EP3770525A1

EP3770525A1 - Indoor machine for air conditioner

Info

Publication number: EP3770525A1
Application number: EP18911279.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shuhei TOMITA; Hironobu SUEHIRO; Koki MORO; Tatsuo Furuta; Naoya Matsunaga
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2018-03-19
Filing date: 2018-03-19
Publication date: 2021-01-27
Also published as: JPWO2019180782A1; JP7112162B2; CN111837002B; EP3770525A4; CN111837002A; WO2019180782A1

Abstract

An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a casing defining the exterior of the indoor unit, and a front panel mounted to the front of the casing in a manner that allows the front panel to pivot forward, the front panel being configured to open and close the front of the casing. The casing has an inclined surface at a side edge near the front of the casing, the inclined surface facing a side edge of the front panel and being inclined inward. The inclined surface has a finger rest part, the finger rest part being a recess in which a user places a finger to pivot the front panel forward from a closed position, the finger rest part having a trapezoidal shape that gradually narrows from the front side toward the rear side.

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, the indoor unit including a front panel to open and close the front of a casing.

Background Art

A related art indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus is known that includes a casing defining the exterior of the indoor unit, and a front panel used for design purposes. The front panel is mounted to the front of the casing in a manner that allows forward pivotal movement of the front panel, and is configured to open and close the front of the casing. The front of the casing has an air inlet to suck indoor air into the casing. A filter is disposed at the air inlet to collect dust in an air-conditioned space. In performing maintenance or other operations on the indoor unit, the front panel is pivoted forward to open the front of the casing.
For example, an air-conditioning apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a handy-grip recess provided in the boundary area between the front panel and the casing and in which the user places a hand when detaching the front panel from the casing. The handy-grip recess disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is shaped and sized with primary consideration given to the ease of detaching the front panel.

Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 09-210401

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

Some indoor units have, at their side edge near the front of the casing, an inwardly inclined surface. The presence of the inclined surface gives the indoor unit a sense of depth when the indoor unit is viewed from the front side, thus giving an upscale feel to the user. However, if the indoor unit has a handy-grip recess provided in the inclined surface, the handy-grip recess is very conspicuous when the casing is viewed from the front side, which can compromise aesthetic appearance.
The present disclosure has been made to address the above-mentioned problem, and accordingly, it is an object thereof to provide an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that, even if a finger rest part is provided in an inclined surface located near the front of the casing, allows the finger rest part to serve its function, and ensures that the finger rest part is inconspicuous when the casing is viewed from the front side to thereby achieve an aesthetically improved appearance. Solution to Problem
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a casing defining the exterior of the indoor unit, and a front panel mounted to the front of the casing in a manner that allows the front panel to pivot forward, the front panel being configured to open and close the front of the casing. The casing has an inclined surface at a side edge near the front of the casing, the inclined surface facing a side edge of the front panel and being inclined inward. The inclined surface has a finger rest part, the finger rest part being a recess in which a user places a finger to pivot the front panel forward from a closed position, the finger rest part having a trapezoidal shape that gradually narrows from the front side toward the rear side.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the recessed finger rest part has a trapezoidal shape that gradually narrows from the front side toward the rear side. Consequently, the wider portion of the trapezoidal finger rest part ensures that the finger rest part can serve its function, and the narrower portion of the trapezoidal finger rest part ensures that the finger rest part can be made as inconspicuous as possible when viewed from the front side, resulting in an aesthetically improved appearance.

Brief Description of Drawings

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a front view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a side view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure with a front panel open.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along an arrowed line X-X illustrated in Fig. 2.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion Y illustrated in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the portion Y illustrated in Fig. 1 with the front panel open.

Description of Embodiments

Embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the figures, like or corresponding features are denoted by like reference signs to omit or simplify their detailed description as appropriate. Components illustrated in the figures may be changed as appropriate in their shape, size, placement, or other details within the scope of the present disclosure.

