JP6833066B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The air conditioner houses a housing, an indoor heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower that blows indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and pipes connecting them. It is equipped with a machine room. The machine room is partitioned by a partition plate from the space where the blower is arranged, and an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower into the machine room partitioned by the partition plate. Is provided around the partition plate. As a result, it is possible to suppress the noise generated in the machine room of the indoor unit from leaking into the room to reduce the noise, and it is also possible to suppress the occurrence of dew condensation on the outer surface of the housing of the indoor unit.

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner including an indoor unit having a machine room for accommodating elemental parts such as an expansion valve.

The air conditioner is composed of an indoor unit installed in an indoor space and having an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor unit installed outdoors and having an outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant pipe connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and the like. There is. As the indoor unit, there are various types such as a ceiling-embedded cassette type, a ceiling-built-in type, a ceiling-embedded type, a ceiling-suspended type, a wall-mounted type, and a floor-standing type.

In the ceiling-embedded cassette type, the main body is generally embedded in the ceiling, and only a decorative panel having an air suction port and an air outlet is installed on the surface. There is a blow-out type and a one-way blow-out type.

In the ceiling built-in type, the main body is embedded in the ceiling, the suction port is installed on the surface and directly connected to the main body, and the air outlet is connected to the main body via a duct.
The ceiling-embedded type is a type in which the main body is embedded in the ceiling and both the suction port and the air outlet are connected to the main body via a duct.
The ceiling-mounted type, wall-mounted type, and floor-standing type are those in which the entire indoor unit is installed on the ceiling, wall, or floor, and the entire indoor unit is installed in the air-conditioned space (indoor).

The ceiling-embedded cassette type 4-direction blowout type indoor unit is provided with a centrifugal fan (blower) and a heat exchanger arranged in a polygonal shape (approximately rectangular shape) so as to surround the centrifugal fan in the housing. ing. The air sucked into the centrifugal fan from the suction port is discharged in the outer peripheral direction, and the heat-exchanged air that has passed through the heat exchanger is blown out into the room.

End plates (tube plates) are provided at both ends of the heat exchanger, and the end plates at both ends are connected by partition plates (plates), and the space between the partition plate and the housing is formed. A machine room is formed in which elemental parts such as an expansion valve and a refrigerant distributor are housed.
Examples of this type of prior art include those described in JP-A-2012-220163 (Patent Document 1) and JP-A-9-49640 (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-220163 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-49640

In the one described in Patent Document 1, since a plurality of holes are formed in the partition plate, noise such as refrigerant flow noise emitted from element parts installed in the machine room can be heard from the plurality of holes in the room. Since it leaks into the room through the suction port of the unit, there is a problem that the noise in the room becomes loud.

In the case described in Patent Document 2, since the machine room is closed by the partition plate, it is possible to suppress the noise generated in the machine room from leaking into the room. However, in the case of Patent Document 2, since the expansion valve and the refrigerant distributor installed in the machine room become low in temperature during the cooling operation, the surrounding air is cooled by these element parts and the refrigerant piping, and the machine room is cooled. However, there is a problem that dew condensation is likely to occur on the outer surface of the housing forming the machine room.

That is, in summer, the ambient environment of the indoor unit is often hot and humid, and the refrigerant that has passed through the expansion valve arranged in the machine chamber and has become low pressure and low temperature during the cooling operation is passed through the refrigerant pipe or the like. To cool the air in the machine room. Since the housing near the machine room is cooled by this cold air, the outer surface of the housing becomes below the dew point, and dew condensation occurs.

An object of the present invention is to suppress the noise generated in the machine room of the indoor unit from leaking into the room to reduce the noise, and also to suppress the occurrence of dew condensation on the outer surface of the housing of the indoor unit. It is to obtain an air conditioner that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a housing, a heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower that blows indoor air to the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and these. In an air conditioner including a machine room for accommodating connecting pipes, the machine room is partitioned by a partition plate with respect to the space in which the blower is arranged, and the machine room is partitioned by the partition plate. In addition, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower is provided around the partition plate.

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the noise generated in the machine room of the indoor unit from leaking into the room to reduce the noise, and also to suppress the occurrence of dew condensation on the outer surface of the housing of the indoor unit. It has the effect of being able to obtain an air conditioner that can be used.

It is an external perspective view which shows the ceiling-embedded cassette type indoor unit which shows Example 1 of the air conditioner of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the partition plate shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is a figure explaining the modification 1 in Example 1 of this invention, and is the figure corresponding to FIG. It is a figure explaining the modification 2 in Example 1 of this invention, and is the figure corresponding to FIG. It is a figure explaining Example 2 of the air conditioner of this invention, and is the figure corresponding to FIG. It is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the end plate part of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the modification 1 in Example 2 of this invention, and is the figure corresponding to FIG. It is a figure explaining Example 3 of the air conditioner of this invention, and is the figure corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG.

Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the parts with the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Example 1 of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a ceiling-embedded cassette type indoor unit showing the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger and the partition plate shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the description of this embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a ceiling-embedded cassette type indoor unit as an air conditioner will be described.

First, the overall configuration of a ceiling-embedded cassette type indoor unit as an air conditioner will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the ceiling-embedded cassette type indoor unit 100, the main body 1 is embedded inside the ceiling 16 (see FIG. 2), and the decorative panel 2 having a suction port and an air outlet is installed on the surface of the ceiling. Is to be done. Further, the indoor unit 100 of this embodiment is a four-direction blowout type.

