JP3905435B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner including an ion generator for removing airborne bacteria in the air.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, since building structures such as apartment buildings have become highly airtight, airborne microbes, dust, harmful substances, or bad odors present in the air of living spaces may harm human bodies. Therefore, a recent air conditioner is known that incorporates an ion generator that releases positive and negative ions, surrounds floating bacteria, and decomposes or deodorizes. It is also known that negative ions have the effect of regulating the balance between autonomic nerves and endocrine functions and relaxing the mind and body. An air conditioner equipped with an ion generator The amount of positive ions is adjusted and released into the room.
[0003]
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner. As shown in the figure, in the indoor unit of the conventional air conditioner, the indoor air is sucked from the air suction port 2 on the front surface, and the air exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 5 of the refrigeration cycle is absorbed by the cross flow fan 6. A blower passage 4 is formed to blow out in a direction defined by the vertical louver 9 and the horizontal louver 10, and the ion generator 7 is disposed on the drain pan 8 on the outlet side of the blower passage 4 so that an ion generation surface 7 a is desired for the blower passage 4. Arranged and blown out with the air generated by the ion generator 7 into the room, the room air is sterilized.
[0004]
In such an air conditioner, a high voltage is excited on the ion generation surface 7a of the ion generator 7, and the ion generator 7 is arranged on the outlet side of the air passage 4, so that danger is prevented. In addition, it is necessary to prevent fingers from touching the ion generation surface 7a directly.
[0005]
In the conventional air conditioner, in order to prevent a finger from directly touching the ion generation surface 7a of the ion generator 7, as shown in FIG. 7, a net-like protective force bar 11 covering the ion generation surface 7a is provided. .
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the conventional protective force bar 11 is mesh-shaped, there are many air inlets and outlets, so that the air flow is disturbed around the protective cover 11, and there is a problem that condensation occurs on the surface of the protective cover 11 during cooling. It was.
[0007]
Therefore, in view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can prevent condensation on the surface of the protective cover 11.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an ion generator disposed so that the ion generation surface faces the air passage, and a protective cover disposed so as to cover the ion generation surface. An air flow passage is formed between the upstream surface and the downstream surface in the air blowing direction from the upstream inlet to the downstream outlet, and the air flow passage is set substantially parallel to the air blowing direction of the air blowing passage. An air conditioner is provided.
[0009]
According to the above configuration, since the air flow passage is set substantially parallel to the blowing direction, the resistance of the air flow entering the air flow passage from the inlet of the protective cover is reduced, and the air flow around the protective cover is disturbed. It becomes difficult to occur. Therefore, it is possible to prevent condensation on the surface of the protective cover. Such a protective cover can be realized, for example, by bending both ends of a single plate material to form a U-shaped cross section, or by forming a U-shaped member with a synthetic resin.
[0010]
Further, in addition to the above configuration, the side wall of the protective cover is disposed substantially parallel to the air blowing direction of the air passage, and the cross-sectional shape is formed so that at least the outlet side end portion gradually becomes thinner toward the edge. , The edges can be rounded. According to this configuration, since it is difficult for the vortex of the air to be generated on the outlet side of the protective cover, dew condensation near the outlet is reduced. Of course, not only at the outlet side end portion but also at the inlet side end portion, it is preferable to adopt the above configuration because the resistance of air colliding with the side wall on the inlet side can be reduced.
[0011]
By the way, the ion generator should be arranged on the outlet side of the air passage as much as possible so that the generated ions reach a wider range in the air-conditioned room due to the short life of the ions of several seconds. Since the protective cover has a larger outlet opening than that of the network structure shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to prevent a finger from entering the protective cover from the outlet.
[0012]
Therefore, it is preferable to set the exit of the airflow passage of the protective cover to a height that does not allow a finger to enter. For example, when the outlet of the air flow passage is formed in a horizontally long and substantially rectangular shape, the short dimension (height) may be set to a dimension that does not allow a finger to enter. According to this configuration, since a finger cannot be inserted from the outlet of the airflow passage of the protective cover, even when the ion generator is provided in the vicinity of the air outlet of the air passage, it does not contact the ion generation surface, which is safe. Can increase the sex.
[0013]
In addition, as described above, when the height of the outlet of the air flow passage is set low enough to prevent fingers from entering, the cross-sectional area of the air flow passage at the outlet is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the central portion, Therefore, it is preferable to set the width of the outlet wider than the width of the central portion so that the outlet cross-sectional area of the air flow passage is equal to or larger than the cross-sectional area of the central portion. According to this configuration, since the cross-sectional area of the outlet of the air flow passage can be set equal to the cross-sectional area of the central portion, the air flow in the air flow passage does not need to be subjected to great resistance.
[0014]
In addition, it is preferable that the protective cover has a larger cross-sectional area at the inlet of the airflow passage than the cross-sectional area at the center, because the air in the air passage can be sufficiently guided to the airflow passage. In addition, when expanding the cross-sectional area of the inlet, the height of the inlet may be increased or the width may be increased.
