Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
  • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
  • F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
  • F24F1/0047—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
  • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
  • F24F13/082—Grilles, registers or guards
  • F24F13/085—Grilles, registers or guards including an air filter
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
  • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
  • F24F13/20—Casings or covers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an air-conditioner, and more specifically, relates to a ceiling embedded air-conditioner including a decorative panel attached to a lower portion of the ceiling embedded air-conditioner.
• a duct type unit has been employed as an indoor unit in a space where a design is considered to be important.
• a ceiling cassette type requiring no duct work has been increasingly demanded.
• a decorative panel taking the middle between the duct type unit and the typical ceiling cassette type in terms of design has been proposed.
• a structure in which a suction grille expands to the vicinity of a blow port provided at an outer peripheral portion of the decorative panel is preferred considering the design.
• a thermal insulation having a thickness of equal to or greater than a certain thickness needs to be provided for, e.g., preventing condensation caused by blowing of conditioned air.
• Fig. 8 illustrates a schematic structure of an indoor device 800 of a typical ceiling embedded air-conditioner.
• the typical indoor device 800 is configured such that a decorative panel 801 placed adjacent to a ceiling (not shown) is arranged on an indoor side.
• a blow port 802 is formed inside the decorative panel 801, and a wind deflector 806 is arranged inside the blow port 802 through a proper pivoting mechanism 807 and a proper drive mechanism.
• a heat exchanger 810 and a drain pan 811 are arranged in a body 809 of the indoor device 800.
• the heat exchanger 810 performs heat exchange between a heat exchange medium sent from an outdoor device (not shown) and indoor air.
• the conditioned air after heat exchange is blown into a room through the blow port 802, and conditions air in the room.
• the drain pan 811 is arranged below the heat exchanger 810 to receive drain water from the heat exchanger 810.
• Thermal insulations 805 for preventing condensation are arranged on both sides of the blow port 802, and a suction grille 803 extends to near the inner thermal insulation 805.
• the suction grille 803 includes an opening for introducing indoor air into the indoor device 800, and a filter (not shown) is placed on an indoor device 800 side of the suction grille 803.
• the suction grille 803 needs to be opened/closed.
• a hinge 808 engaging with the decorative panel 801 is arranged at an end portion of the suction grille 803.
• a knob arranged in the vicinity of an end portion of the suction grille 803 on the right side as viewed in the plane of paper is operated to disconnect the suction grille 803 from the decorative panel 801. Thereafter, when the hinge 808 is rotated relative to the decorative panel 801 by operator's operation, the suction grille 803 rotates clockwise downwardly as viewed in the plane of paper.
• the suction grille 803 expands to the vicinity of the blow port 802
• the suction grille 803 is increased in size as compared to the typical suction grille.
• the weight of the suction grille 803 increases, and there is a concern that when the same configuration is employed for a decorative panel with a lifting/lowering grille, the output of a suction grille lifting/lowering motor is insufficient.
• Patent Literature 1 describes a ceiling embedded air-conditioner for improving workability in an indoor device, the ceiling embedded air-conditioner including a suction grille provided on a design side of a decorative panel and side panels provided at the right and left of the suction grille.
• the side panels detachably attached to the decorative panel through the suction grille opened by turning can be detached.
• Patent Literature 1 can improve accessibility to the inside of the indoor device.
• the side panels not relating to the design are added, and for this reason, the design of the indoor device is degraded.
• the suction grille extends to near a blow port, and therefore, Patent Literature 1 is not intended to improve the design.
• Patent Literature 2 JP-A-2-171526 (Patent Literature 2) describes a combined air-conditioner configured such that a side grille is provided at one end of a front grille.
• Patent Literature 2 is not intended to improve the design of an indoor device of a ceiling embedded air-conditioner.
• Patent Literature 3 describes a cleanable thin medium/high performance filter, which can be installed in the air-inlet grille of an overhead type air conditioner.
• Patent Literature 4 JP 2019 178837 A (Patent Literature 4) describes that in air conditioner an end of each grille crosspiece of a suction grille extends on a side of a side panel over a division line between a suction grille and the side panel, instead, an end of a dummy crosspiece retreats from the division line as much as the extension amount so as to shift an abutment part between the end of each grille crosspiece and the end of the dummy crosspiece from the division line.
• Patent Literature 5 JP 2000 240967 A (Patent Literature 5) describes a further ceiling embedded air conditioner.
