JP2007085625A - Drain-up device, air conditioner and slime inhibiting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drain-up device, an air conditioner comprising the same, and a slime inhibiting method capable of inhibiting generation or growing of slime at the circumference of a drain pump. <P>SOLUTION: The drain pump 30 of the air conditioner comprises a stirring blade 41 connected with a rotating shaft 36 of a motor 35 driving an impeller 32 at an outer side of a drain suction port 33. The stirring blade 41 is rotated by driving the motor 35 driving the impeller 32 of the drain pump 30 to stir the drain water accumulated in a hollow 18a of a drain pan 18. Thus a flow is generated in the drain water, and the generation or growing of slime can be inhibited. By generating the flow in the drain water, the slime in an initial period of generation is separated from a solid surface and floated to be sucked and removed by the drain pump 30 together with the drain water, thus the growing of slime can be inhibited. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a drain up device, an air conditioner, and a slime suppressing method for suppressing generation or growth of slime.

  In an air conditioner, room air is cooled by an evaporator, moisture in the room air condenses, adheres to the fins of the heat exchanger, and is dropped and collected on a drain pan placed below the evaporator. . For example, in a ceiling-embedded air conditioner, the drain water collected in the drain pan is forcibly discharged to the outside using a drain pump.

In this way, drain water stays in the drain pan, so slime is likely to occur, and if slime occurs, problems such as water leakage will occur, and various technologies have been developed to suppress the generation or growth of slime. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). This Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for returning drain water discharged by a drain pump to an upstream side portion of a drain pan. When drain water recirculated to the upstream side of the drain pan flows at a flow velocity from the upstream side to the downstream side of the drain pan, the dust adhering to the drain pan is washed away by the drain water, and mold caused by accumulated dust is washed away. Occurrence of odor or slime is suppressed.
JP-A-11-351604 (pages 3 and 4)

  However, slime is more likely to be generated in the part where the drain water stays, and is located under the drain pump, deeper than other parts in the drain pan, or immersed in the drain water in the drain pump. Where slime is likely to occur. If slime is generated around the suction port of the drain pump, suction of the drain water by the drain pump may be hindered. On the other hand, the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not stir the drain water where the drain water stays around the drain pump, but does not suppress the generation or growth of slime around the drain pump. Absent.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drain up device capable of suppressing generation or growth of slime around the drain pump, and such a drain up device. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a slime suppression method that suppresses generation or growth of slime.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a drain up device comprising a drain pan and a drain pump for discharging drain water accumulated in the drain pan, wherein the drain in the drain pan is provided. The gist is provided with a stirring means for stirring the drain water around the pump.

  According to this, by stirring the drain water around the drain pump that discharges the drain water accumulated in the drain pan of the drain up device, a flow is caused in the drain water, and generation or growth of slime can be suppressed. In addition, the slime generated by causing a flow in the drain water is also floated away from the solid surface at an early stage of generation, and this is pumped and removed together with the drain water by a drain pump to remove the slime. Growth can be suppressed.

  The gist of the invention according to claim 2 is that, in the drain up device according to claim 1, the stirring means has a rotating member for stirring drain water around the drain pump by rotation.

  According to this, the drain water around the drain pump can be stirred by the rotation of the rotating member. The rotating member only needs to be able to stir the drain water around the drain pump by rotating, and the shape is not particularly limited. For example, a rod, a plate, a blade, or the like can be used as the rotating member.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the drain up device according to the second aspect, the rotating member is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor that drives an impeller of the drain pump, and is disposed outside the suction port of the drain pump. The summary is provided.

  According to this, by driving the motor that drives the impeller of the drain pump, the rotating member rotates and the drain water can be stirred. Therefore, when the impeller is rotated and the drain water is pumped up by the drain pump, the drain member can be simultaneously rotated to rotate the drain water. Then, the slime in a state of being separated from the solid surface by the flow of water generated by stirring and floating can be sucked and removed together with the drain water with the drain water before adhering to the solid surface again. Further, the motor for the rotating member can also be used as the motor for the impeller.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 4 is the drain up device according to claim 1, wherein the stirring means includes a magnetic stirrer and a stirring bar placed in the drain pan.

