JP4557446B2 - Ceiling panel structure - Google Patents

Ceiling panel structure Download PDF

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Publication number
JP4557446B2
JP4557446B2 JP2001045391A JP2001045391A JP4557446B2 JP 4557446 B2 JP4557446 B2 JP 4557446B2 JP 2001045391 A JP2001045391 A JP 2001045391A JP 2001045391 A JP2001045391 A JP 2001045391A JP 4557446 B2 JP4557446 B2 JP 4557446B2
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linear
ceiling
base member
panel structure
air
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JP2002243258A (en
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岩嘉 畑中
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エアーテクノ株式会社
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Priority to JP2001045391A priority Critical patent/JP4557446B2/en
Priority to US09/873,346 priority patent/US6802361B2/en
Priority to SG200103383A priority patent/SG91928A1/en
Priority to AU53983/01A priority patent/AU775657B2/en
Priority to CN01118847A priority patent/CN1330250A/en
Priority to HK02101774.8A priority patent/HK1040108A1/en
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    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24FAIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0043Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
    • F24F1/0047Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling

Description

【0001】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、天井埋込型空気調和装置(以下では、「天井埋込型空調装置」ともいう)等の吹出口から吹出される空調空気による天井の汚れを抑制するための技術に係る。
【0002】
【従来の技術】
天井埋込型空調装置は、該装置の底部の中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備え、該空調装置の底部の中央部にある室内空気吸込口から室内空気を吸込んで、熱交換器で暖めたり冷やしたりした後、該底部の周縁部にある吹出口から空調空気として吹出す。
【0003】
この空調空気は、室内の広い範囲に広がるようにほぼ天井面に沿う方向に吹出されるから天井面に沿って流れ易く、該空気自体の汚れ又は該空調空気が噴出される際巻きこむ室内空気の汚れに起因して、吹出口の近くの天井面を汚す。空調装置を長期間使用していると、この汚れは、無視し難い程見苦しいものになる。
【0004】
このような問題に対処することを目的として、吹出口における空調空気流の向きを変えるべく室内空気の汚れ具合や冷暖房に応じて吹出通路内で且つ吹出口の近傍にある風向板の傾きを調整すること(例えば、特開平8−100942号公報)、天井面に沿った流れを形成しやすい吹出口の長手方向両端近傍における吹出の向きや開口の大きさを変えること(例えば、特開平7−324802号公報、特開平8−313042号公報、特開平9−222237号公報)は提案されている。
【0005】
これらはサイズに実際上制限のある空調装置の外枠すなわちフレームの一部をなすか該フレームに取付けられた吹出口において空調空気流の流れを直接規制・制御しようとするものであるけれども、流速・流量の大きい吹出口において流れの全体を直接制御しようとしても、空調空気流を天井面に向かわないようにしようとすると空調空気流が室内に十分には拡がらなくなる虞れがあるなど必ずしも所期の効果を期待し難い虞れがあるだけでなく、流速・流量自体が変わると調整の変更を要する虞れもある。
【0006】
なお、特開平8−94160号公報には、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させる働きをする段差や突起を空調装置の外枠をなす化粧板に形成することが開示され、実開昭62−120151号に対応する実願昭61−8595号のマイクロフィルムには、同様な働きをする断面「く」の字状の吹出ガイドを空調装置の外枠をなす化粧板に設けることが開示されているけれども、これらの技術も同様な問題が残る虞れがある。
【0007】
また、上述の技術は、既存の天井埋込型空調装置の使用現場における天井面の汚れの問題を解決するものではない。
【0008】
なお、天井面のうち汚れが生じやすい領域に、鈍角に折り曲げた透明プラスチックフィルムを取付ける試みもなされているけれども、吹出空気の流速が小さいときにはまわり込みによってその外側の天井面が汚れる虞れがあり、流速が大きいときは吹出空気流によって断面「へ」の字状の斜めに垂下った転向部が空気流に押されて逃げるように変形される虞れがある。
【0009】
一方、天井で開口した空調ダクトの該周縁に円弧状湾曲部を形成して、天井面が汚れるのを抑制しようとすることも提案されている(実開平7−12847号公報)けれども、この場合にも、上述の従来の天井埋込型空気調和装置の場合と同様な問題がある。なお、空調ダクトの場合、吸込口がなく開口の全体が吹出口になっているので、吹出口から噴出された空調空気流の挙動は、中央に吸込口を備え周縁に吹出口を備えた空調装置の場合とは異なる。
【0010】
これらの問題を解決するために、既存の天井埋込型空調装置に対しても適用可能で且つ天井面が汚れるのを最小限に抑えるべく、本発明者は、中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えた天井埋込型空気調和装置の吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、空調装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井面から遠ざかる向きに転向させることを目的として空調装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流の一部を室内空気吸込口に戻すように空調空気流を転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えた天井パネル構造体であって、空気調和装置の外側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、天井に対面する側とは反対側に係合部を備えた少なくとも一つのベース部材であって、空気調和装置の少なくとも一つの側縁に沿って延在するように天井面に一の主面で取付可能な直線状ベース部材を含むものと、前記少なくとも一つのベース部材の係合部に被係合部で係合されて該ベース部材に固定されるように構成されたカバー部材であって、直線状ベース部材に係合され長さの調整可能な直線状カバー部材を含むものとを有する天井パネル構造体を、特願2000−187145において、提案した。この天井パネル構造体の基本思想及び空気流の転向等のための形状等の大半は、そのまま、この発明の基礎となるか又はこの発明においても適用可能なものである。
【0011】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
特願2000−187145に記載の発明の基本思想に基づいて、発明者は、種々の形態の天井パネル構造体を試作し試用してきた。この試作・試用の過程で、発明者は、天井面が必ずしも完全な平面ではなくて相当程度のうねりがあることが少なくないこと、及び天井パネル構造体の取付け位置を当初の取付け位置からずらすような場合にベース部材に対するカバー部材の着脱が不自然な姿勢でも容易であること等が適切な位置への天井パネル構造体の取付けのために望まれることに、気づいた。
【0012】
換言すれば、特願2000−187145において、当該発明を具現化した実施例として記載した形態の天井パネル構造体では、天井のうねりの影響を受け易かったりベース部材に対するカバー部材の着脱が必ずしも容易でなかったりする面があり、特願2000−187145の基本思想に基づきつつも、これらの点で実施例に記載の天井パネル構造体(天井面にほぼ直角な方向に延在した板状体の延在端近傍に係合部や被係合部を備える)を改良することが望まれることが、分かった。
【0013】
本発明は、前記諸点に鑑みなされたものであって、その第一の目的は、天井面がある程度うねっていても、取付けが容易な天井パネル構造体を提供することにある。
【0014】
本発明の第二の目的は、ベース部材に対するカバー部材の着脱が容易な天井パネル構造体を提供することにある。
【0015】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の天井パネル構造体は、前記第一の目的を達成すべく、中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えた天井埋込型空気調和装置の吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えた天井パネル構造体であって、空気調和装置の外側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、天井に対面する側とは反対側に係合部を備えたベース構造体であって、空気調和装置の側縁に沿って延在するように天井面に一の主面で取付可能な直線状ベース部材を含むものと、ベース構造体の係合部に被係合部で係合されて該ベース構造体に固定されるように構成されたカバー構造体であって、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備え直線状ベース部材に係合される直線状カバー部材を含むものとを有し、直線状ベース部材の係合部が、該直線状ベース部材の幅方向に離れた箇所で且つ相互に向合う側とは反対側に開口した一対の係合凹部を備え、一方の凹部のうち天井面に近い方の側壁が他方の凹部から遠いところほど天井面に近接するように傾斜した傾斜面を有し、直線状カバー部材の被係合部が、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部と係合する一対の被係合突起部を、該直線状カバー部材の幅方向に離れた箇所において、相互に向合う側に弾性的に近接・離間可能に備え、該突起部が前記一方の凹部の天井面に近い側の壁部の傾斜面に沿って可動な案内部を有する。
【0016】
本発明の天井パネル構造体では、「空気調和装置の外側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、空調装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井(面)から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えている」ので、空気調和装置の外側において天井の所定位置に取付けるだけで、転向誘導部によって空調装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井面から遠ざかる向きに転向させ、空調空気の吹出口から吹出した空調空気が天井面にぶつかったり天井面に沿って拡がったりするのを最小限に抑制し得るので、空調空気に含まれる固体又は液体等の微粒子等により天井面が汚れるのを最小限に抑え得る。ここで、転向誘導部が空気流に対して実質的に剛性であるから、空調空気の流れが比較的強い場合でも、転向誘導部は、空調空気流を所定の向きに転向させ得る。また、天井パネル構造体は、空調装置の吹出口からある程度離れて室内に開いた空間の天井面近傍に位置するので、空調空気流は天井パネル構造体の転向誘導部に当たるまでにある程度拡がり且つ当たった際にも下方に向かって拡がり得るから、転向誘導部に当たった空調空気流が適度に転向され得る。
【0017】
転向誘導部は、典型的には、凹状湾曲案内表面を備え該案内面に沿って転向させる転向案内部分からなるけれども、風向きを大きく変え得るものであれば、その詳細な又は具体的な形状はどのようなものでもよい。なお、転向案内部により空調空気流の方向を大きく変えるためには、典型的には、後述するように、事前に流速を低減させ風圧を抑制しておくことが好ましい。また、天井パネル構造体は、空調装置のまわり又は外側のうち空調空気吹出口の下流側において天井面に取付けられるものであるから、空調装置は、既に天井に配設されているものでよく、本発明の天井パネル構造体は、既存の天井埋込済の空調装置のまわりに配設されることにより、該空調装置による天井の汚れが進行するのを避け得るだけでなく、天井の汚れの一部を蔽うことにより、汚れが目立たなくするのにも役立つ。
【0018】
更に、本発明の天井パネル構造体では、「空気調和装置の外側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、天井に対面する側とは反対側に係合部を備えたベース構造体であって、空気調和装置の側縁に沿って延在するように天井面に一の主面で取付け可能な直線状ベース部材と、ベース構造体の係合部に被係合部で係合されて該ベース構造体に固定されるように構成されたカバー構造体であって、直線状ベース部材に係合される直線状カバー部材を含むものと」が設けられているので、ベース部材をビス等の固定手段で天井面に取付け、該取付け手段による取付け部を蔽うようにカバー部材をベース部材に被せて、カバー部材の被係合部をベース部材の係合部に係合させればよいから、その取付けが、容易に行われ易い。なお、ベース構造体は、典型的には、直線状ベース部材とコーナーベース部材とを含み、カバー構造体は、典型的には、直線状カバー部材とコーナーカバー部材とを含む。但し、ベース構造体が一つの直線状ベース部材からなりカバー構造体が一つの直線状カバー部材からなっていてもよい。
【0019】
以上において、直線状ベース部材を直線状カバー部材とは別個に設けたことにより、直線状ベース部材のうち直線状カバー部材で蔽われる部分が、外観を考慮することなく、ビス等により天井面に取付け易く且つ直線状カバー部材に係合させやすい係合部を備えた構造で形成され得る。その結果、直線状ベース部材の天井面への取付を容易に行なうことが可能になり、最小限の作業者(例えば一人)でも直線状ベース部材の取付を行なうことが可能になる。また、直線状ベース部材の係合部は直線状カバー部材によって実質的に隠され得るので、直線状ベース部材の係合部及び直線状カバー部材の被係合部として、容易且つ強固に係合・固定されたり容易に係合解除されたりするような所望の形状ないし構造が選択され得るから、直線状ベース部材に対する直線状カバー部材の係合・固定やその解除が容易に行われるようにすることが可能になる。従って、直線状ベース部材の天井面への取付及び直線状ベース部材への直線状カバー部材の係合・固定の両方を最小限の作業者(例えば一人)で行ない得、結果として、天井パネル構造体の天井面への取付を最小限の作業者(例えば一人)で行い得ることになる。直線状カバー部材及び直線状ベース部材の夫々は、単一ないし一体的な部材からなっていても、複数の部材を組合せてなるものであってもよい。
【0020】
また、本発明の天井パネル構造体では、「直線状カバー部材が空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備える」から、空調空気の流れを調整するための転向誘導部等の空気流調整構造に伴う直線状カバー部材の厚み及び幅を利用して、直線状ベース部材の係合部及び直線状カバー部材の被係合部を直線状カバー部材の厚み及び幅の範囲内に納めることが容易になるので、作業に適した係合部及び被係合部にすることが可能になる。
【0021】
なお、この明細書において、直線状ベース部材に関して「一の主面で天井面に取付可能」とは、典型的には、直線状ベース部材の一の主面が天井面に直接接触する状態で天井面に取付けられることをいうけれども、場合によっては、一の主面から突出し天井面に向かう突起部(脚部)が天井面に当接する状態で直線状ベース部材が天井面に取付けられてもよい。また、「直線状ベース部材が空気調和装置の側縁に沿って延在する」とは、典型的には、直線状側縁を有する空気調和装置の該直線状側縁に平行に直線状ベース部材が延在することをいうけれども、場合によっては、平行でなくてもよく、また、空気調和装置の側縁が直線状でない場合には、該側縁の平均的な延在方向とほぼ同様な方向に直線状ベース部材が延在すればよい。更に、直線状ベース部材の係合部に関して、「天井面に対面する側とは反対側」とは、直線状ベース部材のうち天井面に対面する側とは反対側の表面から所望の向きに突出した部分を含む趣旨であり、天井面と平行な面に限られない。
【0022】
空調空気の流れを調整すべく、空調空気流を転向させたり(空気流の流れの向きをかえること)該空気流に抵抗付与を行なったり(空気流の流れ抵抗となって風圧を抑制し空気流を減速させること)該空気流を案内したり(空気の流れを実際上妨げることなく流れの方向を規定することで、流れの向きを変えない場合と徐々に変える場合との両方を含む)するための構造は、典型的には、直線状カバー部材の表面により与えられる。直線状カバー部材が直線状ベース部材をほぼ完全に蔽う場合には、カバー部材の表面だけがこの役割を果たす。なお、直線状ベース部材の一部又は大半の部分が直線状カバー部材によって蔽われることなく天井面のところで露出していてもよい。そのような場合、空調空気の流れを調整する転向や抵抗付与(減速)や案内のための表面形状は、部分的には、直線状ベース部材によっても与えられ得る。この場合でも、直線状カバー部材は、転向誘導部で空調空気流を調整するだけでなく、直線状ベース部材を天井面に取付けるための取付構造部を覆い隠したり、直線状ベース部材と直線状カバー部材との係合部を実質上隠したりし得る。なお、転向機能を有する案内部は、典型的には、多少なりとも、抵抗付与機能も有する。
【0023】
しかも、本発明の天井パネル構造体では、「直線状ベース部材の係合部が、該直線状ベース部材の幅方向に離れた箇所で且つ相互に向合う側とは反対側に開口した一対の係合凹部を備え、直線状カバー部材の被係合部が、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部と係合する一対の被係合突起部を、該直線状カバー部材の幅方向に離れた箇所において、相互に向合う側に備える」ので、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合部やこれに係合される直線状カバー部材の一対の被係合部が直線状カバー部材の陰に隠され得るだけでなく、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部のうちの前記他方の係合凹部に対して直線状カバー部材の対応する被係合突起部が係合した状態で、直線状ベース部材の前記一方の係合凹部に対して直線状カバー部材の対応する被係合突起部の係合及び該係合の解除を行うことにより、直線状ベース部材に対する直線状カバー部材の係合及び該係合の解除を行い得る。また、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部が幅方向の逆向きに開口しているので、凹部を規定する両側の壁部(側壁)は直線状ベース部材の長手方向に沿って天井面にほぼ平行に延在し得るから、該壁部(側壁)がある程度は天井面のうねりに従って長手方向に沿ってうねるように変形され得るだけでなく、直線状カバー部材の一対の係合突起部も幅方向の逆向きに突出しているので、該係合突起部により形成される突条も直線状カバー部材の長手方向に沿って天井面にほぼ平行に延在し得るから、該突条が、比較的、天井面のうねりに従って長手方向に沿ってうねるように変形され易い。その結果、天井面のうねりは、該うねりに対応するような直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材の変形で実質的に吸収され易い。換言すれば、天井面のうねりに応じて直線状ベース部材がある程度うねっていても、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部のうちの前記一方とは反対側(すなわち他方)の係合凹部に直線状カバー部材の対応する係合突起部を強制的に嵌めこむことが可能となる。ここで、直線状ベース部材の該他方の係合凹部に対する直線状カバー部材の対応する被係合突起部の挿入が誘導又は案内されるように、該他方の係合凹部の一方の側壁が直線状カバー部材の対応する被係合突起部を案内する案内面になったり、被係合突起部が楔状の如く先細になっているか係合凹部が開口側程大きくなるように開いていることが好ましい。
【0024】
この場合、好ましくは、直線状カバー部材が前記他方の被係合部の近傍において、天井面とほぼ平行に拡がった板状部を備える。これにより、被係合突起部近傍において、天井のうねりに応じて直線状カバー部材が長手方向に沿ってある程度曲げ変形可能になり易い。なお、この板状部は、空調空気流に対する案内面として働きうる。
【0025】
加えて、本発明の天井パネル構造体では、「直線状ベース部材の一方の係合凹部のうち天井面に近い方の側壁(壁部)が他方の凹部から遠いところほど天井面に近接するように傾斜した傾斜面を有し、直線状カバー部材の被係合部の一対の被係合突起部のうち前記一方の係合凹部に対応する被係合突起部が前記一方の凹部の天井面に近い側の壁部の傾斜面に沿って可動な案内部を有する」ので、天井面がうねっているような場合に、天井面のうねりにともなって直線状カバー部材が長手方向にうねっていても、このうねりは、直線状ベース部材の一方の係合凹部のうち天井に近い方の壁部の傾斜面に対して直線状カバー部材の係合突起の案内部が天井面に近接する向き又は天井面から離間する向きに変位することにより吸収され得る。従って、天井面にうねりがある場合でも、直線状ベース部材に対する直線状カバー部材の係合及び該係合の解除が容易でなくなるのを避け得る。
【0026】
ここで、直線状ベース部材の前記一方の凹部を形成する側壁のうち天井面から遠い方の側壁は、天井面とほぼ平行であってもよいけれども、直線状ベース部材の係合部に対する直線状カバー部材の被係合部の係合を容易にするためには、天井面に対面する側とは反対側に他方の凹部から遠いところほど天井面に近接するように傾斜した傾斜面を有することが好ましい。
【0027】
この場合、直線状ベース部材の係合部のうち前記他方の係合凹部に直線状カバー部材の対応する被係合突起部を係合させた状態で、直線状カバー部材を直線状ベース部材に向かって押付けるだけで、直線状ベース部材の被係合突起部の天井面から遠い方の側壁のうち天井面とは反対側の傾斜面に沿って被係合突起部の案内部を移動させて被係合突起部に該傾斜面を乗り越えさせ、更に、該案内部を直線状カバー部材の前記一方の側壁の傾斜面に係合させ、この係合の後、直線状カバー部材に対する押付け力の付与を所望に応じて解除するだけで、直線状ベース部材に対する直線状カバー部材の係合を達成し得る。なお、ここで、一方の係合凹部のうち天井面に近い方の側壁は天井面から遠い方の側壁よりも他方の係合凹部から遠いところまで延びている。
【0028】
また、ここで直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部に対して直線状カバー部材の対応する一対の被係合突起部が係合している状態で、直線状カバー部材を直線状ベース部材に向かって押付けるだけで、一方の被係合突起部の案内部を一方の係合凹部の傾斜面に沿って他方の係合凹部から遠ざかる向きに移動させ、直線状カバー部材の一対の被係合突起部間の距離を増大させることが可能になり、所望に応じて、工具等を利用して、直線状ベース部材に対する直線状カバー部材の係合を解除し得る。
【0029】
なお、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部の夫々が該直線状ベース部材の延在方向に沿って該延在方向の実質的に全長にわたって断続的に一列に延びていてもよいけれども、長手方向の一端から剥がすように係合凹部と被係合突起部との係合を解除していくためには、一対の係合凹部のうち少なくとも前記一方の係合凹部は、従ってその側壁は、直線状ベース部材の長手方向に連続的に延びていること(即ち凹部が直線状ベース部材の長手方向に沿って延在した溝の形態であること)が、好ましい。直線状カバー部材の対応する被係合突起部についても同様である。この係合の解除のためには、例えば、ドライバのような細長い工具の先端部分を利用しても、天井面との干渉を避け得るように一辺が取手になる「く」の字状の形態で側壁が滑らかに湾曲した肉厚のヘラのような工具を準備しておいてもよい。
【0030】
直線状カバー部材は、典型的には、ほぼU字状の横断面形状の部分を有し、且つ一対の被係合突起部のうち直線状ベース部材の一方の凹部に係合する前記突起部が「U」の一方の脚部に形成され、転向誘導部が「U」の他方の脚部に形成される。この場合、直線状ベース部材の他方の凹部に直線状カバー部材の被係合突起部が係合した状態で直線状カバー部材の「U」の底部を押すことにより、直線状カバー部材の(一方の係合凹部のいずれか一方の側壁の)傾斜面「U」に沿って「U」の一方の脚部の先端の被係合突起部が「U」の他方の脚部の先端から遠ざかる向きに移動され「U」の二つの脚部の先端が開くことになる。すなわち、直線状カバー部材が「U字状」の横断面形状の部分を有することにより、直線状ベース部材に対する直線状カバー部材の係合やその解除のための直線状カバー部材の変形が容易に行われ得、該係合及び係合解除が容易に行われ得る。なお、「U」の脚部の長さは、転向誘導部が空気流の転向作用を奏するに要するものであり、この横断面形状「U」の部分は、転向誘導部としての高さを確保すると共に直線状カバー部材の着脱を容易にしていることになる。
【0031】
以上において、前記一方の凹部は、典型的には、一対の凹部のうち空気調和装置の吹出口から遠い方の凹部である。但し、天井面に垂直な向きの突出量を比較的大きくとり得るような場合には、一対の凹部のうち空気調和装置の吹出口から近い方の凹部でもよい。
【0032】
本発明の天井パネル構造体では、典型的には、直線状ベース部材が、前記一の主面とは反対側の主面において、空気調和装置のうち吹出口のある側縁に近い幅方向端部に前記一の主面に略平行な空調空気流案内面を備えると共に、幅方向に関して該案内面よりも空気調和装置の側縁から遠い部位に前記他方の係合部を備え、直線状カバー部材が、その幅方向内側端部に、直線状ベース部材の前記他方の係合部と係合する前記他方の被係合部を有し、該他方の被係合部のうち空気調和装置の吹出口に向いた部分が、直線状ベース部材の案内面に沿って流れた空調空気流の流速を低減させる抵抗として働く抵抗付与突起部になっている。
【0033】
この場合、直線状カバー部材のための被係合突起部がその反対側の表面部分においてそのまま、抵抗付与突起部として機能し得る。なお、直線状カバー部材は、該カバー部材の表面に沿って流れる空調空気の風圧を抑制し流速を低減させる抵抗として働く別の抵抗付与突起部を前記被係合突起部の反対側表面よりも下流側で転向誘導部の上流側に更に有していてもよい。この場合、典型的には、下流側の抵抗付与突起部の方が上流側の抵抗付与突起部よりも大きな抵抗付与機能を有するように構成される。但し、逆でもよい。いずれにしても、転向誘導部に流入する空調空気流の流速を低減させ風圧を低下させておくことにより、転向誘導部にぶつかる空気流が転向誘導部の案内面に沿って流れ易くなる。
【0034】
天井埋込型空気調和装置は、中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えている限り、その外形形状すなわち天井に埋込まれた状態において空気調和装置が天井面に沿って拡がっている二次元形状は、正方形や長方形のような矩形でも、円形など他のどのような形状でもよい。勿論、空気調和装置は、多少なりとも、天井面から突出した三次元形状を備えているけれども、中央部に室内空気吸込口をそなえ周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えている限りその三次元形状もどのような形状でもよい。
【0035】
空調空気の吹出口は、周縁部に形成されていて多少なりとも外側に向かって空調空気を吹出すように構成されている限り、周縁部の一部に吹出口があっても、実際上ほぼ全周に吹出口があってもよい。例えば、空気調和装置の天井面における平面形状が典型的なほぼ矩形形状である場合、吹出口は、矩形の四辺のうちの一辺のみに沿って形成されていても、平行な二辺に沿って実際上平行に形成されていても、四辺の全てに沿って形成されていてもよく、場合によっては、コーナー部のところに吹出口があってもよい。
【0036】
天井パネル構造体は、典型的には、空気調和装置の吹出口毎に、該吹出口から吹出す空調空気の流れを転向させるように、転向誘導部を備えたカバー部材を有する。従って、吹出口が一つだけ直線状にある場合には、典型的には、カバー部材も一つの直線状カバー部材からなる(勿論、一つの直線状カバー部材が複数の部分を組合せてなるものでもよい)。この場合、典型的には、端部を蔽う端部キャップを両端につけることが好ましい。すなわち、この場合、天井パネル構造体は、好ましくは、直線状ベース部材の係合部と直線状カバー部材の被係合部とが相互に係合した状態において、直線状ベース構造体(典型的には直線状ベース材に一致する)及び直線状カバー構造体(典型的には直線状カバー部材に一致する)の長手方向端部のうちの少なくとも一方に被せられる端部キャップを更に有する。但し、所望ならば、カバー部材として、直線状のカバー部材の端部に(コーナーのところで曲がった)コーナーカバー部材がさらに設けられていても、場合によっては、空気調和装置の全周を取り囲むように、矩形又は四辺形等の如き閉曲線を形成するように額縁状にカバー部材を備えていてもよい。
【0037】
天井パネル構造体は、天井面に埋込まれた空調装置の外形の形状や大きさ(サイズ)に応じた形状及びサイズに形成される。従って、天井パネル構造体を形成する直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材は、長さ調整可能に形成される。この長さ調整は、典型的には、長手方向に垂直な断面が同一形状を備えた直線状ベース部材や直線状カバー部材を作業者が作業現場において所望長さに鋸などで切断することにより行なわれる。したがって、天井パネルを構成する直線状ベース部材や直線状カバー部材の材料は、典型的には、プラスチック材料からなり、典型的には、押出し成形により形成される。プラスチック材料としては、塩化ビニル樹脂が用いられてもよいけれども環境汚染を最小限に抑えるためには他の樹脂でもよい。但し、作業者が作業現場において鋸などで切断可能である限り、金属や、木材又は金属とプラスチックとの複合材料など他の材料でもよい。
【0038】
