FR3074882A1 - AIR CONDITIONER - Google Patents

Abstract

An air conditioner that cleans a device including an indoor fan. The air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger (15), an indoor fan (16), one of a dew-receiving tray (18) and a dust container is arranged under the indoor heat exchanger (15), a fan cleaner (24) which is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger (15) and the indoor fan (16) for cleaning the indoor fan (16), wherein at least one of the indoor heat exchanger ( 15) and the dew-receiving tray (18) is located under the fan cleaner (24), or at least one of the indoor heat exchanger (15) and the dust container is located under the fan cleaner (24).

Description

AIR CONDITIONER

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

RELATED ART [0002] As a technique for cleaning an indoor fan (fan) of an air conditioner, patent document 1, for example, discloses "a fan cleaning device for removing dust adhering to a fan" . In addition, Figure 1 in the patent document 1 illustrates a fan cleaning device arranged around a discharge of an indoor fan.

DOCUMENTS OF THE PRIOR ART

Patent documents Patent document 1: publication of Japanese patent application No. 2007071 210.

Problems to be solved [0004] In the technique described in patent document 1, the fan cleaning device is arranged around the discharge of the indoor fan, as described above. As a result, the dust scraped on the indoor fan by the fan cleaner can be blown into the space to be air conditioned during the subsequent air conditioning operation. A technique for cleaning components such as an interior fan is desired, the components including an interior heat exchanger, while further improving the comfort of air conditioning, but such a technique is not described in patent document 1.

S65573 CM-P [0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an air conditioner which cleans components including an indoor fan.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

Solution to the problems In order to solve the problems identified above, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes:

an indoor heat exchanger;

an indoor fan;

one of a dew receiving tray which is arranged below the indoor heat exchanger, and a dust container which is arranged under the indoor heat exchanger;

a fan cleaner which is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger and the indoor fan for cleaning the indoor fan;

wherein at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the dew receiving tray is located under the fan cleaner, or at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the dust container is located under the fan cleaner.

A first alternative of an air conditioner according to the present invention includes: an indoor heat exchanger; an indoor fan; a dew receiving tray which is arranged under the indoor heat exchanger; and a fan cleaner which is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger and the indoor fan for cleaning the indoor fan, in which at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the dew receiving tray is located under the cleaner fan.

S65573 CM-P

A second alternative of an air conditioner according to the present invention includes: an indoor heat exchanger; an indoor fan; a dust container which is arranged under the indoor heat exchanger; and a fan cleaner which is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger and the indoor fan for cleaning the indoor fan, wherein at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the dust container is located under the fan.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which in which at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the dew receiving plate is located under a contact point where the fan cleaner is in contact with the indoor fan, or at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the dust container is located under a contact point where the fan cleaner is in contact with the indoor fan.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, further comprising a control unit which controls the fan cleaner to come into contact with the indoor fan, and controls the indoor fan to rotate at a rotational speed. predetermined.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the speed of rotation is 300 min ¹ or more and less than 1,700 min ¹ .

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the rotation speed is 100 min ¹ or more and less than 300 min ¹ .

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the control unit controls the fan cleaner so that it comes into contact with the indoor fan, and controls the indoor fan so that it rotates in a direction opposite to that during normal air conditioning operation.

S65573 CM-P

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the control unit controls the fan cleaner so that it comes into contact with the indoor fan, and controls the indoor fan so that it rotates in the same direction as that during normal air conditioning operation.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the control unit controls the indoor heat exchanger so that it acts as an evaporator, after the fan cleaner has cleaned the indoor fan, to bring about condensed water to adhere to the indoor heat exchanger.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, further comprising:

a vertical louver that adjusts a flow of vertical air blown into a room as the indoor fan rotates;

in which the control unit controls the vertical louver so that it is closed or facing a direction higher than the horizontal direction, while controlling the indoor heat exchanger so that it serves as an evaporator to cause condensed water to adhere to the indoor heat exchanger.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the control unit controls the pressure of a refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger so that it is adjusted so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant is lower than that during normal air conditioning, while controlling the indoor heat exchanger to act as an evaporator to cause condensed water to adhere to the indoor heat exchanger.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which in

S65573 CM-P indoor heat exchanger, an area under the fan cleaner is not a downstream area of the refrigerant flow through the indoor heat exchanger.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the indoor heat exchanger includes a front indoor heat exchanger which is arranged on a front side of the indoor fan, in which, in the indoor heat exchanger, an area located on the downstream side of the air flow during a normal air conditioning operation, the height of which is higher than that of the fan cleaner, is not the downstream area of the refrigerant flow flowing through the indoor heat exchanger.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the indoor heat exchanger includes a front indoor heat exchanger which is arranged on a front side of the indoor fan, in which the fan cleaner is arranged in a recess of the Front interior heat exchanger having an elbow shape in a longitudinal section view.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the fan cleaner includes a shaft which is a rod-like member parallel to an axial direction of the interior fan, and a brush which is installed on the shaft, in which the brush is oriented in the lateral direction during normal air conditioning operation.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the fan cleaner includes a shaft which is a rod-like member parallel to an axial direction of the interior fan, and a brush which is installed on the shaft, in which the brush is oriented parallel to a flow direction

S65573 CM-P air, during normal air conditioning operation.

