EP4184065A1

EP4184065A1 - Indoor unit

Info

Publication number: EP4184065A1
Application number: EP22207446.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shion HISAMATSU; Azusa Kanamori; Keisuke Mitoma; Tomomitsu Yamaguchi; Yuji Mori; Yusuke Doi
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2021-11-18
Filing date: 2022-11-15
Publication date: 2023-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2042-11-15
Also published as: EP4184065C0; ES3022133T3; EP4184065B1; AU2022271410B2; JP2023074839A; AU2022271410A1; JP7738464B2

Abstract

An indoor unit (100) of the present disclosure includes: a casing (1) having a front surface and holder accommodation portions (52) opening on the front surface and recessed so as to slope upward approaching toward a back side of the casing; arm holders (6) which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions from a front side of the casing and which are installed inside of the holder accommodation portions so as to be detachable therefrom; arms (8) which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions from the front side of the casing and each of which a first end is held by the arm holder so that the arm is allowed to turn around an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the casing; and an inlet panel (9) to which a second end of each of the arms is fixed. The range of movement of the arms around the axis is set between a closed position where the inlet panel is disposed in a manner of overlapping the front surface of the casing and openings of the holder accommodation portions are closed by the inlet panel, and an open position where the inlet panel is disposed forward and upward from the front surface of the casing and the front surface of the casing is exposed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an indoor unit.

Description of Related Art

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H7-260193 discloses a panel attachment structure for attaching a panel (inlet panel) to an opening portion of a casing of an indoor unit in a manner of being able to be opened and closed. In this panel attachment structure, a second arm having a rotation center positioned on an outer side of the casing slides with respect to a first arm inside the casing so that the inlet panel provided in the second arm is opened and closed.
Accordingly, exposure of cutout portions (notches) required for movement of arms during opening and closing of an inlet panel to the outside is avoided so that a good appearance of an indoor unit is not impaired when the inlet panel is closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, when an indoor unit is assembled, a technology allowing arms in which an inlet panel is provided to be simply attached to a casing is desired. On the other hand, during maintenance of the indoor unit, a technology allowing the arms to be simply detached from the casing is desired.
That is, indoor units in which arms are easily attached and detached with respect to a casing and a good appearance is not impaired when an inlet panel is closed are desired.
The present disclosure has been made in order to resolve the foregoing problems, and an object thereof is to provide an indoor unit in which arms are easily attached and detached with respect to a casing and a good appearance is not impaired when an inlet panel is closed.
In order to resolve the foregoing problems, an indoor unit according to the present disclosure includes: a casing having a front surface and holder accommodation portions opening on the front surface and recessed so as to slope upward approaching toward a back side of the casing; arm holders which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions from a front side of the casing and which are installed inside of the holder accommodation portions so as to be detachable therefrom; arms which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions from the front side of the casing and each of which a first end is held by the arm holder so that the arm is allowed to turn around an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the casing; and an inlet panel to which a second end of each of the arms is fixed. The range of movement of the arms around the axis is set between a closed position where the inlet panel is disposed in a manner of overlapping the front surface of the casing and openings of the holder accommodation portions are closed by the inlet panel, and an open position where the inlet panel is disposed forward and upward from the front surface of the casing and the front surface of the casing is exposed.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an indoor unit in which arms are easily attached and detached with respect to a casing and a good appearance is not impaired when an inlet panel is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic constitution of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a situation when a holder accommodation portion according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is viewed from a forward side.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view in a direction along line III-III in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an arm holder according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which an arm according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is positioned at a closed position.
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which the arm according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is positioned at an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings.

(Indoor unit)

An indoor unit is an apparatus which is provided indoors and performs indoor-air conditioning through heat exchange between a refrigerant dealing with an outdoor unit provided outdoors and indoor air. An air conditioning apparatus is constituted of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, an indoor unit 100 includes a casing 1, a fan 2, a heat exchanger 3, a Filter part 4, a control unit 5, an arm holder 6, a bolt 7, an arm 8 and an inlet panel 9.

(Casing)

