JP3842125B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner that performs air conditioning by rotating a movable duct around a rotation center axis and directing an air outlet provided in the movable duct toward a person.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-99479 discloses an example of an air conditioner that rotates a movable duct around an axis of a base end portion and changes the direction of the air outlet 54f of the movable duct. As shown in FIG. 8, the air conditioner includes a self-supporting air conditioner main body 52, and a movable duct 54 is installed at the upper corner of the air conditioner main body 52 so as to be horizontally rotatable. A pair of ultrasonic sensors 54 s are attached to the base end portion of the movable duct 54 in a state of being directed in substantially the same direction as the air outlet 54 f, and these ultrasonic sensors are rotated during the rotation of the movable duct 54. The rotation of the movable duct 54 is stopped when 54s senses a person.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method using the ultrasonic sensor 54s is not preferable because it may erroneously sense a moving object other than a person, such as a robot.
Infrared sensors can be considered as relatively inexpensive sensors that can discriminate between humans and robots. However, infrared sensors generally have a wide sensing area. It is difficult to specify.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can effectively perform air conditioning by using a plurality of infrared sensors so that the direction of a person can be substantially specified. .
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above-described problems are solved by the inventions of the claims.
The invention according to claim 1 is an air conditioner that performs air conditioning by rotating a movable duct around a rotation center axis and directing an air outlet provided in the movable duct toward a person. A plurality of infrared fixed sensors installed so as to be able to detect whether or not there is a person in any of a plurality of divided areas formed by virtually dividing the air, and directed in the same direction as the air outlet In this state, the movable duct is rotated in the direction of the divided area where the person is present and the infrared type movement sensor attached to the movable duct, and the rotation of the movable duct is stopped when the movement sensor senses a person. And a rotation control means.
[0005]
According to the present invention, when a person enters the air-conditioned area, it is possible to detect in which divided area the person is in the air-conditioned area by a plurality of fixed sensors. For this reason, the movable duct is rotated in the direction of the divided area where the person is present by the rotation control means, and when the movement sensor detects the person, the rotation of the movable duct is stopped to direct the air outlet to the person. be able to. That is, by using the movement sensor and the plurality of fixed sensors, the direction of the person can be almost specified, so that air conditioning can be effectively performed.
[0006]
According to another aspect of the present invention, the sensing area of one fixed sensor and the sensing area of another fixed sensor are partially overlapped, and the overlapping sensing areas and the non-overlapping sensing areas are respectively associated with the divided areas. Thus, for example, the presence or absence of a person in three divided areas can be sensed by two fixed sensors. For this reason, a fixed sensor can be used efficiently.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a side view and the like of the main part of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view and the like showing a drive mechanism of the air conditioner. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a connection portion between the movable duct and the branch fixed duct. 4 to 6 are operation flowcharts of the air conditioner, and FIG. 7 is a front view of the air conditioner.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 7, the air conditioner 1 includes a main fixed duct 2 installed in a ceiling portion of a factory, and a plurality of branch fixed ducts 4 are connected to a side surface of the main fixed duct 2 at a predetermined interval. ing. The distal end portion of the branch fixed duct 4 is accommodated in the housing 6 and is connected to the movable duct 7 in the housing 6. In FIG. 7, the main fixing duct 2, the branch fixing duct 4, the bracket that supports the housing 6, the air blower, and the like are omitted.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the front end portion 4f of the branch fixing duct 4 is positioned substantially horizontally and is supported in the housing 6 by brackets 6a and 6b. The tip end portion 4f of the branch fixing duct 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a pair of first bearing members 12 are fixed coaxially with the branch fixing duct 4 near the inner tip end. The first bearing member 12 is a member that holds the rotating shaft 18 coaxially with the distal end portion 4f of the branch fixing duct 4 in a rotatable state, and is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the first bearing member 12 includes an outer ring 12r having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the branch fixing duct 4, and an inner ring 12s that functions as a bearing, and both the rings 12r and 12s are four support rods. 12b are connected so as to be coaxial with each other.
