JP2024098245A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of effectively suppressing or avoiding effects caused by damage of a water reception structure (water reception part) provided in an indoor unit, which has not been required to be estimated in conventional cases.

SOLUTION: An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a water reception part 15 that receives dew condensation water generated in a heat exchanger and auxiliary piping 22 on the lower side. The water reception part 15 includes: a bottom surface 15a for receiving the dew condensation water; and a wall surface 15b erecting relative to the bottom surface 15a. On the wall surface 15b, a position that has height H on the basis of the bottom surface 15a includes a stress concentration part 15c that is a portion easily deformed due to stress concentration as compared to the wall surface 15b, whose height is lower than the height H.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner equipped with a heat exchange unit in the indoor unit.

An air conditioner generally comprises an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, each of which is equipped with a heat exchanger or heat exchange unit. When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the air inside the room is cooled by the heat exchange unit in the indoor unit, causing condensation to form on the surface of the heat exchange unit. Therefore, the indoor unit is provided with a drainage path to distribute the condensation water outdoors.

Such a drainage path includes a water receiving structure (or water receiving portion) that is a structure for receiving condensation water from the heat exchange unit. An example of an indoor unit that includes a water receiving structure is the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 lists a water receiving tray as an example of a water receiving structure.

JP 2014-130000 A

In recent years, in the field of air conditioners, there has been a trend for the main body of the air conditioner to become heavier. As a result, in order to streamline or reduce the weight of air conditioners, for example, changes in the types of materials used, consideration of miniaturized structures, or development of new materials are being considered. Also, from the perspective of environmental consideration, there is a trend toward using recycled materials as various materials for air conditioners.

Water receiving structures such as water trays are usually made of resin materials. For this reason, there are plans to use lighter (lower specific gravity) resin materials (lightweight materials) as resin materials for water receiving structures, or to use recycled resin materials (resin materials made of or containing recycled materials).

However, it became clear that if the resin material was a lightweight material or a recycled resin material, it was necessary to consider the possibility that the water receiving structure might be more susceptible to damage. With conventional resin materials, there was almost no need to consider such damage to the water receiving structure.

For example, if an impact is applied to the water tray, which is a component of an air conditioner, during its manufacture, it is conceivable that it may break if it is made of lightweight materials or recycled resin materials. Alternatively, when an external force is applied to the front of the indoor unit of an air conditioner, this external force may cause the frame of the indoor unit to deform, concentrating stress on part of the water tray structure and causing breakage.

If the damaged part of the water receiving structure is near the bottom, the bottom will receive condensation water and temporarily accumulate there, which may cause the condensation water to leak from the damaged part. Leaking condensation water means water leaking into the room where the indoor unit is installed, i.e., into the living space. Therefore, damage to the water receiving tray has a significant impact on the quality of the indoor unit and, ultimately, the air conditioner.

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and aims to provide an air conditioner that can effectively reduce or avoid the effects of damage to the water receiving structure (water receiving portion) of the indoor unit, something that did not need to be considered in the past.

In order to solve the above problems, the air conditioner according to the present disclosure comprises an indoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the air drawn in by the indoor fan, an outlet port through which the air that has been heat exchanged is discharged, and a water receiving section that receives at least condensed water generated in the heat exchanger below, the water receiving section having a bottom surface that receives the condensed water and a wall surface that stands upright against the bottom surface, and the wall surface is configured to have a stress concentration section at a position at height H based on the bottom surface, which is a portion where stress is concentrated and is more likely to deform than a wall surface that is less than height H.

According to the above configuration, a stress concentration portion is provided on the wall surface of the water receiving portion at a predetermined height H from the bottom surface. Therefore, even if the material of the water receiving portion is a lightweight material or recycled resin material, which is a material that should be considered for the possibility of damage when an external force is applied, the stress concentration portion is avoided from occurring near the bottom surface of the water receiving portion. This makes it possible to effectively suppress or avoid damage near the bottom surface of the water receiving portion, and therefore the function of the water receiving portion to receive condensation water can be well maintained. As a result, it becomes possible to effectively suppress or avoid the effects of damage to the water receiving portion of the indoor unit, which did not need to be considered in the past.

The present invention, with the above configuration, has the effect of providing an air conditioner that can effectively suppress or avoid the effects of damage to the water receiving structure (water receiving portion) of the indoor unit, something that did not need to be considered in the past.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a representative embodiment of the present disclosure. (A) is an oblique view showing the general configuration of a casing provided in the indoor unit shown in Figure 1, (B) is an oblique view showing the general configuration of an auxiliary piping section which is part of the casing shown in (A), and (C) is a general oblique view showing an enlarged portion of the water receiving section (water receiving structure) in the auxiliary piping section shown in (B). 2(A) is a schematic side view showing an example of the configuration of the bottom surface and wall surface of a part of the water receiving portion shown in FIG. 2(C), FIG. 2(B) is a schematic side view showing an example of the configuration of the ribs and stress concentrating portion provided on the water receiving portion shown in FIG. 2(C), and FIG. 2(C) is a schematic side view showing an example of the configuration of a thin wall portion, which is another example of the stress concentrating portion shown in FIG. 2(B). 3A is a schematic side comparison view showing another example of a rib and a stress concentration portion shown in FIG. 3B; FIG. 3B is a schematic side comparison view showing another example of a thin-wall portion shown in FIG. 3C; and FIG. 3C is a schematic side comparison view showing yet another example of a rib and a stress concentration portion shown in FIG. 3B. 3 is a partial side view illustrating an example in which deformation occurs due to an external force in the water receiving portion of the auxiliary piping portion shown in FIG. 2(B). FIG. FIG. 1A is a partial side view showing a representative example of the bottom and wall surfaces of a conventional water receiving portion, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the results of a simulation showing an example of a stress concentration portion in the structure shown in FIG. FIG. 1A is a partial side view showing a representative example of the bottom and wall surfaces of a water receiving portion according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a simulation result showing an example of a stress concentration portion in the structure shown in FIG. FIG. 10A is a partial side view showing a representative example of the bottom and wall surfaces of a water receiving portion according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a simulation result showing an example of a stress concentration portion in the structure shown in FIG.

