EP1780473B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Air conditioner Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1780473B1
EP1780473B1 EP05765080A EP05765080A EP1780473B1 EP 1780473 B1 EP1780473 B1 EP 1780473B1 EP 05765080 A EP05765080 A EP 05765080A EP 05765080 A EP05765080 A EP 05765080A EP 1780473 B1 EP1780473 B1 EP 1780473B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat exchanger
disposed
air conditioner
space
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP05765080A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1780473A1 (en
EP1780473A4 (en
Inventor
Yoshiaki c/o Kanaoka Factory Sakai Plan FUKUMURA
Makoto c/o Kanaoka Factory Sakai Plant FUJII
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Daikin Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Daikin Industries Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daikin Industries Ltd filed Critical Daikin Industries Ltd
Publication of EP1780473A1 publication Critical patent/EP1780473A1/en
Publication of EP1780473A4 publication Critical patent/EP1780473A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1780473B1 publication Critical patent/EP1780473B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0059Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by heat exchangers
    • F24F1/0063Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by heat exchangers by the mounting or arrangement of the heat exchangers
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0043Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
    • F24F1/005Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted on the floor; standing on the floor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air conditioner disposed with a heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant pipe.
  • JP-A No. 11-304177 a floor-placed air conditioner indoor unit disposed with a fan and a heat exchanger inside is disclosed.
  • the heat exchanger is disposed such that it cuts across a flow of air formed by the fan at the rear side of a front panel, and is attached inside in a state where it is slanted downward from the front side toward the deep side. Additionally, a flow of air is formed when the fan begins running, and heat exchange is performed between the air passing through the heat exchanger and refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger.
  • the air conditioner indoor unit can provide air-conditioned air to the inside of the room.
  • US 2 266 259 A , US 5 373 894 A , GB 618 620 A , FR 1 364 216 A , DE 16 79 537 A1 and US 4 733 542 A relate to air conditioner units, wherein US 2 266 259 A discloses the preamble of claim 1.
  • the heat exchanger can be exposed when the front panel is removed.
  • the refrigerant pipe connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger has a small diameter and its structure is complex, dirt easily accumulates and it is difficult to clean the refrigerant pipe.
  • the water when water is applied to try to clean the heat exchanger, the water also becomes applied to electrical parts and the like disposed on the side of the heat exchanger, and there is the potential for drawbacks such as insulation failure to occur. For this reason, the heat exchanger cannot be cleaned with water even when the heat exchanger is dirty. Thus, it is difficult to say that the heat exchanger can always be kept clean.
  • the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger and the space where the refrigerant pipe is disposed are partitioned from each other by the partition member.
  • the partition member is disposed so as to partition the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the flow of the air formed by the fan unit from the space where wiring, pipes, and electrical parts are installed.
  • the partition member is disposed so as to partition, in addition to the space where the refrigerant pipe is disposed, the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger from the space where electrical parts are installed.
  • An air conditioner pertaining to the invention comprises a casing that houses inside the fan unit, the heat exchanger, and the partition member. Additionally, the casing includes an open panel that allows the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the flow of the air formed by the fan unit to be exposed for performing maintenance of the heat exchanger
  • the casing that houses inside the fan unit, the heat exchanger, and the partition member includes an open panel for performing maintenance of the heat exchanger.
  • the heat exchanger can be easily cleaned by opening the open panel and applying water to the heat exchanger.
  • the partition member is disposed in the vicinity of a fin disposed on an end portion of plural fins disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger.
  • the partition member is disposed in the vicinity of a fin disposed on an end portion of plural fins that the heat exchanger includes.
  • An air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment comprises the air conditioner of the fourth invention, wherein the partition member is disposed in the vicinities of fins disposed on both ends of plural fins disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger.
  • the partition member is disposed in the vicinities of fins disposed on both ends of the heat exchanger.
  • the space where the refrigerant pipe and electrical wiring connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger are installed and the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger can be reliably partitioned from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned with water.
  • An air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment comprises the air conditioner of any one of the first to fifth inventions, further comprising a drain pan that is disposed below the heat exchanger and receives drain water generated in the heat exchanger.
  • a drain pan is disposed below the heat exchanger.
  • the heat exchanger which is particularly easy to become dirty, and the drain pan can be easily cleaned by cleaning them with water.
  • the air conditioner pertaining to the invention it becomes possible to keep the refrigerant pipe, whose structure is complex and which is difficult to clean, from becoming dirty.
  • the heat exchanger can be easily cleaned by opening the open panel and applying water to the heat exchanger.
  • occurrences of drawbacks resulting from the refrigerant pipe and the like becoming wet with water can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned by applying water to the heat exchanger.
