JPH05187706A - Indoor unit of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an indoor unit which has high performance and the high degree of freedom of a design. CONSTITUTION:In an indoor unit 11 of an air conditioner wherein a front panel 13 is arranged to the front of a casing 12 and indoor air is sucked in the casing 12 after the flow of it through the front panel 13, the front panel 13 comprises a front panel body 14 the front of which is opened, an openable suction grill frame 15 pivotally supported to a front panel body 14, and an openable suction grill 16 pivotally supported to a suction grill frame 15. The rotation center of the suction grill frame 15 and the suction grill 16 are reversely set such that the one of the rotation center is situated above and the other situated below.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner indoor unit having a suction grill that can be opened and closed, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a split type air conditioner is provided with an indoor unit 1 as shown in FIG. This indoor unit 1 has a front panel 3 attached to the front surface of a housing 2, has a ceiling inlet 4 at the top, and houses an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan, and a control device inside. ing.

The front panel 3 has a two-part structure and is composed of a front panel body 5 and a suction grill 6 attached to the front of the front panel body 5. The front panel body 5 has a front opening and holds air filters 7, 7 on the front. The air filters 7, 7 are detachably held and close the front opening of the front panel body 5.

The suction grill 6 has a plurality of horizontal bars 9 ...
And covers almost the entire front surface of the front panel body 5. Further, the suction grill 6 is pivotally supported at both ends of the upper portion, and is opened downward with the upper edge as the center to expose the air filters 7, 7. Then, when the air conditioner is in operation, the indoor air is sucked through the suction port 8 of the suction grill 6, is heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger in the housing 2, and is again blown out into the room from the air outlet.

On the other hand, when the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, the suction grill 6 is opened manually. Then, when the suction grill 6 is opened, the front surfaces of the air filters 7, 7 and the front panel body 5 can be seen from below the indoor unit 1, and maintenance of the air filter and the like becomes possible.

The indoor unit 1 shown in FIG. 11 is provided with dust collecting deodorizing filters 10 and 10 for an electrostatic precipitator, and these dust collecting deodorizing filters 10 and 10 are installed on the back side of the air filters 7 and 7. To be done.

[0007]

By the way, the conventional indoor unit 1 as described above has various problems as described below.

That is, if the area of the suction port 8 is reduced, the degree of freedom in the design of the suction grill 6 is increased and the appearance can be improved. Performance deteriorates. Therefore, it is considered that the suction grill 6 is opened to increase the suction area to improve the cooling / heating performance. However, in the indoor unit 1 as described above, when the suction grill 1 is opened, the indoor unit 1
The inside of the housing 2 can be seen from below and the appearance is impaired. An object of the present invention is to provide an indoor unit with high performance and a high degree of freedom in design.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a room for an air conditioner, which includes a front panel on the front surface of a housing and allows room air to pass through the front panel and be sucked into the housing. In the unit, the front panel includes a front panel body having a front opening, an openable / closable suction grill frame pivotally supported by the front panel body, and an openable / closable suction grill pivotally supported by the suction grill frame. The rotation center of the suction grill frame and the rotation center of the suction grill are set upside down.

The present invention further comprises a drive motor for opening and closing the suction grille frame and a drive force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor, and the drive motor is fixed to the front panel body. Then, the suction grill frame and the suction grill are integrally rotated with respect to the front panel body.

Further, the present invention comprises a drive motor for opening and closing the suction grill and a drive force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor, and the drive motor is fixed to the suction grill frame. , Rotate the suction grill with respect to the suction grill frame. In addition, the present invention can improve the performance and design flexibility of the indoor unit.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1 is an indoor unit of a split type air conditioner. The indoor unit 11 is formed by assembling a front panel 13 on the front surface of a housing 12, and the housing 12 houses an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan, a control device, and the like.

The front panel 13 has a three-part structure as shown in FIG. 2, and is composed of a front panel body 14, a suction grill frame 15, and a suction grill 16.

The front panel body 14 is formed in a box shape, and the rear surface thereof is substantially opened. Further, the front panel body 14 has a front suction port 17. The front suction port 17 is located on one side (left side) of the front panel body 14 with a slight deviation, and is partitioned in the left-right direction at its middle portion substantially evenly. A ceiling inlet 18 and a floor outlet 19 are opened above and below the front inlet 17.