According to this, the drain water can be stirred by the magnetic stirrer and the stirring bar placed in the drain pan.
The gist of the fifth aspect of the present invention is the drain up device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the magnet stirrer is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor that drives an impeller of the drain pump.

  According to this, by driving the motor that drives the impeller of the drain pump, the magnet stirrer is rotated, whereby the stirrer is driven, whereby the drain water can be stirred. For this reason, when the impeller is rotated and the drain water is pumped up by the drain pump, at the same time, the stirrer can be driven by the magnet stirrer to stir the drain water. Then, the slime in a state of being separated from the solid surface by the flow of water generated by stirring and floating can be sucked and removed together with the drain water with the drain water before adhering to the solid surface again. In addition, the magnet stirrer motor can also be used as the impeller motor.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the drain up device according to the first aspect, the drain water around the drain pump is agitated by circulating the drain water sucked by the drain pump around the drain pump. It is a gist that it is a means to do.

According to this, the drain water around the drain pump can be agitated by circulating the drain water sucked by the drain pump around the drain pump.
The gist of the seventh aspect of the present invention is that the drain up device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is provided.

  According to this, in the drain up device of the air conditioner, by stirring the drain water around the drain pump that discharges the drain water accumulated in the drain pan, the water is caused to flow, and slime is generated or grown. Can be suppressed. In addition, the slime generated by causing a flow in the drain water is also floated away from the solid surface at an early stage of generation, and this is pumped and removed together with the drain water by a drain pump to remove the slime. Growth can be suppressed.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a slime suppression method that suppresses generation or growth of slime, wherein the water is flown to the water by the stirring means that stirs the retained water in the retention part where water is retained and slime is likely to be generated. The gist is to suppress the generation or growth of slime by waking up.

  According to this, generation | occurrence | production or growth of a slime can be suppressed by raising a flow to water by the stirring means which stirs a staying water in the staying part where water stays and a slime is easy to generate | occur | produce.

  According to the present invention, generation or growth of slime can be suppressed, and in particular, generation or growth of slime can be suppressed around the drain pump.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a drain up device capable of suppressing the generation or growth of slime around the drain pump, an air conditioner including such a drain up device, and a slime suppressing method will be described.

Hereinafter, a ceiling-embedded air conditioner (the air conditioner of the present invention) provided with the drain-up device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner main body 11 includes a casing 13 that is inserted into an opening formed in the ceiling of the air conditioning room, and a decorative panel (not shown) that is disposed below the casing 13. And has. Inside the casing 13, there is a substantially square annular heat exchanger 14, a central portion of the substantially square annular heat exchanger 14, the suction side facing downward, and the outlet side being the side surface of the heat exchanger 14. A blower 15 is provided.

  A drain pan 18 for receiving drain water generated in the heat exchanger 14 is disposed below the heat exchanger 14. The drain pan 18 has a substantially square annular planar shape so as to correspond to the entire bottom surface of the heat exchanger 14, and has a drain receiving groove that is formed on the lower side of the heat exchanger 14 and receives drain water. Yes. A pump chamber 22 communicated with the drain pan 18 is formed in a portion of the drain receiving groove of the drain pan 18 where the heat exchanger 14 is not disposed, that is, between the blowout air passages 20 formed in the casing 13. A drain pump 30 is disposed in the pump chamber 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the drain pump 30 includes a pump casing 31 having a drain suction port 33 located on the lower surface and a drain discharge port 34 located on the side surface, and is provided in the pump casing 31 by a motor 35. And an impeller 32 that is rotationally driven. The motor 35 is attached to the casing 13 of the air conditioner main body 11 by a motor attachment 39 attached to the side surface of the motor 35.

The pump casing 31 is configured by connecting a lower casing 31a containing an impeller 32 and an upper casing 31b covering a top opening of the lower casing 31a and having a circular hole 37 at the center thereof by a seal member 31c. The rotating shaft 36 of the impeller 32 passes through the circular hole 37 and is connected to the motor 35.