  • the space where the refrigerant pipe and electrical wiring connected to the side of the heat exchanger are installed and the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger can be reliably partitioned from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned with water.
  • the heat exchanger which is particularly easy to become dirty, and the drain pan can be easily cleaned by cleaning them with water.
  • An air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention is as follows when described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 .
  • the air conditioner pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention is an air conditioner indoor unit (air conditioner) 50 that is placed on a floor, and is disposed with a rectangular parallelepiped casing 1, a heat exchanger 2 disposed such that it cuts across an air path inside the casing 1, and a fan 3 disposed above the heat exchanger 2.
  • air conditioner air conditioner indoor unit
  • the air conditioner indoor unit 50 is connected via a refrigerant pipe (reference numeral 40, etc., in FIG. 3 ) to an unillustrated air conditioner outdoor unit disposed outdoors, and a compressor and the like that configure a refrigerant circuit are housed in the air conditioner outdoor unit.
  • a refrigerant pipe reference numeral 40, etc., in FIG. 3
  • the casing 1 is configured by a pair of side plates 4 and 4, a front plate 5 that is attached between the front ends of the side plates 4 and 4, a rear plate 6 that is attached between the rear ends of the side plates 4 and 4, a top plate 7, and a bottom plate 8. Further, glass wool covered by an aluminum sheet is installed as a heat insulator on the inner surfaces of the side plates 4 and 4, the rear plate 6, and a later-described maintenance panel (open panel) 10.
  • the inside of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 can be easily cleaned by a method such as spraying the inside with water and then wiping the water off with a cloth because the heat insulator absorbs virtually no water and has excellent resistance to abrasion.
  • the heat exchanger 2 is disposed at the rear side of the later-described maintenance panel 10 such that the heat exchanger 2 cuts across the flow of air formed by the fan 3. Further, the heat exchanger 2 is attached inside the casing 1 in a state where the heat exchanger 2 is slanted downward toward the deep side from the front side of an opening that appears when the maintenance panel 10 is removed.
  • a lower frame 13 for supporting the heat exchanger 2 is locked to lock portions 15 and 15 formed on both rear ends of the side plates 4 and 4.
  • An upper frame 14 is fixed by screws in a state where it has been locked to an attachment plate 16 formed in the vicinity of both front end edges of the side plates 4 and 4.
  • the heat exchanger 2 includes, at both its left and right end portions, partition plates (partition members) 30a and 30b disposed so as to partition a space A on an upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 in the air path formed by the fan 3 (this will be referred to simply as the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 below) from a later-described refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B and a refrigerant pipe installation space C (see FIG 4(b) ).
  • the partition plates 30a and 30b will be described in detail at a later stage.
  • the fan 3 is attached to the upper portion of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 and includes a scroll-type fan casing 17, a fan motor 18, a belt 19, a pulley 21 (drive unit), and an unillustrated fan rotor (sirocco fan).
  • the fan casing 17 includes discharge openings 17a, which discharge air in the direction of the top plate 7 (a duct 12), and intake openings 17b, which take in air from both sides in the direction of a rotating shaft 20a of the fan rotor. Additionally, the fan 3 transmits the rotational drive force of the fan motor 18 to the rotating shaft 20a via the pulley 21 and the belt 19, causes the fan rotor housed in the fan casing 17 to rotate, and discharges from the discharge openings 17a the air taken in from the intake openings 17b.
  • the pair of side plates 4 form an outer enclosure at the sides of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 and support the fan motor 18 and the rotating shaft 20a of the fan 3 from both sides. Further, the side plates 4 include the lock portions 15 that are formed as a result of the rear end portion edges of the side plates 4 being cut inward.
  • An air inlet 9 is formed in the middle portion, with respect to the vertical direction, of the front plate 5, and the maintenance panel 10, whose lower end portion serves as a pivot center, is disposed such that it covers the air inlet 9 and may be freely opened and closed.
  • the maintenance panel 10 is opened when performing maintenance and the like such as cleaning the heat exchanger 2.
  • the rear plate 6 ordinarily forms an outer enclosure at the side disposed near a wall when the air conditioner indoor unit 50 is installed.
  • An air outlet 11 is formed in the top plate 7.
  • the air outlet 11 is connected to a duct 12 that guides the air-conditioned air such that the air is blown out from a desired place.
  • An unillustrated electromagnetic valve attached to a refrigerant pipe 40 connected to the heat exchanger, various electrical parts, and a lower drain pan are placed on the bottom plate 8 between the bottom plate 8 and a middle plate 31 that forms the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2.
  • a drain pan 22 for collecting drain water falling down from the heat exchanger 2 is disposed below the heat exchanger 2 with a slanted orientation such that the front side of the drain pan 22 is positioned high and such that the rear side of the drain pan 22 is positioned low.
