JPH094916A - Indoor unit of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner ensuring improvements of maintenance and workability and of durability of a fan and further ensuring comfortable air conditioning by constructing a louver as a unit and making it easily removable from a vent passage. CONSTITUTION: This indoor unit is provided with a unit body 1 including a fan 7 for sucking air for a room to be air conditioned for heat exchange and feeding heat exchanged air, a vent passage 13 for blowing off and guiding the heat exchanged air blown off from the fan, a blowoff outlet 11 opened to the end of the vent passage for the heat exchanged air, and a vertical louver unit 15 disposed at the blowoff outlet for altering the direction of the heat exchanged air blown off from the blowoff outlet. The louver unit is mounted removably with respect to the vent passage.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an indoor unit constituting an air conditioner, and more particularly to improvement of a louver structure provided at an outlet of a ventilation passage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner generally used comprises an indoor unit arranged in a room to be air-conditioned and an outdoor unit arranged outdoors, and these units are connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe and electric wiring. .

Particularly, in the indoor unit, an indoor heat exchanger and a blower are arranged in a unit body having a suction port and a blowout port, and a ventilation passage is formed between the blower and the blowout port.

Then, the blower operates together with the refrigeration cycle operation for the indoor heat exchanger, sucks the air in the room to be conditioned from the suction port into the unit main body, and guides it to the indoor heat exchanger.
After heat exchange here, air is blown from the outlet to the air-conditioned room through the ventilation passage.

In such an indoor unit, in particular, the outlet is provided with a louver for changing the wind direction of the heat exchange air blown from here. This louver is usually composed of a combination of a vertical louver that changes the wind direction in the left-right direction from the unit body and a horizontal louver that changes the wind direction in the up-down direction.

[0006]

By the way, a filter is detachably attached between the suction port and the heat exchanger to filter the air to be conditioned in the unit body. The user needs to remove the filter as appropriate to remove the captured dust.

Therefore, originally, the inside of the unit main body,
Although dust does not adhere to the heat exchanger and blower,
There is a decrease in the filtering capacity of the above filter, or there is dust that enters the unit body from the suction port or the blowout port during the stop period, and dust adheres to the heat exchanger and blower over a long period of use, Easy to stack.

Therefore, it is necessary to perform maintenance work for cleaning the inside of the unit body on a regular basis. In the case of recent indoor units, the front panel equipped with a grill facing the suction port is detachably or rotatably attached to the unit body, and the heat exchanger can be exposed relatively easily. Dust adhering to this can be removed.

However, since the blower is arranged on the back side of the heat exchanger, the blower is not exposed unless the heat exchanger is removed. To remove the heat exchanger,
The refrigerant pipe connected here must also be removed,
Practically impossible.

On the other hand, since the blower is located at the end of the ventilation passage, it is possible to contact the blower through the ventilation passage by putting a hand through the air outlet, and dust can be removed. However, the outlet has a horizontal louver and a vertical louver, and the gaps formed between the louvers are very small, and it is virtually impossible to clean the blower from this gap.

However, in the case of the horizontal louver, at most 2
Since there are only a few sheets and the pins projecting from both side ends are pivotally supported by pivot holes provided in the side surface of the ventilation passage, it does not require much labor for removal.

On the other hand, the vertical louvers are composed of a much larger number than the horizontal louvers, and the upper and lower ends of the vertical louvers are pivotally supported by pivot holes provided in the upper and lower surfaces of the ventilation passage. Because, it is almost impossible to remove.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to make a louver provided at an outlet for changing the outlet direction into a unit and easily attachable / detachable from an air passage. It is intended to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner that is configured to improve maintenance workability, improve durability of a blower, and contribute to comfortable air conditioning.