Embodiment

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a side view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure with a front panel open. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along an arrowed line X-X illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion Y illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the portion Y illustrated in Fig. 1 with the front panel open.
An indoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment is connected by a refrigerant pipe to an outdoor unit (not illustrated) installed outdoors to thereby form a refrigeration cycle. The indoor unit 100 is mounted on, for example, the wall of a room to provide air conditioning to an indoor space. As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the indoor unit 100 includes a casing 1, and a front panel 4. The casing 1 defines the exterior of the indoor unit 100. The front panel 4 is mounted to the front of the casing 1 in a manner that allows the front panel 4 to pivot forward, and configured to open and close the front of the casing 1.
The casing 1 includes a rear casing 2, and a front casing 3 that are combined into the form of a substantially cuboid box. As illustrated in Fig. 5, components such as a heat exchanger 10, a fan (not illustrated), an electrical component box 11, a drain pan (not illustrated), and a filter 12 are accommodated in the casing 1.
The rear casing 2 defines the rear side of the casing 1. The outer side of the rear casing 2 is mounted to an installation plate secured on the wall of a room. The heat exchanger 10, the fan, the electrical component box 11, and the drain pan are mounted on the inner side of the rear casing 2.
The front casing 3 defines the front of the casing 1. The front casing 3 is mounted to the rear casing 2 by means of a joining component such as a screw. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the front surface of the front casing 3 has a front air inlet 30 for incorporating indoor air into the interior space. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the top of the front casing 3 has a top air inlet 31 for incorporating indoor air to the interior space. The front air inlet 30 and the top air inlet 31 are covered with the filter 12, which is common to the two air inlets and configured to collect dust present in an air-conditioned space. As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, a lower portion of the front casing 3 is provided with an air outlet 32 that extends laterally. An air direction adjustment plate 13 is provided at the air outlet 32 to adjust the vertical direction of air blown out from the air outlet 32.
The front casing 3 has an inclined surface 5 at each of left and right side edges. The inclined surface 5 faces a side edge of the front panel 4, and is inclined inward. The presence of the inclined surface 5 gives the indoor unit 100 a sense of depth when the indoor unit 100 is viewed from the front side, thus giving an upscale feel to the user.
The front panel 4 covers the front air inlet 30 provided on the front of the front casing 3. The front panel 4 is mounted, by means of a pivot mechanism part 6, to the front of the front casing 3 in a manner that allows pivotal movement of the front panel 4. The front panel 4 is allowed to pivot from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the front panel 4 closes the front of the front casing 3, to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 in which the front panel 4 opens the front of the front casing 3. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the pivot mechanism part 6 includes a pivot 60 disposed in an upper portion of the back of the front panel 4, and a bearing 61 disposed in an upper portion of the front casing 3 to support the pivot 60 in a manner that allows pivotal movement. The pivot 60 is disposed in each widthwise end portion of the front panel 4. The bearing 61 is disposed in each widthwise end portion of the front casing 3 and at a position corresponding to the pivot 60. Although not illustrated in detail, the pivot 60 is disposed, for example, at the distal end of an arm projecting toward the front casing 3.
Although the front panel 4 is illustrated in the drawings to define a flat surface, the front panel 4 may be a grille with an air vent. The pivot mechanism part 6 may not necessarily have the configuration mentioned above but may be any other form of pivot mechanism part that allows the front panel 4 to be mounted to the front of the casing 1 in a manner that allows pivotal movement of the front panel 4.
As illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, the casing 1 and the front panel 4 of the indoor unit 100 each have an engaging structure part 7 to allow engagement between the casing 1 and the front panel 4. The engaging structure part 7 is configured to engage the front casing 3 and the front panel 4 with each other when the front panel 4 is in its closed position. The engaging structure part 7 includes a locking protrusion 70, and a locking groove 71. The locking protrusion 70 is provided in a lower portion of the back of the front panel 4. The locking groove 71 is provided in a lower portion of the front casing 3 to receive the locking protrusion 70 fitted into the locking groove 71. The locking protrusion 70 is provided in each widthwise end portion of the front panel 4. The locking groove 71 is provided in each widthwise end portion of the front casing 3 and at a position corresponding to the locking protrusion 70. The engaging structure part 7 may not necessarily have the configuration mentioned above but may be any other form of engaging structure part that, when the front panel 4 is in its closed position, allows the front casing 3 and the front panel 4 to be engaged with and secured to each other.
The heat exchanger 10 functions as an evaporator to cool air during cooling operation, and functions as a condenser (radiator) to heat air during heating operation. The heat exchanger 10 is attached to the rear casing 2, and disposed in the air passage from each of the front air inlet 30 and the top air inlet 31 to the air outlet 32 and at a location upstream of the fan. The heat exchanger 10 may preferably be, for example, a plate fin-and-tube heat exchanger that allows heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe and air passing through fins.
The fan is configured to suck indoor air through the front air inlet 30 and the top air inlet 31, and blow out conditioned air through the air outlet 32. The fan is attached to the rear casing 2, and disposed in the air passage from each of the front air inlet 30 and the top air inlet 31 to the air outlet 32 and at a location downstream of the heat exchanger 10. The fan may preferably be, for example, a cross-flow fan.
The electrical component box 11 accommodates components such as a controller that controls the indoor unit 100. The electrical component box 11 is attached to the rear casing 2. The controller is, for example, a microprocessor unit. The drain pan is disposed below the heat exchanger 10 to receive drain water generated during operation of the indoor unit 100.
Characteristics features of the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment will be described below. In performing maintenance or other operations on the indoor unit 100, the engaging structure part 7 is disengaged from its engaged state to allow pivotal movement of the front panel 4 to thereby open the front of the front casing 3. In this regard, the boundary area between the front panel 4 and the front casing 3 is provided with a finger rest part 50 in the form of a recess in which the user places a finger to disengage the engaging structure part 7. Although the finger rest part 50 is required for disengaging the engaging structure part 7 to allow pivotal movement of the front panel 4, the finger rest part 50 can, depending on its shape, be very conspicuous and thus compromise the aesthetic appearance of the indoor unit 100. In particular, in the case of the indoor unit 100 in which the front casing 3 has the inclined surface 5, and the finger rest part 50 is provided in the inclined surface 5, the finger rest part 50 is very conspicuous when viewed from the front side. This significantly deteriorates aesthetic appearance.
Accordingly, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the inclined surface 5 according to Embodiment is provided with the finger rest part 50, in which the user places a finger to pivot the front panel 4 from a closed position toward an open position, such that the inclined surface 5 has a trapezoidal shape that gradually narrows from the front side toward the rear side. In other words, with the indoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment, the wider portion of the trapezoidal finger rest part 50 ensures that the finger rest part 50 can fulfil its function, and the narrower portion of the trapezoidal finger rest part 50 ensures that the finger rest part 50 can be made as inconspicuous as possible when viewed from the front side, resulting in an aesthetically improved appearance.
As illustrated in Fig. 6, the finger rest part 50 has a depth that allows the user to insert a finger into the finger rest part 50 up to a point about halfway between the fingertip and the first joint. This is because if a user's finger can be inserted up to a point about halfway between the fingertip and the first joint, the finger can be firmly hooked on an edge portion of the front panel 4, thus allowing the user to easily disengage the engaging structure part 7.
As illustrated in Fig. 8, the finger rest part 50 is positioned adjacent to the engaging structure part 7. This means that the force applied by the user's finger inserted in the finger rest part 50 is directly transmitted to the engaging structure part 7, thus allowing the user to easily disengage the engaging structure part 7. It is to be noted, however, that the finger rest part 50 may be positioned away from the engaging structure part 7 as long as the finger rest part 50 enables disengagement of the engaging structure part 7.
As illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, the finger rest part 50 is blocked on its side near the inner surface of the casing 1 by the engaging structure part 7. More specifically, the finger rest part 50 is blocked on its inner side by the locking groove 71 of the engaging structure part 7. This configuration of the indoor unit 100 helps to prevent air or dust from entering the casing 1 through the finger rest part 50, thus preventing a failure from occurring due to the entry of air or dust.
Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to its embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the internal structure of the indoor unit 100 depicted in the drawings is illustrative only and not limited to the specific details described herein but may include other components. The indoor unit 100 may not include the engaging structure part 7. In other words, the scope of the present disclosure encompasses all such variations in design and application as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technical ideas of the present disclosure.

