CN109690203B - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that has a wide range of practical use and that has an improved degree of freedom when an indoor unit is installed in a base structure. The air conditioner includes a support frame and at least one indoor unit. The support frame is attached to at least one surface of a base structure having a plurality of surfaces. The indoor unit includes a heat exchanger and a blower for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, and is supported by the support frame so as to be detachable.

Description

Air conditioner

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an air conditioner including an indoor unit suitable for a local air conditioner, for example.

Background

In a large-scale production plant, for example, an air conditioner is used that performs local cooling and heating of a plurality of work areas distributed in a plant building. This air conditioner includes a plurality of indoor units that blow air whose temperature and humidity have been adjusted to a work area. The indoor unit is installed in the work area by, for example, a column serving as a framework of a building.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent publication No. 61-54137

Patent document 2: japanese patent publication No. Hei 7-62588

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

When a plurality of indoor units are provided on a pillar, an air conditioner has recently been developed in which the indoor units are supported by a dedicated bracket. The bracket is fixed to the outer periphery of the column so as to surround the column.

On the other hand, various equipment such as a switchboard, a lighting fixture, a fire hydrant, or the like is often mounted on the column located in the work area. Therefore, when the bracket supporting the indoor unit is assembled to the column on which the equipment is installed, the equipment may cause an obstacle, and thus installation may not be easy.

As a result, it cannot be denied that the number of columns on which the indoor units can be installed is limited, and the degree of freedom in installing the indoor units is lost.

The purpose of the present invention is to obtain an air conditioner that has a wide range of practical use and that has an improved degree of freedom when an indoor unit is installed in a base structure.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

According to an embodiment, an air conditioner includes a support frame and at least one indoor unit. The support frame is attached to at least one surface of a base structure having a plurality of surfaces. The indoor unit includes a heat exchanger and a blower for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, and is supported by the support frame so as to be detachable.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a piping system of an air conditioner according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the indoor unit used in embodiment 1, as viewed from the front.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit viewed from the rear.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an exploded internal structure of the indoor unit.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the indoor unit.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the indoor unit showing the flow direction of air blown out from the indoor unit.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the indoor unit assembly is installed on the pillar in embodiment 1.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the support bracket is fixed to a column of a building in embodiment 1.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the indoor unit is installed on a column of a building via a support bracket in embodiment 1.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower structure of the first bracket element is fixed to a column of a building in embodiment 1.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower structure and the upper structure of the first bracket element are fixed to a column of a building in embodiment 1.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which a first holder element and a second holder element of a holder according to embodiment 1 are coupled to each other.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a process of attaching a plurality of indoor units one by one to the upper structure of the second bracket element in embodiment 1.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in which 4 indoor units are mounted in a row on the upper structure of the second bracket element in embodiment 1.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which 4 indoor units are mounted in a row on the upper structure of the second bracket element in embodiment 2.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which an upper structure to which second frame elements of 4 indoor units are attached is fixed to a pillar and then assembled to a first frame element in embodiment 2.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view showing a state in which a support bracket to which 4 indoor units and a plurality of side plates are attached is fixed to a pillar in embodiment 3.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing a state in which a support frame to which 4 indoor units and a plurality of side plates are attached is fixed to a pillar in embodiment 3.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a state in which the indoor unit assembly is installed on the pillar in embodiment 3.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing a state in which the indoor unit assembly is installed on the pillar in embodiment 4.

Fig. 21 is a circuit diagram showing a piping system of an air conditioner according to embodiment 5.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies are installed on the pillar according to embodiment 5.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies are installed on the upright post via the support bracket in embodiment 5.

Detailed Description

(embodiment mode 1)

Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 16.

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a piping system of an air conditioner 1 for local cooling and heating of a large space such as a production plant and a vehicle plant. As shown in fig. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes an outdoor unit 2 and an indoor unit assembly 3 as main components.

The outdoor unit 2 is installed outside the plant building 4, for example, and houses various refrigeration cycle devices such as a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a heat exchanger, and an accumulator. The indoor unit assembly 3 is installed in a work area a inside the building 4. The working area a is an example of a space to be air-conditioned. The indoor unit assembly 3 includes, for example, 4 indoor units 5.

The liquid pipe 7 and the gas pipe 8 are connected to the outdoor unit 2. The liquid pipe 7 and the gas pipe 8 are respectively connected to the indoor unit assembly 3. The liquid pipe 7 has 4 liquid pipes 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d branched by 3Y- branch joints 9a, 9b, 9 c. The liquid pipes 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are connected to the indoor units 5, respectively.

Similarly, the gas pipe 8 has 4 gas pipes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d branched by 3T- branch joints 11a, 11b, 11 c. The air pipes 10a, 12b, 12c, 12d are connected to the indoor units 5, respectively.

Therefore, the refrigerant compressed by the outdoor unit 2 is distributed to the indoor units 5 of the indoor unit assemblies 3, and the refrigerant discharged from the indoor units 5 is returned to the outdoor unit 2 again.

The indoor unit assembly 3 further includes a remote controller 13. The indoor unit assembly 3 can perform various operations such as operation/stop, temperature setting, and operation switching of the indoor unit 5 by the remote controller 13.

The 4 indoor units 5 of the indoor unit assembly 3 have a common structure. Therefore, in the present embodiment, description will be made with one indoor unit 5 as a representative.

As shown in fig. 2 to 6, the indoor unit 5 includes a casing 20, an air heat exchanger 21, a blower 22, a control unit 23, and a duct unit 24 as main elements. The housing 20 is a square box-shaped element having a depth dimension D, a width dimension W, and a height dimension H, and is formed of, for example, a thin steel plate. The width dimension W and the height dimension H of the housing 20 are equal, and the depth dimension D is set to be significantly smaller than the width dimension W and the height dimension H. Thus, the housing 20 has a flat shape.

The housing 20 has a base 26, a front cover 27, a top cover 28 and a partition 29. The base 26 is composed of a back plate 30 standing upright and a dish-shaped bottom plate 31 fixed to the lower end of the back plate 30. The back plate 30 has four suction ports 32 formed in a substantially central portion thereof. The bottom plate 31 horizontally protrudes from the lower end of the back plate 30 toward the front of the housing 20. A drain opening 33 is formed in the rear end of the bottom plate 31. The drain port 33 protrudes toward the rear of the housing 20.

As shown in fig. 4, the front cover 27 has a front plate 34 and a pair of side plates 35a, 35 b. The front plate 34 is an element constituting the front surface of the housing 20. The front plate 34 faces the back plate 30, and a through hole 36 is formed in a substantially central portion of the front plate 34. The lower end of the front plate 34 is fixed to the front end of the bottom plate 31 by a plurality of screws.

