JP3857962B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of detecting the level of drain water accumulated in a drain pan.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an air conditioner is configured by connecting an outdoor unit and an indoor unit with a refrigerant pipe, and performing a cooling / heating operation by circulating the refrigerant.
[0003]
The outdoor unit mainly includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and outside air, an outdoor fan that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger, and circulation of the refrigerant. There is a built-in four-way valve that reverses the direction and switches between cooling and heating operations.
[0004]
The indoor unit mainly includes an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and room air, an indoor fan that blows air to the indoor heat exchanger, and dew condensation water condensed on the indoor heat exchanger. And a drain pan for receiving the drain water and a drain discharge pipe for discharging the drain water.
[0005]
Further, the drain pan is provided with a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the drain water in order to prevent the drain water from overflowing from the drain pan, and the drain water is equal to or higher than a predetermined water level. If the water level sensor detects that the water level is low, the air conditioner performs a cooling operation or a heating / humidifying operation with reduced capacity so that the water level of the drain water does not rise, or an abnormality of the drain drain pipe. the judgment that is, by an emergency stop, was intended to be or become line a notification to the user as an alarm.
[0006]
This water level sensor is a float type mainly composed of a magnet, and comprises a donut-shaped float that floats on the surface of the drain water, and a vertically extending pipe that penetrates the center of the float and incorporates a reed switch. The water level sensor was used.
[0007]
And when the water level of the drain water rises and the float rises to the position of the reed switch built in the pipe, the contact of the reed switch is closed by the magnet built in the float. It was detected by the control unit of the air conditioner, and the above-mentioned driving ability was suppressed and emergency stop and warning were judged.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the outdoor unit and the indoor unit of recent air conditioners have become multifunctional and require miniaturization, each built-in component is also miniaturized. Many components are built in.
[0009]
On the other hand, in the float type water level sensor, the float type water level sensor main body and the space in the range in which the float can move must be secured, so that the sensor is relatively large. For this reason, downsizing of the water level sensor has been desired.
[0010]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can reduce the mounting space of a water level sensor.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is configured to include an indoor heat exchanger, a drain pan that receives drain water from the indoor heat exchanger, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, and a prism unit, and the drain accumulated in the drain pan. In an air conditioner comprising an optical water level sensor for detecting the water level of the water, the water level sensor is disposed so as to be located inside the drain pan, and the inner wall surface of the drain pan located around the water level sensor is black or A first light-shielding wall is formed as a dark color, and a second light-shielding wall located around the prism portion is formed on the fixture for holding the water level sensor .
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a wall-mounted air conditioner 100 that performs a cooling / heating operation by circulating a refrigerant, as an example of an air conditioner in which a water level sensor mounting space is reduced according to the present invention.
[0020]
The air conditioner 100 is configured by connecting an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 2 with an inter-unit pipe 3 and a communication wiring 4.
[0021]
The outdoor unit 1 includes a compressor 10 that compresses and discharges the refrigerant, a four-way valve 11 that reverses the circulation direction of the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 12 that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the atmosphere, A pressure reducing valve 13 for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant and an accumulator 14 for gas-liquid separation of the refrigerant flowing into the compressor 10 are connected by a refrigerant pipe, and are further supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 12. The outdoor blower 15 that performs the control, the control of the outdoor unit 1, and the outdoor control unit 16 that performs communication with the indoor control unit 22 built in the indoor unit 2 to be described later are incorporated.
[0022]
The indoor unit 2 includes an indoor heat exchanger 20, an indoor blower 21 that blows air to the indoor heat exchanger 20, control of the indoor unit 2, and an outdoor control unit 16 built in the outdoor unit 1. And an indoor control unit 22 that communicates with each other.
[0023]
2 is a front view showing a part of the indoor unit 2 with the grill 30 of the indoor unit 2 removed, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the indoor unit 2. As shown in FIG.