[0015]
Further, an air guide plate that guides the wind of the air passage into the air flow passage can be provided on the upstream side of the protective cover. According to this configuration, air can be sufficiently guided into the air flow passage by the air guide plate, and the amount of ions released is proportional to the amount of air blown in the air flow passage, so that the ions generated by the ion generator can be reduced. More can be released into the room.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner equipped with an ion generator according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a protective cover of the ion generator. As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit is provided with a suction port 2 for taking in indoor air and a blower outlet 3 for releasing heat-exchanged air into the room on the front surface of the cabinet 1. A ventilation path 4 extending from the suction port 2 to the blower outlet 3 is formed.
[0018]
In the air passage 4, an indoor heat exchanger 5 disposed in the vicinity of the suction port 2 and a cross flow fan 6 disposed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 5 are provided. An ion generator 7 is disposed in the vicinity of the air outlet 3. A drain pan 8 that receives the condensed water of the indoor heat exchanger 5 constitutes a part of the wall of the air blowing path 4.
[0019]
A vertical louver 9 and a horizontal louver 10 that direct the air blowing direction of the air passage 4 are arranged at the air outlet 3 of the air passage 4. Since other configurations are the same as those of the prior art, the description thereof is omitted.
[0020]
The ion generator 7 is disposed in the vicinity of the air outlet 3 so that the ion generation surface 7 a faces the air blowing path 4 from a hole formed in the drain pan 8. A protective cover 11 is fixed to the lower surface of the drain pan 8 so as to cover the ion generation surface 7a.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the protective cover 11 is integrally formed of synthetic resin in a U-shaped cross section from a pair of left and right side walls 11 a and a bottom side wall 11 b connecting the lower ends thereof, and the left and right side walls 11 a are fixed to the drain pan 8. Thus, the space surrounded by the left and right side walls 11 a, the bottom side wall 11 b, and the drain pan 8 serves as the air flow passage 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the air flow passage 12 has an opening 13 on the upstream side in the blowing direction as an inlet 13 and an opening on the downstream side in the blowing direction as an outlet 14. In addition, the left and right side walls 11a and the bottom side wall 11b of the protective cover 11 are disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the blowing direction, whereby the air flow passage 12 is set substantially parallel to the blowing direction.
[0022]
The protective cover 11 has a round bottom wall 11b so that the height (the distance between the drain pan 8 and the bottom wall 11b) is maximized at the central portion 11c. The cross-sectional area of 12 is set wide.
[0023]
In the above configuration, a part of the air flowing from the cross flow fan 6 to the blower outlet 3 side of the air passage 4 flows from the inlet 13 of the protective cover 11 to the air flow passage 12 and is generated on the ion generation surface 7 a of the air flow passage 12. The discharged ions are blown out into the room from the outlet 14 of the protective cover 11.
[0024]
At this time, since the airflow passage 12 of the protective cover 11 is set substantially parallel to the blowing direction of the airflow passage 4, the resistance of the airflow entering the airflow passage 12 is reduced, and the airflow is not easily disturbed. Become. Further, since the left and right side walls 11a and the bottom side wall 11b of the protective cover 11 are parallel to the air blowing direction, the area where the wind in the air blowing path 4 collides with the protective cover 11 is small, and the air flow is less likely to be disturbed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent condensation on the surface of the protective cover 11.
[0025]
<Second Embodiment>
3A is a perspective view of the protective cover according to the second embodiment, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of A in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of B in FIG. It is. The cross-sectional shape in the blowing direction of the left and right side walls 11a and the bottom side wall 11b of the protective cover 11 is formed so that the outlet side end portion 11e of the air flow passage 12 of the protective cover 11 gradually becomes thinner toward the edge, The edge is rounded. Not only the outlet side end portion 11e but also the inlet side end portion 11d may be formed in the same manner.
[0026]
With the above configuration, since it is difficult for the eddy flow of air on the outlet 14 side of the protective cover 11 to occur, dew condensation near the outlet is reduced. In addition, since the resistance of the air that collides with the side wall on the inlet 13 side can be reduced, the flow of air passing through the periphery thereof is less likely to be disturbed.
[0027]
<Third Embodiment>
Fig.4 (a) is a front view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner based on 3rd Embodiment, FIG.4 (b) is a bottom view of the protective cover. In the protective cover 11, the height H of the outlet 14 (the distance between the drain pan 8 and the outlet side end portion 11e) is lowered to the extent that a finger does not enter, and the sectional area of the outlet 14 is the same as the sectional area of the central portion. Thus, the width of the outlet 14 (the distance between the left and right side walls 11a) is set wider than the width of the central portion 11c.