  • the air conditioner indoor unit 50 is disposed with a drain guide pipe 23, which guides the drain water from the lower end portion of the heat exchanger 2 to the drain pan 22, and a drain discharge opening 24, through which the drain water is discharged to the outdoors.
  • the partition plate 30a is disposed such that it partitions the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 inside the casing 1 from the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B where a refrigerant pipe 2a on the side surface of the heat exchanger 2 and where the refrigerant pipe 40 and an electrical wiring through pipe 41 that penetrate a later-described refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through portion 32 are installed. Additionally, the partition plate 30a is disposed upright from the middle plate 31 toward the vicinity of an endmost fin of plural fins F attached to the surface of the heat exchanger 2.
  • the partition plate 30b is disposed parallel to the partition plate 30a and upright from the middle plate 31 toward the vicinity of an end portion (end portion opposite from the partition plate 30a) of the fins F attached to the surface of the heat exchanger 2, such that the partition plate 30b partitions the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 from the space C where the refrigerant pipe 2a exposed at the side surface of the heat exchanger 2 is disposed (this space will be called the refrigerant pipe installation space C below).
  • the partition plates 30a and 30b are fixed with respect to the middle plate 31 using fixing members 33 and are fixed by screws with respect to the heat exchanger 2 using fixing members 34.
  • the fixing members 33 and 34 are L-shaped members, and plural screw holes are formed therein. Additionally, the partition members 30a, 30b are fixed with respect to the middle plate 31 and the heat exchanger 2 by screwing screws into these screw holes. Further, the fixing member 33 that fixes the partition member 30a disposed on the right when seen from the maintenance panel 10 is attached in an L-shaped state, and the fixing member 33 that fixes the partition member 30b disposed on the left side is attached in an inverted L-shaped state.
  • the middle plate 31 is a member for partitioning the space where the heat exchanger 2 is installed from the space therebelow where electrical parts and the like are installed, and an unillustrated temperature sensor is disposed on the middle plate 31 in the vicinity of the center portion of the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2.
  • the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through portion 32 forms the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B together with the partition member 30a and the side plate 4, and through holes 32a that allow the refrigerant pipe 40 and the electrical wiring through pipe 41 to be passed therethrough are formed in the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through plate 32.
  • the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through plate 32 is a portion further to the right side of the middle plate 31 than the partition plate 30a when seen from the maintenance panel 10.
  • the heat exchanger 2 is exposed to the front when the maintenance panel 10 is removed. Additionally, the space A on the upstream side of the exposed heat exchanger 2 and the spaces B and C on the sides of the heat exchanger 2 are partitioned from each other by the partition members 30a and 30b.
  • the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment is disposed with the partition members 30a and 30b that partition the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 from the spaces B and C on both sides of the heat exchanger 2 where electrical parts and the like are installed, so that occurrences of drawbacks in electrical parts and the like may be avoided even when the heat exchanger 2 is cleaned using water.
  • the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment is disposed with the maintenance panel 10 that allows the heat exchanger 2 to be exposed to the outside as part of the casing 1 configuring the outer enclosure.
  • the heat exchanger 2 can be easily cleaned in a state where the maintenance panel 10 has been removed to expose the heat exchanger 2.
  • the partition members 30a and 30b are attached in the vicinities of both ends of the fins F plurally attached to the surface of the heat exchanger 2.
  • the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 and the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B and the refrigerant pipe installation space C can be partitioned from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks resulting from water being applied to the refrigerant pipes 2a and 40 can be avoided even when the heat exchanger 2 is cleaned with water.
  • the drain pan 22 is disposed below the heat exchanger 2 that is cleaned with water.
  • partition plate 30a may be disposed without disposing the partition plate 30b.
  • partition plates 30a and 30b are disposed at both the left and right ends of the heat exchanger because, when the partition plates 30a and 30b are disposed at both the left and right ends as in the above-described embodiment, water can be prevented from being applied to the refrigerant pipe installation space C also in addition to the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B.
  • the partition members 30a and 30b may also be disposed further inward than the end portions of the heat exchanger 2.
  • the partition members 30a and 30b may be disposed at both the left and right ends of the heat exchanger 2, that is, in the vicinities of the end portions of the fins F.
  • the air conditioner of the present invention provides the effect that a heat exchanger can be cleaned with water without adversely affecting refrigerant pipes and electrical parts, so it is widely applicable with respect to an air conditioner including an open portion that allows the heat exchanger to be exposed.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)
  • Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)

Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD
  • The present invention relates to an air conditioner disposed with a heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant pipe.
  • BACKGROUND ART
  • Conventionally, an air conditioner disposed with a heat exchanger that handles a sensible heat load and a latent heat load present in a room space in order to keep the room space in a comfortable environment has been proposed.
