JP2002243192A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of performing inspection and maintenance as air conditioning operation is continued. SOLUTION: An indoor machine 1 is provided that a part throttle device 5, a header 6a for distributing a refrigerant, a motor 12, a control box 13, and drain piping 23, which need a periodical inspection or periodical maintenance, are disposed in a position where inspection or periodical maintenance is practicable in an air conditioning state without increasing air duct resistance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner that requires periodic inspection or periodic maintenance, and more particularly to a configuration that enables inspection or maintenance while air conditioning operation is continued.

[0002]

^2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an air conditioner for cooling a room in which a computer or the like is installed, the amount of heat generated by the computer per unit area is small, and the air conditioning load is 0.3 to 0.4 kW / m ^2.
Met. However, recent Internet data
As the integration of ICs has progressed, as represented by centers, the performance of computers has improved, and small, high-performance computers have become mainstream. As a result of storing such servers as much as possible in one cabinet rack, the heat generation per unit area is 1.5 to 2.0 k.
W / m ² is very large, and the load occupied by one air conditioner has been increasing.

[0003] Under such circumstances, stopping the function of even one air conditioner at the time of periodic inspection or maintenance of a faulty part has a great effect on a computer and the like. Assuming inspection and maintenance, there arises a problem that the number of air conditioners must be increased for backup. Therefore, the need for an air conditioner that can continue operation as much as possible even during periodic inspection and maintenance is increasing.

In the conventional air conditioner shown in FIG. 10, however, a motor 12 for a blower fan, a control box 13 as a controller, and a refrigerant are provided in an indoor heat exchanger 6, an air passage 1a formed by an inlet and an outlet. Due to the presence of circuit components (throttle device 5, refrigerant distribution header 6a, temperature detection device 6b) and the like, the design panel 2 during maintenance as shown in FIG.
Opening 4 unnecessarily lowers the air conditioning function. For example, the operating state of the motor 12 is checked (current value,
If the design panel 24 is opened only for measuring the number of revolutions, the air bypasses through the opening, and the cooling effect is reduced.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of performing inspection and maintenance while continuing air conditioning operation. It is another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that can reduce restrictions on design panels.

[0006]

In the air conditioner according to the present invention, parts requiring regular inspection or maintenance are arranged at a position where inspection or maintenance can be performed without increasing airflow resistance in an air-conditioning operation state. It has an indoor unit.

[0007] The present invention further includes an indoor unit in which parts requiring periodic inspection or maintenance are arranged at positions where inspection or maintenance can be performed without lowering the air-conditioning capacity in an air-conditioning operation state.

The indoor unit has a suction port for sucking air to be conditioned and an outlet for blowing conditioned air, and the suction port and the outlet are connected to an object to be air-conditioned by an air path.

[0009] Further, a plurality of design panels provided to be openable and closable in an indoor unit containing components requiring periodic inspection or periodic maintenance, and an inner panel provided inside the design panel and smaller than the design panel. It is provided.

The design panel covers an air passage space and a storage space for storing parts requiring periodic inspection or regular maintenance, and an inner panel opens the storage space and covers the air passage space.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerant circuit and the like of the air conditioner of the present invention.
, 1 is an indoor unit installed in a room where a heating element such as a server is installed, 2 is an outdoor unit installed outdoors, 3
Is a compressor that generates a refrigerant flow, 4 is an outdoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air, 5 is a throttle device that is an electronic expansion valve, and 6 is heat between the refrigerant and indoor air. An indoor heat exchanger for exchange, 7 is an accumulator capable of adjusting the amount of refrigerant, 8 is a compressor 3, an outdoor heat exchanger 4, a throttle device 5, an indoor heat exchanger 6, an accumulator 8 and a compressor 3. Refrigerant cycles are formed by these refrigerant pipes that are sequentially connected in order. In this refrigeration cycle, the outdoor heat exchanger 4 functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 6 functions as an evaporator. In this embodiment, R407C, which is a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture, is used as the refrigerant.
You may use R410A which is a pseudo azeotropic mixed refrigerant, R32 which is a flammable refrigerant, or the like.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a blower fan for generating an airflow passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 4, which is a propeller fan in the present embodiment. A motor 10 drives the blower fan 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a blower fan for generating an airflow passing through the indoor heat exchanger 6, which is a centrifugal fan in the present embodiment.
A motor 12 drives the blower fan 11. 13a
Is a control device for controlling the opening / closing and opening degree of the expansion device 5 and the rotation speed of the motor 12, and is housed in a control box 13 described later. 14 is the rotation speed of the compressor 3 and the motor 10
Is a control device for controlling the rotation speed of the motor. The expansion device 5, the indoor heat exchanger 6, the blower fan 11, the motor 12, and the control device 13a are provided in the indoor unit 1, and the compressor 3, the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the accumulator 7, the blower fan 9, the motor 10 The control device 14 is provided in the outdoor unit 2.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a state where the air conditioner is installed in a building. In FIG. 2, an underfloor duct 17 is provided below the floor of the room 15, and a ceiling duct 16 is similarly provided behind the ceiling of the room 15. A heating element such as a server is installed on a blowout hole opened in the underfloor duct 17, and a suction hole opened in the ceiling duct 16 is formed above the heating element. The indoor unit 1 is installed on a suction hole opened in the underfloor duct 17, and a blowout hole opened in the ceiling duct 16 is formed above the indoor unit 1. In this way, the underfloor duct 17 connects the air outlet formed on the bottom surface of the indoor unit 1 with the heating element, supplies cooling air to the heating element,
The heating element is connected to a suction opening formed on the top surface of the indoor unit 1 by the ceiling duct 16, and the indoor air heated by the heating element is taken into the indoor unit 1.