また、天井パネル構造体は、空調装置を埋込んだ天井面のうち空調装置の周囲ないしまわりのスペースの大きさやに応じて、典型的には、空調装置の外周部の近傍において天井面に取付けられていることのある電気配線の取出口や煙感知機の如き各種の検出機器等の障害物ないし妨害部品を避けるように、空調装置のまわりに取付けられる。したがって、天井パネル構造体は、典型的には、該天井パネル構造体を形成する直線状ベース部材等の幅も調整可能である。空気調和装置の一辺は2m近くに達することもあるから、2m程度の長さにわたって幅が容易に調整され得るようにするために、直線状ベース部材は、典型的には、長手方向に沿って弱化部分を備え、所望に応じて、該弱化部分に沿ってカッタなどで切込を入れて幅方向の一部を除去することによりその幅が調整可能である。このような弱化部分は、典型的には、長手方向に沿って溝などである。ここで、溝は、美観などの観点から、典型的には、裏側すなわち天井面に対面する側に形成される。
【0039】
従って、本発明の一つの典型的な天井パネル構造体では、直線状ベース部材が、空気調和装置の少なくとも一つの直線状側縁に沿って延在するように天井の下面に一の主面で取付可能で長さ及び幅が調整可能な直線状ベース部材を含み、カバー部材が該直線状ベース部材に係合され長さが調整可能な直線状カバー部材を含む。
【0040】
この場合、直線状ベース部材の幅を調整することにより、直線状ベース部材を空調装置の近くにある妨害部品を避けて配置することが可能になる。また、空調装置の空調空気の吹出口の長さまたは空調装置のうち該吹出口に平行に延びた辺のサイズに応じて、直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材の長さを作業現場で調整して天井パネル構造体を取付けることが可能になる。
【0041】
また、本発明の一つの典型的な天井パネル構造体では、前記ベース構造体が、空気調和装置のコーナー部の外側に位置するように直線状ベース部材の端部に隣接するところにおいて天井面に一の主面で取付可能なコーナーベース部材を含み、前記カバー構造体が、直線状カバー部材の端部に隣接するところにおいてコーナーベース部材に係合されるコーナーカバー部材を含む。
【0042】
この場合、例えば、平面形状がほぼ矩形など空気調和装置の外周のうち少なくとも二辺のまわり、典型的には全周を天井パネル構造体で取り囲み得る。
【0043】
コーナーベース部材は、典型的には、直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材の端部に被さって係合されるように構成されている。ここで、「被さる」とは、天井面に対して下側から順次重ねた状態を指す。但し、コーナーベース部材は、その側縁が、直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材の隣接端部のうちの少なくとも一方よりも天井面に近い側に位置していたり、直線状ベース部材と実質的に同じ高さのところに位置していてもよい。
【0044】
コーナーベース部材が直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材の端部に被さる場合、典型的には、コーナーベース部材が、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部の一部を有し、コーナーカバー部材が、ほぼU字状の横断面を備え、「U」の一方の脚部の内向きの被係合部でコーナーベース部材の外側壁の外向きの係合部に係合され、「U」の底部の内面でコーナーベース部材の転向誘導部の延在端に当接するこの場合、コーナーベース部材は、典型的には、該コーナーベース部材の表面に沿って流れる空調空気流の流速を低減させる抵抗として働く抵抗付与突起部を転向誘導部の上流側に有する。この場合、コーナーベース部材に対するコーナーカバー部材の係合解除が容易に行われ易い。
【0045】
本発明の一つの典型的な天井パネル構造体は、中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えた天井埋込型空気調和装置の吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えた天井パネル構造体であって、空気調和装置の直線状側縁の各々に沿って延在するように天井面に一の主面で取付可能で延在方向の長さ及び幅が調整可能なベース部材であって、前記一の主面とは反対側に係合部を備えたものと、前記ベース部材の係合部に被係合部で係合されて該ベース部材に固定されるように構成され長さ調整が可能なカバー部材であって、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えたものとを有し、直線状ベース部材の係合部が該直線状ベース部材の幅方向に離れた箇所において相互に向合う側とは反対側に開口し該直線状ベース部材の延在方向に延在した一対の係合凹部を備え一方の凹部のうち天井面に近い方の側壁が他方の凹部から遠いところほど天井面に近接するように傾斜し、直線状カバー部材の被係合部が、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部と係合する一対の被係合突起部を、該直線状カバー部材の幅方向に離れた箇所において、相互に向合う状態で備え、該被係合突起部が前記一方の凹部の天井面に近い側の壁部の傾斜面に沿って可動な案内部を有するた直線状パネル構造体、及び該直線状パネル構造体の隣接端部間に位置し該直線状パネル構造体の隣接端部に係合されるコーナーパネル構造体を具備する。
【0046】
既に配設してある天井埋込型空調装置の吹出口の近くの天井面の汚れを覆い隠し得る限り、天井パネル構造体を形成するベース部材及びカバー部材のうちの少なくとも一部または全体が透明又は半透明材料からなっていてもよいけれども、既に配設してある天井埋込型空調装置の吹出口の近くの天井面の汚れを確実に覆い隠すためには、ベース部材及びカバー部材は、典型的には、実質上不透明な材料からなることが好ましい。但し、天井面がまだ汚れていないような場合や新たに空調装置を天井面に取付けたような場合には、少なくとも一部が透明又は半透明材料からなっていてもよい。
【0047】
以上においては、天井パネル構造体が中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えた天井埋込型空気調和装置の吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられることを前提として説明した。しかしながら、以上のような天井パネル構造体の特徴は、該天井パネル構造体が天井埋込型空気調和装置の代わりに空調空気吹出口のみを備えた空調空気吹出装置(吸込口がなく開口の実質上全体が吹出口になっている空調ダクト)の空調空気吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられる場合にも、程度の差はあれ、有効であり、本発明の天井パネル構造体は、天井取付型の空調空気吹出装置にも適用され得る。
【0048】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の好ましい一実施の形態を添付図面に示した好ましい一実施例に基づいて説明する。
【0049】
【実施例】
図1には、天井面201に埋込まれた天井埋込型空調装置200を下面から見た状態(図1の(a))と、本発明の一実施例の天井パネル構造体310(図1の(b))を、該空調装置200のまわりにおいて天井面201に取付けた状態(図1の(c))とが、示されている。
【0050】
天井パネル構造体310は、長さ調整可能な四本の直線状パネル構造体311と四つのコーナーパネル構造体312とを有し、各コーナーパネル構造体312は、該コーナーパネル構造体312に隣接する直線状パネル構造体311,311を夫々の隣接端部で接続する。
【0051】
空調装置200が図1の(e)に示すような縦長の長方形の外周形状のもの200aの場合には、天井パネル構造体310は図1の(c)において想像線310aで示したように縦長の長方形状に組立てられる。一方、空調装置200が図1の(f)に示すような横長の長方形の外周形状のもの200bの場合には、天井パネル構造体310は図1の(c)において想像線310bで示したように横長の長方形状に組立てられる。なお、空調装置200が図1の(d)に示したように(a)の場合と同様に正方形状のもの200cの場合には、図1の(c)において、実線で示したままの形状でよい(一辺のサイズは必要に応じて増減する)。
【0052】
天井パネル構造体310の各直線状パネル構造体311は、図5から図9に示したように、プラスチック材料製の直線状ベース部材320(図5から図7参照)と、該直線状ベース部材320に結合されるプラスチック材料製の直線状カバー部材340(図5及び図8から図9参照)とからなる。以下の実施例では、具体的なサイズを例示しているけれども、これらは典型的な好ましい一例であって、本発明をこれらのサイズや形状又は同程度のサイズや類似の形状に限定しようとするものではない。
【0053】
直線状ベース部材320は、図6並びに図7の(a)及び(b)に示したように、幅W1が20cm程度で長さL1が最大で200cm程度の板状部321を有する。板状部321は、厚さD1(図7の(b))が3mm程度の主板状部分322と、該主板状部分322の一方の主面(天井面201に対面する側の面すなわち裏面)323とほぼ面一の主面324を備えると共に主板状部分322の一端325から一体的に延在し厚さD2が2mm程度(より詳しくは、例えば、2.2〜2.3mm程度)で幅W2が10cm程度の案内板状部分326とからなる。主板状部分322及び案内板状部分326のうちの少なくとも一方が、幅方向内側端部(図7の(a)や(b)において右側の端部)に近づく程薄くなるような厚みを有していても、主板状部分322と案内板状部分326とが同じ厚さでもよい。
【0054】
案内板状部分326の主面324側には、長手方向の全長にわたって延在した溝327が例えば1cm間隔で形成されている。この間隔は、より大きくても小さくてもよく、所望ならば、不均一な間隔でもよい。従って、例えば、取付作業者は、取付け現場において、該溝327のうちの所望の溝に沿ってカッタナイフ等の刃物の先端で更に切込みを入れることにより、案内板状部分326の幅W2、従ってベース部材320の幅W1を、取付現場で且つ作業者が一人で調整可能である。溝327に沿って分離しやすいように且つ通常の取扱いでは分離されたり割れやヒビが入る虞れがない程度に、案内板状部分326が弱化され得る限り、溝327の幅や深さや断面形状はどのようなものでもよい。この例では、板状部321の案内板状部分326の他方の主面即ち表側面328にも、溝327と同様な溝327aが形成されており、例えば、搬送時等に傷付き易い縁部が、所望ならば、使用前に、該溝327aで切り離されて使用される。この溝327aは、なくてもよい。
【0055】
案内板状部分326の天井側の面すなわち裏面324には、更に、溝327と同様な深さで該溝327よりも幅広の凹部327cが幅方向に等間隔に且つ長手方向の全長にわたって形成されている。この凹部327cは、後述の端部キャップ450(図19参照)との係合に利用される。また、案内板状部分326の表面328には、高さが0.1mmのオーダーの小さな突起327dが案内板状部分326の幅方向に等間隔に且つ長手方向の全長にわたって形成されている。この意匠用の突起327dもある程度は空気流に対する抵抗として働く。但し、この突起327dはなくてもよい。
【0056】
更に、案内板状部分326の表面328の溝327aの近傍には、図6並びに図7の(a)及び(b)において想像線で誇張して示したような突条ないし突起327eが形成されていてもよい。この突起327eは、上述の突起327dよりも背が高く(例えば、高さが2mm程度で幅が1mm程度)、直線状パネル構造体311が標準幅で天井面201に取付けられる場合に標準的な位置決めのために用いられる。すなわち、直線状ベース部材320がそのまま又は溝327aに沿って切断されて標準幅(実質的に最大幅)で用いられる場合、案内板状部分326のうち突起327eよりも先端側の部分又は溝327aと突起327eとの間の先端部分326aが、空調装置200の外枠ないし化粧板部分と天井面201との間に挿入され、突起327eが空調装置200の化粧板部分の外側縁に当接して、直線状ベース部材320の位置決めが行われ、従って、直線状パネル構造体311の位置決めが行われることになる。但し、この想像線で示した位置決め用突条327eは、なくてもよい。また、先端部分326a等を空調装置200の外枠ないし化粧板部分と天井面201との間に挿入する代わりに、図16に示したように、空調装置200の外枠ないし化粧板部分の外側面に単に当接させてもよい。
【0057】
主板状部分322の前記一端325のうち、他方の主面すなわち表側面329には、カバー部材340の一端の被係合部としてのカギ形被係合部357(図8及び図9)が嵌まり込む係合部としての係合凹部331を規定する突起部330が形成されている。係合凹部331には突起部330が随伴しているので、突起部330を係合突起部ともいう。また、この明細書において、係合関係を実現する一方を「係合部」と呼ぶとき他方を「被係合部」と呼んでいるものであって、「係合部」と「被係合部」とを区別することなく、両者を係合部又は被係合部と呼ぶこともある。ここで言及している係合要素331,357とは異なる要素間の係合関係についても同様である。この突起部330は、案内板状部分326の案内面をなす主面328と協働して幅方向内側に向かって開口した凹部331を形成すべく主面328,329から突出した湾曲突出壁部332を有する。突起部330の係合凹部331及び湾曲突出壁部332は、直線状ベース部材320の全長にわたって連続的に延在している。但し、所望ならば、湾曲突出壁部332が長手方向に沿って所望の長さを有し、等間隔に且つ一列に配置されて、全体として直線状ベース部材320の全長にわたってほぼ連続的に延びる係合凹部331を規定していてもよい。
【0058】
主板状部分322の他端333即ち直線状ベース部材320の幅方向の外側端部333には、幅方向外向きで且つ天井面に向かう向きに開口した係合凹部334を形成するように主面328から突出した係合突起335が形成されている。
係合凹部334や係合突起335も直線状ベース部材320の長手方向の全長にわたって延在している。この明細書において、直線状パネル構造体311や直線状ベース部材320や直線状カバー部材340に関して、幅方向の「外側(又は外向き)」及び「内側(又は内向き)」とは、夫々、直線状パネル構造体311や直線状ベース部材320や直線状カバー部材340が空気調和装置200に対して所定の向きで配置された場合に、空気調和装置200から遠い側(離れる向き)及び近い側(近づく向き)をいう。突起部335は、図5の(b)や図7の(b)のような横断面で見て、主板状部分322から離間するほど幅方向内側に位置する(言換えると、主板状部分322に近接するほど幅方向外側に位置する)ように主面328から突出した基部側傾斜部ないし傾斜案内部336と、該基部側係合部336との間に凹部334を形成するように基部側傾斜部336の直線状延在端から下に凸に湾曲した半円状湾曲部336aと、この半円状湾曲部336aの湾曲端から基部側傾斜部336とほぼ平行に傾斜して延びた先端側傾斜部337とを有する。後述のように、カバー部材340の被係合部に対する係合やその解除に際して、幅方向内側の凹部331から遠いところほど天井面201に近接するように傾斜した天井側壁部すなわち基部側傾斜部336の内面336bはF1,F2方向の係合及び同解除の案内面になっている。また、先端側傾斜部337の幅方向外側端部ないし先端部337aは基部側傾斜部336の端部に対応する主板状部分322の幅方向外側端部333よりも幅方向内側に位置し、先端側傾斜部337の外側表面(天井面201に対面する側とは反対側の表面)337bは、凹部331から遠いところほど天井面201に近接するように傾斜し、カバー部材340の係合の際、F2方向の案内面になっている。
【0059】
主板状部分322の表面329の幅方向の中央部には、長手方向に沿って延在した突起338が形成され、裏面323には凹部339が形成されている。なお、図7の(b)からもわかるように、直線状ベース部材320の長手方向に垂直な断面形状は、長手方向の全域において同一である。後述の直線状カバー部材340についても同様である。
【0060】
主板状部分322には、更に、取付用のビス等の軸部を通すためのビス孔Hが形成されている。天井面においてビス取付け位置を選択可能なように、孔Hは長孔になっている。孔Hは、ビスの頭部が嵌るように周縁部が斜面化された凹部を備えていてもよく、直線状カバー部材340との係合を妨げない限り、主板状部322の幅方向の異なる部分に形成されていてもよい。直線状ベース部材320のうち主板状部322は、次に説明する直線状カバー部材340により下側から覆われ、表面329が隠される板状部である。従って、主板状部322に取付けられたビス等の頭部は、直線状カバー部材340によって隠されることになる。
【0061】
カバー部材340は、図8及び図9に示したように、幅W3がベース部材320の主板状部分322の幅と同程度で長さL3がベース部材320の長さL1と実際上同一(L3=L1)の細長いプラスチック部材からなる。この明細書において、特に断らない限り、「上」及び「下」とは、夫々、天井パネル構造体が天井面に取付けられた状態において、天井面に近い又は近接する側及び天井面から遠い又は離間する側をいう。カバー部材340は、図9の(b)に示したように、天井面に近接する側(上側)程幅方向外側に位置するように僅かに傾斜してほぼ上下に延びる上下ないし垂直方向傾斜端壁部341と、この端壁部ないし側壁部341の下端342からほぼ水平に延びた下端案内部343と、下端案内部343の内側端部344から実質的に直角に上下方向に延びた短い上下方向ないし垂直壁部345と、この垂直壁部345の上端346から下流側に凸に湾曲した転向誘導部としての転向案内部347と、この転向案内部347の上流端348から一体的に上流側に延在し空調空気流に対して抵抗となって該空気流を減速する下及び上流側に凸の半円筒状の抵抗付与突起部349と、この抵抗付与突起部349の上流端350から一体的に上流側に延び僅かに上に凸の上流側湾曲案内部351と、この上流側湾曲案内部351の上流端352から実際上水平に延びた上流側水平案内部353と、この水平案内部353の上流側(幅方向内側)端に連続的に形成されベース部材320の幅方向内側の係合凹部331に係合される被係合部としてのカギ形端部357とを有する。
【0062】
カギ形端部357は、傾斜壁部357aと、ほぼ水平な壁部357bと、ほぼ上下方向の傾斜壁部357cと、ベース部材320の係合部330の幅方向内向きに開口した係合凹部331に嵌り合うほぼ水平で断面が楔形ないし先細の小突起部357dとを有する。換言すれば、カギ形端部357の壁部357a〜357dにより形成され幅方向外向きに開口した凹部358に、ベース部材320の係合突起部330の湾曲突出壁部332が嵌り込む。図5の(b)に示したような組立状態においては、カギ形端部357は、壁部357c及び357bにより抵抗付与小突起部359を形成している。小突起部359は、空調空気流に対して抵抗となって該空気流を減速する抵抗付与突起部として働き得る限り、壁部357c及び壁部357bの表面の横断面形状は、楕円の一部など他の形状でもよい。同様に、小突起部359の下向きの高さは、典型的な一例では、例えば、5mm程度〜1cm程度であるけれども、小突起部359が抵抗付与突起部として働き得る限り、1cm程度より高くても5mm程度より低くてもよい。
【0063】
上流側湾曲案内部分351の下流端350の近傍部分及び上流側水平案内部分353の下流端352の近傍部分の裏面、すなわち図9の(b)に示した上面354には、ベース部材320の主板状部分322の下側主面329に当接する脚部355,356が形成されている。この例では、脚部355は二本の脚部部分355a,355bからなり、脚部355,356の間の凹部には、ベース部材320の凸部338が嵌り込む。なお、脚部355はなくてもよい。
【0064】
転向案内部347は、ほぼ上下方向に延び流れ抵抗を与えると共に流れ方向を大きく変える上流部分347aと、上端347cにおいて上流部分347aの下端と滑らかにつながった後水平に近い角度で延び流れ抵抗を与えると共に流れ方向を大きく変えて流れを空調装置200の中央側に且つ下向きに案内する下流側部分347bとを有し、下流側部分347bは下流端346で垂直壁部345に滑らかにつながっている。ここで、案内部351の端部350から水平壁部343の下端までの上下方向の高さは、例えば、4cm〜5cm程度である。但し、より大きくても(例えば10cm若しくはそれ以上でも)、より小さくても(例えば2cm〜3cm程度)でもよい。
【0065】
ここで、図8及び図9の(b)からわかるように、直線状カバー部材340は、横断面がほぼ「U」字状の部分340uを、その幅方向外側に備える。すなわち、U字状部分340uにおいては、水平案内部343が「U」の底部に、下流側の上下方向傾斜端壁部341が「U」の一方の脚部に、そして短い垂直壁部345と転向案内部347と半円筒状抵抗付与突起部349とが全体として他方の脚部になっている。二つの脚部341と345,347,349との間に空洞340sを備えたU字状形態ないし構造は、脚部の上端の間の距離を材料の弾性の範囲内で増減可能にし、外側脚部341の先端部341aは、内側脚部の上端に対して、B1,B2方向に離間又は近接されるように弾性的に変位可能である。
【0066】
カバー部材340の幅方向外側端部に位置する上下方向傾斜壁部341は、その上側端部(天井側端部)341aに、幅方向内向きに突出した突起部361を有する。この突起部361は、ベース部材320の係合凹部334に係合される被係合部363として働く。ここで、カバー部材340の壁部341と突起部361とにより形成される凹部362が、ベース部材320の突起部337に係合される被係合部363として働くとみなしても凹部362及び突起部361の両方が被係合部363であるとみなしてもよい。
【0067】
突起部361の下側面ないし内側面は、図9の(b)に示した例では、幅方向内側ほど下方に位置するように傾斜しているけれども、突起部361は、図9の(c)において突起部分を拡大して符号361aで示したように、幅方向内向きにほぼ水平方向に突出した下側面を備えていても、また、場合によっては、(c)において想像線361bで示したように、係合解除を容易化すべく、幅方向内側ほど上方に位置するように上向きに傾斜した下側面(被係合面)を備えていてもよい。また、突起361は、カバー部材340の係止を可能にする限り、短くてもよく、その長さは、例えば1mm程度でも、より短くてもよい。
【0068】
組付けに際しては、直線状カバー部材340の幅方向内側に位置し楔形被係合突起部357dを備えたカギ形被係合部357が直線状ベース部材320の幅方向内側の係合部330の係合凹部331に係合し、且つカバー部材340の幅方向外側の上下方向傾斜壁部341の上端341a又は突起部361の上側面が案内部としてベース部材320の係合部335の傾斜壁部337の傾斜面337bに当接した状態で、カバー部材340の水平壁部343を上向きV2に押上げることにより、カバー部材340の壁部341がB1方向に拡がるように該壁部341,343,345,347,349からなるU字状部分340uを全体として弾性的に撓ませて、カバー部材340の幅方向外側の上下方向傾斜壁部341の上端の案内部ないし摺接部341aをベース部材320の係合部335の傾斜壁部337の傾斜面337bに沿ってF1方向に移動させる。内向き突起部361が傾斜壁部337の先端337aよりも幅方向外側まで移動すると突起部361がベース部材320の傾斜壁部336に当たる。この状態で、カバー部材340を押し上げる力を弱めるか解除すると、カバー部材340の壁部341は、U字状部分340uの壁部341,343,345,347,349の弾性力によりB2方向に変形して元の形に戻る。これにより、カバー部材340は、被係合部363の突起部361がベース部材320の係合凹部334に嵌り、凹部362がベース部材320の突起部337に嵌るように、ベース部材320の係合部335に係合される。この係合動作ないし操作は、直線状ベース部材320及び直線状カバー部材340の長手方向の全域で実質的に同時に行わせても、長手方向の一端から他端に向かって順次進行させてもよい。
【0069】
一方、取外しに際しては、組付けと逆の動作をさせればよい。すなわち、カバー部材340の壁部341がB1方向に拡がるように壁部343等をV2方向に押し上げて壁部341,343,345,347,349からなるU字状部分340uを全体としてB1方向に弾性的に撓ませることにより、係合部335と被係合部363との係合を解除させ、その状態で、カバー部材340の壁部341を下向きV1に引けば良い。これにより、ベース部材320の係合部335とカバー部材340の被係合部363との係合が完全に解除されるから、次に、ベース部材320の係合部330とカバー部材340の被係合部357との係合を解除すれば良い。
【0070】
なお、直線状カバー部材340のU字状部分340uをB1方向に拡げるのに比較的大きな力を要するような場合には、直線状カバー部材340の長手方向の一端近傍において壁部343等を押し上げて端部341aを傾斜壁部336の傾斜面336bに沿ってF1方向すなわちB1方向に拡げた状態で、ドライバ(ねじ回し)のような細長い棒状部分やストリップ状(薄片状)部分を備えた適切な工具の先端部を係合部335の傾斜壁部337の先端部337aと被係合部363の被係合突起部361との間に生じた間隙に挿入し、ベース部材320及びカバー部材340の長手方向に沿って該工具を他端側に移動させることにより、係合部335,363をあたかも剥離するようなやり方で係合を完全に解除するようにしてもよい。図9の(c)に示したような突起部371a,371bの場合には、係合の解除は、より容易になる。なお、ベース部材320の係合部335の係合凹部334は、確実な係合を保証しつつ係合解除を容易にすべく、下側壁部337の内面が、水平に延びていても、図7の(c)に示したように外側ほど下方に位置するように傾斜していてもよい。
【0071】
また、所望ならば、例えば、図7の(d)に拡大して示したように、カバー部材320の傾斜壁部336の傾斜面336bに段差部336cを形成しておいて、カバー部材340のU字状部分340uの壁部341をV2方向に押してF1すなわちB1方向に拡げる際、壁部341の先端の突起部361を例えば長手方向の全域において一旦段差部336cに係合させ、その後、カバー部材340の端壁部341をV1方向に引くことにより、カバー部材340の被係合部363をベース部材320の係合部335から完全に係合解除させるようにしてもよい。なお、図7の(d)において、想像線337aは、拡大図では図示領域よりも下方に位置する短い傾斜壁部337の先端部の幅方向位置を示す。
【0072】
いずれの場合においても、係合に際しては、ベース部材320の短い傾斜壁部337及び長い傾斜壁部336がカバー部材340の被係合部363を案内し、係合解除に際しては、ベース部材320の長い傾斜壁部336がカバー部材340の被係合部363を案内するので、ベース部材320とカバー部材340との係合及びその解除が、作業者一人でも且つ天井を向いた不自然な姿勢でも比較的容易に行われ得る。
【0073】
より詳しくは、直線状パネル構造体311を形成・取付する場合には、まず、直線状ベース部材320を取付場所に応じた所定幅W1x(図2)及び所定長さL1に形成しておく。ここで、所定幅とは、典型的には、可能な限り大きい幅である。この幅を大きく採っておくことにより、空調装置200から吹出し天井パネル構造体で転向等された空調空気流が天井面201に沿って流れるのを最小限に抑制することが可能になる。
【0074】
但し、例えば、図2において、想像線202で示したように、天井面201のうち空調装置200の取付部に比較的近いところに、煙感知装置や配電取出口やダウンライトのような天井既存妨害部品ないし障害物202が取付けられたり形成されていることがある。そのような場合には、妨害部品202を避けるように、該部品202と空調装置200との間に残された幅W3に応じて、該幅W3に合うように、直線状ベース部材320の幅W1xを調整する。典型的には、W1xはW3に近い大きさ(W1x〜W3)で且つW3よりも小さい(W1x<W3)。なお、天井面201の強度や各種妨害部品202の取付構造及び取付作業の便宜や該部品202の機能や保守上の便宜からして、各種の妨害部品202と空調装置200との間に隙間が実際上ない状態で該部品202が天井面201に取付けられることは、実際上あり得ないから、通常は、ある程度の幅の取付領域があることは、期待し得る。従って、ベース部材320の板状部321の主板状部分322の外側端面333から案内板状部分326の溝327のうち幅方向にみて最も外側の溝327bまでの幅W10(図7の(b))を、このような点を考慮した大きさ(可能性ある最小幅)にしておけばよい。ここで、W10≦W1xである。なお、図2では、四方に部品202を示したけれども、このようなことは異例で、通常は、あっても一ヶ所か、多くても二箇所程度である。
【0075】
直線状ベース部材320の幅W1を狭くするためには、幅がW3以下で最大になるような位置にある溝327のところで案内板状部分326にカットを入れて折ればよい。なお、案内板状部分326の幅方向内側縁部を天井面201と空調装置200の外枠ないし化粧板部との間に挿入する場合には、その挿入長分だけベース部材320の幅を大きくしておけばよい。
【0076】
一方、後述のようなコーナーパネル構造体312の使用を考慮して、直線状ベース部材320及び直線状カバー部材340を所定の長さに、鋸等で切断する。
なお、空調装置200のサイズが比較的標準化されているときには、複数種類の長さのものを予め準備しておき、適合しない場合にのみ、切断するようにしてもよい。
【0077】
直線状パネル構造体311の取付に際しては、まず、直線状ベース部材320を所望位置に支えた状態でビス孔Hにビスを挿し天井201にビスをねじ込んでとめる。直線状ベース部材320は、薄いものであるから比較的軽いので、最低2箇所をビスでとめるだけで、実際上天井面201に仮固定され得る。従って、三本目以降のビス止めでは、作業者が直線状ベース部材320を支える必要がないので、三本目以降のビス止めは、作業者が天井面201に対して不自然な姿勢をとる状態でも容易に行われ得る。特に、直線状ベース部材320の案内板状部分326の幅方向内側縁部を天井面201と空調装置200の外枠との間に挿入する場合には、一箇所のビス止めでも仮固定可能である。
【0078】
次に、ベース部材320の上流側(幅方向内側)の係合部330の係合凹部331にカバー部材340の上流側(幅方向内側)の被係合部357の楔形の被係合突起部357dを係合させた状態で、ベース部材320の下流側(幅方向外側)の係合部335にカバー部材340の下流側(幅方向外側)の被係合部363を上述のようにして、係合させる。
【0079】
次に、天井パネル構造体310のコーナーパネル構造体312について、図10から図14に基づいて説明する。コーナーパネル構造体312は、図10から図14に示したように、プラスチック材料製のコーナーベース部材370(図10から図13参照)と、該コーナーベース部材370に結合されるプラスチック材料製のコーナーカバー部材390(図10から図11及び図14参照)とからなる。
【0080】
図10から図14に示したコーナーパネル構造体312では、コーナーベース部材370が、直線状パネル構造体311の長手方向端部に、被せられて係合せしめられるように構成され(図15から図17参照)、コーナーベース部材370自体が、直線状パネル構造体311とほぼ同様な流れ案内、抵抗付与及び転向機能を備えた表面形状を有する。
【0081】
すなわち、ほぼ正方形の平面形状を備えたコーナーベース部材370は、直線状パネル構造体311の長手方向端部311a,311a(図5、図15及び図16参照)を蔽うべく該端部311a,311aに下側から被せられるように、上側表面371が直角な二側縁382a,382bにおいて直線状パネル構造体311の下側表面と実質上相補的形状を備える(図17及び図12参照)。なお、図12の(a)からわかるとおり、コーナーベース部材370の壁372は、一部を除き、典型的には、例えば、2〜3mm程度の実際上一様な厚さを有する。従って、壁372の下側表面373も、直線状パネル構造体311の表面と略同様な形状になり、空調空気流に対しては、実際上同様な案内や抵抗付与や転向機能を有する。
【0082】
コーナーベース部材370は、コーナーベース本体部380と、該本体部380と一体的なコーナーベース外枠部384とからなり、コーナーベース本体部380は、典型的にはほぼ一様な厚さでほぼ正方形の平面形状を有する板状体からなり、正方形の一つの隅部381aが円弧状に湾曲している。
