JP3253825B2 - 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 having a drain pan for receiving and storing drain water condensed in a heat exchanger, and more particularly to an air conditioner in which a drain pan is mainly improved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of this type of air conditioner, there is an air conditioner 1 of a buried ceiling type shown in FIG.
The air conditioner 1 includes an indoor fan 3, an indoor heat exchanger 4, and a drain pan 5 for receiving and storing drain water condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 4 in an indoor unit body 2 buried in a ceiling or the like of a building. A drain water drain device 6 for forcibly draining the drain water in the drain pan 5 out of the indoor unit main body 2, a drain water level detecting device 7 for detecting an abnormal water level of the drain water in the drain pan 5 by opening and closing a float switch, and the like. I have.

As shown in FIG. 9, the drain pan 5 is formed in, for example, an L-shape, and substantially the entire inner bottom surface 5a is formed on the same plane, and a drain hole formed in a pair of the inner bottom surface 5a is formed. A stopper 8 is inserted into the drainage hole for use in a detachable manner.

As shown in FIG. 11, a ceiling-embedded type air conditioner 9 shown in FIG. 10 has an inner bottom surface of a drain pan 10 formed in two steps 10a and 10b having different heights. The indoor heat exchanger 4 is arranged on 10a, while the drain drainage device 6 and the drain water level detecting device 7 are arranged on the lower inner bottom surface 10b.

[0005]

However, FIG.
In the conventional air conditioner 1 shown in FIG. 9, since substantially the entire inner bottom surface 5 a of the drain pan 5 is formed on the same plane, the amount of residual water remaining in the drain pan 5 without being drained by the drain drain device 6 is reduced. In many cases, there is a problem that rot and pests are easily generated in the residual water.

In the conventional air conditioner 9 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the inner bottom surface of the drain pan 10 is divided into two steps 10a, 1a.
Even when the drain water level detecting device 7 is formed, the lower bottom surfaces of the drain water draining device 6 and the drain water level detecting device 7 are substantially at the same height, so that the residual water amount increases by the volume of the portion where the drain water level detecting device 7 faces.

Further, in these conventional air conditioners 1, 9, the drain pans 5, 1
When the depth of 0 is reduced, the inner bottom surfaces 5 of the drain pans 5 and 10 are reduced.
The gap between a, 10a or 10b and the bottom surface of the indoor heat exchanger 4 is reduced, and the fins on the bottom surface of the indoor heat exchanger 4 are in contact with the drain water for a long time, causing fin corrosion, Alternatively, during the heating operation, there is a problem that the drain water is heated by the fins in contact with water to generate steam.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of residual water in a drain pan and to prevent the decay of the residual water and the generation of pests. To provide a harmony machine.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner having a drain pan for storing drain water from a heat exchanger, wherein an inner bottom surface of the drain pan has a height at least. The lower part of the heat exchanger is formed by three steps different from each other and the lower part of the heat exchanger is opposed to the highest inner bottom surface, while the lower part of the drain drainage device for forcibly draining the drain outside the machine is provided at the lowest inner bottom surface. The drain pan is formed so that the area of the highest inner bottom surface is maximized, while the area of the lowest inner bottom surface is minimized, and the drain pan is formed on an inner bottom surface other than the highest inner bottom surface. The volume of the returned water is equal to the volume of the return water returning to the drain pan when the air conditioning operation is stopped.

In the air conditioner according to the present invention, a water level detecting device for detecting an abnormal water level in the drain pan by opening and closing a float switch is provided on a bottom surface other than the highest inner bottom surface and the lowest inner bottom surface in the drain pan. And the lowermost surface of the float switch is flush with the highest inner bottom surface of the drain pan,
Or less than that.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, during the air-conditioning operation, drain water is generated on the outer surface of the heat exchanger, and the drain water is first received at the highest (ie, shallow) inner bottom surface of the drain pan, and then gradually. It flows sequentially to the lower inner bottom surface, and finally is accumulated from the lowest (that is, deeper) inner bottom surface.

[0012] Since the drain water drain device is disposed on the lowest (deep) inner bottom surface to drain the drain water out of the machine, the residual water amount also remains on the lowest (deep) inner bottom surface. Limited to drain water. For this reason, the total amount of residual water remaining in the drain pan can be reduced.

As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent or reduce the decay of such residual water and the occurrence of pests.

Also, during operation and stoppage of the drain discharge device, the water level of the drain water in the drain pan becomes lower than the highest (shallow) inner bottom surface facing the lower part of the heat exchanger. The fins can be effectively prevented from being immersed in the drain water and corroding, or from generating steam by heating the drain water by the fins of the heat exchanger that heats during the heating operation.

