JP2001208417A - Filter and filter mounting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: When a pair of opposed ends of a filter frame are supported, an intermediate portion between the opposed ends bends downward by its own weight, and a gap is generated. Dirty air bypasses the filter and is introduced into the air conditioner. A left and right flanges of a filter frame are slid along guide rails of an indoor unit main body. The magnet 18 fixed to the upper surface of the front flange 13 of the filter frame 7 is magnetically attracted to the sheet metal member 26 of the indoor unit main body 2 in a state where the insertion of the filter 6 is completed, and between the front flange 13 and the sheet metal member 26. Prevent gaps.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter which is attached to an attachment opening of an air conditioner and removes dirt components, and a filter attachment structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various filters have been used in air conditioners. Generally, such a filter is configured to hold, for example, a sheet-like filter material in a filter frame having a lattice shape. For example, there is a floor-standing type indoor unit in which a lower surface is raised from a floor surface, indoor air is sucked from a suction port formed on a lower surface, and air is blown from a blow grill formed on an upper surface. In this type of indoor unit, the suction port is covered with an air filter. The air filter is guided by rails provided on the left and right edges of the suction port, and is slid rearward to be attached.
Conversely, when removing the air filter, slide it forward to remove it.

[0003]

By the way, the above-mentioned floor-standing type indoor unit is arranged near a wall so as to minimize the space in the room as well as the front and rear depth dimensions are shortened. For this reason, the shape of the air filter is long in the left and right directions and short in the front and rear directions. Referring to FIG. 9, when such an air filter 40 is supported by left and right rails 41, an intermediate portion 42 of air filter 40 in the left-right direction is bent downward by its own weight. As a result, a gap is formed between the leading edge of the air filter and the leading edge of the suction port. Through this gap, the dirty air does not pass through the air filter (bypasses the air filter), and enters the machine as it is. There is a problem of being introduced.

[0004] A problem of this kind is that the filter frame may be warped due to plastic deformation even if it is not in the above-described mounting form. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a filter capable of preventing air bypass and a mounting structure thereof.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided for preventing bending between a pair of opposed ends of a filter frame on which a pair of opposed ends are supported. And a filter provided with the magnetic attraction means. In this configuration, for example, if a rubber magnet is attached to an intermediate portion between opposed ends of the filter frame, the rubber magnet is provided at a corresponding edge of the mounting opening of the air conditioner, such as a sheet metal member. By adsorbing the magnetic material, the bending of the filter can be easily prevented. Thus, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the edge of the attached opening and the filter frame, and prevent the introduction of dirty air into the apparatus through the gap. The magnetic attraction means may be provided at least in part between the opposed ends.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, one of a pair of engaging means for preventing bending is provided between the opposed ends of the filter frame on which the pair of opposed ends are supported. It is characterized by the following. In this configuration, for example, a hook is provided in a part of the filter frame, and this is engaged with the hook engaging groove attached to the corresponding edge of the attached opening of the air conditioner, so that the bending of the filter can be easily performed. Can be prevented. The engaging means may be provided on at least a part of the opening end.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter wherein one surface element of a surface fastener for preventing bending is provided between the opposed ends of the filter frame on which a pair of opposed ends are supported. Is provided. In this configuration, for example, if a hook-shaped surface member is attached to a part of the filter frame, for example, a pile-shaped surface member attached to the corresponding edge portion of the mounting opening of the air conditioner is attached. , The bending of the filter can be easily prevented. Thus, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the edge of the attached opening and the filter frame, and prevent the introduction of dirty air into the apparatus through the gap.