The invention also relates to an air conditioner thus defined, in which the indoor fan is coated with a hydrophilic coating agent.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention The present invention provides an air conditioner which cleans components including an indoor fan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an indoor unit included in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit, part of which is sectioned, of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 illustrates an air flow around a fan cleaner, during an air conditioning operation, in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a process executed by an air conditioner control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7A illustrates the indoor fan which is cleaned in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B illustrates an indoor heat exchanger which is defrosted in the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

S65573 CM-P Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an indoor unit included in an air conditioner according to a modification of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Air conditioner configuration>

Figure 1 illustrates a refrigerant circuit Q (refrigerant) of an air conditioner 100 according to one embodiment. Note that the solid lines arrowed in Figure 1 indicate a flow of a refrigerant during a heating operation. Also, the broken lines arrowed in Figure 1 indicate a flow of the refrigerant during a cooling operation. As shown in Figure 1, the air conditioner 100 includes a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 12, an outdoor fan 13, and an expansion valve 14. Aside from the components described above, the air conditioner 100 further includes an indoor heat exchanger 15, an indoor fan 16 and a four-way valve 17.

The compressor 11 is a device which is driven by a compressor motor 11a to compress a low temperature gaseous refrigerant, low pressure, and discharges it in the form of high temperature gaseous refrigerant, high pressure. The external heat exchanger 12 is a heat exchanger which exchanges heat between a refrigerant flowing through a heat transfer tube (not shown) and the ambient air supplied by the fan 13.

The external fan 13 is a fan which is driven by an external fan motor 13a to bring the ambient air to the external heat exchanger 12, and is arranged around the external heat exchanger 12. The valve expansion valve 14 is a valve which decompresses the refrigerant condensed by a "condenser" (one of the external heat exchanger 12 and the heat exchanger

S65573 CM-P indoor heat 15). Note that the decompressed refrigerant in the expansion valve 14 is guided to an "evaporator" (the other of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and the indoor heat exchanger 15).

The indoor heat exchanger 15 is a heat exchanger which exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes "g" (see Figure 2) and the indoor air ( the air in the space to be conditioned) supplied by the indoor fan 16. The indoor fan 16 is a fan which is driven by an indoor fan motor 16c (see Figure 5) to bring the indoor air to the exchanger of interior heat 15, and is arranged around the interior heat exchanger 15. More specifically, in the air flow when the interior fan 16 rotates in the normal direction, the interior fan 16 is arranged on the downstream side of the indoor heat exchanger 15.

The four-way valve 17 is a valve which switches the flow path of the refrigerant according to the operating mode of the air conditioner 100. During a cooling operation (see the dashed arrows in Figure 1), for example , the refrigerant circulates through the refrigeration cycle in the refrigerant circuit Q which includes the compressor 11, the outdoor heat exchanger 12 (condenser), the expansion valve 14, and the indoor heat exchanger 15 ( evaporator) connected sequentially via the four-way valve 17 to create a circular shape.

In contrast, during a heating operation (see the solid arrowed lines in Figure 1), the refrigerant circulates through the refrigeration cycle in the refrigerant circuit Q which includes the compressor 11, the exchanger indoor heat 15 (condenser), expansion valve 14, and outdoor heat exchanger 12 (evaporator) connected sequentially via the four-way valve

S65573 CM-P tracks 17 to create a circular shape.

Note that in the example shown in Figure 1, the compressor 11, the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the outdoor fan 13, the expansion valve 14 and the four-way valve 17 are arranged in a unit Uo outdoor. In contrast, the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 are arranged in an indoor unit Ui.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the indoor unit Ui. Note that Figure 2 shows a fan cleaner 24 in a state not cleaning the indoor fan 16. In addition to the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 as described above, the indoor unit Ui includes a dew receiving tray 18, a housing base 19, filters 20a and 20b, a front panel 21, a horizontal louver 22, a vertical louver 23 and the fan cleaner 24.

The indoor heat exchanger 15 has fins "f" and heat transfer tubes "g" penetrating the fins "f". In addition, in another aspect, the indoor heat exchanger 15 includes a front indoor heat exchanger 15a and a rear indoor heat exchanger 15b. The front interior heat exchanger 15a is arranged on a front side of the interior fan 16. In contrast, the rear interior heat exchanger 15b is arranged on a rear side of the interior fan 16. An upper end of the heat exchanger front interior 15a is connected to an upper end of the rear interior heat exchanger 15b.

The dew receiver plate 18 receives water condensed on the indoor heat exchanger 15, and is arranged under the indoor heat exchanger 15 (front indoor heat exchanger 15a in the example shown in the figure 2).

S65573 CM-P The indoor fan 16 is, for example, a flow-through fan (called tangential) in cylindrical form, and is arranged around the indoor heat exchanger 15. The indoor fan 16 includes blades fan 16a, a partition plate 16b on which these fan blades 16a rest, and an indoor fan motor 16c (see Figure 5) as a drive source.

Note that the interior fan 16 is preferably coated with a hydrophilic coating agent. Such a coating material may include a silica sol dispersed in isopropyl alcohol, as a hydrophilic material, supplemented with a binder (silicon compound having a hydrolyzable group), butanol, tetrahydrofuran, and a antimicrobial agent.

