JP2575556B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner provided with means for changing a blowing direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in JP-B-61-49574 and JP-A-56-3344, an air conditioner which detects temperatures at a plurality of positions and changes the blowing direction of the air conditioner. was there.

[0003] In such an air conditioner, the blowing direction is controlled in a lower temperature direction during heating and in a higher temperature direction during cooling. Thereby, the bias of the temperature distribution in the room can be reduced, and the temperature of the entire room can be kept uniform.

[0004]

The above-mentioned air conditioner has the following features.
If there is a difference between the temperatures at a plurality of places in the room, the wind direction is controlled so as to reduce the difference. Therefore, in the case of detecting a temperature difference between two points in the left and right directions, for example, during heating, if the temperature at the left position is lower than the right position, the wind direction is set to the left.

However, in a situation where the temperature change is small, such as at the start of operation, as a result of setting the wind direction to the left, an overshoot occurs in which the temperature at the left position rises higher than the temperature at the right position. When this happens, the wind direction changes to the right, and the temperature at the right position is higher than at the left position. In this way, the wind direction frequently changes to the left and right, and there is a problem that the temperature distribution in the entire room is not uniformed or that it takes a very long time to achieve uniformity. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an air conditioner that can uniformly and quickly equalize the temperature of the entire room in any of the air conditioners of claims 1 to 3. Aim.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature at a first position in a room and a second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature at a second position in the room. In the provided air conditioner, the detected temperatures Tr ₁ (0) and Tr ₂ (0) at the start of operation of the first and second temperature sensors
And after the start operation detecting temperature Tr ₁ (t) and Tr ₂ difference {Tr ₁ (0) between the detected temperature variation and the detected temperature change of the second temperature sensor of the first temperature sensor from (t) -Tr ₁ (t )-[Tr
₂ (0) −Tr ₂ (t)]｝, and
The temperature change difference obtained by the temperature change difference detection means is the first
When the temperature is equal to or more than the set value, the detection temperature Tr of the first temperature sensor
_If the difference between ₁ (t) and the detected temperature Tr ₂ (t) of the second temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a second set value, the wind direction changing means changes the blowing direction of the air conditioner in a direction to reduce the difference. Is provided.

[0007] An air conditioner according to a second aspect is a radiant heat temperature sensor provided in the air conditioner main body so that the first and second temperature sensors in the first aspect detect radiant heat temperatures in directions different from each other.

[0008] The air conditioner according to claim 3 is the first or second air conditioner.
The wind direction changing means in the present invention is a left and right louver for changing the blowing direction to the left and right by turning, and a left and right louver drive for changing the position of the center of rotation of the left and right louvers to the left and right and turning the left and right louvers in a predetermined range in that state Includes circuitry.

[0009]

The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3 obtains a difference between a temperature change at the first position and a temperature change at the second position in the room, and the difference in the temperature change is equal to or greater than the first set value. When
If the difference between the temperature at the first position and the temperature at the second position at the present time is equal to or greater than the second set value, the blowing direction is changed in a direction to reduce the difference.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a temperature sensor unit S housed in the air conditioner body.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an opening 1 on the front side of a rectangular shape.
The casing 1 has a pair of radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B arranged side by side. Between the back side of the radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B and the inside of the casing 1,
The heat insulating material 3 is filled.

The radiant heat detecting sections 2A and 2B are a pair of reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b which are integrally arranged side by side in the horizontal direction in the figure, and a heat receiving part which is disposed near the focal position of these reflecting plates 4a and 4b. Plates 5a and 5b, heat receiving plates 5a and 5b
And a first temperature sensor 6a and a second temperature sensor 6b, respectively.

The peripheral ends of the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b are fixed by a holding plate 7, and the respective reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b are, for example, parabolic mirrors having the same curvature. Alternatively, it is obtained by subjecting a resin molded product to a surface plating treatment. The axes 8a and 8b are mutually positioned with respect to the center position.
Different directivities are provided in the left and right directions so as to intersect at a point on the central axis 9 which is inclined inward at the same angle and mutually extended from the connecting position of the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b.

Therefore, the visual field ranges of the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b greatly intersect at the front surface of the casing opening 1a, but the edge line along these interconnected portions becomes a practical thermal boundary line, and the respective reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b are not. 4b itself is in a thermally separated state. The heat receiving plates 5a and 5b have a disk shape here, and are formed of, for example, a thin film of a glass-evo to reduce the heat capacity of the heat receiving plates 5a and 5b.