  The drain suction port 33 is formed at the center of the lower casing 31 a in the pump casing 31 (that is, a position corresponding to the rotation center of the impeller 32). Further, the drain discharge port 34 is integrally projected in a trumpet shape from the side surface of the lower casing 31a.

  The impeller 32 mainly includes a rotation shaft 36 connected to a drive shaft of the motor 35, a main blade 32a disposed in the lower casing 31a, an auxiliary blade 32b disposed below the main blade 32a, and a main blade. It is comprised between the disk-shaped saucer part 32c which is arrange | positioned between 32a and the auxiliary blade | wing 32b, and has the opening part which consists of an annular through-hole in the center.

  Further, below the auxiliary blade 32 b of the impeller 32, a shaft portion 40 connected to the rotation shaft 36 is provided with a stirring blade 41 as a rotation member. That is, in the present embodiment, the stirring blade 41 and the motor 35 that drives the stirring blade 41 constitute the stirring means.

  A recess 18 a is formed in the drain pan 18 below the drain pump 30. The drain receiving groove on the drain pan 18 is inclined toward the depression 18a, and the drain water flows toward the depression 18a and is stored in the depression 18a. And as shown to Fig.2 (a), the part containing the lower part of the stirring blade | wing 41 and the auxiliary | assistant blade | wing 32b of the drain pump 30 is in the state immersed in drain water. FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram showing the lower part of the lower casing 31a and the stirring blade 41 from the viewpoint of the lower side of the recess 18a.

  When the motor 35 is driven, the stirring blade 41 rotates with the impeller 32. Then, the rotation of the stirring blade 41 stirs the drain water around the drain suction port 33 in the drain pan 18 and causes a flow in the drain water.

  Further, the drain water accumulated in the depression 18a is sucked from the drain suction port 33 by the auxiliary blade 32b, rises in the lower casing 31a, is pressurized by the main blade 32a, and then has a trumpet shape from the side surface of the lower casing 31a. The air is discharged out of the casing 13 of the air conditioner main body 11 from a drain discharge port 34 that is integrally provided.

  In the drain pan 18, the area surrounding the drain pump 30 is a place where drain water stays and slime is likely to be generated. However, by causing the drain water to flow, it is possible to create an environment in which slime is hardly generated or grown. . In addition, in the early generation of slime (biofilm), bacteria adhere to the solid surface and grow using the nutrient source that is adsorbed and concentrated on the solid surface. In the early stage of generation, the slime is partly attached to the solid surface and partly floating. Before the developed slime (biofilm) is formed, the slime adhering to the solid surface due to the loose bond is separated from the solid surface and suspended by physically stirring the drain water. Then, the suspended slime is sucked and removed together with the drain water by the drain pump 30.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the first embodiment, the drain water around the drain pump 30 that discharges the drain water accumulated in the drain pan 18 is stirred by rotating the stirring blade 41. Thereby, a flow can be caused in the drain water. Around the drain pump 30 in the drain pan 18 is a place where drain water stays and slime is likely to be generated, but generation or growth of slime can be suppressed by causing the drain water to flow. Also, by physically agitating the drain water, the slime that is loosely bonded to the solid surface in the initial stage is floated away from the solid surface and sucked and removed together with the drain water by the drain pump 30. As a result, the growth of slime can be suppressed.