The casing 1 is constituted of a plurality of panels and installed on an indoor wall surface W. The casing 1 forms an outer shell of the indoor unit 100. The casing 1 accommodates various equipment and defines a space for circulating indoor air on an inner side. The casing 1 has a back surface panel 10, a bottom panel 20, a top surface panel 30, a pair of side surface panels 40, a front panel 50, a connection panel 70, and a flap 73.
The back surface panel 10 is a panel fixed to the indoor wall surface W with a mounting plate or the like (not illustrated) therebetween. The back surface panel 10 has a back surface 11 spreading along the wall surface W and facing the wall surface W. In the present embodiment, a direction in which the back surface 11 of the back surface panel 10 faces the wall surface W face each other will be referred to as "an installation direction Di". Therefore, the installation direction Di is a direction perpendicular to the wall surface W.
One side, of both sides in the installation direction Di, in a direction away from the wall surface W will be referred to as "a foreside Dif', and a side opposite thereto will be referred to as "a backside Dib". The back surface 11 has an oblong shape having a direction parallel to the wall surface W, of a horizontal direction when viewed from the foreside Dif (front), as a longitudinal direction.
The bottom panel 20 is connected to a lower edge of the back surface panel 10 and spreading in a direction intersecting the wall surface W. The bottom panel 20 according to the present embodiment spreads in the horizontal direction and is integrally connected to the back surface panel 10 in a manner of standing upright from the back surface panel 10. The bottom panel 20 has a bottom surface 21 spreading in the horizontal direction and facing below. The bottom surface 21 spreads in a direction perpendicular to a spreading direction of the back surface 11.
The top surface panel 30 is a panel connected to an upper edge that is a side opposite to the lower edge of the back surface panel 10 and spreading in a direction intersecting the wall surface W. The top surface panel 30 according to the present embodiment spreads in the horizontal direction and is integrally connected to the back surface panel 10 in a manner of standing upright from the back surface panel 10.
That is, the top surface panel 30 spreads parallel to a spreading direction of the bottom panel 20 on the upward side of the bottom panel 20. The bottom panel 20 and the top surface panel 30 face each other at positions separated from each other.
The top surface panel 30 has a head step 31 spreading in the horizontal direction and directed to the upward side. The head step 31 spreads in a direction perpendicular to the spreading direction of the back surface 11. In the present embodiment, an end edge (side) on the head step 31 on the foreside Dif becomes a top edge 1a of the casing 1. The top edge 1a is positioned on the furthest upward side in the casing 1.
In the present embodiment, a direction in which the bottom panel 20 and the top surface panel 30 face each other will be referred to as "a vertical direction Dv". One side, of both sides in the vertical direction Dv, in a direction directed to the top surface panel 30 from the bottom panel 20 will be simply referred to as "an upside Dvu", and the other side on a side opposite thereto will be simply referred to as "a downside Dvd". Therefore, the vertical direction Dv matches with the direction of gravity.
The bottom surface 21 of the bottom panel 20 according to the present embodiment has an oblong shape having a direction parallel to the wall surface W, of the horizontal direction when viewed from the downside Dvd (below), as the longitudinal direction. The head step 31 of the top surface panel 30 according to the present embodiment has an oblong shape having a direction parallel to the wall surface W, of the horizontal direction when viewed from the upside Dvu (above), as the longitudinal direction.
A plurality of suctioning ports 32 for suctioning indoor air are formed in the top surface panel 30. That is, the top surface panel 30 has the plurality of suctioning ports 32. The plurality of suctioning ports 32 are arranged at equal intervals in the horizontal direction. Each of the suctioning ports 32 penetrates the top surface panel 30 in the vertical direction Dv. Each of the suctioning ports 32 has a rectangular shape (oblong shape) when viewed from the upside Dvu.
The side surface panels 40 is a panel connecting the end edges of the back surface panel 10, the bottom panel 20, and the top surface panel 30 extending in the longitudinal direction to each other. In the present embodiment, a direction that matches with this longitudinal direction will be referred to as "a width direction Dw". Therefore, the width direction Dw is a direction perpendicular to both the installation direction Di and the vertical direction Dv.
The right side, of both sides in the width direction Dw, when the back surface panel 10 is viewed from the foreside Dif such that the top surface panel 30, the back surface panel 10, and the bottom panel 20 are arranged from the upside Dvu will be simply referred to as "one side Dwr", and a side opposite thereto will be simply referred to as "the other side Dwl".
One side surface panel 40 of the pair of side surface panels 40 has a side surface 41 connecting the end edges of the back surface panel 10, the bottom panel 20, and the top surface panel 30 on the one side Dwr to each other and directed to the one side Dwr.
The other side surface panel 40 of the pair of side surface panels 40 has another side surface 41 connecting the end edges of the back surface panel 10, the bottom panel 20, and the top surface panel 30 on the other side Dwl to each other and directed to the other side Dwl.
Therefore, the pair of side surface panels 40 are disposed such that the back surface panel 10, the bottom panel 20, and the top surface panel 30 are sandwiched therebetween in the width direction Dw. Each of the side surfaces 41 spreads in a direction perpendicular to any of the directions in which the back surface 11, the bottom surface 21, and the head step 31 respectively spread.
The front panel 50 is disposed on the foreside Dif of the back surface panel 10 and connects the end edges of the top surface panel 30 and the pair of side surface panels 40 on the foreside Dif to each other. The front panel 50 spreads parallel to a spreading direction of the back surface panel 10. The front panel 50 has a front surface 51 spreading in a direction along the wall surface W and directed to the foreside Dif.
A pair of main openings 53 and a pair of holder accommodation portions 52 are formed in the front panel 50. That is, the front panel 50 has the pair of main openings 53 and the pair of holder accommodation portions 52. The pair of main openings 53 are disposed in a manner of being adjacent to each other in the width direction Dw. Each of the main openings 53 when viewed from the foreside Dif has an oblong shape having the width direction Dw as the longitudinal direction.
The pair of holder accommodation portions 52 are arranged in the width direction Dw. One holder accommodation portion 52 of the pair of holder accommodation portions 52 is disposed on the one side Dwr of the main opening 53, of the pair of main openings 53 adjacent to each other in the width direction Dw, disposed on the one side Dwr.
The other holder accommodation portion 52 of the pair of holder accommodation portions 52 is disposed on the other side Dwl of the main opening 53, of the pair of main openings 53 adjacent to each other in the width direction Dw, disposed on the other side Dwl. The detailed constitution of the holder accommodation portions 52 will be described below.
The connection panel 70 is a panel disposed on the downside Dvd of the front panel 50 and connecting the end edges of the bottom panel 20 and the pair of side surface panels 40 on the foreside Dif and the end edge of the front panel 50 on the downside Dvd to each other.
The connection panel 70 has a connection surface 71 having a curved surface directed to the foreside Dif as it goes toward the end edge of the front panel 50 on the downside Dvd from the end edge of the bottom panel 20 on the foreside Dif.
A discharge port 72 for discharging air which has been suctioned through the suctioning ports 32 of the top surface panel 30 is formed in the connection panel 70. That is, the connection panel 70 has the discharge port 72. The discharge port 72 when viewed from the foreside Dif or the downside Dvd is formed to have a rectangular shape (oblong shape) having the width direction Dw as the longitudinal direction. The discharge port 72 according to the present embodiment spreads along the curve of the connection surface 71.
The flap 73 is provided in the discharge port 72 of the connection panel 70 and changes a direction of air discharged through the discharge port 72. The flap 73 can shift between a state of covering the discharge port 72 from the foreside Dif and a state of not covering the discharge port 72.
For example, the flap 73 is provided in the connection panel 70 and supported by a turning shaft (not illustrated) about a turning axis (not illustrated) extending in the width direction Dw in a manner of being able to turn around the turning axis. For example, a turning amount of the flap 73 is controlled on the basis of an input signal input from the outside.
As described above, a space for accommodating various equipment and circulating indoor air is formed by each of the elements constituting the casing 1. For the sake of convenience of description, in the present embodiment, this space will be referred to as "an accommodation space R".

