JP4614734B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner including an exterior panel that can be opened and closed.

In recent air conditioners, the design (design) on the exterior is emphasized, and in order to improve the design, and to prevent dust from entering the inlet as much as possible, the inlet (air inlet) provided with an air filter ) Is hidden by the exterior panel. Here, in a wall-mounted air conditioner, the air intake is provided on the front or top surface, but the air intake provided on the front (hereinafter referred to as the front air intake) is covered with an exterior panel. The front intake is invisible so that it has a high-class design.
In such an air conditioner, the entire front intake port is covered with an exterior panel (hereinafter referred to as an open panel) that can be opened and closed, and during operation suspension, the open panel is held closed to close the front intake port. During operation, the open panel is electrically rotated with its lower end as the center of rotation, and the upper side is electrically rotated and held in a state where it is opened at a slight angle (for example, about 10 ° to 20 °). Ensure an air inflow path to the front air intake inside the open panel.
As a result, during a pause, the front air inlet is completely blocked by the open panel and is not visible. Even during operation, since the air conditioner is installed at a high place, even if the open panel is opened at a slight angle from the upper side, the front intake port is visible to the eyes of the person looking up from the lower side. Is not visible. As a result, the design of the air conditioner is improved, and dust can be prevented from entering the front intake port during the pause.
On the other hand, in an air conditioner, when cleaning the front air inlet or the air filter provided at the front air inlet, it is necessary to remove the open panel from the front air inlet (release the front air inlet). is there. Here, as in the above-described operation, the degree to which the open panel is opened at a slight angle from the upper side is not sufficient for a user who accesses the air conditioner from the lower side and cleans the front intake port. For this reason, an attachment / detachment mechanism that allows the open panel to be detached from the apparatus main body is provided so that the open panel itself can be removed from the apparatus main body when cleaning the front air intake port, or the open panel is configured as a frame portion. The sub-panel can be opened and closed with respect to the frame portion. For example, the sub-panel is opened during operation, and the entire open panel including the frame portion is cleaned when cleaning the front intake port. There was a need for an open configuration.
Further, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner in which the entire front panel (corresponding to the open panel) in front of the front intake port can be moved downward by a link mechanism, and almost the entire front intake port can be opened. It is shown.
JP 2001-182957 A

However, in an air conditioner installed at a high place, when removing the open panel from the main body, it is necessary to move up and down the platform with the open panel. There was a problem that it was dangerous work.
Further, as described above, the open panel having a combined structure of a frame portion and a sub-panel that can be opened and closed with respect to the frame portion is used. Providing a mechanism that moves the robot to the extent that it is released has the problem that it requires a lot of labor and cost to manufacture. Furthermore, there is an air conditioner that allows the open panel itself to be removed and cleaned. In this case, the weight of the open panel increases, so that the user can handle heavy objects at a high place. Rather, it was configured to force dangerous work.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to easily open the front intake port portion without removing the exterior panel (open panel) covering the front intake port with a simple structure. It is in providing the air conditioner which can maintain.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is applied to an air conditioner, and has a lower end portion of one open panel (the open panel) that can be opened and closed with respect to a front intake port as a rotation center. The entire open panel can be opened / closed from the upper end side by electric drive, and the upper end of the open panel is loosely mounted on the attachment / detachment portion that can be attached / detached to / from the air conditioner body. Is provided with a both-side opening / closing mechanism that can be opened / closed from the lower end side with the upper end portion as a rotation center. During normal operation, the entire open panel is opened and closed from its upper end side by electric drive by the both side opening and closing mechanism, and during maintenance, the entire open panel can be opened and closed from its lower end side by the both side opening and closing mechanism. Is possible.
As a result, during normal operation (except during maintenance of the front intake vent), the intake panel can be opened and closed without sacrificing design (designability) by opening and closing the open panel within a slight angle range from the upper end. When performing maintenance such as cleaning the front intake port, the front panel can be easily maintained by lifting the open panel from the lower side and opening it. In addition, the open panel has a combined structure of a frame portion and a sub-panel that can be opened and closed with respect to the frame portion, and a complicated link mechanism for moving the open panel to the upper side or the lower side of the front intake port. Without being provided, it can be realized with a simple structure in which a single panel having a simple structure is rotated.
For example, the two-side opening / closing mechanism is configured such that a protrusion provided on one of a lower end of the open panel and a support that supports the lower end of the open panel is fitted into a groove provided on the other, and the entire open panel It is conceivable that the entire open panel can be opened and closed at a slight angle for securing an intake path from the upper end side. Thus, during normal operation, the lower end portion of the open panel becomes a rotation center (fulcrum) in a state of being supported by a very simple structure in which the protrusion and the groove are fitted.
For example, if the open panel is configured to be driven to open and close from above by an electric motor connected via a rack gear mechanism with the lower end supported, the majority of the load of the open panel is supported by the lower end. The load applied to the electric motor is small, and the open panel can be electrically opened and closed with a low torque, power saving and a small electric motor. In this case, if the rack gear mechanism is provided on both the left and right sides of the open panel, it is desirable that the left and right open panels are generally opened and closed so that the open panel can be balanced without being deformed (without bending).