This forms a hydrophilic film on a surface of the indoor fan 16 to cause the surface of the indoor fan 16 to have a lower value of electrical resistance, preventing dust from easily adhering to the indoor fan 16. That is, from the static electricity caused by friction with air occurs little on the surface of the indoor fan 16 while the indoor fan 16 is being driven, to prevent dust from adhering to the indoor fan 16. In this way, the coating as described above also serves as an antistatic agent for the indoor fan 16.

The housing base 19 in Figure 2 is a housing in which devices such as the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 are arranged. The filter 20a filters the dust from the air flowing to a front air intake hl, and is arranged on the front side of the indoor heat exchanger 15. The filter 20b filters the dust from the air flowing through an upper air inlet h2, and is arranged on the upper side of the indoor heat exchanger 15.

S65573 CM-P The front panel 21 is a panel arranged so as to cover the filter 20a on the front side, and so as to be pivoted forwards around its lower end as an axis. Note that the front panel 21 can be configured so as not to be pivoted.

The horizontal louver 22 is a plate member which adjusts a side-by-side air flow blown into the room as the interior fan 16 rotates. The horizontal louver 22 is arranged in a supply air duct h3 and is arranged so as to be pivoted from side to side by a horizontal louver motor 25 (see FIG. 5). The vertical louver 23 is a plate member which adjusts a vertical flow of air blown into the room as the indoor fan 16 rotates. The vertical louver 23 is arranged around an air discharge h4 and is arranged so as to be pivoted vertically by a vertical louver motor 26 (see FIG. 5).

The air sucked in through the air inlets hl and h2 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes "g" of the indoor heat exchanger 15, and l the air which has been the object of the heat exchange is guided towards the supply air duct h3. The air flowing through the supply air flow duct h3 is guided in a predetermined direction by the horizontal louver 22 and the vertical louver 23, and blown further into the room through the air discharge h4.

Note that a large part of the dust arriving towards the air inlets hl, h2 as the air flows is collected by the filters 20a, 20b. However, fine dust may occasionally pass through the filters 20a, 20b and adhere to the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16. Consequently, the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16 are, so

S65573 CM-P desirable, cleaned on a regular basis. Therefore, the present embodiment is designed to wash the indoor heat exchanger 15 with water, after the indoor fan 16 is cleaned by the fan cleaner 24 to be described later.

The fan cleaner 24 in Figure 2 cleans the indoor fan 16, and is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16. More specifically, the fan cleaner 24 is arranged in a recess "r »Of the front interior heat exchanger 15a having an elbow shape in a longitudinal section view. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the indoor heat exchanger 15 (lower part of the front indoor heat exchanger 15a) and the dew receiving tray 18 are located under the fan cleaner 24.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit Ui, part of which is sectioned. The fan cleaner 24 includes, in addition to a shaft 24a and a brush 24b shown in Figure 3, a fan cleaner motor 24c (see Figure 5). The shaft 24a is a rod-like member parallel to an axial direction of the interior fan 16, and the two ends of the shaft 24a are pivotally supported.

The brush 24b eliminates the dust adhering to the fan blade 16a, and is installed on the shaft 24a. The fan cleaner motor 24c (see Figure 5) is, for example, a stepper motor and has the function of rotating the shaft 24a by a predetermined angle.

When the indoor fan 16 is cleaned by the fan cleaner 24, the fan cleaner motor 24c (see Figure 5) is driven so that the brush 24b is brought into contact with the indoor fan 16 (see Figure 7A), and the indoor fan 16 is rotated in the opposite direction. Once the

S65573 CM-P cleaning of the indoor fan 16 by the fan cleaner 24 is completed, the fan cleaner motor 24c is again driven to rotate the brush 24b so that the brush 24b is separated from the indoor fan 16 (see figure 2).

In this embodiment, the front edge of the brush 24b is caused to be opposite the indoor heat exchanger 15, as shown in Figure 2, except when the indoor fan 16 is cleaned. More specifically, the brush 24b is separated from the indoor fan 16 so as to be oriented in the lateral direction (substantially horizontal), except when the indoor fan 16 is cleaned (including during a normal air conditioning operation). The reason for the arrangement of the fan cleaner 24 in this way will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

Figure 4 illustrates an air flow around the fan cleaner 24 during the air conditioning operation. Note that the direction of each arrowed line in Figure 4 indicates the direction of air flow. In addition, the length of each arrowed line indicates the speed of air flow. During a normal air conditioning operation, the indoor fan 16 rotates in a normal direction so that the air passing through the spaces defined between the fins “f” (or spacings) of the front indoor heat exchanger 15a flows towards the fan interior 16. In particular, around the recess "r" of the front interior heat exchanger 15a, the air flows in the lateral direction (substantially horizontal direction) towards the interior fan 16 as shown in FIG. 4 .

The fan cleaner 24 is located in the recess "r" so that the brush 24b is oriented in the lateral direction, as described above. In other words, during a normal air conditioning operation, the brush 24b is

S65573 CM-P oriented parallel to a direction of air flow. As described above, the direction of extension of the brush 24b is substantially parallel to the direction of air flow, and the fan cleaner 24 therefore has little effect on the flow of air.

