GB2620346A

GB2620346A - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: GB2620346A
Application number: GB2316338.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ito Masakazu; Yoshikawa Koichiro
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-17
Filing date: 2021-05-17
Publication date: 2024-01-03
Also published as: CN117425800A; GB202316338D0; DE112021007669T5; GB2620346A8; WO2022244056A1

Abstract

This air conditioner comprises: a casing having a blowout port opening in the horizontal direction; a blower that is provided in the casing and blows air toward the front where the blowout port is located; a vertical louver that rotates about a first axis extending in the width direction of the blowout port and thereby transitions between a closed position where the vertical louver closes the blowout port and a guide position where the vertical louver guides air forward with a downward-facing guide surface; and an air guide plate that rotates outside the rotational path of the vertical louver about a second axis, which is lower than the first axis, and thereby transitions between a standby position where the air guide plate is stored above the blowout port and an air guide position below the front of the vertical louver where the air guide plate guides forward the air guided by the guide surface.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE OF INVENTION: AIR CONDITIONER

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner.

Background Art

[0002] As an air conditioner (indoor unit) attached to a ceiling in a room, for example, one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. A ceiling-suspended air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 includes a casing which has an outlet opening in the horizontal direction, a blower which is provided inside the easing, a heat exchanger which is provided on the downstream side of the blower, and flaps which are provided above and below the outlet.

[0003] Air pressure-fed by the blower passes through the heat exchanger to become cold air or hot air and is supplied from the outlet into the room. At this time, the direction of the blown air is changed by adjusting the angle of the flap.

Citation List Patent Document Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2010-112600 Sununary of Invention Technical Problem [0005] By the way, in recent years, there has been a demand to reduce the discomfort (draft feeling) caused by the air directly blowing from the air conditioner to hit the human body. In the air conditioner according to Patent Document 1 above, for example, when the flap is directed downward, the blown air directly hits the user to cause a draft feeling.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-described problems and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner capable of further reducing a draft feeling.

Solution to Problem [0007] In order to solve the above-described problems, an air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes: a casing which has an outlet opening in a horizontal direction; a blower which is provided inside the casing and configured to blow air toward a front side having the outlet; a vertical louver which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around a first axis extending in a width direction of the outlet, between a closed position of closing the outlet and a guide position of guiding the air forward by a guide surface facing downward; and an air guide plate which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around a second axis below the first. axis at an outside of a rotation locus of the vertical louver, between a standby position above the outlet and an air guide position located on the front and lower side of the vertical louver to guide air guided by the guide surface forward.

[0008] An air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes: a casing which has an outlet opening in a horizontal direction; a blower which is provided inside the casing and configured to blow air toward a front side having the outlet; a vertical louver which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around a first axis extending in a width direction of the outlet, between a closed position of closing the outlet and a guide position of guiding the air forward by a guide surface facing downward; and a plurality of horizontal louvers which are provided behind the vertical louver and configured to guide a direction of the air in the horizontal direction by rotating around a third axis extending in a height direction of the outlet, wherein a front edge of the horizontal louver is provided with a concave portion which is recessed forward to store a rear edge of the vertical louver located at the guide position.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0009] According the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the air conditioner capable of further reducing a draft feeling.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing how a vertical louver and an air guide plate according to the embodiment of the present disclosure are operated.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the vertical louver according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is located at the closed position and the air guide plate is located at the standby position.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the vertical louver according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is located at the guide position and the air guide plate is located at the standby position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the vertical louver according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is located at the guide position and the air guide plate is located at the air guide position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the vertical louver according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is located at the guide position and the horizontal louver is most rotated in either the left or right direction.

FIG. 8 is a left side view of the vertical louver according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the vertical louver according to the embodiment of

the present disclosure.

