JPH09126597A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize valves upon additionally providing a plurality of indoor units on one outdoor unit by providing a two-way valve on a gas side branch pipe and a control valve on a liquid side branch pipe, and uniting the two-way valve and the control valve. SOLUTION: Distributors 2A, 2B, 2X comprise gas side branch pipes 16A, 16B, 16X each of which is a branch circuit that is divided from a gas side piping connected with the gas side branch pipe and including a connection part at opposite ends and that includes two-way valves 17A, 17B, 17X in the course thereof, and liquid side branch pipes 18A, 18B, 18X each of which is a branch circuit that is divided from the liquid side piping connected with the liquid side branch pipe and including a connection part at opposite sides and that includes flow rate control valves 19A, 19B, 19X in the course thereof. With use of the dividers 2A, 2B, 2X there are connected an indoor unit 3A including an indoor heat exchanger 20A and an indoor fan 21A, and indoor units 3B, 3X with the same construction. Hereby, valves are miniaturized.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of adding an indoor unit to one outdoor unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a multi-room air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-169451, for example. And a plurality of indoor units are connected in parallel to the outdoor unit, or one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units are provided as described in JP-A-63-91465. A multi-room air conditioner is disclosed in which a main circuit of a refrigeration cycle is provided with an intermediate unit for connecting indoor heat exchangers in an indoor unit in parallel.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned prior art, a parallel connected branch circuit is formed in an outdoor unit, or an intermediate unit for connecting indoor heat exchangers in an indoor unit in parallel at one branch point is provided. Since it is a configuration to be installed, (1) the number of indoor units that can be installed is predetermined, and it is difficult to freely select and add the number of indoor units. (2) To connect multiple indoor units It is necessary to individually pipe up to the branch circuit or the intermediate unit in the outdoor unit, and there is a problem that the pipe length becomes unnecessarily long and the aesthetics are spoiled. Furthermore, if a plurality of indoor units are provided, valves such as valves for controlling the flow rate of the working medium are newly required.

An object of the present invention is to miniaturize the above valves.

[0005]

The above object is to provide an outdoor unit, a gas-side connecting pipe and a liquid-side connecting pipe connected to the outdoor unit, a gas-side branch pipe branched from the gas-side connecting pipe, and a liquid. In the air conditioner in which the liquid side branch pipe branched from the side connection pipe and the gas side branch pipe and the liquid side branch pipe are connected to the indoor heat exchanger in the indoor unit, a two-way valve is provided in the gas side branch pipe. This is achieved by providing a control valve on the liquid side branch pipe and integrating the two-way valve and the control valve.

[0006] Further, the above object is to provide a shaft which reciprocates by a drive device, a needle portion provided on the shaft, an orifice located at the needle portion, a liquid side branch pipe communicating with the orifice, and the shaft. 1 includes a plunger whose end is abutted by a spring, a valve attached to the other end of the plunger, a valve seat which abuts and seals the valve, and a gas side branch pipe which communicates with the valve seat. The needles are accommodated in one body, and when the displacement of the shaft is 0, the valve contacts the valve seat, and the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the gas side branch pipe does not change. The orifice position and the valve seat position are set so that the opening area between the portion and the orifice becomes gradually smaller with respect to the displacement of the shaft. It is achieved by.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a separate type air conditioner having one indoor unit. 3 is a control circuit diagram of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is an outdoor unit, a compressor 8 whose rotation speed can be changed according to its capacity, a four-way valve 9 for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant when switching between cooling operation and heating operation, and outdoor heat exchange. Vessel 10, outdoor heat exchanger 1
0, an outdoor fan 11 that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger 10, an electric main expansion valve 12, and an accumulator. The gas side connecting pipe 4A is connected to the four-way valve 9 in the outdoor unit 1, the liquid side connecting pipe 5A is connected to the electric main expansion valve 12, and the indoor side heat exchanger indoor fan and the like are incorporated. It can be connected to an indoor unit. Connection with multiple indoor units is performed as follows.