  • For example, in JP-A No. 11-304177 , a floor-placed air conditioner indoor unit disposed with a fan and a heat exchanger inside is disclosed.
  • In this air conditioner indoor unit, the heat exchanger is disposed such that it cuts across a flow of air formed by the fan at the rear side of a front panel, and is attached inside in a state where it is slanted downward from the front side toward the deep side. Additionally, a flow of air is formed when the fan begins running, and heat exchange is performed between the air passing through the heat exchanger and refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger. Thus, the air conditioner indoor unit can provide air-conditioned air to the inside of the room.
  • In addition, US 2 266 259 A , US 5 373 894 A , GB 618 620 A , FR 1 364 216 A , DE 16 79 537 A1 and US 4 733 542 A relate to air conditioner units, wherein US 2 266 259 A discloses the preamble of claim 1.
  • DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION PROBLEM THAT THE INVENTION IS TO SOLVE
  • However, the above-described conventional air conditioner indoor unit has the following problem.
  • That is, in the above-described air conditioner indoor unit, the heat exchanger can be exposed when the front panel is removed. However, there is the problem that, because the refrigerant pipe connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger has a small diameter and its structure is complex, dirt easily accumulates and it is difficult to clean the refrigerant pipe. Further, when water is applied to try to clean the heat exchanger, the water also becomes applied to electrical parts and the like disposed on the side of the heat exchanger, and there is the potential for drawbacks such as insulation failure to occur. For this reason, the heat exchanger cannot be cleaned with water even when the heat exchanger is dirty. Thus, it is difficult to say that the heat exchanger can always be kept clean.
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner capable of always keeping clean the internal configuration of a heat exchanger and the like.
  • MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
  • An air conditioner pertaining to a first invention is defined in claim 1. Further, advantageous embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.
  • The space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger and the space where the refrigerant pipe is disposed are partitioned from each other by the partition member.
  • Thus, even when the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger is opened, it is difficult for the refrigerant pipe connected to the side of the heat exchanger to become dirty because the refrigerant pipe is separated from the space outside. For this reason, the refrigerant pipe connected to the side of the heat exchanger whose structure is complex and where it is easy for dirt to accumulate can be kept from becoming dirty.
  • In an air conditioner pertaining to the invention the partition member is disposed so as to partition the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the flow of the air formed by the fan unit from the space where wiring, pipes, and electrical parts are installed.
  • Here, the partition member is disposed so as to partition, in addition to the space where the refrigerant pipe is disposed, the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger from the space where electrical parts are installed. Thus, occurrences of drawbacks such as insulation failure resulting from electrical parts and the like becoming wet can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned with water.
  • An air conditioner pertaining to the invention comprises a casing that houses inside the fan unit, the heat exchanger, and the partition member. Additionally, the casing includes an open panel that allows the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the flow of the air formed by the fan unit to be exposed for performing maintenance of the heat exchanger
  • Here, the casing that houses inside the fan unit, the heat exchanger, and the partition member includes an open panel for performing maintenance of the heat exchanger.
  • Thus, the heat exchanger can be easily cleaned by opening the open panel and applying water to the heat exchanger.
  • In an air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment the partition member is disposed in the vicinity of a fin disposed on an end portion of plural fins disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger.
  • Here, the partition member is disposed in the vicinity of a fin disposed on an end portion of plural fins that the heat exchanger includes.
  • Thus, occurrences of drawbacks resulting from a refrigerant pipe and the like becoming wet with water can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned by applying water to the heat exchanger.
  • An air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment comprises the air conditioner of the fourth invention, wherein the partition member is disposed in the vicinities of fins disposed on both ends of plural fins disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger.
  • Here, the partition member is disposed in the vicinities of fins disposed on both ends of the heat exchanger.
  • Thus, the space where the refrigerant pipe and electrical wiring connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger are installed and the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger can be reliably partitioned from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned with water.
  • An air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment comprises the air conditioner of any one of the first to fifth inventions, further comprising a drain pan that is disposed below the heat exchanger and receives drain water generated in the heat exchanger.
  • Here, a drain pan is disposed below the heat exchanger.
  • For this reason, the heat exchanger, which is particularly easy to become dirty, and the drain pan can be easily cleaned by cleaning them with water.
  • EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
  • According to the air conditioner pertaining to the invention, it becomes possible to keep the refrigerant pipe, whose structure is complex and which is difficult to clean, from becoming dirty.
  • According to the air conditioner pertaining to the invention, occurrences of drawbacks such as insulation failure resulting from electrical parts becoming wet can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned with water.