[0010]
The base end portion 7b of the movable duct 7 is connected to the distal end of the branch fixed duct 4 so as to be rotatable around the axis. The movable duct 7 has a substantially L-shaped side surface, and includes a distal end portion 7f having an air outlet 7e, a bent portion 7w, and the above-described base end portion 7b. The base end portion 7b of the movable duct 7 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and its inner diameter is set slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tip end portion 4f of the branch fixed duct 4, and as shown in FIG. The rear end of the end portion 7 b is put on the front end of the branch fixing duct 4.
[0011]
A second bearing member 14 is coaxially fixed to the proximal end portion 7b of the movable duct 7 near the inner rear end thereof. The second bearing member 14 is a member for connecting the movable duct 7 to the rotary shaft 18 described above, and is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the second bearing member 14 includes an outer ring 14r having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the base end portion 7b of the movable duct 7, and an inner ring 14s to which the rotating shaft 18 is connected. 14r and 14s are connected by the four support rods 14b so as to be coaxial with each other.
With the structure described above, the movable duct 7 can be rotated about the axis of the branch fixed duct 4, and the direction of the air outlet 7e can be changed.
That is, the axial centers of the movable duct 7 and the branch fixed duct 4 correspond to the rotation center axis of the present invention.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2A, a chain 22 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion 7b of the movable duct 7 in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion 7b. The chain 22 is a member that rotates the movable duct 7, and surrounds a portion excluding the upper end portion of the movable duct 7. Note that, in the state shown in FIG. 2A, the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 faces right below.
At least both ends of the chain 22 are fixed to the movable duct 7 by connecting members 23.
[0013]
In the housing 6, a motor & speed reducer 8 is mounted immediately below the branch fixing duct 4, and a sprocket 8 s that meshes with the chain 22 is fixed to the tip of the drive shaft 8 j of the motor & speed reducer 8. . With this structure, when the motor & speed reducer 8 is driven and the sprocket 8s rotates, the movable duct 7 rotates with respect to the branch fixed duct 4 by the action of the chain 22 and the sprocket 8s.
[0014]
A belt-like first striker 25 a and second striker 25 b are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the base end portion 7 b of the movable duct 7 in parallel with the chain 22. As shown in FIG. 2C, the first striker 25 a is attached to the left outer peripheral surface of the movable duct 7 from the lower end to the vicinity of the upper end of the movable duct 7, and the second striker 25 b is the same as the movable duct 7. From the lower end to the vicinity of the upper end, it is attached to the right outer peripheral surface of the movable duct 7. Both strikers 25a and 25b are arranged with their positions shifted in the axial direction of the movable duct 7, and consideration is given so that the strikers 25a and 25b are not continuous.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2C, a first micro switch 26a operated by the first striker 25a and a second micro switch 26b operated by the second striker 25b are attached to the upper portion of the housing 6. The first micro switch 26a is mounted at a position where it can be turned on only while the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 is moving downward from the state in which the air outlet 7e is directed downward (the movable duct 7 rotates to the right). It has been. The second micro switch 26b is mounted at a position where it can be turned on only while the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 moves rightward in the figure (the movable duct 7 rotates counterclockwise) from the state where the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 faces downward. It has been.
[0016]
For this reason, when both the first micro switch 26a and the second micro switch 26b are on, the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 faces downward. Further, when the first micro switch 26a is on and the second micro switch 26b is off, the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 is directed to the lower left. When the first micro switch 26a is off and the second micro switch 26b is on, the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 faces to the lower right.
The signals of the first micro switch 26a and the second micro switch 26b are input to the controller 30 (see FIG. 1A) in the housing 6.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an infrared type movement sensor 31 oriented in the same direction as the air outlet 7e is attached to the distal end portion 7f of the movable duct 7. Therefore, the movement sensor 31 is turned on in a state where the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 is directed toward the worker in the air conditioning region S.
Two infrared fixed sensors 32 and 33 are attached to the lower portion of the housing 6 for grasping the approximate position of the worker who has entered the air conditioning region S. Here, the air-conditioning region S is a range in which when the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 is directed toward the worker, the air blown out effectively hits the operator and air conditioning is performed satisfactorily. (See FIG. 1B).
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the first fixed sensor 32 is positioned and adjusted so that its sensing area can cover approximately 2/3 of the air-conditioning area S in the drawing. That is, the first fixed sensor 32 can detect workers located in the divided areas I and II when the air-conditioning area S is virtually divided into three in the left-right direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1B). become.
