JP2005180736A - Indoor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an indoor unit enabling to efficiently carry out maintenance inspection of a heat exchanger by easily exposing the heat exchanger provided in a body, and capable of preventing propagation of fungi and bacteria in a drain pan and its peripheral part. <P>SOLUTION: The indoor unit is provided with the heat exchanger 4, the drain pan 6 arranged below the heat exchanger and having an engagement part 26 in an upper end, a body 12 having an engagement counterpart 24 to be engaged with the engagement part in a lower end, a supporting means 14 for supporting the drain pan, a vertical moving means 16 for vertically moving the supporting means and the drain pan with respect to the body, and a drying means 18 for drying condensation water. The drain pan is selectively positioned by the vertical moving means between a receiving position for receiving the condensation water from the heat exchanger, and a maintenance inspection position for when carrying out maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger. By moving the drain pan from the receiving position to the maintenance inspection position, and separating the engagement part away from the engagement counterpart, the heat exchanger is exposed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and more particularly to an indoor unit having a drain pan that is detachable and / or openable / closable with respect to a main body.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner is classified into a ceiling-embedded type, a ceiling built-in type, a ceiling suspended type, a wall built-in type, or a floor-mounted type. The indoor unit of such an air conditioner includes a main body, a heat exchanger provided in the main body, and a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger. For example, Patent Document 1 can be cited as a typical example of a ceiling-suspended indoor unit. Such an indoor unit includes a main body in which a heat exchanger is disposed and a drain pan that is detachable from the main body. The lower end portion of the main body is provided with an attachment portion to which the drain pan is rotatably attached and an engaging portion for retaining the drain pan. The drain pan has the attached portion attached to the attachment portion as a rotation center. It is configured such that it is rotated between the closed position and the open position, and in the closed position, the locked portion is locked to the locking portion of the main body. In the indoor unit of the air conditioner described above, when performing maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger is inspected by removing the drain pan from the main body and exposing the heat exchanger.
JP 2000-258041 A

  However, there are the following problems to be solved in the indoor unit of the conventional air conditioner of the above-described form. Condensed water generated in and around the heat exchanger during and after the air conditioning system is received by a drain pan and discharged to the outside through a drain pipe, or pumped up by a drain pump and then discharged to the outside through a drain pipe. However, even after the air conditioner is activated, there is a possibility that fungi, bacteria, and / or viruses may propagate due to the wetness of the drain pan and its surroundings by the condensed water for a long time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and the main technical problem thereof is that the heat exchanger provided in the main body can be easily exposed to efficiently perform maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger, and the drain pan and It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved indoor unit that can prevent fungi, bacteria, and / or viruses from propagating around the periphery.

According to the present invention, as an indoor unit that solves the main technical problem,
Make it a ceiling-embedded indoor unit,
A heat exchanger, a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger and having a meshing portion at an upper end portion, a main body having a meshed portion meshed with the meshing portion at a lower end portion, and support means for supporting the drain pan And elevating means for elevating and lowering the support means and the drain pan with respect to the main body, and a drying means for drying the condensed water,
The drain pan can be selectively positioned by the elevating means between a receiving position where the drain pan receives condensed water from the heat exchanger and a maintenance inspection position when performing maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger,
An indoor unit is provided in which the heat exchanger is exposed by moving the drain pan from the receiving position to the maintenance / inspection position and detaching the meshing portion from the meshed portion.

  Preferably, it has a control means provided with a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room, and the drying means is a fan disposed above the drain pan, and the fan remains after the operation of the air conditioner. The operation is continued for a required time by the control means. The drying means is preferably a heater disposed in the drain pan.

Moreover, according to the present invention, as an indoor unit that solves the main technical problem,
A wall built-in or floor-standing indoor unit
A heat exchanger, a main body having a suction portion on a side surface below the position where the heat exchanger is disposed, a drain pan supported by the first guide means of the main body on the upper end side of the suction portion, A filter and a suction grill detachably attached to the main body on the lower end side of the suction part, and a drying means for drying the condensed water are provided.
The drain pan can be selectively arranged between a receiving position for receiving condensed water from the heat exchanger and a maintenance inspection position when performing maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger, approximately horizontally,
An indoor unit is provided in which the heat exchanger is exposed when the filter and the suction grill are removed from the main body and the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance inspection position.

