【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は空気調和機に係わり、詳しくは、筐体の小型化を図るとともに、熱交換器をより大きなものにして熱交換能力および熱交換率を向上させるようにした室内機の構造に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来の室内機は、例えば、その筐体の前面及び上面に設けられた吸込口と、前面下部に設けられた吹出口とを結ぶ空気通路に、垂直部と、同垂直部の上端を折曲して後方に傾斜させた後方傾斜部と、同後方傾斜部の後端を折曲して下方に傾斜させた下方傾斜部とからなる熱交換器と、同熱交換器で熱交換された空気を前記吹出口へ送出する送風ファンとを設け、前記垂直部の下部に前部露受皿を、前記下方傾斜部の下部に後部露受皿を設けるとともに後部露受皿の水を前部露受皿に導く水路を設けた構成であった。
【０００３】
このような室内機においては、デザイン性に優れた形状が強く要求されるようになり、また同室内機を据えつける壁面のスペースの点からも、小型でスリムな形状が要求されている。これらの要求を満たすには熱交換器の熱交換能力を向上させ、その分前記筐体の小型化を図る必要があるが、熱交換能力を向上させるとなると熱交換器の大型化は避けられず、従来通りの構造では熱交換器が縦方向または横方向に拡大され、筐体に求められる小型化の要求が満たせなくなる。また、近年は省エネルギーのために室内機の大風量化が進み、その影響で除湿性能が低下するという新たな問題も生じている。
【０００４】
上記の問題点を解消しようとした室内機としては（例えば、特許文献１参照）があるが、これでも要求を十分に満たせるものではなかった。
【０００５】
【特許文献１】
特開２００１ー１１６３４７公報（第３ー４頁、第１図）
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明においては、上記の問題点に鑑み、熱交換器全体の熱交換能力を向上させて筐体の小型化を図れるようにした空気調和機の室内機を提供することを目的としている。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は上記の課題を解決するためになされたもので、筐体の前面及び上面に設けられた吸込口と、前面下部に設けられた吹出口とを結ぶ空気通路に、垂直部と、同垂直部の上端を折曲して後方に傾斜させた後方傾斜部と、同後方傾斜部の上端を折曲して後方に略水平に延出させた水平部と、同水平部の後端を折曲して下方に傾斜させた下方傾斜部とからなる熱交換器と、前記水平部の下部に位置し前記水平部の結露水を回収する結露水回収手段と、前記熱交換器で熱交換された空気を前記吹出口へ送出する送風ファンとを設け、前記垂直部の下部に前部露受皿を、前記下方傾斜部の下部に後部露受皿を設けるとともに、同後部露受皿の水を前部露受皿に導く水路を設けてなる構成とする。
【０００８】
なお、前記結露水回収手段が、端部同士を前記水平部の中央直下で重合させ、前後に傾斜させた屋根状の一組の開閉パネルと、同開閉パネルの下部前後に設けられた排水樋と、これら両排水樋の水を前記前部露受皿に直接又は間接的に導く水路とからなり、前記開閉パネルを冷房運転時に閉じるようにしてなる構成とする。
【０００９】
または、前記結露水回収手段が、前記水平部の下部前後間に逆八の字状に設けられた一対の開閉パネル又は固定パネルと、これら開閉パネル又は固定パネルから流下する水を回収する排水樋と、同排水樋の水を前記前部露受皿に直接又は間接的に導く水路とからなり、前記開閉パネルを冷房運転時に閉じるようにしてなる構成とする。
【００１０】
または、前記結露水回収手段が、低部左右間に排水孔を有する中部露受皿と、同中部露受皿から流下する水を回収する排水樋と、同排水樋の水を前記前部露受皿に直接又は間接的に導く水路とからなる構成とする。
【００１１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態を図１〜図４に基づいて説明する。
図１は本発明の第１の実施の形態を示す室内機の側断面図、図２は同第１の実施の形態を示す要部斜視図、図３は本発明の第２の実施の形態を示す室内機の側断面図、図４は本発明の第３の実施の形態を示す要部斜視図である。
【００１２】
図において、１は空気調和機の室内機で、同室内機１の筐体２は上面に吸込口２ｂを設けたベース２ａと、同ベース２ａの前面に装着され前面に開口部３ａを設け、前面下部に吹出口５とを設けた前面パネル３と、同前面パネル３の前面に装着され吸込口４ａを有する前面グリル４とで構成され、前記筐体２内の前記吸込口４ａおよび２ｂと前記吹出口５とを結ぶ空気通路に垂直部６ａと、同垂直部６ａの上端を折曲して後方に傾斜させた後方傾斜部６ｂと、同後方傾斜部６ｂの上端を折曲して後方に略水平に延出させた水平部６ｃと、同水平部６ｃの後端を折曲して下方に傾斜させた下方傾斜部６ｄとで構成される熱交換器６と、水平部６ｃの下部に位置させ同水平部６ｃの結露水を回収する結露水回収手段８と、熱交換器６により熱交換された空気を吹出口５へ送風する送風ファン７とを設け、前記垂直部６ａの下部に前部露受皿９を、前記下方傾斜部６ｄの下部に後部露受皿１０を設け、これら両者間に後部露受皿１０の水を前部露受皿９に導く水路（図示省略）を設けた構成になっている。
【００１３】
結露水回収手段８は、端部同士を前記水平部６ｃの中央直下で重合させ、前後に傾斜させた屋根状の一組の開閉パネル８ａ、８ｂと、同開閉パネル８ａ、８ｂの下部前後に設けられた排水樋９ａ、９ｂと、これら両排水樋９ａ、９ｂの水を前記前部露受皿９に直接又は間接的に導く図示されてない水路とからなり、前記開閉パネル８ａ、８ｂを冷房運転時に閉じるよう構成されている。
【００１４】