The outdoor unit 2 is installed on a rooftop 18 of a building. A plurality of indoor units 1 and outdoor units 2 are installed according to the number of heating elements and the amount of heat generated, and the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 8. The ceiling duct 16 has a relatively coarse filter 19 attached to the suction hole. In addition, a filter 20 having relatively fine eyes is detachably attached to the suction port on the top surface of the indoor unit 1. The heating element has a very large heating value per unit area of 1.5 to 2.0 kW / m ^2, and the Internet data
A server at the center, which is fixed to a cabinet and stacked in multiple stages in the height direction.

FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing the internal structure of the indoor unit 1, and FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a partition plate for isolating the inside of the indoor unit 1 into an air passage 1a and a maintenance space 1b. The air passage 1a has an inlet on the top surface of the indoor unit 1 and an outlet on the bottom surface. A heat exchanger 6, a drain pan 22 for collecting drain water condensed on the heat exchanger 6, and a blower fan 11 are provided from the mouth toward the outlet. In the maintenance space 1b, a throttle device 5, a refrigerant pipe 8, a motor 12 connected to a blower fan 11 via a drive shaft, a control box 13, and a drain pan 2 are provided.
2 and a drain pipe 23 for draining drain water to the outside is provided therein.

To connect the heat exchanger 6 on the air path 1a side and the expansion device 5 and the refrigerant pipe 8 on the maintenance space 1b side to the partition plate 15, a side plate which is a side portion of the heat exchanger 6 is connected to the maintenance space. 1b through which a heat exchanger opening 21a penetrates the refrigerant distribution header 6a and the temperature detector 6
b, the aperture device 5 is arranged on the maintenance space 1b side, and is separated from the air passage 1a. A drain hose opening 21b that functions the drain hose 23 from the drain pan 22 to the maintenance space 1b side, and a shaft opening 21c that penetrates the drive shaft for connecting the drive shaft of the motor 12 to the blower fan 11 are formed. Each opening is provided so as to be airtight after passing through each configuration.

The heat exchanger 6 is arranged in an inverted "C" shape.
The indoor air sucked from the suction port on the top surface of the indoor unit 1 flows from the center through the heat exchanger 6 to the front side and the rear side, flows through the fan 11 from the outlet on the bottom surface to the underfloor duct 17. The throttle device 5, the motor 12, and the drain hose 23 provided in the maintenance space 1b are components that require regular inspection. The filter 20 attached to the suction port of the air passage 1a is a component that requires regular maintenance, and has a structure that can be detached from the outside of the indoor unit 1 even when the air conditioner is in an air-conditioning operation state.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the indoor unit 1. FIG. 4A shows a state in which the design panel 24a is closed to cover the air passage 1a, the design panel 24b of the maintenance space 1b is removed and the maintenance panel 1b is opened to expose the maintenance space 1b. (B)
Is the air path 1 with the design panels 24a and 24b closed.
a and the maintenance space 1b are shown. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the design panels 24a and 24b are removed and opened to expose the air passage 1a and the maintenance space 1b. The design panels 24a and 24b are quadrangular and are screwed at four corners in the closed state, and the panels are removed and opened by removing these screws.

