JP2004053071A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of easily cleaning a portion of an air duct close to an air fan on depth side. <P>SOLUTION: A conduit 7 for guiding air sent from an air fan 2 to a blow-off outlet 4 is constructed with a double structure casing 15. The casing 15 consists of an outside casing 15a and an inside casing 15b. The inside casing 15b is slidably mounted on the front side of the outside casing 15a. Upon cleaning the inside casing 15b is slided, and the interior side is pulled out for its cleaning. Otherwise, the inside casing 15b is taken out from an instrument body 1 for its cleaning. After drying, the inside casing 15b is again mounted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner that can easily clean, for example, a blower to which dust, dust, and oil have adhered and a peripheral portion thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, an air conditioner controls the room temperature by cooling or heating the blown air and blowing it out. FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of an example of the air conditioner. A blower 2 (lateral flow fan) and a heat exchanger 3 are installed in a device main body 1 of the air conditioner (indoor unit). The blower 2 and the heat exchanger 3 are arranged in an air guide path 7 extending from the inlet 5 to the outlet 4, and the wind blown from the inlet 5 toward the outlet 4 by the blower 2 is directed to the front side of the blower 2 ( When passing through the heat exchanger 3 arranged on the (upstream side), it is cooled or heated.
[0003]
The air guide path 7 is surrounded by a front casing 6a and a rear casing 6b formed in the device main body 1. The rear casing 6b is formed in a curved state to the rear side of the blower 2, and forms a rear wall of the air guide path 7 from the front upper suction port 5 to the front lower air outlet 4. Below the heat exchanger 3, a drain pan 8 that receives water droplets generated on the surface of the plate-like fins of the heat exchanger 3 is arranged. The drain pan 8 is formed using the front casing 6a.
[0004]
The air outlet 4 is provided with a wind direction adjuster 9 for adjusting the wind blowing direction. The wind direction adjuster 9 includes a vertical wind direction adjusting plate 10 for adjusting the vertical direction of the wind direction, and a left and right direction for adjusting the horizontal direction of the wind direction. And a wind direction adjusting plate 11. Among them, the vertical wind direction adjusting plate 10 is supported on the drain pan 8 side, and the horizontal wind direction adjusting plate 11 is supported on the casing 6 side.
[0005]
The suction port 5 is formed from the upper part to the lower part of the front lid 12 which is attached to the main body 1 so as to be openable and closable. An air filter 14 is detachably attached to the device main body 1 between the suction port 5 and the heat exchanger 3. The air filter 14 adsorbs most of the dust, dust, oil, and the like floating in the sucked air. By removing and cleaning the air filter 14, adsorbed dust, dust, oil, and the like are removed.
[0006]
Dust, dust, oil, and the like that have passed through the mesh of the air filter 14 enter the inside of the device main body 1, and a part thereof adheres to the surfaces of the blower 2, the heat exchanger 3, the casing 6, and the like. The dust, dust, oil, etc., which becomes larger due to the adhesion of dust, dust, oil, etc., which is sent thereafter, lowers the performance of the air conditioner due to the resistance of the air blow, and makes the blown air unsanitary. May be used.
[0007]
When the dust and the dust and the surface of the casing 6 are dry and do not contain oil, the amount of the dust and the dust attached to the casing 6 is small. When heated, it often absorbs moisture or contains oil, and the amount of adhesion to the casing 6 increases.
[0008]
Therefore, it becomes necessary to clean the blower 2 or the air guide path 7. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-324161, as shown in FIG. 7, by removing or moving a wind direction adjuster 101 (wind direction changing device), a wind guide path 102 (airway) is opened, and the wind direction adjuster 101 is opened. An air conditioner that can clean the inside of the device main body 103 is disclosed. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-337105 discloses an air conditioner in which dust adhered to the surface of a fin of a heat exchanger is washed away by spraying a cleaning liquid with a drip-proof cover provided inside. ing.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the blower is disposed close to the casing at a position recessed from the outlet, it is difficult for the user to clean the blower and the casing. On the other hand, professional cleaning by professionals is often avoided, because it takes time and costs. Therefore, dust, dust, oil, and the like are likely to remain attached to the blower and the casing, and the function of the air conditioner cannot be sufficiently exhibited.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of easily performing cleaning of an air guide path and a blower and maintaining predetermined performance and good hygiene.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is to detachably or movably attach a casing constituting a wind guide path in a device main body to the device main body. According to this configuration, by moving the casing to a position where the casing can be cleaned, it is possible to easily clean the surface of the air guide path that is originally deep and inaccessible. Alternatively, the casing can be removed for cleaning.