Further, since the upper end of the open panel is YuruSo the disjunction portion that is the disjunction capable configured for those air-conditioner main body (mounted with play), the open panel thereof Since it is supported so as to be pivotable at the upper end portion, during maintenance of the front intake port, the open panel loosely mounted on the separation contact portion is slightly lifted up so that the protrusion at the lower end portion of the open panel The fitting with the groove part is released, and the open panel can be opened and closed from the lower side with the loosely-attached part (upper end part) of the separation / contact part as a rotation center.
Here, if a structure in which the upper end of the open panel is hooked on the separation / contact part as a structure in which the open panel is loosely mounted on the separation / removal part, the open panel can be easily detached, It is also possible to clean the open panel itself by washing with water or the like.

According to the present invention, the entire exterior panel (open panel) that can be opened and closed with respect to the front intake port can be opened and closed from both the upper and lower sides. (Except during maintenance), the entire open panel can be opened and closed within a slight angle range from the upper end side, ensuring an intake path without impairing design (designability), and maintenance such as cleaning the front air intake port. In this case, the entire open panel is lifted and opened from the lower side, thereby facilitating maintenance work on the front air inlet portion, which is a work at a high place. In addition, if the open panel is closed during operation stop, dust can be prevented from entering the front air inlet and the air filter provided at the front air inlet. In addition, the open panel can be realized with a simple structure in which a single panel having a simple structure is rotated, and the man-hours and costs for manufacturing can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
1 is an overall perspective view showing the entire air conditioner X according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the air conditioner X with the open panel closed, and FIG. 3 is an upper view of the open panel. 4 is a side sectional view of the air conditioner X opened from the lower side, FIG. 4 is an upper side drive for opening and closing the open panel of the air conditioner X from the upper side. It is the perspective view and exploded view of a mechanism.

First, the outline | summary of the external appearance structure and internal structure of the air conditioner X which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using FIG.1 and FIG.2.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner X has an exterior formed by a cabinet 6, and a front air inlet 3 (front air inlet) for sucking indoor air is provided in front of the air conditioner X, and a heat is formed in the lower part thereof. A horizontally long air conditioner main body 1 provided with an air outlet 7 for sending out the converted air and a front air inlet 3 are provided so as to cover the front air inlet 3 and can be opened and closed. A sheet-structured open panel 9 (an example of an exterior panel) and a louver 8 and the like that are detachably provided at the air outlet 7 are provided to form the exterior.
Further, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the interior of the air conditioner X includes a dust filter 2 provided between the front air inlet 3 and the open panel 9, and the front air inlet 3 through the room. A blower 5 that sucks in air and sends heat-exchanged air into the room from the air outlet 7, and a heat exchanger 4 that exchanges heat between the room air taken in by the blower 5 and the refrigerant. It is appropriately arranged.
2 and FIGS. 3 and 4 to be described later, the opening in the air outlet 7 and the louver 8 are omitted.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the air conditioner X, the front intake port 3 provided with the dust filter 2 (air filter) is a single open panel 9 forming an exterior for improving design. It is configured to be hidden.

