JPH0357377B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a wind direction changing device for an air conditioner using a shape memory alloy material (hereinafter referred to as SME metal) as a driving source for wind direction changing blades.

Conventional configuration and its problems Conventionally, as a wind direction changing device for an air conditioner, the wind direction changing blades are driven and controlled by a motor etc. according to the outlet temperature, and switching between automatic and manual is possible by turning on and off the power applied to the motor. I was doing it.

However, this structure requires the use of a temperature detection means for detecting the blowing temperature and an expensive motor, resulting in high costs.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above conventional problems, eliminates the need for the conventional expensive motor, and
The purpose of this invention is to enable drive control of wind direction changing blades at low cost.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a wind direction changing blade with an SME metal spring and a bias spring, and further includes a lever arm biased to abut against a shaft at one end of the wind direction changing blade. A release mechanism is provided for releasing the lever arm from contact with the shaft.

This configuration prevents the SME metal spring from driving the wind direction changing vane when the lever arm is in contact with the shaft, and when the lever arm leaves the shaft, the wind direction changing vane is prevented from driving by the SME metal spring. It is automatically rotated by expansion and contraction.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the schematic structure of an indoor unit of a separate type air conditioner will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an indoor unit main body, and an air outlet grille 3 having an air inlet 2 and an air outlet is formed on the front surface. 8 is a wind direction changing plate that changes the direction of the blowing air up and down.

Next, a second explanation regarding the configuration of the outlet grille 3 will be given.
The explanation will focus on figures.

In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a right bearing, which has a notch consisting of a moving part 4a extending in the axial direction and an engaging part 4b communicating with the moving part 4a and extending in the outer circumferential direction. Installed. Reference numeral 5 denotes a manual coil spring, which is attached between the lever arm 6 and the lever arm 6. 7 is a coiled SME metal which expands and contracts depending on the temperature; one end is engaged with the mounting hole 6a of the lever arm 6, and the other end is engaged with the mounting hole 8a of the wind direction changing blade 8. There is. 9 is a coiled bias spring, one end of which is attached to the mounting hole 3a of the outlet grille 3, and the other end of which is attached to the wind direction changing blade 8.
It is attached to the attachment hole 10a of the left bearing 10 of. This bias spring 9 always applies a force so that the wind direction changing blade 8 is directed horizontally.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, description will be given of the manual and automatic wind direction changing operations.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the wind direction changing blade 8 can be operated manually.

That is, the lever 6b of the lever arm 6 is located at the moving part 4a of the notch 4, and the coil spring 5 is in an extended state. As a result, the biasing force of the coil spring 5 is such that the right shaft 8b of the wind direction changing blade 8 is
It acts as if it is pressed against the end face of the shaft.

Therefore, the wind direction changing blade 8 is stopped at an arbitrary position due to the contact friction with the lever 6b, against the urging force caused by the expansion and contraction of the SMA metal 7.

In this state, the wind direction changing blade 8 can be rotated with a manual force greater than the above-mentioned frictional force.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the wind direction changing blade 8 is not affected by the biasing force of the coil spring 5.

That is, the lever 6b of the lever arm 6 is engaged with the engaging portion 4b against the biasing force of the coil spring 5. Therefore, the coil spring 5 is in a contracted state, and a gap A is formed between the right shaft 8 and the lever 6b.

As a result, the wind direction changing blade 8 is rotated by the expansion and contraction force caused by the thermal expansion and contraction of the SMA metal 7 and the biasing force of the bias spring 9.

By the way, the above coil spring 5, SMA metal 7,
The specifications of the bias spring 9 will be explained.

In this embodiment, the coil spring 5 is made of
SUS304-WPB, wire diameter approximately 0.7 mm, outer diameter approximately 5 mm, spring constant approximately 220 g/mm, SMA metal 7
For the bias spring 9, a Ni-Ti alloy with a wire diameter of approximately 0.75 mm and an outer diameter of approximately 6 mm is used.
SUS304WPB, wire diameter approximately 0.3 mm, outer diameter approximately 3.5 mm, and spring constant approximately 3 g/mm was used.

By adopting the coil spring 5, SMA metal 7, and bias spring 9 with such specifications, the wind direction changing blade 8 can be rotated with a moderate operating force in the state shown in Fig. 3, and the SMA metal The wind direction changing blade 8 can be rotated by the expansion/contraction force 7 and the action of the bias spring 9.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, the air conditioner wind direction changing device according to the present invention replaces the wind direction changing blades used at the air outlet of the air conditioner with SME metal springs that expand and contract depending on the temperature. Moreover, by releasing the contact of the lever arm with the wind direction changing blade shaft, the wind direction changing blade can be automatically rotated and stopped at any position, which improves usability. Since the conventional drive motor, temperature detection means, and complicated electric circuits for controlling the drive motor are not required, and the associated assembly work can be eliminated, it can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, the mechanism for fixing and unfixing the wind direction changing blades is composed of a notch formed in the bearing and an operating lever on the lever arm, so the structure is simple and there are fewer failures.
Improved reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an air conditioner equipped with a wind direction changing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the outlet grille of the air conditioner, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the wind direction changing device in a state where the wind direction can be changed manually; FIG. 4 is a front view showing the wind direction changing device in a state where the wind direction can be changed by the expansion and contraction action of the SMA metal. 1...Indoor unit main body, 2...Suction port, 3...
...Blowout grille, 4... Right bearing, 4a... Moving part, 4b... Engaging part, 5... Coil spring, 6...
Lever arm, 7...SME metal (shape memory alloy spring), 8... Wind direction changing blade, 8b... Right shaft, 9
...Bias spring, 10...Left bearing.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Install a wind direction changing blade to control the wind direction, a shape memory alloy spring to rotate the wind direction changing blade in one direction, and a wind direction changing blade on both sides of the outlet of the air conditioner from which heat-exchanged air is blown out. A bias spring for rotating the wind direction changing blade in the opposite direction is provided, and a lever arm biased to contact the shaft at one end of the wind direction changing blade, and a release mechanism for releasing the lever arm from contact with the shaft are provided. The release mechanism is made of a bearing that houses the lever arm so that it can move in the axial direction and has a notch on which the operating lever of the lever arm slides, and a coil spring that constantly biases the lever arm to contact the wind direction changing blade. A wind direction changing device for an air conditioner, further comprising: a moving part extending in the axial direction; and an engaging part communicating with the moving part and extending in the outer circumferential direction of the bearing.