  Preferably, the apparatus has control means including temperature and humidity sensors, and the drying means is a fan disposed above the drain pan, and the fan is continuously required by the control means even after the air conditioner is operated. You can drive for hours. The drying means is preferably a heater disposed in the drain pan.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, as an indoor unit that solves the main technical problem,
A ceiling-suspended indoor unit
A heat exchanger, a main body having an opening at the bottom below the position where the heat exchanger is disposed, a drain pan attached to the opening so as to be openable and closable, and a drying means for drying the condensed water Is provided,
The drain pan can be selectively disposed between a receiving position for receiving condensed water from the heat exchanger and a maintenance inspection when performing a maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger,
There is provided an indoor unit characterized in that the heat exchanger is exposed when the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance / inspection position.

The drain pan has a support arm, and the main body is provided with second guide means for slidably guiding the support arm downward, and the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance inspection position. It is preferable that the support arm is guided by the second guide means and extends downward so that the drain pan protrudes downward from the main body. Preferably, the drain pan is rotatably attached to one end of the opening of the main body, and when the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance inspection position, the locked portion of the drain pan is The opening is locked to a locking portion formed at the other end of the opening. Preferably, it has a control means provided with a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room, and the drying means is a fan disposed on the side of the drain pan, and the fan is operated after the air conditioner is operated. The operation is continued for the required time by the control means. The drying means is preferably a heater disposed in the drain pan.

  In the indoor unit of the present invention, the heat exchanger provided in the main body can be easily exposed to efficiently perform maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger, and fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc. in the drain pan and its peripheral part Can be prevented from breeding.

Hereinafter, with reference to an accompanying drawing, the best embodiment of the indoor unit of the air-conditioner concerning the present invention is further explained in full detail.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an optimum embodiment of an indoor unit according to the present invention. The indoor unit denoted as a whole by number 2 is a ceiling-embedded type. The ceiling-embedded indoor unit 2 includes a heat exchanger 4, a drain pan 6 disposed below the heat exchanger 4, a drain pump 8 that pumps condensed water from the drain pan 6, and air to the heat exchanger 4. A fan 10 for supplying, a heat exchanger 4, a drain pan 6, and a drain pump 8 are accommodated, and a main body 12 having a substantially U-shaped longitudinal section, and a support for supporting the drain pan 6 disposed below the main body 12. Means 14, a support means 14 and a lifting means 16 that lifts and lowers the drain pan 6 relative to the main body 12, and a drying means that may be a heater 18 that dries the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its surroundings. The heat exchanger 4 and the drain pump 8 may be well-known ones and will not be described in detail here. A suction port 20 for sucking air is provided in the central portion of the drain pan 6, and a dew condensation water receiving groove 22 for receiving dew condensation water from the heat exchanger 4 is formed on the upper side of the drain pan 6. Further, a meshing portion 26 that meshes with a meshed portion 24 formed at the bottom end of the peripheral edge of the main body 12 is provided at the upper end portion of the peripheral edge of the drain pan 6. The support means 14 is provided with a suction portion 28 at the center, and a filter 30 and a suction grill 32 are provided in the suction portion 28. The support means 14 configured as described above is connected to the lifting / lowering means 16 by a wire. When the lifting / lowering means 16 is operated by an operation means (not shown), the drain pan 6 supported by the support means 14 is connected to the main body 12. The position where the drain pan 6 receives the condensed water from the heat exchanger, and the maintenance inspection position indicated by the solid line, that is, the position when performing the maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger 4. And are positioned selectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the drying means which may be the heater 18 is disposed inside the drain pan 6. The drying means is started by a control means (not shown) after the air conditioner is operated, and the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion are heated for a predetermined time to dry the condensed water, and then stopped. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, viruses, or the like can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part. In the illustrated embodiment, the heater 18 is used as a drying means for drying the drain pan 6 and the dew condensation water around the drain pan 6, but the fan 10 disposed above the drain pan 6 may be used instead of the heater 18. . When the fan 10 disposed above the drain pan 6 is used as a drying means, a control means (not shown) having a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room causes the fan 10 to operate the air conditioner. After that, the operation is continued for a required time to dry the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion and then stop. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, and / or viruses can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part.