The air passage 1a has a larger volume than the maintenance space 1b, and has a rectangular parallelepiped room structure in which the height and the depth are the same, so that the air passage 1a is wider than the maintenance space 1b even in a front view. ing. For this reason, the width of the design panel 24a covering the air passage 1a is wider than the design panel 24b covering the maintenance space 1b. In the closed state, the design panel 24a is in close contact with the housing of the indoor unit 1 and the front end face of the partition plate 21 while maintaining airtightness.

In the air conditioner configured as described above, it is not necessary to stop the air conditioning operation at the time of the periodic inspection of the indoor unit 1 or at the time of the periodic maintenance, and the air conditioner operates normally. The serviceman removes only the design panel 24b during the periodic inspection or periodic maintenance, and checks the states of the motor 12, the expansion device 5, the refrigerant distribution header 6a, the temperature detection device, the refrigerant pipe 8, and the drain pipe 23. If there is no abnormality as a result of the confirmation, the design panel 24b is closed.
For the filter 20 requiring maintenance, the filter 20 is removed from the outside of the indoor unit 1 in the air-conditioning operation state, and the filter 20 is cleaned or replaced. Filter 2
Since the pressure loss in the air passage does not increase even if 0 is removed, the air conditioning capacity does not decrease.

According to the above configuration, the design panel 24a can be inspected or maintained in a closed state while maintaining the air path 1a airtight, so that the air path 1a can be prevented from being bypassed by opening and closing the design panel. The air-conditioning capacity can be maintained even during regular inspections and regular maintenance. It is necessary to stop the air-conditioning operation and replace or repair the target component if any abnormality is found in the components to be inspected or maintained. Therefore, there is no need to stop the heating element.

In this embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the indoor air is sucked in from the indoor unit top surface suction port and the heat-exchanged conditioned air is blown out from the air outlet on the bottom surface of the indoor unit. Even more.
In addition, the indoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment has been described in terms of the split type in which the refrigerant circuit components such as the compressor and the accumulator are mounted on the outdoor unit 2 so that the installation area is reduced.
A remote system in which the refrigerant circuit component is mounted on an indoor unit may be used. However, indoor units are often installed in the same room as heating elements such as servers, and there are many restrictions such as room opening and indoor environment, whereas outdoor units are often installed outdoors. If the number of parts and the parts to be subjected to periodic inspection or periodic maintenance are concentrated in the indoor unit, the maintenance space becomes large and the volume of the indoor unit becomes large. Therefore, the split system is suitable.

As in the present embodiment, the suction flow and the blow-off flow between the heating element to be air-conditioned and the indoor unit 1 are transferred to the ceiling duct 1.
6 and the underfloor duct 17 make it difficult for the hot air from the heating element and the cooled conditioned air to be released into the entire room 15, thereby preventing the room 15 from becoming extremely hot or cold. As a result, it is possible to prevent a service person who performs an inspection operation and a maintenance operation while the heating element and the air conditioner are operating from being exposed to a severe temperature environment, thereby improving workability. In FIG. 2, the configuration is made such that ambient air in the room is sucked in by a slight gap between the ceiling duct and the suction port of the indoor unit. However, the ceiling duct may be connected to the suction port of the indoor unit.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view showing another embodiment of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the present invention,
(A) is a state in which the design panel 24c is closed, the design panel 24b covering the maintenance space 1b is removed and the maintenance panel 1b is opened to expose the maintenance space 1b, (b)
Is the air duct 1 with the design panels 24c and 24d closed.
a and the maintenance space 1b are shown. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 24c denotes a left design panel which has a width approximately half the width of the indoor unit 1 and is arranged on the front surface of the air passage 1a and covers a part of the air passage 1a. 1
And a right design panel that covers the remaining portion of the air passage 1a (the portion that covers the right half in front of the indoor unit 1) and the maintenance space 1b. Reference numeral 25 denotes a design panel 24d. Design panel 24c provided inside
This is a middle panel that covers the remaining portion of the air passage 1a that cannot be covered by the above.

When the middle panel 25 is closed, its right end is in close contact with the front end face of the partition plate 21 while maintaining airtightness, and its upper and lower ends are in close contact with the upper and lower housings of the indoor unit 1 while maintaining airtightness. are doing. Also, the middle panel 25 and the design panel 24c
In the closed state, the adjacent ends are in close contact with each other, and
a is kept airtight. The design panels 24c and 24d are formed in the same shape or a symmetrical shape, and are closed when the four corners are screwed to the housing of the indoor unit 1, and are opened when the screws are removed. In the present embodiment, the design panels 24c and 24d have the same shape.