The air conditioner X is characterized in that the single-panel open panel 9 includes a both-side opening and closing mechanism that can be opened and closed from both the upper side and the lower side.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the air conditioner X in a state where the open panel 9 is opened from above.
As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioner X keeps the open panel 9 closed to close the front air intake port 3 as shown in FIG. 2, while operating, as shown in FIG. The open panel 9 is electrically rotated from above and is held in a state where it is opened at a slight angle, thereby securing an air inflow path to the front intake port 3 inside the open panel 9.
As shown in FIG. 3, the open panel 9 (exterior panel) is formed at a slight angle from the upper end side of the open panel 9 around the lower end portion 9 a of the open panel 9 by the both-side opening / closing mechanism. For example, it can be opened and closed by about 10 ° to 20 °.
When the control unit (not shown) detects that the operation start operation has been performed through the remote controller for operating the air conditioner X, the motor 25 (electric motor) provided in the upper drive mechanism 20 described later is The open panel 9 is electrically driven and opened / closed from its upper end side.

Hereinafter, the opening / closing mechanism from above the open panel 9 in the both-side opening / closing mechanism will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view (b), (c) and exploded view (a) of the upper drive mechanism 20 that constitutes a part of the both-side opening / closing mechanism and drives the open panel 9 from the upper side.
As shown in FIG. 3, the both-side opening / closing mechanism includes a protrusion 9c (see FIG. 4) provided on a lower end 9a of the open panel 9 (exterior panel) and a lower end 9a of the open panel 9 on the lower side. Provided in a part of the cabinet 6 supported from below (hereinafter referred to as the lower support portion 6a) and having a groove portion 6b into which the projection portion 9c is fitted, and this fitting portion (the lower end portion of the open panel) 9a) serves as a fulcrum to support the open panel 9 in a rotatable manner.
Here, the protrusion 9c has, for example, a shape that extends in the width direction (depth direction in FIG. 3) of the open panel 9 to form a ridge line, and is provided at one or a plurality of positions in the width direction of the open panel 9. The groove 6b is also provided at a position and shape corresponding to this.
Further, the protrusion 9c has a tip portion formed in a curved shape such as a semi-spherical shape, and the groove portion 6b into which the protrusion 9c is fitted is also formed in a curved shape along the tip shape of the protrusion 9c. As a result, the open panel 9 rotates smoothly with the fitting portion as the rotation center (fulcrum).
The lower support portion 6a may be provided with a protrusion, and the groove portion into which the protrusion is fitted may be provided in the lower end portion 9a of the open panel 9. That is, a protrusion provided on one of the lower end 9a and the lower support 6a of the open panel 9 is fitted into a groove provided on the other, and the open panel 9 is rotated at the lower end 9a. What is necessary is just to make it the structure supported so that it is possible.

The upper drive mechanism 20 constituting a part of the both-side opening / closing mechanism is disposed above the front air inlet 3 in the air conditioner body 1.
The upper drive mechanism 20 includes a separation member 22 that is detachably attached to the air conditioner body 1, and the open panel 9 is supported by a support shaft 22 a that is a part of the separation member 22. Is supported in a state where the key 9d (see FIG. 3) provided on the upper end 9b is hooked (that is, the upper end 9b of the open panel 22 is hooked on the separating member 22).
As a result, the upper end portion 9b of the open panel 9 is attached to the separating member 22 with a play (is loosely mounted), and the open panel 9 is rotatable at the upper end portion 9b. Will be supported.
Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper drive mechanism 20 includes a motor 25, a spur gear 21 mounted on a rotating shaft 25a of the motor 25, the separating member 22, and a holding member for holding them. 23, 24. The upper drive mechanism 20 includes a rack gear mechanism in which the spur gear 21 and a tooth portion 22b (gear) provided on the arm portion of the separating member 22 are engaged with each other.
The upper drive mechanism 20 is configured so that the lower end portion 9a of the open panel 9 is supported by the lower support portion 6a (see FIG. 3) and the upper end portion 9b of the open panel 9 is interposed via the rack gear mechanism. A direction R (see FIGS. 5 and 3) in which the separation member 22 is separated from and connected to the air conditioner body 1 by rotationally driving (forward and reverse) the motor 25 (electric motor) coupled to the air conditioner. ). Thereby, the open panel 9 is driven to open and close from the upper side with the lower end portion 9a as the center of rotation.
5B shows the state of the upper drive mechanism 20 when the open panel 9 is closed, and FIG. 5C shows the state of the upper drive mechanism 20 when the open panel 9 is opened. To express.
The upper drive mechanism 20 (an example of a part of a both-side opening / closing mechanism) provided with the rack gear mechanism shown in FIG. 5 is provided on both the left and right sides of the open panel 9.
Thus, when opening and closing the horizontally long open panel 9, the open panel 9 is not deformed (but does not flex) and the right and left balance can be achieved.