In addition, the fan cleaner 24 is arranged in an upstream area instead of the mid-flow area or a downstream area of the air flow (near the air discharge h4 in Figure 2) when the indoor fan 16 is rotated in the normal direction. Then, the air flowing in the lateral direction along the brush 24b is accelerated by the fan blades 16a, and the accelerated air is directed towards the air discharge h4 (see Figure 2). As described above, the fan cleaner 24 is arranged in an upstream area, where the air flows at a relatively low speed, to reduce the effect of a decrease in air volume caused by the air cleaner. fan 24. Note that the fan cleaner 24 can be kept in the same position as in Figure 4, even when the indoor fan 16 is stopped.

Figure 5 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner 100. The indoor unit Ui in Figure 5 includes, in addition to the components as described above, a remote control transceiver 27 and a control circuit indoor 31. The remote control transceiver 27 exchanges predetermined information with a remote control 40. Although not shown, the indoor control circuit 31 includes a CPU (central unit), ROM (read only memory), RAM (memory lively), and electronic circuits such as various interfaces. Programs stored in ROM are retrieved and loaded into RAM for the CPU to perform various processes.

As shown in Figure 5, the indoor control circuit 31 includes a storage unit 31a and an indoor control unit 31b. The storage unit 31a stores, in addition to the predetermined programs, data received via

S65573 CM-P the remote control transceiver 27, values detected by various sensors (not shown), and the like. The indoor control unit 31b drives the fan cleaner motor 24c, the indoor fan motor 16c, the horizontal louver motor 25, the vertical louver motor 26, and the like, based on the data stored in the unit storage 31a.

The outdoor unit Uo includes, in addition to the components as described above, an outdoor control circuit 32. Although not shown, the outdoor control circuit 32 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and electronic circuits such as various interfaces, and is connected to the internal control circuit 31 via a communication line. As shown in Figure 5, the external control circuit 32 includes a storage unit 32a and an external control unit 32b.

The storage unit 32a stores, in addition to predetermined programs, data received from the internal control circuit 31, and the like. The outdoor control unit 32b controls the compressor motor 11a, the outdoor fan motor 13a, the expansion valve 14, and the like, based on the data stored in the storage unit 32a. Hereinafter, the interior control circuit 31 and the exterior control circuit 32 are collectively referred to as "control unit 30".

Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a process executed by the control unit 30 (see Figure 2 as appropriate). Note that it is assumed that the air conditioning is not operated at the “START” in FIG. 6, and that the brush 24b has its front edge facing the front interior heat exchanger 15a (position in FIG. 2 ).

In step S101 of Figure 6, the control unit 30 cleans the indoor fan 16 by the fan cleaner 24. Note that a trigger for

S65573 CM-P start cleaning the indoor fan 16 will, for example, be a condition that the accumulated time of the air conditioning operation since the last cleaning has reached a predetermined time.

Figure 7A illustrates the interior fan 16 which is cleaned. Note that FIG. 7A shows the indoor heat exchanger 15, the indoor fan 16, and the dew receiving tray 18, but other members are not shown. The control unit 30 controls the fan cleaner 24 so that it comes into contact with the indoor fan 16, and controls the indoor fan 16 so that it rotates in a direction opposite to that during the air conditioning operation (direction reverse).

Namely, the control unit 30 controls the brush 24b so that it is pivoted around the shaft 24a by about 180 degrees from the position where the brush 24b has its front end facing the exchanger internal heat 15 (see Figure 2), so that the brush 24b has its front end facing the indoor fan 16 (see Figure 7A). This causes the brush 24b to come into contact with the fan blade 16a of the indoor fan 16.

Note that in the example of Figure 7A, as indicated by a dashed line L, the indoor heat exchanger 15 (indoor heat exchanger before 15a) and the dew receiving plate 18 are located under a contact position K in the state of the fan cleaner 24 coming into contact with the indoor fan 16.

As described above, the interior fan 16 rotates in the opposite direction to deflect the front edge of the brush 24b as the fan blade 16a moves, so that the brush 24b is pressed so as to strike the dorsal surface of the fan blade 16a. Therefore, the dust accumulated around the front edge of the fan blade 16a (the end in the radial direction) is removed by the brush 24b.

S65573 CM-P In particular, dust tends to accumulate around the front edges of the fan blades 16a. This is due to the fact that the fan blade 16a is struck by air on its front surface around the front edge, during an air conditioning operation where the indoor fan 16 rotates in the normal direction (see Figure 4), to bring dust to adhere to the fan blade 16a around the front edge. The air striking the fan blade 16a around the front edge passes through the gap between the adjacent fan blades 16a so as to flow along the curved front surface of the fan blade 16a.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the brush 24b is brought into contact with the fan blade 16a, then the internal fan 16 rotates in the opposite direction. This causes the brush 24b to come into contact with the rear surface of the fan blade 16a around the front edge, so that the dust accumulated on both front and rear surfaces, around the front edge, of the fan blade 16a is collectively eliminated. As a result, much of the dust accumulated on the indoor fan 16 is removed.

In addition, causing the indoor fan 16 to rotate in an opposite direction generates a moderate air flow in a direction opposite to that in the normal direction (see Figure 4) inside the indoor unit Ui (see Figure 2). Consequently, the dust “j” removed from the interior fan 16 is not directed towards the air delivery h4 (see FIG. 2), and is guided towards the dew receiving plate 18, as shown in FIG. 7A, through the gap between the front interior heat exchanger 15a and the interior fan 16.