[0012]
When the casing constitutes the air outlet of the air guide path and the vicinity thereof, the casing can be moved so as to be drawn out from the air outlet or removed. If the casing is slidably mounted on the device main body, the movement and the attachment / detachment of the casing can be simplified. At this time, if the curved surface portion of the air guide path is formed of a flexible casing, the casing can be made deformable according to the shape of the air guide path. The casing may be formed from a thin metal plate or the like, but is more preferably formed from a flexible thermoplastic resin.
[0013]
If a blower is provided in the air guide path in the apparatus main body and a cleaning means for cleaning the blower is provided, the cleaning of the blower can be simplified. If the air guide path is constituted by a casing detachably or movably attached to the apparatus main body, and a cleaning tool as a cleaning means is attached to the casing, the cleaning tool can be brought into contact with the blower for cleaning at the time of cleaning.
[0014]
Specifically, the cleaning tool attached to the casing is separated from the blower during operation, and the cleaning tool contacts the blower when the casing is moved to a predetermined position. Alternatively, the cleaning tool may be detachable from the casing, the casing may be detached from the device main body during cleaning, the cleaning tool may be attached, and the cleaning tool may be brought into contact with the blower when the casing is mounted on the device main body again.
[0015]
As another cleaning means, a fluid passage may be formed in the air guide passage, and the blower may be cleaned by discharging a fluid from a blowing hole of the fluid passage arranged opposite to the blower. Specifically, if a blowing means for blowing a fluid for cleaning the blower from the casing constituting the air guide path is provided, the blower can be provided with cleaning water or air without providing another cleaning member in the apparatus body. Can be cleaned by spraying.
[0016]
As the blowing means, a blowing hole facing the blower is formed in the casing, and a fluid passage communicating with the blowing hole is formed by the double-structured casing. By this spraying means, the supplied fluid is discharged from the spray hole through the fluid passage. In addition, if the casing is detachable or movable to the device main body, the casing can be cleaned by moving the casing or removing the casing from the device main body after cleaning the blower.
[0017]
A cleaning casing provided with a cleaning tool for cleaning the blower or a spraying means for blowing a fluid for cleaning the blower may be prepared, and may be mounted instead of the casing during cleaning. The cleaning casing is inserted between a blower and a heat exchanger provided in an air guide passage in the apparatus main body to cover the heat exchanger. Then, it is possible to prevent dust, dust, oil and the like adhering to the blower from scattering at the time of cleaning and adhering to the heat exchanger.
[0018]
When a wind direction adjuster for adjusting the direction of the wind blown from the outlet is provided, if the wind direction adjuster is supported by other members constituting the air guide path other than the casing, the wind direction adjuster may hinder movement or removal of the casing. do not become.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, first to fourth embodiments of the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. These air conditioners (indoor units) have substantially the same configuration as the conventional air conditioner shown in FIG. 6, and rotate the blower 2 (lateral flow fan) with a motor (not shown) to suck the indoor air drawn from the suction port 5. Of the air passes through the air filter 14 and the heat exchanger 3 in the air guide path 7 and blows out from the outlet 4.
[0020]
First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment. In this air conditioner, the rear wall of the air guide path 7 is formed of a casing 15 having a double structure, and the inner casing 15b that covers the front surface (the side of the blower 2) of the outer casing 15a can be detachably detached for cleaning. It is like that. The outer casing 15a is formed in the vertical direction on the rear side of the blower 2 in the device main body 1, and has a curved surface that guides the wind sent from the front inlet 5 to the front outlet 4.
