JP3438678B2 - Air conditioner indoor unit - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and more particularly to a drain pump mounting structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An indoor unit of an air conditioner is generally constructed by housing components such as a heat exchanger and a fan in a casing. Further, as the indoor unit, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
A ceiling-embedded type as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 341659 and a ceiling-suspended type as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-118179 are known. This type of indoor unit is usually provided with a drain pump. That is, the drain water generated in the heat exchanger during cooling is received by the drain pan or the like, and the accumulated drain water is discharged by the drain pump.

A heat insulating material is provided in the casing of the indoor unit. This heat insulating material is provided for the purpose of reducing heat invasion during cooling and heat radiation loss during heating to prevent a decrease in air conditioning capacity, and preventing dew condensation on the outer surface of the casing during cooling. There is. Also,
Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) as heat insulating material
Is generally used.

On the other hand, the drain pump is usually equipped with an electric motor. However, in this electric motor, there is a possibility that an electric spark may occur due to a trouble such as a short circuit. That is, the electric motor can be a source of ignition. Therefore, in the casing of the indoor unit, the electric motor that may serve as an ignition source and the styrofoam heat insulating material that is a combustible material are installed relatively close to each other. In addition, there are combustible components, not limited to heat insulating materials, in the indoor unit, but due to the demand for downsizing the indoor unit, this type of combustible component and the electric motor are installed close to each other. In many cases. On the other hand, in the past, safety measures were taken to prevent flammable materials such as heat insulating materials from being ignited even if an electric motor ignites, by pasting aluminum foil tape, etc. on the combustible materials around the drain pump. Was taken.

[0005]

However, under the present circumstances, the work of attaching the aluminum foil tape to the combustible material has to be done manually at the time of assembly. this is,
This is because it is difficult to mechanize the work of sticking a thin and flexible material such as an aluminum foil tape on the three-dimensional surface. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of manufacturing steps of the indoor unit is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to burn combustible substances even if an electric motor provided in a casing ignites in an indoor unit of an air conditioner. It is intended to reduce the manufacturing cost by simplifying the manufacturing process while preventing ignition and ensuring safety.

[0007]

First solution that the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION been taken, the heat exchanger (40), a drain for discharging heat exchanger (40) in the resulting drain water (Dw) Pumps (50)
And are intended for the indoor unit of the air conditioner housed in the casing (20). The drain pump (50) is a pump body (51) that sucks drain water (Dw).
And a drive motor (5) that rotationally drives the pump body (51).
6) and is installed in the casing (20) by a mounting member (60), the drive motor (56) is
Is installed in a posture in which the axial direction is the vertical direction, the mounting member (60), together with the composed noncombustible material, the
Main body part (61) located on the upper end surface side of the drive motor (56)
And at the side of the drive motor (56), the drive motor
(56) extending in the axial direction and sandwiching the drive motor (56)
It is continuously formed on the body part (61) at the opposite position.
A side plate portion (62), and is formed so as to surround the drive motor (56) so as to block between the drive motor (56) and a combustible substance provided in the casing (20). It is a thing.

A second means for solving the problems of the present invention is the above-mentioned means .
In the first solution, the attachment member (60) is formed so as to block between the drive motor (56) and a combustible object located within a predetermined distance from the drive motor (56).

A third means for solving the problems of the present invention is the above-mentioned first means .
In the first or second solution means, the combustible material provided in the casing (20) is a heat insulating material (46) made of expanded polystyrene.
Is what is.

-Operation- In the first solving means , the indoor unit (10) is constructed by housing the components such as the heat exchanger (40) and the drain pump (50) in the casing (20). Air is cooled in the heat exchanger (40) during cooling, but when the air is cooled, water in the air is condensed to generate drain water (Dw). The drain water (Dw) is discharged to the outside of the indoor unit (10) by the drain pump (50). The drain pump (50) includes a pump body (51) and a drive motor (56), and the drive motor (56)
Drive the pump body (51) to discharge drain water (Dw). Further, the drain pump (50) is installed in the casing (20) by a predetermined mounting member (60).
The mounting member (60) is made of a nonflammable material, such as metal.