Generally, a hook-and-loop fastener is a detachable tape (typically, a magic tape manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) that combines two surface elements of a pile-shaped surface member and a hook-shaped surface member. And is an aggregate of two surface elements. The hook shape in the hook-shaped surface member is intended to include hooks of a known shape in hook-and-loop fasteners in addition to hook-shaped and mushroom-shaped hooks. The one surface element may be provided at least in part between the opposed ends.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filter mounting structure for mounting a filter in a mounting opening of an air conditioner by sliding a filter in a direction parallel to a pair of opposite ends of the filter frame. A pair of guide rails for guiding the insertion and removal of the opposite end of the filter frame, a receiving portion for receiving the insertion-side end of the filter frame in the completed insertion state, and a first portion provided on the extraction-side end of the filter frame in the completed insertion state And a second magnetic attraction means for attracting the magnetic attraction means from above to prevent the filter frame from bending.

In this configuration, when the pair of opposed ends of the filter frame are slid in a state where they are introduced into and received by the corresponding guide rails of the air conditioner, the insertion-side end of the filter frame is received by the receiving portion. . On the other hand, the first magnetic attraction means at the withdrawal side end of the filter frame is attracted to the second magnetic attraction means, so that the middle between the opposite ends of the filter frame at the withdrawal side end of the filter frame. The bending of the part is prevented. Thus, the mounting opening can be covered by the filter in a state where no gap is formed at the edge thereof, and the introduction of dirty air into the apparatus through the gap can be prevented. If it is magnetic attraction means,
The detaching operation is easy, and the filter is reliably held in the sucked state. As the first and second magnetic attraction means, one may be a magnet and the other may be a magnet or a magnetic material having an opposite polarity. The magnetic attraction means of the filter frame may be provided at least at a part between the opposed ends.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the air conditioner is a floor-standing type indoor unit, the mounting opening is a suction port opened below the indoor unit, and the filter is an indoor unit. It is mounted by sliding from the front of the aircraft,
The second magnetic attraction means prevents the filter from bending due to its own weight. In the present configuration, in particular, in a floor-standing indoor unit, when a filter is slidably mounted on a suction opening that opens downward, a remarkable effect can be exerted in that bending of the filter due to its own weight can be prevented. As the first and second magnetic attraction means, one may be a magnet, and the other may be a magnet or a magnetic material having an opposite polarity. The magnetic attraction means of the filter frame may be provided at least at a part between the opposed ends. The magnetic adsorption means provided in the air conditioner may be the casing itself of the air conditioner body.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the pair of guide rails comprises a common member,
The front and rear ends are provided with inclined surfaces for guiding the filter frame introduction having the same shape. In this configuration, by using both guide rails as a common part that can be used for both, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the parts cost and the assembly cost. The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that, in claim 4, 5, or 6, a pair of surface elements of a surface fastener is used instead of the first and second magnetic attraction means.
In this configuration, the same effects as those of the third, fourth, and fifth aspects can be obtained by using the hook-and-loop fastener. Further, the hook-and-loop fastener has an advantage that the weight of the filter hardly increases.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the fourth, fifth, or sixth aspect, a pair of engaging means for engaging each other is used in place of the first and second magnetic attraction means. Is what you do.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner to which a filter mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Referring to FIG. 1, indoor unit 1
Has an indoor unit main body 2 which is arranged along the wall in the room and has a short depth before and after and a long side to side. A pair of legs 3 standing on the floor is formed on the left and right of the lower part of the indoor unit main body 2, and a suction port 4 as a mounting opening is formed below the lower surface of the indoor unit main body 2 between the legs 3. It is formed so as to be open to the public. The room air sucked through the suction port 4 is
The air is circulated indoors through a blower 5 disposed on the upper surface of the indoor unit main body 2 via a heat exchanger and a blower (not shown) built in the indoor unit main body 2.