[0014]

In order to satisfy the above object, an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention, as claimed in claim 1, sucks air in an air-conditioned room for heat exchange, and blows the heat-exchanged air. A unit main body provided with a blower, a ventilation passage for guiding the heat exchange air blown out from the blower in the unit main body, a heat exchange air outlet formed at the end of the ventilation passage, and this blowout Placed in the mouth,
A louver unit for changing the direction of the heat exchange air blown from here is provided, and the louver unit is detachably attached to the ventilation passage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the louver unit according to the first aspect, a louver base and a plurality of vertical louvers that are rotatably supported at predetermined intervals on the louver base to change the horizontal direction of the wind. And these vertical louvers,
The louver base is characterized in that the louver base is detachably attached to the ventilation passage, and that the louver base is connected to each other via a hinge and has an airflow direction setting unit that simultaneously rotationally displaces each vertical louver in the same direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the louver base according to the second aspect is characterized in that an angle-regulating projection for regulating the maximum turning angle of the vertical louver is integrally provided. As claim 4, the louver base according to claim 2,
It is characterized in that it is provided with a claw portion that engages with an engaging portion formed in the ventilation passage and a hole portion that engages with a protrusion formed in the ventilation passage, and that it is mounted flush with the ventilation passage.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the protrusion length of the protrusion provided in the ventilation passage according to the fourth aspect is the same as the thickness of the louver base. A sixth aspect of the present invention includes a control device that stops the blower with the louver unit according to the first aspect removed.

Claims 4 and 5 are defined as claim 7.
In order to remove the louver base described above, a control device is provided for shutting off the power supply to the blower in a state where the protrusion of the ventilation passage is pushed in.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the louver unit can be easily attached and detached from the blowout port, and if this is removed, it is possible to put a hand through the blowout port to remove dust adhering to the blower.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of vertical louvers can be removed and attached at one time, which facilitates the attachment and detachment work. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the angle regulating protrusion that regulates the maximum rotation angle of the vertical louver is provided integrally with the louver base, it is easier to manufacture than providing it in the ventilation passage.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the claw portion of the louver base is engaged with the engaging portion of the ventilation passage and the hole portion of the louver base is engaged with the protrusion portion of the ventilation passage, the louver base can be easily attached and detached. .

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the protrusions of the ventilation passage are flush with the ventilation passage, and the presence of the protrusions cannot be understood unless the operator intentionally touches them. In other words, while it can be easily removed, it is not accidentally removed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, even if the louver unit is removed during operation, the operation of the blower is immediately stopped and the danger is prevented. In the invention of claim 7, in order to remove the louver unit, the operation of the blower is stopped in a state in which the protrusion of the ventilation passage is pushed, and safety is secured.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an indoor unit of an air conditioner.
The unit body 1 is composed of a front panel 2 and a rear plate 3, and a suction grill 4 is provided on the front surface of the front panel 2.
a is detachably arranged. And the suction grill 4a
The front suction port 5a is opened on the front side, and the upper suction port 5b on which the grill 4b is formed is opened on the upper surface side of the front panel 2.

An indoor heat exchanger 6 is arranged in the unit body 1 so as to face the front and upper suction ports 5a and 5b.
The indoor blower 7 is arranged so as to be covered by the indoor heat exchanger 6.

The heat exchanger 6 is a combination of a main heat exchanger 6A formed in an inverted V shape and an auxiliary heat exchanger 6B which is straight and is provided along a part of the main heat exchanger. Become. Since the arcuate portion of the main heat exchanger 6A is located on the front side, this portion is called the front heat exchanger 8a, and the straight portion located at the rear is called the rear heat exchanger 8b.

The front heat exchanger 8a formed in an arc shape is
It is located at a position facing the front suction port 5a. The rear heat exchanger 8b, which is inclined obliquely downward from the front portion to the rear portion, is located at a position facing the upper suction port 5b via the auxiliary heat exchanger 6B.

The indoor blower 7 is composed of a fan motor (not shown) and a cross flow fan fitted to the rotating shaft of the fan motor. The fan motor and cross-flow fan are
They are circular with almost the same diameter.

