JP3676246B2 - Indoor unit and air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an indoor unit and an air conditioner that provide a comfortable indoor environment by heating or cooling, and in particular, a technique suitable for use in an indoor unit and an air conditioner that can ventilate indoor air. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The air conditioner is composed of two large components, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. Each of these units includes an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger that perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the indoor air and between the refrigerant and the outdoor air.
[0003]
These indoor heat exchangers and outdoor heat exchangers are elements constituting a refrigerant circuit by adding other elements such as a compressor and an expansion valve. Refrigerant physically circulates in this circuit, and it will also follow the state change circulation process of high-temperature high-pressure gas, low-temperature low-pressure gas, high-temperature high-pressure liquid, and low-temperature low-pressure liquid, and realize indoor air conditioning. . The indoor air conditioning is directly realized by heat exchange between the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger and the room air.
[0004]
By the way, during the heating operation, the refrigerant is condensed by high-temperature and high-pressure by sending the gaseous refrigerant, which has been made high-temperature and high-pressure gas by the compressor, to the indoor heat exchanger and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the room air. Is realized as a liquid refrigerant. During cooling operation, high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger to exchange heat with the outdoor air to obtain high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant. As a liquid refrigerant, it is sent to the indoor heat exchanger, and heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the room air, thereby evaporating and realizing low-temperature and low-pressure gasification.
[0005]
Some of these air conditioners include a ventilator that exhausts indoor air to the outside for the purpose of ventilating the air-conditioned room. This ventilator has a function of sucking indoor air from an intake port dedicated for ventilation and discharging it to the outside by operating a fan dedicated to ventilation installed in the indoor unit. The amount of air that can be ventilated by the ventilator is considerably smaller than the amount of air-conditioned air blown out from the indoor unit.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of an air conditioner equipped with the above-described ventilation device, ventilation with an air conditioner is unnecessary depending on various conditions such as the environment of the room to be installed and the installation position even though it has a ventilation function. Or may not be able to use the ventilation function. In such a case, it is preferable to make it possible to use the ventilator provided for other purposes, and it is desired to further improve the commerciality of the air conditioner by effectively using the ventilator.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable a ventilator of an air conditioner to be selectively and effectively used for other applications.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems. The indoor unit according to claim 1 is an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a fan for sucking indoor air from an inlet and blowing it out from an outlet, and a refrigerant supplied from the indoor air and an outdoor unit. A ventilation device that exhausts indoor air sucked by a ventilation fan to the inside or outside of the room with a ventilation hose, an indoor unit control unit that includes various electric circuit elements, and a casing that stores these devices. A filter mounting portion is provided in the indoor air intake system of the air cleaner, and the casing is provided with an air cleaning punching opening opening the outlet of the ventilation hose corresponding to the air cleaning function or the ventilation function of the ventilation device toward the room. When a feature in that a striking抜開opening having a passage for punching抜開opening the outlet be those which opens to the outdoor through a connecting member between the outside of the ventilation hose Is shall.
Moreover, the indoor unit of Claim 2 WHEREIN: The said punching opening part is provided in multiple places in the wall surface of a casing, Each is provided with the several punching shape, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0009]
According to such an indoor unit, if a dust removal filter is installed in the filter mounting part provided in the indoor air intake system of the ventilator and the outlet of the ventilation hose is opened toward the room, suction is performed by operating the ventilation fan. Since the indoor air to be discharged passes through the filter and is discharged into the room, a dust removing action and a circulating action of the room air can be obtained by the ventilation device. Moreover, if an air purifying filter is employ | adopted as a filter installed in a filter attaching part, a ventilation apparatus can be functioned as an air purifying apparatus. That is, it becomes possible to select and use either a room air ventilation device, a room air dust removal device, or an air cleaning device.
In this case, it is preferable that the punching openings are provided at a plurality of locations in common with the punching openings for the passage through which the connecting member with the outside passes, and each has a plurality of punching shapes.
[0010]
The air conditioner according to claim 3 is an outdoor unit comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor for sending a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant to the heat exchanger, and an outdoor unit control unit composed of various electric circuit elements. A unit and the indoor unit according to claim 1 or 2 are provided.