With the above configuration, the design panel shape is less likely to be restricted by the layout of the air passage 1a, the maintenance space 1b, and the internal components thereof. As a result,
The degree of freedom in the design panel size is increased, and the appearance of the design is good, and it is not necessary to make the panel large, so that the cost can be reduced and the workability is good. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the design panels 24c and 24d have the same shape, a cost reduction effect can be expected by commonality, and in the case of two panels, both panels can be less than half the indoor unit width dimension. Since it is not necessary to use a large panel, vibration of the panel can be suppressed.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 6 schematically shows the internal structure of an indoor unit in another embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention, (a) front view, (b) left side view, (c) A-
It is A sectional drawing. In FIG. 6, the partition plate 21 has a shape along the alternate long and short dash line showing an AA cross section, and includes an upper vertical surface, a horizontal surface extending leftward from the lower end of the upper vertical surface, and a lower surface extending from the left end of the horizontal surface. The indoor unit 1 has a rectangular shape including a lower vertical surface located substantially at the center in the width direction. Due to the partition plate 21, the air path 1a is formed so as to have a wide upper part and a narrow lower part, and the maintenance space 1b is formed to have a narrow upper part and a wide lower part. The indoor heat exchanger 6 is arranged almost completely in the width direction in the upper wide air passage 1a, and the fan 11 is arranged in the lower narrow air passage 1a. In addition, wind path 1a
Also has an opening corresponding to the width of the upper air passage.

At the upper part of the maintenance space 1b, a refrigerant distribution header 6a having a relatively small width, a temperature detecting device, and a throttle device 5 are provided on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 6 in addition to the indoor heat exchanger 6. A control box 13 connected to the fan 11 by a drive shaft and containing a relatively wide motor 12 and a board is disposed in the large space. In this way, the large parts in the width direction in the air path 1a and the small parts in the width direction in the maintenance space 1b are horizontally arranged, and the small parts in the width direction and the maintenance space 1 in the air path 1a.
By arranging components large in the width direction in the horizontal direction at b, the width direction of the entire indoor unit 1 is compactly arranged.

Further, since the control box 13 accommodates a substrate and the like, if the substrate is arranged in the depth direction, the control box 13
13 can be made smaller in the width direction, but it is difficult for a serviceman to see during inspection. Therefore, by arranging the control box 13 in the lower maintenance space in the width direction, the substrates are arranged in the width direction of the indoor unit 1 so that the indoor unit 1 can be compactly stored in the width direction even when the control box is wide. Becomes possible.

The horizontal surface of the partition plate 21 also serves as a guide for guiding the airflow passing through the right side of the indoor heat exchanger 6 to the fan 11. In order to guide the air flow more smoothly, the horizontal surface of the partition plate 21 may be formed so as to become lower toward the left (toward the fan 11). Further, in order to draw the drain pipe 23 into the maintenance space 1b, if the bottom surface of the drain pan 22 is inclined rightward and the drain pipe 23 is connected to the right end, the drain pipe 23 is short and efficient. The horizontal surface of the partition plate 21 may be formed so as to become lower toward the right in accordance with the inclination of the drain pan 22. Further, the drain space 23 is made to penetrate the horizontal plane of the partition plate 21 so that the maintenance space 1b is formed.
You may draw it out.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the indoor unit 1 of FIG.
Is a state in which the design panel 24c is closed, the design panel 24b covering the maintenance space 1b is removed and opened to expose the maintenance space 1b, and (b) is a state in which the design panels 24c and 24d are closed and the air paths 1a and The state which covered the maintenance space 1b is shown. The middle panel 25 covers the upper space of the air passage 1a protruding to the right side of the widthwise middle of the indoor unit 1. Other panel configurations are the same as in the second embodiment.

With the above-described configuration, the design panel shape is less likely to be restricted by the layout of the air passage 1a, the maintenance space 1b, and its internal components. As a result,
The degree of freedom in the design panel size is increased, and the appearance of the design is good, and it is not necessary to make the panel large, so that the cost can be reduced and the workability is good. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the design panels 24c and 24d have the same shape, a cost reduction effect can be expected by commonality, and in the case of two panels, both panels can be less than half the indoor unit width dimension. Since it is not necessary to use a large panel, vibration of the panel can be suppressed.