The air conditioner according to the present disclosure comprises an indoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat with air drawn in by the indoor fan, an outlet port through which the heat-exchanged air is discharged, and a water receiving section that receives at least condensed water generated in the heat exchanger below, the water receiving section having a bottom surface that receives the condensed water and a wall surface that stands upright against the bottom surface, and the wall surface is configured to have a stress concentration section at a position at height H based on the bottom surface, which is a portion where stress is concentrated and is more likely to deform than a wall surface that is less than height H.

According to the above configuration, a stress concentration portion is provided on the wall surface of the water receiving portion at a predetermined height H from the bottom surface. Therefore, even if the material of the water receiving portion is a lightweight material or recycled resin material, which is a material that should be considered for the possibility of damage when an external force is applied, the stress concentration portion is avoided from occurring near the bottom surface of the water receiving portion. This makes it possible to effectively suppress or avoid damage near the bottom surface of the water receiving portion, and therefore the function of the water receiving portion to receive condensation water can be well maintained. As a result, it becomes possible to effectively suppress or avoid the effects of damage to the water receiving portion of the indoor unit, which did not need to be considered in the past.

In an air conditioner having the above configuration, the indoor unit may be provided with an auxiliary pipe that connects the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor unit, and the water receiving section may be configured to receive condensation water generated in the auxiliary pipe below.

According to the above configuration, the water receiving portion receives condensation water not only from the indoor heat exchanger but also from below the auxiliary piping. Therefore, it is possible to provide a good stress concentration portion even in the vicinity of the location where the auxiliary piping pass-through hole is provided, where it is difficult to change the position or shape, etc.

Furthermore, in an air conditioner having the above configuration, the height H may be configured to exceed the radius r of a water droplet with a contact angle of 90°.

According to the above configuration, the height H is set to exceed the ideal height of water droplets on the bottom surface, so that even if deformation or damage occurs, leakage of condensation water can be suppressed, and the stress concentration area can be positioned as close to the bottom surface as possible.

In addition, in an air conditioner having the above configuration, the position of the stress concentration portion may be higher than the water line of the water receiving portion.

According to the above configuration, since the stress concentration area is located on the wall surface higher than the waterline, even if the stress concentration area is deformed or damaged, leakage of condensation water can be effectively suppressed or avoided.

The air conditioner of the above configuration may further include a rib connecting the bottom surface of the water receiving portion and the wall surface, and the stress concentration portion may be located on the wall surface including at least the upper portion of the rib.

According to the above configuration, by providing a rib connecting the bottom surface and the wall surface, a stress concentration area can be appropriately provided on the wall surface. In addition, by adjusting the specific dimensions of the rib, the position of the stress concentration area can also be adjusted.

In addition, in an air conditioner having the above configuration, the rib may be configured so that at least one of the boundary portions with the bottom surface or the wall surface is curved.

According to the above configuration, by having such a curved shape, it is possible to reduce the possibility of dust and the like being trapped between the bottom surface or wall surface and the rib.

In addition, in an air conditioner having the above configuration, the rib may have at least one curved portion that is convex upward between the connection portion with the bottom surface and the connection portion with the wall surface.

This configuration makes it easier to concentrate stress in the stress concentration area, and also makes it possible to adjust the position or area of the stress concentration area formed on the wall surface.

In an air conditioner having the above configuration, the stress concentration portion may be a thin-wall portion in which the thickness of the wall panel that constitutes the wall surface is partially reduced.

According to the above configuration, by partially reducing the thickness of the wall panel at the position where the stress concentration portion 15c is desired (by making the wall panel thinner), a thin wall portion can be formed, and the thin wall portion can be used as the stress concentration portion without providing a rib.

In addition, in an air conditioner having the above configuration, the boundary between the thin wall portion and the wall panel may be configured as a curved surface.

This configuration can reduce the possibility of dust and other particles accumulating within the thin wall section. It can also effectively prevent other parts, tools, maintenance parts, or other objects from accidentally getting caught on the boundary of the thin wall section during manufacturing or maintenance of the indoor unit.

Representative embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

[Example of configuration of air conditioner and indoor unit]
The air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, which are connected by auxiliary piping. The indoor unit is attached to a wall surface inside the room, but the specific configuration is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit 10 according to the present embodiment includes an indoor heat exchanger 11, an indoor fan 12, a frame 13, a front water receiving portion 14, a rear water receiving portion 15, a casing 16, a front panel 17, upper and lower air deflectors 18, an auxiliary air deflector 19, a left and right air deflector 20, and the like.