このような構成であれば、熱交換器６がより大きなものとなり、熱交換量が増大し、冷房時は開閉パネル８ａ、８ｂが閉じることにより水平部６ｃを通過する風量が減少するため、風量設定が「強」であっても除湿性能の低下が抑えられ、また、冷房運転が終了し所定時間が経過すると開閉パネル８ａ、８ｂは破線で示す位置まで回動するようになっているので例えば暖房運転においては特に水平部６ｃを通過する風量が増大し、暖房能力を向上させることができる。
【００１５】
次に、図３に示す第２の実施の形態について説明する。
先に説明した第１の実施の形態との違いは水平部６ｃの下部に設けられた結露水回収手段８のみで、これは水平部６ｃの下部前後間に逆八の字状に設けられた一対の開閉パネル８ｃおよび８ｄと、これら開閉パネル８ｃおよび８ｄから流下する水を回収する排水樋９ｃと、同排水樋９ｃの水を前部露受皿９に直接又は間接的に導く図示されてない水路とからなり、開閉パネル８ｃおよび８ｄは冷房運転時に、破線で示された垂直方向から逆八の字状になるまで回動させ、水平部６ｃから落ちる結露水を排水樋９ｃに回収するようになっている。
このような構成であれば、排水樋９ｃが一つだけで済むのでコストおよび組立の面で前者より有利となる。
【００１６】
図４は、水平部６ｃの下部に設ける結露水回収手段の第３の実施の形態を示したもので、これは低部左右間に排水孔（開口部）11ａを有する中部露受皿11と、同中部露受皿11から流下する水を回収する排水樋12とからなり、この排水樋12には同排水樋12の水を前記後部露受皿10に導く水路13が一体に形成された構成となっている。
このような構成であれば、可動部がないのでコストはより安価なるが暖房運転時の通気抵抗は前記第１および第２の実施の形態に比して多少大きくなる。
【００１７】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したような構成による室内機であれば、筐体内部の熱交換器が垂直部と、同垂直部の上端を折曲して後方に傾斜させた後方傾斜部と、同後方傾斜部の上端を後方に折曲して略水平に延出させた水平部と、同水平部の後端を折曲して下方に傾斜させた下方傾斜部とで構成されたことにより、熱交換器の高さが縮小されたにも係わらず熱交換器全体は大きくなり、熱交換能力が向上し、これにより筐体の小型化が図れる一方、水平部の下部に開閉パネルと排水樋とからなる結露水回収手段を設けたことにより水平部からの結露水の飛散が防止されるとともに、開閉パネルは冷房時に閉じられ、暖房時に開放されるようになっているので風量設定が大であっても除霜能力の低下防止および暖房能力の向上が図れることになる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１の実施の形態を示す室内機の側断面図である。
【図２】本発明の第１の実施の形態を示す要部斜視図である。
【図３】本発明の第２の実施の形態を示す室内機の側断面図である。
【図４】本発明の第３の実施の形態を示す要部斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１ 空気調和機の室内機
２ 筐体
２ａ ベース
２ｂ 吸込口
３ 前面パネル
３ａ 開口部
４ 前面グリル
４ａ 吸込口
５ 吹出口
６ 熱交換器
６ａ 垂直部
６ｂ 後方傾斜部
６ｃ 水平部
６ｄ 下方傾斜部
７ 送風ファン
８ 結露水回収手段
８ａ 開閉パネル
８ｂ 開閉パネル
８ｃ 開閉パネル
８ｄ 開閉パネル
９ 前部露受皿
９ａ 排水樋
９ｂ 排水樋
９ｃ 排水樋
10 後部露受皿
11 中部露受皿
11ａ 排水孔（開口部）
12 排水樋
12ａ 水路[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a structure of an indoor unit in which a housing is downsized and a heat exchanger is made larger to improve a heat exchange capacity and a heat exchange rate.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional indoor unit has, for example, a vertical part and an upper end of the vertical part bent in an air passage connecting an inlet provided on the front and upper surfaces of a housing thereof and an outlet provided on a lower part of the front. And a heat exchanger comprising a rear inclined portion inclined rearward and a lower inclined portion inclined rearward by bending a rear end of the rear inclined portion and air exchanged by the heat exchanger. And a blower fan that sends out water to the outlet, a front dew tray below the vertical portion, a rear dew tray below the lower inclined portion, and guides water in the rear dew tray to the front dew tray. The configuration was such that a water channel was provided.