The heat receiving plates 5a and 5b are provided with elongated bridge fixing members 10 to suppress heat conduction from the outside.
It is supported at a predetermined position by a and 10b. The temperature sensors 6a and 6b for detecting the radiant heat temperature are bonded and fixed to the back surfaces of the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b by using a heat conductive adhesive. These temperature sensors 6a, 6b
Is taken out by a lead wire (not shown) connected to the temperature sensors 6a and 6b.

The temperature sensors 6a and 6b include heat receiving plates 5a and 5 supported on elongated bridge fixing bodies 10a and 10b.
b, it is suspended in the air together with the heat receiving plates 5a and 5b, so that the influence of heat conduction is extremely small. Further, since the back surfaces of the heat receiving plates 5a and 5b have high reflectance, the secondary radiation from the back surface to the temperature sensors 6a and 6b is also reduced.

The front opening 1a of the casing 1 accommodating the radiation detectors 2A and 2B has a thickness of, for example, 100 μm.
It is closed by an infrared transmitting film 11 made of a polyethylene sheet of a certain degree. Therefore, only infrared rays are transmitted into the casing 1, and the influence of the blown airflow of the outside world is affected by the heat receiving plate 5.
a, 5b and the temperature sensors 6a, 6b.

The temperature sensor unit S configured as described above is attached to the indoor unit Y of the air conditioner. That is, the front panel 12 of the indoor unit Y of the air conditioner and the infrared transmitting film 11 face each other with a gap.

At least the front panel 12 is generally
Alternatively, only the portion where the slits 13 are provided needs to be formed of a material having a low emissivity, for example, an aluminum material, a stainless steel material, or a white synthetic resin material panel. Instead of these materials, a treatment that reduces the emissivity, for example, a plating treatment of aluminum or the like may be performed.

A plurality of slits 13 are provided at a portion of the front panel 12 facing the infrared transmitting film 11, as shown in FIGS. The longitudinal direction of these slits 13 must match the direction in which the radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B are arranged side by side for the reason described later. Since the radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B are continuously arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, each slit 13 is also formed to be long in the horizontal direction.

Next, the reason why the longitudinal direction of the slits 13 is made to coincide with the direction in which the radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B are arranged side by side will be described. In FIG. 3, only one reflecting mirror 4a is shown here.
The visual field range of When a plurality of slits a long in the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction are provided in the front panel 12 disposed in front of the infrared transmitting film 11, for example, the field of view is directed in a direction inclined to the front panel 12 in advance. Therefore, the number of portions blocked by the remaining panel portions b increases.

That is, the number of ineffective portions of the visual field range blocked by the remaining panel portions b increases, and as a result, the transmission area for the slits a originally obtained as the effective visual field portion is reduced.

As described above, the longitudinal direction of the slit 12 must not be directed in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B are arranged.
A and 2B are formed in a horizontal direction that coincides with the direction of juxtaposition. As a result, the ineffective portion is extremely small, and the effective field of view can be made wider and longer.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the temperature sensor unit S is mounted in the indoor unit Y of the air conditioner. In the indoor unit Y, an air inlet 16 is provided in an upper front portion of an air conditioner main body 15, and an air outlet 1 is provided in a lower front portion.
7 are provided. Further, the temperature sensor unit S is disposed inside the side of the air outlet 17.

From the configuration of the radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B,
As shown in FIG. 4, these visual field ranges are divided right and left when viewed from the front of the air conditioner body 15, and coincide with each other when viewed from the side as shown in FIG.

That is, the first and second temperature sensors 6a, 6
b is a radiant heat temperature sensor for detecting different radiant heat temperatures in the left and right directions, and the first temperature sensor 6a detects the temperature at the first position in the room (= the predetermined position on the right side toward the air conditioner main body 15), The temperature at the second position in the room (= the predetermined position on the left side toward the air conditioner main body 15) is detected by the second temperature sensor.

Here, the operation of the temperature sensor unit S will be described. When heat is radiated from the wall or floor, the radiant heat energy becomes infrared light and the temperature sensor unit S
Is projected to

That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
Radiant heat energy is projected to the temperature sensor unit S in the air conditioner main body 15 from the visual field range arranged in spots on the floor and the wall surface of the room R to be air-conditioned on the left and right.

As shown in FIG. 1 again, the radiant heat energy converted to infrared light is transmitted through the slits 13 of the front panel 12 and the infrared transmitting film 11 and is projected on the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b, where it is located at the focal position. It is reflected in a narrowed state.