In FIG. 1, 3 is a housing of the main body 1 embedded in the ceiling, and 4 is mounting brackets provided at the corners of the housing 3, respectively, and bolts provided vertically downward from the structure of the building above the ceiling. The mounting bracket 4 is attached to (not shown), and the indoor unit 100 is installed in a suspended state.

The decorative panel 2 is installed on the surface of the ceiling so as to cover the lower opening of the main body 1, is provided with a suction port 6 having a suction grill 5 in the center, and is 4 so as to surround the outer peripheral side of the suction port 6. An outlet 7 is provided at the place. Each of the outlets 7 is provided with a louver 8 for changing the blowing direction of the blown air.

Next, the internal structure of the indoor unit 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a centrifugal fan (blower) 10 attached to the shaft 9a of the fan motor 9 is installed in the central portion of the housing 3. A heat exchanger 11 bent into a substantially polygonal shape (a substantially quadrangle or a substantially rectangular shape in this example) is arranged so as to surround the circumference of the centrifugal fan 10. A drain pan 12 for receiving the condensed water generated in the heat exchanger 11 is installed in the lower part of the heat exchanger 11.

Further, below the centrifugal fan 10, a bell mouth 13 having an opening that rises toward the suction port of the centrifugal fan 10 while gradually reducing the diameter is attached to the central portion. On the lower surface of the bell mouth 13, an electric component box 14 containing a control board (not shown) for controlling the operation of the indoor unit 100 is installed.

The housing 3 is also formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and has a top plate 3a that closes the upper surface and a side plate 3b that extends downward from the peripheral edge of the top plate 3a and forms a side surface orthogonal to the top plate 3a. A heat insulating material 15 is provided so as to cover the inner surfaces of 3a and the side plate 3b.

The decorative panel 2 having a substantially square shape is installed on the surface of the ceiling 16 so as to cover the lower opening of the main body 1. A suction port 6 for sucking air from the room is formed in the central portion of the decorative panel 2, a suction grill 5 is installed in the suction port 6, and a suction grill 5 is installed on the upper surface of the suction grill 5 in the suction air. A filter 17 for removing the dust of the above is attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, four elongated rectangular outlets 7 are formed on the outer peripheral side of the suction port 6 in the decorative panel 2. The air outlet 7 is formed along the edge of the decorative panel 2, and is configured to blow air whose temperature has been adjusted by the heat exchanger 11 into the room from the air outlet 7.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the outlets 7 is provided with a substantially rectangular thin plate-shaped louver 8. The louver 8 is connected to a louver motor (not shown) via connecting shafts (not shown) at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and the louver 8 is configured to be rotatable around the shaft by the louver motor, and air is blown out. It is configured to control the direction.

When the centrifugal fan (blower) 10 is rotated by the fan motor 9, the air taken in from the suction grill 5 of the suction port 6 passes through the filter 17 and is guided by the bell mouth 13 to be sucked into the centrifugal fan 10 to centrifuge. The fan 10 boosts the air sucked from the direction of the rotation axis and discharges it toward the outer periphery. The air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 passes through the heat exchanger 11, and at this time, the air exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the pipes in the heat exchanger 11, and is cooled during the cooling operation and during the heating operation. If so, after being heated, it passes between the housing 3 and the drain pan 12, and is blown into the room from the air outlet 7. This air flow is shown by a broken line arrow in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, an opening is formed between both ends of the heat exchanger 11 which is bent and arranged in a substantially rectangular shape, and a partition plate 18 is provided so as to close the opening. There is. The partition plate 18 is attached so as to connect both ends of the heat exchanger 11.

Further, a machine room 20 is formed between the partition plate 18 and the housing 3, and the machine room 20 is a capillary pipe group composed of an expansion valve 21, a distributor 22, and a plurality of capillary pipes 23. , A header connecting pipe group composed of a header 24 and a plurality of header connecting pipes 25 is housed. Further, the pipe 26 having the connection port 26a penetrates the housing 3 and is connected to the expansion valve 21, and the pipe 27 having the connection port 27a penetrates the housing 3 and is connected to the header 24. .. The pipe 26 is connected to a refrigerant liquid pipe from an outdoor unit (not shown), and the pipe 27 is connected to a refrigerant gas pipe from the outdoor unit.

Although not shown, a thermistor for measuring the wall temperature of the pipes 27 and 28 is provided in the middle of the pipe 28 connecting the expansion valve 21 and the distributor 22 and the header 24 and the pipe 27. It is provided. These thermistors are connected to the control board in the electrical component box 14 (see FIG. 2) via lead wires.

Further, the heat insulating material 15 has a partition 15a in contact with one end side of the heat exchanger 11 and a partition in contact with the other end side of the heat exchanger 11 so as to close the space between the machine room 20 and the air outlet 7. 15b is provided. Therefore, the machine room 20 is formed so as to be surrounded by the partition plate 18, the housing 3, both end faces of the heat exchanger 11, and the partitions 15a and 15b.