Reference Signs List

1 casing 2 rear casing 3 front casing 4 front panel 5 inclined surface 6 pivot mechanism part 7 engaging structure part 10 heat exchanger 11 electrical component box 12 filter 13 air direction adjustment plate 30 front air inlet 31 top air inlet 32 air outlet 50 finger rest part 60 pivot 61 bearing 70 locking protrusion 71 locking groove 100 indoor unit.

Claims

An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, the indoor unit comprising:
a casing defining an exterior of the indoor unit; and

a front panel mounted to a front of the casing in a manner that allows the front panel to pivot forward, the front panel being configured to open and close the front of the casing,

wherein the casing has an inclined surface at a side edge near the front of the casing, the inclined surface facing a side edge of the front panel and being inclined inward, and

wherein the inclined surface has a finger rest part, the finger rest part being a recess in which a user places a finger to pivot the front panel forward from a closed position, the finger rest part having a trapezoidal shape that gradually narrows from a front side toward a rear side.
The indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the casing and the front panel each have an engaging structure part, the engaging structure part being configured to, when the front panel is in its closed position, engage the casing and the front panel with each other, and
wherein the finger rest part is positioned adjacent to the engaging structure part.
The indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus of claim 2,
wherein the finger rest part is blocked on its side near an inner surface of the casing by the engaging structure part.