The radiant heat energy reflected by the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b is intensively captured by the heat receiving plates 5a and 5b and transmitted to the temperature sensors 6a and 6b. Each temperature sensor 6
The temperature detected by a and 6b is output to the outside through a lead wire. The radiation exchange heat quantity Q of the wall surface or the floor surface, which is the heat receiving surface, is expressed by the following equation. Q = Ε _r · Ε _w · F · K · A _p · σ (T _r ⁴ −T _w ⁴ ) ・ Η − Ε _r・ Ε _p・ F ・ (1-K) ・ A _p・ σ (T _p ⁴ −T _r ⁴ ) · Eta Incidentally, Q: radiant heat exchange rate (Kcai / h) Ε _r: receiving plate emissivity E _w: walls, floors emissivity F: form factor K: effective field of view (field of view / full field) A _p: reflection mirror projected area sigma: Boltzmann constant T _r: radiation detection temperature (° K) T _w: wall, bed temperature (° K) T _p: front panel temperature eta: polyethylene infrared transmittance

The range of the field of view of the temperature sensor unit S is such that the reflecting mirrors 4 arranged side by side here are arranged side by side.
a, 4b, the inclination angle of the axis 8a, 8b, the curvature as a parabolic mirror, the diameter area of the heat receiving plates 5a, 5b, and the reflecting mirror 4
The distance between the heat receiving plates a, 4b and the heat receiving plates 5a, 5b can be freely adjusted by setting variously.

In particular, since each of the temperature sensors 6a and 6b is arranged in a state of being suspended in the air together with the heat receiving plates 5a and 5b and is located in the same air layer in the casing 1 by the infrared transmitting film 11, even if the external heat Even if there is, it is similarly affected, and the detection accuracy of the left-right difference can be kept high.

Since the infrared transmitting film 11 is provided so as to close the front opening of the casing 1, the infrared transmitting film 11 prevents the intrusion of dust and the like floating in the air-conditioned room R simultaneously with the transmission of the infrared light.
Therefore, there is no decrease in the reflectance of the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b. Since the infrared transmitting film 11 is protected by the front panel 12, it is possible to prevent the infrared transmitting film 11 from being broken by a finger or a stick.

Since the longitudinal direction of the slits 13 is aligned with the direction in which the radiant heat detectors 2A and 2B are arranged, an effective field of view in the field of view of each of the reflecting mirrors 4a and 4b can be widened. The secondary radiation from the light source is suppressed to a minimum, and an effective field of view for difference detection can be secured.

Since the front panel 12 is treated to reduce the emissivity, such as a material having a low emissivity such as an aluminum material or a plating treatment of aluminum, the secondary radiation from the front panel 12 is minimized. To a minimum. Note that the radiation exchange heat Q
In the equation for obtaining the negative heat quantity expressed by-(Manas sign) or less, that is,

Ε _r · Ε _p · F · (1-K) · A _p · σ
(T _p ⁴ −T _r ⁴ ) · Η is nothing but the amount of secondary radiant heat of the front panel 12. With the above configuration, the front panel 12
Since the amount of secondary radiant heat from is reduced, the required amount of radiant exchange heat Q can be sufficiently ensured.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, inside the air conditioner main body 15, there is an indoor heat exchanger 21 at a position corresponding to the air suction port 16, and from the indoor heat exchanger 21 to the air outlet 17. A ventilation path is formed by the heat insulating material 22. In the ventilation path, an indoor fan 23, left and right louvers 24, and upper and lower louvers 25 are sequentially provided from the indoor heat exchanger 21 to the air outlet 17.

As shown in FIG. 9, the left and right louvers 24 connect a large number of blades at predetermined intervals by rods 24a, and rotate one end of each blade in the left and right direction by the operation of a motor 24M. The direction of blowing into the room can be changed left and right by the movement.

The vertical louvers 25, as shown in FIG. 9, rotate the blades in the vertical direction by the operation of a motor 25M, and can change the direction of the air blown into the room by the rotation. Also, FIG.
Is mounted. Reference numeral 30 denotes a control unit, which comprises a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits, and controls the entire air conditioner. The first temperature sensor 6a, the second temperature sensor 6b, the left and right louver drive circuit 31, and the left and right louver drive circuit 32 are connected to the control unit 30.