The side plates 35a, 35b extend from the side edge portions of the front plate 34 toward the back plate 30 at an angle of 90 °. Rear end portions of the side plates 35a and 35b are fixed to both side portions of the back plate 30 by a plurality of screws.

The top cover 28 is fixed to the upper end of the front plate 34 and the upper ends of the side plates 35a and 35b by a plurality of screws. The top cover 28 covers a gap between an upper end portion of the front cover 27 and an upper portion of the back plate 30.

As shown in fig. 6, a partition 29 is provided between an upper portion of the back plate 30 and an upper end portion of the front cover 27. The partition 29 divides the interior of the housing 20 into two chambers, a first housing chamber 38 and a second housing chamber 39.

The first housing chamber 38 has a larger volume than the second housing chamber 39, and the first housing chamber 38 is opened with the suction port 32 and the through hole 36 of the housing 20. The bottom plate 31 of the case 20 constitutes a bottom shell of the first storage chamber 38, and the bottom plate 31 also functions as a drain pan. The second housing chamber 39 is located above the first housing chamber 38 and is covered by the top cover 28. In other words, by loosening the screws and removing only the top cover 28, the second housing chamber 39 can be exposed to the outside of the housing 20.

Brackets 40a and 40b are fixed to both side portions of the back plate 30. The brackets 40a, 40b extend along the height direction of the housing 20, and protrude to the side of the housing 20.

As shown in fig. 4 to 6, the air heat exchanger 21 is housed in the first housing chamber 38. The air heat exchanger 21 has a flat plate shape and includes a plurality of cooling fins 43 and a plurality of heat transfer pipes 44 through which a refrigerant flows. The cooling fins 43 are elongated square plates extending in the height direction of the casing 20, and are arranged in a row at intervals in the width direction of the casing 20. The heat transfer pipes 44 are arranged at intervals in the height direction and the depth direction of the casing 20, and are connected in series with each other to form a plurality of flow paths (paths). The heat transfer pipes 44 are also thermally connected to the cooling fins 43.

According to the present embodiment, the air heat exchanger 21 stands along the back plate 30 inside the first accommodation chamber 38. Accordingly, the air heat exchanger 21 is exposed to the rear of the casing 20 through the suction port 32.

As best shown in fig. 6, the air heat exchanger 21 has an upper end face 21a and a lower end face 21 b. The upper end surface 21a faces the partition 29 inside the first housing chamber 38. The lower end surface 21b is covered from below by a bottom plate 31 as a drain pan. The upper end face 21a and the lower end face 21b of the air heat exchanger 21 are respectively inclined gradually downward from the back plate 30 toward the front plate 34.

As a result, when water droplets are generated by condensation on the upper end surface 21a of the air heat exchanger 21, the water droplets easily flow in a direction away from the back plate 30 with the inclination of the upper end surface 21 a. Similarly, when water droplets generated on the surface of the air heat exchanger 21 reach the lower end of the air heat exchanger 21, the wastewater tends to flow in a direction away from the back plate 30 with the inclination of the lower end surface 21b of the air heat exchanger 21.

Therefore, the waste water can be prevented from flowing out of the housing 20 through the suction port 32 of the back plate 30, i.e., from leaking.

As shown in fig. 4, the refrigerant pipe 45 connected to the air heat exchanger 21 is housed in the first housing chamber 38. In the present embodiment, the air heat exchanger 21 is disposed between the side plates 35a and 35b of the front cover 27 and is disposed closer to one of the side plates 35a in order to secure a space for accommodating the refrigerant tube 45 in the first accommodation chamber 38. As a result, a gap is formed between the air heat exchanger 21 and the other side plate 35b, and the refrigerant tubes 45 are arranged in the gap in a concentrated manner.

As shown in fig. 3, the indoor unit 5 has a pair of connection ports 46a and 46b connected to the refrigerant pipe 45. Connection ports 46a, 46b penetrate the back plate 30 and protrude from the rear of the housing 20, and the connection ports 46a, 46b are connected to the liquid pipe 10a and the gas pipe 12 a.

As shown in fig. 5, the center C1 of the air heat exchanger 21 is offset from the center C2 of the front plate 34 of the front cover 27 as the air heat exchanger 21 approaches one of the side plates 35 a. The center of the through hole 36 formed in the front plate 34 is located on an extension of the center C1 of the air heat exchanger 21.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the blower 22 is supported at the center of the front plate 34 of the casing 20. The blower 22 includes a cylindrical casing 50 and an impeller 51 housed inside the casing 50 as main elements.

The housing 50 has a first flange portion 52 and a second flange portion 53. The first flange portion 52 projects outward in the radial direction of the housing 50 at one end of the housing 50. The second flange portion 53 projects outward in the radial direction of the housing 50 at the other end of the housing 50. The first flange portion 52 is fixed to the front plate 34 at a position corresponding to the through hole 36 by a plurality of screws.

The impeller 51 is supported by the casing 50 so as to be coaxially disposed on an extension of the center C1 of the air heat exchanger 21 and is rotatable. The sleeve portion 55 of the impeller 51 houses a motor 56 for rotating the impeller 51.

The controller 23 is an element for controlling the air heat exchanger 21 and the blower 22, and is housed in the second housing chamber 39 of the casing 20. The control unit 23 includes various electronic devices 58 such as a control board, a reactor, and a plurality of terminal blocks. The electronic device 58 is supported on the upper portion of the back plate 30.

As shown in fig. 4 and 6, a cylindrical attachment 60 is attached to the blower 22. One end of the attachment 60 has a flange portion 61. The flange portion 60 is fixed to the second flange portion 53 of the blower 22 by a plurality of screws. Thus, the attachment 60 coaxially protrudes from the casing 50 of the blower 22 toward the front of the casing 20.

A cylindrical air regulator 62 is embedded in the attachment 60. The ventilation regulator 62 is an element for adjusting the amount of air sent from the blower 22 or arbitrarily changing the air sending direction, and coaxially protrudes from the attachment 60 toward the front of the housing 20.

As shown in fig. 4 and 6, the duct portion 24 has a cylindrical outer cylinder 65. The outer cylinder 65 is an element that continuously covers the blower 22, the attachment 60, and the ventilation regulator 62, and has a flange 66 formed at one axial end thereof. The flange portion 66 is continuous in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder 65, and projects outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 65. The flange portion 66 is supported by the front plate 34 by a plurality of screws and is detachable.