1 shows a schematic diagram of the main configuration inside the indoor unit 10 from the left side of the indoor unit 10, with the blank areas being equipped with various known components or mechanisms etc. according to the specific configuration of the indoor unit 10. The left side of the page in FIG. 1 is the front side of the indoor unit 10, the right side is the back side (or rear side) of the indoor unit 10, the upper side is the top side of the indoor unit 10, and the lower side is the bottom side of the indoor unit 10. Also, the components or mechanisms etc. shown in FIG. 1 are a representative example, and the present disclosure is not limited to this illustration.

The casing 16 is the main housing of the indoor unit 10, and the indoor heat exchanger 11 is housed within the casing 16. The indoor unit 10 according to this embodiment is equipped with a front heat exchanger 11a located at the front inside the indoor unit 10 and a rear heat exchanger 11b located at the rear inside the indoor unit 10 as the indoor heat exchanger 11. An indoor fan 12 is located below and between the front heat exchanger 11a and the rear heat exchanger 11b.

The casing 16 has a front opening 16a located in front of the indoor heat exchanger 11 and a top opening 16b located above the indoor heat exchanger 11. The indoor heat exchanger 11 (front heat exchanger 11a and rear heat exchanger 11b) is supported by a frame 13. The indoor fan 12 exchanges heat with the indoor air taken in from the front opening 16a and top opening 16b in the front heat exchanger 11a and rear heat exchanger 11b, and blows it out into the room.

A front panel 17 is provided at the front opening 16a so that it can be opened and closed. When the air conditioner is stopped, the front panel 17 closes the front opening 16a, and when the air conditioner is operating, it moves away from the casing 16 to open the front opening 16a. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates the state in which the front panel 17 opens the front opening 16a. The back surface of the casing 16, i.e., the back surface of the indoor unit 10, is the surface that is attached to the wall inside the room.

An air outlet 16c is provided on the underside of the casing 16 at a position below the indoor fan 12. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the air outlet 16c is provided with an up-down air deflector 18, an auxiliary air deflector 19, and a left-right air deflector 20. The up-down air deflector 18 and the auxiliary air deflector 19 open and close the air outlet 16c and enable the direction in which air is blown out from the air outlet 16c to be changed up or down. The left-right air deflector 20 enables the direction in which air is blown out from the air outlet 16c to be changed left or right.

The air outlet 16c is connected to the indoor fan 12 via the ventilation passage 16d. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the ventilation passage 16d is an air flow passage formed between the indoor fan 12 and the frame 13, and the air taken in from the front opening 16a and the top opening 16b and heat exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 11 is circulated to the air outlet 16c by the indoor fan 12.

A front water receiving portion 14 is provided below the front heat exchanger 11a of the indoor heat exchanger 11, and a rear water receiving portion 15 is provided below the rear heat exchanger 11b. The front water receiving portion 14 and the rear water receiving portion 15 may be configured as separate members from the casing 16 or the frame 13, or may be configured integrally. As described below, the casing 16, the frame 13, the front water receiving portion 14, the rear water receiving portion 15, etc. are members made of resin.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the front water receiving section 14 is located above the air outlet 16c and in front of the indoor fan 12. The rear water receiving section 15 is located below the rear heat exchanger 11b and above the rear of the indoor fan 12. The front water receiving section 14 receives condensation water from the front heat exchanger 11a, and the rear water receiving section 15 receives condensation water from the rear heat exchanger 11b. The condensation water received by these sections is drained through a drainage path not shown.

As shown in Figures 2(A) and (B), the indoor unit 10 configured as described above is connected to the outdoor unit via auxiliary piping 22 and the like. Figure 2(A) is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the rear side casing 16, frame 13, and rear water receiving section 15 of the indoor unit 10. The area of the casing 16 enclosed by a frame line on the left side of the figure is the area where the auxiliary piping 22, shown diagrammatically by a dashed line in the figure, is located, and in this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, it is referred to as the auxiliary piping section 21.

Figure 2 (B) is a partially enlarged view showing the schematic configuration of the auxiliary piping section 21. The auxiliary piping 22, which is shown in dashed lines in the figure, is passed through an auxiliary piping hole 21a provided on the left rear side of the casing 16 and is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 11 (not shown in Figure 2 (B)). A part of the rear water receiver 15 is located below the auxiliary piping section 21.

As shown in FIG. 2(A), the rear water receiving section 15 is formed as a water receiving structure that extends over the entire length (left-right or horizontal direction) of the indoor unit 10, and most of it is located below the rear heat exchanger 11b and receives condensation water from the rear heat exchanger 11b. Here, condensation water also occurs in the auxiliary pipe 22, so the rear water receiving section 15 extends below the auxiliary pipe section 21, which includes the auxiliary pipe 22.

In this embodiment, in the rear water receiving section 15, the portion that receives condensation water below the rear heat exchanger 11b is referred to as the "heat exchanger water receiving section" for ease of explanation, and the portion that receives condensation water from the auxiliary pipe 22 below the auxiliary pipe section 21 is referred to as the "auxiliary pipe water receiving section" for ease of explanation. As shown in Figures 2(A) and 2(B), the heat exchanger water receiving section and the auxiliary pipe water receiving section have different water receiving structures in order to receive condensation water well according to the specific configuration of the indoor unit 10.

