JPH10278572A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately grasp a degree of progress of clogging of a filter so as to accurately judge a time for exchange by providing a filter clogging indicating means for catching the foreign material included in the passing air at a quantity corresponding to a degree of progress of the clogging of filter in the upstream of a filter device, which is detachably provided in an air passage. SOLUTION: A clogging indicating means 10 for catching the foreign material included in the passing air at a quantity corresponding to a degree of progress of the clogging of the filter 8 is provided in the upstream of a filter device 2, which is detachably provided in an air passage 7. The means 10 has a base 10 and a seal member 13. Degree of progress of the clogging of the filter 8 can be accurately grasped by removing the indicating means 10 and visually confirming the foreign material catching condition of a catch part 11, and a time for exchange of the filter 8 can be accurately judged. The indicating means 10 can be easily fitted and removed from a position under a glove box, and the work for checking clogging condition is facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a filter device for removing foreign matter such as dust from air passing through an air passage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a filter device installed in, for example, an air passage of a vehicle air conditioner and capturing and removing dust and the like from air passing through the air passage is well known. This filter device is usually installed on the upstream side in the air passage direction, and removes foreign substances such as dust from the air flowing to the downstream side (for example, the evaporator side). Therefore, when the filter of the filter device is clogged due to long-term use, it is necessary to replace and clean the filter.
If the use is continued while the clogged state is left, the required air flow to the evaporator and the like on the downstream side, that is, the minimum required air flow for operating the device without trouble, will not be supplied,
The cooling capacity may be reduced, or other devices of the air conditioner (for example, a compressor or the like) may be adversely affected.

[0003]

However, in order to determine whether or not the filter of the filter device has reached a time for replacement or the like, it is necessary to remove the glove box in the cabin of the vehicle, and then further remove the glove box in the air conditioner. It is necessary to remove the filter device from the filter and check the filter visually or the like, and the inspection work is extremely complicated. Further, for example, there is a method of providing a sensor for detecting windage of air passing through the filter and grasping the time of replacement of the filter or the like through an increase in the windage. The degree of progress may not always coincide with the degree of progress, and it may not be possible to accurately determine the time for replacing the filter or the like. In addition, a sensor or the like for detecting an increase in windage is required, and an increase in the cost of the apparatus is inevitable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of extremely easily and accurately grasping the progress of clogging of a filter of a filter device and accurately determining the time for replacement of a filter. It is in.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an air conditioner according to the present invention comprises an air conditioner having a filter device in an air passage, wherein the filter is provided upstream of the filter device in the air passage. The apparatus is characterized in that a filter clogging indicator for capturing foreign matter in the passing wind in an amount corresponding to the degree of clogging of the filter of the apparatus is detachably provided.

[0006] It is desirable that the foreign matter catching portion of the index means is made of substantially the same material as the filter of the filter device. However, it is not limited to this.
That is, the foreign matter capturing unit may be any as long as it can capture foreign matter in the passing wind in an amount corresponding to the degree of progress of clogging of the filter of the filter device. Therefore, for example, a metal material, a plastic material, an adhesive material (for example, rubber), or the like can be used.

[0007] It is desirable that the foreign matter catching portion has a U-shaped, V-shaped, or semi-circular opening in a direction opposite to the ventilation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the capturing unit may be, for example, a flat plate.

It is desirable that the indicator is provided with a scale capable of reading the amount of foreign matter captured by the foreign matter capturing section. If the scale is provided, the degree of foreign matter capturing by the foreign matter capturing unit, that is, the degree of progress of clogging of the filter can be accurately grasped at a glance.

In the air conditioner as described above, foreign matter in the passing wind is captured on the upstream side of the filter device in the air passage in accordance with the degree of clogging of the filter of the filter device.
Since the filter clogging indicator is provided detachably, the degree of clogging of the filter can be easily and accurately grasped simply by removing only the indicator and visually confirming. It is possible to accurately determine the time for replacing the filter or the like.

If the foreign matter catching portion of the index means is made of substantially the same material as the filter of the filter device, clogging of the filter and the catching portion proceeds substantially equally. The progress of the clogging can be grasped more accurately.

Further, if the foreign matter capturing portion of the index means is opened in a U-shape or the like in a direction opposite to the ventilation, the foreign matter in the passing wind can be efficiently captured without being missed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a case where the air conditioner is a vehicle air conditioner will be described. 1 to 3
1 shows an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 indicates an air conditioner. The air conditioner 1 is provided in the vehicle interior as shown in FIG. A glove box 2 and a seat 3 are provided in the vehicle interior.