The outer cylinder 65 horizontally protrudes from the front plate 34 toward the front of the casing 20 in a state of surrounding the blower 22, the attachment 60, and the ventilation regulator 62. As shown in fig. 6, an axis O1 passing through the center of the outer tub 65 passes through the center C1 of the air heat exchanger 21.

The projecting end of the outer cylinder 65 is located further forward of the housing 20 than the ventilation regulator 62. A guide wall 67 is formed at the protruding end of the outer cylinder 65. The guide wall 67 is continuous in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder 65 and projects radially inward of the outer cylinder 65. The deflector wall 67 delimits a circular outlet opening 68 at the projecting end of the outer cylinder 65. The air outlet 68 faces the blower 22 via the ventilation regulator 62.

As best shown in fig. 6, the outer barrel 65 of the tunnel portion 24 defines a ventilation path 70 between the blower 22, the attachment 60 and the regulator 62. One end of the ventilation path 70 reaches the front plate 34 of the housing 20. The other end of the ventilation path 70 is closed by the guide wall 67.

A plurality of air-return holes 71 are formed in the front plate 34 of the housing 20 facing one end of the ventilation path 70. The air return hole 71 is located around the blower 22 and opens into the first accommodation chamber 38 of the housing 20. Therefore, one end of the ventilation path 70 communicates with the upstream side of the blower 22. In the present embodiment, the inner surface of the outer cylinder 65 and the inner surface of the guide wall 67 facing the ventilation path 70 are covered with the heat insulating material 72.

As shown in fig. 7, an indoor unit assembly 3 having 4 indoor units 5 is provided on the outer periphery of a conventional column 80 serving as the framework of a building 4 using a dedicated support bracket 81.

The column 80 is an example of a foundation structure, and stands upright from the floor F of the building 4. According to the present embodiment, the pillar 80 is a quadrangular prism having the first to fourth faces 80a, 80b, 80c, 80 d. The first to fourth faces 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d face the working area a inside the building 4 and point in 4 directions different from each other. The first to fourth surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c, and 80d are substantially flat surfaces having no irregularities, but may have a plurality of holes or a plurality of recesses.

In the present embodiment, a hydrant 82 is provided below the second surface 80b of the column 80. A distribution board 83 is provided below the third surface 80c of the column 80. The hydrant 82 and the switchboard 83 protrude around the column 80, respectively.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, a support bracket 81 is selectively installed at a lower portion of the first surface 80a of the pillar 80 to avoid the hydrant 82 and the switchboard 83. The area of the first face 80a of the upright 80 where the support bracket 81 is mounted is covered by a plurality of cover plates 84. The cover plates 84 are each formed of, for example, a square flat metal plate, and are arranged in a row so as to be continuous in the height direction of the column 80.

The support frame 81 has a first frame element 85 and a second frame element 86. The first support element 85 is divided into two structures, a lower structure 87 and an upper structure 88.

The upper structure 87 of the first support element 85 includes a pair of vertical bars 90a and 90b and a pair of horizontal bars 91a and 91 b. The vertical bars 90a, 90b stand along the column 80 at positions corresponding to both sides in the width direction of the first surface 80a of the column 80. In other words, the vertical bars 90a and 90b are disposed in parallel with each other with a gap therebetween in the width direction of the first surface 80 a. The arrangement interval of the vertical bars 90a, 90b is substantially equal to the width dimension of the first surface 80 a.

The vertical bars 90a and 90b are formed of, for example, angle steel having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and include a first support portion 92a and a second support portion 92b that are orthogonal to each other. The first support portion 92a and the second support portion 92b are elongated flat plate-like elements extending in the height direction of the column 80.

The first support portion 92a of one of the vertical bars 90a stands upright so as to face the cover plate 84 covering the first surface 80a of the pillar 80. The second support portion 92b of one of the vertical bars 90a stands up continuously from the second surface 80b of the pillar 80. Similarly, the first support portion 92a of the other vertical bar 90b stands upright so as to face the cover plate 84 covering the first surface 80a of the pillar 80. The second support portion 92b of the other vertical bar 90b stands up continuously from the fourth surface 80d of the pillar 80.

The crossbars 91a, 91b are formed, for example, from channel steel. One of the cross bars 91a is horizontally bridged between the upper ends of the vertical bars 90a, 90 b. Both end portions along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar 91a are coupled to the upper end portions of the vertical bars 90a, 90b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

The other cross bar 91b is horizontally bridged between the lower ends of the vertical bars 90a, 90 b. Both end portions along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar 91b are coupled to the lower end portions of the vertical bars 90a, 90b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts. As a result, the lower structure 87 is assembled into a square frame shape along the height direction of the pillar 80.

The rails 91a, 91b of the lower structure 87 abut against the cover 84 covering the first face 80a, respectively, and are secured to the first face 80a with a plurality of fasteners 93, such as screws. Fasteners 93 extend through the cross bars 91a, 91b and the cover 84 and are threaded into the columns 80. Therefore, the rails 91a, 91b are joined to the column 80 together with the cover 84, and the cover 84 is interposed between the column 80 and the rails 91a, 91 b.

As a result, the lower structure 87 of the first bracket element 85 is held in a posture of standing vertically from the floor F of the building 4 so as to be along the first surface 80a of the pillar 80.

As shown in fig. 8, 9 and 11, the upper structure 88 of the first bracket element 85 includes a pair of vertical bars 95a and 95b and a single horizontal bar 96. The vertical bars 95a, 95b stand along the column 80 at positions corresponding to both side portions of the column 80 in the width direction of the first surface 80 a. In other words, the vertical bars 95a and 95b are disposed in parallel with each other with a gap therebetween in the width direction of the first surface 80 a. The vertical bars 95a and 95b are arranged at intervals substantially equal to the width of the first surface 80 a.

The vertical bars 95a and 95b are formed of, for example, angle steel having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and include a third support portion 98a and a fourth support portion 98b orthogonal to each other. The third support portion 98a and the fourth support portion 98b are elongated flat plate-like elements extending in the height direction of the column 80.

The third support portion 98a of one of the vertical bars 95a stands upright so as to face the cover 84 covering the first surface 80 a. The fourth support portion 98b of one of the vertical bars 95a stands up continuously from the second surface 80b of the pillar 80. Similarly, the third support portion 98a of the other vertical bar 95b stands upright so as to face the cover 84 covering the first surface 80 a. The fourth support portion 98b of the other vertical bar 95b stands up continuously from the fourth surface 80d of the pillar 80.