In the rear water receiving section 15, if the boundary 21b is between the heat exchanger water receiving section and the auxiliary piping water receiving section as surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 2(B), then a rib 15d is provided at the boundary 21b so as to generate a stress concentration section 15c, as shown in FIG. 2(C). The specific configuration of the stress concentration section 15c will be described later. In addition, since the specific configuration of the outdoor unit is not particularly limited in this disclosure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

An example of air conditioning operation of an air conditioner equipped with an indoor unit 10 of the above configuration will be described. When the air conditioner starts operating, the vertical air deflectors 18 are driven by a drive source (not shown) to open the air outlet 16c, and the indoor fan 12 is driven by a drive source (not shown). When the indoor fan 12 is driven, indoor air is taken into the indoor unit 10 from the front opening 16a and the top opening 16b. The taken-in indoor air is heat exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 11 (front heat exchanger 11a and rear heat exchanger 11b), and is blown out of the room from the air outlet 16c through the ventilation passage 16d by the indoor fan 12.

[Stress concentration area of water receiving part]
Next, the stress concentration portion 15c of the rear water receiving portion 15 will be specifically described with reference to a representative example. Fig. 2(C) is a schematic partially enlarged perspective view of the boundary portion 21b of the rear water receiving portion 15, which has a bottom surface 15a that receives condensed water and a wall surface 15b that stands upright on the bottom surface 15a. Between the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b is a connection portion 15e, which corresponds to the corner portion formed by the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b. In the example shown in Fig. 2(C), the connection portion 15e is configured to make the linear corner portion between the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b into a concave curved surface.

In the example shown in FIG. 2(C), a rib 15d is provided to connect the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b. The rib 15d is a triangular plate-like portion that stands on both the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b. The rib 15d stands to bridge the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b and crosses (or is approximately perpendicular to) the connection portion 15e. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2(C), the stress concentration portion 15c is located on the upper portion of the rib 15d and on the wall surface 15b connected to it.

In the present disclosure, the stress concentration portion 15c is defined as a portion at a height H of the wall surface 15b based on the bottom surface 15a of the rear water receiving portion 15 where stress is concentrated and deformed more easily than on the wall surface 15b that is less than the height H. The specific dimension of the height H is not particularly limited as long as it is a dimension above the waterline of the rear water receiving portion 15, but in this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(A), assuming a water droplet 30 with a contact angle of 90°, the dimension may be greater than the radius r of the water droplet 30.

For ease of explanation, FIG. 3(A) shows a simplified schematic diagram of the rear water receiving portion 15, which is a representative example of the water receiving structure (water receiving portion) in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3(A), if an ideal water droplet 30 with a contact angle of 90° exists on the bottom surface 15a of the rear water receiving portion 15, the height of the water droplet 30 from the bottom surface 15a ideally corresponds to the radius r of the water droplet 30. A typical value for the radius r is, for example, 4 mm. When the rear water receiving portion 15 receives condensed water, it is considered that there is almost no possibility that the condensed water will accumulate to a position exceeding the radius r of the ideal water droplet 30.

In this disclosure, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the height H of the wall surface 15b is set so that the stress concentration portion 15c is located at a position exceeding the radius r, and a rib 15d is provided to connect the portion at or below this height H (or less than height H) to the bottom surface 15a. As a result, even if an external force is applied to the indoor unit 10 or the casing 16, or the rear water receiving portion 15, as described below, stress is concentrated at the stress concentration portion 15c, causing deformation or damage, etc., to occur preferentially. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or avoid the risk of deformation or damage, etc. occurring in positions close to the bottom surface 15a, such as the connection portion 15e of the rear water receiving portion 15.

The configuration for providing the stress concentration portion 15c on the wall surface 15b is not limited to the rib 15d shown in FIG. 2(C) or FIG. 3(B). For example, as shown in FIG. 3(C), a thin wall portion 15f may be formed on the wall plate that constitutes the wall surface 15b.

A typical water receiving structure is a "water receiving tray" consisting of a bottom plate that forms the bottom surface 15a that receives condensation water and wall plates that surround it. The rear water receiving section 15, which is an example of a water receiving structure in this embodiment, is similar. By partially reducing the thickness of the wall plate at a position that is to be the stress concentration section 15c (making the wall plate thinner) to form a thin wall section 15f, the thin wall section 15f can be used as the stress concentration section 15c without providing a rib 15d.

As described above, the specific position of the stress concentration portion 15c in this disclosure may be any position equal to or greater than the height H when the bottom surface 15a is used as the reference. Furthermore, in this disclosure, the stress concentration portion 15c may be any portion that extends over at least a portion of the wall surface 15b. Therefore, for example, in the configuration in which the stress concentration portion 15c is formed by the rib 15d shown in FIG. 3(B), the stress concentration portion 15c may include at least the upper portion of the rib 15d, as shown by the dotted line in the figure.

Because rib 15d is a portion (or member) that connects bottom surface 15a and wall surface 15b, the upper portion of rib 15d is substantially integrated with wall surface 15b. Therefore, as exemplified in the simulation of the embodiment described later, if stress concentration portion 15c occurs at least at the upper portion of rib 15d, stress will inevitably be concentrated on wall surface 15b that is integrally connected to the upper portion. Therefore, when rib 15d is provided, it is sufficient that stress concentration portion 15c is located at least on wall surface 15b including the upper portion of rib 15d. Of course, it goes without saying that stress concentration portion 15c may extend to wall surface 15b directly above rib 15d.