【0083】
コーナーベース本体部380は、円弧状に湾曲した隅部381aと正方形状に切欠かれた対向隅部381bを通る対角線Dを含み且つ本体部380の平面(図12の(b)の面)に対して直角な平面に関して鏡映対称な形状を有する。隅部381bを含む辺ないし縁部382a,382bは隣接する直線状パネル構造体311の端縁311a,311aに重なり、湾曲隅部381aを含む辺ないし縁部382c,382dはコーナーベース外枠部384に一体的に繋がっている。
【0084】
コーナーベース本体部380は、直線状パネル構造体311の直線状ベース部材320の案内板部分326の下側表面328に重なる平面状表面部分374uを備えた平板状部分374と、直線状パネル構造体311の直線状カバー部材340の抵抗付与突起部359の表面に重なる相補的形状の凹状表面部分375uを備えた下方に凸の上流側の抵抗付与突起部375と、直線状カバー部材340の平板状部353及び上流側湾曲案内部351の表面に丁度重なる相補的形状の湾曲表面部分376uを備えた上流側湾曲案内部376と、直線状カバー部材340の抵抗付与突起部349の表面に丁度重なる相補的形状の凹状表面部分377uを備えた断面円弧状で下方に凸の抵抗付与突起部377と、直線状カバー部材340の転向案内部347のうち上流側表面347aに丁度重なる相補的形状の凸状湾曲表面部分378uを備えた凹状転向誘導部の一部としての上流側転向案内部分378とを有する。各部分375,376,377,378は、図12の(b)の平面図(厳密には底面図)でみて、夫々の縁部382a及び382bから該縁部382a及び382bの延在方向に対して直角に直線的に延びた部分375a,376a,377a,378a及び375b,376b,377b,378bと、該直線状延在部分を滑らかにつなぐ円弧状部分375c,376c,377c,378cとを有する。
【0085】
コーナーベース本体部380は、また、該本体部380の面がほぼ天井面201に平行になるようにその裏面(上面)371から突出したリブ状の脚部383を有する。図13に示した例では、この脚部383は、三本の脚部383p,383q,383rからなる。各脚部383p,383q,383rは、図13の平面で見てL字状に延びており、脚部383p,383qは、対角線Dと交差する領域において円弧状に湾曲している。脚部383の数はより多くても、より少なくてもよく、また、連続的である代わりに、断続的に分布していてもよい。
【0086】
コーナーベース本体部380のうち最上流側の案内面を与える平板状部374は、ほぼ正方形で、本体部380の湾曲円弧状隅部381aに対応する側に同様な湾曲円弧状隅部374r(但し円弧の半径がより小さい)を有し、本体部380の切欠付隅部381bに対応する隅部で切欠線374a,374bに沿った切欠部374cを有する。平板状部374は、更に、切欠部374cのところにおいて、上面374u側に突出した正方形状脚部383sを有する。正方形状脚部383sは、正方形の二側縁で平板状部374aの切欠縁部374a,374bに一体的に繋がり、他の脚部383p,383q,383rと協働して天井面201に対するコーナーベース部材380の脚面ないし当接平面を規定している。
【0087】
なお、平板状部374は、更に、その上面374uに、直線状パネル構造体311の直線状ベース部材320の案内板状部326の溝327と同様にサイズ調整のための切断を容易化する弱化部を与える溝374gを等間隔に有し、下面374dに、直線状ベース部材320の案内板状部326の突条327cと同様な突条374pを等間隔に有する。
【0088】
なお、コーナーベース部材370は、直線状パネル構造体311の端縁311aに重なる縁部382a,382bの近傍以外の部分において、上流側転向案内部分378の端部から連続的に延在しコーナーカバー部材390を支える延在端(下端)378tを備えた支持壁部分378sを備える。支持壁部分378sの端部378wと転向案内部の上流側案内部分378の下端378uとの間には、切欠部378fが形成されている。この切欠部378fは、直線状パネル構造体311に対してコーナーベース部材370が重ねられる際、直線状パネル構造体311の端部311aにおいて、転向案内部347の下流側部分347bや垂直案内部345が下方に僅かに突出するのを許容する(図17の(a))。
【0089】
コーナーベース外枠部384は、コーナーベース本体380の延在面と平行な平面(図12の(b)等)で見て、湾曲隅部381aで繋がった本体380の二側縁382c,382dにおいてほぼL字状に直角に延びる外枠本体部385を有する。すなわち、外枠本体部385は、辺382a及び382bと平行に延在した直線状部分385b及び385aと、二つの直線状部分385a,385bの間の円弧状部分385cとからなる。外枠本体部385の各部分385a,385b及び385cは、夫々、下端において、水平連結部386の対応する直線状部分386a,386b及び円弧状部分386cを介して、コーナーベース本体部380の垂直延設壁378sの直線状部分378sa,378sb及び円弧状部分378scに一体的に結合されている。水平連結部386の端面386at,386bt(図示せず)も端面378wと実質的に面一になるように切欠かれている。外枠本体部385は、直線状パネル構造体311の直線状カバー部材340の上下方向傾斜壁部341と同様に、天井面201に近接するほど空調装置200から遠いところ(外側)に位置するように、下端から上端に向かって僅かに末広がりに傾斜しており、その上端部に幅広の脚部387を備える。上端が天井面201に当接する脚部387も、直線状部分387a,387b及びその間の円弧状部分387cからなるL字状の平面形状を有する。384hは、コーナーベース部材370の取付用のビス孔であり、384gは、該ビス孔384hを介するビスの取付け/取外しのためのドライバの如き工具の挿入用凹部、384sは凹部384gを規定する部分円筒状壁部である。なお、天井の裏側の支持枠に対する位置合せを等を考慮することなく天井面201に対する天井パネル構造体310の取付け位置の自由度を高めるためには、各ビス孔は、図12の(b)及び図13において一箇所の孔について想像線で例示したように、長孔ないし長円形の孔384hiであることが好ましい。その場合、当然ながら、凹部384gi及びビス取付工具挿入用凹部形成壁部384siも想像線で示したように長円状に形成される。
【0090】
コーナーベース外枠部384の脚部387は、「L」の両辺を規定する直線状部分387a,387bの自由端部387ae,387beが、夫々、隣接する直線状パネル構造体311の直線状ベース部材320の端縁333に係合するように、コーナーベース本体部380の縁部382a,382bに一致するところまで、延在している。なお、図17の(b)に示したように、脚部387の自由端部387aeや387be(図示せず)が、端面386atや386bt(図示せず)とほぼ面一のところで切欠かれていてもよい。また、コーナーベース外枠部384の本体部385は、直線状パネル構造体311の直線状カバー部材340のU字状部分340uの二つの脚部を形成する壁部341,347間の凹部に僅かに挿設されるように、直線状部分385a,385bの自由端部385ae,385beから突出した薄肉突出端部385at,385btを有する。但し、この薄肉突出部385at,385btは、コーナーベース部材370の装着の容易性を妨げる虞れがあるから、ないほうが好ましい場合も少なくなく、突出部385at,385btを設ける場合でも、コーナーベース部材の着脱を容易にすべく、誇張して図示したものよりも長さを最小限に止めたり角部を斜めに切欠いておくことが好ましい。図17の(a)では、薄肉突出部385atがある場合の例を、(b)では、薄肉突出部385atがない場合の例を示している。コーナーベース外枠部384は、更に、その本体部385の外側面に、コーナーカバー部材390が係合される係合凹部389(図11)を有する。図12の(c)に示した例では、両端の係合凹部389a,389b(図示せず)は、外枠本体部385の自由端部の切欠部になっており、中間の切欠部389c,389d(図示せず)は開口の形態である。但し、コーナーカバー部材390の着脱を容易にすべく、切欠部389c,389dは浅い溝になっていても、更に、二つの切欠又は溝のうち一つはなくてもよい。配置は、数に応じて適宜決めればよく、両端の係合凹部389a,389b(図示せず)も、一側で開口した切欠部の代わりに全周に壁部のある開口部であってもよい。
【0091】
コーナーカバー部材390は、図14,図11及び図10からわかるとおり、全体としてほぼL字状の形状を備え横断面がU字状の(但し「U」の一方の脚部が「U」の他方の脚部よりはるかに短い)コーナーカバー本体部391を有し、該本体部391は、ほぼL字状の長い外側壁部392と、該外側壁部392の一端(下端)から該外側壁部392に対してほぼ直角(僅かに鈍角)に延びたほぼL字状の端壁部393と、該端壁部393の一端(内側端)から該端壁部393に対してほぼ直角に延びたほぼL字状の短い内側壁部394とを有する。より詳しくは、図14に示したように、外側壁部392,端壁部393及び内側壁部394は、夫々、二つの直線状壁部分392a,393a,394a及び392b,393b,394bと、該二つの直線状壁部分の間においてこれらをつなぐ円弧状湾曲壁部分392c,393c,394cとを有する。外側壁部392は、その上端の内縁に、コーナーベース部材370の切欠部389に係合する被係合突起部395を有する。図示の例では、突起部395は、切欠部389a,389b(図示せず),389c,389dと夫々係合すべく外側壁部392に対して鋭角に突出した実質的に同一形状の突起部395a,395b及びほぼ直角に突出した実質的に同一形状の395c,395dからなる。但し、所望ならば、コーナーカバー部材390の取外しを容易にすべく、突起部395c,395dのうちの一つはなくてもよく、また、内側の突起部395cや395dは、係合解除を容易化すべく、図14の(c)に示したように、外側壁部392に対して鈍角をなす湾曲突起部395fの形態でもよい。
【0092】
コーナーカバー本体部391の端壁393の内面には、薄い側壁396が内側壁部394に対してほぼ一定の間隔をおいて、L字状に延在している。396rは側壁396を支えるリブである。なお、側壁396は、コーナーカバー本体部394が、隣接する直線状パネル構造体311に被さる領域よりも手前で終っている。この内部側壁396は、なくてもよい。コーナーカバー本体部391の端壁393は、コーナーカバー部材390がコーナーベース部材370に被せられた際、コーナーベース部材370の延長壁部378sの下端378tに当接する。
【0093】
コーナーカバー本体部391のL字状の内側壁部394は、該壁部394の上部に外側(Uの内側)に曲がった帯状縁部394uを有する。この帯状縁部394uは、コーナーカバー部材390がコーナーベース部材370に被せられた際、コーナーベース部材370の湾曲転向壁部378の下端から延びた延長壁部378に対して狭い間隙を介して対面し、転向案内部の下流側部分として機能する。なお、このL字状の帯状縁部394uは、長手方向の両端部に突出壁部394ut,394utを備える。内側壁部394の突出壁部394ut,394utは、コーナーベース部材370が直線状パネル構造体311の隣接端部311aに被せられた状態で、更にコーナーカバー部材390を被せる際、直線状パネル構造体311の隣接端部311aのうちコーナーベース部材370の切欠部378fからのところに露出する転向案内部347の下流側部分347bに係合する。但し、この突出壁部394utはなくてもよく、壁部394utのある例が図17の(a)に、壁部394utのない例が(b)に示されている。
【0094】
コーナーパネル構造体312は、隣接する直線状パネル構造体311,311が所定長且つ所定幅で所定位置に取り付けられた後、直線状パネル構造体311,311に重ねるように取付けられる。すなわち、まず、相互に直角に延びた直線状パネル構造体311,311の隣接端部311a,311aの上に、コーナーベース部材370が、その縁部382a,382bで重なるように、取付けられる。このときコーナーベース部材370の縁部382a,382bの夫々と直線状パネル構造体311,311の隣接端部311a,311aとの重なり部の長さは、切欠378fで切欠かれた端部378wや脚部383の端部と対応縁部382a,382bとの間の距離LE以下になるように選択される。換言すれば、少なくとも最小限の重合があり且つ該重合がLE以下であればよく、この長さLEが直線状パネル構造体311の長さについての最大許容誤差(厳密にはその1/2)になる。コーナーベース部材370を直線状パネル構造体311に対して下側から重ねると、コーナーベース部材370は、壁部374,375,376,377,378が直線状パネル構造体311の相補的形状の壁部326,357,351及び353,349,347aに夫々当接し脚部383が天井面201に当接すると共に、外枠部384の脚部387が直線状パネル構造体311の端部333に係合する(図17参照)。ここで、薄板状突出部385at,385btがある場合には、例えば、コーナーカバー部材370の対角線D方向の内側隅部381bよりも外側隅部381aを天井面201に近付けるように傾け且つ対角線D方向の外側から薄板状突出部385at,385btを嵌めこみつつ外枠部384の脚部387,387を直線状パネル構造体311,311の隣接端部311a,311aに係合させ、次に、内側隅部381bを天井面201に近接させて、上記の重ね合せを行う。次に、前述のようにして、コーナーカバー部材390をコーナーカバー部材370に重ねて、コーナーカバー部材390の被係合突起部395をコーナーベース部材370の係合凹部389に係合させる。
【0095】
以上のように構成された天井パネル構造体310の天井面201への取付けについて、説明する。
【0096】
まず、空調装置200のまわりの天井面201に、障害物202があるかどうかをチェックする。例えば、図4の(a)に示したように、図2の位置Gに障害物202aがあるとする。空調装置200の隣接側縁から障害物202aの外縁までの距離W3に応じて、この右辺に配置すべき直線状パネル構造体311R(以下では右辺に配置する関連部材や要素について符号の最後にRを付ける)の幅W1xが、W1x≦W3になるように、直線状パネル構造体311Rを構成する直線状ベース部材320Rの幅を調整する(図4)。この調整に際しては、直線状ベース部材320Rの案内板状部326Rに多数形成されている溝327のうち、適切な位置にある溝に沿って、直線状ベース部材320Rを切断する。この切断は、溝327に沿ってカッタなどで切込を入れ、該切込に沿って折り曲げることによって、容易に行われ得る。この例では、図4に示したように、障害物202aが充分遠くにあり、直線状ベース部材20Rは、標準的な最大幅になるように一番外の溝327a(図6等)に沿って切断されるか又は切断されることなくそのまま使用(適用)されている。空調装置200の周囲の天井面201には、他には障害物202はないと仮定する。なお、他の位置にも障害物202がある場合には、その位置に応じて、対応する箇所に配置する直線状パネル構造体311の直線状ベース部材320の幅を溝327を利用して調整すればよい。
【0097】
次に、直線状パネル構造体311R,311L,311U,311Dの長さを調整する。すなわち、各直線状パネル構造体311R,311L,311U,311Dを、空調装置200のうち夫々が並設されるべき側縁部の長さに切断する。なお、直線状パネル構造体311(例えば311Uや311D)の幅方向内側端部の一部を空調装置200の側壁(化粧板等)と天井面との間に挿入する場合には、コーナーパネル構造体312(例えば312RUや312RD)の図4の上下方向位置もずれるので、隣接する直線状パネル構造体311(例えば311Uや311D)の幅方向内側端部の挿入長に応じて、直線状パネル構造体311(例えば311R)の長さを適宜調整すればよい。他の部分についても、同様にして、直線状パネル構造体311及びコーナーパネル構造体312のサイズを調整すればよい。但し、この例では、標準幅で且つ幅方向端部を空調装置と天井面との間挿入しないので、溝に沿った切欠きは不要である。
【0098】
次に、四つの直線状パネル構造体311を幅及び長さに応じた所定位置において天井面201に取りつけ、更に、コーナーパネル構造体312を直線状パネル構造体311の縁部311aに重ねて所定の角部に取付ければよい。ここで、各直線状パネル構造体311の取付けに際しては、夫々の直線状ベース部材320を天井面201に少数(例えば2〜3本程度)のビスなどで長孔に仮固定し、次に直線状カバー部材340を一対の被係合部が直線状ベース部材320の一対の係合部に係合されるように前述のようにして取付ける。更に、コーナーパネル構造体312のコーナーベース部材370を四つの直線状パネル構造体311R,311L,311D,311Uのうち隣接する直線状パネル構造体の縁部に被せてビスなどで天井面201に仮固定する。このようにして、四つのコーナーベース部材370を仮固定した状態で、全体の配置を床面から確認する。
【0099】
例えば、直線状パネル構造体311の長手方向位置が適正でない場合には、当該直線状パネル構造体311に重なり仮固定された両端のコーナーベース部材312を取外した後、当該直線状パネル構造体311の直線状カバー部材340を直線状ベース部材320から外す。このとき、直線状カバー部材340のU字状部分340uを天井面201側に押付けて被係合突起部361のある「U」の脚部341を傾斜面336bに沿って拡げて前述のようにして外せばよい。なお、直線状カバー部材340及び直線状ベース部材320は両方共に押出し成形で形成される形状(横断面が一定の形状)を有するので、直線状カバー部材340を長手方向に沿って抜く(押す)ことにより係合を解除してもよい。次に、ビスを緩めて直線状ベース部材320の仮固定位置をずらして、再度、直線状カバー部材340及びコーナーベース部材370を重ねて仮固定する。なお、コーナーベース部材370を外した状態で又は一部のコーナーベース部材370を仮固定したまま、仮固定した直線状パネル構造体311の長手方向端部をハンマーなどでたたくことにより、長孔を介してビスにより仮固定された直線状パネル構造体の位置調整を行うようにしてもよい。このようにして、各直線状パネル構造体311の幅、長さ及び取付け位置が確定されると、再度、直線状カバー部材340を外して、各直線状ベース部材320を天井面201に対して所定数の箇所でビス止めすると共に対応する直線状カバー部材340を該直線状ベース部材320に係合させて固定して、四箇所の直線状パネル構造体311の取付けを完了する。
次に、必要に応じて所定サイズに調整されたコーナーベース部材370を直線状パネル構造体311,311の隣接端部に重ね合わせて天井面201に固定する。そして、最後に、四箇所のコーナーベース部材370にコーナーカバー部材390を被せ係合させることにより、コーナーパネル構造体312を完成させることにより、天井パネル構造体310の取付けが完了する。このようにして組付けた状態を、斜視図で見ると、例えば、図3に示したように見える。
【0100】
以上のようにして天井パネル構造体310が取付けられるべき天井面201は、必ずしも理想的な平面ではなく、多少なりとも平面からずれてうねっている。
空調装置200のサイズが大きくて直線状パネル構造体311の長さが2m程度になるような場合、このような天井面201の上下方向へのうねりは無視し難くなる。すなわち、うねった天井面201への取付けられる場合でも、この直線状ベース部材320では、大半が平板状部分からなり且つ該平板状部分に対して突出した部分の突出長が比較的短く且つその幅が比較的細く更に突出部が直線状ベース部材320の全長にわたって延在しているので、直線状ベース部材320が図6においてQ1,Q2方向に比較的撓みやすい。したがって、直線状ベース部材320の長手方向に沿って天井面201にうねりがある場合でも、直線状ベース部材320が天井面201のうねりにほぼ沿うように取付けられ得る。
【0101】
次に、この長手方向に沿ってうねった直線状ベース部材320に対して直線状カバー部材340を係合・固定するに際しては、案内板状部分326の平面328に沿って内側に向かって大きく開口した直線状ベース部材320の係合凹部331に対して、外側に向かって先端が楔状に先細になった直線状カバー部材340の被係合突起部357dをまず嵌めこむ。このとき、被係合突起部357dを直線状ベース部材320の案内板状部分326の平面328に沿って幅方向外向きに押し込む(引く)ことにより、直線状ベース部材320が多少ある程度うねっていても先細の被係合突起部357dが大きく開口した係合凹部331に確実に嵌めこまれ得る。なお、直線状カバー部材340の被係合突起部357d及び直線状ベース部材320の係合凹部331の突出壁部332が両方共に長手方向に沿って連続的に延在しているから、仮に、部分的に嵌り難い箇所があっても、連続的に隣接する箇所の係合箇所の係合の進行(凹部に対して突起の嵌合長が深くなること)に伴って、直線状カバー部材340の被係合部357の部分も長手方向に多少うねるようにQ1,Q2方向に変形されて(図8参照)、当該箇所でも嵌合が開始・進行され得る。ここで、直線状カバー部材340の被係合部357は単なる平板と比較すると長手方向にうねるような撓みは生じにくいけれども、ほぼ平板状の部分353,351に対して直角な向きの突出長は比較的小さいから、ある程度うねるような多少の撓みは生じ得ることになる。なお、係合凹部331が幅方向内側程大きくなるように開口しているときは被係合突起部357dは先細ないし楔形でなくてもよく、被係合突起部357dが先細ないし楔形のときは係合凹部331は幅方向に一定の大きさで開口していてもよい。
【0102】
係合凹部331に対する被係合突起部357dの係合が完了すると、次に、直線状ベース部材320の幅方向外側の係合凹部334に対して直線状カバー部材340の幅方向外側の被係合突起部361を係合させる。このとき、係合凹部334に対する突起部361の上下方向の位置には、実際上、上側傾斜面336bの長さに対応する高さ分だけの自由度があるので、多少のうねりは、この上下方向の位置のバラツキとして吸収され得る。しかも、上下方向位置のズレに伴う被係合突起部361の幅方向の位置のズレは、直線状カバー部材340のU字状部分340uのB1,B2方向の撓みとして吸収され得る。
【0103】
したがって、天井面201にうねりがあっても、直線状ベース部材320と直線状カバー部材340とは、確実に係合されて、直線状パネル構造体311が組立てられ得る。なお、コーナーパネル構造体312のサイズ程度の範囲では、天井面201のうねりは実際上無視され得る。
【0104】
次に、空調装置200が動作する際における天井パネル構造体210の働きを、図18及び図4に基づいて、説明する。
【0105】
図4に示したように、天井面201に沿ってほぼ矩形(正方形状)の空調装置200は、矩形の中央に室内空気吸込口210を、四辺ないし四つの側縁の近傍に空調空気吹出口211を有する。すなわち、図18に示したように、空調装置200は、中央管路205内に位置するモータ駆動のファン212により、中央の室内空気吸込口210から室207内の空気をK1方向に吸込み、この室内空気を中央管路205と外側の吹出管路206との間に位置する全体としてほぼ筒状の室内用熱交換器213に向かってK2方向に流し、熱交換器213の伝熱管や伝熱フィンの間を通るとき該熱交換器213の伝熱管内を流れる熱媒体によって室内空気を加温(暖房の場合)又は冷却(冷房の場合)した後、吹出管路206の出口の空調用空気吹出口211において所望形状の化粧板又は周壁ないし側壁214や風向調整板215などにより風向きを調整して、該吹出口211からほぼ天井面201に平行でやや下向きに外側に向かってK3方向に空調空気を吹出す。なお、熱交換器213を通過する空気流の入口などには室内空気の汚れ(微粒子など)をある程度取除き得るフィルタが設けられている。
【0106】
空調用空気吹出口211から外向きで且つやや下向きにK3方向に吹出した空調用空気流のうち最上層の部分は、天井パネル構造体310の直線状パネル構造体311の直線状ベース部材20の案内用平板状部326に沿って、ほぼ天井面201と平行に流れる。この流れは、次に、直線状カバー部材340の抵抗付与突起部359に当たって風圧が抑制されて流速が低下すると共に、突起部359の表面に略沿って拡がりながら流れる。抵抗付与突起部359を越えた空調空気流は、直線状カバー部材340の僅かに下方に湾曲した案内面を有する案内部351に沿って流れた後、抵抗付与突出部349にぶつかって、更に大きく風圧が抑制され減速される。減速に伴い徐々に拡がりながら抵抗付与突起部349を越えた空調空気流は、次に、湾曲して下方に急激に突出した(下方に大きく垂下った)転向案内壁部347で、大きく転向されて吹出口から出たときの当初の流れ方向から90度程度またはそれ以上転向された流れS1になる。従って、流れの一部が下端部343を越えても実際上斜め下向きに流れる。
【0107】
以上のような空調用空気流の流れの流速及び向きの変化は、主として、直線状パネル構造体311の表面近傍の流れに生じる典型的な現象であり、直線状パネル構造体311の表面から離れた流れほど、直線状パネル構造体311の表面形状の変化により直接的に受ける影響は小さくなるけれども、パネル構造体311側に隣接して位置する空調用空気流に生じる上述のような変化は、多少の差こそあれ、その下層に流れにも影響を与えて、同様に、減速されて拡がり且つ下向きに転向された流れS2を形成する。
【0108】
一方、空調装置200の中央部では、室内空気が吸込口210から常にK1方向に吸込まれているから、下方に転向された空調用空気流の一部は、図18において、S3で示したような循環流を与える。この循環流S3は、過剰になると、所謂ショートサーキットないしショートカットとして空調装置200の空調の効率を大幅に低下させることになるけれども、ごく一部の空調空気流が循環流S3としてK1方向の吸込用室内空気流S4に混ざりこむことは、許容されてもよい。
【0109】
一方、このような循環流S3の形成は、上述の転向流S1,S2などとあいまって、空調空気流の大半が図18の流れS5のように、室内に所望の形態で拡がっていくことを助けることになる。
【0110】
その結果、空調空気流が、直線状パネル構造体311の直線状カバー部材340の最下端部343を越えてその外側の天井面201aに当たるように流れるのを、最小限に抑制し得る。従って、天井面201が、空調空気流に含まれる固体又は液体などの微粒子によって汚される虞れを最小限に抑え得る。
【0111】
以上においては、直線状パネル構造体311の役割について、説明したけれども、コーナーパネル構造体312も、直線状パネル構造体311と実際上同様な断面形状ないし外形または輪郭を有するから、直線状パネル構造体311と同様に働く。特に、この例のように、四辺に吹出口211がある場合、コーナーパネル構造体312を欠き隣接する二つの直線状パネル構造体311,311の間のコーナーパネル構造体312の部分に間隙があると仮定すると、直線状パネル構造体311によって抵抗を受けて拡がった空調空気流の一部が直線状パネル構造体311の両端近傍部分からコーナーパネル構造体312の欠如した間隙に流れる虞れがあるだけでなく、このような流れが一旦形成されると間隙を通る流れが更に強くなり易い虞れがあるけれども、コーナーパネル構造体312がそのような間隙を排除しているから、閉じた四辺形状の天井パネル構造体310は、全体として、天井面201に向かう空調用空気流を最小限にし得る。
【0112】
但し、例えば、吹出口が、例えば、四辺形の平行な二辺や一辺だけに限られているような空調装置の場合、該吹出口に向合ったところにのみ、好ましくは吹出口の長さよりも十分に長い範囲にわたって、直線状パネル構造体を取りつけてもよい。但し、所望ならば、この場合にも、直線状パネル構造体の一端又は両端にコーナーパネル構造体をとりつけても、場合によっては、上述のような間隙をなくすべく、吹出口の数にかかわらず、閉じた四辺形状の天井パネル構造体にしてもよい。
【0113】
直線状パネル構造体を単独で用いる場合には、直線状パネル構造体311の両端に、図19に示したような端部キャップ450を被せる。なお、図19に示した端部キャップ450は、直線状パネル構造体311の一端(風の流れ方向の下流側に向かってみて左端)側に取付けられるものであって、右端側に取付けられるものは、当然ながら、図19に示した端部キャップ450に対して鏡映対称な形状を有するので、ここでは、説明を省略する。
【0114】
端部キャップ450は、端壁部470と該端壁部470の内表面から突出した壁部や突起を有し、直線状パネル構造体311の端部311a(図5の(a)参照)に被さるように嵌る形状を有する。すなわち、端部キャップ450の各下側壁部451,452,453,454は、コーナーパネル構造体312のコーナーベース部材320の壁部374,375a,376a,377aと実質的に同一の形状を有する。また、下側壁部455,456,457,458,459は、直線状パネル構造体311の壁部347,345,343,341,333の外表面と相補的形状の内表面を有する。また、壁部458,459の間には、凹状壁部458aが形成され、該凹状壁部458aの内向きに凸の内面部が直線状パネル構造体311の直線状カバー部材340の先端部341近傍の斜面部及び直線状ベース部材320の斜面部336bにより形成される凹面部に当接する(直線状パネル構造体311の形状については例えば図5の(b)参照)。壁部451の内表面には、直線状パネル構造体311の幅調整に応じて幅方向長さを調整可能にする溝451gが等間隔に形成されている。上側突起部460は、直線状パネル構造体311の上面の凹部327cに係合する。なお、直線状パネル構造体311の切断端部が長手方向に対して直角方向から多少ずれているような場合でもこの端部にある程度沿い得るように、突起部460の幅は凹部327cの幅よりも多少小さく、また突起部460の長さが比較的長く且つ先細になるようにテーパが切られている。直線状パネル構造体311のベース部材320及びカバー部材340の長さの多少の相違も、端部キャップ450の壁部451〜459により隠され得る。この例では、三つの上側突起部460があるけれども、突起部460の数はより多くても、より少なくてもよい。端壁470には、更に、直線状パネル構造体311の直線状カバー部材340のU字状部分340u内の凹部のうち、部分円筒状壁部349の内側の凹部に嵌る円筒状突起部461、壁部345,343及び341の下端近傍部分により規定される下部の凹部に嵌る長方形の筒状の横断面の突起部462、並びに壁部336及び直線状ベース部材320の主板状部322により規定される三角形状のスペースないし間隙に嵌る三角筒状横断面の突起部463を有する。
【0115】
この端部キャップ450及びこれと鏡映対称な他端側端部キャップは、直線状パネル構造体311を所定位置において天井面201に取付けた後、該パネル構造体311の幅に適合するようにサイズ調整された状態で、直線状パネル構造体311の両端部に被せられて、直線状パネル構造体装置を形成し得る。端部キャップ450の下側壁部451は先端451aで切欠かれており、端壁部470のうち先端451aよりも上流側の細い部分は空調装置200の外枠(化粧板等)と天井面との間に挿入可能である。直線状パネル構造体311のベース部材320の表面328に突起327e(図6等の想像線)が形成される場合、切欠端451aは典型的には突起部327eの下流側面に当接する。なお、端部キャップのところから直線状パネル構造体311の長手方向に沿う方向に流れ出す空気流を抑制するためには、所望ならば、壁部451〜456が、コーナーベース部材370の対応する壁部と同様に、端壁部470に近接する側ほど上流側に位置するように湾曲させておいてもよい。
【0116】