[0003]
In such an indoor unit, a shape excellent in design is strongly required, and a small and slim shape is also required in view of a space of a wall on which the indoor unit is installed. In order to satisfy these demands, it is necessary to improve the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger and reduce the size of the housing accordingly.However, when the heat exchange capacity is improved, the heat exchanger cannot be increased in size. However, in the conventional structure, the heat exchanger is expanded in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and the demand for miniaturization required for the housing cannot be satisfied. In addition, in recent years, the airflow of the indoor unit has been increased to save energy, and a new problem has arisen that the dehumidification performance is reduced due to the influence.
[0004]
There is an indoor unit that attempts to solve the above problem (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1), but even this did not sufficiently satisfy the demand.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-116347 A (pages 3-4, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner indoor unit capable of improving the heat exchange capability of the entire heat exchanger and reducing the size of a housing.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an air passage connecting an inlet provided on the front and upper surfaces of a housing and an outlet provided on a lower part of the front has a vertical portion and a vertical portion. A rear inclined portion in which the upper end of the vertical portion is bent and inclined rearward, a horizontal portion in which the upper end of the rear inclined portion is extended substantially horizontally rearward, and a rear end of the horizontal portion are defined. A heat exchanger including a downwardly inclined portion that is bent and inclined downward, dew condensation water recovery means positioned below the horizontal portion to collect dew water from the horizontal portion, and heat exchange in the heat exchanger. A blower fan for sending the blown air to the outlet, a front dew pan below the vertical part, a rear dew pan below the downward slope, and water in the rear dew pan forward. A water channel leading to the dew tray is provided.
[0008]
The condensed water collecting means has a pair of roof-like open / close panels whose ends are superimposed immediately below the center of the horizontal portion and inclined forward and backward, and drainage gutters provided at the front and rear lower portions of the open / close panel. And a water channel that directly or indirectly guides the water in both drain gutters to the front dew receiving pan, and the opening and closing panel is closed during the cooling operation.
[0009]
Alternatively, the dew condensation water collecting means may include a pair of open / close panels or fixed panels provided in an inverted figure of eight between the lower and front portions of the horizontal portion, and a drain gutter for collecting water flowing down from the open / close panels or fixed panels. And a water channel for directly or indirectly guiding water from the drain gutter to the front dew receiving tray, and the opening / closing panel is closed during a cooling operation.
[0010]
Alternatively, the dew condensation water collecting means has a central dew tray having a drain hole between the left and right, a drain gutter for collecting water flowing down from the central dew tray, and water from the drain gutter into the front dew tray. A structure consisting of a water channel that leads directly or indirectly.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an indoor unit showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the present invention. And FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0012]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an indoor unit of an air conditioner, a housing 2 of the indoor unit 1 has a base 2a provided with a suction port 2b on the upper surface, and an opening 3a mounted on the front surface of the base 2a and provided on the front surface, A front panel 3 having an outlet 5 at a lower part on the front side, and a front grille 4 attached to the front of the front panel 3 and having a suction port 4a, wherein the suction ports 4a and 2b in the housing 2 A vertical portion 6a is formed in an air passage connecting the air outlet 5, a rear inclined portion 6b in which the upper end of the vertical portion 6a is bent and inclined rearward, and an upper end of the rear inclined portion 6b is bent and rearward. A heat exchanger 6 composed of a horizontal portion 6c extending substantially horizontally, a lower inclined portion 6d formed by bending a rear end of the horizontal portion 6c and inclining downward, and a lower portion of the horizontal portion 6c. And a heat exchanger 6 for heat exchange with the condensed water collecting means 8 for collecting the condensed water in the horizontal portion 6c. A blower fan 7 for blowing the blown air to the outlet 5, a front dew tray 9 below the vertical part 6 a, and a rear dew tray 10 below the lower inclined part 6 d, between them. A water channel (not shown) for guiding water in the rear dew tray 10 to the front dew tray 9 is provided.
