EP3587940A1

EP3587940A1 - Filter cleaning unit and conditioner

Info

Publication number: EP3587940A1
Application number: EP19182178.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Souichirou MATSUMOTO
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-27
Filing date: 2019-06-25
Publication date: 2020-01-01
Also published as: JP7134739B2; JP2020000989A

Abstract

A filter cleaning unit includes a brush fastening part that stores a brush placed along one direction of a filter, a drive mechanism that moves the brush fastening part in a direction perpendicular to the one direction and along a surface of the filter, and a collection box unit (38) that is located on one surface side of a grille and is moved together with the brush fastening part by the drive mechanism, wherein the collection box unit (38) has a collection box (39) in which dust and dirt removed by the brush are collected, a support part (40) connected to the grille and placed above the collection box (39), and a lock part (57) capable of fastening the collection box (39) to the support part (40).

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a filter cleaning unit and an air conditioner.

[Background Art]

Some indoor units of ceiling-embedded type air conditioners include a filter cleaning unit that uses a brush to clean dust and dirt sticking to a filter installed in an intake opening. The brush has a length equal to the width of the filter and is moved along one direction of the filter by a drive mechanism having a motor.
Patent Literature 1 below discloses a technology of removing dust and dirt sticking to a filter by a cleaning unit including a brush unit that moves along the filter and cleans the filter, and a drive unit that drives the brush unit.

[Citation List]

[Patent Literature]

[PTL 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2016-8754

[Summary of Invention]

[Technical Problem]

Dust and dirt removed from the filter by a brush are collected in a collection box located under the brush. A collection box unit (assembly) including the collection box is moved together with a brush fastening part by a drive mechanism at the time of cleaning. There is also a case where the collection box is installed on a grille provided under the brush. Hence, when the grille is removed or lowered by a lift mechanism, the collection box can be lowered together with the grille.
In conventional cases, the collection box unit installed on the grille is mounted on a rail provided on one surface side of the grille, and is slidable with respect to the grille. When cleaning the collection box in which dust and dirt are stored, the collection box unit is detached from the rail, and, after cleaning the collection box, the collection box unit is attached onto the rail. At this time, if a worker does not securely install the collection box unit on the rail, the problem of failing to slide the collection box unit on the rail by the drive mechanism occurs in the next cleaning.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and aims to provide a filter cleaning unit and an air conditioner that can clean the collection box while maintaining the connection between the rail and the collection box unit and can reliably slide the collection box unit.

[Solution to Problem]

A filter cleaning unit according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a brush fastening part storing a brush placed along one direction of a filter; a drive mechanism that moves the brush fastening part in a direction perpendicular to the one direction and along a surface of the filter; and a collection box unit that is located on one surface side of a grille and is moved together with the brush fastening part by the drive mechanism, wherein the collection box unit includes: a collection box in which dust and dirt removed by the brush are collected; a support part connected to the grille and placed above the collection box; and a lock part capable of fastening the collection box to the support part.
According to this configuration, the lock part can fasten the collection box to the support part and release the fastening of the collection box and the support part. When the fastening of the collection box and the support part is released, the collection box can be moved relative to the support part connected to the grille.
In the above aspect, when the lock part releases the fastening of the collection box and the support part, the collection box may be movable, in a direction parallel to an in-plane direction of the grille, into and out from a space formed between the support part and the grille.
According to this configuration, when the fastening of the collection box and the support part by the lock part is released, the collection box is pulled out or inserted, in a direction parallel to the in-plane direction of the grille, between the support part and the grille.
In the above aspect, the support part is connected to a rail formed on the grille, and may be movable along the rail.
According to this configuration, the rail is formed on the grille, and the support part connected to the rail is moved along the rail.
An air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises the above-described filter cleaning unit.

[Advantageous Effects of Invention]

According to the present invention, it is possible to clean the collection box while maintaining the connection between the rail and the collection box unit, and reliably slide the collection box unit.