The left and right louver drive circuit 31 drives the motor 24M of the left and right louvers 24 in response to a command from the control unit 30, and changes the position of the center of rotation of the left and right louvers 24 in the left and right direction. 24 serves to rotate the predetermined range. That is, the left and right louvers 24 and the left and right louver drive circuits 31 are components of a wind direction changing unit described later. The upper and lower louver drive circuit 32 includes a controller 30
The motor 25M of the upper and lower louvers 25 is driven in accordance with the instruction.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a remote control type operation device (hereinafter, abbreviated as a remote control) for transmitting data of various operating conditions to the control unit 30 by infrared light. And the control part 30 is provided with the following functional means.

(1) The difference between the detected temperature Tr ₁ (0) at the start of operation of the temperature sensor 6a and the detected temperature Tr ₁ (t) after the start of operation (= a predetermined position on the right side of the air conditioner body 15) Means for sequentially calculating the temperature change of

(2) The difference between the detected temperature Tr ₂ (0) at the start of operation of the temperature sensor 6b and the detected temperature Tr ₂ (t) after the start of operation (= the predetermined position on the left side of the air conditioner body 15) Means for sequentially calculating the temperature change of

(3) The difference Tw ｛between the detected temperature change of the temperature sensor 6a and the detected temperature change of the temperature sensor 6b =
Tr ₁ (0) −Tr ₁ (t) − [Tr ₂ (0) −Tr ₂ (t)]｝
Temperature change detection means for determining

(4) When the obtained temperature change difference Tw is equal to or more than a first set value (for example, 3 ° C.), the detected temperature Tr ₁ (t) of the temperature sensor 6a and the detected temperature Tr of the temperature sensor 6b are determined.
₂ calculates a difference _{Tn [= Tr 1 (t)} -Tr 2 (t)] of the (t), the absolute value of the temperature difference Tn is the second set value (for example 3
° C) or more, a wind direction changing means for changing the blowing direction of the left and right louvers 24 in a direction to reduce the difference. Next, how wind direction control is performed based on temperature detection of the temperature sensors 6a and 6b will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the operation (for example, heating operation) is started (YES in step S1), the temperature T detected by the temperature sensor 6a
r ₁ (0) and the detected temperature Tr ₂ (0) of the temperature sensor 6b are read (step S2), and are stored in the memory in the control unit 30 (step S3).

At the same time as the start of operation, the control unit 30 starts a time count t (step S4), and detects the detected temperature Tr ₁ (t) of the temperature sensor 6a and the detection of the temperature sensor 6b at regular intervals based on the time count t. Temperature Tr ₂
(t) is read (step S5). The difference between the stored detected temperature Tr ₁ (0) and the detected temperature Tr ₁ (t), that is, the temperature change at a predetermined position on the right side toward the air conditioner body 15 is sequentially calculated. Stored detected temperature Tr
The difference between ₂ (0) and the detected temperature Tr ₂ (t), that is, the temperature change at a predetermined position on the left side toward the air conditioner body 15 is sequentially calculated.

The difference Tw ｛= Tr ₁ between the calculated change in the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 6a and the change in the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 6b.
(0) −Tr ₁ (t) − [Tr ₂ (0) −Tr ₂ (t)]｝ is calculated (step S6). It is determined whether the calculated temperature change difference Tw is equal to or higher than the first set value of 3 ° C. (step S7).

If the temperature change difference Tw is smaller than 3 ° C. (NO in step S7), the rotation center of the left and right louvers 24 is
(Step S8). In this state, the left and right louvers 24 are rotated within a range of 40 ° each on the left and right sides (step S13). That is, the left and right louvers 24
Is rotated in the range from the B position to the F position. Until the time count t does not reach the set time of 10 minutes, the rotation is continued as it is (step S14). That is, in a situation where the temperature change is small such as at the start of the operation, the left and right louvers 24 are set in front of each other for 10 minutes. Set to position.

When the temperature change difference Tw becomes 3 ° C. or more (YES in step S7), the detected temperature Tr of the temperature sensor 6a
₁ (t) and the difference T between the detected temperature Tr ₂ (t) of the temperature sensor 6b.
n [= Tr ₁ (t) −Tr ₂ (t)] is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the absolute value of the temperature difference Tn is 3 ° C. or more (step S9).

If the absolute value of the temperature difference Tn is smaller than 3 ° C. (NO in step S9), the rotation of the left and right louvers 24 with the rotation center at the reference position D is continued (step S9).
8, S13). When the absolute value of the temperature difference Tn is 3 ° C. or more (YES in step S9), it is determined whether the temperature difference Tn is positive or negative (step S10).