In this solution, the body portion (61)
And a side plate portion (62) are provided on the mounting member (60). When the drain pump (50) is installed via the mounting member (60), the body portion (61) of the mounting member (60) is located on the end face side of the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50). There is. On the other hand, the side plate portion (62) of the attachment member (60) is located on the side of the drive motor (56) and has a shape extending along the axial direction of the drive motor (56). The side plate portion (62) is formed continuously with the main body portion (61), and is formed at a position facing the drive motor (56).

In this solution, the mounting member (6
The drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) is surrounded by 0). Therefore, even if sparks or the like are generated in the drive motor (56) due to a trouble such as a short circuit, the sparks cause the mounting member (6) surrounding the drive motor (56).
It does not scatter outside than 0). That is, the drive motor (56)
Even if a combustible material is placed near the combustible material, as long as the combustible material is located outside the mounting member (60), the combustible material will not be ignited due to the trouble of the drive motor (56).

Further, in this solution, the mounting member (60) is
By this, the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) and the combustible material in the casing (20) are blocked. Therefore, even if sparks or the like are generated in the drive motor (56) due to a trouble such as a short circuit, the drive motor (5
Sparks from 6) never reach combustibles. Also,
Since the material of the mounting member (60) is nonflammable, even if a spark adheres to the mounting member (60), it will not ignite.

In the second solving means, the mounting member (60)
Although the drive motor (56) and the combustible material are shielded from each other, the mounting member (60) does not block all the combustible materials, but the combustible material located within a predetermined distance from the drive motor (56). Block the space between things. Here, even if sparks or the like are generated from the drive motor (56) due to a trouble such as a short circuit, if the drive motor (56) and the combustible material are separated from each other to some extent, the drive motor (56) ) From the spark never arrives. Therefore, the mounting member (60)
Cuts off between the drive motor (56) and a combustible material located at a distance that a spark from the drive motor (56) can reach. That is, it is not always necessary to completely surround the periphery of the drive motor (56) with the mounting member (60).

In the third solution, the casing (2
The flammable material provided inside 0) is specifically specified as the heat insulating material (46) made of expanded polystyrene. That is, the mounting member (60)
By this, the insulation between the styrofoam (46) and the drive motor (56) is blocked.

[0016]

According to the above-described solution, even if sparks or the like are generated from the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) due to a trouble such as a short circuit, the drive motor (56 ) From the inside of the mounting member (60) to prevent the spark from reaching the outside of the mounting member (60). That is, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the drive motor (56) serves as an ignition source and ignites the combustible material in the casing (20).

Therefore, the mounting member (60) indispensable for the installation of the drain pump (50) is provided to prevent the combustible material from being ignited when the drive motor (56) becomes an ignition source due to a trouble. It can also be used as a means of. Therefore, it is possible to omit the conventional process of attaching the aluminum foil tape to the combustible material from the manufacturing process. That is, according to the above solving means, it is possible to prevent the ignition of the combustible material due to the trouble of the drive motor (56) without adding any new member, resulting in high safety. It is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost by reducing the number of manufacturing steps while ensuring the above.

Particularly, in the second solving means, the mounting member (60) blocks the flammable material located within a predetermined distance from the drive motor (56) and the drive motor (56). Therefore, the drive motor (5
6) and the combustibles can be minimized,
The shape of the mounting member (60) can be simply maintained.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indoor unit (10) of the air conditioner according to this embodiment is of a so-called ceiling-embedded cassette type. Specifically, the indoor unit (10) is configured by housing a heat exchanger (40), a fan (30), a drain pump (50), etc. in a rectangular container-shaped casing (20). This indoor unit (10) is inserted into the installation opening (91) that opens to the ceiling (90), and by means of hanging fittings (not shown) that engage with the fittings (24) at the four corners of the casing (20). It is suspended and fixed from above.

The casing (20) is composed of a main casing (21) and a decorative panel (25).

The body casing (21) is formed in a container shape having an open bottom. Specifically, the main body casing (21) is composed of a top plate (22) formed in a shape in which four corners of a square are cut out, and a side plate (23) extending downward from an outer edge portion of the top plate (22). Has been done. Installation brackets (24) are provided one at each of the four corners of the main body casing (21).