The specific configuration of rib 15d or thin wall portion 15f is not particularly limited. For example, as shown on the left side of Fig. 3(B) and Fig. 4(A), rib 15d may be a triangular wall portion connecting bottom surface 15a and wall surface 15b. Here, as shown on the right side of the figures, rib 25d may be formed such that at least one of the boundary portions with bottom surface 15a or wall surface 15b is curved (R-shaped).

In FIG. 4(A), the boundary between the bottom surface 15a and the rib 25d (the connection between the bottom surface 15a and the rib 25d) is curved, and the boundary between the wall surface 15b and the rib 25d (the connection between the wall surface 15b and the rib 25d) is also curved, but either one may be used. By adopting such a curved shape, it is possible to reduce the possibility of dust and the like being retained between the bottom surface 15a or the wall surface 15b and the rib 25d.

Alternatively, the stress concentration portion 15c as the thin wall portion 15f is not particularly limited as long as it is a configuration in which the thickness of the wall plate is thinned. Typically, as shown on the left side of Figures 3(C) and 4(B), the thin wall portion 15f is configured such that the thickness of the wall plate is thinned so as to be concavely curved or semicircular. Here, in the thin wall portion 25f shown on the right side of the figure, the portion (boundary portion) between the thin wall portion 25f, which is concavely curved or semicircular, and the wall plate is formed in a curved shape.

This reduces the possibility of dust and other particles accumulating within the thin wall portion 25f. It also effectively prevents other parts, tools, maintenance parts, or other objects from accidentally getting caught on the boundaries of the thin wall portion 25f during manufacturing or maintenance of the indoor unit 10.

In other words, in the present disclosure, the rib 15d forming the stress concentration portion 15c, or the thin wall portion 15f serving as the stress concentration portion 15c, may be processed so that the boundary portion with the wall panel has a curved shape (R-shape).

Furthermore, the rib 35d (right side of the figure) shown in FIG. 4(C) may have at least one curved portion 15g that is convex upward between the connection portion with the bottom surface 15a and the connection portion with the wall surface 15b on the upper surface of the rib 35d. Note that the left side of FIG. 4(C) illustrates a rib 15d whose boundary portion is not curved, similar to the left side of FIG. 4(A) or FIG. 3(B).

In the example shown in FIG. 4(C), similar to the rib 25d shown in FIG. 4(A), both the boundary portion between the bottom surface 15a and the rib 35d (the connection portion between the bottom surface 15a and the rib 35d) and the boundary portion between the wall surface 15b and the rib 35d (the connection portion between the wall surface 15b and the rib 35d) are curved, but only one of them may be curved (R-shaped). In this way, the rib 35d has a curved portion 15g that is convex on the upper side, which makes it easier to concentrate stress in the stress concentration portion 15c.

The specific configurations of rib 15d, rib 25d, and rib 35d, and thin wall portion 15f and thin wall portion 25f are not particularly limited. For example, in FIG. 2(C) or FIG. 3(B), rib 15d is a plate-like portion of approximately uniform thickness that stands upright from both bottom surface 15a and wall surface 15b. In this case, the specific thickness of rib 15d is not particularly limited. The same applies to rib 25d and rib 35d. In addition, rib 15d may have a larger thickness on the side connected to bottom surface 15a and wall surface 15b and a smaller thickness on the upper side (in the direction away from bottom surface 15a and wall surface 15b).

There is no particular limit to the extent to which the thin wall portion 15f or the thin wall portion 25f has a thickness that is reduced from the wall plate, for example. The thickness of the thin wall portion 15f or the thin wall portion 25f is set appropriately depending on various conditions such as the material of the wall plate, i.e., the water receiving structure (in this embodiment, the rear water receiving portion 15), the specific shape, and the relationship with other members. In the example shown in FIG. 3(C) or FIG. 4(B), the thin wall portion 15f or the thin wall portion 25f has a shape that is curved concavely in the thickness direction from the wall surface 15b (semicircular cross-sectional shape), but is not limited to this and may have, for example, a V-shaped or U-shaped cross-sectional shape.

[Deformation of water receiving part due to external force]
Next, we will explain the possibility of the water receiving structure being deformed and damaged when an external force is applied to the indoor unit 10 or the water receiving structure (water receiving portion) provided in the indoor unit 10, and the stress concentration portion 15c of the indoor unit 10 (air conditioner) according to the present disclosure.

In order to avoid enlarging the size of the indoor unit 10, it is necessary to efficiently arrange various components, including the indoor heat exchanger 11, with as few gaps as possible in the limited space inside the indoor unit 10. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the indoor heat exchanger 11 can be typically configured to include a front heat exchanger 11a and a rear heat exchanger 11b. Therefore, the front heat exchanger 11a and the rear heat exchanger 11b are arranged to surround the indoor fan 12. This makes it easier for the indoor heat exchanger 11 to include a portion that is inclined with respect to the direction of gravity (see FIG. 1).

When the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, moisture (condensation water) contained in the indoor air condenses on the surface of the heat exchanger 11. This condensation water increases over time as cooling operation continues, and is therefore more likely to fall from the heat exchanger 11 to the bottom of the indoor unit 10.