[Brief Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an indoor unit of a ceiling-embedded type air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the indoor unit of the ceiling-embedded type air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an intake grille and a collection box unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the collection box unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Embodiment]

Hereinafter, a ceiling-embedded type air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The ceiling-embedded type air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as the "air conditioner") includes an indoor unit 1, an outdoor unit (not shown), a refrigerant pipe (not shown) connecting the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit, and so on.
The indoor unit 1 is installed so that a case main body 2 is embedded in the ceiling. As shown in FIG. 1, the case main body 2 includes a heat exchanger 7, a drain pan 10, a motor 5, a fan 6, a bell mouth 12, etc. therein, and a panel part 8 to be exposed in the ceiling surface is attached to a lower section of the case main body 2.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an intake opening 3 is formed in a central section of a lower surface of the indoor unit 1, and a discharge opening 4 which is elongated in one direction along an outer peripheral section of the lower surface of the indoor unit 1 is formed at a position adjacent to the intake opening 3. In the intake opening 3, an intake grille 11 and a filter 13 above the intake grille 11 are installed. The drain pan 10 is installed under the heat exchanger 7 and receives drained water dripping from the heat exchanger 7. The bell mouth 12 is installed at a lower section of the drain pan 10.
When the air conditioner is operated, a refrigerant from the outdoor unit (not shown) circulates through the heat exchanger 7, and the fan 6 is driven by the motor 5. When the fan 6 is driven, room air passes from the intake opening 3 through the intake grille 11 and the filter 13 and is guided by the bell mouth 12 and drawn into the fan 6. The air discharged from the fan 6 is cooled or heated by passing through the heat exchanger 7, and then discharged from the discharge opening 4 into the room.
A louver 14 is elongated in one direction in conformity with the shape of the discharge opening 4, and the louver 14 is turned around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. Hence, an air flow discharged from the discharge opening 4 is directed upward or downward by changing the direction of the louver 14.
The filter 13 removes dust, dirt and the like contained in the drawn air. The filter 13 has a quadrangular shape like the intake opening 3, and is placed near the center of the intake opening 3. Moreover, at the four corners of a frame part of the intake grille 11, wires 15 that move up and down the intake grille 11 are placed.
The indoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes a filter cleaning unit 16. As shown in FIG. 2, on the lower surface of the filter 13, the filter cleaning unit 16 is installed on the panel part 8 and has a brush 17 which is equal to or longer than the length of one side of the filter 13 in one direction. The brush 17 of the filter cleaning unit 16 moves in contact with the surface of the filter 13 from a side at one end of the filter 13 to a side on the other end, thereby removing dust and dirt sticking to the filter 13. The filter cleaning unit 16 starts operating based on a control signal for operation control.
As shown in FIG. 2, the filter cleaning unit 16 includes a frame part 9 detachably installed on the panel part 8, the brush 17, a brush fastening part 21, a motor 24, etc. installed on the frame part 9, and a collection box unit 38 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) placed on the intake grille 11.
The frame part 9 has a quadrangular shape like the intake opening 3, and is placed near the center of the intake opening 3. The filter 13 is installed on the frame part 9, and the frame part 9 is attachable to the panel part 8 and is detachable from the panel part 8.
The brush 17 has a shaft material elongated in one direction, and a large number of bristles arranged from one end to the other end in the axial direction on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft material. The brush 17 has a brush rotating gear (not shown) that engages with a pinion gear at each end thereof. Further, the brush 17 is supported by the brush fastening part 21 at both ends.
As shown in FIG. 2, the brush fastening part 21 is a member elongated in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the brush 17, and stores the brush 17 therein. The brush fastening part 21 has a shape surrounding the brush 17 and exposes the brush 17 on the filter 13 side. A total of two pinion gears (not shown), one for each end section in the longitudinal direction of the brush fastening part 21, are rotatably mounted. The brush fastening part 21 is supported by rack gears (not shown) through the pinion gears. By moving the brush fastening part 21 along the rack gears, the brush fastening part 21 and the brush 17 move along the surface of the filter 13 from the side on one end of the filter 13 to the side on the other end.
Since the brush fastening part 21 is supported by the pinion gears and the rack gears on both sides in one direction of the filter 13, the brush fastening part 21 and the brush 17 move reliably.
The pinion gear is installed in each end section of the brush fastening part 21. The pinion gear engages with the rack gear. As the brush fastening part 21 moves, the pinion gear moves on the rack gear, and is driven and rotated by a force transmitted from the rack gear. The rack gear is installed on the outside of the filter 13 so that the axial direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the brush 17. The length of the rack gear is equal to or longer than the length of one side of the filter 13.
One brush rotating gear is provided for each pinion gear, and engages with the pinion gear. As the pinion gear rotates, the brush rotating gear is driven and rotated by a force transmitted from the pinion gear. As a result, the brush 17 mounted on the brush rotating gears is rotated, and the brush 17 is rotated along with the movement of the brush 17.
The pinion gear is a member which is not connected to the motor 24 and operates in a driven manner. In the present embodiment, since the pinion gears are mounted on the brush fastening parts 21, unlike Patent Literature 1, a propulsion shaft connecting two pinion gears is not necessary.
As shown in FIG. 2, only one set of drive mechanism including the pinion gear, the rack gear, the motor 24, a shaft 25 and a nut 26 need to be placed along one side of the filter 13. The pinion gear, the rack gear, the motor 24, the shaft 25 and the nut 26 are one example of the drive mechanism.
The motor 24 is fixedly mounted on the frame part 9 of the filter cleaning unit 16. The motor 24 is connected to the shaft 25, and the shaft 25 rotates around the axis as the motor 24 is driven. The shaft 25 is a shaft material that is elongated in one direction and has a male thread formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft material, and engages with the nut 26. The shaft 25 is installed so that the axial direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of the brush 17, that is, in a direction parallel to the rack gear. The shaft 25 is equal to or longer than the length of one side of the filter 13 in one direction.