• the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ceiling embedded air-conditioner configured so that a suction grille can be shown large, opening/closing can be facilitated, and a suction grille structure can be decreased in weight regardless of an increase in the area of the suction grille.
• a ceiling embedded air-conditioner includes an indoor device having a fan, a fan motor, and a heat exchanger.
• the indoor device includes a decorative panel attached facing an air-conditioning space and having a suction port and a blow port and a grille attached to the decorative panel.
• the grille has a suction grille provided at the suction port and a dummy grille extending from at least one end portion of the suction grille and provided between the suction port and the blow port.
• the ceiling embedded air-conditioner including the suction grille structure with the improved design can be provided.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic sectional view of an indoor device 100 of the exemplary embodiment.
• the indoor device 100 illustrated in Fig. 1 is an indoor device 100 of a ceiling embedded air-conditioner, and a housing 102 of the indoor device 100 houses a heat exchanger 103, a fan 105, and a fan motor 106 configured to drive the fan 105.
• Indoor air is sucked in the direction of an arrow A, flows toward the heat exchanger 103 along an air flow generated by the fan 105, and exchanges heat with a heat exchange medium circulating in the heat exchanger 103.
• the conditioned air after heat exchange is, in the direction of arrows B, discharged into a room as an exemplary air-conditioning space through a blow port 108.
• a drain pan 104 is arranged below the heat exchanger 103, and collects drain water, dirt and the like from the heat exchanger 103.
• a decorative panel 107 is placed on an indoor side of the housing 102.
• a grille 109 is detachably placed on the indoor side of the decorative panel 107.
• the grille 109 includes a dummy grille 109a arranged at least at one end portion and a suction grille 109b.
• the dummy grille 109a of the grille 109 extends adjacent to the blow port 108 for improving the design of the indoor device 100 on the indoor side.
• a phrase "adjacent to the blow port 108" means that the dummy grille 109a extends, with at least a width of equal to or greater than 1/2 of a width between the blow port 108 and the suction grille 109b, from an end portion of the suction grille 109b in a region between the blow port 108 and the suction grille 109b.
• the dummy grille 109a is detachably fixed to the decorative panel 107, and an attachment direction thereof is such a direction that the dummy grille 109a can be also fixed to, e.g., a position rotated 90° with respect to the decorative panel 107.
• One end portion of the suction grille 109b is coupled to one dummy grille 109a through a hinge mechanism, and the opposing end portion thereof is coupled to the decorative panel 107 through a latch mechanism.
• the suction grille 109b is fixed to the decorative panel 107.
• the suction grille 109b and the dummy grilles 109a arranged at both ends of the suction grille 109b increase the area of the grille 109, and reduce the weight of the suction grille 109b.
• the design of the indoor device 100 can be improved.
• a movable portion of the grille 109 can be decreased in weight, and operability can be improved.
• the blow port 108 is formed at an outer edge portion of the grille 109 of the decorative panel 107.
• thermal insulations 110 are arranged at inner and outer ends of the blow port 108. Conditioned air is blown in the direction of the arrows B through the blow port 108, and achieves air-conditioning in the room.
• the suction grille 109b of the grille 109 is, in the present exemplary embodiment, rotatably moved clockwise downwardly as viewed in the plane of paper such that the inside of the indoor device 100 is exposed. Accordingly, an access to the inside of the indoor device 100 can be made.
• Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary form 200 in which the suction grille 109b of the indoor device 100 is opened in the exemplary embodiment.
• One end of the suction grille 109b engages with the dummy grille 109a through the hinge mechanism, and the other end of the suction grille 109b is held on the decorative panel 107 by the latch mechanism.
• the latch mechanism arranged on the right side as viewed in the plane of paper is released to open the suction grille 109b from one end thereof, and an operator rotates the suction grille 109b downwardly as viewed in the plane of paper while holding the movable end portion of the suction grille 109b.
• a hanging wire 109c of which one end is fixed to the decorative panel 107 is coupled to a center portion of the suction grille 109b, and the suction grille 109b is held by the hanging wire 109c after having turned to an acceptable range of the hanging wire 109c.
• the left end portion of the suction grille 109b as viewed in the plane of paper is turnably coupled to the dummy grille 109a through the hinge mechanism.
• the suction grille 109b rotates through the hinge mechanism of the dummy grille 109a in association with lowering of the right end portion of the suction grille 109b so that the suction grille 109b can rotatably move.
• Fig. 3 illustrates a suction grille structure 300 when the indoor device 100 of the exemplary embodiment is viewed from the indoor side.
