AU2017200364A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

In an air conditioner including a main body unit 3, to which a cross flow fan 4 is attached, and a heat-exchanger bracket 6A that is fixed to a heat exchanger and that is 5 attached to the main body unit 3, a screw receiving portion 6Aa that is provided in a manner projected to an outer side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A and that supports a head portion of a screw 21, a screw tightening portion 3a which is provided in the main body unit 3 and into which the 10 screw 21 is screwed, and a fit-stepped portion 22 which is provided at a joint end on an inner side of a position where the screw receiving portion 6Aa and the screw tightening portion 3a are joined to each other with the screw 21 and in which engagement is made with the heat 15 exchanger bracket 6A as an outer side in an air conditioner housing and a side of the main body unit 3 as an inner side in the air conditioner housing are included. or) r r C' r

Description

1 2017200364 19 Jan 2017

DESCRIPTION AIR CONDITIONER

Related Application [0001] This application claims Convention priority from 5 JP 2016-008741 filed 20 January 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by cross reference.

Field [0001a] The present invention relates to an air conditioner . 10 Background [0002] Conventionally, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an air conditioner including a main body unit (base main body) to which a heat exchanger, a blower, and the like are assembled. 15 [0003] In such an air conditioner, a bracket, which is provided in a side portion of the heat exchanger, and the main body unit are fastened with a screw, whereby the heat exchanger and the main body unit are joined to each other. [0003a] The above discussion of background art is 20 included to explain the context of the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any of the documents or other material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in Australia at the priority date of any one of the claims of this 25 specification.

Citation List Patent Literature

[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-124855 A 30 Summary

Technical Problem [0005] In the above-described joining of a bracket of a heat exchanger and a main body unit with a screw, there is 2 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 a case where the bracket deforms when the screw is tightened too strongly. When the bracket deforms, a clearance between a blower assembled to the main body unit and the bracket becomes narrow. To make matters worse, 5 there is a case where the blower comes into contact with the bracket.

[0006] At least some embodiments of the present invention solve the above-described problem and provide an air conditioner capable of preventing deformation of a 10 bracket of a heat exchanger in joining of the heat exchanger and a main body unit.

Solution to Problem [0007] In one embodiment, the invention provides an air conditioner including a main body unit to which a blower is 15 attached, and a bracket that is fixed to a heat exchanger and that is attached to the main body unit, the air conditioner comprising: a screw receiving portion that is provided in a manner projected to an outer side of the bracket and that supports a head portion of a screw; a 20 screw tightening portion which is provided in the main body unit and into which the screw is screwed; and a fit-stepped portion which is provided at a joint end on an inner side of a position where the screw receiving portion and the screw tightening portion are joined to each other with the 25 screw and in which engagement is made with a side of the bracket as an outer side in an air conditioner housing and a side of the main body unit as an inner side in the air conditioner housing.

[0007a] Throughout the description and claims of the 30 specification, the word "comprise" and variations of the word, such as "comprising" and "comprises", is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

[0008] According to this air conditioner, when a screw 3 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 receiving portion and a screw tightening portion are joined with a screw, even in a case where a bracket is about to deform in a manner inclined to an outer side with respect to a main body unit due to a tightening degree of the 5 screw, the deformation is controlled since engagement in a fit-stepped portion is made with a side of the bracket as an outer side and a side of the main body unit as an inner side. Thus, it is possible to prevent deformation of a bracket in joining of a heat exchanger and a main body 10 unit.

[0009] The air conditioner of one embodiment further includes a projection rib that is arranged at the joint end along a wall surface, which faces an outer side of the main body unit, in a manner projected from the bracket. 15 [0010] According to this air conditioner, deformation of a bracket in a manner inclined to an outer side with respect to a main body unit due to a tightening degree of a screw is further controlled since a projection rib is included. Thus, it is possible to notably acquire an 20 effect of preventing deformation of a bracket in joining of a heat exchanger and a main body unit.

[0011] In the air conditioner of one embodiment, a reinforcement rib is provided in the projection rib.