2A, 2B and 2X are the distributors of the present invention, respectively, which are connected to the gas side connecting pipe and have gas side pipes having connecting portions at both ends (indicated by 14A, 14B and 14X in the figure).
And a two-way valve (17 in the figure)
A side branch pipe (shown by 16A, 16B, 16X in the figure) which is a branch circuit provided with A, 17B, 17X) and a liquid side pipe which is connected to the liquid side connecting pipe and has connecting portions at both ends ( 15A, 15B, and 15X in the figure) and a flow control valve (19A, 19 in the figure) branched from the liquid side pipe
B, 19X) and a liquid side branch pipe (indicated by 18A, 18B, 18X in the figure) which is a branch circuit. The distributors 2A, 2B and 2X make the following connections with the indoor unit 3A including the indoor heat exchanger 20A and the indoor fan 21A and the indoor units 3B and 3X having the same configuration. First, the distributor 2A is connected to the ends of the gas side connecting pipe 4A and the liquid side connecting pipe 5A, and the gas side branch pipe 1
6A, connect the indoor unit 2A to the liquid side branch pipe 18A,
The gas side connecting pipe 4B and the liquid side connecting pipe 5B are connected to the other end of the distributor 2A, and the distributor 2B is further connected to the pipe end thereof.
Thereafter, the indoor units 3A and 3X are similarly connected. That is, a distributor is provided in series with the gas-side connecting pipe and the liquid-side connecting pipe forming the main circuit, and each distributor is connected to each indoor unit.

A second gas side connecting pipe (7A in the drawing, 7A in the drawing is used for connecting the gas side branch pipe and the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger.
7B and 7C) and the liquid side branch pipe is connected to the liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger using a second liquid side connecting pipe.

Reference numeral 22 is a capillary tube that forms a bypass path between the gas side pipe 14X and the liquid side pipe 15X of the distributor 2X located farthest from the outdoor unit 1. The resistance of the capillary tube 22 is the gas during heating operation. It is selected that a slightly larger amount of the refrigerant condenses due to heat dissipation from the side connecting pipes 4B and 4X flows into the capillary tube 22. Each connecting pipe is connected by a union and is removable.

FIG. 2 shows a case where only one indoor unit is connected, and shows a connecting method at that time.

In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 represent the same parts. In the figure, 4 is a gas side connecting pipe connecting the gas side of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 3A, and 5 is a liquid side connecting pipe connecting the liquid side of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 3A.

When the separate type air conditioner shown in FIG. 2 is changed to the multi-room type air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, the distributor 2 is provided in the middle of the gas side connecting pipe 4 and the liquid side connecting pipe 5.
A can be easily changed by providing A, connecting sequentially to each distributor, and connecting the distributor to the indoor unit.

The control circuit configuration of this multi-room air conditioner will be described with reference to FIG. The outdoor unit 1 is provided with a discharge refrigerant temperature sensor 25, a compressor suction temperature sensor 26, and an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27. The inverter circuit 30 that drives the compressor 8 and the four-way valve that drives the four-way valve 9 are provided. Valve drive device 31, outdoor fan drive device 32 for driving the outdoor fan 11, and main expansion valve drive device 3 for driving the main expansion valve 12.
An outdoor controller 28 for controlling the No. 3 is provided.

Liquid side branch pipe temperature sensors 34A, 34B, 34X are installed in the distributors 2A, 2B, 2X, respectively, and a two-way valve drive unit 35A, for opening and closing the two-way valves 17A, 17B, 17X, is provided. 35B, 35X and flow control valve 1
Flow control valve drive device 3 for driving 9A, 19B, 19X
6A, 36B, 36X and distribution controllers 23A, 23B, 23X for controlling the flow rate control valve drive device are installed.

The indoor units 3A, 3B and 3X have indoor heat exchanger intermediate temperature sensors 37A, 37B and 37, respectively.
X and the indoor air temperature sensors 38A, 38B, 38X,
Operating mode (40A, 40B, 40X) Room temperature setting
Operators 39A, 3 for selecting (41A, 41B, 41X)
9B, 39X and further indoor fans 21A, 21B, 2
Indoor fan drive devices 42A, 42B, 4 for driving 1X
2X and indoor controllers 24A, 24B, and 24X for controlling the indoor fan drive device are installed.

The outdoor controller and the distribution controller, the distribution controller and the distribution controller, and the distribution controller and the indoor controller can transfer data in the phase direction, and the operation mode, each sensor detection output,
The required rotation speed, the main expansion valve opening, etc. are transferred via the signal line that connects each device.