Therefore, a water receiving structure (water receiving portion) is provided below the heat exchanger 11. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a front water receiving portion 14 is provided below the front heat exchanger 11a, and a rear water receiving portion 15 is provided below the rear heat exchanger 11b. Condensation water formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 11 (front heat exchanger 11a and/or rear heat exchanger 11b) collects at the bottom of the heat exchanger 11 and drips into the water receiving structure (front water receiving portion 14 or rear water receiving portion 15). The condensation water that drips and is collected in the water receiving structure is discharged from inside the indoor unit 10 to the outside of the room by a drain pipe connected to the water receiving structure.

The inventors' investigations have revealed that it is necessary to consider the possibility that the water receiving structure may be deformed or damaged when an external force is applied to the frame 13 or casing 16 including the water receiving structure during the manufacture of the indoor unit 10, or when an external force is applied to the front of the indoor unit 10 when the indoor unit 10 is installed on a wall inside the room. The possibility of deformation and damage to the water receiving structure will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

Figure 5 partially illustrates the vicinity of the auxiliary piping section 21 of the frame 13 and casing 16 (see also Figure 1) shown in Figure 2 (A) from the side, with the right side of the figure being the front side of the indoor unit 10 and the left side of the figure being the rear side (rear side) of the indoor unit 10.

As shown by the block arrow F in Figure 5, when an external force F is applied from the front toward the frame 13, the wall surface 15b at the reference position L0 is deformed so as to be pushed backward (to the rear side, left side in the figure) to position L1. This causes stress to concentrate on the connection 15e between the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b in the water receiving structure (rear water receiving portion 15 in Figure 5), making it prone to deformation. As a result, the connection 15e near the bottom surface 15a is prone to breakage.

In the past, there was no need to take such deformation or damage to the water receiving structure into consideration in practical terms. However, in recent years, air conditioners have become even lighter, and the use of recycled materials has also progressed. Usually, the water receiving structure, frame 13, casing 16, etc. are made of resin materials (plastic materials or resin compositions). When selecting a resin material that aims to be even lighter or to further utilize recycled materials, or when considering a structure that aims to further reduce the size of the water receiving structure, it has become necessary to give sufficient consideration or consideration to deformation or damage to the water receiving structure in the indoor unit 10 as well.

For example, if a specific resin material is selected for the purpose of reducing the weight of the indoor unit 10, and an attempt is made to structurally reinforce the water receiving structure manufactured from that resin material to prevent damage to the water receiving structure, it becomes necessary to add additional parts or components to the water receiving structure, which results in preventing the weight of the indoor unit 10 from being reduced. This is also true when the water receiving structure is manufactured from recycled resin materials in order to utilize recycled materials.

Therefore, in this disclosure, rather than reinforcing the water receiving structure so that it can withstand deformation and damage due to external force F, based on the technical idea of fully maintaining the functionality of the water receiving structure even if deformation and damage may occur, a stress concentration section 15c is provided on the wall surface 15b of the water receiving structure at a position of height H based on the bottom surface 15a, where stress is concentrated and deformation is more likely than on wall surfaces 15b below that height H.

As a result, even if the material used for the water receiving structure is a material that should be considered for the possibility of damage when an external force F is applied, such as a lightweight material or recycled resin material, the occurrence of stress concentration areas 15c near the bottom surface 15a of the water receiving structure is avoided. This effectively prevents or prevents damage near the bottom surface 15a of the water receiving structure, so that the function of the water receiving structure to receive condensation water can be well maintained.

Furthermore, the stress concentration portion 15c in the present disclosure can function even more effectively in the auxiliary piping portion 21 shown in Figures 2(A) to 2(C) of the water receiving structure. This is because condensation water occurs not only in the indoor heat exchanger 11 but also in the auxiliary piping 22.

As mentioned above, the auxiliary pipe 22 is a pipe that connects the heat exchangers (indoor heat exchanger 11 and outdoor heat exchanger) between the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit, and the auxiliary pipe 22 is connected to the heat exchanger 11 in both the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit. Therefore, if condensation occurs on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 11 while the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, condensation may also occur on the surface of the auxiliary pipe 22 in the indoor unit 10 that is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 11.

The heat exchanger 11 provided in the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner, together with the auxiliary piping 22, constitutes a heat exchange unit, and during cooling operation, condensation may occur throughout this entire heat exchange unit.

In the example shown in FIG. 2(C), by providing rib 15d, stress concentration portion 15c is set at a position that is below auxiliary pipe passage hole 21a and above the top of rib 15d. Therefore, stress concentration portion 15c is located relatively close to bottom surface 15a of the water receiving structure (rear water receiving portion 15). Based on the function of stress concentration portion 15c, it is better to provide stress concentration portion 15c as far away from bottom surface 15a as possible, that is, as close to the top of wall surface 15b as possible.

However, in the auxiliary piping section 21, the auxiliary piping hole 21a is provided in the casing 16 to pass the auxiliary piping 22 shown by the dashed line in the figure, as shown in FIG. 2(B). The position and dimensions of this auxiliary piping hole 21a are determined from the viewpoint of assembly during manufacture of the indoor unit 10 or workability during installation of the indoor unit 10. In other words, it is difficult to change the position or size of the auxiliary piping hole 21a in order to position the stress concentration portion 15c as far away as possible from the bottom surface 15a. Furthermore, if the stress concentration portion 15c is provided in a position closer to the auxiliary piping hole 21a, the auxiliary piping hole 21a may be damaged.