[0015] As shown in FIG.
The air filter 6 is slid from the front and is slid forward and removed. The air filter 6 has a filter frame 7 having a rectangular shape that is long in the left and right directions in plan view. The filter frame 7 supports a sheet-like filter material 8. The filter frame 7 has a rectangular annular peripheral frame including a front frame 9, a rear frame 10, a left frame 11, and a right frame 12. The upper edge of the front frame 9, the rear frame 10, the left frame 11 and the right frame 12 has a square annular peripheral flange formed of a front flange 13, a rear flange 14, a left flange 15 and a right flange 16 projecting outward. Is formed. The filter frame 7 has a plurality of reinforcing frames 17. On the upper surface of the front flange 13, a magnet 18 made of, for example, a rubber magnet is fixed as first magnetic attraction means. The first magnetic attraction means may be provided at least at a part between the left and right ends of the front flange 13.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, slide insertion / removal of a left flange 15 and a right flange 16 corresponding to a pair of opposed ends of the filter frame 7 is guided to left and right side edges of the suction port 4. A pair of guide rails 19 and 20 are arranged so as to face each other. The pair of guide rails 19 and 20 are formed of sheet metal channel members having the same shape. Each guide rail 1
9 and 20 have an upper flange 21, a lower flange 22, and a web 23 connecting the two flanges 21 and 22 to each other. A raceway groove for guiding the flanges 15, 16 is formed between the flanges 21, 22. At the front and rear ends of the lower flange 22, an inclined surface 24 that goes down toward the front end side
Is provided. The inclined surface 24 is the left flange 1 of the filter frame 7.
The guide 5 and the right collar 16 are guided to facilitate introduction into the raceway groove.

Since the two guide rails 19 and 20 are made of a common part and can be used as mating parts, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the parts cost and the assembly cost. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a receiving member 25 that receives the rear flange 14 of the mounted filter frame 7 is provided at a rear portion of the suction port 4. The receiving member 25 is formed of, for example, a lower plate having an L-shaped cross section.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, at the front of the suction port 4, a second magnetic attraction to be attracted to the magnet 18 on the upper surface of the front flange 13 of the filter frame 7 in the mounted state. A sheet metal material 26 as a means is provided. The sheet metal member 26 is formed of, for example, a lower plate having an L-shaped cross section. Each guide rail 19, 2
The receiving member 25 and the sheet metal member 26 are fixed to the indoor unit main body 2 by screws or the like. According to the present embodiment, the left collar 15 and the right collar 1 of the filter frame 7 of the filter 6 are provided.
When the guide 6 is introduced into the corresponding guide rails 19 and 20 of the indoor unit 1 and slid rearward, the rear flange 14 corresponding to the insertion-side end of the filter frame 7 is received by the receiving member 25 at the end of the slide stroke. At the same time, the magnet 18 on the upper surface of the front flange 13 corresponding to the extraction side end of the filter frame 7 is magnetically attracted to the upper sheet metal material 26.

Thus, it is possible to prevent the middle portion of the front frame 9 of the filter frame 7 in the left-right direction from being bent downward by its own weight, and to prevent the front flange 13 and the front edge portion of the suction port 4 (the sheet metal material 26).
) Can be prevented from occurring. As a result, it is possible to prevent dirty air from being introduced into the indoor unit 1 due to the gap. In the above embodiment, a pair of magnetic attraction means is used. Instead, as shown in FIG. 7, a pile-like surface member 28 and a hook-like surface member which are a pair of surface elements of the surface fastener 27 are provided. 29
May be used. The pile-shaped surface member 28 comprises a plurality of piles 31 as a plurality of engagement means supported by a support 30. The hook-shaped surface member 29 supports a plurality of engagement means such as mushroom-shaped small pieces 33 on the support 32. Consisting of In the above-described embodiment, the sheet metal material 26 itself constituting the front edge of the suction port 4 constitutes the second magnetic attraction means. However, in the case where a surface fastener is used, the surface fastener One surface member 28 or 29 of 27 is fixed.