The cross bar 96 is formed of, for example, a channel steel. The cross bar 96 is horizontally bridged between the upper end portions of the vertical bars 95a, 95 b. Both ends of the crossbar 96 in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the upper ends of the vertical bars 95a and 95b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

The cross bar 96 of the upper structure 88 abuts the cover 84 covering the first face 80a and is secured to the first face 80a by a plurality of fasteners 93 as with the lower structure 87. Fasteners 93 extend through the cross bar 96 and the cover 84 and are threaded into the posts 80. Thus, the cross bar 96 is coupled to the post 80 along with the cover 84, with the cover 84 being present between the post 80 and the cross bar 96.

As a result, the upper structure 88 of the first bracket element 85 is held in a posture of standing vertically from the upper end of the lower structure 87 so as to be along the first surface 80a of the pillar 80.

In the present embodiment, the lower ends of the vertical rods 95a and 95b of the upper structure 88 are fitted inside the upper ends of the vertical rods 90a and 90b of the lower structure 87, and are coupled to the vertical rods 90a and 90b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts. Thus, the lower structure 87 and the upper structure 88 are assembled into an integral structure.

As shown in fig. 8 and 12, the second holder element 86 is divided into two structures, a lower structure 100 and an upper structure 101. The lower structure 100 of the second holder element 86 includes a pair of vertical rods 102a and 102b, a pair of horizontal rods 103a and 103b, and two sets of support members 111a and 111 b. The vertical rods 102a and 102b stand up along the height direction of the column 80 at positions facing the vertical rods 90a and 90b of the lower structure 87 constituting the first bracket element 85. Therefore, the vertical rods 102a and 102b are arranged in parallel with each other with a gap therebetween.

The vertical bars 102a and 102b are formed of, for example, angle steel having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and include a fifth supporting portion 104a and a sixth supporting portion 104b orthogonal to each other. The fifth supporting portion 104a and the sixth supporting portion 104b are flat plate-like elements extending in the height direction of the column 80.

The fifth support portion 104a of one of the vertical bars 102a stands so as to face the first support portion 92a of the vertical bar 90 a. The sixth support portion 104b of one of the vertical bars 102a stands at a position distant from the second support portion 92b of the vertical bar 90 a. Similarly, the fifth support portion 104a of the other stem 102b stands so as to face the first support portion 92a of the stem 90 b. The sixth support portion 104b of the other vertical bar 102b stands at a position away from the second support portion 92b of the vertical bar 90 b.

The crossbars 103a, 103b are formed, for example, from channel steel. One of the cross bars 103a is horizontally bridged between the upper ends of the vertical bars 102a, 102 b. Both ends of the crossbar 103a in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the upper ends of the vertical bars 102a, 102b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

The other cross bar 103b is horizontally bridged between the lower ends of the vertical bars 102a, 102 b. Both ends of the crossbar 103b in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the lower ends of the vertical bars 102a and 102b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts. Therefore, the lower structural body 100 is assembled into a square frame shape along the height direction of the pillar 80.

As shown in fig. 12, the support members 111a and 111b are each formed of angle steel having, for example, an L-shaped cross-sectional shape. One of the supporting members 111a is bridged between the crossbar 103a and the crossbar 91a of the lower structure 87 constituting the first support element 85. Both ends of the support 111a in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the upper surface portions of the crossbars 103a and 91a by a plurality of screws or bolts, for example.

The other support 111b is bridged between the crossbar 103b and the crossbar 91b of the lower structure 87 constituting the first support element 85. Both ends of the support 111b in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the upper surface portions of the crossbars 103b and 91b by a plurality of screws or bolts, for example. Therefore, the lower structure 100 of the second holder element 86 is fixed to the lower structure 87 of the first holder element 85.

As shown in fig. 8, 9, and 12, the upper structure 101 of the second stand element 86 includes a pair of front side vertical rods 106a and 106b, a pair of rear side vertical rods 106c and 106d, a pair of lateral rods 107a and 107b, and a set of support members 111 c.

The rear side vertical rods 106c and 106d stand upright along the height direction of the pillar 80 at positions facing the vertical rods 95a and 95b of the upper structure 87 constituting the first bracket element 85. Therefore, the rear side vertical bars 106a and 106b are arranged in parallel with each other with a space therebetween.

The rear side vertical bars 106c and 106d are formed of, for example, angle steel having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and include a seventh supporting portion 110a and an eighth supporting portion 110b that are orthogonal to each other. The seventh support portion 110a and the eighth support portion 110b are flat plate-like elements extending in the height direction of the pillar 80.

The seventh support portion 110a of one of the rear side vertical bars 106c stands facing the third support portion 98a of the vertical bar 95 a. The eighth support portion 110b of one of the rear side vertical posts 106c stands alongside the fourth support portion 98b of the vertical post 95 a. Similarly, the seventh support portion 110a of the other rear side stem 106d stands facing the third support portion 98a of the stem 95 b. The eighth support portion 110b of the other rear side stem 106d stands up alongside the fourth support portion 98b of the stem 95 b.

The rear side vertical rods 106c and 106d are coupled to the vertical rods 95a and 95b of the upper structure 87 constituting the first bracket element 85 by a plurality of screws or bolts, for example.

The front side vertical bars 106a and 106b rise in the height direction of the pillar 80 at positions facing the rear side vertical bars 106c and 106 d. Therefore, the front side vertical bars 106a and 106b are arranged in parallel with each other with a gap therebetween.

The front side vertical bars 106a and 106b are formed of, for example, angle steel having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, similarly to the rear side vertical bars 106c and 106d, and include a seventh supporting portion 110a and an eighth supporting portion 110b that are orthogonal to each other. The seventh support portion 110a and the eighth support portion 110b are flat plate-like elements extending in the height direction of the pillar 80.

The seventh support portion 110a of one of the front side vertical bars 106a stands up so as to face the seventh support portion 110a of the rear side vertical bar 106 c. The eighth support portion 110b of one of the front side vertical bars 106a stands at a position away from the eighth support portion 110b of the rear side vertical bar 106 c. Similarly, the seventh support portion 110a of the other front side vertical bar 106b is erected so as to face the seventh support portion 110a of the rear side vertical bar 106 d. The eighth supporting portion 110b of the other front side stem 106b stands at a position away from the eighth supporting portion 110b of the rear side stem 106 d.

The crossbars 107a, 107b are formed, for example, from channel steel. One of the cross bars 107a is horizontally bridged between the upper end portions of the front side vertical bars 106a, 106 b. Both ends of the crossbar 107a in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the upper ends of the front side vertical bars 106a, 106b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

The other cross bar 107b is horizontally bridged between the intermediate portions of the front side vertical bars 106a, 106 b. Both ends of the crossbar 107b in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the intermediate portions of the front side vertical bars 106a, 106b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts. As a result, the upper structure 101 is assembled into a square frame shape along the height direction of the pillar 80.