[0011]
According to such an air conditioner, the ventilation device provided in the indoor unit is a ventilation device that sucks indoor air and exhausts it outside the room, or dust removal that removes the sucked indoor air and then discharges it into the room Either an apparatus or an air cleaning apparatus that cleans the air and then discharges it into the room can be selected and used.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of an indoor unit and an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an indoor unit 10 and an outdoor unit 20. The indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 21 through which the refrigerant conducts, an electric wiring (not shown), and the like. Two refrigerant pipes 21 are provided, and the refrigerant flows from the indoor unit 10 to the outdoor unit 20 on one side and from the outdoor unit 20 to the indoor unit 10 on the other side.
[0013]
The indoor unit 10 includes a casing 11 and a front panel 12 that are integrally formed. The casing 11 is a hollow member that houses various devices, and a front panel 12 is attached to the casing 11 so as to be openable and closable. In the casing 11, a plate fin & tube type indoor heat exchanger 13, a substantially cylindrical cross flow fan (fan) 14 and the like are provided. Further, the casing 11 is provided with an indoor unit control unit 15 composed of various electric circuit elements in order to perform various operation control and the like related to the indoor unit 10. The indoor unit control unit 15 is provided with an appropriate indicator 15a for displaying an operation status and an error mode, and the indicator 15a is connected to the control unit 15 by wiring, and is disposed at a proper position of the indoor unit 10. Has been. The indicator 15a can be confirmed from the outside by a see-through portion 12a provided on the front panel 12 or the like. A mounting plate 16 is provided behind the casing 11 so that the indoor unit 10 can be installed on an indoor wall or the like.
[0014]
The front panel 12 has suction grilles (suction ports) 12b formed on the front surface and the upper surface, respectively. Indoor air (room air) is sucked into the indoor unit 10 from multiple directions by the suction grill 12b. Incidentally, an air filter 17 is provided behind the suction grill 12b, and functions to remove dust such as sucked air.
Moreover, the blower outlet 11a is formed in the casing 11 located under the front panel 12, from which the warmed air or the cooled air is blown out. The air suction and air blowing are performed by the rotation of the cross flow fan 14.
[0015]
The indoor unit 10 includes a ventilator 30 that sucks indoor air and discharges the air outside the room. The ventilation device 30 includes a ventilation fan 31 dedicated to ventilation, a ventilation hose 32 connected to the ventilation fan 31, and one side end portion adjacent to the suction grill 12b on the front panel 12 (in the example shown in FIG. 3). And a room air inlet 33 dedicated to ventilation that opens to the right). As shown in FIG. 2, an indoor air suction port 33 communicates with the suction side of the ventilation fan 31 via a wind collecting member 35 to which a filter 34 can be attached, and a ventilation hose 32 is connected to the discharge side of the ventilation fan 31. One end is connected.
[0016]
The air collecting member 35 has a wide opening area on the front panel 12 side substantially coincident with the room air intake port 33, and the rear part connected to the ventilation fan 31 is narrower in accordance with the intake port of the ventilation fan 31. During the ventilation operation, the ventilation fan 31 is operated to suck indoor air from the indoor air suction port 33, so that the sucked indoor air is discharged to the outside through the ventilation fan 31 and the ventilation hose 32. 3 is a suction opening communicating with the suction port of the ventilation fan 31, and the room extending from the indoor air suction port 33 to the ventilation fan 31 through the suction opening 36 of the air collecting member 35 described above. The air flow path becomes the indoor air intake system of the ventilation device 30.
The other end of the ventilation hose 32 is opened to the outside through a refrigerant pipe 21 and a sleeve (not shown) provided through the wall together with an electric wiring (not shown).
[0017]
The indoor unit 10 described above includes a remote controller 22 as an operation unit that performs various driving operations. The remote controller 22 is provided with various switches and the like, and can transmit an operation signal of the air conditioner toward a receiving unit (not shown) of the indoor unit control unit 15. Note that the operation of the air conditioner can be partly performed by switches (not shown) provided at appropriate positions in the indoor unit.