The operation of the air conditioner configured as above will be described. First, a case where all the indoor units are in the cooling operation will be described. ◆ All operating devices 39A, 39B, 39
When the operation mode 40A, 40B, 40X of X is set to the cooling operation, the two-way valves 17A, 17B, 17X are opened.
The four-way valve 19 is set to the cooling operation side, and the outdoor fan 11,
The indoor fans 21A, 21B, 21X are turned on. Further, the required rotation speed f _x of the compressor 8 proportional to the temperature difference detected by the set temperature 41X of the indoor unit 3X and the indoor air temperature sensor 38X is transferred to the distribution controller 23X in a constant cycle. Similarly, the required rotation speed f from the indoor unit 3A
_The required rotation speed f _B is transferred from _A and the indoor unit 3B to the distribution controllers 23A and 23B, respectively. Distribution controller 2
3A, 23B, and 23X sequentially add up the required rotational speed of the distribution controller on the far side from the outdoor unit 1 and the required rotational speed of the compressor of the indoor controller, and transfer them to the distributed control on the side closer to the outdoor unit 1. . That is, the distribution controller 23X farthest from the outdoor unit 1 transfers the required rotation speed f _x of the indoor unit 3X to the distribution controller 23B, and the distribution controller 23X
B is the required rotation speed f _X and the required rotation speed f of the indoor unit 3B
The total of _B is transferred to the distribution controller 23A, and the outdoor unit 1
In the distribution controller 23A closest to the distribution controller 23B,
The total value f _X + f _B + f _A of the required rotation speed f _X + f _B from the indoor unit 3A and the required rotation speed f _A from the indoor unit 3A is transferred to the outdoor controller 28, and the rotation of the compressor 8 is performed via the inverter circuit 30. The number is controlled to be f _X + f _B + f _A. Further, from the distribution controllers 2A, 2B, 2X, the opening signal of the main expansion valve 12 corresponding to the required rotation speed is transferred to the outdoor controller 28 at the same time as the required rotation speed, and the main expansion valve drive device 33 causes the main expansion valve drive device 33 to open. 12 openings are set. Flow control valves 19A, 19
B and 19X are set by the flow rate control valve drive devices 36A, 36B and 36X so as to have opening degrees according to the required rotation speeds f _A , f _B and f _X from the indoor controllers 24A, 24B and 24X.

The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 passes through the four-way valve 9 and radiates heat to the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger 10 to be condensed. The condensed liquid refrigerant is decompressed by the main expansion valve 12 to become a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and is sent to the distributor 2A through the liquid side connecting pipe 5A. Part of the refrigerant sent to the liquid side pipe 15A of the distributor 2A is sent to the liquid side branch pipe 18A, and the rest is sent to the distributors 2B and 2X from the liquid side connecting pipes 15B and 15X. The refrigerant that has entered the liquid side branch pipe 18A has a flow rate control valve 19A.
Is further decompressed and is sent to the indoor unit 3A through the second liquid side connecting pipe 7A, and the heat is absorbed by the indoor side heat exchanger 20A to become a gas refrigerant, which passes through the second gas side connecting pipe 6A and the distributor 2
Returning to A, passing through the gas side branch pipe 16A and the two-way valve 17A,
Similarly, the gas side pipe 14A serves as a gas refrigerant in the indoor units 3B and 3X, merges with the refrigerant returning from the gas side connecting pipes 4X and 4B, is sent to the four-way valve 9 through the gas side connecting pipe 4A, and passes through the accumulator 13 to the compressor. Return to 8. Here, since the opening degrees of the flow rate control valves 19A, 19B, 19X are controlled according to the required rotation speed, the indoor heat exchanger 20A,
20B and 20X are supplied with the amount of refrigerant suitable for the respective required rotation speeds. Therefore, the indoor units 3A, 3
The heat absorption amounts at B and 3X are appropriately controlled according to the required rotation speed.

When a part of the cooling operation becomes unnecessary, the operation mode is selected to be stopped, and the distributor is connected to an indoor unit that is no longer operated, for example, the indoor unit 3B. The flow control valve 19B in the distributor 2B is fully closed to prevent the refrigerant from being supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 20B, thereby eliminating heat absorption from the outside. At this time, the pressure of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 20B is equal to the gas side pipe 1
Since it is the same as 4B, it becomes a low pressure and becomes a gas refrigerant. Therefore, there is no retention of liquid refrigerant in the stopped indoor unit,
There is no shortage of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.