As shown in fig. 8, the lower end portions of the front side vertical rods 106a and 106b of the upper structure 101 are fitted inside the upper end portions of the vertical rods 102a and 102b of the lower structure 100, and are coupled to the vertical rods 102a and 102b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

As shown in fig. 12, the support 111c is formed of angle steel having, for example, an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, similarly to the support 111a and the support 111 b. The support 111c is bridged between the cross bar 107a and the cross bar 96 of the upper structure 88 constituting the first bracket element 85. Both ends of the support 111c in the longitudinal direction are coupled to the upper surface portions of the crossbars 107a and 96 by a plurality of screws or bolts, for example.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the front side vertical rods 106a, 106b each have a pair of supporting members 112. The support 112 is formed of, for example, a channel steel. The support members 112 are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the front side vertical bars 106a, 106b, and are coupled to the vertical bars 106a, 106b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

The support member 112 horizontally protrudes from the front side vertical bars 106a, 106b toward the rear side vertical bars 106c, 106 d. The protruding ends of the support members 112 are coupled to the rear side vertical bars 106c, 106d by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

As a result, the distance of the second bracket element 86 from the first bracket element 85 corresponds to the length of the support 112, and the fifth support portion 104a of the vertical bars 102a, 102b and the seventh support portion 110a of the front vertical bars 106a, 106b are arranged parallel to the first surface 80a of the pillar 80.

As shown in fig. 8, 9, and 12, a pair of fixing members 120a and 120b for receiving the brackets 40a and 40b of the indoor units 5 are attached to the seventh support portions 110a of the front side vertical bars 106a and 106 b. The fixing members 120a and 120b are formed of, for example, angle steel having an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and each have a ninth support portion 121 a. The ninth support portion 121a is a flat plate-like element extending in the height direction of the pillar 80, and is positioned on the front surface side of the front side vertical bars 106a, 106 b.

As shown in fig. 7, the indoor unit assembly 3 having 4 indoor units 5 is detachably supported by the upper structure 101 of the second bracket element 86. Specifically, the brackets 40a and 40b of the indoor units 5 are fixed to the ninth support portions 121a of the fixing members 120a and 120b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts. Thus, the 4 indoor units 5 are aligned in a row along the height direction of the pillar 80, and the back plate 30 of the casing 20 of each indoor unit 5 faces the cover plate 84 covering the first face 80a of the pillar 80.

As shown in fig. 9, in a state where the indoor unit 5 is fixed to the upper structure 101 of the second bracket element 86, the duct portion 24 of the indoor unit 5 horizontally protrudes in a direction away from the first surface 80a of the pillar 80.

Further, the housings 20 of the 4 indoor units 5 are separated from the first surface 80a of the pillar 80, and a gap G is formed between the back plate 30 of the housing 20 and the cover plate 84 covering the first surface 80 a. The gap G has an elongated shape extending in the height direction of the pillar 80.

As shown in fig. 7, a plurality of side plates 131, 1 front plate 132, 1 top cover 133, and 1 filter 134 are mounted on the support frame 81. The side plate 131, the front plate 132, the top cover 133, and the filter 134 are examples of exterior plates.

The side plate 131 is attached to the support frame 81 by a plurality of screws or bolts so as to be placed between the second support portion 92b of the vertical rods 90a and 90b of the first support element 85 and the sixth support portion 104b of the vertical rods 102a and 102b of the second support element 86, and between the fourth support portion 98b of the vertical rods 95a and 95b of the first support element 85 and the eighth support portion 110b of the front vertical rods 106a and 106b of the second support element 96. The side plates 131 are aligned in a row along the height direction of the column 80 and face each other with a gap G therebetween.

The front plate 132 is a rectangular plate-shaped member, and is attached to the front surface of the fifth support portion 104a of the vertical rods 102a, 102b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts so as to be interposed between the vertical rods 102a, 102b constituting the second bracket member 86. Therefore, the front plate 132 is located below the indoor unit assembly 3. The gap between the indoor unit assembly 3 and the front plate 132 is filled with the cross bar 103a of the second bracket element 86.

The top cover 133 is attached to the support frame 81 by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts so as to be interposed between the upper end of the upper structure 88 of the first bracket element 85 and the upper end of the upper structure 101 of the second bracket element 86. The top cover 133 is continuous with the upper end of the topmost side plate 131 and the casing 20 of the topmost indoor unit 5 without a gap.

The filter 134 may be interchangeable with the front plate 132. The filter 134 includes a square outer frame 135 and a filter element 136 for filtering air. The outer frame 135 is attached to the front surface of the fifth support portion 104a of the vertical bars 102a, 102b by, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts so as to be stretched between the vertical bars 102a, 102b constituting the second bracket element 86. The upper edge of the outer frame 135 is closely attached to the lower edge of the front plate 132 without a gap. The gap between the lower edge of the outer frame 135 and the floor F of the building 4 is filled with a skirting line 137.

The filter element 136 is a rectangular plate-like element, and is supported by the outer frame 135 so as to be detachable.

The side plate 131, the front plate 132, the top cover 133, and the filter 134 enclose the gap G therein, thereby defining an air passage 200 shown in fig. 9 between them and the pillar 80. The air passage 200 stands along the pillar 80. Air passage 200 is divided from work area a inside building 4, and passes through filter 134 to work area a.

The cover 84 covering the first surface 80a of the pillar 80 is exposed in the air passage 200, and constitutes a part of the inner wall surface of the air passage 200. The suction ports of all the indoor units 5 are open to the air passage 200.

The air passage 200 also functions as a space through which the liquid pipe 7 and the gas pipe 8 connected to the indoor unit 5, the drain pipe 123 connected to the drain port 33 of the indoor unit 5, and the harness 124 electrically connected to the control unit 23 of the indoor unit 5 pass. The liquid pipe 7, the gas pipe 8, the drain pipe 123, and the harness 124 pass through the upper wall of the top cover 133 from the air passage 200, and then are routed to the upper portion of the column 80.

Next, a procedure of setting the indoor unit assembly 3 to the pillar 80 using the support bracket 81 will be described.

First, as shown in fig. 10, the lower structural body 87 of the first bracket element 85 is fixed to the lower portion of the first surface 80a of the pillar 80 together with the plurality of cover plates 84. Then, as shown in fig. 11, the lower end of the upper structure 88 of the first bracket element 85 is coupled to the upper end of the lower structure 87, and the upper structure 88 is fixed to the first surface 80a of the pillar 80 together with the plurality of cover plates 84. Accordingly, the first bracket element 85 of the support bracket 81 is directly attached to the first surface 80a of the column 80 in a state of standing along the column 80.