[0021]
A curved guide (not shown) for guiding the inner casing 15b along the surface of the outer casing 15a is formed in a portion surrounding both side surfaces of the air guide path 7 of the device main body 1. The inner casing 15 b is made of a plate made of a flexible thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene, and is slidably guided by the guide of the device main body 1 so as to be pulled out from the outlet 4 or pushed in. Note that the inner casing 15b has flexibility, and is adapted to conform to the curve of the guide when sliding.
[0022]
A groove 15c into which the upper end of the inner casing 15b fits is formed in the outer casing 15a. The upper end of the inner casing 15b is formed according to the shape of the groove 15c, and is tightly locked without gap when fitted into the groove 15c. The lower end 15d of the inner casing 15b has a shape bent rearward so as to engage with the engaging portion 1a of the device main body 1.
[0023]
The engaging portion 1a is formed by projecting the front end of the lower wall of the device main body 1 forward from the outer casing 15a, and the lower end 15d of the inner casing 15b is engaged with the engaging portion 1a by pushing it into the upper surface of the engaging portion 1a. . The inner casing 15b is attached to the device main body 1 by pushing the inner casing 15b along the guide, fitting the upper end surface into the groove 15c, and engaging the lower end 15d with the engaging portion 1a.
[0024]
Among the wind direction adjusters 9 arranged at the outlet 4, the vertical wind direction adjusting plates 10 are supported on both side surfaces of the device main body 1, and the left and right wind direction adjusting plates 11 are supported by the drain pan 8. When the inner casing 15b is slid and attached or detached from the outlet 4 like a conventional air conditioner supporting either of them on the casing 6 side, the vertical wind direction adjusting plate 10 and the horizontal wind direction adjusting plate 11 do not interfere.
[0025]
According to the above configuration, since the inner casing 15b can be slid and attached and detached, the inner casing 15b is detached from the device main body 1 so as to be pulled out from the outlet 4 and washed with a tap water fork or washing water. After being dried, it can be mounted on the device body 1 again. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the blowing capacity of the blower 2 due to dust, dust, oil, or the like attached to the casing 15. In addition, since the inner casing 15b is easy to clean and its surface is kept clean, mold and bacteria are not generated, so that clean air can be blown out.
[0026]
In the present embodiment, the inner casing 15b is detachable from the device main body 1. However, the inner casing 15b may be pulled out from the outlet 4 until the surface can be cleaned without removing the inner casing 15b from the device main body 1. Alternatively, a sheet may be wound around the surface of the casing, and the sheet may be rotated to move the surface to a position where the surface can be cleaned. Alternatively, the casing itself may be constituted by an endless belt.
[0027]
[Second embodiment] Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the air conditioner of the second embodiment in use, and Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the air conditioner of the second embodiment in a cleaning state. In the casing 16 of this air conditioner, the upper end of an inner casing 16b slidably mounted on the front side of an outer casing 16a is projected above the blower 2, and a brush 17 (cleaning tool) is attached to the projected portion. . Other configurations of the air conditioner are the same as those of the air conditioner of the first embodiment in FIG.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 2, during use of the air conditioner, the brush 17 is located between the upper part of the blower 2 and the heat exchanger 2 and the outer casing 16 a so as not to contact the blower 2. As shown in FIG. 3, when cleaning the air conditioner, when the inner casing 16 b is slid downward, the brush 17 comes into contact with the blower 2. By rotating the blower 2 in this contact state, dust, dust, oil, and the like adhering to the surface of the blower 2 are separated from the surface of the blower 2 and blown out from the outlet 4. After the blower 2 is cleaned, the inner casing 16b is removed from the device main body 1, washed, dried, and then attached to the device main body 1 again. With the configuration described above, it is possible to clean the surface of the blower 2 that cannot be normally cleaned.
[0029]
As the brush 17, a brush sponge that is rotatably supported by an arm, a brush that has numerous hairs implanted thereon, or a brush that does not damage the blower 2 is used. The brush 17 in which the hairs are implanted has an irregular length of the hairs, so that even if the length of sliding the inner casing 16b is slightly shifted, the surface of the blower 2 can be cleaned with any of the hair tips. I do.