Next, the heating operation will be described. Operation modes 40A, 4 of all operating devices 39A, 39B, 39X
When 0B and 40X are set to heating operation, two-way valve 17A,
17B and 17X are switched to the heating operation side of the flow path of the four-way valve 9 in the open state, and the outdoor fan 11 and the indoor fan 21A,
21B and 21X are turned on. Also, from each indoor unit, the set temperatures 41A, 41B, 41 are set in the same manner as during the cooling operation.
X and the required rotation speeds f _A , f _B , and f _X proportional to the temperature difference detected by the indoor temperature sensors 38A, 38B, and 38X are transferred to the distribution controller, and further to the outdoor controller 28, the total value f. It is controlled so as to rotate the compressor 8 at _a + f _B + f _X. Further, the flow control valves 19A, 19B and 19X have their valve openings set in accordance with the required rotation speeds of the indoor units 3A, 3B and 3X as in the cooling operation, and the main expansion valve 12 is (1)
When the compressor outlet refrigerant gas temperature detected by the discharge refrigerant temperature sensor 25 is less than or equal to the set value T _{d, the} temperature difference detected by the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 and the compressor suction temperature sensor 26 becomes the set value T _s . is controlled to be, (2) valve opening degree as the discharge refrigerant gas temperature becomes the set value T _d exceeds the set value T _d is set.

Contrary to the cooling operation, the compressor 8 is operated during the heating operation.
The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant that exited is the four-way valve 9, the gas side connecting pipe
Sent to A, 4B, 4X. In the distributors 2A, 2B, 2X, the refrigerant flow rate according to the valve opening of the flow rate control valves 19A, 19B, 19X is divided into the gas side branch pipes 16A, 16B, 16X, and the two-way valves 17A, 17B, 17X, respectively. The indoor unit 3 passing through the second gas side connecting pipes 6A, 6B, 6X
Sent to A, 3B, 3X. Indoor units 3A, 3B,
The indoor heat exchangers 20A, 20B, 20X in 3X radiate heat to the outside to become liquid refrigerant, and the second liquid side connecting pipes 17A, 17
From B, 17X to the distributors 2A, 2B, 2X, the pressure is reduced by the flow rate control valves 19A, 19B, 19X to become a two-phase refrigerant, which passes through the liquid-side connecting pipes 5X, 5B, 5A, and sequentially joins the outdoor unit 1 It is sent to the main expansion valve 12 inside. The main expansion valve 12 further reduces the pressure, and the outdoor heat exchanger 10 absorbs heat from the outside air to become a gas refrigerant, and returns to the compressor 8 via the four-way valve 9 and the accumulator 13.

Here, when the required rotation speed of each indoor unit is significantly different, for example, when the required rotation speed of the indoor unit 3B is small, it is detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 37B and the branch pipe temperature sensor 34B. The rotation speed of the indoor fan 21B is controlled so that the difference between the intermediate temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and the inlet temperature of the flow control valve of the liquid side branch pipe becomes constant. By controlling in this way, the amount of refrigerant in the heat exchanger can be kept constant even when the amount of heat released from the indoor unit is small, and the amount of refrigerant enclosed in the air conditioner can be reduced.

When part of the heating is no longer needed, for example, when the indoor unit 3B is no longer needed, the operation mode 40B is stopped and the two-way valve 17B is closed.
As a result, the indoor heat exchanger 20B is not supplied with the refrigerant and is not radiated to the outside. Further, the refrigerant pressure inside the indoor heat exchanger 20B becomes the same pressure as the liquid side pipe 15B, the refrigerant inside the indoor heat exchanger 20B stays in a gas-liquid two-phase state, and the refrigerant of the operating refrigeration cycle is Liquid side connection pipe 5 when insufficient
When the pressure of A, 5B, 5X decreases, the refrigerant is discharged from the inside exchanger 20B, and conversely, when the refrigerant becomes excessive, the connecting pipe 5
The pressure of A, 5B, 5X rises, the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 20B and is absorbed, and the refrigerant is constantly operated with an appropriate amount of refrigerant. Here, even when the indoor unit that does not require heating is the indoor unit 3X farthest from the outdoor unit 1, the refrigerant flowing through the capillary tube 22 flows to the gas-side connecting pipe 4X, so that the liquid refrigerant does not accumulate. . Although the refrigerant always flows through the capillary tube 22, the refrigerant is much smaller than the refrigerant flowing through the indoor unit, and there is almost no thermal loss.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the coin gas side connecting pipe and the liquid side connecting pipe constituting the main circuit are connected to the outdoor unit, and the distributor is sequentially connected in series to the main circuit. However, by providing the indoor units via the distributor, it becomes easy to sequentially add the indoor units, and the number of indoor units can be easily changed as needed.

