EP2009364A1

EP2009364A1 - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: EP2009364A1
Application number: EP07740827A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masahide c/o Panasonic Corporation NAKAYAMA
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp
Priority date: 2006-04-11
Filing date: 2007-04-02
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2027-04-02
Also published as: JP4875699B2; EP2009364A4; WO2007119649A1; JPWO2007119649A1; EP2009364B1; ES2416087T3

Abstract

An indoor unit of an air conditioner accommodates a heat exchanger mounted therein via a frame and a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger. The frame has a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate both for mounting the heat exchanger in the indoor unit. The heat exchanger has a first end plate and a second end plate that form opposite ends thereof. A first protrusion formed with the first end plate is introduced into a first hole defined in the first mounting plate, and a second protrusion formed with the second mounting plate is introduced into a second hole defined in the second end plate, so that the heat exchanger may be mounted on the frame. Further, a water receiving and guiding means is provided on the first mounting plate below the first hole to guide dew condensation water created on the first protrusion to the drain pan.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of disposing of dew condensation water in an indoor unit.

Background Art

Conventional air conditioners include an indoor unit in which a heat exchanger is mounted via a frame. In such air conditioners, if the heat exchanger lifts from the frame, air that has not been heat-exchanged is blown into an indoor space. In view of this, the heat exchanging performance is enhanced by constructing the heat exchanger so as not to lift from the frame (see Patent Document 1).
A structure in which the heat exchanger is mounted on the frame is explained hereinafter with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchanger and a frame, both mounted in an indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner, and Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a portion thereof.
As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the heat exchanger 101 includes a pair of end plates 105a, 105b forming right and left ends thereof. The end plate 105a has a protrusion 106a formed therewith, while the end plate 105b has a hole 104b defined therein. The frame 102 for mounting the heat exchanger 101 in the indoor unit includes a pair of mounting plates 103a, 103b extending laterally therefrom and spaced away from each other at an interval substantially equal to the length of the heat exchanger 101. The mounting plate 103a has a hole 104a defined therein, while the mounting plate 103b has a protrusion 106b formed therewith.
When the heat exchanger 101 is mounted in the indoor unit, the protrusion 106a of the end plate 105a is introduced into the hole 104a in the mounting plate 103a, and the protrusion 106b of the mounting plate 103b is introduced into the hole 104b in the end plate 105b.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-179931

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the conventional construction, however, because the protrusion 106a of the end plate 105a engages with the hole 104a in the mounting plate 103a, a distal end of the protrusion 106a is located within an air trunk and, hence, dew condensation water formed on the distal end of the protrusion 106a enters the air trunk. It is, therefore, likely that such dew condensation water would leak from an air outlet of the indoor unit through the air trunk, and water would scatter and drip down.
The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described disadvantage.
It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to provide an air conditioner capable of preventing water leakage from the air outlet by smoothly introducing the dew condensation water formed on the distal end of the protrusion into a drain pan with a simple construction.

Means to Solve the Problems

In accomplishing the above objective, the present invention provides an air conditioner having an indoor unit that accommodates a heat exchanger mounted therein via a frame and a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger. This air conditioner is characterized in that the frame has a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate both for mounting the heat exchanger in the indoor unit, and the heat exchanger has a first end plate and a second end plate that form opposite ends thereof, and in that a first protrusion formed with the first end plate is introduced into a first hole defined in the first mounting plate, and a second protrusion formed with the second mounting plate is introduced into a second hole defined in the second end plate, so that the heat exchanger may be mounted on the frame. Further, a water receiving and guiding means is provided on the first mounting plate below the first hole to guide dew condensation water created on the first protrusion to the drain pan.
Preferably, the water receiving and guiding means includes a rib formed on the first mounting plate so as to extend generally perpendicular thereto.
Again preferably, the rib is inclined forwardly downwardly of the indoor unit.
A rear edge of the rib is preferably positioned rearwardly of the first hole or above a lower end of the first hole.
A front edge of the rib is preferably positioned forwardly of the first hole.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, the water receiving and guiding means is provided below the first hole to guide dew condensation water created on the first protrusion to the drain pan, thereby making it possible to prevent the dew condensation water from dripping down on an air trunk and from leaking from an air outlet of the indoor unit.
Because the water receiving and guiding means is made up of a rib extending generally perpendicular to the first mounting plate, the construction is simplified.
If the rib is inclined forwardly downwardly of the indoor unit, dew condensation water created on the first protrusion can be positively guided to the drain pan, thereby preventing the dew condensation water from entering the air trunk.
If a rear edge of the rib is positioned rearwardly of the first hole or above a lower end of the first hole, dew condensation water created on the first protrusion can be further positively guided to the drain pan.
If a front edge of the rib is positioned forwardly of the first hole, dew condensation water created on the first protrusion can be further positively guided to the drain pan.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchanger and a frame mounted in the indoor unit of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the heater exchanger and the frame of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a side view of a water receiving and guiding means formed on the frame of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a side view of a modification of the water receiving and guiding means of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a side view of another modification of the water receiving and guiding means of Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a side view of a further modification of the water receiving and guiding means of Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is a side view of a still further modification of the water receiving and guiding means of Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchanger and a frame mounted in an indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner.
Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the heat exchanger and the frame of Fig. 9.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

1 Indoor unit
2 Heat exchanger
3 Frame
3a Mounting plate
3b Mounting plate
4a End plate of heat exchanger
4b End plate of heat exchanger
5a Hole
5b Hole
6a Protrusion
6b Protrusion
7 Cross-flow fan
8 Suction grill
9 Drain pan
10 Air outlet