Thereafter, as shown in fig. 12, the lower structure 100 of the second holder element 86 and the lower structure 87 of the first holder element 85 are coupled to each other by the support members 111a and 111 b.

Next, the rear side vertical rods 106c, 106d of the upper structure 101 constituting the second bracket element 86 are fixed to the vertical rods 95a, 95b of the upper structure 88 constituting the first bracket element 85.

Then, the front side vertical bars 106a, 106b of the upper structure 101 constituting the second bracket element 86 are coupled to the rear side vertical bars 106c, 106d via a plurality of supports 112 protruding from the front side vertical bars 106a, 106 b.

Then, the fasteners 120a, 120b are fixed to the front side vertical rods 106a, 106b of the upper structure 101 constituting the second bracket element 86.

As a result, the second bracket element 86 is directly attached to the column 80 so as to protrude from the first surface 80a of the column 80, and the support bracket 81 is assembled to the column 80.

Thereafter, as shown in fig. 13, the plurality of indoor units 5 are attached one by one to the upper structure 101 of the second bracket element 86. Specifically, the brackets 40a, 40b of the indoor unit 5 are attached to the ninth support portions 121a of the fixing members 120a, 120b with, for example, a plurality of screws or bolts.

Fig. 14 shows a state in which 4 indoor units 5 are attached to the upper structure 101 of the second bracket element 86. The 4 indoor units 5 are aligned in a row along the height direction of the pillar 80.

After the installation of the 4 indoor units 5 to the upper structure 101 is completed, the side plates 131, the front plate 132, the top cover 133, and the filter 134 are installed on the support frame 81.

Accordingly, as shown in fig. 7, the installation work of the indoor unit 3 on the pillar 80 is completed.

In embodiment 1, when the operation of the indoor unit 5 of the indoor unit assembly 3 is started, the blower 22 of the indoor unit 5 sucks air in the first storage chamber 38 of the casing 20 through the through hole 36. Thus, a negative pressure acts on the suction port 32 of the housing 20.

The suction port 32 is opened in an air passage 200 defined between the pillar 80 and the casing 20, and therefore, air inside the building 4 passes through the filter 134 and is sucked into the air passage 200. The filter 134 is attached to the lower structure 100 of the second holder element 86 so as to be positioned below the indoor unit assembly 3. Therefore, air near the floor F of the working area a is drawn into the air passage 200.

The air drawn into the blower 22 from the air passage 200 passes through the air heat exchanger 21. The air heat exchanger 21 changes the air blown to the blower 22 into cold air or warm air by heat exchange between the air blown to the blower 22 and the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes 44. The air after heat exchange passes through the ventilation regulator 62, and is then blown horizontally from the air outlet 68 of the duct portion 24 to the working area a.

As a result, the air after heat exchange can be sent out from the first surface 80a side of the column 80 to the working area a, and local air conditioning of the working area a or stratified air conditioning using the column 80 can be achieved.

According to the present embodiment, a part of the air blown toward the air outlet 68 by the air-conditioning damper 62 is guided to the ventilation path 79 by the guide wall 67 for defining the air outlet 68, as indicated by the broken-line arrow in fig. 6. The ventilation path 70 leads to the upstream side of the blower 21 via an air return hole 71 provided in the front surface of the casing 20. Therefore, the air guided to the ventilation path 70 is sucked from the air return hole 71 into the blower 22 via the first accommodation chamber 38.

Thus, a portion of the air after passing through the ventilation regulator 62 returns in the direction of the housing 20 through the ventilation path 70. In other words, the outer peripheral surface of the ventilation regulator 62 is directly exposed to the air flow after heat exchange in the air heat exchanger 21, and the temperature difference between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the ventilation regulator 62 is reduced.

As a result, even if the cold air associated with the cooling operation passes through the ventilation regulator 62 under, for example, high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, the outer peripheral surface of the ventilation regulator 62 is less likely to be condensed. Further, since the inner wall surface of the outer tube 65 facing the ventilation path 70 and the inner surface of the baffle wall 67 are covered with the heat insulating material 72, condensation on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 65 can be prevented.

Therefore, during the cooling operation, it is possible to prevent so-called splashing, in which water droplets are blown out from the air outlet 68 of the duct portion 24, and to avoid the occurrence of a phenomenon in which water droplets are dropped from the outer tube 65.

According to embodiment 1, the support bracket 81 that fixes the 4 indoor units 5 to the pillar 80 is directly mounted on the first face 80a of the pillar 80 together with the cover plate 84. Therefore, even when the hydrant 82 is disposed on the second surface 80b of the pillar 80 and the distribution board 83 is disposed on the third surface 80c, the indoor unit 5 can be installed on the pillar 80.

In other words, the first surface 80a of the column 80 on which the hydrant 82 and the distribution board 83 are not provided can be selected as the installation surface of the support bracket 81, and the hydrant 82 and the distribution board 83 do not interfere with each other when the support bracket 81 is installed on the column 80. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in installing the indoor unit 5 on the column 80 can be improved, and the air conditioner 1 having a wide range of practical use can be provided.

In the present embodiment, the support bracket 81 is directly attached to the first surface 80a of the pillar 80 together with the plurality of caps 84, and the caps 84 form a part of the inner wall surface of the air passage 200.

According to this structure, even when the column 80 is of a truss structure or a hollow structure in which a plurality of holes are opened in the first to fourth surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d of the column 80, for example, the space inside the column 80 and the air passage 200 can be partitioned by the cover plate 84.

As a result, in the state where the indoor unit 5 is operating, the air inside the pillar 80 can be prevented from flowing directly into the air passage 200 without passing through the filter 134. Therefore, the air purified by the filter 134 is sucked into the indoor unit 5, and therefore dust is not easily attached to the air heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 5.

Further, since the metal cover 84 provided between the support bracket 81 and the column 80 functions as a strength member, both the column 80 and the support bracket 81 can be reinforced by the cover 84. Therefore, the indoor unit assembly 3 having 4 indoor units 5 can be firmly fixed to the pillar 80, and sufficient earthquake resistance can be ensured.

The indoor unit assembly 3 is not limited to the upper structure 101 attached to the second bracket element 86. For example, the indoor unit assembly 3 may be attached to the lower structure 100 of the second bracket element 86, and the front plate 132 and the filter 134 may be attached to the upper structure 101 of the second bracket element 86.