The lower end of the front heat exchanger 8a is inserted into the front drain pan 9, and the lower end of the rear heat exchanger 8b is inserted into the rear drain pan 10 integrally formed with the rear plate 3. These front and rear drain pans 9 and 10 communicate with each other via a communication passage (not shown).

Below the front drain pan 9, there is provided an outlet 11 which opens to the lower part of the front side of the unit body 1. The outlet 11 is provided with a wind direction changing device R described later.

The upper end of the rear plate 3 is connected to the rear end of the upper suction port 5b, and extends from here to the outlet 11 through the rear drain pan 10 and the side of the indoor blower 7. It

An air passage 13 is formed by a part of the rear plate 3 extending from the side of the indoor blower 7 to the outlet 11, the nose 12 integral with the front drain pan 9, and the lower surface of the front drain pan 9. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the wind direction changing device R is also provided.
Is a pair of horizontal louvers 14, 14 and here 2
The vertical louver units 15 and 15 are combined. The horizontal louvers 14 are arranged in parallel to each other along the left-right width direction of the outlet 11, and both ends of the horizontal louvers 14 are rotatably supported by side surfaces of the ventilation passage 13. Therefore,
By setting the rotation position of the horizontal louver 14, the vertical wind direction of the wind blown out from the outlet 11 can be changed.

On the other hand, the vertical louver unit 15
Is provided with a plurality of vertical louvers 17 ... Over the up-down direction of the outlet 11 and at predetermined intervals in the left-right width direction. The vertical louvers 17 ... For each unit 15 are arranged so as to be rotationally displaced in unison, as will be described later, and the direction of air blown out from the outlet 11 can be changed in the left-right direction.

Both ends of the horizontal louver 14 are detachable from the ventilation passage 13. Further, in the present invention, the vertical louver unit 15 is also configured to be easily attached to and detached from the ventilation passage 13.

As will be described later, with the horizontal louver 14 and the vertical louver unit 15 removed, the cross-flow fan constituting the blower 7 is exposed from the outlet 11. Therefore, the maintenance work of the blower 7 can be performed by inserting the hand from the outlet 11.

3 and 4, the vertical louver unit 1 is shown.
5 shows the details. The vertical louver unit 15 is rotatably supported by a louver base 16 which is removably attached directly to the upper surface wall of the ventilation passage 13 and a predetermined interval with respect to the louver base 16 so as to move in the left-right direction of the wind. A plurality of vertical louvers 17 to be changed and these vertical louvers 17 are
Each of the vertical louvers 17 is integrally connected via a hinge 18, and each wind louver 17 is provided with a wind direction setting portion 19 that is rotationally displaced in the same direction.

To explain further, the louver base 16 is
It consists of a rectangular flat plate elongated in the left-right direction. A plurality of boss portions 16a are integrally provided on the upper surface side at equal intervals,
A pin portion 17c (boss portion 16a and pin portion 17 are shown only in FIG. 1) protruding from the base end portion of the vertical louver 17 is loosely inserted into these boss portions, and the vertical louver 17 is attached to the louver base 16. It is pivotally supported.

A plurality of (here, four) claw portions 2 are provided at a predetermined interval on one side edge along the longitudinal direction of the louver base 16.
0 ... is provided. Each of these claws 20 includes a mountain-shaped receiving portion 20a, and a hook claw 20b whose one end is integrally connected to the receiving portion and the remaining portion is parallel to the edge of the receiving portion. The lower surface of the claw portion 20 is provided so as to be flush with the upper surface of the louver base 16.

On the other side edge of the louver base 16, auxiliary claws 21 are integrally projected at positions facing the claw portions 20. These auxiliary claws 21 are also formed so that the lower surface thereof is flush with the upper surface of the louver base 16.

Further, the louver base 16 is provided with a hole portion 22 which is a long hole extending in the lateral direction in the vicinity of the other side edge and substantially in the center thereof. Further, the angle regulating projections 23, 23 are integrally provided on the vertical louver 17 pivotally supporting portions on both left and right sides.