(Fan)

The fan 2 is a cross-flow fan which can introduce indoor air into the casing 1. The fan 2 extends in the width direction Dw inside the accommodation space R. The fan 2 is held by the back surface panel 10 about a rotation shaft (not illustrated) extending in the width direction Dw in a manner of being able to rotate around the rotation shaft.
The fan 2 rotates inside the accommodation space R so as to suction air through the suctioning ports 32 of the top surface panel 30 and discharge suctioned air through the discharge port 72 of the bottom panel 20. For example, a rotation frequency of the fan 2 is controlled on the basis of an input signal input from the outside.

(Heat exchanger)

The heat exchanger 3 performs heat exchange between air introduced into the accommodation space R by the fan 2 and a refrigerant. That is, the heat exchanger 3 cools or warms air introduced into the accommodation space R. The heat exchanger 3 is constituted of a heat transfer pipe in which the refrigerant circulates, a plurality of fins through which this heat transfer pipe is inserted in the width direction Dw, and the like. For example, the heat exchanger 3 is provided in a manner of surrounding the fan 2 from the upside Dvu inside the accommodation space R.

(Filter part)

The filter part 4 filters impurities such as dust included in air suctioned through the suctioning ports 32 of the top surface panel 30. The filter part 4 is disposed on the upside Dvu of the heat exchanger 3 inside the accommodation space R. That is, the filter part 4 is disposed between the casing 1 and the heat exchanger 3. Therefore, the filter part 4 supplies air from which impurities such as dust have been eliminated to the heat exchanger 3.

(Control unit)

The control unit 5 is a device for controlling the turning amount of the flap 73, rotation of the fan 2, and the like. The control unit 5 is connected to the flap 73 and the fan 2 by wire or radio. The control unit 5 is provided inside the accommodation space R and disposed on the one side Dwr of the fan 2, the heat exchanger 3, and the filter part 4.
For example, when the indoor unit 100 includes a sensor (not illustrated) provided in the casing 1, the control unit 5 generates an input signal on the basis of detected information acquired by the sensor. The control unit 5 transmits a generated input signal to the flap 73 or the fan 2.
Here, a constitution of the pair of holder accommodation portions 52 provided in the front panel 50 will be described. When the front panel 50 is viewed from the foreside Dif, the pair of holder accommodation portions 52 are disposed with a relationship of bilateral symmetry therebetween.
Hereinafter, the holder accommodation portion 52, of the pair of holder accommodation portions 52 provided in the front panel 50, disposed on the one side Dwr will be described. Description of the holder accommodation portion 52 disposed on the other side Dwl will be omitted.

(Holder accommodation portion)

The holder accommodation portion 52 is a recessed part opening on the front surface 51 of the front panel 50 and recessed toward the upside Dvu approaching toward the backside Dib. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the holder accommodation portion 52 has a holder support portion 520, a first engagement portion 521, and a side wall portion 524.
The holder accommodation portion 52 includes an opening 50a on the front surface 51. The opening 50a according to the present embodiment has a rectangular shape (oblong shape) when viewed from the foreside Dif. The longitudinal direction of the opening 50a matches with the vertical direction Dv.

(Holder support portion)

The holder support portion 520 extends to the upside Dvu as it goes toward the backside Dib from the end edge of the opening 50a on the downside Dvd. The holder support portion 520 has a base end surface 520a, a fastening surface 520b, an upper surface 520c, and a support surface 520d. The base end surface 520a is a surface connected to the end edge of the opening 50a on the front surface 51 on the downside Dvd and inclined in a manner of being directed to the upside Dvu with respect to the front surface 51.
The fastening surface 520b is a surface connected to the end edge on the base end surface 520a on the backside Dib and spreading in a manner of rising toward the upside Dvu from the end edge. Therefore, the fastening surface 520b is directed to the foreside Dif.
A fastening hole 520e opening on the fastening surface 520b and recessed toward the backside Dib from this fastening surface 520b is formed in the holder support portion 520. The fastening hole 520e has a screw thread allowing the bolt 7 to be fastened thereto.
The upper surface 520c is a surface connected to the end edge on the fastening surface 520b on the upside Dvu and spreads in the horizontal direction from the end edge. The support surface 520d is a surface connected to the end edge on the upper surface 520c on the backside Dib and inclined in a manner of being directed to the foreside Dif with respect to the upper surface 520c. The support surface 520d according to the present embodiment is formed to be inclined, for example by 40° to 50°, with respect to a virtual horizontal plane (spreading direction of the upper surface 520c).

(First engagement portion)

The first engagement portion 521 extends toward the upside Dvu from the end edge of the holder support portion 520 on the backside Dib. The first engagement portion 521 according to the present embodiment is formed of a material having flexibility. The first engagement portion 521 has a first base portion 522 and a first claw portion 523. The first base portion 522 is a member having a flat plate shape extending upward from the end edge of the holder support portion 520 on the backside Dib.
Therefore, the first base portion 522 extends in a direction intersecting a spreading direction of the support surface 520d above the support surface 520d. The first base portion 522 has a forward surface 522a connected to the end edge on the support surface 520d on the backside Dib and spreading in a manner of rising toward the upside Dvu from the end edge. The forward surface 522a is directed to the foreside Dif and connected to the support surface 520d.
The first claw portion 523 is a member having a flat plate shape extending to the foreside Dif as it goes toward the upside Dvu from the end edge of the first base portion 522 on the upside Dvu. Therefore, the first claw portion 523 extends in a direction intersecting the spreading direction of the support surface 520d above the support surface 520d.
The first claw portion 523 according to the present embodiment has a first surface 523a spreading in a direction perpendicular to the spreading direction of the support surface 520d and connected to the forward surface 522a, and a restraint surface 523b directed to a side opposite to the first surface 523a.