[0018]
The outdoor unit 20 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 20b, a propeller fan 20c, a compressor 20f, an outdoor unit control unit 20g, and the like in a housing 20a. The outdoor heat exchanger 20b is configured by a refrigerant pipe having a large number of plate-like fins around it, and is for realizing heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outdoor air. Propeller fan 20c is designed to improve the heat exchange efficiency of outdoor heat exchanger 20b by always taking new air into casing 20a by generating an air flow that escapes from the back to the front in casing 20a. Is provided.
[0019]
A fingered 20d and a fan guard 20e are provided on the surface of the casing 20a where the outdoor heat exchanger 20b and the propeller fan 20c face each other. The fingered 20d is provided so that the plate-shaped fin is not damaged by an unexpected impact from the outside. Similarly, the fan guard 20e is provided for the purpose of protecting the propeller fan 20c from external impact.
[0020]
The compressor 20f converts a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant and discharges it, and plays a central role among the components constituting the refrigerant circuit. Incidentally, the refrigerant circuit is not only the compressor 20f but also the indoor heat exchanger 13, the outdoor heat exchanger 20b, the refrigerant pipe 21, the expansion valve, and a four-way valve (expansion valve and four-way valve) that defines the flow direction of the refrigerant. The valve is a circuit that circulates the refrigerant between the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20.
[0021]
The outdoor unit control unit 20g performs operation control on the propeller fan 20c, the compressor 20f, and other various devices provided in the outdoor unit 20, and is composed of various electric circuit elements.
[0022]
In addition to the above, the outdoor unit 20 is provided with a pedestal 20h in order to support the housing 20a and avoid the influence of external vibration and the like. The wall of the casing 20a close to the compressor 20f is provided with a panel 20i that can be removed in order to perform maintenance or the like of the compressor 20f.
[0023]
Below, the effect | action of the air conditioner which consists of these structures is demonstrated separately in each case at the time of heating operation and air_conditionaing | cooling operation.
First, at the time of heating operation, the refrigerant converted into high-temperature and high-pressure gas by the compressor 20 f passes through the refrigerant pipe 21 and is sent to the indoor heat exchanger 13 of the indoor unit 10. In the indoor unit 10, heat is given from the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 13 to the indoor air taken in from the suction grill 12 b by the cross flow fan 14. Thereby, warm air is blown out from the blower outlet 12c below the front panel 12. At the same time, the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is condensed and liquefied in the indoor heat exchanger 13 to become a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
[0024]
The high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant is sent again to the outdoor heat exchanger 20b in the outdoor unit 20 through the refrigerant pipe 21. The outdoor unit 20 passes through an expansion valve (not shown) and is reduced in pressure to become a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The low-temperature and low-pressure liquid passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 20b from the new outdoor air taken into the housing 20a by the propeller fan 20c. The liquid refrigerant will take heat away. This causes the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant to evaporate and become a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant. This is sent again to the compressor 20f, and the above process is repeated.
[0025]
Next, during the cooling operation, the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant circuit in the opposite direction to the above. That is, the refrigerant converted into a high-temperature and high-pressure gas by the compressor 20f passes through the refrigerant pipe 21 and is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 20b, and heats the outdoor air to condense and liquefy it to become a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant. This high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through an expansion valve (not shown) to become a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant, and is sent again to the indoor heat exchanger 13 through the refrigerant pipe 21. Here, the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant takes heat from the room air and cools the room air, and the refrigerant itself evaporates and becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant. This is sent again to the compressor 20f, and the above process is repeated.
[0026]
These operations are controlled by the cooperation of the indoor unit controller 15 housed in the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit controller 20g housed in the outdoor unit 20.
[0027]
Below, the characteristic part of this invention is demonstrated.
The indoor unit 10 described above is provided with a ventilation device 30, and the first function of the ventilation device 30 is to ventilate indoor air. That is, during the heating operation and the cooling operation described above, the indoor air is sucked by the cross flow fan 14 and is exchanged with the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 13, so that the introduction of the outside air is merely performed by circulating the indoor air. Not done. Normally, when performing air-conditioning operation, windows and the like are closed and the state is almost closed. For example, it is difficult to ventilate cigarette smoke filled in the room and perform sufficient ventilation.