[0024]
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the indoor unit 2 includes an exterior body composed of a frame 26 and a grill 30. The top surface of the grill 30 is provided with a suction port 46C. A suction grill 45 having suction ports 46 </ b> A and 46 </ b> B is provided on the front surface by a hinge portion 47 so that the lower end portion can be opened.
[0025]
In this exterior body, an indoor heat exchanger 20 is provided in a J-shape that is inverted up and down from the vicinity of the back of the indoor unit 2 to the vicinity of the top of the front outlet 28 via the top surface. Near the side end of the indoor unit 2, an indoor control unit 22 is provided in an indoor control box 23.
[0026]
In addition, a long cylindrical cross flow fan 24 is provided inside the indoor heat exchanger 20 so as to be attached to a blower motor 25, and the blower motor 25 is provided with indoor heat on the frame 26 of the indoor unit 2. It is arranged and fixed to a position between the exchanger 20 and the indoor control box 23 via a vibration isolator. The blower motor 25 and the cross flow fan 24 constitute an indoor blower 21.
[0027]
Furthermore, drain pans 27a and 27b for receiving condensed water condensed on the indoor heat exchanger 20 are provided at both lower ends of the rear side and the front side of the indoor heat exchanger 20, and at one end of the drain pan 27a. The drain drain port 31a is provided and drained toward the back side of the indoor unit 2 from the drain drain pipe 31 connected to the drain drain port 31a including the condensed water received by the drain pan 27b. It has become.
[0028]
The inner wall of the one side end portion of the drain pan 27a to which the drain drain pipe 31 is connected is black or dark, and further enters from the lower edge portion 48 of the suction grill 45 or the outlet port 28. As the first light-shielding wall 39 that blocks outside light 50 and 51, the side wall of the drain pan 27a that extends higher in black or dark color is provided, and on the drain pan 27a inside the first light-shielding wall 39, A water level sensor 29 is provided.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 4, the water level sensor 29 includes an optical water level in which a substrate 35 is provided in a resin case 34, and a light emitting unit 36 and a light receiving unit 37 are arranged on the substrate 35. Since the sensor is a sensor, for example, outside light 50 other than the light emitted from the light emitting unit 36 is incident, the light emitting unit of the water level sensor 29 is affected by the influence. This is because it is necessary to take measures to increase the illuminance of 36 and reduce the sensitivity of the light receiving unit 37 or use the water level sensor 29 with sufficient light shielding.
[0030]
The resin case 34 of the water level sensor 29 is composed of a cylindrical case portion 40 and a prism portion 38 provided with slopes 41a and 41b by cutting one end of the cylindrical shape into a mountain shape. The position where the water level sensor 29 is provided depends on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting part 36 is internally reflected on the inner surface of the prism part 38 of the resin case 34 and reaches the light receiving part 37. It is judged whether the water level is rising.
[0031]
For example, when the drain water does not reach the water level sensor 29, most of the light emitted from the light emitting part 36 is internally reflected on the inside of the prism part 38 on the surface of the resin case 34 and travels in the direction of arrow a. Advancing and reaching the light receiving unit 37.
[0032]
On the other hand, when the drain water reaches the prism portion 38 of the water level sensor 29, most of the light emitted from the light emitting portion 36 passes through the prism portion 38 of the resin case 34 in the direction of arrow b. The light emitted into the drain water and irradiated from the light emitting unit 36 does not reach the light receiving unit 37.
[0033]
In this way, compared to the conventional float type water level sensor, it can be reduced in size because there is no float. Further, when the water level sensor is attached, the water level sensor 29 has a movable part such as the float. Since it does not hit the parts arranged around, it can be attached if only a space for accommodating the water level sensor 29 is secured on the drain pan 27a.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 5, the water level sensor 29 is attached at an attachment angle 32 to an attachment portion 43 provided on the outer side surface of the indoor control box 23, so that the drain drain pipe 31 is clogged. When the water cannot be drained, the level of the drain water staying in the drain pan 27a is detected, and this is judged by the indoor control unit 22 so that the drain water does not overflow from the drain pan 27a. Control such as reduction of the driving capability of the apparatus 100 and emergency stop is performed.