(Side wall portion)

The side wall portion 524 spreads in a manner of connecting the end edge of the opening 50a on the other side Dwl, the holder support portion 520, and the first engagement portion 521 to each other. The side wall portion is formed of a material having flexibility.
The side wall portion 524 has a side wall surface 524a spreading in a direction perpendicular to the width direction Dw and directed to the one side Dwr on the other side Dwl of the holder support portion 520 and the first engagement portion 521.

(Arm holder)

The arm holder 6 is a member inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 from a front side of the casing 1 and installed inside of the holder accommodation portion 52 so as to be detachable therefrom. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the arm holder 6 has a holding portion 60, a second engagement portion 61, and a fixed portion 62.

(Holding portion)

The holding portion 60 has a main body portion 600 and an arm insertion portion 601 formed in the main body portion 600. The main body portion 600 is a member placed on the support surface 520d when being inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52, and the main body portion 600 corresponds to a main body part in the arm holder 6.
Here, a direction in which the main body portion 600 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 will be referred to as "an insertion direction Ds". The insertion direction Ds is a direction that matches with a direction in which the holder support portion 520 extends. One side, of both sides in the insertion direction Ds, in a direction away from the front surface 51 will be referred to as "a back side Dsb", and a side opposite thereto will be referred to as "a forward side Dsf'.
The main body portion 600 has a first holder surface 600a directed to the one side Dwr, a second holder surface 600b directed to the other side Dwl that is a side opposite to the first holder surface 600a, and a third holder surface 600c connecting the first holder surface 600a and the second holder surface 600b to each other and directed to the forward side Dsf. When the main body portion 600 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52, the second holder surface 600b faces the side wall surface 524a of the side wall portion 524 and comes into contact therewith.
Hereinafter, a constitution of each of the elements (the arm insertion portion 601 of the holding portion 60, the second engagement portion 61, and the fixed portion 62) provided in the arm holder 6 when the holding portion 60 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 and the main body portion 600 is placed on the support surface 520d will be described.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the arm insertion portion 601 is a groove formed to be recessed toward the other side Dwl from the first holder surface 600a of the main body portion 600. The arm insertion portion 601 guides and turnably holds the arm 8 (refer to FIG. 1) inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 from the foreside Dif. The arm insertion portion 601 has a guide portion 602 and a bearing portion 603.
The guide portion 602 guides the arm 8 inserted from the forward side Dsf to the back side Dsb. The guide portion 602 has a first guide surface 602a, a second guide surface 602b, and a first abutment surface 602c.
The first guide surface 602a is a surface extending in a direction away from the front surface 51 and facing the support surface 520d of the holder support portion 520. The second guide surface 602b is a surface extending along the first guide surface 602a and facing the first guide surface 602a.
The first abutment surface 602c is a surface connecting the first guide surface 602a and the second guide surface 602b to each other and directed to the one side Dwr on the other side Dwl of the first guide surface 602a and the second guide surface 602b.
The end edges of the first guide surface 602a, the second guide surface 602b, and the first abutment surface 602c on the forward side Dsf lead to the third holder surface 600c in the main body portion 600. Therefore, the guide portion 602 serving as a groove opens on the third holder surface 600c.
The bearing portion 603 is connected to the respective end edges of the first guide surface 602a, the second guide surface 602b, and the first abutment surface 602c on the back side Dsb from the backside Dib and holds the arm 8 guided by the guide portion 602. The bearing portion 603 has a bearing surface 603c, a first connection surface 603a, a second connection surface 603b, and a second abutment surface 603d.
The bearing surface 603c is an inner circumferential surface of a half-cylinder recessed toward the backside Dib when viewed from the one side Dwr. The first connection surface 603a is a surface connecting the first guide surface 602a and the bearing surface 603c to each other and directed to the downside Dvd. The second connection surface 603b is a surface connecting the second guide surface 602b and the bearing surface 603c to each other and directed to the upside Dvu.
The second abutment surface 603d is a surface connecting the first connection surface 603a, the second connection surface 603b, and the bearing surface 603c to each other and directed to the one side Dwr on the other side Dwl of the first guide surface 602a, the second guide surface 602b, and the bearing surface 603c.
Therefore, an inner surface of the arm insertion portion 601 serving as a groove is constituted of the first guide surface 602a, the second guide surface 602b, and the first abutment surface 602c of the guide portion 602, and the bearing surface 603c, the first connection surface 603a, the second connection surface 603b, and the second abutment surface 603d of the bearing portion 603. The bearing portion 603 according to the present embodiment is positioned on the upside Dvu of the opening 50a of the holder accommodation portion 52.

(Second engagement portion)