On the inner circumferential surface of the nut 26, a female thread, which engages with the male thread of the shaft 25, is formed. The nut 26 is connected to the brush fastening part 21 so as not to rotate around the axis of the shaft 25. Although the nut 26 is not fixed to the brush fastening part 21, the nut 26 is connected to the brush fastening part 21 so that the nut 26 can push the brush fastening part 21. Hence, as the shaft 25 rotates, the nut 26 moves, and the nut 26 pushes the brush fastening part 21 and moves along the axial direction of the shaft 25. By changing the rotation direction of the shaft 25, the advancing direction of the nut 26 and the brush fastening part 21 can be changed.
In the above-described example, an example in which the male thread is formed on the shaft 25 and the female thread is formed in the nut 26 and coupled together has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For instance, the shaft 25 and the nut 26 may be configured to provide a ball screw mechanism with a combination of the shaft 25 and the nut 26.
In the present embodiment, only one motor 24 needs to be installed, and the brush 17 can be moved with a simple structure.
Next, the collection box unit 38 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
The collection box unit 38 is placed on the surface of the intake grille 11 on the filter 13 side, and is connectable to the brush fastening part 21 located above the collection box unit 38. The collection box unit 38 is a member elongated in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the brush 17. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the collection box unit 38 includes a collection box 39, a support part 40, a comb part 41, and so on.
When the brush 17 moves to clean the filter 13, the collection box unit 38 is connected to the brush fastening part 21 and moves together with the brush fastening part 21.
The collection box 39 is a box body in which dust and dirt removed by the brush 17 is stored, and has a length equal to or longer than the axial length of the brush 17 and a width longer than the diameter of the brush 17. The collection box 39 is placed between the support part 40 and the intake grille 11.
When the brush 17 moves to clean the filter 13, the collection box 39 is in the state of being fastened to the support part 40 by lock parts 57, 58. When cleaning the collection box 39, that is, when removing dust and dirt stored in the collection box 39, the lock by the lock parts 57, 58 is released, and the collection box 39 is pulled out in a direction parallel to the in-plane direction of the intake grille 11.
The support part 40 is placed above the collection box 39. The support part 40 has a quadrangular shape elongated in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the brush 17, and has a frame installed along the edge of an opening section of the collection box 39. Both end sections in the longitudinal direction of the support part 40 are slidably connected to rails 43 mounted on the intake grille 11. Thus, the collection box 39 is supported by the intake grille 11 through the support part 40.
In the state in which the support part 40 is being connected to the rails 43, the collection box 39 can be moved, in a direction parallel to the in-plane direction of the intake grille 11, into and out from a space formed between the support part 40 and the intake grille 11.
The comb part 41 is placed above the support part 40, and is attachable to and detachable from the support part 40. The comb part 41 has a quadrangular shape elongated in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the brush 17, and has a frame installed along the edge of the support part 40. The support part 40 and the comb part 41 may be provided with locking parts 54 and 55 so as not to move the comb part 41 with respect to the support part 40.
A comb 44 elongated in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the brush 17 is formed at a central portion in the width direction of the comb part 41. A comb tip of the comb 44 protrudes on the brush 17 side, that is, upward. In a state in which the brush fastening part 21 and the collection box unit 38 are connected, the comb 44 contacts the brush 17. When cleaning the filter 13 by the brush 17, the comb 44 contacts the brush 17 and scrapes off dust and dirt sticking to the brush 17. The scraped dust and dirt are collected in the collection box 39.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lock part 57 has a structure capable of fastening the collection box 39 to the support part 40. The lock part 57 is, for example, a member placed on the support part 40 and having an L-shaped cross section. An end section of the lock part 57 is connected to the support part 40 through a rotation shaft, and the lock part 57 is supported to be pivotable with respect to the support part 40. By lowering the lock part 57 in a state in which the collection box 39 is located under the support part 40 and held between the support part 40 and the intake grille 11, movement of the collection box 39 is restricted. On the other hand, raising the lock part 57 enables the move in/out action of the collection box 39.
The lock part 58 is a protrusion that protrudes downward on the lower surface of the support part 40. In a state in which the collection box 39 is held between the support part 40 and the intake grille 11, the lock part 58 is located on the outside of the collection box 39. Thus, since the collection box 39 is caught by the lock part 58, the collection box 39 is unlikely to slide outward. It may be possible to provide only either of the lock part 57 or the lock part 58.
According to the present embodiment, when cleaning the collection box 39 in which dust and dirt are stored, it is not necessary to detach the collection box unit 38 from the rails 43, and only the collection box 39 can be removed from the collection box unit 38, and, after cleaning, the collection box 39 just needs to be inserted between the support part 40 and the intake grille 11. Therefore, unlike a conventional case where a collection unit composed of a collection box and a support part is detached from rails and, after cleaning the collection box, the collection box unit is installed on the rails, the work of installing the collection box unit 38 on the rails 43 is not required. Consequently, the problem of failing to slide the collection box unit on the rails by the drive mechanism in the next cleaning when the worker fails to securely place the collection box unit on the rails will not occur. Moreover, when cleaning the collection box 39 in which dust and dirt are stored, no tool is required.
Furthermore, when the intake grille 11 is lowered, if the support part 40 is fastened to the intake grille 11, the worker can pull out the collection box 39 without holding the support part 40 of the collection box unit 38 by his or her hand, and can easily remove the collection box 39.

