JPH05154410A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve convenience for use without losing safety in an air conditioner equipped with an electrical precipitator for collecting fine suspended matter by electrifying it at high voltage. CONSTITUTION:In a gas warm air circulator A, an air filter 4 and a negative electrode 52 are installed and an electrical precipitator 5 is operated when both contacts of a filter fitting detection switch 7 and a negative electrode fitting detection switch 8 are open and a cleaning switch is in the cleaning position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner equipped with an electrostatic precipitator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner (warm air heater) that sucks indoor air from an intake port and blows warm air into the room from an outlet port.
Therefore, if dust or dirt (floating substances) in the air passes through the casing and is blown out from the outlet, it will cause discomfort to the user and it will not be good for your health. I am wearing it. Recently, in order to remove fine particles (fine suspended matter) such as dust or cigarette smoke that cannot be completely removed by an air filter, an electrostatic precipitator that charges a high voltage is installed on the downstream side of the air filter. The air conditioner provided in is commercially available. In this air conditioner, the air filter can be removed to clean the filter.

[0003]

The air conditioner provided with the above electrostatic precipitator has the following problems. (A) If the operation of the air conditioner is stopped when the air filter is removed, the room cannot be heated or cooled while the filter is cleaned. (B) If the air conditioner continues to operate even if the air filter is removed, if the electrostatic precipitator is operating, there is a risk that the exposed electrodes of the electrostatic precipitator will be touched and electric shock may occur. There is. An object of the present invention is to improve usability without impairing safety in an air conditioner provided with an electrostatic precipitator that charges a high voltage and collects fine suspended matter.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a casing provided with a blow-out port for blowing out conditioned air into a room and a suction port for sucking indoor air, and a casing arranged in the casing. A blower that generates an air flow from the suction port toward the air outlet, a heat source that heats or cools the air flow, an air filter that is detachably attached to the suction port, and captures suspended matter; and a high voltage. An electrostatic precipitator that removes fine suspended matter that has passed through the filter by charging the, and one or both of the heat source and the electrostatic precipitator based on the operation of the operation switch and the indoor environment. An air conditioner including a controller for activating the air filter is provided with a filter attachment detecting means for detecting attachment of the air filter, and the detecting means attaches the air filter. When detecting only adopts the configuration in which the electrostatic precipitator is operable.

[0005]

When the air filter becomes clogged and the filter needs to be cleaned, the air filter is removed from the air conditioner to clean the air filter. The filter mounting detection means stops detecting the mounting of the air filter, and disables the electrostatic precipitator. The controller activates the heat source when necessary, based on the operation of the operation switch and the indoor environment.

[0006]

As described above, if the air conditioner is in an operating state, the air filter is removed and the filter is cleaned, the operable state of the heat source is maintained, so that the room can be kept at a comfortable temperature. Further, in this case, even if a finger or the like is accidentally pierced from the suction port and touches the electrostatic precipitator, the operation of the electrostatic precipitator is stopped, so that no electric shock occurs and it is safe. still,
While the air filter is removed, the suspended substances (dust and dust in the air) that have been sucked in pass through the casing and are blown out from the air outlet, but there is no problem if it is a short time.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The gas warm air heater A shown in the figure has a casing 1 having an outlet 11 and inlets 12 and 13, a blower 2 arranged in the casing 1, and an air flow b from the inlet 13 toward the outlet 11. A combustion mechanism 3 that heats the air, an air filter 4 attached to the suction ports 12 and 13, an electric dust collector 5, a controller 6 that controls the combustion mechanism 3, the electric dust collector 5, and the like, and an air filter. The filter mounting detection switch 7 for detecting mounting of No. 4 is installed.

A casing 1 (made of metal) shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
Has a blower outlet 11 provided with a louver 111 for blowing the warm air h into the room r in the lower front part, and has an inlet 12 for sucking the primary air for combustion and an inlet 13 for sucking the convection air. It is formed on the rear part. A filter 121 made of resin cotton is provided in the suction port 12.

The blower 2 has an impeller 21 arranged in a duct 10 which connects the suction port 13 and the outlet 11 to each other.
Rotation causes air flow b from the suction port 13 toward the air outlet 11 through the gas burner 31 and air flow d from the suction port 13 toward the air outlet 11 to be mixed and heated. It creates wind h (see Figure 3).

The combustion mechanism 3 has a gas burner 31, a thermocouple 32 and a sparker 33 arranged at appropriate positions of the gas burner 31, and a valve mechanism 34 for controlling gas supply to the gas burner 31, which is controlled by the controller 6. To be done.