The second engagement portion 61 is a member integrally formed on the main body portion 600 of the holding portion 60 so as to be protruded therefrom toward the back side Dsb from the main body portion 600 of the holding portion 60 and able to be interlocked with the first engagement portion 521. The second engagement portion 61 has a second base portion 610 and a second claw portion 611.
The second base portion 610 is a member having a flat plate shape extending toward the back side Dsb from the main body portion 600. The second base portion 610 has a facing surface 610a facing the support surface 520d. The facing surface 610a spreads parallel to the spreading direction of the support surface 520d.
The second claw portion 611 is a member having a flat plate shape extending to the backside Dib as it goes toward the downside Dvd from the end edge of the second base portion 610 on the back side Dsb. The second claw portion 611 according to the present embodiment has a reception surface 611b spreading in a direction perpendicular to a spreading direction of the facing surface 610a and connected to the facing surface 610a, and a second surface 611a directed to a side opposite to the reception surface 611b.
Therefore, the reception surface 611b and the second surface 611a of the second claw portion 611 spread parallel to spreading directions of the first surface 523a and the restraint surface 523b of the first claw portion 523 in the first engagement portion 521. The reception surface 611b and the second surface 611a of the second claw portion 611 are disposed at positions overlapping the first surface 523a and the restraint surface 523b when viewed in the insertion direction Ds.
Here, a form related to involvement between the first engagement portion 521 and the second engagement portion 61 when the main body portion 600 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 will be described. When the main body portion 600 is inserted toward the back side Dsb in the holder accommodation portion 52, the second surface 611a of the second claw portion 611 comes into contact with the first surface 523a of the first claw portion 523.
When the main body portion 600 is further inserted toward the back side Dsb from a position where the first surface 523a and the second surface 611a come into contact with each other, the first surface 523a of the first claw portion 523 receives a pressure from the second surface 611a of the second claw portion 611. At this time, since the first engagement portion 521 has flexibility, the first claw portion 523 and the first base portion 522 connected to the first claw portion 523 are bent toward the back side Dsb.
Due to bending of the first claw portion 523 and the first base portion 522 toward the back side Dsb, the second surface 611a of the second claw portion 611 can go over the end edge on the first surface 523a of the first claw portion 523 and moves to the back side Dsb beyond the restraint surface 523b of the first claw portion 523. That is, the second claw portion 611 goes over the first claw portion 523 from the forward side Dsf toward the back side Dsb.
Since the first engagement portion 521 has flexibility, at the same time as the second claw portion 611 goes over the first claw portion 523, bending of the first claw portion 523 and the first base portion 522 toward the back side Dsb is released, and the first claw portion 523 and the first base portion 522 return to original positions.
When the first claw portion 523 and the first base portion 522 return to the original positions and insertion of the main body portion 600 to the back side Dsb ends, the restraint surface 523b of the first claw portion 523 and the reception surface 611b of the second claw portion 611 face each other in the insertion direction Ds and come into contact with each other.
At this time, due to a dead weight of the main body portion 600, a tensile force is applied to the second engagement portion 61 (the second claw portion 611 and the second base portion 610) toward the forward side Dsf, but the reception surface 611b of the second claw portion 611 is pressed by the restraint surface 523b of the first claw portion 523 so as to receive a force toward the back side Dsb from this restraint surface 523b.
Due to a balance between a force applied to the restraint surface 523b from the reception surface 611b on the basis of the dead weight of the main body portion 600 and a force applied to the reception surface 611b from the restraint surface 523b on the basis of a material constituting the first engagement portion 521 having flexibility, the main body portion 600 stands still on the support surface 520d. Through a series of the foregoing operation, engagement between the first engagement portion 521 and the second engagement portion 61 is completed.

(Fixed portion)

The fixed portion 62 is a member integrally formed on the main body portion 600 and fixed to the holder support portion 520. The fixed portion 62 itself is fixed to the holder support portion 520 so that the main body portion 600 is subjected to positioning on the support surface 520d.
The fixed portion 62 has a fixed surface 62a extending from the main body portion 600 toward the forward side Dsf and being flush with the front surface 51 on the inner side of the opening 50a. A recessed groove 62b opening on the fixed surface 62a and recessed toward the backside Dib from this fixed surface 62a is formed in the fixed portion 62.
Further, a fixed portion fastening hole 62d opening on a groove bottom surface 62c of this recessed groove 62b and penetrating the fixed portion 62 toward the backside Dib from this groove bottom surface 62c is formed in the fixed portion 62. The fixed portion fastening hole 62d has a screw thread allowing the bolt 7 to be fastened thereto.
That is, the fixed portion 62 according to the present embodiment is subjected to spot-facing treatment such that a head portion of the bolt 7 does not protrude to the foreside Dif beyond the fixed surface 62a. This fixed portion fastening hole 62d provided in the fixed portion 62 is formed to have the same measurement as the fastening hole 520e provided in the holder support portion 520, is disposed from the foreside Dif with respect to this fastening hole 520e, and overlaps the fastening hole 520e in a manner of being connected thereto in the installation direction Di.
Due to the bolt 7 fastened to the fixed portion fastening hole 62d and the fastening hole 520e connected to each other from the foreside Dif, the fixed portion 62 is fixed to the holder support portion 520. That is, the bolt 7 is attached to the holder support portion 520 from the foreside Dif so that the fixed portion 62 is fixed to the holder support portion 520. In other words, since the bolt 7 is attached to the casing 1 from the foreside Dif, the arm holder 6 is fixed to the casing 1.

(Arm)

The arm 8 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 from the front side of the casing 1, and one end thereof is held by the arm holder 6 so that the arm 8 is allowed to turn around an axis O extending in the width direction Dw which is a longitudinal direction of the casing 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the arm 8 has a shaft portion 81 and an arm main body 80.

(Shaft portion)