Further, the required compressor rotational speed from the indoor unit and the required compressor rotational speed from the distributor located farther from the outdoor unit are transferred to the distributor, and the total is transferred to the outdoor unit or the outdoor unit closest to the outdoor unit. By providing the distribution controller that transfers to the distributor, the controller of the distributor and the indoor unit can be easily connected without changing other controllers. Further, since the pressure is reduced by the main expansion valve in the outdoor unit and the flow control valve in the distributor, the refrigerant in the liquid side connecting pipe can be made into a gas-liquid two-phase, and the required amount of refrigerant in the connecting pipe can be reduced. In addition to this, by providing a bypass passage in the gas side connecting pipe and the liquid side connecting pipe of the distributor farthest from the outdoor unit, liquid refrigerant does not stay in the gas side connecting pipe even during partial heating operation. The connection pipe length can be increased. Further, by connecting the distributor and the indoor unit with the second connecting pipe, the distributor and the indoor unit can be installed separately. For example, by installing the distributor on the outer wall, an air conditioner that does not spoil the aesthetics of the room Is obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the second liquid side and gas side connecting pipes are detachably attached to the distributor and the indoor unit by the union. A pipe may be provided, cut into a required length, and then connected to the distributor or the indoor unit side by a union or the like. Further, if the total length of the connecting pipes between the distributors is short, for example, 2 m or less, the bypass passage between the gas-side connecting pipe and the liquid-side connecting pipe is less likely to retain the liquid refrigerant in the gas-side connecting pipe, and thus is not required. Good.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention. ◆ Figure 4
In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are the same parts. The distributors 2A, 2B, 2C, 2X are installed near the planned installation location of the indoor unit, and the gas side branch pipes 16A, 16
B, 16C, 16X outlets and liquid side branch pipes 18A, 18
Valves 43A, 43B, 43C, 43X and valves 44A, 4 that can be opened and closed are provided at the outlets of B, 18C, 18X, respectively.
4B, 44C and 44X are provided. Distributor 2A, 2X
Is provided with the indoor units 3A and 3C via the second gas side connecting pipes 6A and 6C and the second liquid side connecting pipes 7A and 7C, and the valves 43A and 43C and the valves 44A and 44C are opened to open the indoor unit. Valve 43 for distributor not connected
B, 43X and valves 44B, 44X are set to the closed state.
With the above configuration, the distributors 2A and 2C and the indoor units 3A and 3C perform the same operations as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and obtain the same effects.

In the second embodiment, when a new indoor unit is added, the second gas side connecting pipe and the second gas side connecting pipe are connected to the distributor near the installation site, for example, the valve 43B and the valve 44B of the distributor 2B. It is easy to install the indoor unit via the liquid side connecting pipe, open the valves 43B and 44B after releasing the air in the indoor unit with a vacuum pump, etc. without affecting other cycle components. Can be expanded to. Conversely, when the indoor unit is no longer needed, for example, when the indoor unit 3A is no longer needed, after closing the valves 43A and 44A, the indoor unit and the second gas side connecting pipe 6A, The liquid side connecting pipe 7A of No. 2 may be removed from the valve 43A and the valve 44A. Although the above embodiment shows the case where the number of installed distributors is four, the present invention can be freely applied to other installed numbers.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a self-sealing coupling of a multi-room air conditioner according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a connection state of the self-sealing coupling of FIG. It is a sectional view, and the self-sealing coupling is used in place of the valves 43A, 43B, 43C, 43X and the valves 44A, 44B, 44C, 44X.

In the self-sealing coupling shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sleeve 48 and the body I49 of the F coupling 45 are sealed by the O ring 47, and the stem valve 52 is attached by the force of the spring 51 attached to the retainer 50.
Is pressed against the sleeve 48 for sealing, and a nut 53 for coupling is provided.
Uses a spring 55 provided on the retainer 54 to press the poppet valve 56 against the body II 57 for sealing, and a screw 58 for coupling and a packing 59 on the coupling surface of the body I 49.
Is provided. When the F coupling 45 and the M coupling 46 are combined, the stem valve 52 pushes the poppet valve 56, and the stem valve 52 and the seal portion of the sleeve 48 and the poppet valve 56 and the body 5 are connected.
The seal portion 7 is opened to communicate with the inside. On the other hand, since the body 49 and the body 57 are sealed by the packing 59, they are hermetically sealed so that the refrigerant does not leak to the outside.