As shown in FIG. 6, the left and right vertical louvers 17 have base end portions 17 that are in sliding contact with the surface of the louver base 16.
a is formed into a half circle with a small radius and a half circle with a large radius,
These boundaries are steps.

On the other hand, the angle regulating projection 23 integrally provided on the surface of the louver base 16 is formed in an arc shape. The radius of curvature on the inner diameter side is the vertical louver base end portion 17
It is the same as the small radius of a, and the radius of curvature on the outer diameter side is the same as the large radius.

When the vertical louver 17 is in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the louver base 16 as shown in FIG. 6B, both side ends of the angle regulating projection 23 are located on both sides of the base end portion 17a. It is set so that there is an equal interval with the step.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vertical louver 17 is integrally provided with a connecting rod portion 17b parallel to the surface direction of the louver base 16. This connecting rod 1
7b is a hinge 1 referred to as a so-called PP hinge.
8 is integrally connected to the wind direction setting unit 19.

Therefore, the louver base 16 has all the vertical louvers 17 (including the connecting rod portion 17a) and the wind direction guide portion 19 and has the same structure as the parallel link mechanism.
A knob 19a is integrally provided substantially at the center of the wind direction setting portion 19, and the vertical louvers 17 ... Are moved in the same direction by moving the wind direction guide portion 19 along the longitudinal direction with the knob 19a. It is possible to rotate all at once and set the same angle.

On the wall surface of the ventilation passage 13 to which the louver unit 15 is attached, a recessed portion 24 having the same shape area as the length (L) of the auxiliary claw 21 than the louver base 16 is formed. ing. The recess 2
The concave depth dimension of No. 4 corresponds to the plate thickness dimension of the louver base 16.

A plurality of (four in this case) hooking windows 25 are provided in the recess 24 at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction.
Is opened. The latching window portion 25 has a stepwise rectangular shape in which a long width portion and a short width portion are continuously provided.

A projection 26 is integrally provided at the center of the recess 24 in the longitudinal direction. The protrusion 26 has the same protrusion height as the plate thickness of the louver base 16 and has an area shape that can be inserted into the hole 22 provided in the louver base.

A pair of slits 27, 27 are provided on both sides of the projecting portion 26, and the projecting portion 26 and the slit 2 are formed by pushing and pushing the projecting portion 26.
The portions between 7 and 27 are easily elastically deformed.

Further, rectangular or round through holes 28 ... Are provided between the above-mentioned latching window portions 25 and between the above-mentioned latching window portions 25 and the projection portions 26. With the louver base 16 attached to the recess 24,
A boss portion 16a that pivotally supports the vertical louver 17 at a position that does not face the hanging window portion 25 is located.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 5, a detection switch 29, which is a micro switch, is provided at a position corresponding to the back surface side of the protrusion 26. This detection switch 29
Is electrically connected to a control circuit 30 that controls the operation of the fan motor 7M that constitutes the blower 7.

Although the detection switch 29 is off, it has no relation to the operation / stop of the fan motor 7M.
In the on state, the fan motor 7M is set to output a signal for interrupting energization even when the blower is in operation.

However, the indoor blower 7 is driven along with the refrigeration cycle operation, and the front and upper suction ports 5a, 5b.
The air to be conditioned is sucked into the unit main body 1 from the inside. Then, the heat is exchanged by flowing through the front heat exchanger 5a, and the heat is exchanged by flowing through the auxiliary heat exchanger 6B and the rear heat exchanger 5b.

The air that has exchanged heat with these heat exchangers 5a, 5b, 6B is guided from the blower 7 to the ventilation passage 13, and the wind direction is set by the wind direction changing device R, and then the outlet 11 is provided.
The air is blown from the air-conditioned room to provide air conditioning.