The heat exchanger 11 functions as an evaporator during the cooling operation and cools the passing air. On the other hand, it functions as a condenser during heating operation and plays a role of heating the passing air.
Specifically, during the cooling operation, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing from the outdoor unit through the refrigerant liquid pipe flows into the expansion valve 21 from the pipe 26 and is depressurized as shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 3, resulting in low pressure. After changing to a low-temperature gas-liquid two-phase state, the refrigerant is divided into a plurality of capillary pipes 23 by the distributor 22, and flows through each capillary pipe 23 to each path of the heat exchanger 11. The diameter and length of the plurality of capillary pipes 23 are determined so that the amount of refrigerant distributed to each path of the heat exchanger 11 is appropriate.

The refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger 11 exchanges heat with the indoor air blown by the centrifugal fan 10 to take heat, and cools the indoor air to cool the room. The refrigerant that has taken heat from the indoor air evaporates, joins the header 24 from each header connecting pipe 25, passes through the refrigerant gas pipe from the pipe 27, and returns to the outdoor unit. The gas refrigerant returned to the outdoor unit is compressed by the compressor provided in the outdoor unit, then condensed by the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit to become a high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and again passes through the refrigerant liquid pipe to the indoor unit. The refrigeration cycle of flowing to the expansion valve 21 of 100 is repeated.

On the other hand, during the heating operation, the refrigerant flows in the opposite direction to that during the cooling operation described above. That is, the high-pressure and high-temperature gas refrigerant flowing from the outdoor unit through the refrigerant gas pipe passes through each path of the heat exchanger 11 from the header 24 through the plurality of header connecting pipes 25, and the plurality of capillary pipes 23 and the distributor. It passes through the indoor unit 100 while changing the state in the order of 22 and the expansion valve 21, and heats the room by releasing heat to the room air to heat the room.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 11 which is bent into a substantially polygonal shape and arranged so as to surround the centrifugal fan 10 is configured as a cross fin tube type heat exchanger in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 11 is described as having a substantially rectangular shape (substantially rectangular shape), but it may be configured in a shape other than a rectangular shape such as a circular shape. The heat exchanger 11 includes a plurality of U-shaped heat transfer tubes 11a placed parallel to each other, and a large number of thin plate-shaped fins arranged at substantially regular intervals along the axial direction of the U-shaped heat transfer tubes 11a. 11b is the main component.

The U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a is penetrated through a through hole provided in each fin 11b, and then is brought into close contact with the fin 11b and fixed by tube expansion processing. Therefore, it is configured so that heat can be exchanged between the refrigerant flowing in the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a and the indoor air flowing in the gap between the fins 11b via the wall surfaces of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a and the fins 11b. ing.

The open end 11aa of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a is a distributor via a capillary tube group composed of a plurality of capillary tubes 23 and a header connection tube group composed of a plurality of header connection tubes 25 shown in FIG. It is connected to the 22 and the header 24, serves as an inlet / outlet for the refrigerant, or is connected by a joint.
In this embodiment, a U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a in which the folded-back portion 11ab is bent into a U-shape is used as the heat transfer tube, but instead of the U-shaped heat transfer tube, the end of the straight tube is used. It may be connected with a U-shaped joint to form a U-shaped heat transfer tube.

In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 11 has a three-row configuration in which the U-shaped heat transfer tubes 11a are provided in three rows in the lateral direction, that is, in the air flow direction. However, the heat exchanger 11 is not limited to the one having a three-row configuration, and may have a configuration of two examples, one row, or four or more rows.

Further, in the heat exchanger 11 having a three-row configuration, the first row (the row on the leeward side), which is the side closest to the centrifugal fan 10 (see FIG. 3), is arranged on the leeward side. It is configured to be longer in the circumferential direction than the third row. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, on the open end portion 11aa side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a, the fin portion 11ba in the first row, which is on the windward side, is arranged on the leeward side. , The configuration may have an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction from the fin portion 11bb of the third row (leeward row).

Further, on the open end portion 11aa side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a, an end plate 11c is attached to the end portion of the fin portion 11ba in the first row, and two rows (second row) arranged on the leeward side. , Third row), an end plate 11d is attached to the end of the fin portion 11bb. On the folded-back portion 11ab side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a, the ends of the fin portions 11ba and 11bb of all rows (first to third rows) are aligned, and one end plate 11e is attached. ing.

Both ends of the heat exchanger 11, that is, the end plate 11c on the open end 11aa side and the end plate 11e on the folded end 11ab side are connected by a metal partition plate 18 manufactured by bending.

As shown in FIG. 4, the partition plate 18 connecting both ends of the heat exchanger 11 has substantially the same height as the heat exchanger 11, and the upper end of the partition plate 18 is a heat insulating material inside the top plate 3a. 15 (see FIG. 2) and the lower end are configured to be in contact with the drain pan 12 (see FIG. 2). As a result, the machine room 20 shown in FIG. 3 is partitioned by the partition plate 18 so as to be a closed space with respect to the space in which the centrifugal fan (blower) 10 is arranged.

It is necessary to form an opening in the partition plate 18 for passing the electric wiring of the expansion valve 21 arranged in the machine room 20 and the lead wire of the thermistor, but these openings should be made as small as possible. .. With this configuration, the machine room 20 can be effectively partitioned so as to be a closed space with respect to the space in which the centrifugal fan 10 is arranged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent noise such as refrigerant flow noise generated in the machine room 20 from leaking into the space where the centrifugal fan 10 is arranged and leaking into the room from here.