More specifically, the dust "j" removed from the interior fan 16 by the brush 24b is slightly pressed against the interior heat exchanger before 15a by the wind pressure. Then, the dust “j” falls in the receiver tray of

S65573 CM-P dew 18 along the inclined surface (the edge of the fin “f”) of the front interior heat exchanger 15a (see an arrowed line in FIG. 7A). Consequently, the dust “j” does not adhere very much to the rear surface of the vertical louver 23 (see FIG. 2) through a tiny gap between the indoor fan 16 and the dew receiving plate 18. This prevents the dust “j” to be blown into the room during the next air conditioning operation.

Note that the dust "j" removed from the indoor fan 16 can partly adhere to the indoor heat exchanger before 15a without falling into the dew receiving plate 18. The dust "j" adhering to the heat exchanger front side interior heat 15a in this manner is washed away by treatment in step S103 to be described later.

In addition, while the indoor fan 16 is being cleaned, the control unit 30 can control the indoor fan 16 so that it is driven at the speed of rotation in the range from medium to high speed, or can control the indoor fan 16 so that it is driven at the speed of rotation in the low speed range. The rotational speed of the indoor fan 16 in the medium to high speed range is, for example, 300 min ¹ or more and less than 1700 min ¹ . Rotating the indoor fan 16 in the medium to high speed range makes it easy to direct the dust "j" to the front indoor heat exchanger 15a, so that the dust "j" does not adhere well to the rear surface of the vertical louver 23 (see Figure 2), as described above. As a result, this prevents dust "j" from being blown into the room during the next air conditioning operation.

The speed of rotation of the indoor fan 16 in the low speed range is, for example, 100 min ¹ or more and less than 300 min ¹ . Spinning

S65573 CM-P the indoor fan 16 in the low speed range allows the indoor fan 16 to be cleaned with little noise.

In step S102, after the processing in step S101 in Figure 6 is finished, the control unit 30 controls the fan cleaner 24 so that it is moved. Namely, the control unit 30 controls the brush 24b so that it is pivoted 180 degrees around the shaft 24a from the position where the front edge of the brush 24b is facing the internal fan 16 (see figure 7A), so that the front edge of the brush 24b is opposite the interior heat exchanger 15 (see FIG. 7B). This prevents the fan cleaner 24 from interfering with the air flow during the subsequent air conditioning operation.

Then, in step S103, the control unit 30 controls the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it is sequentially frosted and defrosted. First, the control unit 30 controls the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it serves as an evaporator to frost the humidity contained in the air admitted into the indoor unit Ui on the heat exchanger. interior 15 for icing. Note that the icing of the indoor heat exchanger 15 is included in the expression "causing the condensed water to adhere" to the indoor heat exchanger 15.

While the indoor heat exchanger 15 is being iced, the control unit 30 preferably controls the temperature of evaporation of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it be reduced. Namely, while controlling the internal heat exchanger 15 so that it serves as an evaporator for self-icing (causing the condensed water to adhere to it), the control unit 30 controls the pressure of the refrigerant s' flowing in the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it is adjusted so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant is lower than during an operation of

S65573 CM-P normal air conditioning.

The control unit 30 controls the opening level of the expansion valve 14 (see Figure 1) so that it is reduced, for example, to allow the refrigerant having a low pressure and a low temperature evaporation to flow into the indoor heat exchanger 15. This allows the frost and ice to easily grow (symbol i shown in Figure 7B) on the indoor heat exchanger 15, so that the exchanger of internal heat 15 is washed with a large amount of water during the subsequent defrosting.

In addition, in the indoor heat exchanger 15, an area located under the fan cleaner 24 is preferably not a downstream area of the flow of refrigerant through the indoor heat exchanger 15 ( namely, an upstream zone or a mid-flow zone). This allows a low-temperature, two-phase liquid refrigerant to flow at least under the fan cleaner 24, so that the frost and ice adhering to the indoor heat exchanger 15 increases in thickness. As a result, the indoor heat exchanger 15 is washed with a large amount of water during the subsequent defrosting. Note that the region of the interior heat exchanger 15 located under the fan cleaner 24 can receive dust adhering thereto easily scraped from the fan 16 by the fan cleaner 24. Then, a flow of the refrigerant to two gas-liquid phases having a low temperature in the region of the interior heat exchanger 15 situated under the fan cleaner 24 makes it possible to easily grow the frost and the ice, and in addition a melting (a melting) of this frost and of this ice allows the dust on the indoor heat exchanger 15 to be removed properly.

In addition, while controlling the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it

S65573 CM-P serves as an evaporator for self-icing (causing the condensed water to adhere to it), the control unit 30 preferably controls the vertical louver 23 (see Figure 2) so that it is closed or in look from a direction higher than the horizontal direction. This prevents low temperature air cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 15 from leaking into the room so that the icing of the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the like is carried out so that the user does not feel no discomfort.

After the indoor heat exchanger 15 is frosted in this way (S103 in Figure 6), the control unit 30 defrosts the indoor heat exchanger 15 (S103). For example, the control unit 30 controls the devices so that they are kept stopped to allow the indoor heat exchanger 15 to defrost naturally at room temperature. Note that the control unit 30 can control the heating operation or the blowing operation so that they are executed in order to melt the frost and the ice adhering to the indoor heat exchanger 15.