  • According to the air conditioner pertaining to the invention, the heat exchanger can be easily cleaned by opening the open panel and applying water to the heat exchanger.
  • According to the air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment, occurrences of drawbacks resulting from the refrigerant pipe and the like becoming wet with water can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned by applying water to the heat exchanger.
  • According to the air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment, the space where the refrigerant pipe and electrical wiring connected to the side of the heat exchanger are installed and the space on the upstream side of the heat exchanger can be reliably partitioned from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks can be avoided even when the heat exchanger is cleaned with water.
  • According to the air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment, the heat exchanger, which is particularly easy to become dirty, and the drain pan can be easily cleaned by cleaning them with water.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    • FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal configuration of an air conditioner indoor unit pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention.
    • FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the air conditioner indoor unit of FIG. 1.
    • FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the configuration of the air conditioner indoor unit of FIG. 1.
    • FIG. 4 (a) is a perspective view showing members around a heat exchanger with which the air conditioner indoor unit of FIG. 1 is disposed. (b) is a front view thereof.
    • FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an attachment structure of a partition plate installed inside the air conditioner indoor unit of FIG. 1.
    DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
  • 1
    Casing
    2
    Heat Exchanger
    2a
    Refrigerant Pipe
    3
    Fan (Fan Device)
    4
    Side Plate
    5
    Front Plate
    6
    Rear Plate
    7
    Top Plate
    8
    Bottom Plate
    9
    Air Inlet
    10
    Maintenance Panel
    11
    Air Outlet
    12
    Duct
    13
    Lower Frame
    14
    Upper Frame
    15
    Lock Portion
    16
    Attachment Plate
    17
    Fan Casing
    17a
    Discharge Opening
    17b
    Intake Opening
    18
    Fan Motor
    19
    Belt
    20a
    Rotating Shaft
    21
    Pulley
    22
    Drain Pan
    30a
    Partition Plate
    30b
    Partition Plate
    31
    Middle Plate
    32
    Refrigerant Pipe, Electrical Wiring Through Portion
    32a
    Through Hole
    33
    Fixing Member
    34
    Fixing Member
    40
    Refrigerant Pipe
    41
    Electrical Wiring Through Pipe
    50
    Air Conditioner Indoor Unit (Air Conditioner)
    A
    Space on Upstream Side of Heat Exchanger
    B
    Refrigerant Pipe, Electrical Wiring Installation Space
    C
    Refrigerant Pipe Installation Space
    F
    Fin
    BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
  • An air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention is as follows when described using FIG. 1 to FIG. 5.
  • <CONFIGURATION OF ENTIRE AIR CONDITIONER>
  • As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the air conditioner pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention is an air conditioner indoor unit (air conditioner) 50 that is placed on a floor, and is disposed with a rectangular parallelepiped casing 1, a heat exchanger 2 disposed such that it cuts across an air path inside the casing 1, and a fan 3 disposed above the heat exchanger 2.
  • It will be noted that the air conditioner indoor unit 50 is connected via a refrigerant pipe (reference numeral 40, etc., in FIG. 3) to an unillustrated air conditioner outdoor unit disposed outdoors, and a compressor and the like that configure a refrigerant circuit are housed in the air conditioner outdoor unit.
  • The casing 1 is configured by a pair of side plates 4 and 4, a front plate 5 that is attached between the front ends of the side plates 4 and 4, a rear plate 6 that is attached between the rear ends of the side plates 4 and 4, a top plate 7, and a bottom plate 8. Further, glass wool covered by an aluminum sheet is installed as a heat insulator on the inner surfaces of the side plates 4 and 4, the rear plate 6, and a later-described maintenance panel (open panel) 10. The inside of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 can be easily cleaned by a method such as spraying the inside with water and then wiping the water off with a cloth because the heat insulator absorbs virtually no water and has excellent resistance to abrasion.
  • As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 2 is disposed at the rear side of the later-described maintenance panel 10 such that the heat exchanger 2 cuts across the flow of air formed by the fan 3. Further, the heat exchanger 2 is attached inside the casing 1 in a state where the heat exchanger 2 is slanted downward toward the deep side from the front side of an opening that appears when the maintenance panel 10 is removed. A lower frame 13 for supporting the heat exchanger 2 is locked to lock portions 15 and 15 formed on both rear ends of the side plates 4 and 4. An upper frame 14 is fixed by screws in a state where it has been locked to an attachment plate 16 formed in the vicinity of both front end edges of the side plates 4 and 4. Moreover, the heat exchanger 2 includes, at both its left and right end portions, partition plates (partition members) 30a and 30b disposed so as to partition a space A on an upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 in the air path formed by the fan 3 (this will be referred to simply as the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 below) from a later-described refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B and a refrigerant pipe installation space C (see FIG 4(b)). The partition plates 30a and 30b will be described in detail at a later stage.