The shaft portion 81 is a member having a columnar shape extending in the width direction Dw and having an outer circumferential surface 81a and a pair of end surfaces 81b. The shaft portion 81 extends in the width direction Dw in a state in which the arm 8 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52. That is, the end surface 81b, of the pair of end surfaces 81b arranged in the width direction Dw, on the one side Dwr is directed to the one side Dwr, and the end surface 81b, of the pair of end surfaces 81b, on the other side Dwl is directed to the other side Dwl.
The shaft portion 81 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 in a state of extending in the width direction Dw and then is inserted into the arm insertion portion 601 of the holding portion 60 in the arm holder 6. In the present embodiment, for the sake of convenience of description, a part bisecting the shaft portion 81 in the width direction Dw and positioned on the other side Dwl will be referred to as "an insertion portion 82", and a part positioned on the one side Dwr will be referred to as "a non-insertion portion 83". Therefore, only the insertion portion 82 of the shaft portion 81 is inserted into the arm insertion portion 601 from the front surface 51 side.
The shaft portion 81 which has been inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 from the front surface 51 side is held by the bearing portion 603 of the arm insertion portion 601 in a manner of being able to turn around the axis O. The axis O according to the present embodiment matches with a centerline of the bearing surface 603c (a centerline of the cylinder) serving as an inner circumferential surface of a half-cylinder in the bearing portion 603.
Here, a form when the shaft portion 81 is inserted into the arm insertion portion 601 will be described. When the insertion portion 82 in the shaft portion 81 is inserted between the first guide surface 602a and the second guide surface 602b of the guide portion 602 in the arm insertion portion 601, the outer circumferential surface 81a of the insertion portion 82 comes into contact with the first guide surface 602a or the second guide surface 602b. The end surface 81b directed to the other side Dwl of the insertion portion 82 abuts the first abutment surface 602c.
When a force causing the shaft portion 81 to be directed to the upside Dvu or the backside Dib is applied, while the outer circumferential surface 81a of the insertion portion 82 comes into sliding contact with the first guide surface 602a or the second guide surface 602b and the end surface 81b directed to the other side Dwl comes into sliding contact with the first abutment surface 602c, the shaft portion 81 in its entirety is guided in a direction in which the first guide surface 602a and the second guide surface 602b extend, that is, to the backward side Dsb.
The outer circumferential surface 81a of the insertion portion 82 after being guided to the backward side Dsb by the guide portion 602 comes into sliding contact with the first connection surface 603a or the second connection surface 603b of the bearing portion 603, and the end surface 81b directed to the other side Dwl is guided to the backside Dib by the first connection surface 603a and the second connection surface 603b while coming into sliding contact with the second abutment surface 603d.
Therefore, the shaft portion 81 in its entirety guided to the backward side Dsb by the guide portion 602 is guided to the following bearing surface 603c positioned on the backside Dib of the first connection surface 603a and the second connection surface 603b by the first connection surface 603a and the second connection surface 603b of the bearing portion 603. When the insertion portion 82 is guided to a position where it comes into contact with the bearing surface 603c, the shaft portion 81 in its entirety is held by this bearing surface 603c in a manner of being able to turn around the axis O.

(Arm main body)

The arm main body 80 is a member connected to the shaft portion 81 and turning about the axis O in response to turning of the shaft portion 81. Specifically, one end of the arm main body 80 is fixed to the non-insertion portion 83 in the shaft portion 81. That is, the arm main body 80 integrally turns around the axis O with the shaft portion 81.
The arm main body 80 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 when the shaft portion 81 is at a position about the axis O. The arm main body 80 has a U-shape inclined to the foreside Dif when viewed from the one side Dwr. The shaft portion 81 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52 together with this arm main body 80 in a state in which the arm main body 80 is fixed. Therefore, the shaft portion 81 and the arm main body 80 are not separately inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52.

(Inlet panel)

The inlet panel 9 is a panel capable of shifting between a state of covering the front surface 51 of the front panel 50 from the foreside Dif and a state of not covering the front surface 51 in response to turning of the arms 8 around the axis O. The inlet panel 9 is connected to the other end of each of the arm main bodies 80.
The inlet panel 9 covers the front surface 51 of the front panel 50 from the foreside Dif so as to close the main openings 53 opening on the front surface 51, and the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52.
Here, a form of the inlet panel 9 when the arms 8 turn will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 5, before the arms 8 turn, the inlet panel 9 connected to the other end of each of the arms 8 is disposed in a manner of overlapping the front surface 51 of the front panel 50 at a position covering the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52.
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the arms 8 turn around the axis O, the inlet panel 9 connected to the other end of each of the arms 8 moves to the foreside Dif and the upside Dvu from the position covering the openings 50a and shifts to the position where the front surface 51 is opened. In the present embodiment, the former position (FIG. 5) will be referred to as "a closed position", and the latter position (FIG. 6) will be referred to as "an open position".
In the present embodiment, the end edge of the inlet panel 9 on the upside Dvu becomes a top edge 9a. The top edge 9a of the inlet panel 9 is positioned below the top edge 1a of the casing 1 when the inlet panel 9 is positioned at the closed position.

(Operational effects)