  (2) In the first embodiment, the stirring blade 41 is connected to the rotating shaft 36 of the motor 35 that drives the impeller 32 of the drain pump 30 and is provided outside the drain suction port 33 of the drain pump 30. Thus, by driving the motor 35 that drives the impeller 32 of the drain pump 30, the stirring blade 41 rotates, and the drain water can be stirred. For this reason, when the impeller 32 is rotated and the drain water is pumped up by the drain pump 30, the drain blade can be simultaneously stirred to rotate the drain water. Then, by agitation of the drain water, the slime in the initial stage can be floated away from the solid surface, and sucked and removed together with the drain water by the drain pump 30 before adhering to the solid surface again. Further, the motor for the stirring blade 41 can also be used as the motor for the impeller 32.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the configuration other than the configuration of the suction portion of the drain pump 30 described below is the same as that in the case of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the drain pump 30 includes a magnet 51 below the auxiliary blade 32 b of the impeller 32. On the other hand, a stirrer 52 is placed in the recess 18 a below the drain pump 30 of the drain pan 18. And like the case of the said 1st Embodiment, the drain water is stored in the hollow 18a, The state containing the lower part of the stirring blade 52 and the auxiliary blade 32b of the drain pump 30 was immersed in drain water, It has become. FIG. 3B illustrates the auxiliary blade 32b surrounded by the lower portion of the lower casing 31a, the magnet 51 provided in the auxiliary blade 32b, and the stirrer 52, with the lower side of the recess 18a as a viewpoint. FIG.

  When the motor 35 is driven, the magnet 51 provided on the auxiliary blade 32 b of the impeller 32 rotates together with the impeller 32. Thus, when the magnet 51 rotates with the impeller 32 by driving the motor 35, the magnet 51 rotated by the motor 35 functions as a magnet stirrer. Then, the stirrer 52 placed in the depression 18a below the drain pump 30 of the drain pan 18 is driven as the magnet 51 rotates, and the drain water is agitated by the movement of the stirrer 52, and the drain water flows. Get up. That is, in this embodiment, the magnet 51 provided in the impeller 32 driven by the motor 35, the motor 35, and the stirrer 52 constitute a stirring means. The drain pump 30 sucks drain water from the drain suction port 33 and discharges it from the drain discharge port 34 as in the case of the first embodiment.

  In the case of the present embodiment, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, by causing a flow in the drain water, an environment in which slime is hardly generated or grown can be obtained. Similarly to the case of the first embodiment, the slime suspended by the stirring of the drain water is sucked and removed together with the drain water by the drain pump 30.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effect (1) in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(3) In the second embodiment, the magnet 51 functioning as a magnet stirrer connected to the rotating shaft 36 of the motor 35 that drives the impeller 32 is rotated, so that the bottom of the drain pump 30 of the drain pan 18 is rotated. The stirrer 52 placed in the recess 18a is driven. The drain water is stirred by the movement of the stirring bar 52. For this reason, when the impeller 32 is rotated and the drain water is pumped up by the drain pump 30, the drain water can be stirred by the stirrer 52 by simultaneously rotating the magnet 51. Then, by agitation of the drain water, the slime in the initial stage can be floated away from the solid surface, and sucked and removed together with the drain water by the drain pump 30 before adhering to the solid surface again. Further, the magnet stirrer motor can also be used as the impeller 32 motor.

In addition, you may change each said embodiment as follows.
In the first embodiment, the stirring blade 41 as a rotating member is connected to the motor 35 that drives the impeller 32. Alternatively, a rotating member that is not connected to the motor 35 that drives the impeller 32 may be provided. Accordingly, the drain water can be agitated by rotating the rotating member regardless of the driving of the impeller 32. Accordingly, the drain water can be appropriately stirred even when the impeller 32 is rotated to pump up the drain water. In this case as well, the drain water may be agitated by rotating the rotating member when pumping up the drain water.

  In the first embodiment, the stirring blade 41 is used as a rotating member for stirring the drain water around the drain pump by rotation. However, the rotating member rotates the drain water around the drain pump by rotating. The shape is not particularly limited as long as it can be stirred. For example, besides a blade, a rod, a plate, or the like may be used.

  In the second embodiment, the magnet 51 is connected to the motor 35 that drives the impeller 32, and the motor 51 is rotated to rotate the impeller 32, thereby rotating the magnet 51 to function as a magnet stirrer. It was. Alternatively, a magnet stirrer that is not connected to the motor 35 that drives the impeller 32 may be provided. For example, a magnet stirrer is provided under the recess 18 a of the drain pan 18. Thereby, irrespective of the drive of the impeller 32, the magnet stirrer can be driven and the drain water can be stirred by the movement of the stirring bar. Accordingly, the drain water can be appropriately stirred even when the impeller 32 is rotated to pump up the drain water. In this case as well, when the drain water is pumped up, the magnet stirrer may be driven to stir the drain water by the movement of the stirring bar.