[0013]
The dew condensation water collecting means 8 has a pair of roof-like open / close panels 8a and 8b whose ends are superimposed immediately below the center of the horizontal portion 6c and inclined forward and backward, and a pair of open / close panels 8a and 8b. The drainage gutters 9a and 9b are provided, and a water passage (not shown) for directly or indirectly guiding the water of the drainage gutters 9a and 9b to the front dew tray 9 is provided. It is configured to close during operation.
[0014]
With such a configuration, the heat exchanger 6 becomes larger, the amount of heat exchange increases, and during cooling, since the open / close panels 8a and 8b are closed, the amount of air passing through the horizontal portion 6c is reduced. Even if the setting is “strong”, the deterioration of the dehumidifying performance is suppressed, and the opening and closing panels 8 a and 8 b rotate to the positions indicated by the broken lines when the cooling operation is completed and a predetermined time has elapsed. In the heating operation, in particular, the amount of air passing through the horizontal portion 6c increases, and the heating capacity can be improved.
[0015]
Next, a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be described.
The difference from the first embodiment described above is only the dew condensation water collecting means 8 provided below the horizontal portion 6c, which is provided in the shape of an inverted octagon between the front and rear lower portions of the horizontal portion 6c. A pair of open / close panels 8c and 8d, a drain gutter 9c for collecting water flowing down from the open / close panels 8c and 8d, and a guide for directing or directing the water from the drain gutter 9c to the front dew tray 9 are not shown. The open / close panels 8c and 8d are rotated during the cooling operation from the vertical direction indicated by the broken line to the inverted eight-shape, and the dew water falling from the horizontal portion 6c is collected in the drain gutter 9c. It has become.
With such a configuration, only one drain gutter 9c is required, which is more advantageous than the former in terms of cost and assembly.
[0016]
FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the condensed water collecting means provided below the horizontal portion 6c, which includes a central dew receiving tray 11 having a drain hole (opening) 11a between the left and right portions of the lower portion. A drain gutter 12 for collecting water flowing down from the central dew tray 11, and the drain gutter 12 is formed integrally with a water passage 13 for guiding the water of the drain gutter 12 to the rear dew tray 10. ing.
With such a configuration, the cost is lower because there are no movable parts, but the ventilation resistance during the heating operation is slightly larger than in the first and second embodiments.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
In the case of the indoor unit having the configuration described above, the heat exchanger inside the housing has a vertical portion, a rear inclined portion in which the upper end of the vertical portion is bent and inclined rearward, and a rear inclined portion. The heat exchanger has a horizontal portion having its upper end bent rearward and extending substantially horizontally, and a lower inclined portion having its rear end bent and inclined downward. Despite the reduced height, the heat exchanger as a whole becomes larger and improves heat exchange capacity, which allows for a more compact housing, while condensing the lower part of the horizontal part with an open / close panel and a drain gutter. The provision of the water collecting means prevents the dew condensation water from scattering from the horizontal part, and the opening and closing panel is closed during cooling and opened during heating, so that even if the air volume setting is large, it can be removed. It is possible to prevent a decrease in the frost capacity and improve the heating capacity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an indoor unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an indoor unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit of an air conditioner 2 Housing 2a Base 2b Inlet 3 Front panel 3a Opening 4 Front grille 4a Inlet 5 Outlet 6 Heat exchanger 6a Vertical part 6b Rear inclined part 6c Horizontal part 6d Lower inclined part 7 Ventilation Fan 8 Condensed water collecting means 8a Open / close panel 8b Open / close panel 8c Open / close panel 8d Open / close panel 9 Front dew tray 9a Drain gutter 9b Drain gutter 9c Drain gutter
10 Rear dew pan
11 Central dew saucer
11a Drainage hole (opening)
12 Drain gutter
12a waterway