[Reference Signs List]

1: Indoor unit
2: Case main body
3: Intake opening
4: Discharge opening
8: Panel part
9: Frame part
11: Intake grille (grille)
13: Filter
14: Louver
15: Wire
16: Filter cleaning unit
17: Brush
21: Brush fastening part
24: Motor
25: Shaft
26: Nut
38: Collection box unit
39: Collection box
40: Support part
41: Comb part
43: Rail
44: Comb
54: Locking part
55: Locking part
57: Lock part
58: Lock part

Claims

A filter cleaning unit (16) comprising:
a brush fastening part (21) storing a brush (17) placed along one direction of a filter (13);

a drive mechanism configured to move the brush fastening part (21) in a direction perpendicular to the one direction and along a surface of the filter (13); and

a collection box unit (38) that is located on one surface side of a grille (11) and configured to be moved together with the brush fastening part (21) by the drive mechanism,

wherein the collection box unit (38) includes:
a collection box (39) in which dust and dirt removed by the brush are collected;

a support part (40) connected to the grille (11) and placed above the collection box (39); and

a lock part (57, 58) capable of fastening the collection box (39) to the support part (40).
The filter cleaning unit (16) according to claim 1, wherein when the lock part (57, 58) releases fastening of the collection box (39) and the support part (40), the collection box (39) is allowed to move, in a direction parallel to an in-plane direction of the grille (11), into and out from a space formed between the support part (40) and the grille (11).
The filter cleaning unit (16) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support part (40) is connected to a rail (43) formed on the grille (11) and is movable along the rail (43).
An air conditioner comprising the filter cleaning unit (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.