JP2009250449A - Filter automatic cleaning device for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically detect degradation of a function caused by contamination of a cleaning section and notify a user or a maintenance company of the air conditioner of the necessity of maintenance. <P>SOLUTION: This filter automatic cleaning device for the air conditioner comprises a filter 15 for capturing dusts in the air sucked from a suction opening 10 of the air conditioner, cleaning mechanisms 16, 17 having a dust scraping-off means 17 for scraping off the dusts attached to the filter 15 by being kept into contact with the filter 15, a motor 20a for applying driving force to relatively move the filter 15 and the cleaning mechanisms 16, 17, a current detecting means 22 for detecting a driving current value of the motor 20a, and a control device 23 for notifying the arrival of maintenance time by a notifying means 24 when the driving current value detected by the current detecting means 22 is more than a threshold value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic filter cleaning device for an air conditioner, and more particularly to detection of maintenance time such as cleaning and replacement of a cleaning mechanism.

  In general, a filter is attached between an air inlet and a heat exchanger in an air conditioner to prevent dust from flowing into the air conditioner.

  By the way, the air conditioner is often attached to the upper part of the air-conditioning target space, and cleaning maintenance of the filter is difficult to perform. Therefore, an increase in pressure loss may increase the fan input or decrease the air conditioning efficiency. is there.

  Therefore, as a control method for eliminating the troublesome periodic cleaning of the filter, always ensuring a good air blowing state, and obtaining a safe and highly reliable air conditioner filter device and filter device, a filter A non-contact movable nozzle device is provided so that dust adhering to the filter can be sucked out, and the motor depends on the time it takes to move the nozzle device and the current flowing in the drive motor that moves the nozzle device. There has been proposed one that detects that a load has become abnormally large and performs a self-diagnosis such as a failure (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, regarding an air purifier that can automatically scrape and collect dust adhering to the filter, the current value of the motor for the blower is detected even after the main filter is cleaned by the cleaning means, and the detected value is There have been proposed ones that notify the necessity of cleaning of the pre-filter by the notification means when the threshold value is deviated, and those that start the cleaning of the main filter when the detected value deviates from the threshold value (for example, Patent Documents). 2).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-26541 (FIGS. 1 and 8) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2007-237091 (FIGS. 18 and 19)

  However, in the case of a commercial air conditioner, it is often installed in an environment where there is a large amount of dust or oil. In such a case, the dust containing oil adhering to the filter is the side that scrapes off the dust. In addition to gradually adhering to a cleaning part such as a brush, the cleaning efficiency of the filter is lowered, and there is a problem that it is unsanitary because it is a breeding bed for germs and the like.

  The problem of a decrease in cleaning efficiency due to adhesion of dust containing oil to a cleaning unit such as a brush is due to the current value of the drive motor and the current value of the motor for the blower that move the suction nozzle device in a non-contact manner. Cannot be solved by these methods.

  The technical problem of the present invention is to automatically detect such functional deterioration due to contamination of the cleaning unit and to notify the user of the air conditioner or a maintenance company that maintenance is necessary. is there.

  The automatic filter cleaning device for an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a filter that collects dust in the air sucked from the air inlet of the air conditioner, and dust that scrapes the dust adhering to the filter in contact with the filter. A cleaning mechanism having scraping means, a motor for applying a driving force for moving the filter and the cleaning mechanism relative to each other, a current detection means for detecting a drive current value of the motor, and a drive current value detected by the current detection means And a control device for notifying that it is a maintenance time by a notifying means when is equal to or greater than a threshold value.

  An automatic filter cleaning device for an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a filter that collects dust in the air sucked from an air suction port, and a rotating body that scrapes the dust adhering to the filter in contact with the filter. At least one of a cleaning mechanism having dust scraping means, a first motor for applying a driving force for relatively moving the filter and the cleaning mechanism, a second motor for driving the rotating body, and the first motor or the second motor. Current detection means for detecting the drive current value of the current and a control device for informing the notification means that it is a maintenance time when the drive current value detected by the current detection means is equal to or greater than a threshold value. .