Further, since the lower portion of the heat exchanger maximizes the area of the highest (shallow) inner bottom surface of the drain pan opposed thereto, it is possible to increase the efficiency with which drain water dropped from the heat exchanger can be received by the drain pan. It is possible to effectively prevent the drain water from dripping out of the drain pan and soiling.

On the other hand, since the area of the deepest inner bottom surface in the drain pan is minimized, the amount of residual water remaining on the deepest inner bottom surface can be further reduced.

Incidentally, since the drainage device is operated in conjunction with the air-conditioning operation, if the air-conditioning operation is stopped, the operation of the drainage device is also stopped after a certain period of time. For this reason, so-called return water is generated in which the residual water remaining in the drain pump or the drain hose of the drain drainage device returns to the drain pan again due to a natural head.

However, the volume of a part of the drain pan constituted by the deepest inner bottom other than the shallow inner bottom and the inner bottom between the deepest inner bottom is the same as the volume of the return water when the air conditioning operation is stopped. , The level of the return water in the drain pan can be suppressed to a value equal to or less than the innermost bottom surface thereof.

Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the lower fins and the like of the heat exchanger facing the shallow inner bottom surface from being immersed in the drain water, so that the fins can be effectively prevented from being corroded.

By the way, the drain drainage device cannot immediately detect an abnormal water level at the water level reaching the lowermost surface of the float switch provided thereunder, and when the drain water level rises to a working water level that is a predetermined distance above this water level. For the first time, an abnormal water level is detected and a detection signal is output, and there is a predetermined gap between the height of the lowermost surface of the float switch and the working water level.

Therefore, in the invention of claim 2, the lowermost surface of the drain drainage device is disposed on an intermediate bottom surface other than the highest (shallow) inner bottom surface and the lowest (deep) inner bottom surface in the drain pan,
Since the lowermost surface of the float switch of the drainage device is located at the same level or lower than the highest (shallowest) inner bottom surface in the drain pan, the abnormal water level detection water level of the drainage device can be lowered. For this reason, the abnormal water level of drain water can be reliably detected by the drain drain device.

Further, when the lowermost surface of the float switch is provided on the same plane as the highest inner bottom surface in the drain pan, it is possible to prevent the lowermost surface of the float switch from being immersed in drain water during operation and stoppage of the drain drainage device. Since it can be effectively prevented, the corrosion of the lowermost surface can be effectively prevented.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the same or corresponding parts have the same reference characters allotted.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an essential part of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention. In this figure, an air conditioner 11 is, for example, of a buried ceiling type, such as a ceiling of a building. An indoor fan 13 that blows conditioned air into the room while sucking indoor air into the indoor unit 12, an indoor heat exchanger 14 that exchanges heat with the air drawn into the indoor unit 12, and A drain pan 15 in the form of a bottomed square dish for receiving and storing drain water condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 14 during cooling or dehumidifying operation, etc.
5, a drain drain device 16 for draining the drain water inside 5 by a pump (not shown) and forcibly draining the drain water out of the indoor unit main body 12 through a drain hose (not shown).
A built-in drain water level detecting device 17 and the like for detecting an abnormal water level in the drain water 5 by opening and closing a float switch (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the drain pan 15 is formed in, for example, an L-shape, and the L-shaped inner bottom surface 18 is connected, for example, integrally with at least three steps of upper, middle, and lower steps 18a, 18b, and 18c. And these inner bottom surfaces 1
8a to 18c, the area of the upper inner bottom surface 18a is maximized, while the area of the lower inner bottom surface 18c is minimized.

The heat exchanger 14 is provided with a predetermined gap on the upper inner bottom surface 18a, the drain water level detecting device 17 is provided on the middle inner bottom surface 18b, and the drain drain device 16 is provided on the lower inner bottom surface 18c. The lowermost surface of a float switch (not shown) built in the lower part of the drain drainage device 16 has the same first water level La as the upper inner bottom surface 18a of the drain pan 15 as shown in FIG. It is located at or below the height. The drain drainage device 16 has a suction port of a drain pump (not shown) which is opened at the lower bottom thereof, and is opened at the same water level or lower as the middle inner bottom surface 18b, and is operated in conjunction with the cooling or dehumidifying operation. I have.

In the drain pan 15, the lower inner bottom surfaces 18b and 18c are formed so that the inner volume formed on the lower inner surfaces 18b and 18c is substantially equal to the volume of the return water when the air conditioning operation is stopped. Have been. Here, the return water is, for example, when the cooling or dehumidifying operation is stopped, and when the operation of the drain drainage device 16 is stopped after a lapse of a certain period of time, the residual water remains in the pump or drain hose of the drainage drainage device 16. This means drain water in which the collected drain returns to the drain pan 15 due to a natural head or the like.