Figure 7B illustrates the indoor heat exchanger 15 which is defrosted. As the indoor heat exchanger 15 is defrosted, the frost and ice adhering to the indoor heat exchanger 15 are melted and a large amount of water w flows down towards the dew receiving tray 18 along the fins "f". This causes the dust "j" adhering to the indoor heat exchanger 15 during an air conditioning operation to be washed away.

As the indoor fan 16 is cleaned by the brush 24b, the dust "j" adhering to the front indoor heat exchanger 15a is also washed away and flows down towards the receiving tray. dew 18 (see the arrowed line in FIG. 7B). Water w flowing down towards

S65573 CM-P from the dew receiver tray 18 in this way is discharged to the outside via a drain pipe (not shown), together with the dust “j” falling directly into the dew receiver tray 18 while the indoor fan 16 is cleaned (see Figure 7A). As described above, a large amount of water flows down during defrosting from the indoor heat exchanger 15, and therefore a drain pipe (not shown) or the like is hardly clogged with dust "j ".

Note that, although not shown in Figure 6, the control unit 30 can control a heating operation or a blowing operation so that they are executed after the indoor heat exchanger 15 is iced and defrosted (S103), to dry the interior of the indoor unit Ui. This prevents the growth of bacteria in the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the like.

<Beneficial effects>

According to the present embodiment, the indoor fan 16 is cleaned by the fan cleaner 24 (S101 in Figure 6) to prevent dust "j" from being blown into the room. In addition, the fan cleaner 24 is arranged between the front interior heat exchanger 15a and the interior fan 16 to guide the dust “j” scraped from the interior fan 16 by the brush 24b towards the dew receiving plate 18. Furthermore , the control unit 30 controls the indoor fan 16 so that it is rotated in the opposite direction while the indoor fan 16 is being cleaned. This prevents dust "j" from moving to the air outlet h4.

In addition, the brush 24b is oriented in the lateral direction during a normal air conditioning operation (see Figure 4), for minimal interference with the air flow under the influence of the brush 24b. In addition, it reduces the

S65573 CM-P decrease in air volume caused by the fan cleaner 24 during normal air conditioning operation together with the fact that the fan cleaner 24 is arranged in the upstream area of the air flow, and also prevents an increase in the energy consumption of the indoor fan 16.

Note that if a large amount of dust adheres to the indoor fan 16, the temperature for blowing air can be lowered in some cases during a cooling operation so as to compensate for the degradation in performance of the indoor fan 16, which causes the dew water to drip into the room. To cope with this situation, the indoor fan 16 is properly cleaned in the present embodiment to reduce the decrease in air volume from the indoor fan 16 caused by the dust adhering to it, as described above. As a result, the present embodiment prevents the dew drop caused by dust on the indoor fan 16.

In addition, the control unit 30 controls the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it sequentially performs icing and defrosting (S103 in Figure 6) to bring the dust "j" adhering to the exchanger of internal heat 15 to be expelled with the water “w” and to flow down towards the dew receiving plate 18. In this way, the present embodiment cleans the internal fan 16, and also cleans the indoor heat exchanger 15. As a result, the air conditioner 100 provides comfortable air conditioning. In addition, the air conditioner 100 reduces the time and effort required by the user to clean the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16, and the maintenance costs.

modifications

S65573 CM-P Above, the embodiment of the air conditioner 100 according to the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto and various modifications are possible. Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an indoor unit UAi of an air conditioner according to a modification. In the modification shown in Figure 8, a groove member M having a concave shape in longitudinal section is arranged under the front side interior heat exchanger 15a. In addition, a rib 28 extending upward from the bottom surface of the groove member M is formed in the groove member M. The other features are the same as in the embodiment.

In the groove member M shown in Figure 8, a front section of the rib 28 serves as a dew container 18A which receives water condensed by the internal heat exchanger 15. Similarly, a section rear of the rib 28 in the groove member M serves as a dust container 29 which receives the falling dust from the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor fan 16. The dust container 29 is arranged under the heat exchanger interior 15.

Next, under the fan cleaner 24 are the indoor heat exchanger 15 (lower part of the front indoor heat exchanger 15a), as well as the dust container 29. More specifically, although not shown, under a contact point where the fan cleaner 24 is in contact with the indoor fan 16, there is the indoor heat exchanger 15 as well as the dust container 29. Even with such a configuration, beneficial effects similar to those of embodiment, as described above, are achieved. Note that when the indoor heat exchanger 15 is defrosted, water flows down towards the dew container 18A as well as the dust container 29. Consequently, the evacuation of the dust accumulated in the dust container 29

S65573 CM-P is done without any difficulty.

In addition, in the modification of Figure 8, the upper end of the rib 28 is not in contact with the interior heat exchanger before 15a, but is not limited to this configuration. Namely, the upper end of the rib 28 may be in contact with the front interior heat exchanger 15a.