The second fixed sensor 33 is positioned and adjusted so that the sensing area can cover about 2/3 of the right side of the air conditioning area S in the figure. That is, the second fixed sensor 33 can sense workers in the divided areas II and III when the air-conditioning area S is virtually divided into three in the left-right direction.
[0019]
Therefore, if the first fixed sensor 32 is on and the second fixed sensor 33 is off, it can be seen that the worker is in the divided region I. When both the first fixed sensor 32 and the second fixed sensor 33 are on, it can be seen that the worker is in the divided area II. If the first fixed sensor 32 is off and the second fixed sensor 33 is on, it can be seen that the worker is in the divided region III. Further, when both the first fixed sensor 32 and the second fixed sensor 33 are off, it can be seen that the worker is not in the air-conditioning region S.
[0020]
Output signals from the movement sensor 31, the first fixed sensor 32, and the second fixed sensor 33 are input to the controller 30 in the housing 6.
As shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 6, the controller 30 drives the motor & speed reducer 8 based on signals from the movement sensor 31, the first fixed sensor 32, and the second fixed sensor 33, and It works to direct the air outlet 7e toward the worker. That is, the controller 30 corresponds to the rotation control means of the present invention.
The first fixed sensor 32 and the second fixed sensor 33 may be installed at the same position at different angles, or two sensors integrated with each other may be used.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the air conditioner 1 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 6.
When the power is turned on, the movable duct 7 is rotated to the home position (the position where the air outlet 7e faces directly below) by the action of the motor & speed reducer 8. Further, in this state, a damper (not shown) of the branch fixing duct 4 is opened (step 101 in FIG. 4).
Next, when the time (30 seconds) during which the infrared sensor is stabilized elapses (step 102), it is determined by the first fixed sensor 32 and the second fixed sensor 33 whether or not there are workers in the air-conditioning area S ( FIG. 5 Step 103).
[0022]
When both the first fixed sensor 32 and the second fixed sensor 33 do not sense the worker, that is, when it is determined that there is no worker in the air conditioning region S (NO in step 103), the movable duct 7 is The damper is closed in a state where it is held at the home position, and enters a standby state (step 105).
[0023]
When the first fixed sensor 32 or the second fixed sensor 33 senses an operator and turns on (YES in step 103 in FIG. 5), the damper open signal is output and the damper is held open (step 104). . Next, the movable duct 7 rotates (swings) in the direction of the divided area where the worker is present by the action of the motor & speed reducer 8 (step 106). For example, when the worker is in the divided area I, the movable duct 7 swings left in FIG. 1 (B) from the home position.
[0024]
When the movement sensor 31 senses an operator during the swing of the movable duct 7 and is turned on (YES in step 108), the motor & speed reducer 8 stops and the swing of the movable duct 7 stops (step 109). In this state, the air outlet 7e of the movable duct 7 is directed toward the worker, and air conditioning of the divided area I is performed.
When the first fixed sensor 32 or the second fixed sensor 33 and the movement sensor 31 are both turned on, the program of Step 108, Step 109 and Step 110 (see FIG. 6) is repeatedly executed, and the movable duct 7 swings. Held in a stopped state.
[0025]
Next, when the worker moves to, for example, the divided region III, the first fixed sensor 32 and the movement sensor 31 are turned off, and the second fixed sensor 33 is turned on. Therefore, the determination at step 110 in FIG. 6 is YES, and the determination at step 108 in FIG. 5 is NO. Accordingly, the program proceeds from step 108 to step 106, and the movable duct 7 swings in the direction of the divided area III where the worker is present by the action of the motor & speed reducer 8. When the movement sensor 31 is turned on during the swing (step 108 YES), the swing of the movable duct 7 is stopped (step 109), the air outlet 7e is directed toward the worker, and the air conditioning of the divided region III is performed. Done.
[0026]
Next, when the worker moves to the divided area II, the movement sensor 31 is turned off. Therefore, the determination at step 110 in FIG. 6 is YES, and the determination at step 108 in FIG. 5 is NO. For this reason, as described above, the movable duct 7 swings in the direction of the divided area II, and air conditioning of the divided area II is performed (step 109).