By adjusting the wind direction changing device R, it is possible to change the blowing direction of the heat exchange air blown from the blowing port 11. That is, when adjusting the blowing direction from the blowing port 11 in the vertical direction, the horizontal louvers 14 and 14 are rotationally displaced. When adjusting in the left-right direction, the vertical louvers 17 are simultaneously slid in the same direction by slidingly displacing the knob portion 19a of the vertical louver unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 6, the maximum angle of the vertical louver 17 is restricted. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the wind direction setting unit 19 is moved to the left in the figure, the vertical louver 17 is rotationally displaced in the clockwise direction, and the wind direction can be set in the same direction. .

When the wind direction setting portion 19 is further moved in the same direction, one step portion formed at the base end portion 17a of the vertical louver 17 finally contacts one side end portion of one of the angle regulating projections 23. In contact with each other, further rotation is restricted. That is,
It is the maximum wind direction change angle of the vertical louver 17.

When the wind direction setting section 19 is moved to the right in the figure from the state of FIG. 9A, the vertical louver 17 rotates clockwise, and as shown in FIG. The wind direction change angle becomes zero.

Further movement in the same direction finally causes the other step of the vertical louver base end 17a to abut against the other side end of the angle regulating projection 23, as shown in FIG. In contact with each other, further rotation is restricted, and the maximum wind direction change angle of the vertical louver 17 is reached.

Since the angle regulating projection 23 is integrally provided on the louver base 16, the mold structure is simpler and easier to form as compared with the case where the projection is provided in the ventilation passage 13.

When used for a long period of time, dust adheres particularly to the cross flow fan forming the blower 17. If left as it is, the dust may be mixed with the heat exchange air and blown off, so the dust must be removed as necessary.

At this time, the horizontal louver 14 is removed and the vertical louver unit 15 is removed. When removing the vertical louver unit 15, the protrusion 26 inserted into the hole 22 of the louver base 16 is pushed up to open the protrusion 26 from the hole 22 and slide the louver base 16 toward the claw 20. Then, the hooking claw 20b of the claw portion 20 is elastically deformed, the louver base auxiliary claw 21 is removed from the hooking of the hooking window portion 25, and the louver base 16 is in an oblique state.

Further, the hooking window portion 2 of the ventilation passage recessed portion 24
By removing the engagement of the louver base claw portion 20 from 5, the vertical louver unit 15 is removed. That is, the vertical louver unit 15 can be easily removed from the ventilation passage 13. In this state, the cross-flow fan of the blower 7 is exposed from the outlet 11, so that the dust removal operation can be easily performed.

When the vertical louver unit 15 is detached, the protrusion 26 is pushed up and comes into contact with a detection switch 29 arranged on the back side thereof to turn it on. A stop signal is sent from the detection switch 29 to the blower 7 via the control circuit 30, and the energization is cut off.

Therefore, even if the maintenance work is performed during the air conditioning operation and the vertical louver unit 15 is removed, the operation of the blower 7 is automatically stopped, so that the safety is ensured.

After completion of the necessary maintenance work, the vertical louver unit 15 is attached to the ventilation passage recessed portion 24 again. Contrary to the removal work, the louver base claw portion 20 is hooked on the side portion of the recessed portion hooking window portion 25, and the louver base 1
6 is fitted into the recessed portion 24, and the louver base auxiliary claw 2
1 may be engaged with the side portion of the locking window portion 25.

In this way, the hook 20 of the hook 20 is retained.
Due to the elasticity of b, the louver base 16 is pushed in the direction of the protrusion 26, and the hole 22 is inevitably engaged with the protrusion 26, so that this attachment work can be performed easily as well as the removal work of the vertical louver unit 15. Becomes

Since the protrusion height of the protrusion 26 is set to be the same as the plate thickness of the louver base 16, the tip surface of the protrusion 26 and the louver base 16 plate surface are flush with each other.
From this fact, the existence of the protrusion 26 cannot be confirmed unless the contact is made. That is, unless the vertical louver unit 15 is intentionally brought into contact with the protrusion 26 for removal, the accidental contact with the protrusion 26 is prevented.