When the partition plate 18 is made of metal, a higher sound insulation effect can be obtained as compared with the case where the partition plate 18 is made of resin or the like. Further, a sealing material made of a sound absorbing material or a sound insulating material is provided between the upper end portion of the partition plate 18 and the heat insulating material 15 inside the top plate 3a, and between the lower end portion of the partition plate 18 and the drain pan 12. As a result, the gap that serves as the sound passage is closed, so that sound leakage can be effectively suppressed. Further, it is desirable to provide a sealing material made of a sound absorbing material or a sound insulating material between the opening for the electric wiring or the lead wire formed in the partition plate 18 and the electric wiring or the lead wire.

Further, if a sheet-shaped sound absorbing material is also attached to the inside (machine room side) of the partition plate 18, the acoustic energy of noise is converted into thermal energy and attenuated, so that a further noise reduction effect is expected. it can.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the noise generated from the element parts provided in the machine room 20 is effectively blocked or absorbed by the partition plate 18 or the like, and the centrifugal fan 10 is provided. Since it is possible to suppress leakage from the space into the room, it is possible to reduce the noise of the indoor unit 100.

On the other hand, when the machine room 20 is partitioned by the partition plate 18 so as to be a closed space with respect to the space where the centrifugal fan 10 is arranged, an expansion valve installed in the machine room 20 during the cooling operation is performed. Since the temperature of 21, the distributor 22, the pipe 28 connecting these, and the like becomes low, the air in the machine room 20 is cooled by these element parts and pipes, and the portion of the housing 3 forming the machine room 20 is formed. Condensation is likely to occur on the outer surface.
When dew condensation occurs on the outer surface of the housing 3 forming the machine room 20, the dew condensation water falls on the ceiling to form a stain on the ceiling, and in some cases, the dew condensation water may fall into the room.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to prevent dew condensation from occurring on the outside of the housing 3 near the machine room 20, the expansion valve 21 and the distributor 22 housed in the machine room 20, and the pipe 28 connecting them are connected. By introducing air having a temperature higher than that of parts such as the above into the machine room 20, the decrease in the air temperature in the machine room 20 is suppressed, and the temperature decrease in the housing 3 near the machine room 20 is suppressed to suppress dew condensation. It is something that I tried to do.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the open end portion 11aa of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a, the fin portion 11ba of the first row on the windward side of the heat exchanger 11 is leeward. It is formed longer in the circumferential direction than the fin portions 11bb of the second and third rows on the side. As described above, the fin portion 11ba in the first row on the windward side has an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction, so that a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 is shown by a broken line arrow in FIG. As shown by, the air flows through the extension portion into the machine room 20.

As a result, during the cooling operation, the element parts such as the pipe 28 and the distributor 22 in the machine room 20 are cooled by the low-temperature refrigerant emitted from the expansion valve 21, and even if the surface temperature becomes low, the machine room is extended from the extension portion. The air introduced into the machine room 20 suppresses a decrease in the air temperature in the machine room 20. Therefore, since the outer surface of the housing 3 forming the machine room 20 can be kept at a temperature equal to or higher than the dew point, it is possible to prevent dew condensation from occurring on the housing 3.

Further, in this embodiment, the fin portion 11ba in the first row on the leeward side is formed longer in the circumferential direction than the fin portion 11bb in the second and third rows on the leeward side, and is extended in the circumferential direction. Since the structure has a portion, the heat exchange between the air discharged from the centrifugal fan and the heat exchanger 11 is limited to the fin portion 11ba in the first row. Therefore, since the air temperature introduced into the machine room 20 can be kept higher, the air temperature of the machine room 20 can be kept higher, or the amount of air introduced can be reduced.

However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the extension portions may be formed in the first and second rows, or the extension portions may be formed in all of the first to third rows. The air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 may be introduced into the machine room 20 through these extensions.

Further, with the configuration of the first embodiment, there is a concern that the noise generated in the machine room 20 leaks from the fin portion 11ba to the space where the centrifugal fan 10 is arranged. However, the gap between the fins is small, and the fins are often formed with cut-outs or corrugated fins, so that sound leakage from the fin portion 11ba can be minimized. Further, since the fins are made of metal, there is an effect of reducing sound leakage, and since the extension portion of the fin portion 11ba is not located at a position facing the noise source, the sound from the extension portion also from these points. Leakage is minimized.

It should be noted that suppressing heat transfer from the low-temperature pipes and element parts arranged in the machine room 20 to the housing 3 via the air in the machine room 20 also prevents dew condensation on the outer surface of the housing 3. It is effective for. For example, the portion surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 3, that is, the portion of the housing 3 near the machine room 20, is formed by using a material having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the steel plate, for example, a plate material formed of resin, or the portion surrounded by the dotted line. The heat insulating material 15 that covers the inside of the housing 3 may be thickened. With this configuration, heat transfer from the low-temperature pipes and element parts in the machine room 20 to the housing 3 via air is suppressed, so that the outer surface of the housing is cooled and dew condensation occurs. Can be avoided more reliably.

Further, even if the heat insulating material is wrapped around the low-temperature pipes and element parts arranged in the machine room 20, it is possible to suppress the cooling of the air in the machine room 20, and dew condensation occurs on the outer surface of the housing 3. Can be avoided more reliably.