[0030]
In order to slide the inner casing 16b to a position where the brush 17 hits the blower 2, the inner casing 16b is marked. As a result, the length of sliding can be confirmed. Alternatively, a projection is provided on the back surface of the inner casing 16b. As a result, when the inner casing 16b is slid to an appropriate position, the protrusion stops at a position where the protrusion is hooked and hits the device body 1 side.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the contact between the blower 2 and the brush 17 is switched or not by sliding the inner casing 16b. However, the brush 17 may be detachable from the inner casing 16b. In this case, by removing the brush 17 when using the air conditioner, the protrusion for mounting the brush 17 becomes unnecessary, so that it does not hinder the air blowing and the suction performance does not decrease. When cleaning the air conditioner, the inner casing 16b is removed from the device main body 1, the brush 17 is mounted, the inner casing 16b is mounted on the device main body 1 again, and the blower 2 is rotated to clean the blower 2.
[0032]
The brush 17 may be attached to another member instead of being attached to the casing 16b. The member to which the brush 17 is attached may be movable with respect to the device main body 1, but may be fixed to the device main body 1 so that the brush 17 is constantly brought into contact with the blower 2 during use of the air conditioner.
[0033]
Third Embodiment FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment. In this air conditioner, an inner casing 18b for blowing a cleaning fluid to the blower 2 is slidably mounted on the front side of an outer casing 18a to form a double-structured casing 18. Other configurations of the air conditioner are the same as those of the air conditioner of the first embodiment in FIG.
[0034]
One or more spray holes 19 facing the blower 2 are formed near the upper end of the inner casing 18b, and a supply port 20a for supplying a cleaning fluid to the inner casing 18b is formed near the lower end. ing. A nozzle 20b communicating with the supply port 20a is provided in the outer casing 18a, and a hose connected to supply means (not shown) such as a pump can be connected.
[0035]
The inner casing 18b is formed in a hollow shape, and the inside thereof is used as a fluid passage 21 that communicates the blowing hole 19 with the supply port 20a. The spraying hole 19, the supply port 20 a, the nozzle 20 b, the fluid passage 21, and the supply unit constitute a spraying unit that blows a cleaning fluid to the blower 2.
[0036]
When cleaning the blower 2, by supplying a cleaning fluid from the supply port 20, the fluid blows out from the blowing hole 19 toward the blower 2 through the fluid passage 21, and dust, dust, oil, etc. adhered to the blower 2. Is removed. The dust, dust, oil, and the like are discharged from the outlet 4 by rotating the blower 2. After the blower 2 is cleaned, the inner casing 18b is removed from the device main body 1, washed, dried, and then attached to the device main body 1 again.
[0037]
The inner casing 18b may be fixed to the device main body 1 in addition to being slidably mounted on the device main body 1. In this case, a plurality of spray holes 19 are formed at arbitrary positions of the inner casing 18b, and fluid is sprayed from any of the spray holes 19 toward the surface of the inner casing 18b to clean the inner casing 18b itself. Good. Instead of forming the inner casing 18b in a hollow shape, a gap may be provided between the inner casing 18b and the outer casing 18a, and the gap may be used as a fluid passage.
[0038]
The cleaning fluid may be any of air, compressed air, tap water, a cleaning liquid, and the like, but by using the cleaning liquid, various bacteria and the like can be removed. Further, instead of forming the fluid passage 21 inside the inner casing 18b, a through-hole is formed to penetrate the outer casing 18a and the inner casing 18b so that the cleaning fluid is directly blown from the outside by the supply means. Is also good. As described above, by using the cleaning fluid, dust, dust, oil, and the like attached to the blower 2 can be more reliably removed, and sterilization and disinfection can be performed by using a cleaning liquid.
[0039]
Fourth Embodiment FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment. In this air conditioner, when cleaning the blower 2, a cleaning casing 22b is attached to the front side of the outer casing 22a in place of an inner casing (not shown) to form a casing 22 having a double structure. Other configurations of the air conditioner are the same as those of the air conditioner of the first embodiment in FIG.