In the indoor unit 2 configured as described above, when the heat exchanger 4 is maintained and inspected, the drain pan 6 supported by the support unit 14 is operated by operating the lifting unit 16 using an operation unit (not shown). The position is moved from the receiving position (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line) to the maintenance inspection position (the position indicated by the solid line). At this time, the meshing portion 26 of the drain pan 6 is detached from the meshed portion 24 of the main body 12, The exchanger 4 is exposed. Since the indoor unit 2 of the present invention is configured as described above, the heat exchanger 4 provided in the main body 12 can be easily exposed to efficiently perform maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger 4. it can.
it can.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of another optimal embodiment of the indoor unit according to the present invention. The indoor unit denoted as a whole by reference numeral 102 is a wall built-in type or a floor-standing type. The wall built-in type or floor-mounted indoor unit 102 includes a heat exchanger 4, a main body 12 having a suction portion 28 on a side surface below the position where the heat exchanger 4 is disposed, and an upper end side of the suction portion 28. A drain pan 6 having a substantially U-shaped longitudinal section supported by the first guide means 7 of the main body 12 and a condensed water received by the drain pan 6 attached to a discharge portion 9 formed at the bottom of the drain pan 6 A discharge pipe 29 for discharging air, a fan 10 disposed above the heat exchanger 4 for supplying air to the heat exchanger 4, and a lower end side of the suction portion 28 are detachably attached to the main body 12. The filter 30 and the suction grill 32, and the drying means that may be the heater 18 that dries the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part. The drain pan 6 has a gripping portion 11 and is substantially horizontally received by a two-dot chain line, that is, a position where the drain pan 6 receives condensed water from the heat exchanger, and a maintenance inspection position indicated by a solid line, that is, the heat exchanger 4. It can be selectively arranged at a position for maintenance inspection. In the illustrated embodiment, the drying means that may be the heater 18 is disposed at the bottom of the drain pan 6. The drying means is started by a control means (not shown) after the air conditioner is operated, and the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion are heated for a predetermined time to dry the condensed water, and then stopped. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, viruses, or the like can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part. In the illustrated embodiment, the heater 18 is used as a drying means for drying the drain pan 6 and the dew condensation water around the drain pan 6, but the fan 10 disposed above the heat exchanger 4 is used instead of the heater 18. Also good. When the fan 10 disposed above the drain pan 6 is used as a drying means, a control means (not shown) having a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room causes the fan 10 to operate the air conditioner. After that, the operation is continued for a required time to dry the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion and then stop. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, and / or viruses can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part.

In the indoor unit 102 configured as described above, when performing maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger 4,
The filter 30 and the suction grill 32 mounted on the lower end side of the suction portion 28 of the main body 12 are removed from the main body 12, the discharge pipe 29 is detached from the discharge portion 9 disposed at the bottom of the drain pan 6, and then the gripping portion 11. And the drain pan 6 is moved substantially horizontally from the receiving position (position shown by a two-dot chain line) to the maintenance inspection position (position shown by a solid line), the heat exchanger 4 is exposed. Since the indoor unit 102 of the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to easily expose the heat exchanger 4 provided in the main body 12 and perform maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger 4 efficiently. it can.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of still another optimum embodiment of the indoor unit according to the present invention. The indoor unit denoted as a whole by the number 202 is a ceiling suspended type. The ceiling-suspended indoor unit 202 includes a heat exchanger 4, a fan 10 that is located on the left side (in FIG. 3) from the position where the heat exchanger 4 is disposed, and supplies air to the heat exchanger 4. The drain pan 6, the drain pump 8 that pumps the condensed water from the drain pan 6, the main body 12 that houses the heat exchanger 4, the drain pump 8, and the fan 10, and the heater 18 that dries the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its surroundings may be used. And a drying means. The heat exchanger 4 and the drain pump 8 may be well-known ones and will not be described in detail here. The suction port 28 is formed on the side surface of the main body 12 on the left side (in FIG. 3) from the position where the heat exchanger 4 is disposed, and the position where the heat exchanger 4 is disposed in the main body 12. An opening 5 is provided at the bottom of the bottom. A drain pan 6 is attached to one end of the opening 5 of the main body 12 so as to be openable and closable, and a grip 11 is provided on the left side surface (in FIG. 3) of the drain pan. In the illustrated embodiment, the drain pan 6 has a support arm 13, and the main body 12 is provided with second guide means 15 for slidably guiding the support arm 13 of the drain pan 6 downward. Is moved from a receiving position indicated by a two-dot chain line, that is, a position where the drain pan 6 receives condensed water from the heat exchanger to a maintenance inspection position indicated by a solid line, that is, a position for performing maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger 4, The support arm 13 is guided by the second guide means 15 and extends downward, and the drain pan 6 approaches the lower side of the main body 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the drying means that may be the heater 18 is disposed at the bottom of the drain pan 6. The drying means is started by a control means (not shown) after the air conditioner is operated, and the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion are heated for a predetermined time to dry the condensed water, and then stopped. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, viruses, or the like can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part. In the illustrated embodiment, the heater 18 is used as a drying means for drying the drain pan 6 and the dew condensation water around the drain pan 6, but the fan 10 disposed above the heat exchanger 4 is used instead of the heater 18. Also good. When the fan 10 disposed above the drain pan 6 is used as a drying means, a control means (not shown) having a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room causes the fan 10 to operate the air conditioner. After that, the operation is continued for a required time to dry the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion and then stop. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, and / or viruses can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part.