Inside the main body casing (21), there is a heat insulating material (4) made of expanded polystyrene (expanded polystyrene).
6) is provided. This insulation (46) is attached to the side plate (2
It is provided not only along the inner side surface of 3) but also along the inner side surface near the outer edge of the top plate (22).
The heat insulating material (46) prevents the air cooled or heated by the heat exchanger (40) from directly contacting the main body casing (21), and reduces the loss due to heat intrusion or heat radiation.

The decorative panel (25) is formed in a substantially square plate shape. The decorative panel (25) has one suction port (26) and four air outlets (27). The suction port (26) is located in the center of the decorative panel (25) and opens in a square shape. The blowout port (27) is located just outside the suction port (26) and opens in a rectangular shape.
In addition, the air outlet (27) is 1 along each side of the air inlet (26).
Are formed one by one.

The casing (20) is constructed by attaching a decorative panel (25) to the main casing (21) so as to cover the bottom surface of the main casing (21). The inside of the casing (20) is formed into an air passageway (29) that communicates from the suction port (26) to each outlet port (27).
On the other hand, an air filter (28) is provided over the entire surface of the suction port (26). This Air Filter (28)
Removes suspended solids such as dust from the indoor air sucked into the suction port (26).

The fan (30) comprises a blade (33) held between a shroud (31) and a hub (32).
It is a so-called turbo fan. Fan (30)
The drive shaft of the fan motor (34) is inserted and fixed in the hub (32). In this fan (30), the fan motor (34) is attached to the top plate (22) of the main body casing (21) from the lower surface side, whereby the main body casing (21).
It is located in the center of the inside. The fan (30) is rotationally driven by the fan motor (34) and is configured to blow out the air sucked from below to the side.

Below the fan (30), the bell mouth (3
5) is provided. The bell mouth (35) guides the room air flowing into the air passage (29) from the suction port (26) to the fan (30).

The heat exchanger (40) is a so-called cross fin heat exchanger in which a heat transfer tube is provided through a large number of plate-shaped fins. This heat exchanger (40)
Is formed in a tubular shape having a rectangular shape in plan view (see FIG. 1), and is installed so as to surround the fan (30). In addition, the heat exchanger (40), via the liquid pipe (41) through which the liquid refrigerant flows and the gas pipe (42) through which the gas refrigerant flows,
It is connected to an outdoor unit not shown. This heat exchanger (40)
Configures an indoor heat exchanger and also constitutes a refrigerant circuit for performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle by being connected to a compressor (not shown), an outdoor heat exchanger, etc. by piping.

A drain pan (45) is provided below the heat exchanger (40) (see FIG. 2). The drain pan (45) is for receiving drain water (Dw) generated in the heat exchanger (40) during cooling.

The drain pump (50) is for discharging drain water (Dw) accumulated in the drain pan (45) to the outside of the indoor unit (10). This drain pump (50)
Are installed in the corners of the casing (20) (see FIG. 1). That is, the drain pump (50) is installed downstream of the heat exchanger (40) in the air passage (29).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drain pump (50) includes a pump body (51) and a drive motor (56). The pump body (51) is configured by accommodating an impeller (53) in a hollow disk-shaped housing (52).
The central portion of the housing (52) projects downward, and the suction port (54) is opened at the tip thereof. The housing (52) also has a discharge port (55) that projects laterally.
Are formed. On the other hand, the drive shaft of the drive motor (56) is connected to the impeller (53). That is, the drive motor (56) is installed so that its axial direction is the vertical direction. When the drive motor (56) is energized, the impeller (53) is rotationally driven, and drain water (Dw) collected in the drain pan (45) is sucked from the suction port (54) and discharged from the discharge port (55).

Discharge port (55) of the pump body (51)
A drain hose (70) is connected to the. The drain hose (70) extends outside the casing (20) of the indoor unit (10). Drain pump (50) discharge port (5
Drain water (Dw) discharged from 5) is drain water (Dw).
It is discharged to the outside of the casing (20) through 0).

The drain pump (50) has a mounting bracket (60) which is a mounting member for the insert bracket (65) inserted into the heat insulating material (46) above the drain pump (50).
Is fixed through. The fitting (60) is an iron plate formed into a predetermined shape by sheet metal working. The mounting bracket (60) is composed of a body portion (61) and a pair of side plate portions (62).