[0012] According to this air conditioner, strength of 25 controlling deformation of a bracket in a manner inclined to an outer side with respect to a main body unit is improved by reinforcement of a projection rib with a reinforcement rib. Thus, it is possible to notably acquire an effect of preventing deformation of a bracket in joining 30 of a heat exchanger and a main body unit.

[0013] In the air conditioner of one embodiment, the projection rib is provided at an upper position in an inner portion of a gutter connected to a main-body drain pan 4 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 provided in the main body unit.

[0014] According to this air conditioner, it is possible to prevent water from being sucked in a gap between the projection rib and the wall surface of the main body unit 5 since the projection rib is away from water flowing in the gutter.

[0015] In the air conditioner of one embodiment, the fit-stepped portion is provided in a gutter connected to a main-body drain pan provided in the main body unit. 10 [0016] According to this air conditioner, since deformation of a bracket in a manner inclined to an outer side with respect to a main body unit is controlled at a position of a gutter, it is possible to control generation of a gap in the gutter between the bracket and the main 15 body unit. Thus, it is possible to prevent water flowing in the gutter from being sucked into an inner side of the main body unit and being scattered by a blower.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0017] According to the present invention, it is 20 possible to prevent deformation of a bracket of a heat exchanger in joining of the heat exchanger and a main body unit.

Brief Description of Drawings [0018] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air 25 conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a main body unit and a heat-exchanger bracket in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. 30 FIG. 3 is a side view of the main body unit in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partially-enlarged front view of the main 5 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 body unit in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of the heat-exchanger bracket in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the 5 present invention. FIG. 6 is a partially-enlarged perspective view of the heat-exchanger bracket in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a partially-enlarged bottom view of the main 10 body unit and the heat-exchanger bracket in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments [0019] In the following, an embodiment according to the 15 present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that this invention is not limited by this embodiment. Also, components in the following embodiment include one that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art or one that is 20 substantially the same.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an air conditioner according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of a main body unit and a heat-exchanger bracket in the air conditioner according to the present 25 embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view of the main body unit in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a partially-enlarged front view of the main body unit in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view of the heat-exchanger 30 bracket in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a partially-enlarged perspective view of the heat-exchanger bracket in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a 6 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 partially-enlarged bottom view of the main body unit and the heat-exchanger bracket in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment.

[0021] An air conditioner 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a 5 wall-mounted type air conditioner. This air conditioner 1 includes an assembly of an installation plate 2 provided on a wall surface, a main body unit 3 attached to the installation plate 2, a blower (cross flow fan) 4 and a driving motor 5 thereof that are assembled to the main body 10 unit 3, a heat exchanger 6 assembled to the main body unit 3, a refrigerant pipe 7 extended from one side of the heat exchanger 6 to a rear side, a control box 8 assembled to the main body unit 3, an outlet assembly 9 assembled to the main body unit 3, a front cover 10 assembled to the main 15 body unit 3 in such a manner as to cover a front surface, an upper/lower surface, and a right/left surface of each device assembled to the main body unit 3, an air filter 11A and a cleaning mechanism 11B thereof that are assembled to the front cover 10, a front panel 12 attached to the front 20 cover 10 in such a manner as to cover a front surface thereof, and the like.

[0022] The main body unit 3 is placed on a rear side of the air conditioner 1 and is attached to the installation plate 2, which is provided on a wall surface, to support 25 installation of the air conditioner 1. In the main body unit 3, a main-body drain pan 3A arranged on a lower side of a rear side of the heat exchanger 6, which is bent and formed in a A shape, is formed. The cross flow fan 4 includes a cylindrical impeller provided horizontally along 30 an air channel of the main body unit 3 and is rotatably supported by the main body unit 3 via the driving motor 5.

[0023] The heat exchanger 6 is a fin-and-tube heat exchanger that is attached on a front side of the main body 7 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 unit 3 and that is bent and formed in a A shape, and is provided in such a manner as to cover an upper surface and a front surface of the cross flow fan 4. From one side of the heat exchanger 6, the refrigerant pipe 7 for 5 circulating a refrigerant is extended to a rear side. On the other side of this heat exchanger 6, a heat-exchanger bracket (bracket) 6A fixed to the main body unit 3 is provided.

