and outer lines of the plurality of protrusions to each other.