According to the first embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention described above, the machine room 20 is partitioned by the partition plate 18 so as to be a closed space with respect to the space in which the centrifugal fan 10 is arranged. It has a structure. As a result, the noise generated from the element parts provided in the machine room 20 is effectively blocked or absorbed by the partition plate 18 and suppressed from leaking into the room from the space provided with the centrifugal fan 10. Can be done. Therefore, the indoor unit 100 can be made quieter.

Further, in the first embodiment, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 is provided around the partition plate 18 in the machine room 20 partitioned by the partition plate 18. That is, the fin portions 11ba in the leeward row of the heat exchanger 11 are formed longer in the circumferential direction than the fin portions 11bb in the leeward row, and the fin portions 11ba have an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction. To do. Further, a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 is introduced into the machine room 20 through the extension portion. As a result, even if the surface temperature of the element parts such as the expansion valve 21, the pipe 28, and the distributor 22 in the machine room 20 is lowered by the low temperature refrigerant, the air introduced into the machine room 20 from the extension portion causes the machine room. It is possible to suppress a decrease in the air temperature in 20. Therefore, the outer surface of the housing 3 forming the machine room 20 can be maintained at a temperature equal to or higher than the dew point, and dew condensation can be prevented from occurring in the housing 3.

Next, the modified example 1 in the present embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a modified example 1, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4, and a portion having the same reference numeral as that of FIG. 4 indicates the same or corresponding portion.
In this modification 1, the end plate 11c attached to the end of the fin portion 11ba in the first row shown in FIG. 4 and the end plate 11bb attached to the end of the fin portion 11bb in the second and third rows. As shown in FIG. 5, the end plate 11d is integrated to form one bent end plate member 11f.

That is, the end plate member 11f in the first modification has the end plate portion 11fa attached to the end of the fin portion 11ba in the first row on the leeward side and the fins in the second and third rows on the leeward side. It includes an end plate portion 11fb attached to the portion 11bb and a connecting portion 11fc connecting the end plate portion 11fa and the end plate portion 11fb. Further, the connecting portion 11fc is provided along an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction of the fin portion 11ba in the first row, and an opening 11g is formed in the connecting portion 11fc.

The opening 11g is formed in a rectangular shape so that most of the connecting portion 11fc is an opening, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the opening may be formed. Further, the end plate member 11f is manufactured by bending one steel plate or the like, but first, an opening 11 g is made by punching or the like in a portion corresponding to the connecting portion 11fc. After that, the end plate portion 11fa and the end plate portion 11fb are formed by bending, the end plate portion 11fa is attached to the end portion of the fin portion 11ba in the first row, and further, the fin portions 11bb in the second and third rows. The end plate portion 11fb is attached to the end portion. Other configurations are the same as in Example 1 described above.

According to the first modification, a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 (see FIG. 3) from the opening 11g passes through the opening 11g of the connecting portion 11fc provided in the extension portion and passes through the machine room. Can be introduced in 20. Therefore, the same effect as that of Example 1 can be obtained. Moreover, according to this modification, one steel plate may form the end plate portion 11fa of the fin portion 11ba in the first row and the end plate portion 11fb of the fin portion 11bb in the second and third rows. Since it can be done, the number of parts can be reduced.

In order to further improve the strength of the end plate member 11f, the opening 11g may have a porous structure composed of a large number of holes, or a mesh structure having a large number of crosspieces in the opening 11g.

Next, the modification 2 in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modified example 2, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, and a portion having the same reference numeral as that of FIG. 3 indicates the same or corresponding portion.

In the first embodiment, on the open end portion 11aa (see FIG. 4) side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a, an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction is provided on the fin portion 11ba in the first row, and centrifugation is performed from this extension portion. An example of introducing the air on the discharge side of the fan 10 into the machine room 20 has been described.

On the other hand, in the second modification, as shown in FIG. 6, on the folded-back portion 11ab (see FIG. 4) side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a, the circumferential direction is directed to the fin portion 11ba of the first row on the windward side. An extension is provided so as to protrude from the surface. From this extension, as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. 6, the air on the discharge side of the centrifugal fan 10 is introduced into the machine room 20.

Other configurations are the same as in Example 1 described above. Even with the configuration as shown in FIG. 6, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Example 2 of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of an end plate portion of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. In these figures, the parts having the same reference numerals as those in the above-described first embodiment are the same or corresponding parts, and the parts different from those in the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the heat exchanger 11 has three rows having the same length at both ends and is connected by a partition plate 18. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the end plate 11e on the folded-back portion 11ab side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a in the heat exchanger 11 has fins in the first row to the second row on the windward side. A plurality of holes 11ea are provided in the height direction (vertical direction) of the heat exchanger 11 at positions straddling the portion 11bb.

Although not shown, the hole 11ea may be provided at a position straddling the fin portion 11ba in the first row to the fin portion 11bb in the second row on the end plate on the open end portion 11aa side. good. Alternatively, the holes 11ea may be provided in the end plates on both ends of the heat exchanger 11.