• the grille 109 includes the suction grille 109b and the dummy grilles 109a arranged at both ends of the suction grille 109b.
• the grille 109 has a substantially square shape as viewed upwardly from the indoor side, and expands to a position adjacent to the blow port 108 formed at the edge portion of the decorative panel 107 on four sides thereof.
• the suction grille 109b arranged at a center portion of the grille 109 is in a rectangular shape having long sides in the right-left direction as viewed in the plane of paper in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.
• latch mechanisms 115 are formed at both short-side end portions of the suction grille 109b. The latch mechanisms 115 fix the suction grille 109b to the decorative panel 107.
• the suction grille 109b has a smaller area than the apparent area of the grille 109 and is decreased in weight, and therefore, the operability is improved.
• the dummy grille 109a is detachable from the decorative panel 107, and can respond to a change in the direction of extension of louvers of the grille 109 with respect to the decorative panel 107. Accordingly, the suction grille 109b can change an opening/closing direction thereof, and workability and maintainability are improved.
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of an internal structure 400 of the decorative panel 107 at a position indicated by an arrow C-C of Fig. 1 in a case where the decorative panel 107 is cut in a section in a direction parallel with the plane of paper.
• the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 corresponds to the end portion formed with the hinge mechanism.
• the blow port 108 is formed inside the decorative panel 107.
• a wind deflector 112 is movably held by a not-shown drive mechanism through a pivoting mechanism 113, thereby controlling the direction of conditioned air blown into the room.
• the thermal insulations 110 are arranged on both sides of the blow port 108, thereby preventing, e.g., condensation in the vicinity of the blow port 108.
• the dummy grille 109a is placed between the blow port 108 and the suction grille 109b in a region which is typically present as a space worsening the design, and therefore, the indoor-side design of the indoor device 100 is improved and the operability upon maintenance is improved.
• a filter 111 is placed on the suction grille 109b on an indoor device 100 side, and the louvers extending parallel with a louver structure of the dummy grille 109a is formed on the indoor side of the grille 109.
• unity of the dummy grille 109a and the suction grille 109b is improved.
• the dummy grille 109a of the present embodiment extends inwardly from a position in the vicinity of the blow port 108, and an inner end portion thereof is arranged to extend to the end portion of the suction grille 109b.
• a hinge 114 engaging with the inner end portion of the dummy grille 109a is formed.
• the suction grille 109b is held turnably about the dummy grille 109a in cooperation with a hinge receiving portion 114d formed at the dummy grille 109a.
• the hinge 114 of the present exemplary embodiment will be described.
• the hinge 114 includes a U-shaped structure having a substantially U-shaped section and including a tip end portion 114a extending to bend to the indoor side above the dummy grille 109a, a base portion 114b extending from an end surface of the suction grille 109b toward the indoor device side, and a coupling portion 114c coupling the tip end portion 114a and the base portion 114b.
• the hinge 114 of the exemplary embodiment is configured such that a second U-shaped structure having the same shape is also arranged on the near side as viewed in the plane of paper of Fig. 4 and both U-shaped structures in a pair are coupled to each other at the tip end portions 114a in the vertical direction as viewed in the plane of paper.
• Both U-shaped structures in a pair form, by the base portions 114b, an aperture (not shown) in the vertical direction as viewed in the plane of paper such that a hinge stopper 114e is housed between both U-shaped structures.
• the hinge receiving portion 114d for receiving the tip end portions 114a of the hinge 114 is formed at the dummy grille 109a, and the hinge stopper 114e is formed at the end portion on a suction grille 109b side.
• the hinge 114 is movable in the right-left direction as viewed in the plane of paper with the hinge stopper 114e being housed in the aperture.
• a beam structure formed integrally with the decorative panel 107 extends, above the hinge 114, in the vertical direction as viewed in the plane of paper, thereby restricting the amount of movement of the hinge 114 in the upper-lower direction as viewed in the plane of paper.
• Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic view of an internal structure 500 in a case where the suction grille 109b is opened for, e.g., maintenance.
• the suction grille 109b becomes rotatable by release of the latch mechanism formed at the opposing end portion.
• the hinge 114 in almost horizontal arrangement is drawn to the right side as viewed in the plane of paper, and thereafter, the suction grille 109b is drawn laterally to a position at which opposing surfaces of the tip end portions 114a of the hinge 114 and the hinge receiving portion 114d are adjacent to each other.