Description of Embodiments

[0011] (Configuration of air conditioner) Hereinafter, an air conditioner 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment includes a casing 1, a blower 2, a heat exchanger 10, a vertical louver 3, an air guide plate 4, and a horizontal louver 5. [0012] (Configuration of casing) The casing 1 has a rectangular box shape when viewed from the bottom surface.

An outlet IA is formed on a front surface of the casing 1 (that is, one surface facing the horizontal direction). Two outlets 1A are provided with a gap therebetween in the width direction. Further, an inlet 1 B for taking air into the casing 1 is formed on the bottom surface of the casing 1.

[0013] The blower 2 and the heat. exchanger 10 are provided inside the casing 1. The blower 2 pressure-feeds the air taken from the inlet 1B. The heat exchanger 10 is disposed in a space (blowing path P) between the blower 2 and the outlet 1A. The heat exchanger 10 is part of a refrigerant circuit (not shown) and exchanges heat between the air sent from the blower 2 and the refrigerant. Accordingly, the air having passed through the heat exchanger 10 becomes hot air or cold air and is supplied into the room from the outlet 1A. In the following description, the side on which the outlet IA is located when viewed from the blower 2 is referred to as the front side and the opposite side is referred to as the rear side.

[0014] (Configuration of outlet) The outlet IA is provided with the vertical louver 3, the air guide plate 4, and the horizontal louver 5. The vertical louver 3 is a plate-shaped member having a dimension capable of closing the outlet 1A. Although details will be described later, the vertical louver 3 is provided to vertically change the flow direction of the air blown out from the outlet 1A. The air guide plate 4 is stored above the vertical louver 3 and is flush with the air guide plate 4. The air guide plate 4 is provided to guide forward the flow of air guided by the vertical louver 3. The horizontal louver 5 is provided behind the vertical louver 3 in the outlet 1A. The horizontal louver 5 is provided to change the flow direction of the air blown out from the outlet 1A to the left and right.

[0015] (Configurations of vertical louver) As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical louver 3 is rotatable around a first axis Al extending in the width direction of the outlet IA. The vertical louver 3 can change its posture between a closed position Pi_ in which the outlet lA is closed and a guide position P2 in which the vertical louver is rotated from the closed position PI toward the rear side. Additionally, the posture of the vertical louver 3 is adjusted by an actuator (not shown).

[0016] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the vertical louver 3 includes a plate-shaped vertical louver main body 31 and a tab 32 which protrudes from the rear surface (guide surface 35) of the vertical louver main body 31. The tab 32 is supported to be rotatable around the first axis Al.

[0017] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, protrusion portions 6A and 6B which support the vertical louver 3 not to fall off by the casing 1 are provided on both sides of the vertical louver 3 in the width direction. The protrusion portions 6A and 6B respectively protrude from both end portions of the vertical louver 3 in the width direction to the left and right. As shown in HG. 8, the protrusion portions 6A and 6B are substantially columnar and a part thereof is cut away by 1/4 in the circumferential direction to form notch portions MA and 61B. The circumferential positions of the protrusion portions 6A and 6B are different from those of the notch portions 61A and 61B by 180°. That is he protrusion portions 6A and 6B have a rotationally symmetrical shape.

[0018] A cap 7 is filled to these protrusion portions GA and 6B while being inserted into the hole portion of the casing 1. The cap 7 has a tubular shape that covers the protrusion portions 6A and 6B from the outer peripheral side. The cap 7 includes a tubular cap main body 71 and a convex portion 72 which protrudes in the radial direction from a part of the outer peripheral surface of the cap main body 71. The convex portion 72 is provided to regulate the rotation range of the vertical louver 3 by engaging with the groove formed in the casing 1. The protrusion portions 6A and 6B have a rotationally symmetrical shape and the cap 7 has the shape same on both sides in the width direction. In other words, the cap 7 is a common component on both sides in the width direction. [0019] (Configuration of air guide plate) As shown in FIG. 3, the air guide plate 4 is rotatable around a second axis A2 extending in the width direction of the outlet 1A. The air guide plate 4 can change its posture between a standby position P3 above the outlet lA and an air guide position P4 located on the front and lower side of the vertical louver 3. Additionally, the posture of the air guide plate 4 is adjusted by an actuator (not shown). The second axis A2 is located on the lower and rear side of the first axis Al. Further, the rotation locus of the air guide plate 4 is located on the outside of the rotation locus of the vertical louver 3. That is, the rotation radius of the air guide plate 4 is larger than the rotation radius of the vertical louver 3. In other words, the rotation locus of the air guide plate 4 does not overlap the rotation locus of the vertical louver 3.