  In the automatic filter cleaning device for an air conditioner according to the present invention, the driving current of the motor that drives the motor (first motor) and the scraping unit (rotating body) that applies the driving force for relatively moving the filter and the cleaning mechanism. It is possible to detect a decrease in the cleaning efficiency of the filter from the value, notify this to the user or a maintenance contractor, and prompt maintenance, so that the filter can be prevented from clogging due to a decrease in the cleaning efficiency, and dust, Propagation of germs at the filter cleaning site due to adhesion of oil or the like can be avoided.

The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention from below, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal configuration of the air conditioner, and FIG. 3 is an automatic filter cleaning device. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of the motor drive current detector, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing the degree of contamination (change in drive current value) of the dust scraper. Yes, the driving current of the filter driving motor or the dust scraping means driving motor made of a rotating body is plotted on the vertical axis, and the number of cleaning operations is plotted on the horizontal axis.

  In the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the air conditioner body 1 is suspended from the air-conditioning target space as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A unit 2 of an automatic filter cleaning device is attached to the lower part of the air conditioner main body 1, and a decorative panel 3 is attached to the lower part thereof. In addition, a motor 4 for driving a blower is attached to the central top surface in the air conditioner main body 1, and a blower 5 is attached to the rotating shaft thereof. A heat exchanger 6 that performs heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant is disposed on the blow-out side of the blower 5, and condensed water generated by cooling the air during cooling operation is disposed below the heat exchanger 6. The drain pan 6a to receive is arrange | positioned. Around the drain pan 6a is an air passage 7 through which heat-exchanged air passes, and an air passage 7 is also formed around the automatic filter cleaning device 11 in the unit 2.

  The decorative panel 3 has an air outlet 8 communicating with the air passage 7 of the drain pan 6a at the peripheral edge thereof. The air outlet vane 9 that controls the air outlet direction is provided at the air outlet 8. Further, a suction port 10 is formed at the center of the decorative panel 3, and a filter 15 and an automatic filter cleaning device 11 for automatically cleaning the filter 15 are arranged above the suction port 10 as shown in FIG. A bell mouth 12 is installed to guide the sucked air to the blower 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the filter 15 includes a frame portion 15a having a predetermined width and length made of a highly flexible material such as an elastomer, and a mesh shape having a size that allows air to circulate and collect dust. The filter part 15b is formed on the frame part 15a and arranged regularly (in a matrix) on the frame part 15a, and is placed on the guide 14a. The frame 15a of the filter 15 has timing belt-shaped teeth (not shown) (or holes formed at regular intervals) on two sides (both sides) parallel to the filter moving direction (indicated by arrows in the drawing). ) Is formed.

  A cylindrical drum having a rotating shaft in a direction perpendicular to the filter moving direction at one end side of the filter 15 and having gears (or sprockets) 16 a that engage with the teeth of the filter 15 and drive the filter 15 at both ends thereof. 16 and a guide 14b that guides the filter 15 so that the filter 15 can be hung around the drum 16 in a U shape, prevents the filter 15 from being lifted from the drum 16, and changes the direction.

  Further, the hair shaft has a rotation shaft in the same direction as the drum 16 and is arranged so that the hair tip interferes with the filter 15 wound around the drum 16 in a U shape. A dust scraping means, ie, a brush 17 composed of a rotating body formed by spirally winding a dust box, a dust box 19 formed of a transparent resin at a lower portion thereof so that dust can be seen from the outside, and a brush 17 And a comb-shaped portion 18 arranged so as to comb the hair. Further, at one end of each shaft of the drum 16 and the brush 17, a gear box 21, a motor (first motor) 20 a for driving the drum 16, and driving the brush 17. Motor (second motor) 20b is installed. The drum 16 and the brush 17 constitute a cleaning mechanism. If the same motor is used for the first and second motors 20a and 20b, the system can be easily simplified and can be configured at low cost. In addition, although the filter contact portion in the dust scraping means is here flocked, the filter contact portion may be formed in a spatula shape, and in this case, the dust scraping means can be easily cleaned during maintenance.

  The first and second motors 20a and 20b are connected to the control board 23 as shown in FIG. The control board 23 is connected to the drive current detectors of the motors 20a and 20b and the notification means, that is, the display unit 24. The drive current detection is performed, for example, by connecting the shunt resistor 22 in series with the first motor 20a or the second motor 20b and detecting the voltage between the terminals of the resistor.