In this disclosure, therefore, height H, which is higher than the waterline, has been found as a position that is relatively close to the bottom surface 15a of the water receiving structure, yet can effectively prevent or prevent leakage of condensation water even if damage occurs, and stress concentration portion 15c is provided at this position. A representative standard for height H in this case is a position that exceeds the radius r of a water drop 30 with a contact angle of 90°, as shown in Figure 3 (A). This allows stress concentration portion 15c to be positioned neither near bottom surface 15a of the water receiving structure nor near auxiliary piping hole 21a.

In this embodiment, the stress concentration portion 15c is described by using the rear water receiving portion 15 as an example of the water receiving structure (water receiving portion), but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the stress concentration portion 15c may be formed by providing a rib 15d or a thin wall portion 15f on the front water receiving portion 14. Depending on the specific configuration of the indoor heat exchanger 11, the indoor unit 10 may be provided with a water receiving portion having a configuration different from the front water receiving portion 14 and the rear water receiving portion 15, and the stress concentration portion 15c according to the present disclosure is also applicable to water receiving portions having such other configurations.

In the example shown in Figures 2(A) to 2(C), the stress concentration portion 15c is provided in the portion of the rear water receiving portion 15 below the auxiliary piping portion 21, i.e., the auxiliary piping water receiving portion described above, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The stress concentration portion 15c may be provided not only in the auxiliary piping water receiving portion, but also in the heat exchanger water receiving portion or other portions, as long as the portion is a portion where deformation and damage are expected to occur in the connection portion 15e between the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b in the water receiving structure.

The stress concentration portion 15c does not need to be located far away from the bottom surface 15a, so it can be effectively provided at various positions in the water receiving structure, even within the limited space inside the indoor unit 10. It also avoids the need to significantly change the structure of the frame 13 or casing 16 in order to provide the stress concentration portion 15c. Therefore, the stress concentration portion 15c can be effectively provided in any position other than the auxiliary piping water receiving portion of the water receiving structure.

Furthermore, in this disclosure, the stress concentration portion 15c or the specific configuration for providing it is not limited to the rib 15d or the thin wall portion 15f. As long as it is possible to provide a good stress concentration portion 15c on the wall surface 15b of the water receiving structure, various known configurations can be adopted.

The specific configuration of rib 15d or thin wall portion 15f is not particularly limited. For example, like rib 25d or thin wall portion 25f described above, a curved shape (R-shape) may be formed at the boundary with wall surface 15b as necessary (see Figures 4(A) and 4(b)). Alternatively, like rib 35d described above, rib 35d may have curved portion 15g so that the upper side of the rib 35d is wavy. In the example shown in Figure 4(C), rib 35d has one curved portion 15g, but it may have multiple curved portions 15g.

Furthermore, the dimensions of rib 15d, rib 25d, or rib 35d, such as its length (distance from wall surface 15b to the point where it connects to bottom surface 15a), height, thickness (width), etc., are not particularly limited. For example, by appropriately setting the length, height, thickness, etc., of rib 15d, it is possible to adjust the position or area (range) of stress concentration portion 15c. Similarly, the dimensions of thin wall portion 15f or 25f, such as the spacing (width), depth, thickness, etc., are not particularly limited.

By adopting such a curved shape or curved portion 15g, the risk of dust accumulating in the rib or thin wall portion can be reduced. In addition, by providing the curved portion 15g on the rib, it becomes easier to concentrate stress in the stress concentration portion 15c on the wall surface 15b, and it is also possible to adjust the position or area of the stress concentration portion 15c formed on the wall surface 15b, as shown in the examples described below (e.g., Example 2).

The present disclosure will be described in more detail based on examples and conventional examples, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art may make various changes, modifications, and alterations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

(Conventional example)
In this conventional example, as shown in FIG. 6(A), the rear surface water receiving portion 15 serving as the water receiving structure has a normal connection portion 15e (a normal curved (R-shaped) corner) between the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b (see FIG. 5).

In an indoor unit 10 equipped with the rear water receiving portion 15 according to this conventional example, the positions at which stress concentrates when deformation occurs in the wall surface 15b due to external force F shown in FIG. 5 were analyzed by simulation. For the simulation, OptiStruct (registered trademark), a structural analysis and structural optimization solver made by Altair, Inc., was used. The simulation results are shown in FIG. 6 (B).

As is clear from the bright area (whiter than the surrounding area) that has occurred in the area surrounded by a white circle in Figure 6 (B), in the conventional example, external force F shown in Figure 5 creates stress concentration area 15c in connection part 15e. Therefore, in the conventional example, there is a possibility that deformation and breakage due to stress concentration may occur near bottom surface 15a.

Example 1
In this embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 7 (A), in the rear water receiving portion 15 serving as a water receiving structure, a rib 15d is provided between the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b to connect these surfaces (see Figures 2 (C), 3 (B), etc.).

In the indoor unit 10 equipped with the rear water receiving portion 15 according to this embodiment 1, similar to the conventional example, the positions where stress is concentrated when deformation occurs in the wall surface 15b due to the external force F shown in FIG. 5 were analyzed by simulation. The results are shown in FIG. 7 (B).