  In the first and second embodiments, the drain water is stirred by the stirring blade 41 as the rotating member or the stirrer 52 driven by the magnetic stirrer, but if the drain water can flow, the stirring means Is not limited to this. For example, the drain water around the drain pump may be stirred by circulating the drain water sucked by the drain pump around the drain pump of the drain pan. Also in this case, generation or growth of slime can be suppressed by causing a flow in the drain water around the drain pump.

  In the first and second embodiments, the ceiling-embedded air conditioner has been described. However, if the air conditioner includes a drain pump and a drain pan, the air conditioner of the present invention is embedded in the ceiling. It is not limited to that of the formula. The air conditioner includes an air purifier and a humidifier.

  In the first and second embodiments, the present invention is embodied with respect to the drain up device (drain pump and drain pan) in the air conditioner, but the drain up device of the present invention is not limited to this. The drain up device of the present invention is a drain up device that includes a drain pan that stores drain water and a drain pump that pumps up and drains the drain water stored in the drain pan. It can also be embodied in an up device.

-In the said 1st, 2nd embodiment, in the drain up apparatus (drain pump and drain pan) in an air conditioner, although the slime suppression method of this invention was materialized, the slime suppression method of this invention is in this case It is not limited. With respect to suppressing the generation or growth of slime by causing the flow of water, an effect can be obtained even when water is not discarded. In addition, in order to suppress the growth of slime by causing a flow of water in the early stage of slime generation, floating the slime, and removing it, water is discharged without pumping. Even in cases, an effect can be obtained. For example, when water flows intermittently, slime is likely to be generated when the water is retained, but at this time, the water is stirred to cause a water flow in the retained portion of the water, thereby suppressing generation or growth of the slime. . In addition, the generated slime is also floated by stirring the water at the initial generation stage so that the floating slime is removed together when the water flows. Thereby, it is possible to suppress generation or growth of slime not only in the drain up device provided with the drain pump and the drain pan but also in the portion where water stays, particularly in the portion where water temporarily stays.

The cross-sectional top view of the air conditioner main body concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is the drain pump concerning 1st Embodiment, and sectional drawing of the circumference | surroundings, (b) is explanatory drawing of the bottom face. (A) is the drain pump concerning 2nd Embodiment, and sectional drawing of the circumference | surroundings, (b) is explanatory drawing of the bottom face.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Air conditioner main body, 18 ... Drain pan, 30 ... Drain pump, 32 ... Impeller, 35 ... Motor, 36 ... Rotating shaft, 41 ... Stirring blade as rotating member, 51 ... Magnet, 52 ... Stirrer.

Claims (8)

A drain up device comprising a drain pan and a drain pump for discharging drain water accumulated in the drain pan,
A drain up device comprising a stirring means for stirring drain water around the drain pump in the drain pan.   The drain up device according to claim 1, wherein the stirring means has a rotating member for stirring the drain water around the drain pump by rotation.   The drain-up device according to claim 2, wherein the rotating member is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor that drives an impeller of the drain pump and is provided outside a suction port of the drain pump.   The drain up device according to claim 1, wherein the stirring means includes a magnetic stirrer and a stirring bar placed in the drain pan.   The drain up device according to claim 4, wherein the magnet stirrer is connected to a rotating shaft of a motor that drives an impeller of the drain pump.   The said stirring means is means for stirring the drain water around the drain pump by circulating the drain water sucked by the drain pump around the drain pump. Drain up device.   An air conditioner comprising the drain-up device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A slime suppression method that suppresses the generation or growth of slime,
A slime-suppressing method characterized in that generation or growth of slime is suppressed by causing a flow in water by a stirring means that stirs the staying water in a staying portion where water stays and slime is likely to be generated.

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