  FIG. 4 shows a drive current detection circuit for only the first motor 20a for driving the drum 16. However, when detecting the drive currents of both the first and second motors 20a and 20b, the second motor is used. Needless to say, a drive current detection circuit 20b, that is, a set of the second motor 20b and the shunt resistor 22 is added.

  Next, the operation of the air conditioner of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  During normal air-conditioning operation of the air conditioner, the filter 15 stops at a position as shown in FIG. 2 in a state where one end side of the teeth on both side edges meshes with the gear 16a on the drum 16 side of the filter automatic cleaning device 11. Yes. When the air conditioner is operated, the blower 5 is rotated by the electric motor 4, and the air in the air-conditioning target space is taken into the air conditioner. At that time, the suction airflow passes through the suction port 10 of the decorative panel 3, passes through the filter 15, passes through the bell mouth 12, passes through the blower 5, is blown to the heat exchanger 6, and is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant. 6a passes through the air passage 7 formed by the unit 2 and is blown out again from the air outlet 8 of the decorative panel 3 to the air-conditioning target space. The filter 15 collects dust contained in the sucked air so as not to be brought into the heat exchanger 6. Since the collected dust gradually clogs the filter 15 and increases the pressure loss, the filter automatic cleaning device 11 periodically performs an operation of scraping off the dust adhering to the filter 15.

  The filter automatic cleaning operation is performed by driving the drive motor of the drum 16, that is, the first motor 20a. As a result, the drum 16 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3 (clockwise), and the filter 15 transmitted with power by the gear 16a of the drum 16 is guided by the guides 14a and 14b. To move. Since a brush 17 is provided at a position in the vicinity of the drum 16 that interferes with and contacts the filter 15, the bristles of the brush 17 scrape dust adhering to the filter 15, and part of the scraped dust is a dust box. 19, and a part adheres to the brush 17. In order to drop the dust adhering to the brush 17 into the dust box 19, the second motor 20 b is driven to rotate the brush 17 in the same clockwise direction as the drum 16. Thereby, a part of the dust adhering to the brush 17 falls into the dust box 19 so that the rice ears are threshed by the comb-shaped threshing machine by the comb-shaped portion 18, and a part of the dust accumulates on the brush 17.

  When performing such a filter automatic cleaning operation, the drive current of the first motor 20a or the second motor 20b to be driven is detected by a current detection unit provided on the control board 23, and the detected value is equal to or greater than a threshold value. If it is time for maintenance, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit 24. As described above, the drive current is detected by the shunt resistor 22 connected in series to the first motor 20a or the second motor 20b. The current flowing through the first motor 20a or the second motor 20b and the current flowing through the shunt resistor 22 are the same, and the shunt resistor 22, which is a pure resistor, generates a potential difference between terminals according to Ohm's law. It is handled on the control board 23 as an input.

  The threshold value for notifying the maintenance time is determined as follows. That is, in an air conditioner installed in an environment where there is a large amount of dust or oil, the dust adhering to the filter 15 contains oil, and this oil will accumulate on the brush 17 as the cleaning operation is repeated. In addition, once heated oil such as cooking oil deteriorates and the viscosity increases as oxidation proceeds, the frictional force between the brush 17 and the filter 15 increases, and the first motor 20a or the second motor 20b. The required torque increases, and the drive current value increases. FIG. 5 shows the change in the drive current value. When the filter 15 and the brush 17 are at an early stage (region a), the adhesion of dust and oil gradually proceeds, but the viscosity of the oil is not so high. As the oxidation progresses and the viscosity increases, the amount of dust that remains attached to the brush 17 without falling into the dust box 19 increases, and the drive current value increases synergistically (region b). Then, the limit of the amount of dust and oil is reached, and the driving current value becomes stable at a high level (region c).

  In order to prevent a reduction in the cleaning efficiency of the filter 15 and keep it hygienic, it is desirable to display so as to prompt maintenance after the region a. Since this value differs depending on the types of the first motor 20a, the second motor 20b, the filter 15, and the brush 17, it is necessary to obtain and determine it through experiments. It has been found to be about + 10% of.