The main body portion (61) of the mounting bracket (60) has a shape in which the groove shape is turned down, and the lower end of the groove shape is bent outward (see FIG. 3). ). The body portion (61) is located above the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50), that is, on the end face side of the drive motor (56). On the other hand, the side plate portion (62) of the mounting bracket (60) is shaped so as to extend downward from each side portion continuously to the side portion of the lower end of the main body portion (61) and sandwich the drive motor (56). They are formed so as to face each other (see FIG. 3). The side plate portion (62) is located beside the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50). Therefore, the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) has its upper end side surrounded by the main body part (61) of the mounting bracket (60) and its side surface side surrounded by the side plate part (62) of the mounting bracket (60). .

As described above, the drain pump (50) is fixed to the insert fitting (65) via the fitting (60). Specifically, the stay (57) integrally formed with the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) is fastened to the main body portion (61) of the mounting bracket (60) with screws (63). . Furthermore, the fitting (60) is fastened to the insert fitting (65) with screws (66).

The fitting (60) also serves as a member for fixing the float switch (71). The float switch (71) is installed to prevent drain water (Dw) from overflowing from the drain pan (45). In other words, when the drain pump (50) fails and drain water (Dw) is no longer drained, drain water (Dw) accumulates in the drain pan (45), but when the drain water (Dw) reaches a certain level. The float switch (71) is activated, and measures such as stopping the operation of the indoor unit (10) are taken.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drain pump (50) is installed at a position surrounded by heat insulating materials (46) on the upper side and the three sides. That is, the drain pump (5
0) drive motor (56) to a predetermined reference distance (eg 5
Within 0 mm, a heat insulating material (46) made of styrofoam, which is a combustible material, is arranged. Meanwhile, drive motor (56)
Is surrounded by attachment fittings (60) on the upper side and on both sides. Therefore, between the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) and the heat insulating material (46) adjacent to the drive motor (56), a metal mounting bracket (60) which is an incombustible material.
Blocked by. That is, the fitting (60) is configured to block between the drive motor (56) and the heat insulating material (46) arranged within the reference distance from the drive motor (56).

Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) has a mounting bracket (2) in four directions on its sides (left and right in FIG. 3). Although it is surrounded by the side plate part of 60), it is not surrounded by the remaining two directions (left and right directions in FIG. 4). However, in the two unenclosed lateral directions of the drive motor (56) (the left and right directions in FIG. 4), there is no combustible material such as the heat insulating material (46) within the reference distance from the drive motor (56). . Therefore, even if a trouble such as a short circuit occurs in the drive motor (56), the combustible material such as the heat insulating material (46) installed in the casing (20) will not be ignited due to this.

-Driving operation- The air conditioning operation of the indoor unit (10) will be described.

The fan (30) is driven by the fan motor (34)
When is driven to rotate, the room air is sucked into the casing (20) through the suction port (26) and flows through the air passage (29).
The room air sucked into the casing (20) is subjected to removal of suspended matters such as dust in the room air by the air filter (28). Then, the room air is bellmouth (35)
Through which it flows into the inside of the fan (30) and is blown out to the side of the fan (30). The indoor air blown from the fan (30) flows to the heat exchanger (40).

Refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit circulates in the heat exchanger (40). In this heat exchanger (40), indoor air and the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit exchange heat. That is, during the cooling operation, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air and evaporates in the heat exchanger (40), the indoor air is cooled, and low-temperature conditioned air is generated. On the other hand, during the heating operation, the refrigerant radiates heat to the indoor air and condenses in the heat exchanger (40), the indoor air is heated, and high-temperature conditioned air is generated. The conditioned air generated in the heat exchanger (40) is blown into the room through the air passage (29) from the blowout port (27).

During the cooling operation, the indoor air is cooled in the heat exchanger (40). At that time, the water contained in the indoor air is condensed to generate drain water (Dw). The drain water (Dw) accumulates in the drain pan (45) arranged below the heat exchanger (40). The drain water (Dw) accumulated in the drain pan (45) is discharged by the drain pump (50). In other words, drain water (Dw) is the drain pump (50)
Is sucked by and discharged to the outside through the drain hose (70).