以上においては、天井パネル構造体310すなわち311や312が中央部に室内空気吸込口210を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口211を備えた天井埋込型空気調和装置200の吹出口211の下流側において天井201に取付けられることを前提として説明した。しかしながら、以上のような天井パネル構造体310すなわち311や312等の特徴は、該天井パネル構造体310が天井埋込型空気調和装置200の代わりに空調空気吹出口211のみを備えた(天井面201のところに空調空気吸込口を欠く)空調空気吹出装置の空調空気吹出口211の下流側において天井面に取付けられる(埋め込まれる)場合にも、吸込口210に空調空気の一部を戻す点を除き、全て有効であり、本発明の天井パネル構造体は、天井面の汚れ抑制のために、天井取付型ないし天井埋込型で天井面で吹出口が開口した空調空気吹出装置(吸込口がなく開口の実質上全体が吹出口になっている空調ダクト)にも適用され得る。このような空調空気吹出装置の典型としては、例えば、アネモとして知られる同心円状(同心環状)の複数の吹出口を備えたものがある。このような円形の外周を備えたものの場合、所望ならば、方形の天井パネル構造体の内縁と円形の空調空気吹出装置との間の天井面を蔽うように別の案内板などを付加してもよい。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図1】空調装置の形状に応じて天井パネル構造体をとりつけることを示した説明図で、(a)は正方形状の空調装置の一例の底面(天井面に装着した状態を下から見た)説明図、(b)は(a)の空調装置に用いられる本発明による好ましい一実施例の天井パネル構造体の底面説明図、(c)は空調装置の平面(底面)形状に応じて天井パネル構造体の形状を調整することを示した説明図、(d),(e)及び(f)は天井パネル構造体が適用される種々の形状やタイプの空調装置の例の底面説明図。
【図2】天井にある障害物ないし妨害部品に応じて天井パネル構造体の形状やサイズを調整することを示した底面説明図。
【図3】本発明による好ましい一実施例の天井パネル構造体を斜め下から見た斜視説明図。
【図4】本発明による好ましい一実施例の天井パネル構造体を示したもので、(a)は一部破断底面説明図、(b)は(a)の矢印IVB方向の側面説明図。
【図5】図4の天井パネル構造体で用いられる直線状パネル構造体を示したもので、(a)は底面説明図、(b)は(a)のVB−VB線断面説明図。
【図6】図5の直線状パネル構造体で用いられる直線状ベース部材の斜視説明図。
【図7】図6直線状ベース部材を示したもので、(a)は底面説明図、(b)は(a)のVIIB−VIIB線断面説明図、(c)は幅方向外側の係合凹部の変形例の断面説明図、(d)は傾斜面部の一部の変形例の断面説明図。
【図8】図5の直線状パネル構造体で用いられる直線状カバー部材の斜視説明図。
【図9】図8の直線状カバー部材を示したもので、(a)は底面説明図、(b)は(a)のIXB−IXB線断面説明図、(c)は幅方向外側の被係合突起部の変形例の断面説明図。
【図10】図4の天井パネル構造体で用いられるコーナーパネル構造体を示したもので、(a)は(b)の矢印XA方向に見た側面説明図、(b)は(a)の矢印XB方向に見た底面説明図。
【図11】図10のコーナーパネル構造体で用いられるコーナーベース部材及びコーナーカバー部材を示したもので、(a)はコ−ナーベース部材の斜視説明図、(b)はコーナーカバー部材の斜視説明図。
【図12】図11のコーナーベース部材を示したもので、(a)は(b)の矢印XIIA方向に見た側面説明図、(b)は(a)の矢印XIIB方向に見た底面(表面)説明図、(c)は(b)の矢印XIIC方向にみた側面説明図。
【図13】図11のコーナーベース部材の上面(裏面)説明図。
【図14】図10のコーナーパネル構造体で用いられるコーナーカバー部材を示したもので、(a)は(b)の矢印XIVA方向に見た側面説明図、(b)は(a)の矢印XIVB方向に見た底面説明図、(c)は被係合突起の変形例の説明図。
【図15】図4の天井パネル構造体において、コーナーカバー部材の取付を説明するための、斜め下から見た、斜視説明図。
【図16】図11のコーナーベース部材を取付けた状態の底面説明図。
【図17】直線状パネル構造体とコーナーパネル構造体とが重なった状態を示したもので、(a)は図16のXVIIA−XVIIA線断面説明図(但し、直線状パネル構造体311Dは示されていない)、(b)は(a)の変形例についての(a)と同様な断面説明図。
【図18】本発明による好ましい一実施例の天井パネル構造体による空調空気流の流れ調整状態を説明する模式的断面説明図。
【図19】直線状パネル構造体を単独で用いる場合に、該直線状パネル構造体の端部に取付けて直線状パネル構造体装置を形成するための端部キャップを示したもので、(a)は平面(上面)説明図、(b)は正面説明図、(c)は底面説明図、(d)は右側面説明図、(e)は背面説明図、(f)は左側面説明図。
【符号の説明】
200 空気調和装置
201 天井面
202,202a 障害物(妨害部品)
210 室内空気吸込口
211 空調空気吹出口
310 天井パネル構造体
311,311D,311L,311R,311U 直線状パネル構造体
312,312LD,312LU,312RD,312RU コーナーパネル構造体
320 直線状ベース部材
321 板状部
322 主板状部分
326 案内板状部分
327 溝(弱化部)
330,335 係合部
331,334 係合凹部
336,337 側壁
336b,337b 傾斜面
357,363 被係合部
357d,361 被係合突起
340 直線状カバー部材
341a 案内部
347 転向案内部(転向誘導部)
349 抵抗付与突起部
351 湾曲案内部
370 コーナーベース部材
390 コーナーカバー部材
450 端部キャップ
K1,K2,K3 流れ方向
L1 長さ
S1,S2,S3 空気流
W1,W2,W3 幅
[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for suppressing dirt on a ceiling due to air-conditioned air blown from a blowout port of a ceiling-embedded air conditioner (hereinafter also referred to as “ceiling-embedded air conditioner”).
[0002]
[Prior art]
The ceiling-embedded air conditioner has an indoor air inlet at the center of the bottom of the apparatus, an air outlet for the conditioned air at the periphery, and the room air from the indoor air inlet at the center of the bottom of the air conditioner. Then, the air is warmed or cooled by a heat exchanger, and then blown out as air-conditioned air from the outlet at the peripheral edge of the bottom.
[0003]
This conditioned air is blown in a direction substantially along the ceiling surface so as to spread over a wide area in the room, so that it easily flows along the ceiling surface, and the room air is engulfed when the air itself becomes dirty or the conditioned air is blown out. Dirty ceiling surface near the air outlet due to dirt. If the air conditioner is used for a long time, this dirt becomes unsightly enough to be ignored.
[0004]
For the purpose of dealing with such problems, the inclination of the wind direction plate in the outlet passage and in the vicinity of the outlet is adjusted according to the degree of indoor air contamination and cooling and heating in order to change the direction of the air-conditioned air flow at the outlet. (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-100902), changing the direction of blowing and the size of the opening in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the air outlet that easily forms a flow along the ceiling surface (for example, 324802, JP-A-8-313042, and JP-A-9-222237) have been proposed.
[0005]
These are intended to regulate or control the flow of air-conditioning air flow directly at the air outlet that is part of the frame or attached to the frame of the air-conditioning system that is practically limited in size.・ Even if it is attempted to directly control the entire flow at the outlet with a large flow rate, if the air flow is not directed toward the ceiling surface, the air flow may not be sufficiently spread in the room. There is a possibility that it is difficult to expect the effect of the period, and there is a possibility that a change in adjustment may be required if the flow velocity / flow rate itself changes.
[0006]
In JP-A-8-94160, a step or a projection is formed on the decorative plate that forms the outer frame of the air conditioner, which serves to turn the air-conditioned air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner away from the ceiling. The microfilm of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-8595 corresponding to Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Sho 62-120151 is provided with a blower guide having a cross-section "<" shape that performs the same function. Although it is disclosed that it is provided on a decorative board that constitutes the above, there is a possibility that similar problems remain in these techniques.
[0007]
Moreover, the above-described technology does not solve the problem of dirt on the ceiling surface at the site where the existing ceiling-mounted air conditioner is used.
[0008]
Although an attempt has been made to attach a transparent plastic film bent at an obtuse angle to an area where dirt is likely to occur on the ceiling surface, there is a possibility that the outside ceiling surface may become dirty due to wraparound when the flow velocity of the blown air is low. When the flow velocity is high, there is a possibility that the turning portion, which is slanted in the shape of a cross section “he”, is pushed by the air flow and deformed so as to escape by the blown air flow.
[0009]
On the other hand, it has also been proposed to form an arcuate curved portion at the periphery of the air conditioning duct opened at the ceiling to prevent the ceiling surface from becoming dirty (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-12847). In addition, there is a problem similar to that of the above-described conventional ceiling-embedded air conditioner. In the case of an air-conditioning duct, there is no suction port and the entire opening is a blower outlet, so the behavior of the air-conditioned air flow ejected from the blower outlet is air conditioning with a suction port at the center and a blower outlet at the periphery. It is different from the case of the device.
[0010]
In order to solve these problems, in order to minimize the contamination of the ceiling surface, which is applicable to existing ceiling-embedded air conditioners, the present inventor has provided an indoor air suction port in the central portion. It is configured to be attached to the ceiling on the downstream side of the air outlet of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner having an air conditioned air outlet on the peripheral edge, and the conditioned air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner is In order to turn the air-conditioning air flow away from the air outlet of the air conditioner for the purpose of turning away from the air-conditioning apparatus, the air-conditioning air flow is substantially rigid with respect to the air flow so as to be returned to the indoor air intake port. A ceiling panel structure provided with a turning guide portion of the above-described structure, wherein the ceiling panel structure is configured to be attached to the ceiling outside the air conditioner, and has at least one base provided with an engaging portion on a side opposite to the side facing the ceiling It is a member A linear base member that can be attached to the ceiling surface with one main surface so as to extend along at least one side edge of the air conditioner; and an engagement portion of the at least one base member A cover member configured to be engaged with an engaging portion and fixed to the base member, the cover member including a linear cover member that is engaged with the linear base member and can be adjusted in length. A ceiling panel structure was proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-187145. Most of the basic idea of the ceiling panel structure and the shape for turning the air flow, etc., are directly used as the basis of the present invention or applicable to the present invention.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Based on the basic idea of the invention described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-187145, the inventor has experimentally produced and tried various types of ceiling panel structures. In the process of trial manufacture and trial use, the inventor often has a ceiling surface that is not necessarily a complete plane and has a considerable degree of undulation, and shifts the mounting position of the ceiling panel structure from the initial mounting position. In such cases, it has been found that it is desirable for the attachment of the ceiling panel structure to an appropriate position that the cover member is easily attached to and detached from the base member even in an unnatural posture.
[0012]
In other words, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-187145, the ceiling panel structure in the form described as an embodiment embodying the present invention is easily affected by the waviness of the ceiling and the attachment / detachment of the cover member to the base member is not always easy. The ceiling panel structure described in the embodiment (the extension of the plate-like body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ceiling surface) is described in the above points, although there is a surface that does not exist and is based on the basic idea of Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-187145. It has been found that it is desired to improve the engagement portion and the engaged portion in the vicinity of the existing end.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and a first object thereof is to provide a ceiling panel structure that can be easily mounted even if the ceiling surface is undulated to some extent.
[0014]
A second object of the present invention is to provide a ceiling panel structure in which a cover member can be easily attached to and detached from a base member.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the first object, the ceiling panel structure of the present invention is provided with an air outlet of a ceiling-embedded air conditioner having an indoor air inlet at the center and an air conditioned air outlet at the periphery. It is configured to be attached to the ceiling on the downstream side, and is provided with a turning guide that is substantially rigid with respect to the air flow in order to turn the air-conditioned air blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner in a direction away from the ceiling. A ceiling panel structure, which is configured to be attached to the ceiling outside the air conditioner, and has a base structure having an engaging portion on the side opposite to the side facing the ceiling, the air conditioner Including a linear base member that can be attached to the ceiling surface with one main surface so as to extend along the side edge of the base structure, and the base member engaged with the engaging portion of the base structure at the engaged portion Cover structure configured to be fixed to the structure The air-conditioning air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner is turned to a direction away from the ceiling, and is substantially engaged with the linear base member with a turning guide portion that is substantially rigid with respect to the air flow. A pair of linear base members, and the engaging portions of the linear base members are opened at positions separated from each other in the width direction of the linear base members. Of the concave portion, and the side wall closer to the ceiling surface of the one concave portion has an inclined surface that is inclined so as to be closer to the ceiling surface as it is farther from the other concave portion. Elastically close the pair of engaged projections that engage with the pair of engaging recesses of the linear base member to the mutually facing sides at a location apart in the width direction of the linear cover member・ The protrusion is close to the ceiling surface of the one recess. A movable guide portion along the inclined surface of the wall portion side.
[0016]
In the ceiling panel structure of the present invention, “it is configured to be attached to the ceiling outside the air conditioner, and the conditioned air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner is turned in a direction away from the ceiling (surface). Because it is equipped with a turning guide that is substantially rigid with respect to the air flow, the air conditioning air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner by the turning guide only by being installed at a predetermined position on the ceiling outside the air conditioner. The air-conditioning air that is blown from the air-conditioning air outlet can be kept to a minimum and prevent the air-conditioning air from colliding with the ceiling surface and spreading along the ceiling surface. Alternatively, it is possible to minimize the contamination of the ceiling surface by fine particles such as liquid. Here, since the turning guide portion is substantially rigid with respect to the air flow, the turning guide portion can turn the conditioned air flow in a predetermined direction even when the flow of the conditioned air is relatively strong. In addition, since the ceiling panel structure is located in the vicinity of the ceiling surface of the space opened indoors to some extent away from the air outlet of the air conditioner, the air-conditioning air flow spreads and hits to some extent until it hits the turning guide part of the ceiling panel structure. In this case, the air-conditioning airflow that hits the turning guide portion can be appropriately turned.