As is clear from the bright area (whiter than the surrounding area) that has been created in the area surrounded by a white circle in Figure 7 (B), in Example 1, it can be seen that the external force F shown in Figure 5 creates a stress concentration area 15c on the upper part of the rib 15d and on the wall surface 15b connected to it.

Example 2
In the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8(A), the rear surface water receiving portion 15 serving as the water receiving structure has a rib 35d between the bottom surface 15a and the wall surface 15b, which connects these surfaces. The rib 35d has one curved portion 15g that is convex upward between the connection portion with the bottom surface 15a and the connection portion with the wall surface 15b (see Fig. 4(C)).

In the indoor unit 10 equipped with the rear water receiving portion 15 according to this embodiment 2, similar to the conventional example, the positions where stress is concentrated when deformation occurs in the wall surface 15b due to the external force F shown in FIG. 5 were analyzed by simulation. The results are shown in FIG. 8 (B).

As is clear from the bright area (whiter than the surrounding area) that has been created in the area surrounded by the white circle in Figure 8 (B), it can be seen that in Example 2 as well, the external force F shown in Figure 5 creates a stress concentration area 15c on the upper part of the rib 35d and on the wall surface 15b connected to it.

(Additional Note)
Based on the above description of the embodiments and examples, the following techniques are disclosed in this specification.

(Technique 1)
an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising an indoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat with air drawn in by the indoor fan, an outlet through which the heat-exchanged air is discharged, and a water receiving section that receives at least condensed water produced in the heat exchanger below, the water receiving section having a bottom surface that receives the condensed water and a wall surface that stands upright against the bottom surface, and a stress concentration section that is a portion where stress is concentrated and which is more likely to deform than a wall surface that is less than height H relative to the bottom surface is provided on the wall surface.

(Technique 2)
The indoor unit includes an auxiliary pipe that connects the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor unit, and the water receiving portion receives condensation water generated in the auxiliary pipe below.

(Technique 3)
The air conditioner according to Technology 1 or 2, wherein the height H exceeds the radius r of a water droplet having a contact angle of 90°.

(Technique 4)
The air conditioner according to any one of techniques 1 to 3, wherein the position of the stress concentration portion is higher than the water line of the water receiving portion.

(Technique 5)
An air conditioner as described in any one of techniques 1 to 4, further comprising a rib connecting the bottom surface of the water receiving portion and the wall surface, and the stress concentration portion is located on the wall surface including at least an upper portion of the rib.

(Technique 6)
The rib has at least one of a bottom surface and a boundary portion with the wall surface formed in a curved shape.

(Technique 7)
The air conditioner according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the rib has at least one curved portion that is convex upward between a connection portion with the bottom surface and a connection portion with the wall surface.

(Technique 8)
The air conditioner according to any one of Techniques 1 to 7, wherein the stress concentration portion is a thin-wall portion formed by partially reducing the thickness of a wall panel that constitutes the wall surface.

(Technique 9)
The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the boundary between the thin wall and the wall panel is a curved surface.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments or multiple modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be widely and suitably used in the fields of indoor units having a water receiving structure (water receiving portion) that receives condensation water from a heat exchanger and auxiliary piping, and air conditioners equipped with such indoor units.

10: Indoor unit 11: Indoor heat exchanger 12: Indoor fan 13: Frame 14: Front water receiving section 15: Rear water receiving section 15a: Bottom surface 15b: Wall surface 15c: Stress concentration section 15d: Rib 15e: Connection section 15f: Thin wall section 15g: Curved section 16: Casing 16a: Front opening 16b: Top opening 16c: Air outlet 16d: Ventilation passage 17: Front panel 18: Up and down wind direction plate 19: Auxiliary wind direction plate 20: Left and right wind direction plate 21: Auxiliary piping section 21a: Auxiliary piping through hole 21b: Boundary section 22: Auxiliary piping 25d: Rib 25f: Thin wall section 35d: Rib 30: Water droplets

Claims (9)

Indoor fan and
an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the air sucked in by the indoor fan;
an outlet through which the air that has been heat exchanged is discharged;
A water receiving portion that receives condensation water generated at least in the heat exchanger from below;
Equipped with
The water receiving portion is
A bottom surface for receiving condensation water;
A wall surface erected against the bottom surface;
having
The wall surface is provided with a stress concentration portion at a position of height H based on the bottom surface, which is a portion where stress is concentrated and deformed more easily than a wall surface having a height less than H.
Air conditioner. An auxiliary pipe is provided connecting the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger,
The water receiving portion also receives condensation water generated in the auxiliary piping below.
The air conditioner according to claim 1. The height H exceeds the radius r of a water droplet with a contact angle of 90°.
The air conditioner according to claim 1. The position of the stress concentration portion is higher than the water line of the water receiving portion.
The air conditioner according to claim 1. The water receiving portion further includes a rib connecting the bottom surface and the wall surface of the water receiving portion,
The stress concentrating portion is located on the wall surface including at least an upper portion of the rib.
An air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The rib has at least one of the bottom surface and the boundary portion with the wall surface curved.
The air conditioner according to claim 5. The rib has at least one curved portion that is convex upward between a connection portion with the bottom surface and a connection portion with the wall surface.
The air conditioner according to claim 5. The stress concentration portion is a thin wall portion obtained by partially reducing the thickness of a wall plate constituting the wall surface.
An air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The boundary between the thin wall portion and the wall plate is a curved surface.
The air conditioner according to claim 8.

Images