In the indoor unit 202 configured as described above, when performing maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger 4,
A maintenance inspection position indicated by a solid line, that is, a maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger 4 is performed from a receiving position indicated by a two-dot chain line by grasping the grip portion 11, that is, a position where the drain pan 6 receives condensed water from the heat exchanger. When it is moved to the position, the support arm 13 is guided by the second guide means 15 and extends downward, the drain pan 6 approaches the lower side of the main body 12, and the heat exchanger 4 is exposed. Since the indoor unit 202 of the present invention is configured as described above, the heat exchanger 4 provided in the main body 12 can be easily exposed to efficiently perform maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger 4. it can.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of still another optimum embodiment of the indoor unit according to the present invention. The indoor unit denoted as a whole by the number 302 is a ceiling-suspended type. The ceiling-suspended indoor unit 302 includes a heat exchanger 4, a fan 10 that is located on the left side (in FIG. 4) from the position where the heat exchanger 4 is disposed, and supplies air to the heat exchanger 4. The drain pan 6, the drain pump 8 that pumps the condensed water from the drain pan 6, the main body 12 that houses the heat exchanger 4, the drain pump 8, and the fan 10, and the heater 18 that dries the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its surroundings may be used. And a drying means. The heat exchanger 4 and the drain pump 8 may be well-known ones and will not be described in detail here. A suction port 28 is formed at the bottom of the main body 12 diagonally below and to the right of the position where the heat exchanger 4 is disposed (in FIG. 4), and the heat exchanger 4 is disposed in the main body 12. An opening 5 is provided at the bottom below the existing position. A drain pan 6 is attached to one end of the opening 5 of the main body 12 so as to be openable and closable, and a grip 11 is provided on the left side surface (in FIG. 3) of the drain pan. In the illustrated embodiment, the drain pan 6 is rotatably attached to one end of the opening 5, and the drain pan 6 is moved from a maintenance inspection position indicated by a solid line, that is, from a position at the time of performing maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger 4. When the drain pan 6 is moved to a receiving position indicated by a chain line, that is, a position where the drain pan 6 receives condensed water from the heat exchanger, the locked portion 17 of the drain pan 6 is formed on the other end side of the opening 5. Locked in. In the illustrated embodiment, the drying means that may be the heater 18 is disposed on the top of the drain pan 6. The drying means is started by a control means (not shown) after the air conditioner is operated, and the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion are heated for a predetermined time to dry the condensed water, and then stopped. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, viruses, or the like can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part. In the illustrated embodiment, the heater 18 is used as a drying means for drying the drain pan 6 and the dew condensation water around the drain pan 6, but the fan 10 disposed above the heat exchanger 4 is used instead of the heater 18. Also good. When the fan 10 disposed above the drain pan 6 is used as a drying means, a control means (not shown) having a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room causes the fan 10 to operate the air conditioner. After that, the operation is continued for a required time to dry the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral portion and then stop. Thereby, fungi, bacteria, and / or viruses can be prevented from breeding in the drain pan 6 and its peripheral part.