[0017]
The turning guide portion typically includes a turning guide portion that has a concave curved guide surface and turns along the guide surface. However, if the wind direction can be greatly changed, the detailed or specific shape is as follows. It can be anything. In order to greatly change the direction of the air-conditioned air flow by the turning guide unit, it is typically preferable to reduce the flow velocity in advance and suppress the wind pressure as described later. Moreover, since the ceiling panel structure is attached to the ceiling surface on the downstream side of the air-conditioned air outlet around or outside the air-conditioning apparatus, the air-conditioning apparatus may already be arranged on the ceiling, The ceiling panel structure of the present invention is arranged around the existing ceiling-mounted air conditioner, so that not only the ceiling dirt can be avoided but also the ceiling dirt can be prevented. Covering a part also helps to make the dirt less noticeable.
[0018]
Furthermore, in the ceiling panel structure of the present invention, “a base structure that is configured to be attached to the ceiling outside the air conditioner and includes an engaging portion on the side opposite to the side facing the ceiling, A linear base member that can be attached to the ceiling surface with one main surface so as to extend along the side edge of the air conditioner, and the base member engaged with the engaging portion of the base structure at the engaged portion. A cover structure that is configured to be fixed to the structure and includes a linear cover member that is engaged with the linear base member ”is provided. The cover member is covered with the base member so as to cover the attachment portion by the attachment means, and the engaged portion of the cover member is engaged with the engagement portion of the base member. Installation is easy. The base structure typically includes a linear base member and a corner base member, and the cover structure typically includes a linear cover member and a corner cover member. However, the base structure may be composed of one linear base member, and the cover structure may be composed of one linear cover member.
[0019]
In the above, by providing the linear base member separately from the linear cover member, the portion of the linear base member that is covered with the linear cover member can be formed on the ceiling surface with screws or the like without considering the appearance. It can be formed with a structure including an engaging portion that is easy to attach and easy to engage with the linear cover member. As a result, it is possible to easily attach the linear base member to the ceiling surface, and even a minimal operator (for example, one person) can attach the linear base member. Further, since the engaging portion of the linear base member can be substantially hidden by the linear cover member, it can be easily and firmly engaged as the engaging portion of the linear base member and the engaged portion of the linear cover member. Since a desired shape or structure that can be fixed or easily disengaged can be selected, the linear cover member can be easily engaged / fixed and / or released from the linear base member. It becomes possible. Therefore, both the attachment of the linear base member to the ceiling surface and the engagement / fixation of the linear cover member to the linear base member can be performed by a minimum operator (for example, one person). As a result, the ceiling panel structure The attachment to the ceiling surface of the body can be performed by a minimum number of workers (for example, one person). Each of the linear cover member and the linear base member may be a single or integral member, or may be a combination of a plurality of members.
[0020]
Further, in the ceiling panel structure of the present invention, “the linear cover member is turned substantially rigidly with respect to the air flow so as to turn the air-conditioned air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner away from the ceiling. Since it includes a guiding portion, the engaging portion and the straight line of the linear base member are utilized by utilizing the thickness and width of the linear cover member associated with the air flow adjusting structure such as a turning guiding portion for adjusting the flow of conditioned air. Since it becomes easy to fit the engaged portion of the linear cover member within the range of the thickness and width of the linear cover member, the engaging portion and the engaged portion suitable for work can be obtained.
[0021]
In this specification, with respect to the linear base member, “can be attached to the ceiling surface with one main surface” typically means that one main surface of the linear base member is in direct contact with the ceiling surface. Although it may be attached to the ceiling surface, depending on the case, even if the linear base member is attached to the ceiling surface with protrusions (legs) protruding from one main surface and facing the ceiling surface contacting the ceiling surface Good. Further, “the linear base member extends along the side edge of the air conditioner” typically means that the linear base is parallel to the straight side edge of the air conditioner having the straight side edge. Although the member extends, it may not be parallel in some cases, and when the side edge of the air conditioner is not linear, it is almost the same as the average extending direction of the side edge. It is sufficient that the linear base member extends in any direction. Further, regarding the engaging portion of the linear base member, “the side opposite to the side facing the ceiling surface” means that the surface of the linear base member opposite to the side facing the ceiling surface is in a desired direction. The purpose is to include a protruding portion, and is not limited to a surface parallel to the ceiling surface.
[0022]
To adjust the flow of conditioned air, turn the conditioned air flow (change the direction of the air flow) or provide resistance to the air flow (air flow resistance becomes air flow resistance and air pressure To slow down the flow) or to guide the air flow (including both changing the direction of the flow and changing it gradually by defining the direction of the flow without substantially impeding the air flow) The structure to do is typically provided by the surface of the linear cover member. If the linear cover member almost completely covers the linear base member, only the surface of the cover member plays this role. Note that a part or most of the linear base member may be exposed at the ceiling surface without being covered by the linear cover member. In such a case, the surface shape for turning, resistance imparting (deceleration), and guiding for adjusting the flow of the conditioned air may be given in part by a linear base member. Even in this case, the linear cover member not only adjusts the air-conditioning air flow at the turning guide part, but also covers the mounting structure part for attaching the linear base member to the ceiling surface, or linearly covers the linear base member. The engaging portion with the cover member can be substantially hidden. Note that the guide portion having a turning function typically has a resistance imparting function to some extent.
[0023]
Moreover, in the ceiling panel structure according to the present invention, “a pair of the engaging portions of the linear base member are opened in the positions separated from each other in the width direction of the linear base member and opposite to each other. An engagement recess is provided, and the engaged portion of the linear cover member separates the pair of engaged protrusions engaged with the pair of engagement recesses of the linear base member in the width direction of the linear cover member. In other words, the pair of engaging portions of the linear base member and the pair of engaged portions of the linear cover member engaged therewith are hidden behind the linear cover member. In addition to being concealed, the linear engagement member is engaged with the corresponding engagement protrusion of the linear cover member with the other engagement recess of the pair of engagement recesses of the linear base member. A corresponding engaged protrusion of the linear cover member with respect to the one engaging recess of the base member By performing the release of the engagement and the engagement parts, it may be made to release the engagement and engagement of the linear cover member with respect to the linear base member. In addition, since the pair of engaging concave portions of the linear base member are opened in the opposite direction of the width direction, the wall portions (side walls) on both sides defining the concave portion are formed on the ceiling surface along the longitudinal direction of the linear base member. Since the wall portions (side walls) can extend to a certain extent in accordance with the waviness of the ceiling surface, the pair of engaging protrusions of the linear cover member can also be deformed. Since it protrudes in the opposite direction of the width direction, the protrusion formed by the engaging protrusion can also extend substantially parallel to the ceiling surface along the longitudinal direction of the linear cover member. It is relatively easy to be deformed so as to wave along the longitudinal direction according to the wave of the ceiling surface. As a result, the waviness of the ceiling surface is substantially easily absorbed by the deformation of the linear base member and the linear cover member corresponding to the waviness. In other words, even if the linear base member undulates to some extent according to the undulation of the ceiling surface, the engagement concave portion on the opposite side (that is, the other side) of the pair of engagement concave portions of the linear base member It becomes possible to forcibly fit the corresponding engaging protrusions of the linear cover member. Here, one side wall of the other engaging recess is straight so that insertion of the corresponding engaged protrusion of the linear cover member into the other engaging recess of the linear base member is guided or guided. A guide surface that guides the corresponding engaged protrusion of the cover member, or the engaged protrusion is tapered like a wedge or is open so that the engagement recess becomes larger toward the opening side. preferable.
[0024]
In this case, it is preferable that the linear cover member includes a plate-like portion that extends substantially parallel to the ceiling surface in the vicinity of the other engaged portion. Thereby, in the vicinity of the engaged protrusion, the linear cover member is likely to be bent and deformed to some extent along the longitudinal direction according to the undulation of the ceiling. In addition, this plate-shaped part can work | function as a guide surface with respect to an air-conditioning airflow.
[0025]
In addition, in the ceiling panel structure according to the present invention, “a side wall (wall portion) closer to the ceiling surface of one of the engagement recesses of the linear base member is closer to the ceiling surface as farther from the other recess. Of the pair of engaged projections of the engaged portion of the linear cover member, the engaged projection corresponding to the one engagement recess is the ceiling surface of the one recess. `` There is a guide part that is movable along the inclined surface of the wall on the side close to ``, so that when the ceiling surface is wavy, the linear cover member is wavy in the longitudinal direction along with the waviness of the ceiling surface However, this swell is caused by the direction in which the guide portion of the engagement protrusion of the linear cover member is close to the ceiling surface with respect to the inclined surface of the wall portion closer to the ceiling among the one engagement recess of the linear base member. It can be absorbed by being displaced away from the ceiling surface. Therefore, even when the ceiling surface has a undulation, it is possible to avoid the easy engagement and release of the linear cover member with respect to the linear base member.
[0026]
Here, of the side walls forming the one concave portion of the linear base member, the side wall far from the ceiling surface may be substantially parallel to the ceiling surface, but the linear shape with respect to the engaging portion of the linear base member In order to facilitate the engagement of the engaged portion of the cover member, the cover member has an inclined surface that is inclined so as to be closer to the ceiling surface as it is farther from the other concave portion on the side opposite to the side facing the ceiling surface. Is preferred.
[0027]
In this case, the linear cover member is used as the linear base member in a state in which the corresponding engagement protrusion of the linear cover member is engaged with the other engagement concave portion of the engaging portions of the linear base member. The guide part of the engaged protrusion is moved along the inclined surface opposite to the ceiling surface of the side wall far from the ceiling surface of the engaged protrusion of the linear base member simply by pressing toward the The engaged protrusion is moved over the inclined surface, and the guide portion is engaged with the inclined surface of the one side wall of the linear cover member. After this engagement, the pressing force against the linear cover member The engagement of the linear cover member with respect to the linear base member can be achieved simply by releasing the application as desired. Here, of the one engagement recess, the side wall closer to the ceiling surface extends farther from the other engagement recess than the side wall farther from the ceiling surface.
[0028]
Here, the linear cover member is replaced with the linear base member in a state where the corresponding pair of engaged protrusions of the linear cover member are engaged with the pair of engaging recesses of the linear base member. By simply pressing the guide cover, the guide portion of one engaged protrusion is moved along the inclined surface of the one engaging recess in a direction away from the other engaging recess, and a pair of engaged members of the linear cover member are moved. The distance between the mating protrusions can be increased, and the engagement of the linear cover member with the linear base member can be released using a tool or the like as desired.
[0029]
Each of the pair of engaging recesses of the linear base member may extend intermittently in a line along the extending direction of the linear base member over substantially the entire length of the extending direction. In order to release the engagement between the engagement recess and the engaged protrusion so as to be peeled off from one end in the direction, at least one of the pair of engagement recesses, and therefore the side wall thereof, It is preferable that it extends continuously in the longitudinal direction of the linear base member (that is, the recess is in the form of a groove extending along the longitudinal direction of the linear base member). The same applies to the corresponding engaged protrusions of the linear cover member. In order to release this engagement, for example, even if the tip part of a long and narrow tool such as a driver is used, a "<" shape is formed with a handle on one side so as to avoid interference with the ceiling surface. A tool such as a thick spatula with a smoothly curved side wall may be prepared.
[0030]
The linear cover member typically has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional portion, and the protrusions engage with one of the recesses of the linear base member of the pair of engaged protrusions. Is formed on one leg of “U”, and a turning guide is formed on the other leg of “U”. In this case, by pressing the bottom portion of the linear cover member “U” with the engaged protrusion of the linear cover member engaged with the other concave portion of the linear base member, Direction in which the engaged protrusion at the tip of one leg of “U” moves away from the tip of the other leg of “U” along the inclined surface “U” (on the side wall of one of the engaging recesses) And the tips of the two legs of “U” are opened. That is, since the linear cover member has a “U-shaped” cross-sectional portion, the linear cover member can be easily deformed to engage with or release the linear cover member. The engagement and disengagement can be easily performed. Note that the length of the leg portion of “U” is necessary for the turning guide portion to perform the turning action of the air flow, and the portion of the cross-sectional shape “U” ensures the height as the turning guide portion. In addition, the linear cover member can be easily attached and detached.
[0031]
In the above, the said one recessed part is a recessed part far from the blower outlet of an air conditioning apparatus typically among a pair of recessed parts. However, in the case where the amount of protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the ceiling surface can be made relatively large, the concave portion closer to the air outlet of the air conditioner may be used.
[0032]
In the ceiling panel structure of the present invention, typically, the linear base member has a width direction end close to the side edge of the air conditioner where the air outlet is located on the main surface opposite to the one main surface. The air conditioning air flow guide surface substantially parallel to the one main surface is provided in the portion, and the other engagement portion is provided at a position farther from the side edge of the air conditioner than the guide surface in the width direction, and the linear cover The member has the other engaged portion that engages with the other engaging portion of the linear base member at the inner end in the width direction, and the member of the air conditioner is included in the other engaged portion. A portion facing the air outlet is a resistance imparting projection that acts as a resistance that reduces the flow rate of the air-conditioned airflow that flows along the guide surface of the linear base member.
[0033]
In this case, the engaged protrusion for the linear cover member can function as a resistance applying protrusion as it is on the surface portion on the opposite side. Note that the linear cover member has another resistance-applying protrusion that acts as a resistance to reduce the flow velocity by suppressing the air pressure of the conditioned air flowing along the surface of the cover member, rather than the opposite surface of the engaged protrusion. It may further be provided on the upstream side of the turning guide portion on the downstream side. In this case, typically, the downstream resistance applying protrusion is configured to have a larger resistance applying function than the upstream resistance applying protrusion. However, the reverse is also possible. In any case, by reducing the flow rate of the air-conditioning air flow flowing into the turning guide portion and reducing the wind pressure, the air flow hitting the turning guide portion easily flows along the guide surface of the turning guide portion.
[0034]
As long as the ceiling-embedded air conditioner has an indoor air inlet at the center and an air-conditioning air outlet at the peripheral edge, the air conditioner is in the state of being embedded in the ceiling, that is, the ceiling surface. The two-dimensional shape extending along the line may be a rectangle such as a square or a rectangle, or any other shape such as a circle. Of course, the air conditioner has a three-dimensional shape that protrudes from the ceiling surface to some extent, but as long as it has an indoor air inlet at the center and an air-conditioned air outlet at the peripheral edge, the three-dimensional The shape may be any shape.
[0035]
As long as the air-conditioned air outlet is formed at the peripheral edge and is configured to blow out the air-conditioned air to the outside, it is practically almost the same even if the air outlet is part of the peripheral edge. There may be air outlets all around. For example, when the planar shape of the ceiling surface of the air conditioner is a typical substantially rectangular shape, the air outlet is formed along only one side of the four sides of the rectangle, but along two parallel sides. In practice, they may be formed in parallel, or may be formed along all four sides, and in some cases, there may be an air outlet at the corner.
[0036]
The ceiling panel structure typically has a cover member provided with a turning guide portion so as to turn the flow of conditioned air blown from the air outlet for each air outlet of the air conditioner. Therefore, when there is only one straight outlet, typically the cover member is also composed of one linear cover member (of course, one linear cover member is a combination of a plurality of portions. It may be) In this case, it is typically preferable to attach end caps covering the ends to both ends. That is, in this case, the ceiling panel structure preferably has a linear base structure (typical) in a state where the engaging portion of the linear base member and the engaged portion of the linear cover member are engaged with each other. Further includes an end cap that covers at least one of the longitudinal ends of the linear cover structure (typically corresponding to the linear cover member). However, if desired, even if a cover member is further provided with a corner cover member (bent at the corner) at the end of the linear cover member, it may surround the entire circumference of the air conditioner in some cases. In addition, a cover member may be provided in a frame shape so as to form a closed curve such as a rectangle or a quadrilateral.
[0037]
The ceiling panel structure is formed in a shape and size corresponding to the shape and size (size) of the external shape of the air conditioner embedded in the ceiling surface. Therefore, the linear base member and the linear cover member that form the ceiling panel structure are formed so as to be adjustable in length. This length adjustment is typically performed by a worker cutting a linear base member or a linear cover member having the same cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to a desired length at the work site with a saw or the like. Done. Therefore, the material of the linear base member and the linear cover member constituting the ceiling panel is typically made of a plastic material, and is typically formed by extrusion molding. As the plastic material, a vinyl chloride resin may be used, but other resins may be used in order to minimize environmental pollution. However, other materials such as metal, wood, or a composite material of metal and plastic may be used as long as the worker can cut with a saw or the like at the work site.
[0038]
Also, the ceiling panel structure is typically attached to the ceiling surface in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the air conditioner, depending on the size of the space around or around the air conditioner among the ceiling surfaces in which the air conditioner is embedded. It is installed around the air conditioner to avoid obstructions or obstructing parts such as electrical wiring outlets and various detection devices such as smoke detectors. Therefore, typically, the width of a linear base member or the like that forms the ceiling panel structure can be adjusted in the ceiling panel structure. Since one side of the air conditioner can reach close to 2 m, the linear base member is typically along the longitudinal direction so that the width can be easily adjusted over a length of about 2 m. A weakened portion is provided, and the width can be adjusted by removing a part in the width direction by cutting with a cutter or the like along the weakened portion as desired. Such weakened portions are typically grooves or the like along the longitudinal direction. Here, from the viewpoint of aesthetics and the like, the groove is typically formed on the back side, that is, the side facing the ceiling surface.
[0039]
Therefore, in one exemplary ceiling panel structure of the present invention, the linear base member is one main surface on the lower surface of the ceiling such that it extends along at least one linear side edge of the air conditioner. It includes a linear base member that is attachable and adjustable in length and width, and includes a linear cover member that is engaged with the linear base member and adjustable in length.
[0040]
In this case, by adjusting the width of the linear base member, it is possible to arrange the linear base member while avoiding obstructing parts near the air conditioner. In addition, the length of the straight base member and the straight cover member is adjusted at the work site according to the length of the air outlet of the air conditioner or the size of the side of the air conditioner that extends parallel to the air outlet. Thus, the ceiling panel structure can be attached.
[0041]
Further, in one typical ceiling panel structure of the present invention, the base structure is formed on the ceiling surface adjacent to the end of the linear base member so as to be located outside the corner of the air conditioner. Including a corner base member attachable on one main surface, wherein the cover structure includes a corner cover member engaged with the corner base member at a position adjacent to an end of the linear cover member.
[0042]
In this case, for example, at least two sides of the outer periphery of the air conditioner, such as a substantially rectangular shape, may be surrounded by the ceiling panel structure.
[0043]
The corner base member is typically configured to cover and engage the ends of the linear base member and the linear cover member. Here, “cover” refers to a state of overlapping the ceiling surface sequentially from below. However, the side edge of the corner base member is located closer to the ceiling surface than at least one of the adjacent end portions of the linear base member and the linear cover member, or substantially equal to the linear base member. May be located at the same height.
[0044]
When the corner base member covers the ends of the linear base member and the linear cover member, the corner base member typically turns the conditioned air flow blown from the outlet of the air conditioner in a direction away from the ceiling. Therefore, the corner cover member has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and has an inward covering of one leg of the “U”. In this case, the corner base member is engaged with the outward engagement portion of the outer wall of the corner base member at the engagement portion, and abuts the extension end of the turning guide portion of the corner base member at the inner surface of the bottom of “U”. Typically has a resistance-providing protrusion on the upstream side of the turning guide that acts as a resistance to reduce the flow rate of the conditioned airflow that flows along the surface of the corner base member. In this case, the corner cover member is easily disengaged from the corner base member.
[0045]
One typical ceiling panel structure of the present invention is provided on the ceiling on the downstream side of the air outlet of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner having an indoor air inlet at the center and an air-conditioned air outlet at the periphery. A ceiling panel structure that is configured to be attached and has a turning guide portion that is substantially rigid with respect to the air flow in order to turn the air-conditioned air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner in a direction away from the ceiling. A base member that can be attached to the ceiling surface on one main surface so as to extend along each of the straight side edges of the air conditioner, and whose length and width in the extending direction can be adjusted. The one having an engaging portion on the opposite side of the one main surface and the length configured to be engaged with the engaging portion of the base member by the engaged portion and fixed to the base member A cover member that can be adjusted and blown out from the air outlet of the air conditioner In order to turn the conditioned air flow away from the ceiling, the air flow has a substantially rigid turning guide portion, and the engaging portion of the linear base member is the linear base member. One of the recesses closer to the ceiling surface, having a pair of engagement recesses that open in the opposite direction to the sides facing each other at locations separated in the width direction of the linear base member and extend in the extending direction of the linear base member The pair of engaged portions in which the side wall of the linear cover member is inclined so as to be closer to the ceiling surface as it is farther from the other concave portion, and the engaged portion of the linear cover member engages with the pair of engaging concave portions of the linear base member Protrusions are provided in a state of facing each other at locations separated in the width direction of the linear cover member, and the engaged projections are formed on the inclined surface of the wall near the ceiling surface of the one recess. A linear panel structure having a guide section movable along the linear panel structure, and the linear panel structure It comprises a corner panel structure to be engaged located between adjacent ends of the body adjacent ends of the straight line-shaped panel structure.
[0046]
As long as the dirt on the ceiling surface near the air outlet of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner that is already installed can be covered and concealed, at least a part or the whole of the base member and the cover member forming the ceiling panel structure is transparent. Alternatively, the base member and the cover member may be made of a translucent material, but in order to reliably cover dirt on the ceiling surface near the air outlet of the already installed ceiling embedded air conditioner, Typically, it is preferably made of a substantially opaque material. However, when the ceiling surface is not yet dirty or when an air conditioner is newly attached to the ceiling surface, at least a part may be made of a transparent or translucent material.
[0047]
In the above, it is assumed that the ceiling panel structure is attached to the ceiling on the downstream side of the air outlet of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner having the indoor air inlet at the center and the air-conditioned air outlet at the periphery. As explained. However, the ceiling panel structure as described above is characterized in that the ceiling panel structure has an air-conditioning air blowing device having only an air-conditioning air outlet instead of a ceiling-embedded air conditioner (substantially no opening and no inlet). The ceiling panel structure of the present invention is effective to some extent even when it is attached to the ceiling downstream of the air-conditioning air outlet of the air-conditioning duct whose upper part is the outlet). It can also be applied to a type of conditioned air blowing device.
[0048]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0049]
【Example】
FIG. 1 shows a state where a ceiling-embedded air conditioner 200 embedded in a ceiling surface 201 is viewed from the lower surface (FIG. 1A), and a ceiling panel structure 310 (FIG. 1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 (b)) is shown attached to the ceiling surface 201 around the air conditioner 200 (FIG. 1 (c)).
[0050]
The ceiling panel structure 310 includes four linear panel structures 311 and four corner panel structures 312 that can be adjusted in length, and each corner panel structure 312 is adjacent to the corner panel structure 312. The linear panel structures 311 and 311 are connected at their adjacent ends.
[0051]
When the air conditioner 200 is a vertically long rectangular outer peripheral shape 200a as shown in FIG. 1 (e), the ceiling panel structure 310 is vertically long as shown by an imaginary line 310a in FIG. 1 (c). It is assembled into a rectangular shape. On the other hand, when the air conditioner 200 is a horizontally-long rectangular outer peripheral shape 200b as shown in FIG. 1 (f), the ceiling panel structure 310 is shown by an imaginary line 310b in FIG. 1 (c). Are assembled in a horizontally long rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 1D, when the air conditioner 200 is a square shape 200c as in FIG. 1A, the shape as indicated by the solid line in FIG. (The size of one side is increased or decreased as necessary).
[0052]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, each linear panel structure 311 of the ceiling panel structure 310 includes a linear base member 320 made of a plastic material (see FIGS. 5 to 7) and the linear base member. 320 and a linear cover member 340 made of a plastic material coupled to 320 (see FIGS. 5 and 8 to 9). In the following examples, specific sizes are illustrated, but these are typical preferred examples, and the present invention is intended to limit the present invention to these sizes and shapes, or similar or similar shapes. It is not a thing.
[0053]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A and 7B, the linear base member 320 has a plate-like portion 321 having a width W1 of about 20 cm and a length L1 of about 200 cm at the maximum. The plate-like portion 321 has a main plate-like portion 322 having a thickness D1 (FIG. 7B) of about 3 mm, and one main surface of the main plate-like portion 322 (the surface facing the ceiling surface 201, that is, the back surface). The main surface 324 is substantially flush with the H.323 and extends integrally from one end 325 of the main plate-like portion 322, and has a thickness D2 of about 2 mm (more specifically, for example, about 2.2 to 2.3 mm). It consists of a guide plate-like portion 326 with W2 of about 10 cm. At least one of the main plate-shaped portion 322 and the guide plate-shaped portion 326 has such a thickness that it becomes thinner as it approaches the inner end in the width direction (the right end in FIGS. 7A and 7B). However, the main plate-like portion 322 and the guide plate-like portion 326 may have the same thickness.