Therefore, as shown in the graph of FIG. 3, the remaining water remaining in the drain pan 15 when the air-conditioning operation is stopped can be reduced to the level of the return water, and is disposed on the upper inner bottom surface 18a. Since the lower ends of the fins (not shown) of the indoor heat exchanger 14 can be prevented from being immersed in the drain water, the fins can be prevented from being corroded. In addition, the fins heat the drain water during the heating operation. It is possible to effectively prevent steam from being generated.

The drain pan 15 is located on the upper and middle inner bottom surfaces 1.
The step between 8a and 18b is equal to or higher than the drain water level during cooling or dehumidifying operation. For this reason, as shown in the graph of FIG. 3, the drain water level during the cooling or dehumidifying operation is prevented from rising above the middle inner bottom surface 18b, and the drain water can be collected only on the lower inner bottom surface 18c. The amount of residual water during operation of the drainage device can be significantly reduced.

The drain water level detecting device 17 detects an abnormality of the drain water level by opening and closing a float switch (not shown) built in the lower part thereof, and outputs a signal for warning of overflow of the drain water. FIG.
As shown by the middle broken line, the operation surface 17 that outputs this alarm signal
There is a predetermined gap between a and the lowermost surface 17b of the float switch.

Therefore, if the lowermost surface 17b of the float switch is positioned higher than the upper inner bottom surface 18a of the drain pan 15 as shown in FIG. 3, the operating surface 17a of the float switch moves upward by that amount. As a result, the abnormality detection water level L1 becomes close to the overflow water level, and the possibility of occurrence of overflow increases.

Therefore, in this embodiment, since the lowermost surface 17b of the float switch is located at the same water level La or lower as the upper inner bottom surface 18a, the margin to the water level of the overflow is increased, and the overflow can be generated. Is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the upper inner bottom surface 18a of the drain pan 15, a ridge 19 such as a rib for supporting the lower bottom surface of the indoor heat exchanger 14 with a predetermined clearance is integrally formed. May be provided. According to this, a predetermined clearance between the upper inner bottom surface 18a and the lower bottom surface of the indoor heat exchanger 14 can be reliably ensured.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the state in which the drain pan 15 configured as described above is mounted on the indoor unit main body 12 when viewed from below the bottom surface, and for example, a pair of front and rear mounting claws 20a and 20b of the pipe cover 20. By drain pan 15
2 shows a state in which one end of the bottom of FIG.

The pipe cover 20 is connected to the indoor unit main body 12.
And a drain pipe 24 connected to a drain pipe 23 and a drain discharge device 16 connected between the indoor heat exchanger 14 and an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) installed outdoors to circulate the refrigerant. Cover the outer surface of the penetrating portion that penetrates one side plate 12a of the indoor unit main body 12 and extends outward.

The pipe cover 20 has a pair of front and rear mounting claws 20a and 20b integrally connected to the lower end portion in FIG. 5 and is integrated with the pair of mounting claws 20 as shown in FIGS.
a, 20b are bent inward at substantially right angles to support the bottom surface of one end of the drain pan 15, and furthermore, the slightly inward portion and the bottom surface of the other end are connected to, for example, four mounting screws 21. To the indoor unit main body 12.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, one longitudinal end of the bottom surface of the drain pan 15 is supported by a pair of mounting claws 20a and 20b of the pipe cover 20 so as to be pressed upward in FIG. Since the four locations at the other ends in the longitudinal direction are fixed by the mounting screws 21, it is possible to prevent the drain pan 15 from floating up and out of the bottom surface and to prevent the drain pan 15 from falling due to the weight of the drain water.
Can be effectively prevented from being bent downward.

Reference numeral 22 in FIG. 5 denotes a suspension bolt device which is suspended from each of the even-angle portions of the indoor unit body 12 so as to be vertically adjustable in height. Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the air conditioner is of a ceiling embedded type has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a wall-mounted type or a stationary type.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the drain drain device is disposed on the lowest (deep) inner bottom surface of the drain pan to drain the drain water outside the machine. Is also limited to the drain water remaining on this lowest (deep) inner bottom surface. For this reason, the total amount of residual water remaining in the drain pan can be reduced.

As a result, it is possible to prevent or reduce the decay of such residual water and the occurrence of pests.