Further, instead of the pair of magnetic attraction means, a pair of engaging means which engage with each other can be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a hook 3 having an L-shaped cross section protruding upward from a front flange 13 of a filter frame 7 of a filter 6.
4 is provided, and at the end position of the insertion stroke of the filter 6, the hook 34 is hooked and engaged with the hook engagement groove 35 provided at the front portion of the indoor unit main body 2 to prevent the filter 6 from bending. You may do it. As the pair of engagement means, in addition to the combination of the hook 34 and the hook engagement groove 35, the pile 31 and the mushroom-shaped small piece 33 of the surface members 28 and 29 of the surface fastener 27 are also included. Further, other known engaging means can be used.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, it is assumed that the filter frame 7 is bent by its own weight. However, even if the filter frame 7 is mounted in another manner in which its own weight does not work to cause bending, the filter frame 7 may be bent. It is also conceivable that a gap may be formed due to warpage or the like caused during molding or subsequent use. Also in this case, the same effect of preventing the bypass of the dirty air can be obtained by preventing the bending caused by the warpage. Various other changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner to which a filter mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the indoor unit showing a state in which an air filter is inserted and withdrawn.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filter frame with a part thereof not being mounted.

FIG. 4 is a partially broken schematic perspective view showing a structure provided in an indoor unit main body for holding a filter frame.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the indoor unit showing a state where an air filter is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the indoor unit showing a state where an air filter is mounted.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a main part of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a state in which a filter having a conventional mounting structure is bent.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit 2 Indoor unit main body 4 Suction port (attachment opening) 6 Air filter 7 Filter frame 9 Front frame 10 Rear frame 11 Left frame 12 Right frame 13 Front flange 14 Rear flange 15 Left flange 16 Right flange 18 Magnet (1st 19, 20 Guide rail 24 Inclined surface 25 Receiving member 26 Sheet metal material (second magnetic attraction means) 27 Surface fastener 28 Pile-shaped surface member 29 Hook-shaped surface member 31 Pile (engaging means) 33 Mushroom type small piece (engaging means) 34 Hook (engaging means) 35 Hook engaging groove (engaging means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] A magnetic attraction means (18) for preventing deflection is provided between said opposed ends (15, 16) of a filter frame (7) on which a pair of opposed ends (15, 16) are supported. A filter characterized by the following. 2. A pair of engagement means which are engaged with each other to prevent deflection between said opposed ends (15, 16) of a filter frame (7) on which a pair of opposed ends (15, 16) are supported. A filter provided with one of the following. 3. One surface of a surface fastener (27) for preventing deflection between said opposed ends (15, 16) of a filter frame (7) on which a pair of opposed ends (15, 16) are supported. A filter comprising the elements (28, 29). 4. A pair of opposed ends (15, 16) of a filter frame (7).
A filter mounting structure in which the filter (6) is slid in the insertion / removal direction parallel to the filter mounting opening (4) of the air conditioner (1), and comprises a pair of opposed ends (15, 15) of the filter frame (7). 16), a pair of guide rails (19, 20) for guiding insertion and extraction, a receiving portion (25) for receiving the insertion side end (14) of the filter frame (7) in the completed insertion state, and a filter frame in the completed insertion state. The second magnetic attraction means (7) which is attracted from above to the first magnetic attraction means (18) provided at the extraction side end (13) of (7) to prevent the filter frame (7) from bending. 26) A filter mounting structure comprising: 5. The air conditioner (1) is a floor-mounted indoor unit.
(1), the mounting opening (4) is a suction opening (4) opened below the indoor unit (1), and the filter (6) is mounted by sliding from the front of the indoor unit (1). 5. The filter mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein the first and second magnetic attraction means prevent the filter from bending due to its own weight. 6. The pair of guide rails (19, 20) are formed of a common member, and have, at the front and rear ends, inclined surfaces (24) for guiding the filter frame introduction having the same shape. The filter mounting structure according to claim 4. 7. The first and second magnetic attraction means (18,
26), a pair of surface elements (28,2) of a surface fastener (27)
The filter mounting structure according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein (9) is used. 8. The first and second magnetic attraction means (18,
The filter mounting structure according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein a pair of engaging means (34, 35) that engage with each other are used instead of (26).