According to this configuration, since the 4 indoor units 5 are aligned in a row in the height direction of the column 80 from the floor F of the building 4, the air conditioned by the indoor units 5 can be blown out parallel to the floor F from the lower position of the working area a. As a result, the air staying near the floor F can be pushed up to the upper side of the building 4 to realize the stratified air conditioning, and the temperature difference of the entire working area a can be controlled to be small.

In embodiment 1, the indoor unit assembly 3 is provided on the first surface 80a of the pillar 80 via the stay 81, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

For example, when the fourth surface 80d of the column 80 to which the hydrant 82 and the distribution board 83 are not attached faces the working area a, the indoor unit assembly 3 may be installed on the fourth surface 80d using another support bracket 81. That is, the conditioned air may be blown out in two directions around the column 80, and the air blowing direction is not particularly limited.

The positions of the indoor unit 5, the front plate 132, and the filter 134 on the column 80 are not particularly limited, and the positions of the indoor unit 5, the front plate 132, and the filter 134 may be appropriately changed in the height direction of the column 80, for example, according to the position of the hydrant 80 provided on the column 80, the environment of the work area a to be air-conditioned, and the like.

(embodiment mode 2)

Fig. 15 and 16 show embodiment 2.

Embodiment 2 is different from embodiment 1 in that the outdoor unit assembly 3 having 4 indoor units 5 is previously assembled into an integrated structure before being installed on the column 80. The outdoor unit assembly 3 is similar in structure to that of embodiment 1 except for this.

As shown in fig. 15, the brackets 40a and 40b of the 4 indoor units 5 extending from both side portions of the casing 20 are fixed to the fixing members 120a and 102b of the upper structure 101 constituting the second bracket element 86 by a plurality of screws or bolts.

At this time, the fixtures 120a and 120b are separated from the upper structure 101, and thus function as a kind of sub-mount for connecting the 4 indoor units 5.

Therefore, the 4 indoor units 5 are supported by the fixtures 120a and 120b in a state of being aligned in a row along the longitudinal direction of the fixtures 120a and 120b, and are assembled into one sub-assembly 300.

As shown in fig. 16, the sub-assembly 300 in which 4 indoor units 5 are fixed to the fixing members 120a, 120b is assembled to the bracket 81 which has been previously installed on the pillar 80.

According to embodiment 2, 4 indoor units 5 are assembled into an integrated structure by the fasteners 120a and 120b at a stage before the 4 indoor units 5 are assembled into the column 80. Therefore, as compared with the case where 4 indoor units are individually attached to the support bracket 81, the positions of the indoor units 5 can be easily adjusted to each other, and the 4 indoor units 5 whose positions have been adjusted can be installed on the column 80 at one time.

Thus, the operability when 4 indoor units are provided to the pillar 80 is improved.

(embodiment mode 3)

Fig. 17 to 19 show embodiment 3.

Embodiment 3 differs from embodiment 1 in that 4 indoor units 5 are already fixed to the support frame 81 before the support frame 81 is attached to the first surface 80a of the column 80.

As shown in fig. 17, 4 indoor units 5 are fixed to the upper structure 101 of the second holder element 86 in a row. When the indoor unit 5 is fixed to the upper structure 101, the second bracket element 86 is coupled to the first bracket element 85 via the support member 112.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of side plates 131 are attached to the support frame 81 by a plurality of screws or bolts so as to be placed between the vertical rods 90a and 90b of the first bracket element 85 and the vertical rods 102a and 102b of the second bracket element 86 and between the vertical rods 95a and 95b of the first bracket element 85 and the front vertical rods 106a and 106b of the second bracket element 86 in advance.

The plurality of cover plates 84 are also temporarily fixed to the first bracket elements 85 of the support bracket 81.

As shown in fig. 18, the support frame 81 to which the 4 indoor units 5, the plurality of cover plates 84, and the plurality of side plates 131 are attached is closely attached to the first surface 80a in a posture of standing along the first surface 80a of the pillar 80. In this state, the lateral rods 91a and 91b of the lower structure 87 constituting the first bracket element 85 are exposed to the periphery of the column 80 from between the vertical rods 102a and 102b of the lower structure 100 constituting the second bracket element 86.

Similarly, the cross bar 96 of the upper structure 88 constituting the first bracket element 85 is exposed around the column 80 from between the upper end portions of the front side vertical bars 106a, 106b of the upper structure 101 constituting the second bracket element 86. Thus, the cross bars 91a, 91b, 96 are secured to the first face 80a of the upright 80 with the cover 84 using a plurality of screws or bolts, respectively.

Thereafter, as shown in fig. 19, the front plate 132, the top cover 133, and the filter 134 are attached to the support frame 81 in a state of standing along the pillar 80. Thus, the installation work of the indoor unit assembly 3 having 4 indoor units 5 is completed.

According to embodiment 3, the support frame 81 itself can be assembled at a place other than the working space a, and 4 indoor units 5 can be mounted on the support frame 81.

Therefore, the work of assembling the support bracket 81 and the work of attaching the indoor unit 5 to the support bracket 81 can be easily performed. Further, the support bracket 81 can be attached to the pillar 80 together with the indoor unit 5 at one time, and the operability is improved.

(embodiment mode 4)

Fig. 20 shows embodiment 4.

In embodiment 4, the indoor unit assembly 3 includes 2 indoor units 5. The 2 indoor units 5 are mounted on the fixing members 120a, 120b of the second bracket element 86. The indoor units 5 are arranged along the height direction of the pillar 80 in the lower half region in the height direction of the upper structure 100 of the second bracket element 86.

In the present embodiment, since 2 indoor units 5 are located in the lower half region in the height direction of the upper structure 101, another front plate 150 is attached to the upper half region in the height direction of the fixing members 120a and 120 b. The front plate 150 is mounted on the fixing members 120a, 120b in such a manner as to be located between the upper indoor unit 5 and the top cover 133.

In embodiment 4, another front plate 150 is attached to the upper half region in the height direction of the upper structure 101, but the filter 134 may be attached instead of the front plate 150.

(embodiment 5)

Fig. 21 to 23 show embodiment 5.

The air conditioning apparatus 1 according to embodiment 5 is different from embodiment 1 in that the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d are provided on the first to fourth surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c, and 80d of the pillar 80.

Each of the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d has 4 indoor units 5. The first to fourth indoor unit assemblies 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d are supported by the first to fourth surfaces 80a, 80b, 80c, and 80d of the column 80 using the same support bracket 81 as in embodiment 1. The structure of mounting the support bracket 81 to the column 80 is the same as that of embodiment 1, and therefore the same reference numerals as those of embodiment 1 are assigned and the description thereof is omitted.

