Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner is provided. A heat exchange unit of the air conditioner may include a blower fan that generates air flow within a housing, and a first shroud that guides the air flow generated by the blower fan to an outside of the cabinet. A second shroud may be coupled to an upstream end of the first shroud. An outer peripheral surface of a transverse section of the second shroud may be curved so as to stabilize air flow generated by the blower fan.

1 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 a heat exchange unit configured to be coupled to an interior space to be heated or cooled, the heat exchange unit comprising:
 a housing; 
 a fan that generates air flow through the housing; 
 a first shroud that guides the air flow generated by the fan to an outside of the housing; and 
 a second shroud coupled to an downstream end of the first shroud, wherein the second shroud has a substantially straight vertical outer wall with curved end so as to stabilize air flow generated by the fan. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the outer periphery of the transverse section of the second shroud is substantially circular. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coupling device that is integrally formed with the first shroud and the second shroud so as to couple the first shroud and the second shroud, wherein a portion of the coupling device near an area where the first shroud and the second shroud are joined to each other is curved.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guide member that extends outward from the second shroud, wherein the guide member is configured to couple the housing and the second shroud, wherein a portion of the guide member in an area where the guide member and the second shroud are coupled to each other is curved.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a reinforcement device that supports the first shroud and the guide member.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcement device also supports the second shroud. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 at least one reinforcement rib that extends between a bending part provided at one end of the guide member to a rear surface of the guide member.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reinforcement ring that surrounds an outer periphery of the first shroud.   
     
     
         9 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 a first unit configured to provide climate controlled air to a predetermined space; and   a second unit separate from and coupled to the first unit, wherein the second unit conducts a heat exchange operation with air outside of the predetermined space, the second unit comprising:
 a housing; 
 at least one heat exchanger provided in the housing; 
 a fan that draws outside air into the housing and across the at least one heat exchanger, and that discharges heat exchanged air from the housing; and 
 a multi-staged shroud that is coupled to the housing, wherein the shroud surrounds the fan so as to direct the heat exchanged air out of the housing, wherein an interior contour of the multi-staged shroud is curved so as to correspond to an air flow pattern generated by the fan. 
   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 9 , wherein the multi-staged shroud comprises:
 a first shroud having a first end thereof that defines an outlet through which the heat exchanged air is discharged from the housing, and a second end opposite the first end thereof; and   a second shroud having a first end thereof coupled to the second end of the first shroud, and a second end opposite the first end thereof, wherein the second end of the second shroud defines an inlet into which heat exchanged air is introduced into the fan.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner of  claim 10 , wherein the multi-staged shroud further comprises:
 a curved first connecting portion that extends between the second end of the first shroud and the first end of the second shroud such that the interior contour of the multi-staged shroud is continuously curved.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner of  claim 11 , wherein the interior contour of the multi-staged shroud is spaced apart from distal ends of a plurality of blades of the fan and curved so as to correspond to a rotation path of the distal ends of the plurality of blades so as to stabilize air flow generated by the fan. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner of  claim 11 , wherein the multi-staged shroud further comprises:
 a second connecting portion provided at the second end of the second shroud, wherein the second connecting portion couples the multi-staged shroud to an interior of the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner of  claim 11 , wherein the multi-staged shroud further comprises:
 a guide member coupled to the second end of the second shroud, wherein the guide member couples the multi-staged shroud to an interior of the housing; and   a reinforcement device that reinforces the first and second shrouds.   
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner of  claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement device comprises a reinforcement ring that extends around an outer periphery of either the first shroud or the second shroud. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner of  claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement device comprises:
 at least one reinforcement plate that extends between the first and second shrouds and the guide member so as to reinforce the first and second shrouds; and   a plurality of reinforcement ribs that extend between an outer peripheral edge of the guide member and a rear surface of the guide member so as to reinforce the guide member.   
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner of  claim 11 , wherein the multi-staged shroud further comprises:
 a storage member that extends downward from an area at which the second end of the first shroud and the first connecting portion are joined, wherein a gap is formed between the storage member and an interior surface of the second shroud, wherein unstable air generated by rotation of the fan is trapped within the gap so as to stabilize air flow through the multi-staged shroud.