The air filter 4 shown in FIG. 1 is formed by stretching a mesh 42 in an opening 411 of a frame plate 41 having an L-shaped cross section.
The filter guide 14 formed at the rear part of the casing 1 is fitted and mounted from above.

The electrostatic precipitator 5 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a positive electrode 51 (fixed) which is insulated and supported, and a negative electrode 52 having activated carbon.
(Detachable), by the action of corona discharge generated by the high voltage applied between the positive electrode 51 and the negative electrode 52, fine particles such as cigarette smoke that have passed through the air filter 4 are adsorbed and collected. The negative electrode 52 used for the electrostatic precipitator 5 includes a switch operating protrusion 521 for operating the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8, and is inserted into the attachment hole 15 and attached. Even if the operation of the electrostatic precipitator 5 is interrupted by removing the air filter 4 or the negative electrode 52 as shown in a flowchart (see FIG. 4) to be described later, once it is reattached (both), once. The electric precipitator 5 is automatically brought into an operable state without performing a reset operation such as pulling out an outlet.

The controller 6 comprises a temperature control section 61, a combustion control section 62, a blow control section 63, a sequence control section 64, a charging section 65 and a display control section 66 (see FIG. 2). still,
When the air filter 4 or the negative electrode 52 is removed and the operation of the electrostatic precipitator 5 is interrupted, the controller 6 performs an operation related to the setting change other than the operation stop (the operation switch 93 is set to the stop side). To disable. The temperature controller 61 receives inputs of the temperature setter 91 that determines a desired room temperature, the temperature sensor 92 that detects the room temperature, the thermocouple 32, and the sequence controller 64. In the case of the combustion operation, the combustion control unit 62, based on the output of the temperature control unit 61,
3 and the valve mechanism 34 are operated to ignite the gas burner 31, and the amount of gas is adjusted so that the gas burner 31 burns at a heat generation amount that provides a set temperature. The blower control unit 63 controls the number of revolutions of the blower 2 based on the output of the temperature control unit 61 so that the combustion air amount becomes an amount suitable for the gas burner 31 to burn. The sequence control unit 64 includes an operation switch 93, a purification switch 94, and a negative electrode attachment detection switch 8
And each output of the filter mounting detection switch 7 is input. In the charging unit 65, when the contacts of the filter attachment detection switch 7 and the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8 are both closed,
In addition, when the contact of the purification switch 94 is in the closed state (cleaning position), a high voltage (4 kV to 6 kV) is applied between the positive electrode 51 and the negative electrode 52 based on the output of the sequence control unit 64. The display control unit 66 displays on the display 95 (7 segments × 3) based on the output of the sequence control unit 64.

The filter mounting detection switch 7 shown in FIG.
Is a normally open type micro switch whose electric contacts are closed when the air filter 4 is fitted in the filter guide 14. When the electrical contact of the filter mounting detection switch 7 is opened, the display 95 blinks "FIL",
The user is warned that the air filter 4 has been removed.

The negative electrode mounting detection switch 8 shown in FIG.
When the negative electrode 52 is mounted in the mounting hole 15, it is a normally open type micro switch whose electric contacts are closed. When the electrical contact of the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8 is opened, the display 9
A blinking display of "S" is displayed at 5 to warn the user that the negative electrode 52 is detached.

When both the electrical contacts of the filter mounting detection switch 7 and the negative electrode mounting detection switch 8 are open, the display 95 alternates between "FIL" blinking display and "S" blinking display. To do.

Next, the operation of the gas warm air heater A will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. In step s1, it is determined whether the operation switch 93 is on the heating operation side, and if it is on the heating operation side (YES), the process proceeds to step s2. When the operation switch 93 is on the stop side (NO), the process proceeds to step s7 to stop the combustion, and the process proceeds to step s8. A combustion operation and an operation of the blower 2 are performed in step s2, and the process proceeds to step s3. In step s3, it is determined whether or not the purification switch 94 is on the purification side, and if it is on the purification side (YES), the process proceeds to step s4. When the purification switch 94 is on the purification stop side (NO), the process proceeds to step s11 to stop charging, and then proceeds to step s12. In step s4, it is determined whether or not the contact of the filter mounting detection switch 7 is closed, and if it is closed (YES), the process proceeds to step s5. If the contact of the filter mounting detection switch 7 is open (NO), step s1
6, the display 95 displays the fact that the air filter 4 is removed, and the process proceeds to step s17. Step s5
In, it is determined whether or not the contact of the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8 is closed, and if it is closed (YES), the process proceeds to step s6, the charging operation is performed, and the process returns to step s1. When the contact of the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8 is opened (NO), the process moves to step s19, the display 95 displays that the negative electrode 52 is disconnected, and step s
Go to 17. In step s8, it is determined whether or not the purification switch 94 is on the purification side, and if it is on the purification side (YES), the process proceeds to step s9, the blower 2 is operated, and the process proceeds to step s4. Also, the purification switch 9
When 4 is on the purification stop side (NO), the process proceeds to step s10, the blower 2 is stopped, and the process returns to step s1. In step s12, it is determined whether or not the contact of the filter mounting detection switch 7 is closed, and if it is closed (YES), the process proceeds to step s13. When the contact of the filter mounting detection switch 7 is opened (N
O), the process moves to step s14, the display 95 displays that the air filter 4 is removed, and the process returns to step s1.
In step s13, it is determined whether or not the contact of the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8 is closed, and if it is closed (YES), the process returns to step s1. When the contact of the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8 is opened (NO), the process moves to step s15, the display 95 displays that the negative electrode 52 is detached, and the process returns to step s1. Step s17
Then, the charging is stopped at step s18 and the process proceeds to step s18. In step s18, it is determined whether the operation switch 93 is on the heating operation side, and if it is on the heating stop side (NO), the process returns to step s1. When the operation switch 93 is on the heating operation side (YES), the process proceeds to step s4.