A work opening 20 is provided on the front surface of the front panel body 14. This working opening 20
Is adjacent to the front suction port 17 and is biased to the front upper portion of the front panel body 14.

Inside the front panel body 14, a stepping motor (hereinafter, referred to as a drive motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions)
A motor 21) is attached. The motor 21 is arranged near the upper corner of the front suction port 17, and the motor fixing shaft 2 protruding from the front panel body 14 is provided.
It is fixed to the housing 12 via 2, 22. The motor fixing shafts 22 and 22 are provided on the rib 22 a of the housing 12 so as to project therefrom.

Further, the motor 21 has an output shaft 23 directed substantially horizontally toward the center of the front panel body 14. And
A double gear 24 is connected to the output shaft 23. A large-diameter gear 25 and a small-diameter gear 26 are coaxially formed on the double gear 24, and the large-diameter gear 25 is directed toward the tip end side of the output shaft 22.

A ceiling-side louver 27 is attached to the upper portion of the front panel body 14, and the ceiling-side louver 2 is attached.
The left and right ends 7 are pivotally supported by the edge of the ceiling suction port 18. A downward gear portion 28 is formed at one end portion (right end portion in the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the ceiling louver 27, and the gear portion 28 meshes with the small-diameter gear 26 of the double gear 24. The ceiling louver 27 is driven by the rotation of the output shaft 23 and pivots up and down to open and close the ceiling suction port 18. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the floor blower 19 is also provided with a floor louver that automatically opens and closes. The mounting work of the motor 21 is performed from the outside of the front panel body 14 through the working opening 20, for example.

The suction grill frame 15 is formed in a rectangular frame shape that is long in the left and right, and the suction grill frame 15 is formed.
The inside of the frame is divided into left and right portions at an intermediate portion and substantially evenly.
Further, the outer dimensions of the suction grill frame 15 are set to be substantially equal to the dimensions of the front suction port 17. The suction grill frame 15 is fitted into the front suction port 17, and the front panel body 14 has a frame bushing 29,
It is pivotally supported at both lower corners via 29.

Driving force transmitting portions 30a, 30b are provided between the suction grill frame 15 and the front panel body 14. The driving force transmitting portions 30a and 30b are provided with arms 31a and 31b, respectively, and are arranged near both upper corners of the front suction port 17.

That is, each arm 31a, 31b has an oval ring portion 32, 32 at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the ring portion 32, 32 is inclined. Further, one arm 31a has a rack portion 33 at the lower edge portion. A guide groove 34 extending linearly in the longitudinal direction is formed on the side surface of each of the arms 31a and 31b.

Inside the housing 12, rail-shaped arm holding portions 36a and 36b are provided. These arm holding portions 36a and 36b are arranged near both upper corners of the front suction port 17, and the arms 31a and 31b are provided with the ring portions 32 and 32 on the arm holding portions 36a and 36b. It is inserted from the front side in a state of being directed toward the suction grill frame 15.

The arms 31a and 31b are provided with guide grooves 34 and 3, respectively.
4 is used to engage the protrusions of the arm holding portions 36a and 36b. Then, the arms 31a and 31b slide back and forth along the arm holding portions 36a and 36b. Further, the arm 31a arranged near the motor 21 has a large diameter gear 25 of the double gear 24 with the rack portion 33 facing downward.
Is in mesh with.

Also, the ring portion 3 of the arms 31a and 31b.
2 and 32 are inserted inside the suction grill frame 15. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the arm bushing 3
8, 38 are inserted from the outside into burring holes 39, 39 formed in the side surface of the upper corner of the suction grill frame 15, and are inserted into the ring portions 33, 33 to form the arm 31a,
31b is locked.

Further, a coil type counter spring 40 is provided adjacent to the arm 31b. One end of the counter spring 40 has an arm holding portion 36b.
Is connected to a first counter spring pin 41 projecting from the arm 31b, and the other end is connected to the ring portion 3 of the arm 31b.
No. 2 inserted into the 2 from inside and fixed to the arm 31b
Is connected to the counter-spring pin 42b.