[0054]
On the main surface 324 side of the guide plate portion 326, grooves 327 extending over the entire length in the longitudinal direction are formed, for example, at intervals of 1 cm. This spacing may be larger or smaller and may be non-uniform if desired. Therefore, for example, the installation operator makes a further cut at the tip of a cutter such as a cutter knife along the desired groove of the grooves 327 at the installation site, thereby the width W2 of the guide plate-like portion 326, and accordingly The width W1 of the base member 320 can be adjusted at the installation site and by an operator alone. As long as the guide plate-like portion 326 can be weakened so that it can be easily separated along the groove 327 and is not separated or cracked or cracked under normal handling, the width, depth and cross-sectional shape of the groove 327 can be reduced. Can be anything. In this example, a groove 327a similar to the groove 327 is also formed on the other main surface or front side surface 328 of the guide plate-shaped portion 326 of the plate-shaped portion 321. However, if desired, it is used after being cut off at the groove 327a before use. The groove 327a may not be provided.
[0055]
On the ceiling side surface of the guide plate-like portion 326, that is, the back surface 324, recesses 327c having a depth similar to that of the groove 327 and wider than the groove 327 are formed at equal intervals in the width direction and over the entire length in the longitudinal direction. ing. The recess 327c is used for engagement with an end cap 450 (see FIG. 19) described later. On the surface 328 of the guide plate portion 326, small protrusions 327d having a height of the order of 0.1 mm are formed at equal intervals in the width direction of the guide plate portion 326 and over the entire length in the longitudinal direction. This design projection 327d also works to some extent as resistance to air flow. However, the protrusion 327d may not be provided.
[0056]
Further, in the vicinity of the groove 327a on the surface 328 of the guide plate-like portion 326, a protrusion or protrusion 327e as shown exaggerated by imaginary lines in FIGS. 6 and 7A and 7B is formed. It may be. The protrusion 327e is taller than the above-described protrusion 327d (for example, the height is about 2 mm and the width is about 1 mm), and is standard when the linear panel structure 311 is attached to the ceiling surface 201 with a standard width. Used for positioning. That is, when the linear base member 320 is used as it is or cut along the groove 327a and used with a standard width (substantially maximum width), a portion of the guide plate-like portion 326 on the tip side of the protrusion 327e or the groove 327a. A tip portion 326a between the projection 327e and the projection 327e is inserted between the outer frame or decorative plate portion of the air conditioner 200 and the ceiling surface 201, and the projection 327e contacts the outer edge of the decorative plate portion of the air conditioner 200. The linear base member 320 is positioned, and therefore the linear panel structure 311 is positioned. However, the positioning protrusion 327e indicated by the imaginary line may be omitted. Further, instead of inserting the tip portion 326a or the like between the outer frame or decorative plate portion of the air conditioner 200 and the ceiling surface 201, as shown in FIG. It may be simply brought into contact with the side surface.
[0057]
Of the one end 325 of the main plate portion 322, the other main surface, that is, the front side surface 329 is fitted with a key-shaped engaged portion 357 (FIGS. 8 and 9) as an engaged portion at one end of the cover member 340. A protrusion 330 that defines an engagement recess 331 as an engaging portion to be stuck is formed. Since the protrusion 330 is associated with the engagement recess 331, the protrusion 330 is also referred to as an engagement protrusion. In this specification, when one of the engagement relationships is called an “engagement portion”, the other is called an “engaged portion”, and the “engagement portion” and the “engaged portion” Both may be referred to as an engaging part or an engaged part without distinguishing them from “parts”. The same applies to the engagement relationship between the elements different from the engagement elements 331 and 357 referred to here. The projecting portion 330 cooperates with the main surface 328 forming the guide surface of the guide plate-like portion 326 to form a curved protruding wall portion protruding from the main surfaces 328 and 329 so as to form a concave portion 331 that opens toward the inner side in the width direction. 332. The engaging concave portion 331 and the curved protruding wall portion 332 of the protruding portion 330 continuously extend over the entire length of the linear base member 320. However, if desired, the curved protruding wall portions 332 have a desired length along the longitudinal direction, are arranged at equal intervals and in a row, and extend substantially continuously over the entire length of the linear base member 320 as a whole. The engaging recess 331 may be defined.
[0058]
At the other end 333 of the main plate-shaped portion 322, that is, the outer end 333 in the width direction of the linear base member 320, the main surface is formed so as to form an engagement recess 334 that opens outward in the width direction and toward the ceiling surface. An engaging protrusion 335 protruding from 328 is formed.
The engaging recess 334 and the engaging protrusion 335 also extend over the entire length of the linear base member 320 in the longitudinal direction. In this specification, with respect to the linear panel structure 311, the linear base member 320, and the linear cover member 340, “outside (or outward)” and “inside (or inward)” in the width direction are respectively When the linear panel structure 311, the linear base member 320, and the linear cover member 340 are arranged in a predetermined direction with respect to the air conditioner 200, the side far from (away from) the air conditioner 200 and the near side (The direction of approach). The protrusion 335 is positioned inward in the width direction as it is separated from the main plate-like portion 322 when viewed in a cross section as shown in FIG. 5B or FIG. 7B (in other words, the main plate-like portion 322. The base side so as to form a recess 334 between the base side inclined portion or the inclined guide portion 336 protruding from the main surface 328 and the base side engaging portion 336 so as to be closer to the width direction. A semicircular curved portion 336a that is convexly curved downward from the linearly extending end of the inclined portion 336, and a tip that extends from the curved end of the semicircular curved portion 336a so as to be inclined substantially parallel to the base side inclined portion 336. And a side inclined portion 337. As will be described later, when the cover member 340 is engaged with or released from the engaged portion, the ceiling side wall portion that is inclined so as to be closer to the ceiling surface 201 as it is farther from the concave portion 331 on the inner side in the width direction, that is, the base side inclined portion 336. The inner surface 336b is a guide surface for engaging and releasing in the F1 and F2 directions. Further, the width direction outer side end or the front end portion 337 a of the front end side inclined portion 337 is located on the inner side in the width direction with respect to the width direction outer end portion 333 of the main plate-like portion 322 corresponding to the end portion of the base side inclined portion 336. The outer surface (surface opposite to the side facing the ceiling surface 201) 337 b of the side inclined portion 337 is inclined so as to be closer to the ceiling surface 201 as it is farther from the recess 331, and when the cover member 340 is engaged. , F2 direction guide surface.
[0059]
A protrusion 338 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed at the center of the front surface 329 of the main plate-shaped portion 322 in the width direction, and a recess 339 is formed on the back surface 323. As can be seen from FIG. 7B, the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the linear base member 320 is the same in the entire region in the longitudinal direction. The same applies to the linear cover member 340 described later.
[0060]
The main plate-shaped portion 322 is further formed with a screw hole H for passing a shaft portion such as a mounting screw. The hole H is a long hole so that the screw mounting position can be selected on the ceiling surface. The hole H may be provided with a concave portion whose peripheral portion is inclined so that the head of the screw fits, and the width of the main plate-like portion 322 is different unless the engagement with the linear cover member 340 is prevented. You may form in the part. The main plate-shaped portion 322 of the linear base member 320 is a plate-shaped portion that is covered from below by a linear cover member 340 described below and whose surface 329 is hidden. Accordingly, the head such as a screw attached to the main plate-like portion 322 is hidden by the linear cover member 340.
[0061]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cover member 340 has a width W3 that is substantially the same as the width of the main plate portion 322 of the base member 320 and a length L3 that is substantially the same as the length L1 of the base member 320 (L3). = L1) long and thin plastic member. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, “upper” and “lower” respectively mean a side near or close to the ceiling surface and a distance from the ceiling surface when the ceiling panel structure is attached to the ceiling surface. The side that separates. As shown in FIG. 9B, the cover member 340 is inclined slightly vertically so that the side closer to the ceiling surface (upper side) is positioned on the outer side in the width direction and extends substantially vertically. A wall portion 341, a lower end guide portion 343 extending substantially horizontally from the lower end 342 of this end wall portion or side wall portion 341, and a short upper and lower portion extending substantially vertically from the inner end portion 344 of the lower end guide portion 343. Direction or vertical wall portion 345, a turning guide portion 347 as a turning guide portion convexly curved downstream from the upper end 346 of the vertical wall portion 345, and an upstream side integrally from the upstream end 348 of the turning guide portion 347 And a semi-cylindrical resistance imparting projection 349 that protrudes downward and upstream to decelerate the air flow as a resistance against the conditioned air flow, and from the upstream end 350 of this resistance imparting projection 349 Extended upstream An upstream curved guide portion 351 that is convex upward, an upstream horizontal guide portion 353 that extends substantially horizontally from the upstream end 352 of the upstream curved guide portion 351, and an upstream side (width) of the horizontal guide portion 353 And a key-shaped end portion 357 as an engaged portion that is continuously formed at the end of the base member 320 and engaged with the engagement recess 331 on the inner side in the width direction of the base member 320.
[0062]
The key-shaped end portion 357 includes an inclined wall portion 357 a, a substantially horizontal wall portion 357 b, a substantially vertical inclined wall portion 357 c, and an engagement recess opening inward in the width direction of the engagement portion 330 of the base member 320. A small protrusion 357d having a substantially horizontal shape and a wedge-shaped or tapered cross-section is fitted to 331. In other words, the curved protruding wall portion 332 of the engaging protrusion 330 of the base member 320 is fitted into the recess 358 formed by the walls 357a to 357d of the key-shaped end 357 and opened outward in the width direction. In the assembled state as shown in FIG. 5B, the key-shaped end portion 357 forms a resistance imparting small protrusion 359 by the wall portions 357c and 357b. As long as the small protruding portion 359 can act as a resistance-applying protruding portion that becomes a resistance to the air-conditioned air flow and decelerates the air flow, the cross-sectional shape of the surface of the wall portion 357c and the wall portion 357b is a part of an ellipse. Other shapes may be used. Similarly, the downward height of the small protruding portion 359 is, for example, about 5 mm to 1 cm in a typical example, but is higher than about 1 cm as long as the small protruding portion 359 can function as a resistance applying protruding portion. May be lower than about 5 mm.
[0063]
The main plate of the base member 320 is disposed on the back surface of the upstream curved guide portion 351 in the vicinity of the downstream end 350 and the back surface of the upstream horizontal guide portion 353 in the vicinity of the downstream end 352, that is, the upper surface 354 shown in FIG. Leg portions 355 and 356 are formed in contact with the lower main surface 329 of the shaped portion 322. In this example, the leg portion 355 includes two leg portion portions 355a and 355b, and the convex portion 338 of the base member 320 is fitted into the concave portion between the leg portions 355 and 356. Note that the leg portion 355 may not be provided.
[0064]
The turning guide portion 347 extends substantially vertically and gives flow resistance, and at the upper end 347c smoothly connects with the lower end of the upstream portion 347a at the upper end 347c and then extends at an angle close to horizontal to give flow resistance. At the same time, it has a downstream portion 347b that guides the flow toward the center side of the air conditioner 200 by changing the flow direction greatly, and the downstream portion 347b is smoothly connected to the vertical wall portion 345 at the downstream end 346. Here, the vertical height from the end portion 350 of the guide portion 351 to the lower end of the horizontal wall portion 343 is, for example, about 4 cm to 5 cm. However, it may be larger (for example, 10 cm or more) or smaller (for example, about 2 cm to 3 cm).
[0065]
Here, as can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9B, the linear cover member 340 includes a portion 340 u having a substantially “U” -shaped cross section on the outer side in the width direction. That is, in the U-shaped portion 340 u, the horizontal guide portion 343 is at the bottom of “U”, the downstream vertical inclined end wall portion 341 is at one leg of “U”, and the short vertical wall portion 345 The turning guide portion 347 and the semi-cylindrical resistance imparting projection portion 349 form the other leg portion as a whole. The U-shaped form or structure having a cavity 340s between the two legs 341 and 345, 347, 349 allows the distance between the upper ends of the legs to be increased or decreased within the elastic range of the material. The tip 341a of the part 341 can be elastically displaced so as to be separated from or close to the upper end of the inner leg in the B1 and B2 directions.
[0066]
The vertically inclined wall portion 341 located at the outer end in the width direction of the cover member 340 has a protrusion 361 that protrudes inward in the width direction at the upper end (ceiling side end) 341a. The projecting portion 361 functions as an engaged portion 363 that is engaged with the engaging recess 334 of the base member 320. Here, even if the concave portion 362 formed by the wall portion 341 and the projection portion 361 of the cover member 340 acts as the engaged portion 363 engaged with the projection portion 337 of the base member 320, the concave portion 362 and the projection Both of the parts 361 may be regarded as the engaged parts 363.
[0067]
In the example shown in FIG. 9B, the lower side surface or the inner side surface of the protrusion 361 is inclined so as to be positioned downward toward the inner side in the width direction. However, the protrusion 361 is not shown in FIG. As shown by reference numeral 361a in which the protrusion is enlarged in FIG. 5, even if it has a lower side surface that protrudes inwardly in the width direction and substantially in the horizontal direction, in some cases, it is indicated by an imaginary line 361b in (c). Thus, in order to facilitate disengagement, a lower side surface (engaged surface) that is inclined upward may be provided so as to be positioned higher toward the inner side in the width direction. Further, the protrusion 361 may be short as long as the cover member 340 can be locked, and the length thereof may be, for example, about 1 mm or shorter.
[0068]
At the time of assembly, the key-shaped engaged portion 357 having the wedge-shaped engaged protrusion 357 d located on the inner side in the width direction of the linear cover member 340 is connected to the engaging portion 330 on the inner side in the width direction of the linear base member 320. The inclined wall portion of the engaging portion 335 of the base member 320 is engaged with the engaging recess 331 and the upper surface 341a of the vertical inclined wall portion 341 on the outer side in the width direction of the cover member 340 or the upper side surface of the protruding portion 361 serves as a guide portion. The wall portions 341, 343 of the cover member 340 are expanded in the B1 direction by pushing up the horizontal wall portion 343 of the cover member 340 upward V2 in the state of being in contact with the inclined surface 337b of 337. The U-shaped portion 340u composed of 345, 347, 349 is elastically bent as a whole, and the guide portion or the upper end of the vertically inclined wall portion 341 on the outer side in the width direction of the cover member 340. The contact portion 341a along the inclined surface 337b of the inclined wall portion 337 of the engaging portion 335 of the base member 320 is moved in the direction F1. When the inward protruding portion 361 moves to the outside in the width direction from the tip 337 a of the inclined wall portion 337, the protruding portion 361 hits the inclined wall portion 336 of the base member 320. When the force for pushing up the cover member 340 is weakened or released in this state, the wall portion 341 of the cover member 340 is deformed in the B2 direction by the elastic force of the wall portions 341, 343, 345, 347, 349 of the U-shaped portion 340u. To return to the original shape. As a result, the cover member 340 is engaged with the base member 320 such that the projection 361 of the engaged portion 363 fits into the engagement recess 334 of the base member 320 and the recess 362 fits into the projection 337 of the base member 320. Engage with part 335. This engagement operation or operation may be performed substantially simultaneously throughout the longitudinal direction of the linear base member 320 and the linear cover member 340, or may be sequentially advanced from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction. .
[0069]
On the other hand, when detaching, an operation reverse to the assembling may be performed. That is, the wall portion 343 and the like are pushed up in the V2 direction so that the wall portion 341 of the cover member 340 expands in the B1 direction, and the U-shaped portion 340u composed of the wall portions 341, 343, 345, 347, and 349 as a whole in the B1 direction. The engagement between the engaging portion 335 and the engaged portion 363 is released by elastically bending, and the wall portion 341 of the cover member 340 may be pulled downward V1 in this state. As a result, the engagement between the engagement portion 335 of the base member 320 and the engaged portion 363 of the cover member 340 is completely released. Next, the engagement portion 330 of the base member 320 and the cover member 340 are covered. The engagement with the engagement portion 357 may be released.
[0070]
When a relatively large force is required to expand the U-shaped portion 340u of the linear cover member 340 in the B1 direction, the wall portion 343 and the like are pushed up near one end in the longitudinal direction of the linear cover member 340. With the end portion 341a extending in the F1 direction, that is, the B1 direction along the inclined surface 336b of the inclined wall portion 336, an appropriate rod-like portion such as a driver (screwdriver) or a strip-like (flaky) portion is provided. A tip of a simple tool is inserted into a gap formed between the tip 337a of the inclined wall 337 of the engaging portion 335 and the engaged protrusion 361 of the engaged portion 363, and the base member 320 and the cover member 340 are inserted. By moving the tool to the other end side along the longitudinal direction, the engagement portions 335 and 363 may be completely released in a manner as if they were peeled off. In the case of the protrusions 371a and 371b as shown in FIG. 9C, the engagement is more easily released. Note that the engagement recess 334 of the engagement portion 335 of the base member 320 is not illustrated even if the inner surface of the lower side wall portion 337 extends horizontally in order to facilitate engagement release while ensuring reliable engagement. As shown in 7 (c), the outer side may be inclined so as to be positioned downward.
[0071]
Further, if desired, for example, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 7D, a stepped portion 336c is formed on the inclined surface 336b of the inclined wall portion 336 of the cover member 320, and the cover member 340 is formed. When the wall portion 341 of the U-shaped portion 340u is pushed in the V2 direction to expand in the F1 or B1 direction, the projection 361 at the tip of the wall portion 341 is temporarily engaged with the stepped portion 336c, for example, in the entire longitudinal direction, and then the cover The engaged portion 363 of the cover member 340 may be completely disengaged from the engaging portion 335 of the base member 320 by pulling the end wall portion 341 of the member 340 in the V1 direction. In FIG. 7D, an imaginary line 337a indicates the position in the width direction of the tip of the short inclined wall portion 337 located below the illustrated region in the enlarged view.
[0072]
In any case, when engaging, the short inclined wall portion 337 and the long inclined wall portion 336 of the base member 320 guide the engaged portion 363 of the cover member 340, and when releasing the engagement, Since the long inclined wall portion 336 guides the engaged portion 363 of the cover member 340, the engagement between the base member 320 and the cover member 340 and the release thereof can be performed by an operator alone or in an unnatural posture facing the ceiling. It can be done relatively easily.
[0073]
More specifically, when the linear panel structure 311 is formed and attached, the linear base member 320 is first formed to have a predetermined width W1x (FIG. 2) and a predetermined length L1 according to the mounting location. Here, the predetermined width is typically as large as possible. By keeping this width large, it is possible to minimize the flow of the air-conditioned air that is blown from the air-conditioning apparatus 200 and turned by the ceiling panel structure along the ceiling surface 201.
[0074]
However, for example, as shown by an imaginary line 202 in FIG. 2, existing ceilings such as a smoke detection device, a power distribution outlet, and a downlight are located on the ceiling surface 201 relatively close to the mounting portion of the air conditioner 200. Interfering parts or obstacles 202 may be attached or formed. In such a case, the width of the linear base member 320 is adjusted to match the width W3 according to the width W3 left between the component 202 and the air conditioner 200 so as to avoid the disturbing component 202. Adjust W1x. Typically, W1x is close to W3 (W1x to W3) and smaller than W3 (W1x <W3). Note that there are gaps between the various obstruction parts 202 and the air conditioner 200 for the convenience of the strength of the ceiling surface 201, the attachment structure and attachment work of the various obstruction parts 202, and the function and maintenance of the parts 202. Since it is practically impossible for the component 202 to be attached to the ceiling surface 201 in a state where it is not practically used, it can be expected that there is usually an attachment region having a certain width. Therefore, the width W10 from the outer end surface 333 of the main plate portion 322 of the plate portion 321 of the base member 320 to the outermost groove 327b in the width direction of the grooves 327 of the guide plate portion 326 ((b) in FIG. 7). ) Should be sized in consideration of these points (possible minimum width). Here, W10 ≦ W1x. In FIG. 2, the parts 202 are shown in four directions, but this is an exception and is usually at one place or at most about two places.
[0075]
In order to narrow the width W1 of the linear base member 320, the guide plate-like portion 326 may be cut and folded at the groove 327 at a position where the width is maximum at W3 or less. When the widthwise inner edge of the guide plate-like portion 326 is inserted between the ceiling surface 201 and the outer frame or decorative plate of the air conditioner 200, the width of the base member 320 is increased by the insertion length. You just have to.
[0076]
On the other hand, in consideration of the use of a corner panel structure 312 as described later, the linear base member 320 and the linear cover member 340 are cut to a predetermined length with a saw or the like.
In addition, when the size of the air conditioner 200 is relatively standardized, a plurality of types of lengths may be prepared in advance and may be cut only when they do not fit.
[0077]
When attaching the linear panel structure 311, first, a screw is inserted into the screw hole H and the screw is screwed into the ceiling 201 while the linear base member 320 is supported at a desired position. Since the linear base member 320 is thin and relatively light, it can be temporarily fixed to the ceiling surface 201 in practice only by fixing at least two places with screws. Therefore, the third and subsequent screws do not require the operator to support the linear base member 320. Therefore, the third and subsequent screws can be used even when the worker has an unnatural posture with respect to the ceiling surface 201. Can be easily done. In particular, when the inner edge in the width direction of the guide plate-like portion 326 of the linear base member 320 is inserted between the ceiling surface 201 and the outer frame of the air conditioner 200, it can be temporarily fixed with a single screw. is there.
[0078]
Next, the wedge-shaped engaged protrusion of the engaged portion 357 on the upstream side (width direction inner side) of the cover member 340 is inserted into the engagement recess 331 of the engagement portion 330 on the upstream side (width direction inner side) of the base member 320. In the state where 357d is engaged, the engaged portion 363 on the downstream side (outside in the width direction) of the cover member 340 is engaged with the engaging portion 335 on the downstream side (outside in the width direction) of the base member 320 as described above. Engage.
[0079]
Next, the corner panel structure 312 of the ceiling panel structure 310 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 14, the corner panel structure 312 includes a corner base member 370 made of plastic material (see FIGS. 10 to 13) and a corner made of plastic material coupled to the corner base member 370. The cover member 390 (see FIGS. 10 to 11 and 14).
[0080]
The corner panel structure 312 shown in FIGS. 10 to 14 is configured such that the corner base member 370 is put on and engaged with the longitudinal end of the linear panel structure 311 (FIGS. 15 to 15). 17), the corner base member 370 itself has a surface shape with flow guide, resistance imparting, and turning functions substantially the same as the linear panel structure 311.
[0081]
That is, the corner base member 370 having a substantially square planar shape is configured to cover the end portions 311a and 311a of the linear panel structure 311 in order to cover the longitudinal end portions 311a and 311a (see FIGS. 5, 15 and 16). The upper surface 371 has a substantially complementary shape with the lower surface of the linear panel structure 311 at the right-angled two side edges 382a and 382b (see FIGS. 17 and 12). As can be seen from FIG. 12A, the wall 372 of the corner base member 370 typically has a substantially uniform thickness of about 2 to 3 mm, for example, except for a part. Therefore, the lower surface 373 of the wall 372 also has substantially the same shape as the surface of the linear panel structure 311, and has substantially the same guidance, resistance application, and turning function for the air-conditioned air flow.
[0082]
The corner base member 370 includes a corner base main body portion 380 and a corner base outer frame portion 384 integrated with the main body portion 380. The corner base main body portion 380 typically has a substantially uniform thickness and a substantially equal thickness. It consists of a plate-like body having a square planar shape, and one corner portion 381a of the square is curved in an arc shape.
[0083]
The corner base body 380 includes a corner 381a curved in an arc shape and a diagonal line D passing through an opposing corner 381b cut out in a square shape, and with respect to the plane of the body 380 (the surface in FIG. 12B). And a mirror-symmetric shape with respect to a perpendicular plane. The sides or edges 382a and 382b including the corner 381b overlap the edges 311a and 311a of the adjacent linear panel structure 311, and the sides or edges 382c and 382d including the curved corner 381a are the corner base outer frame portion 384. Are connected together.
[0084]
The corner base body 380 includes a flat plate portion 374 having a flat surface portion 374u that overlaps the lower surface 328 of the guide plate portion 326 of the straight base member 320 of the straight panel structure 311 and the straight panel structure. A downwardly convex upstream resistance applying protrusion 375 having a complementary concave surface portion 375u overlapping the surface of the resistance applying protrusion 359 of the 311 linear cover member 340, and a flat plate shape of the linear cover member 340 The upstream curved guide portion 376 having a curved surface portion 376u having a complementary shape that just overlaps the surfaces of the portion 353 and the upstream curved guide portion 351, and the complementary that just overlaps the surface of the resistance-applying protrusion 349 of the linear cover member 340. Resistance-providing protrusion 377 having an arc-shaped cross section with a concave surface portion 377u having a general shape, and a turning guide portion of linear cover member 340 It has an upstream-side deflection guide portion 378 as part of the concave deflection guide portion having a convex curved surface portion 378u of just overlapping complementary shape to the upstream side surface 347a of 47. Each portion 375, 376, 377, 378 is viewed from the plan view (strictly, bottom view) of FIG. 12B with respect to the extending direction of the edges 382a and 382b from the respective edges 382a and 382b. 375a, 376a, 377a, 378a and 375b, 376b, 377b, 378b, and arc-shaped portions 375c, 376c, 377c, 378c that smoothly connect the linearly extending portions.