[0024] Also, to a lower part on a front side of the heat 10 exchanger 6, the air outlet assembly 9 in which a water- discharge drain pan 13, a stabilizer 14 to form an air channel of the cross flow fan 4, an outlet 15 to which a louver, a flap, and the like for wind direction adjustment are assembled are provided can be assembled. To the water-15 discharge drain pan 13, a drain hose 13A to drain water accumulated therein is attached.

[0025] The control box 8 is assembled to a right side portion of the main body unit 3 and controls an operation of the air conditioner 1 in accordance with a command from 20 a remote controller. The front cover 10 covers a front surface, an upper/lower surface, and a right/left surface of each of the above devices assembled to the main body unit 3, a suction grille 16 to suck indoor air being formed on an upper surface and a front surface thereof. To the 25 suction grille 16, the air filter 11A to collect dust in the indoor air sucked through the suction grille 16, and the cleaning mechanism 11B to remove the dust, which is collected by the air filter 11A, from a filter surface and to automatically clean the air filter 11A are assembled. 30 Also, the front panel 12 is assembled to a front surface of the suction grille 16 in such a manner as to be openable/closable with an upper portion as a fulcrum.

[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the main body unit 3 to δ 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 which the cross flow fan 4 is attached and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A on the side portion of the heat exchanger 6 are fixed to each other with two screws 21. Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 and in FIG. 7, in 5 a portion fixed with the screw 21 in the vicinity of a rotary shaft 4a of the cross flow fan 4, a screw tightening portion 3a into which the screw 21 is screwed is formed in the main body unit 3. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a screw receiving portion 6Aa 10 to support a head portion of the screw 21 is formed in the heat-exchanger bracket 6A. Thus, when the screw 21 is screwed into the screw tightening portion 3a via the screw receiving portion 6Aa, the screw receiving portion 6Aa and the screw tightening portion 3a are abutted to each other 15 and the main body unit 3 and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A are joined to each other.

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 7, it is assumed that a side of the installation plate 2 on a wall side is a rear side and a side of the front panel 12 facing this is a 20 front side in the wall-assembled type air conditioner 1.

It is assumed that an upper side and a lower side in a front view are an upper side and a lower side and that an inner side and an outer side in the following express an inner side and an outer side of a housing of the air 25 conditioner 1. Also, the housing of the air conditioner 1 (also referred to as air conditioner housing) is in a form in which the above-described main body unit 3 and heat-exchanger bracket 6A are joined to each other, a side on which the heat exchanger 6 is arranged being the inner side 30 and a side on which a gutter 3d (described later) is provided being the outer side.

[0028] Also, as illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 7, a fit-stepped portion 22 is provided at a joint end at which the 9 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 main body unit 3 and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A are joined to each other in the vicinity of the screw receiving portion 6Aa and the screw tightening portion 3a. The fit-stepped portion 22 includes a stepped portion including a 5 projection 6Ab and an edge 6Aba, from which the projection 6Ab is projected, on a side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A and a stepped portion including a projection 3b and an edge 3ba, from which the projection 3b is projected, on a side of the main body unit 3. In the stepped portion on 10 the side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A, the projection 6Ab is formed, on an outer side of the edge 6Aba, in a manner projected to the side of the main body unit 3 joined to the heat-exchanger bracket 6A as illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. In the stepped portion on the side of the main 15 body unit 3, the projection 3b is formed, on an inner side of the edge 3ba, in a manner projected to the side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A joined to the main body unit 3 as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7. This fit-stepped portion 22 is a portion where the side of the heat-exchanger 20 bracket 6A and the side of the main body unit 3 are engaged with each other in joining of the main body unit 3 and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 7, in the fit-stepped portion 22, the projection 6Ab on the side of the 25 heat-exchanger bracket 6A, which projection is arranged on an outer side of the projection 3b on the side of the main body unit 3 and a leading end of which projection faces the edge 3ba on the side of the main body unit 3, and the projection 3b on the side of the main body unit 3, which 30 projection is arranged in an inner side of the projection 6Ab on the side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A and a leading end of which projection faces the edge 6Aba on the side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A, are engaged with 10 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 each other. That is, the fit-stepped portion 22 has a spigot joint structure in which a recessed portion and a projected portion are engaged with each other with the side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A being the outer side and 5 the side of the main body unit 3 being the inner side.