In the indoor unit 202 configured as described above, when the heat exchanger 4 is maintained and inspected, the gripping portion 11 is held and the drain pan 6 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, that is, the drain pan 6 is removed from the heat exchanger. When moved from the position where the condensed water is received to the maintenance / inspection position indicated by the solid line, that is, the position where the maintenance / inspection of the heat exchanger 4 is performed, the heat exchanger 4 is exposed. Since the indoor unit 202 of the present invention is configured as described above, the heat exchanger 4 provided in the main body 12 can be easily exposed to efficiently perform maintenance and inspection of the heat exchanger 4. it can.

Sectional drawing which illustrates optimal embodiment of the indoor unit concerning this invention. Sectional drawing which illustrates other optimal embodiment of the indoor unit concerning this invention. Sectional drawing which illustrates other optimal embodiment of the indoor unit concerning this invention. Sectional drawing which illustrates other optimal embodiment of the indoor unit concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2: Ceiling embedded indoor unit
4: Heat exchanger 5: Opening 6: Drain pan 7: First guide means 10: Fan 12: Main body 13: Support arm 14: Support means 15: Second guide means 16: Lifting means 17: Locked part 18: Drying means 19: Locking part 24: Engagement part 26: Engagement part 28: Suction port 30: Filter 32: Suction grill 102: Wall built-in or floor-mounted indoor unit 202: Ceiling suspended indoor unit 302: Ceiling suspended indoor unit

Claims (11)

Make it a ceiling-embedded indoor unit,
A heat exchanger, a drain pan disposed below the heat exchanger and having a meshing portion at an upper end portion, a main body having a meshed portion meshed with the meshing portion at a lower end portion, and support means for supporting the drain pan And elevating means for elevating and lowering the support means and the drain pan with respect to the main body, and a drying means for drying the condensed water,
The drain pan can be selectively positioned by the elevating means between a receiving position where the drain pan receives condensed water from the heat exchanger and a maintenance inspection position when performing maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger,
An indoor unit characterized in that the heat exchanger is exposed by moving the drain pan from the receiving position to the maintenance / inspection position and detaching the meshing portion from the meshed portion.   A control means having a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room, and the drying means is a fan disposed above the drain pan, and the fan continues even after the air conditioner is operated. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the indoor unit is operated for a required time by the control means.   The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the drying means is a heater disposed in the drain pan. A wall built-in or floor-standing indoor unit
A heat exchanger, a main body having a suction portion on a side surface below the position where the heat exchanger is disposed, a drain pan supported by the first guide means of the main body on the upper end side of the suction portion, A filter and a suction grill detachably attached to the main body on the lower end side of the suction part, and a drying means for drying the condensed water are provided.
The drain pan can be selectively arranged between a receiving position for receiving condensed water from the heat exchanger and a maintenance inspection position when performing maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger, approximately horizontally,
An indoor unit characterized in that the heat exchanger is exposed when the filter and the suction grill are removed from the main body and the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance / inspection position.   A control means having a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting the temperature and humidity in the room, and the drying means is a fan disposed above the drain pan, and the fan continues even after the air conditioner is operated. The indoor unit according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is operated for a required time.   The indoor unit according to claim 4, wherein the drying means is a heater disposed in the drain pan. A ceiling-suspended indoor unit
A heat exchanger, a main body having an opening at the bottom below the position where the heat exchanger is disposed, a drain pan attached to the opening so as to be openable and closable, and a drying means for drying the condensed water Is provided,
The drain pan can be selectively disposed between a receiving position for receiving condensed water from the heat exchanger and a maintenance inspection when performing a maintenance inspection of the heat exchanger,
An indoor unit characterized in that the heat exchanger is exposed when the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance / inspection position.   The drain pan has a support arm, and the main body is provided with second guide means for slidably guiding the support arm downward, and the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance inspection position. The indoor unit according to claim 7, wherein the support arm is guided by the second guide means and extends downward, and the drain pan projects downward from the main body.   The drain pan is rotatably attached to one end of the opening of the main body, and when the drain pan is moved from the receiving position to the maintenance / inspection position, the locked portion of the drain pan is moved to the opening. The indoor unit of Claim 7 latched by the latching | locking part formed in the other end.   A control means having a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting indoor temperature and humidity, the drying means being a fan disposed on the side of the drain pan, and the fan continues even after the air conditioner is operated. 10. The indoor unit according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is operated for a required time.   The indoor unit according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the drying means is a heater disposed in the drain pan.

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