Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner includes: a housing, a compressor disposed inside the housing and configured to compress a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with outdoor air, a second heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air, a refrigerant pipe connecting the compressor and the second heat exchanger and configured to allow the refrigerant to flow therein, and a charging pipe configured to charge the refrigerant pipe with the refrigerant. The refrigerant pipe includes a first sub-pipe and a second sub-pipe connected to the second heat exchanger to receive the refrigerant passed through the second heat exchanger. The refrigerant pipe includes a main pipe connected to the compressor to allow the refrigerant passed through the first sub-pipe and the second sub-pipe to be combined. The charging pipe may be configured to be connected to the first sub-pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 a housing;   a compressor disposed inside the housing and configured to compress a refrigerant;   a first heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with outdoor air;   a second heat exchanger disposed inside the housing and configured to exchange heat with indoor air;   a refrigerant pipe connecting the compressor and the second heat exchanger and configured to allow the refrigerant to flow therein; and   a charging pipe configured to charge the refrigerant pipe with the refrigerant;   wherein the refrigerant pipe comprises:   a first sub-pipe and a second sub-pipe connected to the second heat exchanger and configured to receive the refrigerant that has passed through the second heat exchanger; and   a main pipe connected to the compressor and configured to allow the refrigerant that has passed through the first sub-pipe and the second sub-pipe to be combined, and   wherein the charging pipe is connected to the first sub-pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the refrigerant pipe further comprises a third sub-pipe connecting the first sub-pipe and the main pipe and configured to allow the refrigerant that has passed through the first sub-pipe to be introduced into the main pipe, and   the charging pipe is connected to the third sub-pipe.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein
 the charging pipe is disposed between the first sub-pipe and the third sub-pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , further comprising a connector configured to connect the first sub-pipe and the third sub-pipe, and
 wherein the charging pipe is coupled to the connector.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein the connector comprises:
 a first hole coupled to the first sub-pipe;   a second hole coupled to the charging pipe; and   a third hole coupled to the third sub-pipe.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 5 , wherein
 the first hole and the third hole are disposed to face one direction, and   the second hole is disposed to face a direction opposite to the one direction.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein the connector has a Y-shape. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein
 the connector includes a first connector,   the air conditioner further comprises a second connector configured to connect the second sub-pipe and the third sub-pipe, and   the main pipe is coupled to the second connector.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner of  claim 8 , wherein the third sub-pipe comprises:
 a third sub-pipe inlet configured to receive the refrigerant, and   a third sub-pipe outlet configured to discharge the refrigerant, and   wherein the third sub-pipe inlet is coupled to the first connector, and the third sub-pipe outlet is coupled to the second connector.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the charging pipe comprises a charging pipe outlet connected to the first sub-pipe, and   the charging pipe outlet is disposed to be closer to the second heat exchanger than to the compressor.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner of  claim 10 , wherein
 a distance from the charging pipe outlet to the compressor is equal to or greater than 10 times a distance from the charging pipe outlet to the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the housing comprises a bottom panel forming a lower surface, and   a height from the bottom panel to the second heat exchanger is equal to or greater than twice a length of the first sub-pipe.   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the charging pipe extends in a straight line. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the charging pipe is disposed between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.