[0029] Also, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, a projection rib 6Ac is formed in the heat-exchanger bracket 6A at the joint end at which the main body unit 3 and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A are joined to 10 each other in the vicinity of the screw receiving portion 6Aa and the screw tightening portion 3a. The projection rib 6Ac is formed in such a manner as to be projected to a rear side (side of main body unit 3) of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A and is arranged along a wall surface 3c facing 15 the outer side of the main body unit 3 in joining of the main body unit 3 and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a reinforcement rib 6Aca, which is provided in an elongated manner at a center on the opposite side of the side along 20 the wall surface 3c of the main body unit 3, is provided in the projection rib 6Ac. As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, since the reinforcement rib 6Aca is included, the projection rib 6Ac has a T shape as a whole and is reinforced. Note that although not illustrated clearly in 25 the drawings, the reinforcement rib 6Aca may be provided in an elongated manner on a side portion of the projection rib 6Ac and may reinforce the projection rib 6Ac in an L shape as a whole. Alternatively, the reinforcement rib 6Aca may be provided in an elongated manner on both side portions of 30 the projection rib 6Ac and may reinforce the projection rib 6Ac in a U shape as a whole.

[0030] Incidentally, on a side portion of the main body unit 3 which portion is joined to the heat-exchanger 11 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 bracket 6A, the gutter 3d connected to the main-body drain pan 3A is provided. In the gutter 3d, a drain outlet 3da toward the water-discharge drain pan 13 provided in the outlet assembly 9 assembled to the main body unit 3 is 5 provided and water is sent to the water-discharge drain pan 13. As illustrated in FIG. 4, this gutter 3d is provided in the vicinity of the screw tightening portion 3a, and the projection 3b and the edge 3ba on the side of the main body unit 3 which are the fit-stepped portion 22 are provided in 10 a part thereof. That is, the main body unit 3 and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A are joined to each other with the screw 21 in the vicinity of the gutter 3d, and the main body unit 3 and the heat-exchanger bracket 6A are engaged with and fit to each other in a part thereof by the fit-15 stepped portion 22. Also, the projection rib 6Ac provided in the heat-exchanger bracket 6A is arranged along the wall surface 3c, which faces the outer side of the main body unit 3, in an inner portion of the gutter 3d. In this configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the projection rib 20 6Ac is provided at an upper position in the inner portion of the gutter 3d.

[0031] As described above, the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment includes the main body unit 3, to which the cross flow fan (blower) 4 is attached, and the heat-25 exchanger bracket 6A fixed to the heat exchanger 6 and attached to the main body unit 3. Also, the screw receiving portion 6Aa that is provided in such a manner as to be projected to an outer side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A and that supports a head portion of the screw 30 21, the screw tightening portion 3a which is provided in the main body unit 3 and into which the screw 21 is screwed, and the fit-stepped portion 22 which is provided at a joint end on an inner side of a position where the 12 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 screw receiving portion 6Aa and the screw tightening portion 3a are joined to each other with the screw 21 and in which engagement is made with a side of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A as an outer side in the air 5 conditioner housing and a side of the main body unit 3 as an inner side in the air conditioner housing are included.

[0032] According to this air conditioner 1, when the screw receiving portion 6Aa and the screw tightening portion 3a are joined to each other with the screw 21, even 10 in a case where the heat-exchanger bracket 6A is about to deform in a manner inclined to the outer side with respect to the main body unit 3 due to a tightening degree of the screw 21, the deformation is controlled since engagement is made in the fit-stepped portion 22 with the side of the 15 heat-exchanger bracket 6A as an outer side and the side of the main body unit 3 as an inner side. Thus, it is possible to prevent deformation of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A in joining of the heat exchanger 6 and the main body unit 3. 20 [0033] Also, in the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the projection rib 6Ac arranged along the wall surface 3c, which faces the outer side of the main body unit 3, in a manner projected from the heat-exchanger bracket 6A is further included at the 25 joint end.

