Air Distribution Device of Single Fan Type Air Purifier

Abstract

An air circulation device for an air purifier includes an air passage apparatus which includes an air passage body having a first air outlet and a second air outlet formed in an opposing manner and defining an air passage between the first air outlet and the second air outlet, and an air flow generating unit mounted to the single fan unit in the air passage body and configured to draw air inletting into the air passage and form an air flow flowing towards the first air outlet and the second air outlet. The air circulation device further includes an air distribution member disposed in the air passage body and configured to provide different air outlet flowing speeds at the first air outlet and the second air outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air circulation device for an air purifier which comprises a housing and a single fan unit, comprising:
 an air passage apparatus comprising:   an air passage body having a first air outlet and a second air outlet formed in an opposing manner and defining an air passage between the first air outlet and the second air outlet, and   an air flow generating unit mounted to the single fan unit in the air passage body and configured to draw air inletting into the air passage and form an air flow flowing towards the first air outlet and the second air outlet; and   an air distribution member disposed in the air passage body and configured to provide different air outlet flowing speeds at the first air outlet and the second air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the air distribution device is arranged to provide different air outlet flowing pressures at the first air outlet and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the air distribution member is movably supported between the first air outlet and the second air outlet in the air passage body such that when the air distribution member is positioned in a first circulation position, the amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet is larger than the amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the air distribution member movably is supported between the first air outlet and the second air outlet in the air passage body such that when the air distribution member is positioned in a first circulation position, the amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet is larger than the amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein when the air distribution member is positioned in a second circulation position, the amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet is larger than the amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein when the air distribution member is positioned in a second circulation position, the amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet is larger than the amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein when the air distribution member is positioned in a neutral position, an amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet and an amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet are the same. 
     
     
         8 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein when the air distribution member is positioned in a neutral position, an amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet and an amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet are the same. 
     
     
         9 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein when the air distribution member is positioned in a neutral position, an amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet and an amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet are the same. 
     
     
         10 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein when the air distribution member is positioned in a neutral position, an amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet and an amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet are the same. 
     
     
         11 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a distribution mount configured for mounting to a fan motor mount secured to the housing for mounting a fan motor of the single fan unit in the air passage body, wherein the air distribution member is extended from the distribution mount at a middle portion of an air outlet opening of the air passage so as to divide the air outlet opening into the first air outlet and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         12 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a distribution mount configured for mounting to a fan motor mount secured to the housing for mounting a fan motor of the single fan unit in the air passage body, wherein the air distribution member is extended from the distribution mount at a middle portion of an air outlet opening of the air passage so as to divide the air outlet opening into the first air outlet and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a distribution mount configured for mounting to a fan motor mount secured to the housing for mounting a fan motor of the single fan unit in the air passage body, wherein the air distribution member is extended from the distribution mount at a middle portion of an air outlet opening of the air passage so as to divide the air outlet opening into the first air outlet and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a distribution mount configured for mounting to a fan motor mount secured to the housing for mounting a fan motor of the single fan unit in the air passage body, wherein the air distribution member is extended from the distribution mount at a middle portion of an air outlet opening of the air passage so as to divide the air outlet opening into the first air outlet and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         15 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a distribution mount configured for mounting to a fan motor mount secured to the housing for mounting a fan motor of the single fan unit in the air passage body, wherein the air distribution member is extended from the distribution mount at a middle portion of an air outlet opening of the air passage so as to divide the air outlet opening into the first air outlet and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The air circulation device, as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a distribution mount configured for mounting to a fan motor mount secured to the housing for mounting a fan motor of the single fan unit in the air passage body, wherein the air distribution member is extended from the distribution mount at a middle portion of an air outlet opening of the air passage so as to divide the air outlet opening into the first air outlet and the second air outlet. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling air circulation of an air purifier, comprising:
 distributing a larger portion of air flow flowing out through one of a pair of air outlets than another one of the pair of air outlets of an air circulation device of the air purifier to form an air flow speed difference between the pair of air outlets to accelerate air circulation and provide an air vortex in a local space around the pair of air outlets.   
     
     
         18 . The method, as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 positioning an air distribution member in a first circulation position, wherein an amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet is larger than an amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet.   
     
     
         19 . The method, as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 selectively positioning the air distribution member in the first circulation position or a second circulation position, wherein in the second circulation position, the amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet is larger than the amount of air flowing of the first air outlet.   
     
     
         20 . The method, as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 selectively positioning an air distribution member in a neutral position, a first circulation position or a second circulation position, wherein in the neutral position, an amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet and an amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet are the same, wherein in the first circulation position, the amount of air flowing out of the first air outlet is larger than the amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet, wherein in the second circulation position, the amount of air flowing out of the second air outlet is larger than the amount of air flowing of the first air outlet.