Here, the engagement between the second counter spring pin 42b and the arm 31b and the connection between the pin 42b and the counter spring 40 are performed on the outer circumference of the second counter spring pin 42b. This is performed by utilizing the plurality of formed recesses.

Further, on the side of the motor 21 as well, a pin 42a similar to the second counter spring pin 42b is provided, and this pin 42a is provided on the arm 31.
It is inserted into the ring portion 32 of a and is engaged with the arm 31a. As the second counter spring pin 42b and the pin 42a similar thereto, for example, a synthetic resin-made tip cracking type is used.

The suction grill 16 is a suction grill frame.
Bushing 4 for the grille, which is attached to the front side of the grill 15
It is pivotally supported by the suction grill frame 15 via 3, 43, 43. Then, the pivot points of the suction grill 16 are set at three points along the upper edge portion.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, engaging projections 44, 44 are provided on the back side of the lower edge portion of the suction grill 16, and the engaging projections 44, 44 of the suction grill 16 are provided. It is arranged along the lower edge. Latches 45, 45 are incorporated in the lower edge of the frame 15, and the engaging projections 44, 44 are freely engageable with the latches 45, 45.
break away. Then, the engaging projections 44, 44 and the latch 4
At the time of engagement with 5, 45, the suction grill 16 is fixed to the suction grill frame 15 while being closed, and at the time of disengagement, the suction grill 16 is freely rotatable while being open with respect to the suction grill frame 15.

Further, 48 is provided on the back surface of the suction grill 16.
a and 48b are provided, and the ribs 48a and 48b are provided.
Grill stoppers 49, 49 are provided so as to face each other. And these grill stoppers 49, 4
9 corresponding to the arrangement of the grill stopper recess 50,
50 are formed at the left and right ends of the suction grill frame 15. Next, the operation of the indoor unit 11 described above will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the output shaft 2 of the motor 21
When 3 rotates stepwise in a predetermined direction, the double gear 24 rotates to move the arm 31a forward. The arm 31a advances while the rack portion 33 is meshed with the large-diameter gear 25 and is engaged with the rail-shaped portion 36a of the arm holding portion 35a as shown in FIG. Suction grill frame 15
Press the top of.

The suction grill frame 15 is rotated around the lower edge while being pressed by the arm 31a to move the arm 31a.
Lean forward according to the amount of forward movement. At this time, the other arm 3
1b interlocks with the suction grill 16 and advances while extending the counter spring 40 while engaging with the arm holding portion 36b. Then, the suction grill frame 15 can be opened upward while the inner side of the suction grill frame 15 is hidden below the indoor unit 11.

The suction grill 16 has engaging projections 44, 44 engaged with the latches 45, 45 of the suction grill frame 15 and is fixed to the suction grill frame 15. Then, the suction grill 16 rotates together with the suction grill frame 15.

When the motor 21 rotates in the opposite direction, the arm 31a on the motor 21 side retracts and is drawn into the front panel 13 to pull the upper portion of the suction grill frame 15 rearward. Then, the suction grill frame 15 and the suction grill 1
6 returns to the vertical posture while receiving the urging force of the counter spring 40, and the front suction port 17 of the front panel body 14 is closed.

On the other hand, the lower edge of the suction grill 16 is manually pulled, and the engaging projections 44, 44 are latched 45, 45.
Removed from. Further, the suction grill 16 is pushed up while rotating around the upper edge portion. Then, the suction grill 16 opens downward, and the suction grill frame 15 is exposed.

When the suction grill 16 is closed, the suction grill 1
6 is rotated and pushed back toward the suction grill frame 15, the engaging projections 44, 44 are engaged with the latches 45, 45, and the suction grill 16 is fixed to the suction grill frame 15. Further, the grill stoppers 49, 49 are inserted into the grill stopper recesses 50, 50 of the suction grille frame 15 and are locked to the suction grille frame 15, so that the suction grille 16
Stops. If the suction grill 16 is closed when the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, invasion of dust and the like into the housing 12 is prevented, and the design of the indoor unit 11 is maintained. It is also possible to open the suction grill 16 with the suction grill frame 15 open.