With this configuration, a part of the air passing between the fins near the end plate 11e changes the flow direction as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. 7, and flows into the machine room 20 through the hole 11ea. .. That is, the hole 11ea formed in the end plate 11e or the like allows a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan (blower) 10 to enter the machine room 20 partitioned by the partition plate 18 from around the partition plate 18. It is an air introduction path to be introduced.
Therefore, as in the first embodiment, a part of the air on the discharge side of the centrifugal fan 10 can be introduced into the machine room 20, so that the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Further, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the fin portions 11ba in the windward row of the heat exchanger 11 are formed longer in the circumferential direction than the fin portions 11bb in the leeward row. It is not necessary for the fin portion 11ba to have an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction. That is, according to the configuration of the second embodiment, both ends of the plurality of fin rows (first row to third row in this example) can be aligned so as to be at the same position. Therefore, in the second embodiment, it is only necessary to provide the hole 11ea in the end plate 11e on the folded-back portion 11ab side or the end plate on the open end portion 11aa side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a, so that the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Can be planned.

Next, the modification 1 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing this modification, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 8, and a portion having the same reference numeral as that of FIG. 8 indicates the same or corresponding portion.
In the second embodiment described above, a plurality of holes 11ea are provided in the vertical direction at a position straddling the fin portion 11ba in the first row on the windward side to the fin portion 11bb in the second row, and an air introduction path to the machine room 20 is provided. An example is shown. In this modification, the air introduction path to the machine room 20 is configured as follows instead of the plurality of holes 11ea.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, on the end plate 11e on the folded-back portion 11ab side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube 11a in the heat exchanger 11, the fin portions 11ba in the first row to the fin portions in the second row on the windward side A rectangular or oval hole 11eb that is long in the height direction of the heat exchanger 11 is formed at a position straddling the 11bb. Further, the hole 11eb is provided with a mesh-shaped or grid-shaped crosspiece 11ec in order to secure the strength of the end plate 11e.
Other configurations are the same as in Example 2 described above.

A rectangle or a rectangle having a mesh-like or grid-like crosspiece 11ec at a position straddling the fin portion 11ba in the first row to the fin portion 11bb in the second row on the end plate on the open end portion 11aa side of the heat exchanger 11. An oval hole 11eb may be provided as an air introduction path to the machine room 20. Alternatively, holes 11eb having the crosspieces 11ec may be provided in the end plates on both ends of the heat exchanger 11 to provide two air introduction paths.

By using the modified example shown in FIG. 9, the area of the hole 11eb can be easily increased as compared with the one shown in FIG. 8, and there is an effect that more air can be introduced into the machine room 20. Further, by adjusting the number and size of the crosspieces 11ec, the flow rate can be adjusted by arbitrarily changing the flow path area of the holes 11eb.

Example 2 of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. In these figures, the parts having the same reference numerals as those in the above-described first embodiment are the same or corresponding parts, and the parts different from those in the first embodiment will be mainly described.

The difference between the third embodiment and the first and second embodiments described above is the configuration of the air introduction path into the machine room 20. In the first and second embodiments, a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 is introduced into the machine room 20 after passing through the heat exchanger 11. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 can be introduced into the machine room 20 without passing through the heat exchanger 11.

In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 11 has the same fin lengths in three rows (first row to third row) at both ends, and no air introduction path such as a hole is formed in the end plate. Instead, the heat insulating material 15 arranged inside the top plate 3a of the indoor unit 100 and having a certain thickness is provided with a groove 31 reaching from the vicinity of the center of the indoor unit 100 to the inside of the machine room 20. Further, a substantially rectangular metal cover member 32 is attached to the top plate 3a via the heat insulating material 15 by screws 33 or the like so as to cover at least a part, preferably most of the groove 31.

The cover member 32 is configured to be shorter than the length of the portion of the groove 31 facing the space where the centrifugal fan 10 is provided in the longitudinal direction, so that one end of the cover member 32 is in contact with the partition plate 18. Be placed. Therefore, an opening 31a is formed on the anti-machine room 20 side of the groove 31 (the back side of the centrifugal fan 10 in this embodiment). Further, the groove 31 also has an opening 31b on the machine room 20 side.

With this configuration, the groove 31 becomes an air introduction path, and a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 flows into the groove 31 from the opening 31a through the back side of the centrifugal fan 10, and the figure shows. As shown by the broken line arrow in 11, the air flows into the machine room 20 through the opening 31b that opens into the machine room 20 through the groove 31.

According to this embodiment, the air in the room sucked from the centrifugal fan 10 can be introduced into the machine room 20 from around the partition plate 18 without passing through the heat exchanger 11. Therefore, air having a temperature sufficiently higher than the temperature during the cooling operation of the expansion valve 21, the distributor 22, and the pipes 28 connecting them, which are arranged in the machine room 20, is introduced into the machine room 20. it can. As a result, the temperature inside the machine room 20 can be kept high, so that it is possible to prevent dew condensation on the outer surface of the housing 3 forming the machine room 20.

Further, by covering most of the groove 31 with the metal cover member 32, noise such as refrigerant flow noise generated in the machine room 20 may leak from the gap between the partition plate 18 and the groove 31. Since it can be blocked by the metal cover member 32, it becomes difficult for the groove 31 to permeate to the outside. Further, since the opening 31a of the groove 31 is formed near the center on the back side of the centrifugal fan 10, the noise leaked from the opening 31a is less likely to leak into the room.