[0085]
The corner base main body 380 also has rib-shaped legs 383 protruding from the back surface (upper surface) 371 so that the surface of the main body 380 is substantially parallel to the ceiling surface 201. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the leg portion 383 includes three leg portions 383p, 383q, and 383r. The leg portions 383p, 383q, and 383r extend in an L shape when viewed in the plane of FIG. 13, and the leg portions 383p and 383q are curved in an arc shape in a region that intersects the diagonal line D. The number of legs 383 may be more or less, and may be distributed intermittently instead of being continuous.
[0086]
The flat plate-like portion 374 that provides the most upstream guide surface of the corner base main body 380 is substantially square and has a similar curved arcuate corner 374r (provided on the side corresponding to the curved arcuate corner 381a of the main body 380). And a notch 374c along the notch lines 374a and 374b at the corner corresponding to the notched corner 381b of the main body 380. The flat plate portion 374 further has a square leg portion 383 s that protrudes toward the upper surface 374 u at the notch portion 374 c. The square leg portion 383s is integrally connected to the cut-out edge portions 374a and 374b of the flat plate portion 374a at the two side edges of the square, and cooperates with the other leg portions 383p, 383q, and 383r to form a corner base with respect to the ceiling surface 201. A leg surface or a contact plane of the member 380 is defined.
[0087]
The flat plate portion 374 is further weakened on its upper surface 374u to facilitate cutting for size adjustment, like the groove 327 of the guide plate portion 326 of the straight base member 320 of the straight panel structure 311. Grooves 374g for providing a portion are provided at equal intervals, and protrusions 374p similar to the protrusions 327c of the guide plate-like portion 326 of the linear base member 320 are provided at equal intervals on the lower surface 374d.
[0088]
The corner base member 370 continuously extends from the end of the upstream turning guide portion 378 in a portion other than the vicinity of the edges 382a and 382b that overlap the end 311a of the linear panel structure 311. A support wall portion 378 s provided with an extended end (lower end) 378 t that supports the member 390 is provided. A notch 378f is formed between the end 378w of the support wall portion 378s and the lower end 378u of the upstream guide portion 378 of the turning guide portion. When the corner base member 370 is overlaid on the linear panel structure 311, the notch 378 f is formed at the end 311 a of the linear panel structure 311 at the downstream portion 347 b of the turning guide 347 and the vertical guide 345. Is allowed to protrude slightly downward (FIG. 17A).
[0089]
The corner base outer frame portion 384 is formed at the two side edges 382c and 382d of the main body 380 connected by the curved corner portion 381a when viewed in a plane parallel to the extending surface of the corner base main body 380 ((b) in FIG. 12). It has an outer frame main body portion 385 extending substantially perpendicularly in an L shape. That is, the outer frame main body 385 includes linear portions 385b and 385a extending in parallel with the sides 382a and 382b, and an arc-shaped portion 385c between the two linear portions 385a and 385b. The portions 385a, 385b and 385c of the outer frame main body 385 extend vertically at the lower end of the corner base main body 380 via the corresponding linear portions 386a, 386b and arcuate portions 386c of the horizontal connecting portion 386, respectively. The linear portions 378sa and 378sb and the arc-shaped portion 378sc of the installation wall 378s are integrally coupled. End surfaces 386at and 386bt (not shown) of the horizontal connecting portion 386 are also cut out so as to be substantially flush with the end surface 378w. The outer frame main body 385 is located farther from the air conditioner 200 (outside) as it is closer to the ceiling surface 201, similar to the vertical inclined wall 341 of the linear cover member 340 of the linear panel structure 311. Furthermore, it inclines slightly from the lower end toward the upper end, and is provided with a wide leg 387 at the upper end. The leg portion 387 whose upper end is in contact with the ceiling surface 201 also has an L-shaped planar shape including linear portions 387a and 387b and an arcuate portion 387c therebetween. 384h is a screw hole for attaching the corner base member 370, 384g is a recess for inserting a tool such as a screwdriver for attaching / detaching a screw through the screw hole 384h, and 384s is a portion defining the recess 384g. It is a cylindrical wall part. In addition, in order to raise the freedom degree of the attachment position of the ceiling panel structure 310 with respect to the ceiling surface 201, without considering the alignment with respect to the support frame of the back side of a ceiling, etc., each screw hole is shown in (b) of FIG. And as illustrated with the imaginary line about the hole of one place in FIG. 13, it is preferable that it is a long hole or an oval hole 384hi. In this case, as a matter of course, the concave portion 384gi and the screw attachment tool insertion concave portion forming wall portion 384si are also formed in an oval shape as indicated by an imaginary line.
[0090]
The leg portions 387 of the corner base outer frame portion 384 are linear base members of the linear panel structures 311 adjacent to the free end portions 387ae and 387be of the linear portions 387a and 387b that define both sides of “L”, respectively. The corner base main body 380 extends to a position coincident with the edges 382a and 382b of the corner base body 380 so as to engage with the end edge 333 of 320. As shown in FIG. 17B, the free end portions 387ae and 387be (not shown) of the leg portion 387 are notched at substantially the same level as the end surfaces 386at and 386bt (not shown). Also good. Further, the main body portion 385 of the corner base outer frame portion 384 is slightly in the recess between the wall portions 341 and 347 forming the two legs of the U-shaped portion 340u of the linear cover member 340 of the linear panel structure 311. As shown in FIG. 4, the thin portions 385at and 385bt protrude from the free ends 385ae and 385be of the linear portions 385a and 385b. However, since the thin protrusions 385at and 385bt may hinder the ease of mounting of the corner base member 370, it is not preferable in some cases. Even when the protrusions 385at and 385bt are provided, In order to facilitate attachment and detachment, it is preferable to keep the length to a minimum or to diagonally cut off the corners than those shown exaggeratedly. FIG. 17A shows an example where there is a thin protrusion 385at, and FIG. 17B shows an example where there is no thin protrusion 385at. The corner base outer frame portion 384 further has an engagement recess 389 (FIG. 11) with which the corner cover member 390 is engaged on the outer surface of the main body portion 385. In the example shown in FIG. 12C, engaging recesses 389a and 389b (not shown) at both ends are notches at the free end of the outer frame main body 385, and intermediate notches 389c, 389d (not shown) is in the form of an opening. However, in order to make the corner cover member 390 easy to attach and detach, the notches 389c and 389d may be shallow grooves, or one of the two notches or grooves may be omitted. The arrangement may be appropriately determined according to the number, and the engagement recesses 389a and 389b (not shown) at both ends may be openings having wall portions around the entire circumference instead of the notches opening on one side. Good.
[0091]
As shown in FIGS. 14, 11 and 10, the corner cover member 390 has a substantially L-shape as a whole and has a U-shaped cross section (however, one leg of “U” is “U”). A corner cover main body 391 (which is much shorter than the other leg), and the main body 391 has a substantially L-shaped long outer wall 392 and one end (lower end) of the outer wall 392 from the outer wall. A substantially L-shaped end wall portion 393 extending at a substantially right angle (slightly obtuse angle) with respect to the portion 392, and extending at a substantially right angle with respect to the end wall portion 393 from one end (inner end) of the end wall portion 393. And an inner wall portion 394 having a substantially L-shape. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, the outer wall portion 392, the end wall portion 393, and the inner wall portion 394 each have two straight wall portions 392a, 393a, 394a and 392b, 393b, 394b, Between the two straight wall portions, there are arcuate curved wall portions 392c, 393c, and 394c that connect them. The outer wall portion 392 has an engaged protrusion 395 that engages with the notch 389 of the corner base member 370 at the inner edge of the upper end thereof. In the illustrated example, the protruding portion 395 has substantially the same shape protruding portion 395a protruding at an acute angle with respect to the outer wall portion 392 so as to engage with notches 389a, 389b (not shown), 389c, 389d, respectively. , 395b and substantially the same shape 395c and 395d protruding substantially at right angles. However, if desired, one of the protrusions 395c and 395d may be omitted to facilitate the removal of the corner cover member 390, and the inner protrusions 395c and 395d are easily disengaged. In order to realize this, as shown in FIG. 14C, a curved protrusion 395 f that forms an obtuse angle with respect to the outer wall 392 may be used.
[0092]
On the inner surface of the end wall 393 of the corner cover main body 391, a thin side wall 396 extends in an L shape at a substantially constant interval with respect to the inner side wall 394. 396 r is a rib that supports the side wall 396. Note that the side wall 396 ends before the area where the corner cover body 394 covers the adjacent linear panel structure 311. The inner side wall 396 may be omitted. When the corner cover member 390 is put on the corner base member 370, the end wall 393 of the corner cover main body portion 391 contacts the lower end 378t of the extension wall portion 378s of the corner base member 370.
[0093]
The L-shaped inner wall portion 394 of the corner cover main body portion 391 has a strip-shaped edge portion 394u that is bent outward (inside U) on the upper portion of the wall portion 394. When the corner cover member 390 is put on the corner base member 370, the band-shaped edge portion 394u faces the extended wall portion 378 extending from the lower end of the curved turning wall portion 378 of the corner base member 370 through a narrow gap. And it functions as the downstream part of the turning guide. The L-shaped strip-shaped edge 394u includes protruding wall portions 394ut and 394ut at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The protruding wall portions 394ut and 394ut of the inner wall portion 394 are arranged so that the corner panel member 390 is covered with the corner cover member 390 in a state where the corner base member 370 is covered with the adjacent end portion 311a of the linear panel structure 311. 311 is engaged with the downstream portion 347b of the turning guide portion 347 exposed from the notch 378f of the corner base member 370 in the adjacent end portion 311a. However, the protruding wall portion 394ut may be omitted, and an example with the wall portion 394ut is shown in FIG. 17A and an example without the wall portion 394ut is shown in FIG.
[0094]
The corner panel structure 312 is attached so that the adjacent linear panel structures 311 and 311 are attached at predetermined positions with a predetermined length and width, and then overlapped with the linear panel structures 311 and 311. That is, first, the corner base member 370 is attached on the adjacent end portions 311a and 311a of the linear panel structures 311 and 311 extending at right angles to each other so as to overlap the edge portions 382a and 382b. At this time, the length of the overlapping portion between the edge portions 382a and 382b of the corner base member 370 and the adjacent end portions 311a and 311a of the linear panel structures 311 and 311 is the length of the end portion 378w or the leg cut out by the notch 378f. The distance LE is selected to be equal to or less than the distance LE between the end portion of the portion 383 and the corresponding edge portions 382a and 382b. In other words, it is sufficient that there is at least a minimum polymerization and the polymerization is equal to or less than LE, and this length LE is the maximum permissible error with respect to the length of the linear panel structure 311 (strictly, 1/2 thereof). become. When the corner base member 370 is overlapped with the linear panel structure 311 from below, the corner base member 370 has walls 374, 375, 376, 377, and 378 that are complementary walls of the linear panel structure 311. The legs 383 abut on the ceiling surface 201 and the legs 387 of the outer frame 384 engage with the ends 333 of the linear panel structure 311. The parts 326, 357, 351 and 353, 349, 347a respectively abut against the ceiling surface 201. (See FIG. 17). Here, when there are the thin plate-like projecting portions 385at and 385bt, for example, the outer corner 381a is inclined closer to the ceiling surface 201 than the inner corner 381b of the corner cover member 370 in the diagonal D direction and the diagonal D direction. The leg portions 387 and 387 of the outer frame portion 384 are engaged with the adjacent end portions 311a and 311a of the linear panel structures 311 and 311 while fitting the thin plate-like projecting portions 385at and 385bt from the outside of the outer side, and then the inner corners. The part 381b is brought close to the ceiling surface 201, and the above-described superposition is performed. Next, as described above, the corner cover member 390 is overlapped with the corner cover member 370, and the engaged protrusion 395 of the corner cover member 390 is engaged with the engaging recess 389 of the corner base member 370.
[0095]
The attachment to the ceiling surface 201 of the ceiling panel structure 310 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
[0096]
First, it is checked whether there is an obstacle 202 on the ceiling surface 201 around the air conditioner 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, it is assumed that there is an obstacle 202a at a position G in FIG. In accordance with the distance W3 from the adjacent side edge of the air conditioner 200 to the outer edge of the obstacle 202a, the linear panel structure 311R to be arranged on the right side (hereinafter referred to as R at the end of the reference regarding related members and elements arranged on the right side) The width of the linear base member 320R constituting the linear panel structure 311R is adjusted so that the width W1x of (append) is W1x ≦ W3 (FIG. 4). At the time of this adjustment, the linear base member 320R is cut along a groove at an appropriate position among the grooves 327 formed in the guide plate-like portion 326R of the linear base member 320R. This cutting can be easily performed by making a cut with a cutter or the like along the groove 327 and bending the cut along the cut. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the obstacle 202a is sufficiently far away, and the linear base member 20R extends along the outermost groove 327a (FIG. 6 etc.) so as to have a standard maximum width. It is cut or used (applied) as it is without being cut. It is assumed that there are no other obstacles 202 on the ceiling surface 201 around the air conditioner 200. If there is an obstacle 202 at another position, the width of the linear base member 320 of the linear panel structure 311 arranged at the corresponding location is adjusted using the groove 327 according to the position. do it.
[0097]
Next, the lengths of the linear panel structures 311R, 311L, 311U, 311D are adjusted. That is, each of the linear panel structures 311R, 311L, 311U, 311D is cut to the length of the side edge where each of the air conditioners 200 should be juxtaposed. In addition, when inserting a part of width direction inner side edge part of the linear panel structure 311 (for example, 311U and 311D) between the side wall (decoration board etc.) and the ceiling surface of the air conditioner 200, it is a corner panel structure. The vertical position of the body 312 (for example, 312RU or 312RD) in FIG. 4 is also shifted, so that the linear panel structure depends on the insertion length of the inner end in the width direction of the adjacent linear panel structure 311 (for example, 311U or 311D). What is necessary is just to adjust the length of the body 311 (for example, 311R) suitably. Similarly, the sizes of the linear panel structure 311 and the corner panel structure 312 may be adjusted for other portions as well. However, in this example, since the standard width and the end in the width direction are not inserted between the air conditioner and the ceiling surface, a notch along the groove is unnecessary.
[0098]
Next, the four linear panel structures 311 are attached to the ceiling surface 201 at predetermined positions corresponding to the width and length, and the corner panel structure 312 is overlapped with the edge 311a of the linear panel structure 311 to be predetermined. It may be attached to the corner of the. Here, when each linear panel structure 311 is attached, each linear base member 320 is temporarily fixed to the long hole with a small number (for example, about 2 to 3) of screws on the ceiling surface 201, and then straight. The cover member 340 is attached as described above so that the pair of engaged portions are engaged with the pair of engaging portions of the linear base member 320. Furthermore, the corner base member 370 of the corner panel structure 312 is put on the edge of the adjacent linear panel structure among the four linear panel structures 311R, 311L, 311D, and 311U and temporarily attached to the ceiling surface 201 with a screw or the like. Fix it. In this way, with the four corner base members 370 temporarily fixed, the entire arrangement is confirmed from the floor surface.
[0099]
For example, when the longitudinal direction position of the linear panel structure 311 is not appropriate, after removing the corner base members 312 at both ends which are overlapped and temporarily fixed to the linear panel structure 311, the linear panel structure 311. The linear cover member 340 is removed from the linear base member 320. At this time, the U-shaped portion 340u of the linear cover member 340 is pressed against the ceiling surface 201 side, and the “U” leg portion 341 having the engaged protrusion 361 is expanded along the inclined surface 336b as described above. Just remove it. Since both the linear cover member 340 and the linear base member 320 have a shape formed by extrusion molding (a shape having a constant cross section), the linear cover member 340 is pulled out (pressed) along the longitudinal direction. The engagement may be released. Next, the screw is loosened to shift the temporary fixing position of the linear base member 320, and the linear cover member 340 and the corner base member 370 are again temporarily fixed. The long hole is formed by hitting the longitudinal end of the linear panel structure 311 temporarily fixed with a hammer or the like with the corner base member 370 removed or with some corner base members 370 temporarily fixed. The position of the linear panel structure temporarily fixed with screws may be adjusted. When the width, length, and mounting position of each linear panel structure 311 are determined in this manner, the linear cover member 340 is removed again, and each linear base member 320 is attached to the ceiling surface 201. The screws are fixed at a predetermined number of locations and the corresponding linear cover members 340 are engaged with and fixed to the linear base members 320 to complete the installation of the four linear panel structures 311.
Next, the corner base member 370 adjusted to a predetermined size as necessary is overlapped with adjacent ends of the linear panel structures 311 and 311 and fixed to the ceiling surface 201. Finally, the corner cover member 390 is put on and engaged with the four corner base members 370 to complete the corner panel structure 312, thereby completing the mounting of the ceiling panel structure 310. When the assembled state is seen in a perspective view, for example, it looks as shown in FIG.
[0100]
As described above, the ceiling surface 201 to which the ceiling panel structure 310 is to be attached is not necessarily an ideal plane, and is somewhat undulated from the plane.
When the size of the air conditioner 200 is large and the length of the linear panel structure 311 is about 2 m, it is difficult to ignore such undulation of the ceiling surface 201 in the vertical direction. That is, even when the linear base member 320 is attached to the undulating ceiling surface 201, most of the linear base member 320 is a flat plate portion, and the protruding length of the portion protruding from the flat plate portion is relatively short and its width. 6 is relatively thin and the protrusion extends over the entire length of the linear base member 320. Therefore, the linear base member 320 is relatively easily bent in the Q1 and Q2 directions in FIG. Therefore, even when the ceiling surface 201 has a undulation along the longitudinal direction of the linear base member 320, the linear base member 320 can be attached so as to substantially follow the undulation of the ceiling surface 201.
[0101]
Next, when the linear cover member 340 is engaged with and fixed to the linear base member 320 that undulates along the longitudinal direction, a large opening is formed inward along the flat surface 328 of the guide plate-shaped portion 326. The engaged protrusion 357d of the linear cover member 340 whose tip is tapered in a wedge shape toward the outer side is first fitted into the engaging concave portion 331 of the linear base member 320. At this time, by pushing (pulling) the engaged protrusion 357d outward in the width direction along the plane 328 of the guide plate portion 326 of the linear base member 320, the linear base member 320 is somewhat undulated. Also, the tapered engagement protrusion 357d can be securely fitted into the engagement recess 331 having a large opening. Note that both the engaged protrusion 357d of the linear cover member 340 and the protruding wall portion 332 of the engaging recess 331 of the linear base member 320 both extend continuously along the longitudinal direction. Even if there is a part that is difficult to fit in part, the linear cover member 340 is accompanied with the progress of the engagement of the part of the part that is continuously adjacent (the fitting length of the protrusion becomes deep with respect to the concave part). The portion of the engaged portion 357 is also deformed in the Q1 and Q2 directions so as to be somewhat undulated in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 8), and the fitting can be started and advanced also in that portion. Here, the engaged portion 357 of the linear cover member 340 is less likely to bend in the longitudinal direction as compared to a simple flat plate, but the protrusion length in a direction perpendicular to the substantially flat plate portions 353 and 351 is Since it is relatively small, some bending that undulates to some extent may occur. Note that when the engaging recess 331 is opened so as to increase inward in the width direction, the engaged protrusion 357d may not be tapered or wedge-shaped, and when the engaged protrusion 357d is tapered or wedge-shaped. The engaging recess 331 may be opened with a certain size in the width direction.
[0102]
When the engagement of the engagement protrusion 357d with the engagement recess 331 is completed, the engagement of the linear cover member 340 on the outer side in the width direction is next performed on the engagement recess 334 on the outer side in the width direction of the linear base member 320. The mating protrusion 361 is engaged. At this time, the vertical position of the protrusion 361 with respect to the engagement recess 334 has a degree of freedom corresponding to the length of the upper inclined surface 336b in practice, so that some waviness is It can be absorbed as a variation in the position of the direction. In addition, the shift in the position in the width direction of the engaged protrusion 361 due to the shift in the vertical position can be absorbed as the bending in the B1 and B2 directions of the U-shaped portion 340u of the linear cover member 340.
[0103]
Therefore, even if the ceiling surface 201 has a undulation, the linear base member 320 and the linear cover member 340 can be reliably engaged and the linear panel structure 311 can be assembled. In the range of the size of the corner panel structure 312, the waviness of the ceiling surface 201 can be practically ignored.
[0104]
Next, the function of the ceiling panel structure 210 when the air conditioner 200 operates will be described based on FIGS. 18 and 4.
[0105]
As shown in FIG. 4, the substantially rectangular (square) air conditioner 200 along the ceiling surface 201 includes an indoor air inlet 210 at the center of the rectangle, and an air-conditioned air outlet near four sides or four side edges. 211. That is, as shown in FIG. 18, the air conditioner 200 sucks the air in the chamber 207 from the central indoor air intake port 210 in the K1 direction by the motor-driven fan 212 located in the central conduit 205. The indoor air flows in the K2 direction toward the generally tubular indoor heat exchanger 213 located between the central duct 205 and the outer outlet duct 206, and the heat transfer pipe and heat transfer of the heat exchanger 213 are flown. After passing between the fins, the indoor air is heated (in the case of heating) or cooled (in the case of cooling) with the heat medium flowing in the heat transfer pipe of the heat exchanger 213, and then air-conditioning air at the outlet of the outlet pipe 206 At the air outlet 211, the wind direction is adjusted by a decorative plate or a peripheral wall or side wall 214, the air direction adjusting plate 215, or the like of a desired shape, and the air outlet 211 is substantially parallel to the ceiling surface 201 and slightly outward. 3 direction to blow air-conditioned air. In addition, a filter capable of removing dirt (fine particles, etc.) of room air to some extent is provided at an inlet of an air flow passing through the heat exchanger 213.
[0106]
The uppermost part of the air-conditioning airflow that is blown outward and slightly downward from the air-conditioning air outlet 211 in the K3 direction is the linear base member 20 of the linear panel structure 311 of the ceiling panel structure 310. It flows along the flat plate-like portion 326 for guidance almost parallel to the ceiling surface 201. This flow then strikes the resistance-applying protrusion 359 of the linear cover member 340 and the wind pressure is suppressed to reduce the flow velocity, and flows while spreading substantially along the surface of the protrusion 359. The air-conditioned air flow beyond the resistance applying projection 359 flows along the guide portion 351 having a guide surface curved slightly downward of the linear cover member 340, and then collides with the resistance applying protrusion 349 to be further increased. The wind pressure is suppressed and decelerated. The air-conditioned air flow that has gradually expanded with the deceleration and that has passed over the resistance-applying protrusion 349 is then largely turned by the turning guide wall 347 that is curved and suddenly protrudes downward (has drooped downward). Then, the flow S1 is turned by about 90 degrees or more from the initial flow direction when it exits from the outlet. Therefore, even if a part of the flow exceeds the lower end 343, the flow actually flows obliquely downward.
[0107]
The change in the flow velocity and direction of the air-conditioning air flow as described above is mainly a typical phenomenon that occurs in the flow near the surface of the linear panel structure 311, and is separated from the surface of the linear panel structure 311. As the flow increases, the influence directly caused by the change in the surface shape of the linear panel structure 311 is reduced, but the change as described above occurring in the air flow for air conditioning located adjacent to the panel structure 311 side is as follows. Somewhat differently, it also affects the flow below it, and similarly forms a flow S2 that is decelerated and expanded and turned downward.
[0108]
On the other hand, in the central portion of the air conditioner 200, room air is always sucked in the K1 direction from the suction port 210, and therefore a part of the airflow for air conditioning that is turned downward is shown by S3 in FIG. Give a good circulation. If this circulation flow S3 becomes excessive, the efficiency of air conditioning of the air conditioner 200 will be greatly reduced as a so-called short circuit or shortcut, but a small part of the air-conditioning air flow is used as the circulation flow S3 for suction in the K1 direction. Mixing in the indoor airflow S4 may be allowed.
[0109]
On the other hand, the formation of such a circulating flow S3 is that the majority of the air-conditioned air flow expands in a desired form in the room as shown by the flow S5 in FIG. Will help.
[0110]
As a result, it is possible to minimize the flow of the conditioned air flow so as to pass over the lowermost end portion 343 of the linear cover member 340 of the linear panel structure 311 and hit the outer ceiling surface 201a. Therefore, the possibility that the ceiling surface 201 is soiled by fine particles such as solid or liquid contained in the air-conditioned air flow can be minimized.
[0111]
Although the role of the linear panel structure 311 has been described above, the corner panel structure 312 also has a cross-sectional shape or outer shape or contour that is practically similar to that of the linear panel structure 311. Works in the same way as the body 311. In particular, as in this example, when there are outlets 211 on the four sides, the corner panel structure 312 lacks the corner panel structure 312 and there is a gap in the corner panel structure 312 between the two adjacent linear panel structures 311 and 311. Assuming that, a part of the air-conditioned air flow that is spread by resistance by the linear panel structure 311 may flow from the vicinity of both ends of the linear panel structure 311 to the gap lacking the corner panel structure 312. Not only that, once such a flow is formed, the flow through the gap may become stronger, but since the corner panel structure 312 eliminates such a gap, the closed quadrilateral shape As a whole, the ceiling panel structure 310 can minimize the airflow for air conditioning toward the ceiling surface 201.