If the temperature difference Tn is positive (Tr ₁ (t)> Tr
₂ (t)), the center of rotation of the left and right grills 24 is set to 20 in the direction in which the temperature difference Tn is reduced, that is, in the detection direction of the temperature sensor 6b on the low temperature side (left side when facing the air conditioner main body 15).
And is set to the C position (step S11). In this state, the left and right louvers 24 are in a range of 40 ° each on the left and right,
That is, it is rotated in the range from the position A to the position E (step S
13).

If the temperature difference Tn is negative (Tr ₁ (t) <Tr
₂ (t)), the center of rotation of the left and right grills 24 is set to 20 in the direction in which the temperature difference Tn is reduced, that is, in the detection direction of the temperature sensor 6a that is on the low temperature side (to the right toward the air conditioner body 15).
Is moved to the position E (step S11). In this state, the left and right louvers 24 are in a range of 40 ° each on the left and right,
That is, it is rotated in the range from the position B to the position F (step S
13). During cooling, the center of rotation of the left and right grills 24 is
It is moved in the direction in which the temperature difference Tn is reduced, that is, toward the high temperature side.

As described above, the temperature change at the left and right positions centered on the air conditioner body 15 is sequentially monitored, and when the difference between the temperature changes is 3 ° C. or more, the temperature difference between the right and left positions at the present time is 3 °. By changing the wind direction in a direction in which the temperature difference is alleviated only when the temperature is equal to or higher than ℃, frequent repetition of the wind direction to the left and right can be eliminated, and the temperature of the entire room can be quickly and reliably made uniform.

In the above embodiment, the radiant heat temperature sensors provided in the air conditioner body were used as the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor. For example, a plurality of temperature sensors are mounted at different positions on the floor in the room. The temperature sensors may be used as a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor.

[0056]

As described above, in any of the air conditioners of the first to third aspects, the difference between the temperature change at the first position and the temperature change at the second position in the room is obtained, and the temperature change is obtained. When the difference is equal to or greater than the first set value, if the difference between the temperature at the first position and the temperature at the second position at the present time is equal to or greater than the second set value, the blowing direction is changed in a direction to reduce the difference. Therefore, the temperature of the entire room can be quickly and reliably made uniform.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional plan view of a radiant heat temperature sensor showing one embodiment of the present invention. (B) is a front view of the radiation heat temperature sensor with a part omitted. (C) is a longitudinal sectional view of the radiation heat temperature sensor.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a slit portion of a front panel.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a radiant heat temperature sensor operation when a slit direction is changed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an air conditioner indoor unit including a radiant heat temperature sensor.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the air conditioner indoor unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an air-conditioned space showing a visual field range of a radiant heat temperature sensor.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an air-conditioned space showing a visual field range of a radiant heat temperature sensor.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of the indoor unit.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a control circuit.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a rotation center and a rotation range of the left and right grills.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining wind direction control.

[Explanation of symbols]

2A, 2B: radiant heat detector, 6a: first temperature sensor, 6
b: second temperature sensor, 15: air conditioner body, 24: left and right louver, 30: control unit, 31: left and right louver drive circuit.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air conditioner provided with a first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature at a first position in a room and a second temperature sensor for detecting a temperature at a second position in the room, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are provided. From the detected temperatures Tr ₁ (0) and Tr ₂ (0) at the start of operation of the temperature sensor and the detected temperatures Tr ₁ (t) and Tr ₂ (t) after the start of operation, the detected temperature change of the first temperature sensor and the second Difference from detected temperature change of temperature sensor ΔTr ₁ (0) −Tr
₁ (t) − [Tr ₂ (0) −Tr ₂ (t)]｝, and the temperature change difference obtained by the temperature change difference detection means is equal to or greater than a first set value. If the difference between the detected temperature Tr ₁ (t) of the first temperature sensor and the detected temperature Tr ₂ (t) of the second temperature sensor is equal to or more than a second set value, the air conditioner blows in a direction to reduce the difference. An air conditioner comprising a wind direction changing means for changing a direction. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are radiant heat temperature sensors provided on an air conditioner main body so as to detect radiant heat temperatures in directions different from each other. An air conditioner characterized by the following. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the wind direction changing means includes a left and right louver for changing a blowing direction to right and left by rotation, and a left and right louver for rotating the center of rotation of the left and right louvers. An air conditioner comprising a left and right louver drive circuit for changing the direction and rotating the left and right louvers in a predetermined range in that state.