  • As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the fan 3 is attached to the upper portion of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 and includes a scroll-type fan casing 17, a fan motor 18, a belt 19, a pulley 21 (drive unit), and an unillustrated fan rotor (sirocco fan).
  • The fan casing 17 includes discharge openings 17a, which discharge air in the direction of the top plate 7 (a duct 12), and intake openings 17b, which take in air from both sides in the direction of a rotating shaft 20a of the fan rotor. Additionally, the fan 3 transmits the rotational drive force of the fan motor 18 to the rotating shaft 20a via the pulley 21 and the belt 19, causes the fan rotor housed in the fan casing 17 to rotate, and discharges from the discharge openings 17a the air taken in from the intake openings 17b.
  • The pair of side plates 4 form an outer enclosure at the sides of the air conditioner indoor unit 50 and support the fan motor 18 and the rotating shaft 20a of the fan 3 from both sides. Further, the side plates 4 include the lock portions 15 that are formed as a result of the rear end portion edges of the side plates 4 being cut inward.
  • An air inlet 9 is formed in the middle portion, with respect to the vertical direction, of the front plate 5, and the maintenance panel 10, whose lower end portion serves as a pivot center, is disposed such that it covers the air inlet 9 and may be freely opened and closed. The maintenance panel 10 is opened when performing maintenance and the like such as cleaning the heat exchanger 2.
  • The rear plate 6 ordinarily forms an outer enclosure at the side disposed near a wall when the air conditioner indoor unit 50 is installed.
  • An air outlet 11 is formed in the top plate 7. The air outlet 11 is connected to a duct 12 that guides the air-conditioned air such that the air is blown out from a desired place.
  • An unillustrated electromagnetic valve attached to a refrigerant pipe 40 connected to the heat exchanger, various electrical parts, and a lower drain pan are placed on the bottom plate 8 between the bottom plate 8 and a middle plate 31 that forms the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2.
  • Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a drain pan 22 for collecting drain water falling down from the heat exchanger 2 is disposed below the heat exchanger 2 with a slanted orientation such that the front side of the drain pan 22 is positioned high and such that the rear side of the drain pan 22 is positioned low. Additionally, the air conditioner indoor unit 50 is disposed with a drain guide pipe 23, which guides the drain water from the lower end portion of the heat exchanger 2 to the drain pan 22, and a drain discharge opening 24, through which the drain water is discharged to the outdoors.
  • <CONFIGURATION AROUND SPACE ON UPSTREAM SIDE OF HEAT EXCHANGER>
  • As shown in FIG. 4(a), the partition plate 30a is disposed such that it partitions the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 inside the casing 1 from the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B where a refrigerant pipe 2a on the side surface of the heat exchanger 2 and where the refrigerant pipe 40 and an electrical wiring through pipe 41 that penetrate a later-described refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through portion 32 are installed. Additionally, the partition plate 30a is disposed upright from the middle plate 31 toward the vicinity of an endmost fin of plural fins F attached to the surface of the heat exchanger 2.
  • As shown in FIG. 4(b), the partition plate 30b is disposed parallel to the partition plate 30a and upright from the middle plate 31 toward the vicinity of an end portion (end portion opposite from the partition plate 30a) of the fins F attached to the surface of the heat exchanger 2, such that the partition plate 30b partitions the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 from the space C where the refrigerant pipe 2a exposed at the side surface of the heat exchanger 2 is disposed (this space will be called the refrigerant pipe installation space C below).
  • Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the partition plates 30a and 30b are fixed with respect to the middle plate 31 using fixing members 33 and are fixed by screws with respect to the heat exchanger 2 using fixing members 34. The fixing members 33 and 34 are L-shaped members, and plural screw holes are formed therein. Additionally, the partition members 30a, 30b are fixed with respect to the middle plate 31 and the heat exchanger 2 by screwing screws into these screw holes. Further, the fixing member 33 that fixes the partition member 30a disposed on the right when seen from the maintenance panel 10 is attached in an L-shaped state, and the fixing member 33 that fixes the partition member 30b disposed on the left side is attached in an inverted L-shaped state.
  • The middle plate 31 is a member for partitioning the space where the heat exchanger 2 is installed from the space therebelow where electrical parts and the like are installed, and an unillustrated temperature sensor is disposed on the middle plate 31 in the vicinity of the center portion of the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2.
  • As shown in FIG. 4(a), the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through portion 32 forms the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B together with the partition member 30a and the side plate 4, and through holes 32a that allow the refrigerant pipe 40 and the electrical wiring through pipe 41 to be passed therethrough are formed in the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through plate 32. It will be noted that the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring through plate 32 is a portion further to the right side of the middle plate 31 than the partition plate 30a when seen from the maintenance panel 10.