If a sound absorbing material is provided on the bottom surface and side surfaces of the groove 31 and the surface of the cover member 32 on the groove 31 side, the noise reduction effect can be further improved. As the sound absorbing material, it is preferable to use a plate-shaped glass wool, a urethane sponge material, or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cover member 32 is made of a metal such as a steel plate to reduce noise from passing through the groove 31 through the cover member 32, but the metal cover is used. The cover member 32 is not limited to the member 32, and a cover member 32 made of another material may be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the groove 31 is formed by extending to the vicinity of the center of the centrifugal fan 10, but the groove 31 is not limited to such a form, and the groove 31 is formed by the machine room 20 and the centrifugal fan 10. Anything that communicates with the installed space will do.
Other configurations are the same as those of Examples 1 and 2 described above.

According to the third embodiment, a part of the air discharged from the centrifugal fan 10 can be introduced into the machine room 20 without passing through the heat exchanger 11, which is sufficiently higher than the temperature of the element parts inside the machine room 20. High temperature air can be introduced into the room. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent dew condensation on the outer surface of the housing 3 forming the machine room 20. Further, according to the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 11 can be configured in the same manner as the conventional one, and can be easily manufactured.

Further, since the machine room 20 is partitioned by a partition plate 18 so as to be a closed space with respect to the space in which the centrifugal fan 10 is arranged, the noise generated in the machine room 20 is generated by the centrifugal fan. Leakage from the space provided with the 10 into the room can be suppressed, and the indoor unit 100 can be made quieter.

According to each embodiment of the present invention described above, it is possible to suppress the noise generated in the machine room of the indoor unit from leaking into the room to reduce the noise, and dew condensation occurs on the outer surface of the housing of the indoor unit. There is an effect that an air conditioner that can suppress the generation can be obtained.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the air conditioner is a ceiling-embedded cassette type indoor unit that blows out in four directions has been described, but the machine room that houses the element parts such as the expansion valve and the machine are described. The present invention can be similarly applied to any air conditioner (indoor unit) having a partition plate for dividing the room. For example, if it is a ceiling-embedded cassette type indoor unit, it can be similarly applied to a two-way blowout type or a one-way blowout type. Furthermore, it can be applied to various types of air conditioners (indoor units) such as a built-in ceiling type, an embedded ceiling type, a suspended ceiling type, a wall-mounted type, and a floor-standing type.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and includes various modifications. Further, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment.
Further, the above-described examples have been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the described configurations.
Further, it is possible to add / delete / replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with another configuration.

1: Main body 2: Decorative panel 3: Housing, 7: Air outlet, 8: Louver, 9: Fan motor, 9a: Shaft, 10: Centrifugal fan (blower), 11: Heat exchanger, 11a: U-shaped Mold heat transfer tube, 11b: fin, 11c, 11d, 11e: end plate, 11aa: open end, 11ab: folded part, 11ba, 11bb: fin part, 11ea, 11eb: hole, 11ec: crosspiece, 11f: end plate member , 11fa, 11fb: End plate part, 11fc: Connection part, 11g: Opening, 12: Drain pan, 13: Bell mouth, 14: Electrical equipment box, 15: Insulation material, 15a, 15b: Partition, 16: Ceiling, 17: Filter, 18: Partition plate, 20: Machine room, 21: Expansion valve, 22: Distributor, 23: Capillary pipe, 24: Header, 25: Header connection pipe, 26, 27: Piping, 26a, 27a: Connection port, 28 : Piping, 31: Groove, 32: Cover member, 33: Screw, 100: Indoor unit.

Claims (15)