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

An embodiment of the present invention is discussed hereinafter with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchanger and a frame, both mounted in the indoor unit.
As shown in Fig. 1, the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner according to the present invention accommodates a heat exchanger 2 and a cross-flow fan 7 for causing indoor air to pass through the heat exchanger 2. During operation of the air conditioner, the cross-flow fan 7 is operated to cause indoor air sucked through a suction grill 8 to pass through the heat exchanger 2, in which the air is heat exchanged with a refrigerant before conditioned air is blown into an indoor space through an air outlet 10.
A drain pan 9 is disposed below the heat exchanger 2 to store therein dew condensation water created by the heat exchanger 2. The drain pan 9 is connected to a drain hose that leads water stored in the drain pan 9 to the outside.
As shown in Fig. 2, the heat exchanger 2 includes a pair of end plates 4a, 4b forming right and left ends thereof. The end plate 4a has a protrusion 6a formed therewith, while the end plate 4b has a hole 5b defined therein. The heat exchanger 2 is mounted in the indoor unit via a frame 3. The frame 3 includes a pair of mounting plates 3a, 3b extending laterally therefrom and spaced away from each other at an interval substantially equal to the length of the heat exchanger 2. The mounting plate 3a has a hole 5a defined therein, while the mounting plate 3b has a protrusion 6b formed therewith.
In mounting the heat exchanger 2 in the indoor unit, the protrusion 6a of the end plate 4a is introduced into the hole 5a in the mounting plate 3a, and the protrusion 6b of the mounting plate 3b is introduced into the hole 5b in the end plate 4b, thereby firmly fixing the pair of end plates 4a, 4b to the pair of mounting plates 3a, 3b provided on the frame 2, respectively.
Figs. 3 and 4 depict a distal end of the mounting plate 3a, and as shown therein, a water receiving rib 90 is formed on the mounting plate 3a below the hole 5a so as to extend generally perpendicular to an end face of the mounting plate 3a. The water receiving rib 90 acts as a water receiving and guiding means for guiding dew condensation water created on the protrusion 6a to the drain pan 9. Accordingly, the water receiving rib 90 may have a shape other than the shape as shown in Fig. 4 if it can guide dew condensation water to the drain pan 9.
Even if dew condensation occurs on the distal end of the protrusion 6a during cooling, the provision of the water receiving rib 90 smoothly guides dew condensation water to the drain pan 9, thereby making it possible to prevent such dew condensation water from leaking from the air outlet 10 through an air trunk, and prevent water from scattering and dripping down. It is noted that the air trunk is an air passage through which air flows that is sucked into the indoor unit through the suction grill 8, passes through the heat exchanger 2, and is blown into the indoor space through the air outlet 10 by the cross-flow fan 7.
Fig. 5 depicts a modification of the water receiving rib 90. This water receiving rib 90 is disposed below the protrusion 6a so as to incline forwardly downwardly. This configuration makes it possible to positively guide dew condensation water dripped down on the water receiving rib 90 to the drain pan 9.
Fig. 6 depicts another modification of the water receiving rib 90. This water receiving rib 90 is inclined as similar to that shown in Fig. 5 and has a rear edge positioned rearwardly of the hole 5a. This configuration makes it possible to positively receive dew condensation water dripped from the protrusion 6a and prevent the dew condensation water from leaking from the air outlet 10.
Fig. 7 depicts a further modification of the water receiving rib 90. This water receiving rib 90 is similarly inclined and has a rear edge positioned rearwardly of the hole 5a and above a lower end thereof. This configuration makes it possible to further positively receive dew condensation water dripped from the protrusion 6a and prevent the dew condensation water from leaking from the air outlet 10.
Fig. 8 depicts a still further modification of the water receiving rib 90. This water receiving rib 90 is also inclined and has a front edge positioned forwardly of the hole 5a. This configuration also makes it possible to positively receive dew condensation water dripped from the protrusion 6a and prevent the dew condensation water from leaking from the air outlet 10.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, because the water receiving rib having a shape to guide dew condensation water to the drain pan is provided on the distal end of the mounting plate 3a, the water receiving rib acts to prevent dew condensation water from entering the air trunk and, hence, it can be applied to a variety of air conditioners.

Claims

An air conditioner having an indoor unit that accommodates a heat exchanger mounted therein via a frame and a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger, said air conditioner comprising:
the frame having a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate both for mounting the heat exchanger in the indoor unit, the first mounting plate having a first hole defined therein;

the heat exchanger having a first end plate and a second end plate that form opposite ends thereof, the second end plate having a second hole defined therein;

a first protrusion formed with the first end plate;

a second protrusion formed with the second mounting plate;

the first protrusion being introduced into the first hole in the first mounting plate, and the second protrusion being introduced into the second hole in the second end plate, so that the heat exchanger is mounted on the frame; and

a water receiving and guiding means formed on the first mounting plate below the first hole to guide dew condensation water created on the first protrusion to the drain pan.
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the water receiving and guiding means comprises a rib formed on the first mounting plate so as to extend generally perpendicular thereto.
The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the rib is inclined forwardly downwardly of the indoor unit.
The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the rib has a rear edge positioned rearwardly of the first hole.
The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the rear edge of the rib is positioned above a lower end of the first hole.
The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the rib has a front edge positioned forwardly of the first hole.