[0028]
Therefore, by operating the ventilation fan 31 of the ventilation device 30, the room air flows into the air collecting member 35 from the room air suction port 33, is sucked into the ventilation fan 31 from the suction opening 36, and then passes through the ventilation hose 32. Exhausted to the outside. By continuing such ventilation operation, the smoke of cigarettes filled in the room is exhausted, and an air flow is introduced that introduces fresh outside air from the ventilation openings provided in the room. Qi ventilation operation is possible.
In addition, the ventilation hose 32 passes through the wall together with the refrigerant piping 21 and the electric wiring through the passage selected from the punching opening 11b which is also used for the passage such as the refrigerant piping 21 provided at a plurality of locations of the indoor unit 10. As shown in FIG. 5, an air outlet 37 provided with a lattice-like outlet 37a is attached to the outer front end portion so as to prevent insects and the like from entering.
[0029]
On the other hand, for example, when a dedicated ventilation fan or the like is provided in the room and the above-described ventilation operation is not necessary, a dust removal device or an air cleaning device can be used as the second function of the ventilation device 30. In this case, the dust removing device or the air purifier increases the circulation amount of the room air by the ventilation fan 31.
And in the indoor unit 10 which is not provided with the air purifying function, when the ventilation device 30 is changed to a dust removing device, the dust removing capability by the air filter 17 which the indoor unit 10 originally has can be improved. When it is changed to, an air cleaning function can be newly added. Further, in the case of the indoor unit 10 having an air cleaning function in addition to the dust removing function by the air filter 17, the dust removal capability or the air cleaning capability can be improved by the type of the filter 34.
[0030]
In this case, the outlet of the ventilation hose 32 is installed facing the indoor side, and the filter 34 is installed at an appropriate place in the indoor air intake system.
When the filter 34 used here is a dust removal (air) filter, it becomes a dust removal device that removes the sucked room air and then discharges it into the room.
Further, when an air purifying filter made of a nonwoven fabric (usually called a hepar filter) is employed as the filter 34, an air purifying apparatus that cleans the sucked room air and then discharges it into the room.
[0031]
Here, when the ventilation device 30 is used as a dust removing device or an air cleaning device, the punching opening 11b provided at a plurality of locations (lower left and right side surfaces, left and right bottom surfaces, left and right rear lower portions, etc.) on the wall surface of the casing 11 Among them, one suitable position is selected from those remaining without being used for passing through the refrigerant pipe 21 or the electric wiring, and the air outlet 37 that is shared with the case where the ventilation function for exhausting outside is exhibited is fixed to the room. . For this reason, the ventilation hose 32 is provided with cutting portions 32a at a plurality of locations so as to be adjusted to a required length. In addition, this cutting | disconnection part 32a can be used also in order to adjust the hose length in the case of exhausting outside, and in each cutting | disconnection part 32a, it has the cross-sectional shape to which the blower outlet 37 can be attached.
[0032]
Each punching opening 11b is provided with a plurality of punching shapes, and an optimum shape can be selected according to the application. That is, when used as the ventilator 30, the shape suitable for passing all the ventilation hose 32, the refrigerant pipe 21 and the electric wiring, and when using the ventilator 30 as a dust removing device or an air purifier, the ventilation hose 32 is used. Different sizes and shapes are prepared in advance so that a shape suitable for fixing the air outlet 37 at the tip and a shape suitable for passing through the refrigerant piping and the electric wiring can be selected as appropriate. Note that the optimum position of the punching opening 11b when the refrigerant pipe 21 or the electrical wiring is connected to the outdoor unit 20 is determined by the relationship between the installation position of the indoor unit 10 and the position of the sleeve.
[0033]
On the other hand, the air collecting member 35 located in the middle of the indoor air intake system is provided with a filter mounting portion 35a in advance as shown in FIG. 4 so that the filter 34 can be mounted according to the use of the ventilation device 30. . Usually, when used as a ventilator for exhausting room air to the outside, the filter 34 is unnecessary. However, when the ventilation device 60 is used as a dust removing device or an air cleaning device, it is indispensable to install a dust removing filter or an air cleaning filter according to each function.