Embodiment 4 FIG. FIG. 8 schematically shows the internal structure of an indoor unit in another embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention, (a) front view, (b) left side view, (c) A-
It is A sectional drawing. In FIG. 8, the partition plate 21 has a shape along an alternate long and short dash line showing an AA cross section, and a horizontal plane extending to the left with an upper vertical surface and a high step from the lower end of the upper vertical surface to the left. A lower vertical surface extending downward from the left end of the horizontal plane and located substantially in the middle of the width of the indoor unit 1 and a different level horizontal surface (more precisely, the rear edge of the front horizontal surface and the front edge of the rear horizontal surface) are connected. The upper part comprises a connecting surface inclined forward along the inclination of the indoor heat exchanger 6.

Due to the partition plate 21, the air path 1a is formed wide at the upper and middle rear sides and narrow at the middle front and lower parts, while the maintenance space 1b is formed narrower at the upper and middle rear sides and wide at the middle front and lower parts. You.
In the upper and middle rear wide air passages 1a, a forwardly inclined indoor heat exchanger 6 is disposed substantially completely in the width direction from the lower right side to the middle rear side space of the air passage, and the middle left and lower left and lower lower parts. A fan 11 is provided in the narrow air passage 1a. The air inlet of the air passage 1a is also opened in accordance with the upper air passage width.

Above the maintenance space 1b, a refrigerant distribution header 6a, a temperature detecting device, and a throttle device 5, which are provided on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 6 and are relatively narrow, are disposed. Fan 11 in a large space
And a drive shaft, a motor 12 having a relatively large width is arranged, and a control box 13 containing a board and the like is arranged in a large space below. Thus, the wind path 1a
In the horizontal direction, a large component in the width direction and a small component in the width direction in the maintenance space 1b are arranged laterally, and a small component in the width direction in the air passage 1a and a large component in the width direction in the maintenance space 1b are arranged laterally. In the middle part of the indoor unit 1, the width of the entire indoor unit 1 and the height direction are gathered compactly by securing the storage height of the indoor heat exchanger 1 by making the rear side an air passage space. .

Further, since the control box 13 accommodates a board and the like, if the board is arranged in the depth direction, the control box 13
13 can be made smaller in the width direction, but it is difficult for a serviceman to see during inspection. Therefore, by arranging the control box 13 in the lower maintenance space in the width direction, the substrates are arranged in the width direction of the indoor unit 1 so that the indoor unit 1 can be compactly stored in the width direction even when the control box is wide. Becomes possible.

Each horizontal surface of the partition plate 21 also serves as a guide for guiding the airflow passing through the right side of the indoor heat exchanger 6 to the fan 11. Partition plate 21 to guide air flow more smoothly
May be formed so as to become lower toward the left (toward the fan 11). Further, in order to draw the drain pipe 23 into the maintenance space 1b, if the bottom surface of the drain pan 22 is inclined rightward and the drain pipe 23 is connected to the right end, the drain pipe 23 is short and efficient. This drain pan 22
May be formed so that the rear horizontal surface of the partition plate 21 becomes lower toward the right in accordance with the inclination of the partition plate 21. Also, the drain pipe 23
Is drawn through the rear horizontal surface of the partition plate 21 to the maintenance space 1b, but may be passed through the upper vertical surface.

By providing the air path 1a on the rear side of the middle part of the indoor unit and the maintenance space 1b on the front side, a wide maintenance space opening to the front of the indoor unit 1, which is a service surface, can be secured. Further, the indoor unit heat exchanger 6 is used in the first embodiment.
By making it I-shaped inclined forward from V-shaped like ~ 3,
The drain pan can be centralized in the rear space in the middle, and the motor, the drain pan, and the drain pipe can be arranged in the front-rear direction.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the indoor unit 1 of FIG.
Is a state in which the design panel 24c is closed, the design panel 24b covering the maintenance space 1b is removed and opened to expose the maintenance space 1b, and (b) is a state in which the design panels 24c and 24d are closed and the air paths 1a and The state which covered the maintenance space 1b is shown. The middle panel 25 covers the upper space of the air passage 1a protruding to the right side of the widthwise middle of the indoor unit 1. Other panel configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

With the above configuration, the design panel shape is less likely to be restricted by the layout of the air passage 1a, the maintenance space 1b, and its internal components. As a result,
The degree of freedom in the design panel size is increased, and the appearance of the design is good, and it is not necessary to make the panel large, so that the cost can be reduced and the workability is good. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the design panels 24c and 24d have the same shape, a cost reduction effect can be expected by commonality, and in the case of two panels, both panels can be reduced to half or less of the width of the indoor unit. Since it is not necessary to use a large panel, vibration of the panel can be suppressed. Further, the middle panel can be made smaller than the volume of the air passage 1a protruding to the right.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, an indoor unit in which parts requiring periodic inspection or maintenance are arranged at a position where inspection or maintenance is possible without increasing airflow resistance in an air-conditioning operation state. Therefore, continuous air-conditioning operation can be performed while maintaining airflow resistance.