In addition, in the embodiment there has been given a description that the control unit 30 controls the fan cleaner 24 so that it comes into contact with the indoor fan 16, then it controls the indoor fan 16 so that it is rotated in a direction opposite to that during a normal air conditioning operation (in the opposite direction), but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Namely, the control unit 30 can control the fan cleaner 24 so that it comes into contact with the indoor fan 16, then it controls the indoor fan 16 so that it rotates in the same direction as during an operation of normal air conditioning (in the normal direction).

Bringing the brush 24b into contact with the indoor fan 16 and then rotating the indoor fan 16 in the normal direction effectively eliminates the dust adhering to the fan blade 16a on its front surface around the front edge. In addition, a circuit element for rotating the indoor fan 16 in the opposite direction becomes unnecessary, so that the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner 100 is reduced. Note that the rotational speed for rotating the indoor fan 16 in the normal direction during cleaning can be any in the low speed range, the medium speed range, and the high speed range as in the embodiment.

In addition, a description has been given in the embodiment according to which

S65573 CM-P the brush 24b is pivoted around the shaft 24a of the fan cleaner 24, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the control unit 30 can control the shaft 24a so that it is moved towards the indoor fan 16 when the indoor fan 16 is cleaned, so that the brush 24b is brought into contact with the indoor fan 16. Then, the control unit 30 can control the shaft 24a so that it is distant from the indoor fan 16 so as to separate the brush 24b from the indoor fan 16, after the cleaning of the indoor fan 16 is completed.

Even more, a description has been given in the embodiment according to which the fan cleaner 24 includes the brush 24b, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Namely, a sponge or the like can be used as long as it can clean the indoor fan 16.

Even more, in the embodiment, a description has been given according to which, in the interior heat exchanger 15, the zone situated under the fan cleaner 24 is not the zone downstream from the flow of the fluid. refrigerant, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, in the indoor heat exchanger 15, the area whose height is higher than that of the fan cleaner 24 may not be the area downstream of the flow of the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger. indoor heat 15 (i.e., the area is the upstream area or the mid-flow area). More specifically, in the front interior heat exchanger 15a, an area located on the downstream side of the air flow during a normal air conditioning operation, the height of which is higher than that of the fan cleaner 24, n ' is preferably not the downstream zone of the flow of the refrigerant flowing through the interior heat exchanger 15. According to such a configuration, in the interior heat exchanger before 15a, a thick frost

S65573 CM-P adheres to the area on the downstream side of the air flow during normal air conditioning operation, the height of which is higher than the fan cleaning section 24 (right side, in the plane of the paper , of the front interior heat exchanger 15a in FIG. 2), as the interior heat exchanger 15 is frosted. Then, when the indoor heat exchanger 15 is subsequently defrosted, a large amount of water flows down through the fins "f". Consequently, the dust (including the dust removed from the interior fan 16) adhering to the interior heat exchanger 15 is expelled onto the dew receiving plate 18.

Even more, in the embodiment, a description has been given according to which the control unit 30 controls the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 so that it is in contact with the indoor fan 16 while the indoor fan 16 is cleaned, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Namely, the control unit 30 can control the brush 24b of the fan cleaner 24 so that it approaches the indoor fan 16 while the indoor fan 16 is being cleaned. More specifically, the control unit 30 controls the brush 24b so that it approaches the interior fan 16 to an extent such as dust, which has accumulated at the front edge of the fan blade 16a and s' is increased outward in the radial direction beyond the leading edge, or eliminated. With such a configuration, the dust accumulated in the indoor fan 16 is also appropriately removed.

Even more, in the embodiment, a description has been given according to which the interior heat exchanger 15 is frosted, which is followed by some other treatment, to clean the interior heat exchanger 15, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the heat exchanger

S65573 CM-P indoor 15 can be charged with dew, and dew condensing water (condensed water) can be used to clean the indoor heat exchanger 15. For example, control unit 30 will calculate the point room air dew based on room air temperature and relative humidity. Next, the control unit 30 will control the degree of opening of the expansion valve 14 and the like so that the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 15 is less than or equal to the dew point and greater than the predetermined icing temperature. .

The above-mentioned "icing temperature" is a temperature at which the humidity contained in the indoor air begins to frost in the indoor heat exchanger 15 as the temperature of the air in the room is lowered. Condensation of the indoor heat exchanger 15 in this way expels the dust on the indoor heat exchanger 15 with dew condensation water (condensed water).

Alternatively, the control unit 30 can control the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it is condensed by a cooling operation or a dehumidification operation, and control the indoor heat exchanger 15 so that it is washed with dew condensation water (condensed water).

Even more, in the embodiment (see FIG. 2), a description has been given according to which the internal heat exchanger 15 and the dew receiving plate 18 are located under the fan cleaner 24, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Namely, at least one of the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the dew receiving tray 18 can be located under the fan cleaner 24. For example, in a configuration such as the lower portion of the heat exchanger interior 15 having an elbow shape in a longitudinal section view extends in the vertical direction, the receiving plate of

S65573 CM-P dew 18 can be located under (just below) the fan cleaner 24.

Even more, in the modification shown in FIG. 8, a description has been given according to which the internal heat exchanger 15 and the dust container 29 are located under the fan cleaner 24, but the present invention is not not limited to this configuration. Namely, at least one of the indoor heat exchanger 15 and the dust container 29 can be located under the fan cleaner 24.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, a description has been given according to which an indoor unit Ui (see Figure 1) and an outdoor unit Uo (see Figure 1) are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Namely, two or more indoor units connected in parallel can be provided, or two or more outdoor units connected in parallel can be provided. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the air conditioner 100 of the type suspended from a wall has been described, but the present invention is also applicable to other types of air conditioners.