Fig. 21 shows a piping system of the air conditioner 1 including the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3 d. The liquid pipe 7 connected to the outdoor unit 2 is branched into first to fourth liquid pipes 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d via a first branching head 400. The gas pipe 8 connected to the outdoor unit 2 is branched into first to fourth gas pipes 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d through a second branching head 401. The first to fourth liquid pipes 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and the first to fourth gas pipes 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d are led to the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, respectively.

The first to fourth liquid pipes 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d have 4 liquid pipes 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d branched by 3Y- branch joints 9a, 9b, and 9c, respectively. The liquid pipes 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are connected to the indoor units 5, respectively.

Similarly, the first to fourth gas pipes 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d have 4 gas pipes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d branched by 3T- branch joints 11a, 11b, 11c, respectively. The air pipes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d are connected to the indoor units 5, respectively.

Therefore, the refrigerant compressed by the outdoor unit 2 is distributed to the indoor units 5 of the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, and the refrigerant discharged from the indoor unit 5 is returned to the outdoor unit 2 again.

Further, the first to fourth indoor units 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d have remote controllers 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, respectively. Each of the first to fourth indoor unit assemblies 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d can perform various operations such as operation/stop, temperature setting, operation switching, etc. of the indoor unit 5 by the remote controllers 13a, 13b, 13c, 13 d.

As shown in fig. 22 and 23, the first indoor unit assembly 3a is provided on the first surface 80a of the pillar 80 via a support bracket 81. The 4 indoor units 5 included in the first indoor unit assembly 3a are aligned in a row in the height direction of the pillar 80 along the first surface 80 a. The support frame 81 corresponding to the first indoor unit assembly 3a is provided with a plurality of side plates 131, a front plate 132, a top cover 133, a filter 134, and a skirting line 137.

The second indoor unit assembly 3b is mounted on the second surface 80b of the pillar 80 via a support bracket 81. The 4 indoor units 5 included in the second indoor unit assembly 3b are aligned in a row in the height direction of the pillar 80 along the second surface 80 b. The support frame 81 corresponding to the second indoor unit assembly 3b is provided with a plurality of side plates 131, a front plate 132, a top cover 133, a filter 134, and a skirting line 137.

The third indoor unit assembly 3c is provided on the third surface 80c of the pillar 80 via the support bracket 81. The 4 indoor units 5 included in the third indoor unit assembly 3c are aligned in a row in the height direction of the pillar 80 along the third surface 80 c. Further, the support frame 81 corresponding to the third indoor unit assembly 3c is provided with a plurality of side plates 131, a front plate 132, a top cover 133, a filter 134, and a kick line 137.

The fourth indoor unit assembly 3d is mounted on the fourth surface 80d of the pillar 80 via the support bracket 81. The 4 indoor units 5 included in the fourth indoor unit assembly 3d are aligned in a row in the height direction of the pillar 80 along the fourth surface 80 d. The support frame 81 corresponding to the fourth indoor unit assembly 4d is provided with a plurality of side plates 131, a front plate 132, a top cover 133, a filter 134, and a skirting line 137.

Therefore, in the state where the first to fourth indoor units 3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d are installed on the pillar 80, the duct sections 24 of the 16 indoor units 5 radially protrude in four directions around the pillar 80.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described, but these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments may be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments are included in the gist of the scope of the present invention, and are included in the scope equivalent to the invention described in the scope of the claims.

For example, the base structure is not limited to the columns of a building, but may be a beam or a diagonal line that spans between adjacent columns.

The spine structure is not limited to the vertical column or the horizontal beam that constitutes the building frame, and may be a dedicated pillar that rises from the floor of the building to support the indoor unit assembly or a wall surface that rises from the floor of the building.

The column as an example of the base structure is not limited to a square column, and may be made of, for example, H-shaped steel, I-shaped steel, or a combination of steels having various shapes.

Description of the reference symbols

1 an air conditioning device; 5 an indoor unit; 21 an air heat exchanger; 22 a blower; 32 suction inlet; 80 base structures (columns); 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d first to fourth faces; 81, a support frame; 131. 132, 133, 134 exterior panels (side panels, front panels, top covers, filters); 200 air passages; a space (work area) to be air-conditioned.

Claims (7)

1. An air conditioning apparatus is characterized by comprising:

a support frame selectively attached to at least one surface of a base structure having a plurality of surfaces; and

at least one indoor unit which is detachably supported by the support frame and includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, and a blower,

the support frame includes a first frame element fixed along the surface of the base structure, a second frame element fixed to the first frame element and detachable therefrom, the indoor unit is supported by the second frame element and detachable therefrom,

the second bracket element includes a support member that is bridged between the second bracket element and the first bracket element, and is disposed so as to be separated from the first bracket element according to the length of the support member.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1,

the base structure is a pillar having a plurality of faces facing in different directions, the first bracket element and the second bracket element extend in a height direction of the pillar, and the plurality of indoor units are supported by the second bracket element and are aligned in a line in the height direction of the pillar.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2,

the indoor unit may further include a sub-bracket that connects the plurality of indoor units, and the sub-bracket may be attached to the second bracket element.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 1,

the base structure further includes a plate-like cover that is present between the support frame and the surface of the base structure.

5. An air conditioning apparatus, comprising:

a support frame attached to at least one surface of a base structure having a plurality of surfaces facing a space to be air-conditioned;

at least one indoor unit supported by the support frame so as to face the surface of the base structure, having a heat exchanger and a blower that exchange heat between refrigerant and air, and having a suction port through which heat-exchange air is sucked;

a plurality of exterior plates attached to the support frame and defining an air passage defined from the space between the indoor unit and the surface of the base structure,

the support frame includes a first frame element fixed along the surface of the base structure, a second frame element fixed to the first frame element and detachable therefrom, the indoor unit is supported by the second frame element and detachable therefrom,

the second bracket element includes a support member that is bridged between the second bracket element and the first bracket element, and the second bracket element is disposed separately from the first bracket element in accordance with the length of the support member,

the suction port of the indoor unit opens to the air passage.

6. Air conditioning unit according to claim 5,

the base structure is a column serving as a framework of a building, and the support frame extends in a height direction of the column, and the plurality of indoor units are supported by the support frame and aligned in a row in the height direction of the column.

7. Air conditioning unit according to claim 5 or 6,

the exterior panel includes a filter attached to the support frame so as to face the air passage, and air in the space to be air-conditioned is drawn into the air passage through the filter in a state where the blower of the indoor unit is operated.

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