  • <CHARACTERISTICS OF PRESENT AIR CONDITIONER INDOOR UNIT> (1)
  • In the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 is exposed to the front when the maintenance panel 10 is removed. Additionally, the space A on the upstream side of the exposed heat exchanger 2 and the spaces B and C on the sides of the heat exchanger 2 are partitioned from each other by the partition members 30a and 30b.
  • Ordinarily, it is preferable to clean a heat exchanger of this configuration by applying water to it because the heat exchanger can be cleaned extremely efficiently and the applied water can be discharged to the outside via a drain pan installed below the heat exchanger. However, in this case, when water is applied to the heat exchanger, there has been the potential for electrical parts and the like around the heat exchanger to become wet and for drawbacks to occur. For this reason, conventionally, it has been difficult to clean the heat exchanger by applying water to it.
  • Given this, the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment is disposed with the partition members 30a and 30b that partition the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 from the spaces B and C on both sides of the heat exchanger 2 where electrical parts and the like are installed, so that occurrences of drawbacks in electrical parts and the like may be avoided even when the heat exchanger 2 is cleaned using water.
  • Thus, it becomes possible to clean the heat exchanger 2 by applying water to the heat exchanger 2 because the water applied to the heat exchanger 2 can be prevented from being applied to the electrical parts and the like.
  • Further, in regard to the refrigerant pipes 2a and 40 connected to the side surface of the heat exchanger 2, although it is easy for dirt to accumulate because pipes with small diameters are incorporated therein and their structures are complex, it can be made difficult for dirt to accumulate on the refrigerant pipes 2a and 40 because the partition members 30a and 30b are disposed and their edges with the outside are cut.
  • (2)
  • The air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment is disposed with the maintenance panel 10 that allows the heat exchanger 2 to be exposed to the outside as part of the casing 1 configuring the outer enclosure.
  • Thus, the heat exchanger 2 can be easily cleaned in a state where the maintenance panel 10 has been removed to expose the heat exchanger 2.
  • (3)
  • In the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment, the partition members 30a and 30b are attached in the vicinities of both ends of the fins F plurally attached to the surface of the heat exchanger 2.
  • Thus, the space A on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 and the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B and the refrigerant pipe installation space C can be partitioned from each other, and occurrences of drawbacks resulting from water being applied to the refrigerant pipes 2a and 40 can be avoided even when the heat exchanger 2 is cleaned with water.
  • (4)
  • In the air conditioner indoor unit 50 of the present embodiment, the drain pan 22 is disposed below the heat exchanger 2 that is cleaned with water.
  • Thus, water applied in order to clean the heat exchanger 2 can be discharged to the outside via the drain pan 22. Thus, cumbersome work such as wiping off water after the heat exchanger 2 has been cleaned with water becomes unnecessary.
  • <OTHER EMBODIMENTS>
  • An embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
  • (A)
  • In the above-described embodiment, an example was described where the partition plates 30a and 30b were disposed on both the left and right ends of the heat exchanger 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
  • For example, just the partition plate 30a may be disposed without disposing the partition plate 30b.
  • However, it is preferable to dispose the partition plates 30a and 30b at both the left and right ends of the heat exchanger because, when the partition plates 30a and 30b are disposed at both the left and right ends as in the above-described embodiment, water can be prevented from being applied to the refrigerant pipe installation space C also in addition to the refrigerant pipe/electrical wiring installation space B.
  • (B)
  • In the above-described embodiment, an example was described where the partition members 30a and 30b were disposed in the vicinities of the end portions of the fins F of the heat exchanger 2. However, in regard to the disposition of the partition members 30a and 30b, the present invention is not limited to this.
  • For example, the partition members 30a and 30b may also be disposed further inward than the end portions of the heat exchanger 2. However, in consideration of cleaning the entire heat exchanger 2 with water, it is preferable for the partition members 30a and 30b to be disposed at both the left and right ends of the heat exchanger 2, that is, in the vicinities of the end portions of the fins F.
  • INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
  • The air conditioner of the present invention provides the effect that a heat exchanger can be cleaned with water without adversely affecting refrigerant pipes and electrical parts, so it is widely applicable with respect to an air conditioner including an open portion that allows the heat exchanger to be exposed.