The embodiment has been described in detail for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those including all the configurations as described. Furthermore, part of the configuration in the embodiment can be deleted, or added, or replaced by another configuration. Furthermore, the mechanisms and configurations described above are what is considered necessary for illustration, and are not necessarily all of the mechanisms and configurations of the product.

S65573 CM-P

LEGEND OF NUMERICAL REFERENCES

100 Air Conditioner

Compressor

Outdoor heat exchanger

Outdoor fan

Expansion valve

Indoor heat exchanger

15a Front interior heat exchanger

15b Interior rear heat exchanger

Indoor fan

Four-way valve

Dew tray

Horizontal louver

Vertical louver

24, 24A Fan cleaner

24a, 24d Tree

24b Brush

Dust container

Control unit

K Contact point

Q Refrigeration (refrigeration) circuit r Recess

S65573 CM-P

Claims (16)

1. Air conditioner (100) comprising: an indoor heat exchanger (15); an indoor fan (16); one of a dew receiving tray (18) which is arranged below the indoor heat exchanger (15), and a dust container (29) which is arranged under the indoor heat exchanger (15); a fan cleaner (24) which is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger (15) and the indoor fan (16) for cleaning the indoor fan (16); wherein at least one of the indoor heat exchanger (15) and the dew receiving tray (18) is located under the fan cleaner (24), or at least one of the indoor heat exchanger (15) and the dust container (29) is located under the fan cleaner (24). 2. Air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the indoor heat exchanger (15) and the dew receiving plate (18) is located under a contact point (K) where the fan cleaner ( 24) is in contact with the indoor fan (16), or at least one of the indoor heat exchanger (15) and the dust container (29) is located under a contact point where the fan cleaner ( 24) is in contact with the indoor fan (16). 3. Air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: S65573 CM-P a control unit (30) which controls the fan cleaner (24) to come into contact with the indoor fan (16), and controls the indoor fan (16) to rotate at a predetermined speed of rotation. 4. Air conditioner according to claim 3, in which the rotation speed is 300 min ¹ or more and less than 1,700 min ¹ . 5. Air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the rotation speed is 100 min ¹ or more and less than 300 min ¹ . 6. Air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (30) controls the fan cleaner (24) so that it comes into contact with the indoor fan (16), and controls the indoor fan (16) to that it rotates in the opposite direction to that during a normal air conditioning operation. 7. Air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (30) controls the fan cleaner (24) so that it comes into contact with the indoor fan (16), and controls the indoor fan (16) to that it rotates in the same direction as that during a normal air conditioning operation. 8. Air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (30) controls the indoor heat exchanger (15) so that it serves as an evaporator, after the fan cleaner (24) has cleaned the S65573 CM-P indoor fan (16), to cause condensed water to adhere to the indoor heat exchanger (15). 9. Air conditioner according to claim 8, further comprising: a vertical louver (23) which adjusts a flow of vertical air blown into a room as the indoor fan (16) rotates; in which the control unit (30) controls the vertical louver (23) so that it is closed or that it is facing a direction higher than the horizontal direction, while controlling the exchanger of internal heat (15) so that it serves as an evaporator to cause condensed water to adhere to the internal heat exchanger (15). 10. An air conditioner according to claim 8, in which the control unit (30) controls the pressure of a refrigerant flowing in the indoor heat exchanger (15) so that it is adjusted so that the temperature evaporation of the refrigerant is lower than that during a normal air conditioning operation, while controlling the indoor heat exchanger (15) so that it serves as an evaporator to bring condensed water to adhere to the indoor heat exchanger (15). 11. An air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein in the indoor heat exchanger (15), an area located under the fan cleaner is not an area downstream of the flow of refrigerant through the heat exchanger. interior (15). S65573 CM-P The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the indoor heat exchanger (15) includes a front indoor heat exchanger (15a) which is arranged on a front side of the indoor fan (16), wherein in the heat exchanger indoor heat (15), an area on the downstream side of the air flow during normal air conditioning, which is taller than that of the fan cleaner (24), is not the area downstream of the refrigerant flow flowing through the indoor heat exchanger (15). 13. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the indoor heat exchanger (15) includes a front indoor heat exchanger (15a) which is arranged on a front side of the indoor fan (16), wherein the fan cleaner ( 24) is arranged in a recess (r) of the interior heat exchanger (15) before having an elbow shape in a longitudinal section view. 14. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the fan cleaner (24) includes a shaft (24a) which is a rod-like member parallel to an axial direction of the indoor fan, and a brush (24b) which is installed on the 'shaft (24a), wherein the brush (24b) is oriented in the lateral direction during a normal air conditioning operation. S65573 CM-P 15. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the fan cleaner (24) includes a shaft (24a) which is a rod-like member parallel to an axial direction of the indoor fan, and a brush (24b) which is installed on the 'tree, 5 wherein the brush (24b) is oriented parallel to an air flow direction, during a normal air conditioning operation. 16. An air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the interior fan (16) is coated with a hydrophilic coating agent.