In addition, during operation of the drain discharge device, the drain water level in the drain pan is lower than the highest (shallow) inner bottom face facing the lower part of the heat exchanger, so that the fins at the lower part of the heat exchanger are drained. It is possible to effectively prevent immersion, corrosion, or generation of steam by heating the drain water by the fins of the heat exchanger that heats during the heating operation.

Further, since the lower portion of the heat exchanger maximizes the area of the highest (shallow) inner bottom surface of the drain pan opposed thereto, it is possible to increase the efficiency with which drain water dripped from the heat exchanger can be received by the drain pan. It is possible to effectively prevent the drain water from dripping out of the drain pan and soiling.

On the other hand, since the area of the deepest inner bottom surface in the drain pan is minimized, the amount of residual water remaining on the deepest inner bottom surface can be further reduced.

Incidentally, since the drainage device is operated in conjunction with the air-conditioning operation, when the air-conditioning operation is stopped, the operation of the drainage device is also stopped after a certain period of time. For this reason, the residual water remaining in the drain pump or the drain hose of the drain drainage device returns to the drain pan again due to a natural head.

However, the volume of a part of the drain pan constituted by the deepest inner bottom other than the shallow inner bottom and the inner bottom between the deepest inner bottom is the same as the volume of the return water when the air conditioning operation is stopped. , The level of the return water in the drain pan can be suppressed to a value equal to or less than the innermost bottom surface thereof.

Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the lower fins and the like of the heat exchanger opposed to the shallow inner bottom surface from being immersed in the drain water, so that corrosion of the fins can be effectively prevented.

By the way, the drain drainage device cannot immediately detect an abnormal water level at the water level reaching the lowermost surface of the float switch provided thereunder, and when the drain water level rises to a working water level a predetermined distance above this water level. For the first time, an abnormal water level is detected and a detection signal is output, and there is a predetermined gap between the height of the lowermost surface of the float switch and the working water level.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2, the lowermost surface of the drain drainage device is disposed on an intermediate bottom other than the highest (shallow) inner bottom and the lowest (deep) inner bottom in the drain pan,
Since the lowermost surface of the float switch of the drainage device is located at the same level or lower than the highest (shallowest) inner bottom surface in the drain pan, the abnormal water level detection water level of the drainage device can be lowered. For this reason, the abnormal water level of drain water can be reliably detected by the drain drain device.

When the lowermost surface of the float switch is provided on the same plane as the highest inner bottom surface of the drain pan, the lowermost surface of the float switch can be effectively prevented from being immersed in drain water. Corrosion of the lowermost surface can be effectively prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a main part of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drain pan shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing both the side cross section of the drain pan shown in FIG. 1 and the water level of each part thereof.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the drain pan shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the indoor unit main body.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view showing the pipe cover shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and its periphery in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the conventional drain pan shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of another conventional example.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the conventional drain pan shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Air conditioner 12 Indoor unit main body 12a Side panel of indoor unit main body 13 Indoor fan 14 Indoor heat exchanger 15 Drain pan 16 Drain drainage device 17 Drain water level detection device 18 Inner bottom surface of drain pan 18a Upper inner bottom surface 18b Middle inner bottom surface 18c Lower inner bottom surface 19 ridge 20 pipe cover 20a, 20b a pair of mounting claws 21 mounting screw

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor, Tsukasa Sasaki 336 Tatehara, Fuji-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Toshiba Corporation Fuji Plant (56) References JP-A-3-247930 (JP, A) JP-A-6-257834 (JP, A) JP-A-4-297744 (JP, A) JP-A-2-64328 (JP, A) JP-A-3-46122 (JP, U) JP-A-4-78418 (JP, U) JP-A-1 −148528 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 1/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air conditioner having a drain pan for storing drain water from a heat exchanger, wherein an inner bottom surface of the drain pan is formed by a step having different heights in at least three stages, and the highest inner bottom surface is provided. On the other hand, the lower portion of the heat exchanger is opposed to the lower inner bottom surface, and the lower portion of a drain drainage device for forcibly draining the drain outside the machine is opposed to the lower inner bottom surface.The drain pan has an area of the highest inner bottom surface. Is maximized while the area of the lowest inner bottom surface is minimized, and the inner volume formed on the inner bottom surfaces other than the highest inner bottom surface is the return water returning to the drain pan when the air conditioning operation is stopped. An air conditioner characterized by being formed so as to have the same volume as the air conditioner. 2. A water level detecting device for detecting an abnormal water level in a drain pan by opening and closing a float switch is provided on a bottom face other than the highest inner bottom face and the lowest inner bottom face in the drain pan, and a lowermost face of the float switch is provided. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is positioned on the same plane as or below the highest inner bottom surface of the drain pan.