[0112]
However, for example, in the case of an air conditioner in which the air outlet is limited to only two parallel sides or one side of a quadrilateral, for example, preferably only at a position facing the air outlet, preferably from the length of the air outlet. Alternatively, the linear panel structure may be attached over a sufficiently long range. However, if desired, in this case as well, even if a corner panel structure is attached to one or both ends of the linear panel structure, depending on the case, in order to eliminate the gap as described above, regardless of the number of outlets, A closed quadrilateral ceiling panel structure may be used.
[0113]
When the linear panel structure is used alone, both ends of the linear panel structure 311 are covered with end caps 450 as shown in FIG. The end cap 450 shown in FIG. 19 is attached to one end (the left end when viewed toward the downstream side in the wind flow direction) of the linear panel structure 311 and is attached to the right end side. Of course, since the mirror has a mirror-symmetric shape with respect to the end cap 450 shown in FIG. 19, the description thereof is omitted here.
[0114]
The end cap 450 has an end wall portion 470 and a wall portion or a protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the end wall portion 470, and is provided at an end portion 311a of the linear panel structure 311 (see FIG. 5A). It has a shape that fits over. That is, the lower side wall portions 451, 452, 453, and 454 of the end cap 450 have substantially the same shape as the wall portions 374, 375a, 376a, and 377a of the corner base member 320 of the corner panel structure 312. The lower side wall portions 455, 456, 457, 458, and 459 have inner surfaces that are complementary to the outer surfaces of the wall portions 347, 345, 343, 341, and 333 of the linear panel structure 311. In addition, a concave wall portion 458a is formed between the wall portions 458 and 459, and the inner surface portion of the concave wall portion 458a that protrudes inwardly has a distal end portion 341 of the linear cover member 340 of the linear panel structure 311. It abuts against a nearby slope portion and a concave portion formed by the slope portion 336b of the linear base member 320 (see, for example, FIG. 5B for the shape of the linear panel structure 311). On the inner surface of the wall portion 451, grooves 451g that can adjust the width in the width direction in accordance with the width adjustment of the linear panel structure 311 are formed at equal intervals. The upper protrusion 460 engages with the recess 327 c on the upper surface of the linear panel structure 311. Note that the width of the protrusion 460 is larger than the width of the recess 327c so that the cut end of the linear panel structure 311 may be somewhat along the end even when the cut end is slightly deviated from the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Is slightly smaller, and the protrusion 460 is tapered so that the length thereof is relatively long and tapered. Some differences in the lengths of the base member 320 and the cover member 340 of the linear panel structure 311 can also be hidden by the walls 451 to 459 of the end cap 450. In this example, there are three upper protrusions 460, but the number of protrusions 460 may be more or less. The end wall 470 further has a cylindrical protrusion 461 that fits into a recess inside the partial cylindrical wall 349 among the recesses in the U-shaped portion 340 u of the linear cover member 340 of the linear panel structure 311. A rectangular cylindrical cross-section projection 462 that fits into the lower recess defined by the lower end vicinity of the walls 345, 343, and 341, and the wall 336 and the main plate-shaped portion 322 of the linear base member 320 are defined. And a projecting portion 463 having a triangular cylindrical cross section that fits in a triangular space or gap.
[0115]
The end cap 450 and the other end side end cap that is mirror-symmetrical with the end cap 450 are adapted to fit the width of the panel structure 311 after the linear panel structure 311 is attached to the ceiling surface 201 at a predetermined position. The linear panel structure apparatus can be formed by covering the both ends of the linear panel structure 311 in a size-adjusted state. The lower wall portion 451 of the end cap 450 is notched at the tip 451a, and the narrow portion upstream of the tip 451a in the end wall portion 470 is formed between the outer frame (decorative board, etc.) of the air conditioner 200 and the ceiling surface. It can be inserted in between. When the projection 327e (imaginary line in FIG. 6) is formed on the surface 328 of the base member 320 of the linear panel structure 311, the notch end 451a typically contacts the downstream side surface of the projection 327e. In addition, in order to suppress the airflow which flows out in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the linear panel structure 311 from the end cap, the wall portions 451 to 456 may correspond to the corresponding walls of the corner base member 370, if desired. Similarly to the portion, the side closer to the end wall portion 470 may be curved so as to be positioned on the upstream side.
[0116]
In the above, the ceiling panel structure 310, that is, 311 or 312, is provided downstream of the outlet 211 of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner 200 having the indoor air inlet 210 at the center and the air-conditioned air outlet 211 at the periphery. It has been described on the premise that it is attached to the ceiling 201 on the side. However, the above-described features of the ceiling panel structure 310, that is, 311 and 312 are such that the ceiling panel structure 310 includes only the air-conditioned air outlet 211 instead of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner 200 (ceiling surface). The point that air conditioning air suction port is not provided at 201) is also attached to (embedded in) the ceiling surface on the downstream side of air conditioning air outlet 211 of the air conditioning air blowing device. The ceiling panel structure of the present invention is effective except for a ceiling-mounted type or a ceiling-embedded type air-conditioning air blow-out device (suction port) with a blow-out opening opened on the ceiling surface. The present invention can also be applied to an air conditioning duct in which substantially the entire opening is a blowout port. A typical example of such an air-conditioned air blowing device includes a plurality of concentric (concentric annular) air outlets known as anemos. In the case of the one having such a circular outer periphery, if desired, another guide plate or the like is added so as to cover the ceiling surface between the inner edge of the rectangular ceiling panel structure and the circular air-conditioning air blowing device. Also good.
[Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing that a ceiling panel structure is attached according to the shape of an air conditioner. FIG. 1 (a) is a bottom view of an example of a square air conditioner (viewed from below when mounted on a ceiling surface). ) Is an explanatory view, (b) is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of a ceiling panel structure according to the present invention used in the air conditioner of (a), and (c) is a ceiling according to the plane (bottom) shape of the air conditioner. Explanatory drawing which showed adjusting the shape of a panel structure, (d), (e), and (f) are bottom explanatory drawings of the example of the air-conditioner of various shapes and types to which a ceiling panel structure is applied.
FIG. 2 is a bottom explanatory view showing that the shape and size of the ceiling panel structure are adjusted according to an obstacle or an obstructing part on the ceiling.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view of a ceiling panel structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from below.
4A and 4B show a ceiling panel structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a partially broken bottom view, and FIG. 4B is a side view in the direction of arrow IVB in FIG.
5 shows a linear panel structure used in the ceiling panel structure of FIG. 4, wherein (a) is a bottom explanatory view, and (b) is a VB-VB cross-sectional explanatory view of (a).
6 is a perspective explanatory view of a linear base member used in the linear panel structure of FIG. 5. FIG.
7A and 6B show a straight base member, where FIG. 6A is a bottom view, FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIIB-VIIB in FIG. 6A, and FIG. Sectional explanatory drawing of the modification of a recessed part, (d) is sectional explanatory drawing of the modification of a part of inclined surface part.
8 is an explanatory perspective view of a linear cover member used in the linear panel structure of FIG. 5. FIG.
9 shows the linear cover member of FIG. 8, where (a) is a bottom view, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IXB-IXB of (a), and (c) is a cover on the outer side in the width direction. Cross-sectional explanatory drawing of the modification of an engaging protrusion part.
10A and 10B show a corner panel structure used in the ceiling panel structure of FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 10A is an explanatory side view as viewed in the direction of the arrow XA in FIG. 4B, and FIG. The bottom explanatory view seen in the arrow XB direction.
11A and 11B show a corner base member and a corner cover member used in the corner panel structure of FIG. 10, wherein FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the corner base member, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the corner cover member. Figure.
FIG. 12 shows the corner base member of FIG. 11, where (a) is an explanatory side view as viewed in the direction of arrow XIIA in (b), and (b) is the bottom surface as viewed in the direction of arrow XIIB in (a) ( (Front surface) explanatory drawing, (c) is side explanatory drawing seen in the arrow XIIC direction of (b).
13 is an explanatory view of the upper surface (back surface) of the corner base member of FIG. 11. FIG.
14A and 14B show a corner cover member used in the corner panel structure shown in FIG. 10, wherein FIG. 14A is a side view illustrating the direction of the arrow XIVA in FIG. 10B, and FIG. 14B is an arrow in FIG. Explanatory drawing of the bottom seen in the XIVB direction, (c) is explanatory drawing of the modification of a to-be-engaged protrusion.
15 is a perspective explanatory view seen from obliquely below, for explaining attachment of a corner cover member in the ceiling panel structure of FIG. 4. FIG.
16 is a bottom explanatory view showing a state in which the corner base member of FIG. 11 is attached. FIG.
17 shows a state in which a linear panel structure and a corner panel structure are overlapped, and FIG. 17A is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line XVIIA-XVIIA in FIG. (B) is a cross-sectional explanatory view similar to (a) for the modification of (a).
FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional explanatory view for explaining the flow adjustment state of the air-conditioned air flow by the ceiling panel structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 shows an end cap for forming a linear panel structure device by attaching to the end of the linear panel structure when the linear panel structure is used alone; ) Is a plane (top) explanatory view, (b) is a front explanatory view, (c) is a bottom explanatory view, (d) is a right side explanatory view, (e) is a back side explanatory view, and (f) is a left side explanatory view. .
[Explanation of symbols]
200 Air conditioner
201 Ceiling
202, 202a Obstacle (interfering parts)
210 Indoor air inlet
211 Air-conditioning air outlet
310 Ceiling panel structure
311, 311D, 311L, 311R, 311U Linear panel structure
312, 312LD, 312LU, 312RD, 312RU Corner panel structure
320 Straight base member
321 Plate part
322 Main plate part
326 Guide plate part
327 groove (weakening part)
330,335 engaging part
331,334 engaging recess
336,337 side wall
336b, 337b inclined surface
357, 363 engaged portion
357d, 361 Engagement protrusion
340 Straight cover member
341a Guide
347 Turning guide part (turning guide part)
349 Resistance imparting protrusion
351 Curved guide
370 Corner base member
390 Corner cover member
450 end cap
K1, K2, K3 Flow direction
L1 length
S1, S2, S3 Air flow
W1, W2, W3 width

Claims (16)

中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えた天井埋込型空気調和装置の吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えた天井パネル構造体であって、
空気調和装置の外側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、天井に対面する側とは反対側に係合部を備えたベース構造体であって、空気調和装置の側縁に沿って延在するように天井面に一の主面で取付可能な直線状ベース部材を含むものと、
ベース構造体の係合部に被係合部で係合されて該ベース構造体に固定されるように構成されたカバー構造体であって、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備え直線状ベース部材に係合される直線状カバー部材を含むものとを有し、
直線状ベース部材の係合部が、該直線状ベース部材の幅方向に離れた箇所で且つ相互に向合う側とは反対側に開口した一対の係合凹部を備え、一方の凹部のうち天井面に近い方の側壁が他方の凹部から遠いところほど天井面に近接するように傾斜した傾斜面を有し、
直線状カバー部材の被係合部が、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部と係合する一対の被係合突起部を、該直線状カバー部材の幅方向に離れた箇所において、相互に向合う側に弾性的に近接・離間可能に備え、該突起部が前記一方の凹部の天井面に近い側の壁部の傾斜面に沿って可動な案内部を有する
天井パネル構造体。
It is configured to be attached to the ceiling on the downstream side of the air outlet of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner having the indoor air inlet at the center and the air outlet of the conditioned air at the periphery, and from the air outlet of the air conditioner In order to turn the blown air-conditioning air flow away from the ceiling, the ceiling panel structure has a turning guide part substantially rigid with respect to the air flow,
A base structure that is configured to be attached to a ceiling outside an air conditioner and includes an engaging portion on a side opposite to the side facing the ceiling, and extends along a side edge of the air conditioner Including a linear base member that can be attached to the ceiling surface with one main surface,
A cover structure configured to be engaged with an engagement portion of a base structure at an engaged portion and fixed to the base structure, wherein the conditioned airflow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner Including a linear cover member that includes a diverting guide portion that is substantially rigid with respect to the airflow to be diverted away from the ceiling and is engaged with the linear base member;
The engagement portion of the linear base member includes a pair of engagement recesses that are opened at positions separated from each other in the width direction of the linear base member and on the opposite side to the mutually facing side, and the ceiling of one of the recesses The side wall closer to the surface has an inclined surface that is inclined so that it is closer to the ceiling surface as it is farther from the other recess,
The engaged portions of the linear cover member engage the pair of engaged protrusions engaged with the pair of engaging recesses of the linear base member at locations separated from each other in the width direction of the linear cover member. A ceiling panel structure having a guide portion which is provided on an opposite side so as to be elastically closeable and detachable, and the protruding portion is movable along an inclined surface of a wall portion on the side close to the ceiling surface of the one concave portion.
直線状カバー部材が、ほぼU字状の横断面形状を有し、且つ一対の被係合突起部のうち直線状ベース部材の一方の凹部に係合する前記突起部が「U」の一方の脚部に形成され、転向誘導部が「U」の他方の脚部に形成されている請求項1に記載の天井パネル構造体。The linear cover member has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the protrusion that engages with one concave portion of the linear base member among the pair of engaged protrusions is one of “U”. The ceiling panel structure according to claim 1, wherein the ceiling panel structure is formed on a leg portion and the turning guide portion is formed on the other leg portion of “U”. 直線状ベース部材の前記一方の凹部を形成する側壁のうち天井面から遠い方の側壁が、天井面に対面する側とは反対側に他方の凹部から遠いところほど天井面に近接するように傾斜している請求項2に記載の天井パネル構造体。Of the side walls forming the one concave portion of the linear base member, the side wall farther from the ceiling surface is inclined to the side opposite to the side facing the ceiling surface so that the side farther from the other concave portion is closer to the ceiling surface. The ceiling panel structure according to claim 2. 直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部の夫々が該ベース部材の延在方向に沿って該延在方向の実質的に全長にわたって連続的に延びている請求項1から3までのいずれか一つの項に記載の天井パネル構造体。Each of a pair of engaging recessed part of a linear base member is continuously extended over the full length of this extending direction along the extending direction of this base member. The ceiling panel structure described in the item. 前記一方の凹部が一対の凹部のうち空気調和装置の吹出口から遠い方の凹部である請求項1から4までのいずれか一つの項に記載の天井パネル構造体。The ceiling panel structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one concave portion is a concave portion farther from the air outlet of the air conditioner among the pair of concave portions. 直線状ベース部材が、前記一の主面とは反対側において、空気調和装置のうち吹出口のある側縁に近い幅方向端部に前記一の主面に略平行な空調空気流案内面を備えると共に、幅方向に関して該案内面よりも空気調和装置の側縁から遠い部位に前記他方の係合部を備え、
直線状カバー部材が、その幅方向内側端部に、直線状ベース部材の前記他方の係合部と係合する前記他方の被係合部を有し、該他方の被係合部のうち空気調和装置の吹出口に向いた部分が、直線状ベース部材の案内面に沿って流れた空調空気流の流速を低減させる抵抗として働く抵抗付与突起部になっている請求項5に記載の天井パネル構造体。
The straight base member has an air-conditioning air flow guide surface substantially parallel to the one main surface at the end in the width direction near the side edge of the air outlet in the air conditioner on the side opposite to the one main surface. And having the other engaging portion at a position farther from the side edge of the air conditioner than the guide surface in the width direction,
The linear cover member has the other engaged portion that engages with the other engaging portion of the linear base member at the inner end in the width direction, and air of the other engaged portion The ceiling panel according to claim 5, wherein a portion facing the air outlet of the harmony device is a resistance-providing protrusion that acts as a resistance that reduces the flow velocity of the air-conditioned airflow that flows along the guide surface of the linear base member. Structure.
直線状カバー部材が前記他方の被係合部の近傍において、天井面とほぼ平行に拡がった板状部を備える請求項6に記載の天井パネル構造体。The ceiling panel structure according to claim 6, wherein the linear cover member includes a plate-like portion that extends substantially parallel to the ceiling surface in the vicinity of the other engaged portion. 直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材がプラスチック材料の押出し成形により形成されるように構成されている請求項1から7までのいずれか一つの項に記載の天井パネル構造体。The ceiling panel structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the linear base member and the linear cover member are formed by extrusion molding of a plastic material. 直線状パネル構造体の直線状ベース部材は、長さ及び幅が調整可能であり、直線状ベース部材は、長さが調整可能であるる請求項1から8までのいずれか一つの項に記載の天井パネル構造体。The length and width of the straight base member of the straight panel structure can be adjusted, and the length of the straight base member can be adjusted. Ceiling panel structure. 前記ベース構造体が、空気調和装置のコーナー部の外側に位置するように直線状ベース部材の端部に隣接するところにおいて天井面に一の主面で取付可能なコーナーベース部材を含み、
前記カバー構造体が、直線状カバー部材の端部に隣接するところにおいてコーナーベース部材に係合されるコーナーカバー部材を含む
請求項1から9までのいずれか一つの項に記載の天井パネル構造体。
The base structure includes a corner base member that can be attached to the ceiling surface on one main surface adjacent to the end of the linear base member so as to be positioned outside the corner portion of the air conditioner;
The ceiling panel structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cover structure includes a corner cover member that is engaged with a corner base member at a position adjacent to an end of the linear cover member. .
コーナーベース部材が、直線状ベース部材及び直線状カバー部材の端部に被さって係合されるように構成されている請求項10に記載の天井パネル構造体。The ceiling panel structure according to claim 10, wherein the corner base member is configured to cover and engage with end portions of the linear base member and the linear cover member. コーナーベース部材が、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部の一部を有し、
コーナーカバー部材が、ほぼU字状の横断面を備え、「U」の一方の脚部の内向きの被係合部でコーナーベース部材の外側壁の外向きの係合部に係合され、「U」の底部の内面でコーナーベース部材の転向誘導部の延在端に当接している請求項10又は11に記載の天井パネル構造体。
The corner base member has a part of the turn guide part substantially rigid with respect to the air flow so as to turn the air-conditioned air flow blown from the air outlet of the air conditioner away from the ceiling;
The corner cover member has a substantially U-shaped cross section and is engaged with an outwardly engaged portion of the outer wall of the corner base member at an inwardly engaged portion of one leg of the “U”; The ceiling panel structure according to claim 10 or 11, wherein an inner surface of a bottom portion of "U" is in contact with an extending end of a turning guide portion of the corner base member.
コーナーベース部材は、該コーナーベース部材の表面に沿って流れる空調空気流の流速を低減させる抵抗として働く抵抗付与突起部を転向誘導部の上流側に有する請求項12に記載の天井パネル構造体。The ceiling panel structure according to claim 12, wherein the corner base member has a resistance imparting protrusion on the upstream side of the turning guide portion that acts as a resistance that reduces the flow velocity of the conditioned airflow that flows along the surface of the corner base member. 直線状ベース部材の係合部と直線状カバー部材の被係合部とが相互に係合した状態において、直線状ベース構造体及び直線状カバー構造体の長手方向端部のうちの少なくとも一方に被せられる端部キャップを更に有する請求項1から9までのいずれか一つの項に記載の天井パネル構造体。In a state where the engaging portion of the linear base member and the engaged portion of the linear cover member are engaged with each other, at least one of the linear base structure and the longitudinal end of the linear cover structure The ceiling panel structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an end cap to be covered. 中央部に室内空気吸込口を備え周縁部に空調空気の吹出口を備えた天井埋込型空気調和装置の吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられるように構成され、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えた天井パネル構造体であって、
空気調和装置の直線状側縁の各々に沿って延在するように天井面に一の主面で取付可能で延在方向の長さ及び幅が調整可能なベース部材であって、前記一の主面とは反対側に係合部を備えたものと、前記ベース部材の係合部に被係合部で係合されて該ベース部材に固定されるように構成され長さ調整が可能なカバー部材であって、空気調和装置の吹出口から吹出した空調空気流を天井から遠ざかる向きに転向させるべく、該空気流に対して実質的に剛性の転向誘導部を備えたものとを有し、直線状ベース部材の係合部が該直線状ベース部材の幅方向に離れた箇所において相互に向合う側とは反対側に開口し該直線状ベース部材の延在方向に延在した一対の係合凹部を備え一方の凹部のうち天井面に近い方の側壁が他方の凹部から遠いところほど天井面に近接するように傾斜し、直線状カバー部材の被係合部が、直線状ベース部材の一対の係合凹部と係合する一対の被係合突起部を、該直線状カバー部材の幅方向に離れた箇所において、相互に向合う状態で備え、該被係合突起部が前記一方の凹部の天井面に近い側の壁部の傾斜面に沿って可動な案内部を有するた直線状パネル構造体、及び
該直線状パネル構造体の隣接端部間に位置し該直線状パネル構造体の隣接端部に係合されるコーナーパネル構造体
を具備する天井パネル構造体。
It is configured to be attached to the ceiling on the downstream side of the air outlet of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner having the indoor air inlet at the center and the air outlet of the conditioned air at the periphery, and from the air outlet of the air conditioner In order to turn the blown air-conditioning air flow away from the ceiling, the ceiling panel structure has a turning guide part substantially rigid with respect to the air flow,
A base member that can be attached to a ceiling surface with one main surface so as to extend along each of the straight side edges of the air conditioner, and whose length and width in the extending direction can be adjusted. It is configured to have an engaging portion on the opposite side of the main surface, and to be engaged with the engaging portion of the base member by the engaged portion and fixed to the base member, and the length can be adjusted. A cover member having a substantially rigid turning guide for turning the air-conditioned air flow blown out from the air outlet of the air conditioner in a direction away from the ceiling. A pair of engaging portions of the linear base member that are open on opposite sides of the linear base member in the width direction and that extend in the extending direction of the linear base member. It has an engagement recess and the side wall closer to the ceiling of one recess is far from the other recess. A pair of engaged protrusions which are inclined so as to be close to the ceiling surface and the engaged portions of the linear cover member engage with the pair of engaging recesses of the linear base member are arranged on the linear cover member. A straight line that is provided in a state of being opposed to each other at a position separated in the width direction, and the engaged projection has a guide portion movable along the inclined surface of the wall portion on the side close to the ceiling surface of the one concave portion. And a corner panel structure that is positioned between adjacent end portions of the linear panel structure and engaged with adjacent end portions of the linear panel structure.
請求項1から15までのいずれか一つの項に記載の天井パネル構造体であって、天井パネル構造体が天井埋込型空気調和装置の代わりに空調空気吹出口のみを備えた空調空気吹出装置の空調空気吹出口の下流側において天井に取付けられるように構成されている天井パネル構造体。The ceiling panel structure according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the ceiling panel structure includes only an conditioned air outlet in place of the ceiling-embedded air conditioner. The ceiling panel structure comprised so that it may be attached to a ceiling in the downstream of the air-conditioning air blower outlet.
JP2001045391A 2000-06-22 2001-02-21 Ceiling panel structure Expired - Fee Related JP4557446B2 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001045391A JP4557446B2 (en) 2001-02-21 2001-02-21 Ceiling panel structure
US09/873,346 US6802361B2 (en) 2000-06-22 2001-06-05 Ceiling panel structure for a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus or the like
SG200103383A SG91928A1 (en) 2000-06-22 2001-06-07 A ceiling panel structure for a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus or the like
AU53983/01A AU775657B2 (en) 2000-06-22 2001-06-21 A ceiling panel structure for a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus or the like
CN01118847A CN1330250A (en) 2000-06-22 2001-06-22 Ceiling component for air-conditioner installed on ceiling
HK02101774.8A HK1040108A1 (en) 2000-06-22 2002-03-07 A ceiling panel structure for a ceiling-mounted air-conditioning apparatus or the like

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001045391A JP4557446B2 (en) 2001-02-21 2001-02-21 Ceiling panel structure

Publications (2)

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JP2002243258A JP2002243258A (en) 2002-08-28
JP4557446B2 true JP4557446B2 (en) 2010-10-06

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JP2001045391A Expired - Fee Related JP4557446B2 (en) 2000-06-22 2001-02-21 Ceiling panel structure

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Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101442109B1 (en) 2008-01-22 2014-09-18 엘지전자 주식회사 Ceiling type air conditioner

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06159787A (en) * 1992-11-25 1994-06-07 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Air conditioner
JPH08210679A (en) * 1994-11-29 1996-08-20 Sanki Eng Co Ltd Tunnel type clean room air-conditioning system
JP2000130807A (en) * 1998-08-18 2000-05-12 Daikin Ind Ltd Air suction/air diffusion apparatus
JP2002005470A (en) * 2000-06-22 2002-01-09 Air Techno Kk Ceiling panel structure for ceiling-embedded type air conditioning apparatus

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06159787A (en) * 1992-11-25 1994-06-07 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Air conditioner
JPH08210679A (en) * 1994-11-29 1996-08-20 Sanki Eng Co Ltd Tunnel type clean room air-conditioning system
JP2000130807A (en) * 1998-08-18 2000-05-12 Daikin Ind Ltd Air suction/air diffusion apparatus
JP2002005470A (en) * 2000-06-22 2002-01-09 Air Techno Kk Ceiling panel structure for ceiling-embedded type air conditioning apparatus

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