[0020] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the air guide plate 4 includes a plate-shaped air guide plate main body 41 and a rotation arm 42 which is attached to the edge of the air guide plate main body 41. A surface that faces the rear side at the standby position P3 in the air guide plate main body 41 is an air guide surface 4S. The rotation arm 42 is supported to be rotatable around the second axis A2.

[0021] (Configurations of horizontal louver) As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the horizontal louver 5 is rotatable around a third axis A3 extending in the up and down direction. The horizontal louver 5 includes a plate-shaped horizontal louver main body 51 which spreads in the up and down direction and a columnar shall portion 52 which supports the horizontal louver main body 51 lobe rotatable with respect to the casing I. The shaft portion 52 is rotatable around the third axis A3. The front edge of the horizontal louver main body 51 is provided with a concave portion R which is recessed backward. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, when the vertical louver 3 is located at the guide position P2 and the horizontal louver 5 is most rotated in either the left or right direction, a rear end portion t of the vertical louver 3 is stored in the concave portion R. That is, the end portion t and the horizontal louver do not interfere with each other.

[0022] (Operation and effect) Next, the operation of the air conditioner 100 will he described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. As shown in FIG. 4 when the air conditioner 100 is in a stopped state, the vertical louver 3 is located at the closed position P1 and the air guide plate 4 is located at the standby position P3. That is, the outlet lA is closed by the vertical louver 3 and the air guide plate 4 is stored above the vertical louver 3.

[0023] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when only the vertical louver 3 is rotated to the guide position P2, air is guided forward (the horizontal direction) by the guide surface 3S facing the lower side of the vertical louver main body 31.

[0024] Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the vertical louver 3 may be rotated slightly downward from the guide position P2 to a downward position P2'. In this ease, air flows forward and downward along the guide surface 3S. As a result, since the wind directly hits the user near the air conditioner 100, there is concern that the user may have a draft feeling.

[0025] Here, in the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the air guide plate 4 is changed to the air guide position P4. Accordingly, since the air guided by the vertical louver 3 is guided by the air guide surface 4S of the air guide plate 4, the air can be guided forward without being directed downward. Accordingly, it.

is possible to reduce a draft feeling caused by the downward blowing air.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the above-described configuration, since the rotation locus of the vertical louver 3 does not overlap that of the air guide plate 4, one posture can be adjusted independently from the other posture. Accordingly, the air can be supplied in various directions without a draft feeling.

[0027] In addition, according to the above-described configuration, since the vertical louver 3 and the air guide plate 4 are stored in a flush state, the appearance of the entire device can be improved.

[0028] Further, according to the above-described configuration, since the rotation radius of the air guide plate 4 is larger than the rotation radius of the vertical louver 3, the air guide plate 4 can be made to protrude more forward than the vertical louver 3 at the air guide position P4. Accordingly, air guided by the vertical louver 3 can be stably received by the air guide plate 4 and guided forward more smoothly.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the above-described configuration, since the concave portion R is formed at the front edge of the horizontal louver 5, it is possible to avoid the interference between the horizontal louver 5 and the vertical louver 3 at the guide position P2. As a result, the size of the device in the front and rear direction can be kept small.