[0035]
A roof 33 that protrudes from the outer wall of the indoor control box 23 and covers the top surface of the water level sensor 29 is provided at the upper part of the water level sensor 29, and this roof 33 drops from the upper part of the water level sensor 29. The condensed water is prevented from dripping directly onto the water level sensor 29.
[0036]
In addition, an attachment angle (attachment) 32 attached to the outer wall of the indoor control box 23 for holding the water level sensor 29 and fixing it on the drain pan 27a is also unnecessary for the external light 50, 51 to the water level sensor 29. As shown in FIG. 5, in order to prevent the incident water from entering, and to prevent the drain water staying in the drain pan 27a from splashing with the condensed water dropped and adhering to the prism portion 38 of the water level sensor 29 , It is formed in a U-shape to the periphery of the prism portion 38 in the water level sensor 29, black, or, the second light-shielding wall 42 is provided with a dark, thereby preventing malfunction of the water level sensor 29.
[0037]
Further, the control signal wiring for transmitting the water level information of the drain water surface detected by the water level sensor 29 to the indoor control unit 22 extends from the top of the water level sensor 29 and is provided with a trap on the side surface of the mounting angle 32. It is hooked to the provided signal wire hooking portion 44, pulled in from the upper side surface of the indoor control box 23, and connected to the indoor control portion 22.
[0038]
In the present embodiment, as an example, for the first light shielding wall 39 of the drain pan 27a, as shown in FIG. 2, at the time of forming the drain pan 27a, only one side end of the drain pan 27a is used as a high side wall. The inner wall of the one side end is formed as black or dark, but the side wall of the drain pan 27a is formed to have a uniform height, and then black inside the side wall of the one end, or A dark light shielding plate may be provided as the first light shielding wall 39.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the present invention includes an indoor heat exchanger, a drain pan that receives drain water from the indoor heat exchanger, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, and a prism unit. In an air conditioner equipped with an optical water level sensor for detecting the level of accumulated drain water, the water level sensor is arranged so as to be located inside the drain pan, and the inner wall surface of the drain pan located around the water level sensor The first light-shielding wall is formed in black or dark color, and the fixture for holding the water level sensor is formed with the second light-shielding wall positioned around the prism portion, so that the water level sensor itself can be reduced in size. As a result , not only can the installation space for the water level sensor be reduced , but also the malfunction of the optical water level sensor can be prevented by the action of the first light shielding wall and the second light shielding wall.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner with a reduced installation space for a water level sensor according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the interior of the indoor unit with the grill removed.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the indoor unit.
FIG. 4 is a side view of an optical water level sensor.
FIG. 5 is a view of a mounting angle for attaching the water level sensor to the side wall of the indoor control box.
[Explanation of symbols]
22 Indoor Control Unit 23 Control Box 27a, 27b Drain Pan 29 Water Level Sensor 31 Drain Drain Pipe 32 Mounting Angle (Mounting Tool)
33 Roof 34 Resin case 35 Substrate 36 Light emitting part 37 Light receiving part 38 Prism part 39 First light shielding wall 40 Case parts 41a and 41b Slope 42 Second light shielding wall 43 Mounting part 44 Signal line latching part 50 Outside light 51 Outside light

Claims (1)

An indoor heat exchanger, a drain pan that receives drain water from the indoor heat exchanger, a light emitting unit, a light receiving unit, and a prism unit, and an optical type that detects the water level of the drain water accumulated in the drain pan. In an air conditioner equipped with a water level sensor ,
The water level sensor is arranged so as to be located inside the drain pan, the inner wall surface of the drain pan located around the water level sensor is formed in black or dark color to form a first light shielding wall, and the fixture for holding the water level sensor An air conditioner comprising a second light shielding wall located around the prism portion .

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