• the suction grille 109b rotates clockwise about the tip end portions 114a as a pivot point, and accordingly, rotation of the suction grille 109b is allowed.
• the suction grille 109b is lifted upwardly as viewed in the plane of paper, and accordingly, the aperture formed by the hinge 114 and the hinge stopper 114e are disengaged from each other and the suction grille 109b is detached from the decorative panel 107.
• the suction grille 109b is detachable from the decorative panel 107.
• the operator accesses the inside of the indoor device 100 to perform not only replacement and cleaning of the filter 111 but also maintenance and inspection of internal elements of the indoor device 100.
• the entire area of the grille 109 increases, the weight of the suction grille 109b is smaller than that corresponding to an apparent area.
• Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of an internal structure 600 of the end portion including the latch mechanisms 115 arranged on the opposing side of the end portion of the decorative panel 107 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 .
• the latch mechanism 115 illustrated in Fig. 6 corresponds to the internal structure 600 in the section as viewed in the direction of an arrow indicated by a cut line D-D along the vertical direction as viewed in the plane of paper of Fig. 1 when the decorative panel 107 is cut along the cut line D-D.
• the latch mechanism 115 illustrated in Fig. 6 corresponds to the internal structure 600 in the section as viewed in the direction of an arrow indicated by a cut line D-D along the vertical direction as viewed in the plane of paper of Fig. 1 when the decorative panel 107 is cut along the cut line D-D.
• the latch mechanisms 115 having the function of detachably holding the suction grille 109b on the decorative panel 107 are formed at both end portions of the suction grille 109b separated from each other in the direction of the cut line D-D of Fig. 1 .
• the blow port 108 is formed at the end portion of the decorative panel, and in the blow port 108, the wind deflector 112 is rotatably held by the pivoting mechanism 113. As in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 , conditioned air can be blown into the room to condition indoor air.
• the thermal insulations are, as in the opposing end portion, arranged on both sides of the blow port 108, and the suction grille 109b extends below the thermal insulation 110 arranged inside.
• the suction grille 109b extends to a position adjacent to the blow port 108.
• the opposing end portion of the suction grille 109b similarly extends to the blow port 108 on the opposing side.
• the suction grille 109b is in the rectangular shape as illustrated in Fig. 3 .
• the latch mechanism 115 configured to lock the suction grille 109b in a coordinating matter is formed.
• the latch mechanism 115 includes an operation hook 115a, a housing space 115c, and an engagement portion 115b integrated with the decorative panel 107.
• An elastic body 115d for biasing the operation hook 115a is housed in the housing space 115c.
• the operation hook 115a has such a structure that the operation hook 115a extends outwardly along an upper surface of the suction grille 109b from a knob protruding from between the louvers of the suction grille 109b, bends upwardly at a proper position of the suction grille 109b, and extends again to bend outwardly.
• An end portion of the operation hook 115a on the opposite side of the knob forms an engagement claw 115e engaging with the decorative panel 107.
• the housing space 115c is defined by a portion of the operation hook 115a extending along the upper surface of the suction grille 109b and a protruding portion of the operation hook 115a standing from an inner surface of the suction grille 109b.
• the elastic body 115d as a spring for biasing the engagement claw 115e of the operation hook 115a such that the engagement claw 115e protrudes outwardly is arranged in the housing space 115c.
• the engagement claw 115e of the operation hook 115a is fitted in the engagement portion 115b formed at the decorative panel 107, thereby fixing the suction grille 109b.
• the operator first moves the operation hook 115a in the direction of an arrow E, and pulls the engagement claw 115e out of the engagement portion 115b, and rotates the suction grille 109b downwardly as viewed in the plane of paper. Thereafter, the operator rotates the suction grille 109b downwardly as viewed in the plane of paper, and as necessary, detaches the suction grille 109b so that the operator can access the inside of the indoor device 100.
• the hanging wire 109c illustrated in Fig. 2 is fixed to a proper position of the suction grille 109b.
• the suction grille 109b can be held at a proper position, and e.g., unintended dropping of the suction grille 109b can be prevented.
• a first variation is such a form that the dummy grille 109a is attached to the decorative panel 107 with the attachment direction of the dummy grille 109a being rotated, for example.
• the grille 109 is formed in the substantially square shape, but the portion excluding the dummy grilles 109a is formed in the substantially rectangular shape.
• the direction of attachment of the dummy grille 109a to the decorative panel 107 is rotated 90° so that the direction of extension of the louvers of the grille 109 can be changed. Consequently, the workability when the indoor device 100 is placed in the room can be improved considering the design.
• Fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary variation. Note that in description of the variation, the same reference numerals are used to represent members having functions common or identical to those of the above-described embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.
• the variation illustrated in Fig. 7 is an embodiment in which the grille 109 of an indoor device 700 can be lifted/lowered by lifting/lowering motors 713 and hanging wires.
• the indoor device 700 illustrated in Fig. 7 houses, in the housing 102 of the indoor device 100, the heat exchanger 103, the fan 105, and the fan motor 106 configured to drive the fan 105.
• Indoor air flows in the direction of the arrow A, flows toward the heat exchanger 103 along the air flow generated by the fan 105, and exchanges heat with refrigerant circulating in the heat exchanger 103.
• the conditioned air after heat exchange is, in the direction of the arrows B, discharged into the room through the blow port 108.
• the drain pan 104 is arranged below the heat exchanger 103, and collects drain water from the heat exchanger 103.
• the decorative panel 107 is placed on the indoor side of the housing 102.
• the grille 109 is detachably placed on the indoor side of the decorative panel 107.
• the grille 109 includes the suction grille 109b liftably held by the lifting/lowering motors 713 and the dummy grilles 109a arranged at both ends of the suction grille 109b.
• a portion inside the dummy grilles 109a is formed as the suction grille 109b formed in a quadrangular shape, more specifically the rectangular shape, separately from the dummy grilles 109a. Accordingly, a housing portion 715 for housing the suction grille 109b is formed at a portion inside the dummy grilles 109a. Wire attachment portions 710a to 710d formed at proper positions at four corners of the suction grille 109b are formed at the suction grille 109b.
• FIG. 7 illustrates only the wire attachment portions 710a, 710b arranged on the near side as viewed in the plane of paper.
• the hanging wires 712 for liftably holding the suction grille 109b are fixed to the wire attachment portions 710a, 710b through a wire holding mechanism.
• the filter 111 is placed on the surface of the suction grille 109b facing the indoor device 100.
• the lifting/lowering motors 713 and drums 714 are, through a proper mount member, arranged inside the housing 102.
• the lifting/lowering motor 713 turns the drum 714 to lift/lower the suction grille 109b fixed to the other end of the hanging wire 712.
• the lifting/lowering motors 713 lift the suction grille 109b to a position at which the dummy grilles 109a and the suction grille 109b are integrated.
• the lifting/lowering motors 713 are arranged on the right and left sides in the housing 102 in the variation illustrated in Fig. 7 , but the lifting/lowering motor 713 may be arranged on one side in the housing 102 as in, e.g., the configuration of Patent Literature 1. Two of the hanging wires 712 on one side may be driven by one lifting/lowering motor 713, and the other two hanging wires 712 may be driven by another lifting/lowering motor 713 to be driven in synchronization with the one lifting/lowering motor 713. Alternatively, the four hanging wires 712 may be wound or unwound by the single lifting/lowering motor 713, or may be each wound or unwound by the independent lifting/lowering motors 713.
• the lifting/lowering motors 713 are started in response to a command from a remote controller (not shown) for controlling the indoor device 100 to lower the suction grille 109b to a predetermined height so that the operator can access the inside of the housing 102.
• the grille 109 is also formed to extend to near the blow port 108 formed at the decorative panel 107 on four sides thereof, considering the design.
• the grille 109 of the present embodiment increases the apparent area of the grille 109 as a whole, and improves the design.
• the grille 109 is configured separately as the dummy grilles 109a and the suction grille 109b, and therefore, weight reduction and space saving are achieved.
• the design is improved while the operability and workability of the suction grille 109b are improved.
• the dummy grilles 109a may be formed on four sides of the decorative panel 107, and the suction grille 109b may be further decreased in weight.
• a typical manual or electrical latch mechanism for fixing the suction grille 109b to the decorative panel 107 may be formed at the grille 109.
• the ceiling embedded air-conditioner configured so that the grille can be shown large, opening/closing can be facilitated, and the suction grille structure can be decreased in weight regardless of an increase in the area of the grille.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=77490409

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2020
  • 2020-02-27 CN CN202080006588.5A patent/CN113646591B/zh active Active
  • 2020-02-27 EP EP20904233.2A patent/EP4148336B1/en active Active
  • 2020-02-27 WO PCT/JP2020/008105 patent/WO2021171503A1/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2020-02-27 JP JP2021518205A patent/JP7086283B2/ja active Active

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events