Further, since the indoor unit provided with parts requiring periodic inspection or maintenance is provided at a position where inspection or maintenance can be performed without lowering the air conditioning performance in the air-conditioning operation state, the air-conditioning performance can be maintained. Continuous air-conditioning operation becomes possible.

The indoor unit is provided with a suction port for sucking air to be conditioned and an outlet for blowing out conditioned air. The suction port and the outlet are connected to an object to be air-conditioned by an air path. Work environment during maintenance can be improved.

Also, a plurality of design panels provided in the indoor unit which can be opened and closed in a unit which contains components requiring periodic inspection or maintenance, and an inner panel provided inside the design panel and smaller than the design panel. Since it is provided, the degree of freedom of the layout of the indoor unit is improved.

The design panel covers the air passage space and a storage space for storing parts requiring periodic inspection or regular maintenance, and the inner panel opens the storage space and covers the air passage space. Layout flexibility is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

3A is a front view schematically showing the internal structure of the indoor unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view along AA.

FIG. 4A is a front view showing a state in which the design panel 24a is in a closed state and the design panel 24b is in an open state in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a state in which the design panels 24a and 24b are in a closed state. It is a front view showing the state where it did.

5A is a front view showing a state in which the design panel 24c is in a closed state and the design panel 24d is in an open state, and FIG. 5B is a front view in which the design panels 24c and 24d are in a closed state. It is a front view showing the state where it did.

6A is a front view, FIG. 6B is a left side view, and FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, schematically showing the internal structure of the indoor unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a front view showing a state in which the design panel 24c is in a closed state and a design panel 24d is in an open state, and FIG. 7B is a front view in which the design panels 24c and 24d are in a closed state. It is a front view showing the state where it did.

8 (a) is a front view, FIG. 8 (b) is a left side view, and FIG. 8 (c) is a cross-sectional view along AA, schematically showing the internal structure of the indoor unit according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a front view showing a state in which the design panel 24c is in a closed state and a design panel 24d is in an open state, and FIG. 9B is a front view in which the design panels 24c and 24d are in a closed state. It is a front view showing the state where it did.

10A is a front view schematically showing an internal structure of an indoor unit in a conventional air conditioner, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view along AA.

11 (a) is a front view showing a state where a left design panel is closed and a right design panel is opened, and FIG. 11 (b) is a state where the design panel is closed. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 indoor unit, 1a air passage, 1b maintenance space, 2 outdoor unit, 5 expansion device, 6 indoor heat exchanger, 6a refrigerant distribution header, 11 indoor ventilation fan, 12 motor, 13 control box, 15 indoor, 16 ceiling duct , 17 Underfloor duct, 18
Rooftop, 20 filters, 21 dividers, 22 drain pans, 23 drain pipes, 24 design panels,
25 Middle panel.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tsutsumi 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Corporation F-term (reference) 3L050 BA10 3L051 BG03 BH02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner comprising an indoor unit provided with a component requiring periodic inspection or maintenance at a position where inspection or maintenance is possible without increasing airflow resistance in an air-conditioning operation state. apparatus. 2. An air conditioner comprising an indoor unit provided with a component requiring periodic inspection or maintenance at a position where inspection or maintenance can be performed without lowering the air conditioning capacity in an air-conditioning operation state. . 3. The indoor unit includes a suction port for sucking air to be conditioned and an outlet for blowing out conditioned air, wherein the suction port and the outlet are connected to an object to be air-conditioned by an air path. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. A plurality of design panels provided to be openable and closable in an indoor unit incorporating components requiring periodic inspection or periodic maintenance, and an inner panel provided inside the design panel and smaller than the design panel. An air conditioner, comprising: 5. The design panel covers an air passage space and a storage space for storing parts requiring periodic inspection or periodic maintenance, and an inner panel opens the storage space and covers the air passage space. The air conditioner according to claim 4.