According to the indoor unit 100 of the embodiment, the casing 1 opens on the front surface 51, and the holder accommodation portions 52 recessed toward the upside Dvu as they go toward the backside Dib are provided. Further, the arm holders 6 respectively inserted into the holder accommodation portions 52 are fixed to the insides of the holder accommodation portions 52 in an attachable/detachable manner.
Further, the arms 8 turnably held by the arm holders 6 turn in a manner of being able to move between the closed position where the front surface 51 is covered such that the inlet panel 9 covers the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 and the open position where the inlet panel 9 has moved forward and upward from the closed position and the front surface 51 has opened.
Accordingly, when the inlet panel 9 is positioned at the open position, for example, compared to a constitution having the holder accommodation portions 52 simply recessed to be directed to the backside Dib, the arms 8 extending from the arm holders 6 to the inlet panel 9 can be positioned farther to the downside Dvd. That is, the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 can be positioned farther to the downside Dvd.
In other words, it is possible to curb a situation in which the openings 50a on the front surface 51 are positioned on the upside Dvu. Therefore, when the inlet panel 9 is positioned at the closed position where the front surface 51 side is covered, the inlet panel 9 can completely cover the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 from the front side. Namely, a good appearance when the inlet panel 9 is closed is not impaired.
In addition, since the arm holders 6 are attached and detached inside the holder accommodation portions 52, the arms 8 held by these arm holders 6 and the inlet panel 9 fixed to these arms 8 can be attached and detached with respect to the casing 1 at the same time. Therefore, the arms 8 are easily attached and detached with respect to the casing 1.
In addition, according to the indoor unit 100 of the embodiment, when the inlet panel 9 is positioned at the closed position, the top edge 9a of the inlet panel 9 is positioned below the top edge 1a of the casing 1.
That is, since the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 can be positioned farther to the downside Dvd, the measurement of the inlet panel 9 in the vertical direction Dv can be reduced and the inlet panel 9 can cover the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 from the front side. Therefore, the inlet panel 9 can be made compact and reduced in weight.
In addition, according to the indoor unit 100 of the embodiment, the arm holders 6 can be fixed to the casing 1 using simple members such as bolts 7. Therefore, it is possible to curb increase in costs and man□hour related to manufacturing of the indoor unit 100.
In addition, according to the indoor unit 100 of the embodiment, in a condition where the holding portions 60 of the arm holders 6 are inserted into the holder accommodation portions 52, the second engagement portions 61 of the holder accommodation portions 52 are engaged with the first engagement portions 521 of the arm holders 6. Accordingly, since the holding portions 60 stand still on the support surfaces 520d, work of fixing the fixed portions 62 to the holder support portions 520 using the bolts 7 becomes easy.
In addition, according to the indoor unit 100 of the embodiment, the holding portions 60 in the arm holders 6 respectively have the guide portions 602 guiding the shaft portions 81 of the arms 8 which have been inserted into the holder accommodation portions 52 to the bearing portions 603. Therefore, the arms 8 fixed to the insides of the holder accommodation portions 52 can be simply attached to the arm holders 6.
In addition, according to the indoor unit 100 of the embodiment, the bearing portions 603 are positioned on the upside Dvu of the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52. That is, the shaft portions 81 of the arms 8 can be rotatably held by the arm holders 6 on the upside Dvu of the openings 50a. Accordingly, a structure which is difficult to be directly formed in the casing 1 can be realized by the arm holders 6.

Hereinabove, an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, specific constitutions are not limited to the constitutions of the embodiment, and addition, omission, replacement, and other changes of the constitutions can be made within a range not departing from the gist of the present disclosure. In addition, the present disclosure is not limited by the embodiment and is limited by only the claims.
In the embodiment, a constitution in which the first engagement portion 521 is formed of a material having flexibility has been described, but it is not limited to this constitution. For example, the first engagement portion 521 may not be formed of a material having flexibility, and the second engagement portion 61, in place of the first engagement portion 521, may be formed of a material having flexibility. In addition, both the first engagement portion 521 and the second engagement portion 61 may be formed of a material having flexibility.

The indoor unit according to the embodiment is ascertained as follows, for example.

(1) The indoor unit 100 according to a first aspect includes: the casing 1 having the front surface 51 and the holder accommodation portions 52 opening on the front surface 51 and recessed so as to slope upward approaching toward a back side of the casing; the arm holders 6 which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions 52 from the front side of the casing 1 and which are installed inside of the holder accommodation portions 52 so as to be detachable therefrom; the arms 8 which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions 52 from the front side of the casing 1 and each of which a first end is held by the arm holder 6 so that the arm is allowed to turn around the axis O extending in the longitudinal direction Dw of the casing 1; and the inlet panel 9 to which a second end of each of the arms 8 is fixed. The range of movement of the arms 8 around the axis O is set between the closed position where the inlet panel 9 is disposed in a manner of overlapping the front surface 51 of the casing 1 and the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 are closed by the inlet panel 9, and the open position where the inlet panel 9 is disposed forward and upward from the front surface 51 of the casing 1 and the front surface 51 of the casing 1 are exposed.

Accordingly, in a state where the inlet panel 9 is placed at the open position, the arms 8 extending from the arm holders 6 to the inlet panel 9 can be positioned at the downside Dvd of the inlet panel 9 in the vertical direction Dv. That is, the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 can be positioned at the downside Dvd of the inlet panel 9. Since the arm holders 6 can be installed to inside the holder accommodation portions 52 and detached from the holder accommodation portions 52 when necessary, the arms 8 held by these arm holders 6 and the inlet panel 9 fixed to these arms 8 can be installed on the casing 1 and detached therefrom at the same time.
(2) The indoor unit 100 according to a second aspect is the indoor unit 100 according to the first aspect, in which the top edge 9a of the inlet panel 9 may be positioned below the head step 1a of the casing 1 in the condition where the inlet panel 9 is positioned at the closed position.
Accordingly, the width of the inlet panel 9 in the vertical direction Dv can be reduced and the openings 50a of the holder accommodation portions 52 can be covered by the inlet panel 9 from the front side of the casing 1.
(3) The indoor unit 100 according to a third aspect is the indoor unit 100 according to the first or second aspect, which may further include the bolts 7 each fastened to the casing 1 from the front side thereof to fix the arm holders 6 to the casing 1.
Accordingly, the arm holders 6 can be fixed to the casing 1 using the bolts 7 as simple fastening members.
(4) The indoor unit 100 according to a fourth aspect is the indoor unit 100 according to the third aspect, in which the holder accommodation portions 52 each may include: the holder support portion 520 having the support surface 520d supporting the arm holder 6 from below thereof; and the first engagement portion 521 which is flexible and extending upward from the support surface in the direction intersecting the support surface. The arm holders 6 each may include: the holding portion 60 which is placed on the support surface 520d and holding the arm 8 so as to allow to be turned around the axis O; the second engagement portion 61 which is integrally formed on the holding portion 60 so as to be protruded therefrom and which is engaged with the first engagement portion 521 in the condition where the holding portion 60 is inserted into the holder accommodation portion 52; and the fixed portion 62 which is integrally formed on the holding portion 60 so as to be protruded therefrom and which is installed on the holder support portion 520 by fastening the bolt 7 to the casing 1.
Accordingly, since the holding portions 60 stand still on the support surfaces 520d, the fixed portions 62 can be easily fixed to the holder support portions 520 using the bolts 7.
(5) The indoor unit 100 according to a fifth aspect is the indoor unit 100 according to the fourth aspect, in which the arms 8 each may include: the arm main body 80 to which the inlet panel 9 is fixed; and the shaft portion 81 which is formed on the arm main body 80 so as to set the axis O on a center of the shaft portion 81 and which allows to turn the arm main body 80 around the axis O. The holding portions 60 each may include the main body portion 600 and the arm insertion portion 601 which is formed in the main body portion 600. The arm insertion portions 601 each may include: the guide portion 602 which is formed to guide the shaft portion 81 in a direction away from the front surface 51 while inserting the arm 8 to the holder accommodation portion 52; and the bearing portion 603 holding the shaft portion 81 guided by the guide portion 602 to the bearing portion 603 so as to allow the arm main body 80 to turn around the axis O.
Accordingly, the arms 8 fixed to the insides of the holder accommodation portions 52 can be easily attached to the arm holders 6.
(6) The indoor unit 100 according to a sixth aspect is the indoor unit 100 according to (5), in which the bearing portion 603 may be positioned above the opening 50a of the holder accommodation portion 52.
Accordingly, a structure having a formation which is difficult to mold as one-piece in the casing 1 can be realized using the arm holders 6.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