[0040]
When the cleaning casing 22b is inserted into the apparatus main body 1 along a guide (not shown), the cleaning casing 22b curves and enters between the blower 2 and the heat exchanger 3. The cleaning casing 22b is set to have a curved length such that the tip thereof comes into contact with the drain pan 8, and has a shape that covers the heat exchanger 3 at the time of mounting. The cleaning casing 22b prevents dust, dust, oil, and the like scattered during cleaning from adhering to the heat exchanger 3 disposed close to the blower 2.
[0041]
The cleaning casing 22b constitutes a part of the spraying means, similarly to the inner casing 18b of the air conditioner of the third embodiment. A spray hole 23 is formed in a portion of the cleaning casing 22b facing the blower 2, and discharges a cleaning fluid supplied through a fluid passage 25 from a supply port 24 at a lower end portion. The blower 2 can be cleaned by blowing a cleaning fluid onto the blower 2 from the blowing holes 23. The cleaning casing 22b is not limited to one that sprays a cleaning fluid, and may be one that is provided with a brush similar to that of the second embodiment.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the casing can be moved to a position where the casing can be easily cleaned by movably attaching the casing to the device body of the air conditioner. Further, the blower can be cleaned by attaching a cleaning tool for cleaning the blower to the casing, or by spraying a cleaning fluid from the casing to the blower.
[0043]
As a result, when dust, dirt, oil, etc. adhere to the blower and the peripheral portion disposed in a narrow and deep portion of the device main body, these can be easily cleaned, so that the predetermined performance and performance of the air conditioner can be improved. Good hygiene can be maintained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view during use of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of an air conditioner of a third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of an air conditioner of a fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional air conditioner. FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of another conventional air conditioner.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device main body 2 Blower 3 Heat exchanger 4 Outlet 5 Suction port 7 Air guide path 9 Wind direction adjusters 15, 16, 18, 22 Casing 15a, 16a, 18a, 22a Outer casing 15b, 16b, 18b Inner casing 17 Brush ( Cleaning tools)
19 Spray hole 21 Fluid passage 22b Cleaning casing

Claims (10)

An air conditioner, wherein a casing constituting an air guide passage in the device main body is detachably or movably mounted on the device main body so as to clean the surface of the air guide passage. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the curved surface portion of the air guide path is formed of a flexible casing, and the casing is slidably mounted on an apparatus body. An air conditioner, wherein a blower is provided in an air guide path in a device main body, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the blower is provided. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the air guide path is configured by a casing detachably or movably attached to a device main body, and a cleaning tool as the cleaning unit is attached to the casing. 5. . A blower is disposed in an air duct in the device main body, and a casing constituting the air guide channel is detachably or movably mounted on the device main body, and attached to the casing when the casing is moved to a predetermined position. An air conditioner, wherein the cleaning tool comes into contact with the blower to clean the blower. 4. The cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning unit includes a fluid passage formed in the air guide passage, and discharges a fluid for cleaning the blower from a blowing hole of the fluid passage arranged to face the blower. 5. Air conditioner. An air blower and a heat exchanger are provided in an air guide passage in the device main body, and a cleaning casing attached to the device main body is provided in place of the casing forming the air guide path, and the cleaning casing is provided with a blower and An air conditioner having a shape that penetrates between the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger to cover the heat exchanger, and a cleaning tool for cleaning a blower is provided in the cleaning casing. An air blower and a heat exchanger are provided in an air guide passage in the device main body, and a cleaning casing attached to the device main body is provided in place of the casing forming the air guide path, and the cleaning casing is provided with a blower and An air conditioner having a shape which penetrates between the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger to cover the heat exchanger, and is provided with blowing means for blowing fluid for cleaning the blower from the cleaning casing. A wind direction adjuster for adjusting a direction of wind blown from an outlet of the wind guide path is provided, and the wind direction adjuster is supported by another member constituting the wind guide path other than the casing. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the casing is made of a flexible thermoplastic resin.

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