Next, the advantages of the gas warm air heater A will be described. (A) In the heating operation + purification operation, if the air filter 4 or the negative electrode 52 is removed for cleaning or the like, the electrostatic precipitator 5 stops operating, but the heating operation is continued, so the room temperature does not drop ( Easy to use). Further, even in the case of only the cleaning operation, if the air filter 4 or the negative electrode 52 is removed, the operation of the electrostatic precipitator 5 is stopped. Here, while removing the air filter 4 and the negative electrode 52, the child
Even if a finger, a ruler, a toy, etc. are put in the suction port 13, the positive electrode 5
Since no high voltage is applied between the 1-negative electrodes 52, there is no electric shock or short-circuiting of the electrostatic precipitator 5, which is safe. (Ii) While the air filter 4 and the negative electrode 52 are being removed, "FIL" and "S" are displayed blinking on the display 95, so that it is possible to prevent forgetting to attach the air filter 4 and the negative electrode 52. (V) Even if the operation of the electrostatic precipitator 5 is interrupted by removing the air filter 4 or the negative electrode 52, the electrostatic precipitator 5 is automatically brought into the operable state by reattaching (both). Because it is easy to use. (E) When the operation of the electrostatic precipitator 5 is interrupted by removing the air filter 4 or the negative electrode 52, the controller 6
Disables operations related to setting changes other than operation stop. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from using the gas warm air heater A (changing the setting state) without attaching the air filter 4 and the negative electrode 52.

The present invention includes the following embodiments in addition to the above embodiments. a. In the above embodiment, the heating operation is continued even if the air filter 4 is removed when the heating operation and the purification operation are simultaneously performed. However, the air filter 4 is removed and the filter mounting detection switch 7 The heating operation may be stopped when the contact is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) or more. In this case, it is preferable to notify by a buzzer or the like before a fixed time when the heating operation is stopped. b. During the heating or cooling operation, the heat source does not always have to be in operation. Further, during the cleaning operation, the configuration may be such that the electrostatic precipitator is activated only when the amount of fine suspended matter in the indoor air is large. c. The attachment detection of the air filter by the filter attachment detection means may be non-contact (for example, optical). Also,
The purification switch 94, the negative electrode attachment detection switch 8 and the filter attachment detection switch 7 may be connected in series to invalidate the operation of the purification switch 94 at the time of removal. d. Other warnings displayed on the display unit 95 (eg AC)
May be displayed or the LED may blink.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas warm air heater according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the gas warm air heater.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the gas warm air heater.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the gas warm air heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

A gas warm air heater (air conditioner) b air flow h warm air (air conditioning air) r indoor 1 casing 2 blower 4 air filter 5 electric precipitator 6 controller 7 filter attachment detection switch (filter attachment detection means) 11 Air outlet 13 Suction port 31 Gas burner (heat source) 93 Operation switch (operation switch) 94 Purification switch (operation switch)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A casing provided with an outlet for blowing out conditioned air into a room and an inlet for sucking indoor air, and an airflow disposed in the casing to flow from the inlet toward the outlet. A blower, a heat source for heating or cooling the air flow, an air filter detachably attached to the suction port for trapping suspended substances, and a fine suspended substance passing through the filter by charging a high voltage. In an air conditioner equipped with an electric dust collector for removing, and a controller for actuating one or both of the heat source and the electric dust collector based on the operation of the operation switch or the indoor environment, Filter attachment detection means for detecting attachment of the air filter is provided, and the electrostatic precipitator is operable only when the detection means detects attachment of the air filter. Air conditioner.