[0027]
Next, when the worker leaves the air-conditioning area S, both the first fixed sensor 32 and the second fixed sensor 33 are turned off, so the determination in step 110 of FIG. 6 is NO. As a result, the program proceeds to step 111, and the movable duct 7 swings three times, for example. If the movement sensor 31 does not detect an operator during the swing (NO in step 112), the program proceeds to step 105 in FIG. 5, the movable duct 7 is returned to the home position, and the damper is closed.
[0028]
If the movement sensor 31 is turned on during or after the three reciprocating swings in step 111 of FIG. 6 (YES in step 112), the program proceeds to step 109, and the swing of the movable duct 7 is stopped. Thereby, the air conditioning of the divided area where the worker is present is performed.
For example, when one of the workers is in the divided region I and the air conditioning of the divided region I is performed, even if another worker enters the divided region III, for example, steps 108 to 108 are performed. By the action of step 110, the movable duct 7 is held in the swing stop state.
[0029]
As described above, in the air conditioner 1 according to the present embodiment, if a worker enters the air-conditioning region S, the fixed sensors 32 and 33 can sense which divided region in the air-conditioning region S the worker is in. Become. For this reason, the movable duct 7 is rotated in the direction of the divided area where the worker is positioned by the rotation control means (controller 30), and the rotation of the movable duct 7 is stopped when the movement sensor 31 detects the worker. The air outlet 7e can be directed toward the worker. That is, by using the movement sensor 31 and the plurality of fixed sensors 32 and 33, the specific position of the worker can be almost specified, so that air conditioning can be effectively performed.
[0030]
In addition, the sensing area of the first fixed sensor 32 and the sensing area of the second fixed sensor 33 are partially overlapped, and the overlapping sensing areas and the sensing areas that do not overlap each correspond to the divided areas. The two fixed sensors 32 and 33 can detect the presence or absence of workers in the three divided areas I to III. For this reason, the fixed sensors 32 and 33 can be used efficiently.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the example in which the fixed sensors 32 and 33 are provided in the lower part of the housing 6 has been described.
Moreover, although the example which installs two fixed sensors 32 and 33 was shown in this embodiment, if two or more are used, the air-conditioning area | region S will be divided | segmented further finely and the position of an operator will be grasped | ascertained more correctly. be able to.
In this embodiment, the example in which the movable duct is rotated about the horizontal axis has been described. However, the movable duct may be rotated about the vertical axis.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, by using an infrared movement sensor and a plurality of fixed sensors, the direction of a person can be almost specified, so that air conditioning can be effectively performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view (A view) and a front view (B view) of a main part of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view (A diagram) showing a drive mechanism of an air conditioner, an enlarged view of a B part in FIG. A (B diagram), and a mounting diagram (C diagram) of a micro switch and the like.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view (FIG. A) showing a connecting portion between a movable duct and a fixed duct of an air conditioner, a front view of a second bearing member (FIG. B), and a front view of a first bearing member (FIG. C). is there.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioner.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioner.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the air conditioner.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the air conditioner.
FIG. 8 is an overall perspective view of a conventional air conditioner.
[Explanation of symbols]
S Air conditioning area
I Split area
II Divided area
III Divided area 1 Air conditioner 4 Branch fixed duct 7 Movable duct 7e Air outlet 30 Controller (rotation control means)
31 Movement sensor 32 First fixed sensor 33 Second fixed sensor

Claims (2)

An air conditioner that rotates an movable duct around a rotation center axis and directs an air outlet provided in the movable duct toward a person to perform air conditioning, and virtually divides the air conditioning area A plurality of infrared fixed sensors installed so as to be able to detect whether or not a person is present in any of a plurality of divided areas formed by
An infrared type movement sensor attached to the movable duct in a state in which the air outlet is directed substantially in the same direction;
Rotation control means for rotating the movable duct in the direction of the divided area where a person is present, and stopping the rotation of the movable duct when the movement sensor detects the person;
An air conditioner characterized by comprising: The air conditioner according to claim 1,
The air-conditioning system is characterized in that a sensing area of one fixed sensor and a sensing area of another fixed sensor partially overlap, and an overlapping sensing area and a non-overlapping sensing area correspond to divided areas, respectively. apparatus.

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