[0030] Additionally, according to the above-described configuration, since the protrusion portions 6A and 6B of the vertical louver 3 have a rotationally symmetrical shape on both sides in the width direction, the shape of the cap 7 can be the same on both sides in the width direction. That is, one type of cap 7 can correspond to the protrusion portions 6A and 6B on both sides in the width direction. Accordingly, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0031] (Other embodiments) The embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above.

Additionally, various changes and modifications can be made to the above configuration without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the rotation locus of the air guide plate 4 does not overlap the rotation locus of the vertical louver 3 has been described.

However, it is also possible to employ a configuration that avoids the interference between the air guide plate 4 and the vertical louver 3 by exclusively controlling their movements in a state in which the rotation loci thereof partially overlap each other. [0032] (Appendix) The air conditioner described in each embodiment is understood, for example, as below.

[0033] (1) The air conditioner 100 according to a first aspect includes: the casing 1 which has the outlet IA opening in the horizontal direction; the blower 2 which is provided inside the casing 1 and configured to blow air toward a front side having the outlet I A; the vertical louver 3 which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around the first axis Al extending in the width direction of the outlet IA, between the closed position P1 of closing the outlet lA and the guide position P2 of guiding the air forward by the guide surface 3S facing downward; and the air guide plate 4 which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around the second axis A2 below the first axis Al at the outside of the rotation locus of vertical louver 3, between the standby position P3 above the outlet lA and the air guide position P4 located on the front and lower side of the vertical louver 3 to guide air guided by the guide surface 3S forward.

[0034] According to the above-described configuration, since the air guide plate 4 changes to the air guide position P4, the air guided by the vertical louver 3 can be guided forward without being directed downward. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a draft feeling caused by the downward blowing [0035] (2) In the air conditioner 100 according to a second aspect, the rotation locus of the vertical louver 3 may not overlap the rotation locus of the air guide plate 4.

[0036] According to the above-described configuration, since the rotation locus of the vertical louver 3 does not overlap that of the air guide plate 4, one posture can be adjusted independently from the other posture.

[0037] (3) In the air conditioner 100 according to a third aspect, when the vertical louver 3 is located at the closed position 131 and the air guide plate 4 is located at the standby position P3, the vertical louver 3 and the air guide plate 4 may be flush with each other.

[0038] According to the above-described configuration, the appearance of the entire device can be improved.

[0039] (4) In the air conditioner 100 according to a fourth aspect, the rotation radius of the air guide plate 4 may be larger than the rotation radius of the vertical louver 3.

[0040] According to the above-described configuration, the air guide plate 4 can be made to protrude more forward than the vertical louver 3 at the air guide position P4. [0041] (5) The air conditioner 100 according to a fifth aspect may further include: the plurality or horizontal louvers 5 which are provided behind the vertical louver 3 and configured to guide the direction of the air in the horizontal direction by rotating around the third axis A3 extending in the height direction of the outlet 1A, wherein the front edge or the horizontal louver 5 may be provided with the concave portion R which is recessed forward to store the rear edge of the vertical louver 3 located at the guide position P2.

[0042] According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to avoid the interference between the horizontal louver 5 and the vertical louver 3 at the guide position P2. As a result, the size of the device in the front and rear direction can be kept small.

[0043] (6) In the air conditioner 100 according to a sixth aspect, the vertical louver 3 may include the protrusion portions 6A and 6B which is protruded from the vertical louver 3 in the width direction and are inserted into the hole portions formed in the casing 1 and the cap 7 which is attached to the protrusion portions 6A and 6B and formed to fix the vertical louver 3 not to fall off from the casing 1, the protrusion portions 6A and 6B may have a rotationally symmetrical shape on both sides in the width direction, and the cap 7 may have the same shape on both sides in the width direction.

[0044] According to the above-described configuration, since the protrusion portions 6A and 613 have a rotationally symmetrical shape on both sides in the width direction, the shape of the cap 7 can be the same on both sides in the width direction. That is, one type of cap 7 can correspond to the protrusion portions 6A and 6B on both sides in the width direction.