  Further, a plurality of threshold values may be set, and notification contents may be varied depending on the threshold values to notify the degree of contamination of the brush 17 due to, for example, dust or oil. In other words, the first notification is performed near the boundary between the region a and the region b, and when entering the region b, the dust and oil adhering to the brush 17 accumulate at a position avoiding the comb-shaped portion 18, so that the maintenance time is near. In addition to this, a life prolonging measure is attempted in which the brush 17 is rotated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) in the direction of the arrow in the drawing to remove the dust and oil adhering to the brush 17 as described above. Then, when entering the region c, an abnormality notification is made to notify that maintenance is necessary. The threshold value of the region c may be set to about −10% of the motor lock current value.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the stage of detecting the drive current of the first motor 20a that drives the filter 15 or the drive current of the second motor 20b that drives the brush 17 and starting to reduce the efficiency of filter cleaning. Therefore, it is possible to always keep the filter 15 without clogging, to prevent a decrease in air conditioning efficiency, and to obtain an air conditioner that can be used for a long time. For this reason, energy consumption can be reduced. Moreover, propagation of various germs in the filter automatic cleaning device 11 and generation of a strange odor can be prevented, and environmental deterioration of the living space due to allergens can be avoided. In addition, it is possible to detect a failure in which the first motor 20a or the second motor 20b is locked, and even in such a case, it is possible to notify the necessity of maintenance, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the product. Can also help.

  In this example, the filter 15 and the cleaning mechanism (drum 16 and brush 17) are moved relative to each other as an example. However, the filter 15 is moved on the cleaning mechanism side. Alternatively, both the filter 15 and the cleaning mechanism may be moved.

  Here, the detection of the motor driving current has been described by taking as an example the case where either the first motor 20a for driving the filter 15 or the second motor 20b for driving the brush 17 may be used. It may be configured to detect the drive currents of both 20a and the second motor 20b. In this case, the detection accuracy of the drive current is improved. Further, when detecting the drive current of only one of the motors, if the drive current of the second motor 20b that drives the brush 17 is detected, an increase in torque due to friction between the brush 17 and the comb-shaped portion 18 is also detected. It is possible to detect the contamination of the brush 17 with high accuracy. Moreover, when it is set as the structure which detects only the drive current of the 1st motor 20a which drives the filter 15, it is good also as a fixed system which the brush 17 does not rotate.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the downward direction. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the dust scraping part periphery in the filter automatic cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows the structural example of the motor drive current detector of the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the contamination degree (change of a drive current value) of the dust scraping part of the air conditioner which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Suction port, 11 Filter automatic cleaning apparatus, 15 Filter, 16 Drum (cleaning mechanism), 17 Brush (dust cleaning means of cleaning mechanism), 20a 1st motor, 20b 2nd motor, 22 Shunt resistance (current detection means) , 23 Control board (control device), 24 Display unit (notification means).

Claims (5)

A filter that collects dust in the air sucked from the air suction port;
A cleaning mechanism having dust scraping means for scraping dust adhering to the filter in contact with the filter;
A motor for applying a driving force for relatively moving the filter and the cleaning mechanism;
Current detection means for detecting a drive current value of the motor;
A control device for informing the notification means that it is a maintenance time when the drive current value detected by the current detection means is equal to or greater than a threshold;
An automatic filter cleaning device for an air conditioner, comprising: A filter that collects dust in the air sucked from the air suction port;
A cleaning mechanism having a dust scraping means comprising a rotating body that scrapes the dust adhering to the filter in contact with the filter;
A first motor for applying a driving force for relatively moving the filter and the cleaning mechanism; a second motor for driving the rotating body;
Current detection means for detecting a drive current value of at least one of the first motor or the second motor;
A control device for notifying from the notification means that it is a maintenance time when the drive current value detected by the current detection means is greater than or equal to a threshold;
An automatic filter cleaning device for an air conditioner, comprising:   The filter automatic cleaning device for an air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter contact portion in the dust scraping means is formed in a spatula shape.   The automatic filter cleaning device for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the threshold value is set to a value of + 10% of the drive current in the initial use.   The filter automatic cleaning device for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of threshold values are set, and the contents of notification are made different depending on the threshold values.

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