A housing, a heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower for blowing indoor air into the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and a machine room for accommodating piping connecting them are provided. In the air conditioner
The machine room is partitioned by a partition plate from the space in which the blower is arranged.
In the machine room partitioned by the partition plate, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower is provided around the partition plate.
A heat exchanger bent into a substantially polygonal shape is arranged so as to surround the blower.
End plates are provided at both ends of the heat exchanger, the partition plates are provided so as to connect the end plates at both ends, and the machine room is formed by the partition plate, the housing, and the end plates. Formed,
The heat exchanger has a plurality of rows of fin portions, the leeward fin portion is formed longer in the circumferential direction than the leeward fin portion, and the leeward fin portion has an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction. An air conditioner having a structure, wherein a part of the air discharged from the blower is introduced into the machine chamber by passing through the extension portion to form the air introduction path. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
The heat exchangers are arranged in parallel with each other, and have a plurality of U-shaped heat transfer tubes having an open end portion serving as an inlet / outlet for a refrigerant and a folded portion bent in a U shape, and the axial direction of the U-shaped heat transfer tube. With a large number of lamellar fins arranged at approximately regular intervals along the
The fin portion on the windward side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube on the open end side has the extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction, and the air introduction path is formed in this extension portion. Air conditioner. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
The heat exchangers are arranged in parallel with each other, and have a plurality of U-shaped heat transfer tubes having an open end portion serving as an inlet / outlet for a refrigerant and a folded portion bent in a U shape, and the axial direction of the U-shaped heat transfer tube. With a large number of lamellar fins arranged at approximately regular intervals along the
The air is characterized in that the fin portion on the windward side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube on the folded-back portion side has the extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction, and the air introduction path is formed in the extension portion. Harmony machine. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
The end plate attached to the end of the fin on the leeward side and the end plate attached to the end of the fin on the leeward side are integrated to form a single bent end plate member.
The end plate member includes an end plate portion attached to the end portion of the leeward fin portion, an end plate portion attached to the leeward fin portion, the leeward end plate portion, and the leeward end plate portion. The air conditioner is provided with a connecting portion for connecting the above, and the connecting portion is provided along an extension portion protruding in the circumferential direction in the fin portion on the windward side, and an opening is formed in the connecting portion. .. A housing, a heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower for blowing indoor air into the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and a machine room for accommodating piping connecting them are provided. In the air conditioner
The machine room is partitioned by a partition plate from the space in which the blower is arranged.
In the machine room partitioned by the partition plate, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower is provided around the partition plate.
A heat exchanger bent into a substantially polygonal shape is arranged so as to surround the blower.
End plates are provided at both ends of the heat exchanger, the partition plates are provided so as to connect the end plates at both ends, and the machine room is formed by the partition plate, the housing, and the end plates. Formed,
The heat exchangers are arranged in parallel with each other, and have a plurality of U-shaped heat transfer tubes having an open end portion serving as an inlet / outlet for a refrigerant and a folded portion bent in a U shape, and the axial direction of the U-shaped heat transfer tube. With a large number of lamellar fins arranged at approximately regular intervals along the
A hole is formed in at least one of the end plate on the folded-back side or the end plate on the open end side of the U-shaped heat transfer tube in the heat exchanger at a position extending from the windward fin portion to the leeward fin portion. ,
An air conditioner characterized in that a part of the air discharged from the blower is introduced into the machine chamber by passing through the hole to form the air introduction path. In the air conditioner according to claim 5,
An air conditioner characterized in that a plurality of holes formed at positions extending from a fin portion on the leeward side of the end plate to a fin portion on the leeward side are formed in the height direction of the heat exchanger. In the air conditioner according to claim 5,
The hole formed at a position straddling the leeward fin portion from the leeward fin portion of the end plate is a rectangular or oval-shaped hole long in the height direction of the heat exchanger, and the hole has a mesh. An air conditioner characterized by having shaped or grid-shaped crosspieces. A housing, a heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower for blowing indoor air into the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and a machine room for accommodating piping connecting them are provided. In the air conditioner
The machine room is partitioned by a partition plate from the space in which the blower is arranged.
The upper end and the lower end of the partition plate are configured to be in contact with the components of the air conditioner.
In the machine room partitioned by the partition plate, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower is provided around the partition plate.
The housing includes a top plate, a side plate, and a heat insulating material provided on the inner surface of the top plate and the side plate.
The upper end of the partition plate is configured to be in contact with the heat insulating material installed inside the top plate.
The air introduction path is formed of a heat insulating material installed inside the top plate constituting the housing, and is formed by a groove formed so as to communicate the discharge side of the blower and the machine room. An air conditioner featuring. A housing, a heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower for blowing indoor air into the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and a machine room for accommodating piping connecting them are provided. In the air conditioner
The machine room is partitioned by a partition plate from the space in which the blower is arranged.
In the machine room partitioned by the partition plate, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower is provided around the partition plate.
The housing includes a top plate, a side plate, and a heat insulating material provided on the inner surface of the top plate and the side plate.
The air introduction path is formed of a heat insulating material installed inside the top plate constituting the housing, and is formed by a groove formed so as to communicate the discharge side of the blower and the machine room.
The groove formed so as to communicate the discharge side of the blower and the machine room has an opening that opens to the discharge side of the blower and an opening that opens to the machine room side.
An air conditioner comprising a cover member that covers most of the groove except for the opening that opens on the discharge side and the opening that opens on the machine room side. A housing, a heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower for blowing indoor air into the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and a machine room for accommodating piping connecting them are provided. In the air conditioner
The machine room is partitioned by a partition plate from the space in which the blower is arranged.
In the machine room partitioned by the partition plate, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower is provided around the partition plate.
The housing includes a top plate, a side plate, and a heat insulating material provided on the inner surface of the top plate and the side plate.
The air introduction path is formed of a heat insulating material installed inside the top plate constituting the housing, and is formed by a groove formed so as to communicate the discharge side of the blower and the machine room.
An air conditioner characterized in that a sound absorbing material is provided in the groove. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
An air conditioner characterized in that the partition plate is made of metal and at least one of a sound absorbing material and a sound insulating material is provided on the machine room side of the partition plate. A housing, a heat exchanger installed in the housing, a blower for blowing indoor air into the heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and a machine room for accommodating piping connecting them are provided. In the air conditioner
The machine room is partitioned by a partition plate from the space in which the blower is arranged.
In the machine room partitioned by the partition plate, an air introduction path for introducing a part of the air discharged from the blower is provided around the partition plate.
The housing includes a top plate, a side plate, a heat insulating material provided on the inner surface of the top plate and the side plate, and a drain pan installed under the heat exchanger.
The partition plate is made of metal, and between the upper end portion of the partition plate and the heat insulating material inside the top plate,
An air conditioner characterized in that a sealing material made of a sound absorbing material or a sound insulating material is provided between the lower end portion of the partition plate and the drain pan. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
An air conditioner characterized in that a portion of a housing near the machine room is made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than a steel plate. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
The housing includes a top plate, a side plate, and a heat insulating material provided on the inner surface of the top plate and the side plate.
Air conditioning is characterized in that the thickness of the heat insulating material arranged inside the housing near the machine room is made thicker than the thickness of the heat insulating material arranged in other parts of the housing. Machine. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an expansion valve, a refrigerant distributor, and a pipe arranged in the machine chamber is covered with a heat insulating material.

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