Such a filter mounting portion 35a is preferably provided at a position where it is exposed together with the air filter 17 when the front panel 12 is opened so that it can be easily attached and detached and cleaned. It is most suitable because it can secure a large area. In addition, about the structure of the filter attachment part 35a, it is possible to employ | adopt the optimal thing from various well-known techniques, such as the attachment structure of the air filter 17, for example.
[0034]
Further, in order to increase the opening area of the air collecting member 35, the control unit 15 is collectively installed at the upper rear of the indoor unit 10, the ventilation fan 31 is disposed below the control unit 15, and the air collecting member 35 is disposed. The control unit 15 and the ventilation fan 31 are arranged in front of each other. For this reason, it is possible to arrange the suction grill 12b for sucking indoor air for the air conditioning operation and the indoor air suction port 33 side by side to provide a wide area indoor air suction port 33. Air cleaning ability is improved. Furthermore, the suction grill 12d and the room air inlet 33 can be arranged with a sense of unity, which is advantageous in terms of external design.
[0035]
As described above, according to the present invention described above, the ventilator 30 can be easily switched and used as a device that exhibits a function other than the ventilator according to the user's preference, that is, a dust removing device or an air purifier. Therefore, the use of the ventilator 30 is expanded and it becomes more convenient.
When the ventilator 30 is used as a dust collector or an air purifier, the room air is sucked from the indoor unit intake port 33 having a large area, passes through the filter 34, is removed from the dust or is air-purified and enters the air collecting member 35 . Then, the air is collected toward the suction opening 36 communicating with the ventilation fan 31 and returned to the room from the blowout port 37 through the ventilation fan 31 and the ventilation hose 32. Therefore, the air circulation of the indoor unit 10 by the crossflow fan 14 is performed. The capacity is improved by the capacity of the ventilation fan 31. Further, it is possible to improve the dust collecting function and to add or improve the air cleaning function according to the type of the filter 34 that passes therethrough.
[0036]
In addition, the structure of this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can change suitably.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
According to the indoor unit and the air conditioner of the present invention described above, the ventilator can be used as a dust collector or an air purifier according to the user's preference. Even in an installation environment or installation place where a ventilation device is not necessary, the ventilation device is not wasted. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the ventilator, and there is a remarkable effect that it is possible to provide an indoor unit and an air conditioner with high merchantability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing an embodiment of an indoor unit and an air conditioner according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing the indoor unit ventilation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the indoor unit shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an indoor unit ventilation device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing a configuration of a ventilation hose and an air outlet attached to the tip.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Indoor unit 11 Casing 11b Punching opening part 12 Front panel 12b Suction grill (suction inlet)
12c Air outlet 13 Indoor heat exchanger 14 Cross flow fan (fan)
15 Indoor Unit Control Unit 16 Mounting Plate 17 Air Filter 20 Outdoor Unit 20b Outdoor Heat Exchanger 20c Propeller Fan (Outdoor Fan)
20f Compressor 20g Outdoor unit control unit 21 Refrigerant pipe 30 Ventilation device 31 Ventilation fan 32 Ventilation hose 33 Indoor unit intake port 34 Filter 35 Air collecting member 35a Filter attachment portion 36 Suction opening 37 Air outlet

Claims (3)

A fan for sucking room air from the inlet and blowing it out from the outlet;
An indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the indoor air and the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit;
A ventilator that exhausts indoor air sucked in with a ventilation fan to the inside or outside of the room with a ventilation hose;
An indoor unit controller composed of various electric circuit elements;
A casing for storing each of these devices,
While providing a filter mounting portion in the indoor air intake system of the ventilator,
The casing has an air cleaning punching opening for opening an outlet of the ventilation hose corresponding to an air cleaning function or a ventilation function of the ventilation device toward the room, and an opening of the ventilation hose to the outside. An indoor unit having a punching opening having a passage punching opening through which a connecting member to the outside passes . The punching抜開opening the indoor unit according to claim 1 in which a plurality箇Tokoro設 vignetting on the wall of the casing, respectively, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of punching抜形like. An outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor for sending a high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant to the heat exchanger,
An outdoor unit comprising an outdoor unit controller composed of various electric circuit elements;
An air conditioner comprising the indoor unit according to claim 1.

Images