Next, the opening / closing mechanism from the lower side of the open panel 9 in the both-side opening / closing mechanism will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As described above, the open panel 9 is supported so as to be rotatable about the upper end 9b as a center of rotation by the upper end 9b being hooked on the separating member 22.
Further, as described above, when the open panel 9 is closed, the projection 9c at the lower end 9a is fitted into the groove 6b of the lower support 6a.
Here, since the open panel 9 has a play in the hooking portion of the upper end portion 9b, when the open panel 9 is lifted substantially vertically upward, the fitting between the projection 9c and the groove 6b is easily removed. . Then, when the open panel 9 is lifted and rotated obliquely upward from the lower side to the near side in the disengaged state (the rotation center is the upper end portion 9b), as shown in FIG. The panel 9 can be greatly opened from the lower side (for example, 50 ° or more). That is, the open panel 9 can be opened and closed from the lower end side with the upper end portion 9b as a rotation center.
Thereby, the said air conditioner X can be accessed from the lower side, and the maintenance of the said front inlet 3 and the said dust filter 2 can be performed easily.
Further, since the open panel 9 is only latched at the upper end portion 9b, the latched portion is released when the open panel 9 is lifted more substantially vertically upward. Therefore, it is easy to remove the open panel 9.

  The present invention can be used for an air conditioner.

1 is an overall perspective view showing an entire air conditioner X according to an embodiment of the present invention. Side sectional drawing of the air conditioner X which closed the open panel. Side sectional drawing of the air conditioner X which opened the open panel from the upper side. Side sectional drawing of the air conditioner X which opened the open panel from the lower side. The perspective view and exploded view of the upper side drive mechanism which opens and closes the open panel of the air conditioner X from the upper side.

Explanation of symbols

X ... Air conditioner 1 ... Air conditioner body 2 ... Dust filter 3 ... Front air inlet 4 ... Heat exchanger 5 ... Blower 6 ... Cabinet 6a ... Lower support 6b ... Groove 7 ... Air outlet 8 ... Louver 9 ... Open panel (exterior panel)
9c ... Projection 20 ... Upper drive mechanism 21 ... Spur gear 22 ... Separation member 22a ... Support shafts 23, 24 ... Holding member 25 ... Motor

Claims (5)

An air conditioner having a single exterior panel that can be opened and closed with respect to a front air inlet,
The entire exterior panel can be opened / closed from the upper end side by electric drive with the lower end portion of the exterior panel as a rotation center, and the upper end of the exterior panel is connected to the attachment / detachment portion that can be attached / detached to / from the air conditioner body. Comprising a both-side opening / closing mechanism that allows the entire exterior panel to be opened / closed from its lower end side with the upper portion of the exterior panel being pivoted by being loosely mounted,
During normal operation, the entire exterior panel is opened and closed from the upper end side by electric drive by the both-side opening and closing mechanism,
An air conditioner characterized in that the entire exterior panel can be opened and closed from the lower end side by the both-side opening and closing mechanism during maintenance.   The both-side opening / closing mechanism has a projection provided on one of a lower end of the exterior panel and a support for supporting the lower end of the exterior panel fitted in a groove provided on the other, and the entire exterior panel is The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is supported at a lower end portion so as to be rotatable, and the entire exterior panel can be opened and closed by a slight angle for securing an intake path from the upper end side.   The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the both-side opening / closing mechanism is configured to open and close the exterior panel from above by an electric motor connected via a rack gear mechanism with the lower end portion thereof supported. Machine.   The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the rack gear mechanism in the both-side opening / closing mechanism is provided on both left and right sides of the exterior panel. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an upper end portion of the exterior panel is hooked on the separation / contact portion.

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