1 Casing

1a, 9a Top edge
2 Fan
3 Heat exchanger
4 Filter part
5 Control unit
6 Arm holder
7 Bolt
8 Arm
9 Inlet panel
10 Back surface panel
11 Back surface
20 Bottom panel
21 Bottom surface
30 Top surface panel
31 Top surface
32 Suctioning ports
40 Side surface panel
41 Side surface
50 Front panel
50a Opening
51 Front surface
52 Holder accommodation portion
53 Main openings
60 Holding portion
61 Second engagement portion
62 Fixed portion
62a Fixed surface
62b Recessed groove
62c Groove bottom surface
62d Fixed portion fastening hole
70 Connection panel
71 Connection surface
72 Discharge port
73 Flap
80 Arm main body
81 Shaft portion
81a Outer circumferential surface
81b End surface
82 Insertion portion
83 Non-insertion portion
100 Indoor unit
520 Holder support portion
520a Base end surface
520b Fastening surface
520c Upper surface
520d Support surface
520e Fastening hole
521 First engagement portion
522 First base portion
522a Forward surface
523 First claw portion
523a First surface
523b Restraint surface
524 Side wall portion
524a Side wall surface
600 Main body portion
600a First holder surface
600b Second holder surface
600c Third holder surface
601 Arm insertion portion
602 Guide portion
602a First guide surface
602b Second guide surface
602c First abutment surface
603 Bearing portion
603a First connection surface
603b Second connection surface
603c Bearing surface
603d Second abutment surface
610 Second base portion
610a Facing surface
611 Second claw portion
611a Second surface
611b Reception surface
Di Installation direction
Dif Forward side
Dib Backward side
Ds Insertion direction
Dsf Forward side
Dsb Backward side
Dv Vertical direction
Dvu Upside
Dvd Downside
Dw Width direction Dwr One side
Dwl The other side
O Axis
R Accommodation space
W Wall surface

Claims

An indoor unit (100) comprising:
a casing (1) having a front surface and holder accommodation portions (52) opening on the front surface and recessed so as to slope upward approaching toward a back side of the casing;

arm holders (6) which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions from a front side of the casing and which are installed inside of the holder accommodation portions so as to be detachable therefrom;

arms (8) which are inserted into the holder accommodation portions from the front side of the casing and each of which a first end is held by the arm holder so that the arm is allowed to turn around an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the casing; and

an inlet panel (9) to which a second end of each of the arms is fixed,

wherein the range of movement of the arms around the axis is set between a closed position where the inlet panel is disposed in a manner of overlapping the front surface of the casing and openings of the holder accommodation portions are closed by the inlet panel, and an open position where the inlet panel is disposed forward and upward from the front surface of the casing and the front surface of the casing is exposed.
The indoor unit (100) according to claim 1,
wherein a top edge of the inlet panel (9) is positioned below a head step of the casing (1) in a condition where the inlet panel is positioned at the closed position.
The indoor unit (100) according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising:
bolts (7) each fastened to the casing (1) from the front side thereof to fix the arm holder (6) to the casing.
The indoor unit (100) according to claim 3,
wherein the holder accommodation portions (52) each include:
a holder support portion (520) having a support surface supporting the arm holder (6) from below thereof; and

a first engagement portion (521) which is flexible and extending upward from the support surface in a direction intersecting the support surface, and

wherein the arm holders each include:
a holding portion (60) which is placed on the support surface and holding the arm (8) so as to allow to be turned around the axis;

a second engagement portion (61) which is integrally formed on the holding portion so as to be protruded therefrom and which is engaged with the first engagement portion in a condition where the holding portion is inserted into the holder accommodation portion; and

a fixed portion (62) which is integrally formed on the holding portion so as to be protruded therefrom and which is installed on the holder support portion by fastening the bolt (7) to the casing (1).
The indoor unit (100) according to claim 4,
wherein the arms (8) each include:
an arm main body (80) to which the inlet panel (9) is fixed; and

a shaft portion (81) which is formed on the arm main body so as to set the axis on a center of the shaft portion and which allows to turn the arm main body around the axis,

wherein the holding portions (60) each include:
a main body portion (600); and

an arm insertion portion (601) which is formed in the main body portion, and

wherein the arm insertion portions each include:
a guide portion (602) which is formed to guide the shaft portion in a direction away from the front surface while inserting the arm to the holder accommodation portion (52); and

a bearing portion (603) holding the shaft portion guided by the guide portion to the bearing portion so as to allow the arm main body to be turned around the axis.
The indoor unit (100) according to claim 5,
wherein the bearing portion (603) is positioned above the opening of the holder accommodation portion (52).