As described above, the drain pump (50) is provided with the drive motor (56). However, in the drive motor (56), a phenomenon such as spark generation due to a trouble such as a short circuit occurs. sell. That is, the drive motor (5
6) could be a source of ignition. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the mounting bracket (60) is provided between the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) and the heat insulating material (46) arranged within the reference distance from the drive motor (56). ). Therefore, even if sparks from the drive motor (56) are scattered, these sparks cause
It does not adhere to 6).

-Effects of Embodiment-According to the present embodiment, even if sparks or the like are generated from the drive motor (56) of the drain pump (50) due to a trouble such as a short circuit, the drive can be performed. Sparks from the motor (56) can be retained inside the fitting (60) to prevent the sparks from reaching the heat insulating material (46) located outside the fitting (60). That is, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the drive motor (56) serves as an ignition source and ignites the heat insulating material (46) which is a combustible material in the casing (20).

Therefore, if the drive motor (56) becomes an ignition source due to a trouble, the mounting bracket (60) indispensable for installing the drain pump (50) ignites the heat insulating material (46). It can also be used as a means for preventing. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to omit the step of pasting the aluminum foil tape to the heat insulating material (46), which is conventionally performed, from the manufacturing step. In other words, it is possible to prevent ignition of the heat insulating material (46) due to troubles of the drive motor (56) without adding any new member, which reduces manufacturing man-hours while ensuring high safety. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Particularly, in this embodiment, the drain pump (5
The mounting bracket (60) blocks between the drive motor (56) of (0) and the heat insulating material (46) located within a predetermined reference distance from the drive motor (56). Therefore, it is possible to minimize the location where the mounting bracket (60) blocks the drive motor (56) and the heat insulating material (46), and the shape of the mounting bracket (60) can be simply maintained.

-Modification of Embodiment-In the present embodiment, the drive motor (5) of the drain pump (50) is
6) is surrounded by a mounting bracket (60), and the drive bracket (60) blocks the drive motor (56) and the heat insulating material (46) which is a combustible material. However, this combustible material is not limited to the heat insulating material (46), but the casing (20).
It is sufficient that the parts are installed in the above and are made of a flammable material.

In this embodiment, the drain pump (5
(0) is installed, the stay (57) integrated with the drive motor (56) is directly fastened to the mounting bracket (60) with screws (63), and the mounting bracket (60) is screwed into the insert bracket (65). (66)
It is concluded directly with. On the other hand, drain pump (50)
If the vibration of the bracket is a problem, it may be between the stay (57) and the mounting bracket (60) or between the mounting bracket (60) and the insert bracket (6).
An anti-vibration rubber member may be provided between 5).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an indoor unit according to an embodiment when viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an AA section in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing a BB cross section in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part showing a cross section C-C in FIG. 3.

[Explanation of symbols]

(10) Indoor unit (20) Casing (40) Heat exchanger (46) Thermal insulation (50) Drain pump (51) Pump body (56) Drive motor (60) Mounting bracket (mounting member) (61) Body part (62) Side plate (Dw) Drain water

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 1/00-1/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. Air containing a heat exchanger (40) and a drain pump (50) for discharging drain water (Dw) generated in the heat exchanger (40) in a casing (20). An indoor unit of a harmony device, wherein the drain pump (50) includes a pump body (51) that sucks drain water (Dw), and a drive motor (56) that rotationally drives the pump body (51), Further, while the drive motor (56) is installed in the casing (20) by the attachment member (60) , the axial direction of the drive motor (56) is the vertical direction.
Installed in a posture, the mounting member (60) is made of a non-combustible material, and is located on the upper end surface side of the drive motor (56).
Minute (61) and the drive motor (56) on the side of the drive
The drive motor (56) extending in the axial direction of the drive motor (56)
Continuing to the body part (61) at a position facing each other across
A side plate portion (62) formed so as to surround the drive motor (56) so as to block between the drive motor (56) and a combustible substance provided in the casing (20). The formed air conditioner indoor unit. 2. The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member (60) is provided between a combustible material located within a predetermined distance from the drive motor (56) and the drive motor (56). An indoor unit of an air conditioner that is formed so as to block it. 3. The air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the combustible material provided in the casing (20) is a styrofoam heat insulating material (46).