CN111853931A

CN111853931A - Air conditioner with service panel

Info

Publication number: CN111853931A
Application number: CN201910344695.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 郑超; 王宗胜
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2019-04-26
Filing date: 2019-04-26
Publication date: 2020-10-30

Abstract

The present invention relates to an indoor unit (100) for a split type air conditioner. The indoor unit includes a housing (102). The housing comprises a front part (103) and two side parts (104, 105). At least one side is provided with an access panel (108) for accessing the interior of the indoor unit from the side of the housing. Thereby, components located within the housing may be easily accessed.

Description

Air conditioner with service panel

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air conditioner. In particular, the present invention relates to an indoor unit of a split type air conditioner having an access panel.

Background

Air conditioning is a joint expression for conditioning air to a desired state. The air conditioning may be: heating the air during cold periods, cooling the air during warmer periods or for cleaning the air when it contains undesirable particles. However, the expression air conditioning is most often used when cooling is emphasized. As a product, the air conditioner may have various appearances and be used in various ways, but they all have the same basic technology. An air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and typically also an expansion device.

There are different types of air conditioners. One type of air conditioner may be referred to as a split type air conditioner. In a split type air conditioner, the condenser and the evaporator are located in two different separate units that are connected to each other via pipes to circulate the refrigerant from one unit to the other.

Another type of air conditioner may be referred to as a cabinet air conditioner. A cabinet Air Conditioner (AC) can be said to be a stand-alone system in which all of the cooling cycle components, such as the compressor, condenser, expansion device, evaporator and control system, are enclosed in a single cabinet.

The air conditioner is provided with different types of electronics to control the air conditioner and also with some motor drive components to drive different parts of the air conditioner. These motors may include a motor for driving a fan or a motor for opening/closing an air inlet or an air outlet. When the air conditioner is a split type, the indoor unit includes some of the components. For example, US5600963 describes an indoor unit for a split functional air conditioner.

There is a continuing desire to improve air conditioners. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved air conditioner, and in particular for an improved split functional air conditioner.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved air conditioner.

These objects and others are achieved by an air conditioner and filter as set forth in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, there is provided an indoor unit for a split type air conditioner. The indoor unit includes a housing. The housing includes a front portion and two side portions. At least one side is provided with an access panel for accessing the interior of the indoor unit from the side of the housing. Thereby, components located within the housing may be easily accessed.

According to one embodiment, a space is provided inside the access panel for accommodating at least one component. Thus, components requiring service or maintenance may be located in an easily accessible space. These components may be motors and/or controllers.

According to one embodiment, the controller may comprise a printed circuit board, i.e. PCB. The PCB may be positioned in the space with the flat side including the electronics facing the access panel. Thereby, the electronics on the PCB can be easily accessed when opening the side panel.

The present invention also relates to a split type air conditioner including the indoor unit according to the above description.

Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit for a split type air conditioner,

figure 2 is an exploded view of an indoor unit for a split type air conditioner,

fig. 3 is a front view of an indoor unit for the split type air conditioner, an

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an indoor unit for a split type air conditioner as viewed from the side.

Detailed Description

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, the same or similar components of the different embodiments may be interchanged between different embodiments. Some components may be omitted from the different embodiments. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

In fig. 1, an air conditioner is depicted. The air conditioner is shown as an indoor unit 100 for a split type air conditioner. When installed, the indoor unit 100 will typically be connected to an outdoor unit (not shown). The indoor unit 100 includes a housing 102. The housing comprises a front part 103 and two

side parts

104, 105. At least one of the

sides

104, 105 may be provided with space for components, as will be described in more detail below.

In fig. 2, a partially exploded view of an indoor unit 100 for a split functional air conditioner is depicted. The view in fig. 2 particularly shows one side 104 of the indoor unit 100. The housing 102 is provided with a space 106 at least one of the sides of the indoor unit 100. The space 106 may be accessed via an access panel 108 provided on the housing 102 at a side of the indoor unit 100. Thus, the space 106 may be accessed by removing or opening the access panel 108. Within the space 106 are provided

components

110, 111 of the indoor unit 100 that normally need to be accessed. Examples of such components include components that may require maintenance. According to one embodiment, a controller 110 is disposed in the space 106. The controller 110 may be formed at least in part from a printed circuit board, i.e., PCB. Advantageously, the PCB is positioned in the space 106 with the flat side comprising the electronics facing the access panel 108. Thus, the electronics on the PCB are easily accessible when the access panel 108 is removed, and the PCB may not even need to be removed for maintenance. The shape of the access panel 108 may be designed to match the shape of the PCB such that the PCB may be easily accessed or removed via holes formed at the sides of the housing 102 when the access panel 108 is removed or opened. A motor 111 may also be provided within the space 106. The motor 111 may be used to drive a propeller of the indoor unit to convey air discharged from the indoor unit 100.

In fig. 3, a front view of the indoor unit 100 is depicted. As described above, the housing 102 of the indoor unit 100 is provided with the side or side section 104, and the side or side section 104 has a space therein. Of course, the other side 105 can also be designed with such a space in the side section.

In fig. 4, a sectional view along section a-a of the indoor unit 100 of fig. 3 is shown. Figure 4 shows a space 106 inside the access panel. The detection panel may be attached to the side of the indoor unit using some fasteners 114 provided on the housing 102, such as snaps, hooks, or threads for receiving screws.

Using a split type air conditioner having an access panel as described above may allow for a reduction in the time consumed for servicing and/or maintenance provided by the air conditioner. Servicing may be more efficient as less work is required.

In particular, certain components, such as the air conditioner electronic controller and the motor, may be more easily accessed. This is because these components in the space can be easily accessed from the side via a side access panel as described herein.

Claims

1. An indoor unit (100) for a split functional air conditioner, the indoor unit (100) comprising a housing (102) comprising a front (103) and two sides (104, 105), wherein at least one side (104) is provided with an access panel (108) for accessing the interior of the indoor unit from the side of the housing.

2. Indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein inside the access panel a space (106) is provided accommodating at least one component (110, 111).

3. An indoor unit according to claim 2, wherein a controller (110) is provided in the space.

4. The indoor unit of claim 3, wherein the controller comprises a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

5. The indoor unit of claim 4, wherein the PCB is positioned in the space 106 with a flat side comprising electronics facing the access panel.

6. Indoor unit according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein a motor (111) is provided in the space.

7. A split type air conditioner comprising the indoor unit according to any one of the preceding claims.