That is, the indoor unit 11 as described above
In FIG. 1, the front panel 13 is composed of a front panel body 14, a suction grill frame 15, and a suction grill 16. The suction grill frame 15 is pivotally supported by the front panel body 14 and opens upward, and the suction grill 16 is pivotally supported by the suction grill frame 15 and opens downward. Therefore, the two members of the suction grill frame 15 and the suction grill 16 can be independently opened and closed.

If, for example, an air filter is attached to the suction grill frame 15, the suction grill 16 can be opened and the maintenance of the air filter can be performed from below the indoor unit 11 as usual.

If the suction grill frame 15 is opened to reduce the intake resistance, the suction grill frame 15 opens upward, so that the inside of the casing 12 is hidden by the suction grill 16 and the internal structure of the casing 12 is increased. Is not exposed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the appearance of the indoor unit 1 from being damaged when the intake resistance is reduced. In this case, it is conceivable to provide some kind of filter at the front opening of the housing 12.

Further, when an air filter is attached to the suction grill frame 15, the air filter can be maintained by opening only the suction grill 16, so that the suction grill frame 1 can be maintained during maintenance.
5 peripheral parts (for example, the motor 21 and the driving force transmission unit 30)
It is possible to prevent unreasonable force from being applied to (a, 30b, etc.).

Further, since the suction grill frame 15 and the motor 21 for driving the suction grill frame 15 are both attached to the front panel body 14, when the suction grill frame 15 is rotated, the suction grill frame 15 is rotated. -The change in the relative position between the frame 15 and the motor 21 is small, and the dimensional accuracy is high. Therefore, the indoor unit 11 is unlikely to be out of order in dimensional accuracy and has excellent long-term reliability.

The suction grill frame 15 is pivotally supported on the lower side, and the motor 21 is connected to the suction grill frame 1.
5 is arranged in the vicinity of the upper side. And the arm 32
a and 32b open the suction grill frame 15 by pushing the portion of the suction grill frame 15 on the free end side.

That is, the distance between the motor 21 and the center of rotation of the suction grille frame 15 can be set sufficiently large, and the suction grille frame 15 can be smoothly rotated by using a large couple. be able to. Then, the high-quality indoor unit 11 in which the movable portion moves smoothly is realized. In addition, the torque for moving the suction grill frame 15 can be small, and the motor 21 and the drive control power source can be downsized.
Capacities can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the driving force transmitting portions 30a and 30b are provided with linear arms 31a and 31b, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, arcuate arms 46a, 4
6b (only one is shown), a rack portion 47 is formed on one arm 46a, and the rack portion 47 is connected to the double gear 2
Mesh with the large gear 25 (or small diameter gear 26) of 4,
The driving force of the motor 21 may be transmitted to the suction grill frame 15. In FIG. 6, the arms 46a and 46b are integrally provided on the suction grill frame 15. Next,
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 7 and 8. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 7 shows an indoor unit 51 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this indoor unit 51,
The suction grill frame 15 is pivotally supported on the front panel body 14 at the upper side, and the suction grill frame 15 opens downward. Further, the suction grill 16 is pivotally supported on the suction grill frame 15 on the lower side, and the suction grill 16 opens upward.

Further, a stepping motor (hereinafter referred to as a motor) 52 as a drive motor for the suction grill is attached to the suction grill frame 15, and the suction grill 16 is connected to the power transmission portion 53a. It is connected to the motor 52 via a hole 54a. The suction grill 16 is driven by the motor 52 to open and close automatically. The arm 54a is shaped like an arc.

In the indoor unit 51, the suction grill 16 can be used to reduce the intake resistance. That is, FIG.
As shown in, if the suction grill 16 is opened while the suction grill frame 15 is closed during the operation of the air conditioner, the intake resistance is reduced. Further, since the suction grill 16 opens upward, it is possible to prevent the air filter arranged inside the suction grill 16 from touching the eyes of the user, and the appearance of the indoor unit 51 is not impaired. Further, since the suction grill frame 15 opens downward, the inside of the housing 12 can be maintained as usual by opening the suction grill frame 15.