The air conditioner 1 has a filter device 4 and an evaporator 5. The filter device 4 and the evaporator 5 are installed in an air path 7 formed by a duct 6 or a case, and are arranged in the order of the filter device 4 on the upstream side in the air passage direction indicated by the arrow and the evaporator 5 on the downstream side. ing.

The filter device 4 includes a filter 8 for removing foreign matter such as dust contained in air flowing through the air passage 7,
And an outer frame 9 for supporting the filter 8.

On the upstream side of the filter device 2 in the air passage 7,
A clogging indicator means 10 for capturing an amount of foreign matter in the passing wind corresponding to the degree of clogging of the filter 8 of the filter device 2 is detachably provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the indexing means 10 has a capturing portion 11 for capturing an amount of foreign matter in the passing wind corresponding to the degree of clogging of the filter 8, a pedestal 12, and a seal member 13. I have.

The catching portion 11 is supported by a support member 14 erected on a pedestal 12. In the present embodiment, the catching portion 11 has a U-shape having an opening in a direction opposed to the air passage direction. Is formed. Further, the capturing section 11 in the present embodiment is made of the same material (for example, non-woven fabric) as the filter 8 of the filter device 2.

The support member 14 is provided with a scale 15 from which the amount of foreign substances captured by the capturing section 11 can be read. Note that the support member 14 may be omitted, and in this case, the scale 15 may be directly carved on the capturing unit 11.

In the present embodiment, the indicator means 10 having a catching portion 11 for catching foreign matter in the passing wind in accordance with the degree of clogging of the filter 8 is detachable on the upstream side of the filter device 2 in the air passage 7. Therefore, the degree of clogging of the filter 8 can be accurately grasped only by removing the indicator means 10 and confirming the foreign matter capturing state of the capturing unit 11 by visual observation or the like. The timing can be determined accurately. In addition, since the indicator means 10 can be easily attached and detached from below the glove box 2,
Inspection work of the clogged state of the filter 8 can be greatly facilitated as compared with the related art.

The capturing section 11 is made of the same material as the filter 8. In other words, the clogging caused by the foreign matter trapping of the two proceeds substantially equally, so that the degree of the clogging of the filter 8 can be accurately grasped without error if the trapping portion 11 is visually confirmed.

Further, since the catching portion 11 is formed in a U-shape having an opening in a direction opposite to the ventilation, it is possible to efficiently catch foreign matter in the passing wind without escaping. Therefore, the correspondence with the degree of progress of clogging of the filter 8 can be further ensured.

Further, since the amount of foreign substances captured by the capturing section 11 can be read by the scale 15, it is possible to easily and quickly grasp the status of capturing foreign substances by the capturing section 11.

FIG. 4 shows an indicator 16 provided in an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the capturing unit 17 is formed of a plastic plate that captures an amount of foreign matter corresponding to clogging of the filter 8.

Also in the present embodiment, the progress of the clogging of the filter 8 can be accurately grasped only by visually confirming the capturing section 17, so that the timing of the replacement of the filter 8 can be accurately determined. can do.

In the present embodiment, the capturing unit 17
Is made of a plastic plate, so that the captured foreign matter can be easily cleaned. Therefore, the indicator means 1
6 can also be used continuously. Note that the capturing unit 17
It is also possible to form from a metal plate.

Alternatively, the support member 14 may be formed in a U-shape, and an adhesive material may be adhered to the bottom of the U-shape to form the capturing portion. In this case, if the adhesive material is appropriately replaced, the indicator can be continuously used.

[0027]

As described above, when the air conditioner according to the present invention is used, the degree of clogging of the filter can be easily and accurately grasped by providing the indicator means. Time can be accurately determined.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a state diagram showing a state in which an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed in a vehicle (automobile).

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the air conditioner of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an indicator of the air conditioner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an indicator of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner 2 Glove box 3 Seat 4 Filter device 5 Evaporator 6 Duct or case 7 Airway 8 Filter 9 Outer frame 10, 16 Index means 11, 17 Capture part 12 Base 13 Seal member 14 Support member 15 Scale

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner having a filter device in an air passage, wherein an amount of foreign matter in the wind that corresponds to the degree of progress of clogging of a filter of the filter device is provided upstream of the filter device in the air passage. An air conditioner, wherein a filter clogging indicator for capturing is provided detachably. 2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter capturing portion of the indicator is made of substantially the same material as the filter of the filter device.
Air conditioner. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the indicator has a foreign matter capturing portion that opens in a U-shape in a direction opposite to the ventilation. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the indicator is provided with a scale capable of reading the amount of foreign matter captured by the foreign matter capturing unit.