The F coupling 45 constructed as described above
For example, the gas side branch pipe 16A and the liquid side branch pipe 18A in FIG.
By attaching the M coupling 46 to the second gas side connecting pipe 6A and the second liquid side connecting pipe 7A,
The indoor unit can be attached and detached, and the same effect as when the valve is attached can be obtained.

Further, according to this embodiment, the indoor unit can be easily attached and detached, and since the F coupling and the M coupling are sealed, there is no leakage of the refrigerant even if they are not removed. Also, when newly adding an indoor unit, it is not necessary to newly vacuum or inject the refrigerant when the indoor unit is removed or installed by using the indoor unit that contains the required amount of refrigerant. become.

A self-sealing coupling may be used at the connecting portion between the connecting pipe and the distributor. In this case, it becomes easier to change the number of distributors.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 7, the components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 are the same components. 60A, 60B, 60C, 60X are first gas side branch pipes 62A, 62B, 62C, 62X provided with valves 63A, 63B, 63C, 63X that can be opened and closed, and first valves provided with valves 65A, 65B, 65C, 65X.
Of the liquid side branch pipes 64A, 64B, 64C and 64X of the first distributor 61A and 61C are two-way valves 17A and 17C.
Second gas branch pipes 66A, 66C provided with and second liquid side branch pipes 67A, 6 provided with flow control valves 19A, 19C
It is a second distributor made of 7C. Indoor unit 3A,
Valves 63A and 63 in the first distributors 60A and 60C connected to the second distributors 61A and 61C to which 3C is attached
C and valves 65A and 65C are valves 63B and 63 in the first distributor in which the indoor unit is not attached to the open state.
X and the valves 65B and 65X are closed, as shown in FIG.
Operations similar to those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 can be performed to obtain the same effect. Further, according to the present embodiment, by separating the distributor into the first distributor and the second distributor, only the first distributor is required at the place where the indoor unit is to be installed in the future, and the initial equipment is not required. The cost can be reduced and parallel expansion becomes easy.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the flow rate characteristics of the integrated flow control valve of the multi-room air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the flow rate characteristics of the integrated flow control valve of FIG. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 68 is an integral type flow control valve in which the two-way valve and the flow control valve of FIG. 1 are integrally formed. The liquid side branch pipe 15 and the gas side branch pipe 16 are connected to the body 69 to form a refrigerant flow path. The shaft 70 reciprocates by a pulse motor (not shown) provided in the driving unit 71, and the needle unit 7
2 and the opening of the orifice 73 are controlled. Inside the integrated flow control valve 68, there is further provided a valve 76 which is in close contact with the valve seat 75 for sealing, and the valve 74 is opened and closed by a plunger 74 which is interlocked with the shaft 70 by the force of a spring 77.

The operation of the integral type flow control valve constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. At the position where the stroke of the shaft 70 is 0, the valve 76 contacts the valve seat 75, and the flow path that connects the gas side branch pipe 16 and the heat exchanger of the indoor unit is cut off. If the stroke is increased, valve 7
6 goes away from the valve seat 75, and the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the valve portion increases. When the stroke becomes x ₀ or more, the flow path resistance of the gas side pipe 16 becomes dominant and the flow rate becomes constant even if the stroke changes. On the other hand, in the liquid side branch pipe 15, since the opening area between the needle portion 72 and the orifice 73 is set to be constant from the stroke 0 to the stroke ₁ , a constant flow rate of the refrigerant flows. When the stroke is greater than or equal to x _1, the opening area between the needle portion 72 and the orifice 73 becomes smaller, the flow rate decreases in proportion to the increase in stroke, and the flow path is cut off and the refrigerant does not flow in a full stroke.

With the above-described structure, it functions as a two-way valve for opening and closing the gas side branch pipe and a flow rate control valve for controlling the flow rate of the liquid side branch pipe, performs the same operation as the distributor, and performs the same operation. Have an effect.

According to the present embodiment described above, the distributor can be downsized by using the integrated flow control valve, and the two-way valve and the drive device for the flow control valve can be integrated into one unit for easy control. Become.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIG.
Reference numeral 8 is a receiver tank for storing excess refrigerant.