Further, since the motor 21 and the suction grill 16 are mounted on the same rigid body (suction grill frame 15), the relative accuracy of the rotation of the suction grill 16 is unlikely to be incorrect. Therefore, the suction grill 16 moves smoothly, and the indoor unit 51 is upgraded.

Further, the distance between the motor 21 and the center of rotation of the suction grill 16 can be set sufficiently large, and the suction grill 16 can be smoothly rotated by utilizing a large couple. Then, the high-quality indoor unit 11 in which the movable portion moves smoothly is realized. Also, the suction grill 16
Since the torque for moving the motor is small, the motor 21 and the drive control power source can be downsized and the capacity can be reduced. Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same parts as those in the above-mentioned respective embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

10 and 11 show an indoor unit 61 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This indoor unit 6
1, the suction grill 62 is vertically divided into a plurality of parts, and the divided grill bodies 63 are provided. The divided grill bodies 63 are arranged in parallel vertically, and both lower corners thereof are pivotally supported by the suction grill frame 15. Each of the divided grill bodies 63 opens upward.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, each split grill body 63 has a flange portion 64 protruding toward the back side, and a connecting rod 65 extending vertically is provided at the tip of the flange portion 64. Is rotatably connected to. The connecting rod 65 is arranged inside the front panel 13, and is arranged at one of the left and right ends of the indoor unit 61 or at a plurality of positions in the left and right direction.

The connecting rod 65 can freely move up and down. And
As the connecting rod 65 moves up and down, the split grill bodies 63 are pivotally displaced about the pivot portions 66 and are opened and closed integrally.
In FIG. 11, the divided grill bodies 63 ... Open as the connecting rod 65 moves upward, and the divided grill bodies 63 close as the connecting rod 65 moves downward.

Further, a counter spring 67 is provided, and the counter spring 67 is provided with the split grill body 63a located at the bottom and the front panel body 1 for example.
It is connected to 4. The divided grill bodies 63 are always urged by the counter spring 67, for example, in the closing direction. The suction grill 16 is pivotally supported at the upper part and opens downward. The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the indoor unit of the air conditioner, which is provided with the front panel on the front surface of the housing and allows the room air to pass through the front panel to be sucked into the housing, the front panel is With the front panel body that opened
It consists of an openable and closable suction grille frame pivotally supported by the front panel body and an openable and closable suction grille pivotally supported by the suction grille frame. The center of motion was set upside down.

The present invention further comprises a drive motor for opening and closing the suction grille frame and a drive force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor, and the drive motor is fixed to the front panel body. Then, the suction grill frame and the suction grill are integrally rotated with respect to the front panel body.

Further, the present invention comprises a drive motor for opening and closing the suction grill and a drive force transmission portion for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor, and the drive motor is fixed to the suction grill frame. , Rotate the suction grill with respect to the suction grill frame. Further, the present invention has an effect of improving the performance and design flexibility of the indoor unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly view showing the front panel of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an opened / closed state of a suction grill frame.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a stepping motor and its periphery.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an opened / closed state of a suction grill.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing an opened / closed state of the suction grill.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state when the intake resistance is reduced.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an opening / closing mechanism of the split grill body.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Indoor unit, 12 ... Housing, 13 ... Front panel,
14 ... Front panel body, 15 ... Suction grill frame, 1
6 ... Suction grille, 21 ... Stepping motor, 30a,
30b ... Driving force transmission section.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising: a front panel provided on a front surface of a housing; and allowing room air to pass through the front panel and suck the air into the housing.
The suction grill frame includes a front panel body having a front opening, an openable / closable suction grill frame pivotally supported by the front panel body, and an openable / closable suction grill pivotally supported by the suction grill frame. An indoor unit of an air conditioner, wherein the rotation center of the suction grill and the rotation center of the suction grill are set upside down. 2. A drive motor for opening and closing a suction grille frame, and a drive force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor, wherein the drive motor is fixed to the front panel body.
The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the suction grill frame and the suction grill are integrally rotated with respect to the front panel body. 3. A drive motor for opening and closing the suction grill, and a drive force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational force of the drive motor, wherein the drive motor is fixed to the suction grill frame. An indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the suction grill is rotated with respect to the suction grill frame.