[0028]
Thus, if the height of the outlet 14 is lowered, it is possible to prevent a finger from being accidentally inserted into the air flow passage 12 from the outlet 14 and coming into contact with the ion generation surface 7a, thereby improving safety. Can do. At the same time, if the width of the outlet 14 is made wider than the width of the central portion 11c, the cross-sectional area of the air flow passage 12 at the outlet 14 can be secured even if the height of the outlet 14 is lowered. The air flow inside is not subject to great resistance. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0029]
<Fourth Embodiment>
Fig.5 (a) is a front view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner based on 4th Embodiment, FIG.5 (b) is a bottom view of the protective cover. In the present embodiment, as shown in the third embodiment, the outlet 14 of the protective cover 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and in addition to this, the sectional area of the inlet 13 is further made larger than the sectional area of the central portion 11c. It is a thing. In order to increase the cross-sectional area of the inlet 13 of the protective cover 11, the width of the inlet 13 of the protective cover 11 (the distance between the left and right side walls 11a) is set wide. In order to increase the cross-sectional area of the inlet 13 of the protective cover 11, the height of the inlet 13 (the distance between the drain pan 8 and the inlet side end portion 11d) may be increased.
[0030]
With this configuration, the air in the air blowing path 4 can be sufficiently guided into the air flow path 12, and the ions generated from the ion generator 7 can be released into the room. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0031]
<Fifth Embodiment>
6A is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the air guide plate 15. In the present embodiment, an air guide plate 15 that guides the wind of the air passage 4 into the air flow passage 12 of the protective cover 11 is provided on the upstream side of the protective cover 11 in the air blowing direction. The air in the air blowing path 4 can be sufficiently guided into the air flow path 12, and ions generated by the ion generator 7 can be efficiently discharged into the room.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 6B, the air guide plate 15 is integrated with a synthetic resin in a U-shaped cross section from a pair of left and right side walls 15c and a bottom side wall 15d connecting the lower ends thereof, as in the protective cover shown in FIG. The left and right side walls 15 c are fixed to the drain pan 8, and the air guide path 16 is formed in a space surrounded by the drain pan 8 and the U-shaped air guide plate 15. The length of the air guide plate 15 in the blowing direction is set to be shorter than the length of the protective cover 11 in the blowing direction.
[0033]
The air guide path 16 has an opening on the upstream side in the air blowing direction as the air inlet 15a, an opening on the downstream side in the air blowing direction as the air inlet 15b, and the air blowing direction from the air inlet 15a toward the air outlet 15b. It is set in parallel. The air guide outlet 15b faces the inlet 13 of the protective cover 11 on the downstream side, and is set to have substantially the same opening shape and opening area. The air guide inlet 15a has an opening cross-sectional area that is set to be larger than the cross-sectional area of the central portion of the air guide plate 15, and a large amount of air in the air passage 4 is guided to the protective cover 11 side.
[0034]
According to the above configuration, since the air in the air blowing path 4 is rectified by the air guide plate 15 and guided in a large amount into the air flow passage 12, the air flow is not disturbed around the protective cover 11, and the protective cover It is possible to prevent dew condensation on the surface of 11. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0035]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, correction and a change can be added within the scope of the present invention. For example, the first to fifth embodiments may be appropriately combined.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, since the air flow passage of the protective cover is set substantially parallel to the air blowing direction, the resistance of the air flow entering the air flow passage from the inlet of the protective cover is reduced. The air flow is less likely to be disturbed around the protective cover. Therefore, it is possible to prevent condensation on the surface of the protective cover.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a protective cover of the ion generator. FIG. The perspective view of the protective cover which concerns on a form, (b) is A sectional drawing of the figure (a), (c) is B sectional drawing of the figure (a). FIG. 4 (a) is 3rd Embodiment. The front view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns, (b) is a bottom view of the protective cover. FIG. 5 (a) is the front view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the fifth embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the air guide plate. FIG. Sectional view of a conventional air conditioner indoor unit, (b) is a perspective view of its protective cover
4 Airflow path 7 Ion generator 7a Ion generation surface 11 Protective cover 12 Air flow path 13 Inlet 14 Outlet 15 Air guide plate

Claims (6)

An ion generator disposed so that the ion generation surface faces the air passage, and a protective cover disposed so as to cover the ion generation surface, the protective cover between the ion generation surface, An air conditioner in which an air flow passage is formed from an upstream inlet to a downstream outlet in the air blowing direction, and the air flow passage is set substantially parallel to the air blowing direction of the air blowing passage. The side wall of the protective cover is disposed substantially parallel to the air blowing direction of the air passage, and the cross-sectional shape thereof is formed so that at least the outlet side end portion gradually becomes thinner toward the edge, and the edge is rounded. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is formed to take on. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet of the airflow passage of the protective cover is set to a height that is low enough to prevent a finger from entering. The width of the outlet is set wider than the width of the central portion so that the sectional area of the outlet of the airflow passage of the protective cover is the same as the sectional area of the central portion. Air conditioner. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protective cover has a cross-sectional area of an inlet of the air flow passage larger than a cross-sectional area of a central portion. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an air guide plate is provided upstream of the protective cover in the air blowing direction to guide the air in the air passage into the air flow passage. .

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