[0045] (7) An air conditioner according to a seventh aspect includes: the casing 1 which has the outlet lA opening in the horizontal direction; the blower 2 which is provided inside the casing 1 and configured to blow air toward a front side having the outlet 1A; he vertical louver 3 which is configured to change a position thereof by rotating around the first axis Al extending in the width direction of the outlet 1A, between the closed position P1 of closing the outlet lA and the guide position P2 of guiding the air forward by the guide surface 3S facing downward; and the plurality olhorizontal louvers 5 which are provided behind the vertical louver 3 and configured to guide the direction of the air in the horizontal direction by rotating around the third axis A3 extending in the height direction of the outlet 1A, wherein the front edge of the horizontal louver 5 is provided with the concave portion R which is recessed forward to store the rear edge of the vertical louver 3 located at the guide position P2.

[0046] According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to avoid the interference between the horizontal louver 5 and the vertical louver 3 at the guide position P2. As a result, the size of the device in the front and rear direction can be kept small.

Industrial Applicability

100471 According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the air conditioner capable of ftirther reducing a draft feeling.

Reference Signs List [0048] 100 Air conditioner 1 Casing IA Outict 1B Inlet 2 Blower 3 Vertical louver 3S Guide surface 4 Air guide plate 45 Air guide surface Horizontal louver 6A, 6B Protrusion portion 61A, 61B Notch portion 7 Cap 71 Cap main body 72 Convex portion 10 Heat exchanger 31 Vertical louver main body 32 Tab 41 Air guide plate main body 42 Rotation arm 51 Horizontal louver main body 52 Shaft portion Al First axis A2 Second axis A3 Third axis R Concave portion

Claims

CLAIMS[Claim I] An air conditioner comprising: a casing which has an outlet opening in a horizontal direction; a blower which is provided inside the casing and configured to blow air toward a front side having the outlet; a vertical louver which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around a first axis extending in a width direction of the outlet, between a closed position of closing the outlet and a guide position of guiding the air forward by a guide surface facing downward; and an air guide plate which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around a second axis below the first axis at an outside of a rotation locus of the vertical louver, between a standby position above the outlet and an air guide position located on the front and lower side of the vertical louver to guide air guided by the guide surface forward.
[Claim 2] The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the rotation locus of the vertical louver does not overlap a rotation locus of the air guide plate.
[Claim 3] The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the vertical louver is located at the closed position and the air guide plate is located at the standby position, the vertical louver and the air guide plate are flush with each other.
[Claim 4] The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a rotation radius of the air guide plate is larger than a rotation radius of the vertical louver.
[Claim 5] The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a plurality of horizontal louvers which are provided behind the vertical louver and configured to guide a direction of the air in the horizontal direction by rotating around a third axis extending in a height direction of the outlet, wherein a front edge of the horizontal louver is provided with a concave portion which is recessed forward to store a rear edge of the vertical louver located at the guide position.
[Claim 6] The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vertical louver includes a protrusion portion which is protruded from the vertical louver in the width direction and is inserted into a hole portion formed in the casing and a cap which is attached to the protrusion portion and formed to fix the vertical louver not to fall off from the casing, wherein the protrusion portion has a rotationally synnnetrical shape on both sides in the width direction, and wherein the cap has the same shape on both sides in the width direction.
[Claim 7] An air conditioner comprising: a casing which has an outlet opening in a horizontal direction; a blower which is provided inside the casing and configured to blow air toward a front side having the outlet; a vertical louver which is configured to change a position thereof, by rotating around a first axis extending in a width direction of the outlet, between a closed position of closing the outlet and a guide position of guiding the air forward by a guide surface facing downward; and a plurality of horizontal louvers which are provided behind the vertical louver and configured to guide a direction of the air in the horizontal direction by rotating around a third axis extending in a height direction of the outlet, wherein a front edge of the horizontal louver is provided with a concave portion which is recessed forward to store a rear edge of the vertical louver located at the guide position.