Claims (4)

  1. An air conditioner (50) comprising:
    a fan unit (3) that forms a flow of air;
    a heat exchanger (2) that is disposed in the middle of the flow of air formed by the fan unit (3) and performs heat exchange between refrigerant and the air;
    a partition member (30a, 30b) that partitions a space (A) on the upstream side of the heat exchanger (2) in the flow of the air formed by the fan unit (3) from a space (B) where a pipe through which the refrigerant flows is disposed and wiring, pipes, and electrical parts are installed,
    a casing (1) that houses inside the fan unit, the heat exchanger, and the partition member (30a, 30b), characterized in that the casing (1) includes a maintenance panel (10) that allows the space (A) on the upstream side of the heat exchanger (2) in the flow of the air formed by the fan unit (3) to be exposed for performing maintenance of the heat exchanger (2),
    and that occurrences of drawbacks resulting from water being applied to the wiring, pipes and electrical parts in the space (B) can be avoided even when the maintenance panel (10) is removed and the heat exchanger (2) is cleaned with water, wherein the partition member (30a,30b) can prevent the water applied to the heat exchanger (2) from being applied to the electrical parts and the like.
  2. The air conditioner (50) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the partition member (30a, 30b) is disposed in the vicinity of a fin (F) disposed on an end portion of plural fins (F) disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger (2).
  3. The air conditioner (50) as set forth in claim 2, wherein the partition member (30a, 30b) is disposed in the vicinities of fins (F) disposed on both ends of plural fins (F) disposed on the surface of the heat exchanger (2).
  4. The air conditioner (50) as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a drain pan (22) that is disposed below the heat exchanger (2) and receives drain water generated in the heat exchanger (2).
EP05765080A 2004-06-24 2005-06-23 Air conditioner Not-in-force EP1780473B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2004186669A JP3823988B2 (en) 2004-06-24 2004-06-24 Air conditioner
PCT/JP2005/011504 WO2006001323A1 (en) 2004-06-24 2005-06-23 Air conditioner

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1780473A1 EP1780473A1 (en) 2007-05-02
EP1780473A4 EP1780473A4 (en) 2010-05-19
EP1780473B1 true EP1780473B1 (en) 2012-10-17

Family

ID=35777624

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05765080A Not-in-force EP1780473B1 (en) 2004-06-24 2005-06-23 Air conditioner

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20070227172A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1780473B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3823988B2 (en)
CN (1) CN100472140C (en)
ES (1) ES2397108T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2006001323A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012117718A (en) * 2010-11-30 2012-06-21 Fujitsu General Ltd Indoor unit of duct type air conditioner
JP5557110B2 (en) * 2010-12-13 2014-07-23 株式会社富士通ゼネラル Duct type air conditioner indoor unit
JP5673058B2 (en) * 2010-12-13 2015-02-18 株式会社富士通ゼネラル Duct type air conditioner indoor unit
JP5673059B2 (en) * 2010-12-14 2015-02-18 株式会社富士通ゼネラル Duct type air conditioner indoor unit
JP2013181724A (en) * 2012-03-05 2013-09-12 Hitachi Appliances Inc Air conditioner
US11454420B2 (en) 2019-02-06 2022-09-27 Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP Service plate for a heat exchanger assembly

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2266259A (en) * 1938-10-01 1941-12-16 Deane E Perham Air conditioning apparatus
GB618620A (en) * 1946-11-04 1949-02-24 F H Biddle Ltd Improvements connected with cabinets for air cooling or heating and the delivery or circulation of cooled or heated air
BE633421A (en) * 1962-06-12
US3262491A (en) * 1964-12-01 1966-07-26 American Air Filter Co Self-contained air-conditioning unit ventilator
DE1679537A1 (en) * 1967-09-27 1971-04-08 M Krassnitzer Theobald H Air conditioner
JPS6127432A (en) * 1984-07-19 1986-02-06 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Integrated air conditioner
US4733542A (en) 1986-12-05 1988-03-29 Enviromaster International Corporation Cabinet for air conditioning system
JP3349722B2 (en) * 1992-08-25 2002-11-25 東芝キヤリア株式会社 Indoor unit of air conditioner and packing method thereof
JP3549357B2 (en) * 1997-03-10 2004-08-04 松下電器産業株式会社 Outdoor unit for separation type air conditioner
JP3045142B2 (en) 1998-04-27 2000-05-29 ダイキン工業株式会社 Air conditioner
AU7900698A (en) * 1998-06-22 2000-01-10 Correa, Juan Carlos Carne Three-way mounting of an air conditioner
JP3159685B2 (en) * 1999-05-25 2001-04-23 ダイダン株式会社 Package type air conditioner that can wash inside

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN100472140C (en) 2009-03-25
WO2006001323A1 (en) 2006-01-05
CN1969151A (en) 2007-05-23
EP1780473A1 (en) 2007-05-02
US20070227172A1 (en) 2007-10-04
EP1780473A4 (en) 2010-05-19
JP2006010178A (en) 2006-01-12
ES2397108T3 (en) 2013-03-04
JP3823988B2 (en) 2006-09-20

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