[0034] According to this air conditioner 1, deformation of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A in a manner inclined to the outer side with respect to the main body unit 3 due to a tightening degree of the screw 21 is further controlled 30 since the projection rib 6Ac is included. Thus, it is possible to notably acquire an effect of preventing deformation of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A in joining of the heat exchanger 6 and the main body unit 3. 13 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 [0035] Also, in the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the reinforcement rib 6Aca is provided in the projection rib 6Ac.

[0036] According to this air conditioner 1, strength of 5 controlling deformation of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A in a manner inclined to the outer side with respect to the main body unit 3 is improved by reinforcement of the projection rib 6Ac with the reinforcement rib 6Aca. Thus, it is possible to notably acquire an effect of preventing 10 deformation of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A in joining of the heat exchanger 6 and the main body unit 3.

[0037] Also, in the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, the projection rib 6Ac is preferably provided at an upper position in an inner portion of the gutter 3d 15 connected to the main-body drain pan 3A provided in the main body unit 3.

[0038] According to this air conditioner 1, it is possible to prevent water from being sucked in a gap between the projection rib 6Ac and the wall surface 3c of 20 the main body unit 3 since the projection rib 6Ac is away from water flowing in the gutter 3d. Note that when the projection rib 6Ac is arranged in the inner portion of the gutter 3d, a design change to newly provide a portion, into which the projection rib 6Ac is inserted, on the side of 25 the main body unit 3 is not necessary.

[0039] Also, in the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, the fit-stepped portion 22 is preferably provided in the gutter 3d connected to the main-body drain pan 3A provided in the main body unit 3. 30 [0040] According to this air conditioner 1, since deformation of the heat-exchanger bracket 6A in a manner inclined to an outer side with respect to the main body unit 3 is controlled at a position of the gutter 3d, it is 2017200364 19 Jan 2017 10 15 14 possible to control generation of a gap in the gutter 3d between the heat-exchanger bracket 6A and the main body unit 3 and to prevent a situation in which water flowing in the gutter 3d is sucked into an inner side of the main body unit 3 and scattered by the cross flow fan 4.

Reference Signs List [0041] 1 AIR CONDITIONER

3 MAIN BODY UNIT

3a SCREW TIGHTENING PORTION 3b PROJECTION 3ba EDGE 3c WALL SURFACE 3d GUTTER

3A MAIN-BODY DRAIN PAN 4 CROSS FLOW FAN (BLOWER)

6 HEAT EXCHANGER

6A HEAT-EXCHANGER BRACKET 6Aa SCREW RECEIVING PORTION 6Ab PROJECTION 6Aba EDGE 6Ac PROJECTION RIB 6Aca REINFORCEMENT RIB

21 SCREW

22 FIT-STEPPED PORTION 25

Claims (5)

1. An air conditioner including a main body unit to which a blower is attached, and a bracket that is fixed to a heat exchanger and that is attached to the main body unit, the air conditioner comprising: a screw receiving portion that is provided in a manner projected to an outer side of the bracket and that supports a head portion of a screw; a screw tightening portion which is provided in the main body unit and into which the screw is screwed; and a fit-stepped portion which is provided at a joint end on an inner side of a position where the screw receiving portion and the screw tightening portion are joined to each other with the screw and in which engagement is made with a side of the bracket as an outer side in an air conditioner housing and a side of the main body unit as an inner side in the air conditioner housing.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a projection rib that is arranged at the joint end along a wall surface, which faces an outer side of the main body unit, in a manner projected from the bracket.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein a reinforcement rib is provided in the projection rib.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the projection rib is provided at an upper position in an inner portion of a gutter connected to a main-body drain pan provided in the main body unit.

5. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fit-stepped portion is provided in a gutter connected to a main-body drain pan provided in the main body unit.