[0070]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the outlet is provided at the end of the ventilation passage, and the louver unit for changing the direction of the heat-exchanged air is arranged at the outlet. Since it is detachably attached to the ventilation passage, the louver unit can be easily attached and detached from the outlet, and if the louver unit is removed, you can put your hands in the outlet to remove dust adhering to the blower and maintainability. There is an effect that can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the louver unit includes a louver base, a plurality of vertical louvers, and an airflow direction setting section connected via a hinge, and the louver base is detachably attached to the unit body. Since it is attached, a plurality of vertical louvers can be removed at a time and easily attached, and workability of these is improved.

According to the invention of claim 3, in the louver base,
Since the angle-regulating protrusion that regulates the maximum rotation angle of the vertical louver is integrally provided, it can be manufactured more easily than by providing the angle-regulating protrusion in the ventilation passage.

In the invention of claim 4, the louver base is
The louver base is attached because it is provided with a claw portion that engages with the engaging portion formed in the ventilation passage and a hole that engages with the protrusion formed in the ventilation passage, and is mounted flush with the ventilation passage. It is easy to remove and can be easily removed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the protrusion length of the protrusion provided in the ventilation passage is the same as the plate thickness of the louver base, the protrusion of the ventilation passage is flush with the ventilation passage. If you don't touch it, you won't know its existence. In other words, while it can be easily removed, it prevents accidental removal.

According to the invention of claim 6, since the louver unit is removed, the control device for stopping the blower is provided. Therefore, even if the louver unit is removed during operation, the operation of the blower immediately stops. The danger is prevented.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, in order to remove the louver base, the control device is provided to shut off the electric power supply to the blower in the state where the projection of the ventilation passage is pushed in, so that the safety is ensured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an air conditioner indoor unit showing an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an indoor unit and horizontal louver and vertical louver units according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vertical louver unit with respect to the unit body of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a vertical louver unit is attached to the unit body of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a control device according to the embodiment.

6 (A) to 6 (C) are views for explaining different wind direction states of the vertical louvers with respect to the angle-regulating projections of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

7 ... Blower, 1 ... Unit main body, 13 ... Ventilation path, 7 ... Outlet, 15 ... Vertical louver unit, 16 ... Louver base, 17 ... Vertical louver, 19 ... Wind direction setting part, 23 ... Angle regulation projection, 25 ... Hook window part, 20 ... Claw part, 26 ...
Projection part, 22 ... Hole part, 29 ... Detection switch, 30 ... Control circuit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A unit main body provided with a blower for sucking air in the air-conditioned room to exchange heat and blowing the heat-exchanged air, and ventilation for blowing out and guiding the heat exchange air blown out from the blower in the unit main body. A louver unit, and a louver unit arranged at the outlet for changing the direction of the heat exchange air blown from the outlet. Is an indoor unit of an air conditioner, which is detachably attached to the ventilation passage. 2. The louver unit includes a louver base, a plurality of vertical louvers that are rotatably supported by the louver base at a predetermined interval so as to freely rotate, and the vertical louvers. Connected via a hinge,
An air conditioner that includes a wind direction setting unit that pivotally displaces each vertical louver in the same direction, and the louver base is detachably attached to the ventilation passage. Indoor unit. 3. The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the louver base is integrally provided with an angle-regulating projection that regulates the maximum rotation angle of the vertical louver. 4. The louver base is provided with a pawl portion that engages with an engaging portion formed in the ventilation passage, and a hole portion that engages with a protrusion formed in the ventilation passage, and is flush with the ventilation passage. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the indoor unit is attached to the indoor unit. 5. The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion length of the protrusion provided in the ventilation passage is the same as the plate thickness of the louver base. 6. The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for stopping the blower with the louver unit removed. 7. A control device for shutting off the power supply to the blower when the protrusion of the ventilation passage is pushed in for removing the louver base. Indoor unit of the air conditioner described.