With the above configuration, the same operation as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is performed during the cooling operation and the heating operation for all the indoor units. Here, for example, when the heating operation of the indoor unit 3B is stopped, the distribution controller 23B sends a control signal to close the flow rate control valve 19B. Therefore, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 20B and heat dissipation is lost. On the other hand, the amount of refrigerant in the operating refrigeration cycle can be operated at an appropriate amount because the refrigerant is replenished from the receiver tank 78.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the two-way valve in the distributor becomes unnecessary, and it is possible to provide a low-cost multi-room air conditioner.

In this embodiment, the flow control valve of the stopped indoor unit is closed during the partial operation of the heating operation, but it may be opened by a small amount. In this case, although the heat is slightly radiated from the stop unit, the amount of the liquid refrigerant staying in the indoor heat exchanger is reduced and the capacity of the receiver tank can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the air circulation system using the indoor fan as the indoor unit has been described.
It can also be applied to floor panels for floor heating and panels for secondary cooling and heating.

[0046]

According to the present invention, a small-sized and easily controllable distributor can be provided by integrally forming the distributor with the two-way valve and the flow rate control valve as one driving device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a separate type air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a control circuit diagram of the multi-room air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a self-sealing coupling of a multi-room air conditioner according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a sectional view showing a connection state of the self-sealing coupling of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an integrated flow control valve for a multi-room air conditioner according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram showing flow rate characteristics of the integrated flow control valve of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a multi-room air conditioner according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Outdoor unit, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2X ... Distributor,
3A, 3B, 3C, 3X ... Indoor unit, 4, 4A, 4
B, 4C, 4X ... Gas side connecting pipe, 5, 5A, 5B, 5
C, 5X ... Liquid side connecting pipe, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6X ... Second
Gas side connecting pipe, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7X ... Second liquid side connecting pipe, 12 ... Main expansion valve, 16A, 16B, 16C, 16
X ... Gas side branch pipe, 17A, 17B, 17C, 17X ...
Two-way valve, 18A, 18B, 18C, 18X ... Liquid side branch pipe, 19A, 19B, 19C, 19X ... Flow control valve, 22
... capillary tube, 23A, 23B, 23X ... distribution controller, 24A, 24B, 24X ... indoor controller, 28 ...
Outdoor controller, 43A, 43B, 43C, 43X, 44
A, 44B, 44C, 44X, 63A, 63B, 63
C, 63X, 64A, 64B, 64C, 64X ... Valve, 45 ... F coupling, 46 ... M coupling, 4
8 ... Sleeve, 52 ... Stem valve, 56 ... Poppet valve, 60A, 60B, 60C, 60X ... 1st distributor, 61A, 61C ... 2nd distributor, 68 ... Integrated flow control valve, 70 ... Shaft, 71 ... Drive part, 72 ... Needle part, 73 ... Orifice, 74 ... Plunger, 75 ... Valve seat, 76 ... Valve, 78 ... Receiver tank.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Masakatsu Hayashi, Masakatsu Hayashi, 502 Jinritsucho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki Hiritsu Seisakusho Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Kazuki Urata, 502, Jinritsucho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki (72) Inventor Akio Sakazume, 800 Tomita, Ohira-cho, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture Hitachi Co., Ltd. Tochigi Plant

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An outdoor unit, a gas-side connecting pipe and a liquid-side connecting pipe connected to the outdoor unit, a gas-side branch pipe branched from the gas-side connecting pipe, and a liquid side branched from the liquid-side connecting pipe. In an air conditioner in which a branch pipe and the gas-side branch pipe and the liquid-side branch pipe are connected to an indoor heat exchanger in an indoor unit, a two-way valve for the gas-side branch pipe and a control valve for the liquid-side branch pipe And an air conditioner in which the two-way valve and the control valve are integrated. 2. A shaft reciprocating by a driving device, a needle portion provided on the shaft, an orifice located at the needle portion, a liquid side branch pipe communicating with the orifice, and a spring at the end of the shaft. A plunger that is in contact, a valve attached to the other end of the plunger, a valve seat that contacts and seals the valve, and a gas side branch pipe that communicates with the valve seat are provided in one body. When the shaft is accommodated and the displacement of the shaft is 0, the valve comes into contact with the valve seat, and the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the gas side branch pipe does not change. The orifice position and the valve seat position are set so that the opening area between them becomes gradually smaller with respect to the displacement of the shaft. It forms the flow control valve.