US20110167859A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Air conditioner Download PDF

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Publication number
US20110167859A1
US20110167859A1 US13/063,368 US200913063368A US2011167859A1 US 20110167859 A1 US20110167859 A1 US 20110167859A1 US 200913063368 A US200913063368 A US 200913063368A US 2011167859 A1 US2011167859 A1 US 2011167859A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
air
fan
blades
inflow port
air conditioner
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/063,368
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English (en)
Inventor
Yukishige Shiraichi
Masaki Ohtsuka
Hiroyuki Iida
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Sharp Corp
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Individual
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Publication date
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Assigned to SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: IIDA, HIROYUKI, OHTSUKA, MASAKI, SHIRAICHI, YUKISHIGE
Publication of US20110167859A1 publication Critical patent/US20110167859A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0018—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by fans
    • F24F1/0022—Centrifugal or radial fans
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
    • F24F1/0057—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in or on a wall
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0071—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units with means for purifying supplied air
    • F24F1/0073—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units with means for purifying supplied air characterised by the mounting or arrangement of filters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F8/00—Treatment, e.g. purification, of air supplied to human living or working spaces otherwise than by heating, cooling, humidifying or drying
    • F24F8/90—Cleaning of purification apparatus

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air conditioner equipped with a cleaning apparatus cleaning dust that is stuck and accumulated on a component of an indoor unit by air taken inside.
  • a conventional air conditioner is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
  • a dust collecting filter is provided at an opening portion that is open in any part of an area expanding from a front surface to a top surface of the indoor unit, and a cleaning apparatus is provided that cleans dust collected by the filter.
  • the cleaning apparatus is equipped with a fan unit that is disposed at a side portion of the indoor unit, and to the fan unit, a suction duct and an air exhaust duct are connected.
  • the suction duct is so disposed as to extend at a front portion of the indoor unit in a traverse direction thereof, and has a nozzle so mounted thereon as to be movable on a surface of the filter.
  • FIG. 19 is a sectional view schematically showing the fan unit as seen from a side thereof.
  • a housing 21 accommodates a fan 22 .
  • the fan 22 has a bottom plate 22 a connected to a motor shaft 24 a , and is driven to rotate by a fan motor 24 .
  • the fan 22 is formed with a sirocco fan, in which a plurality of blades 23 that extend in a radius direction are arranged annularly on the bottom plate 22 a at predetermined intervals.
  • the housing 21 is formed with a circular air inflow port 21 a open coaxially with the fan 22 , for which a cover 25 d covering the air inflow port 21 a is mounted. With this, an air intake passage 25 is formed that guides a stream of sucked air to the air inflow port 21 a .
  • the blades 23 are arranged outside relative to the air inflow port 21 a , and guide the stream of air flowing through the air inflow port 21 a in an axial direction of the fan 22 , toward an outer circumferential side, in the radius direction, of the fan 22 .
  • an air outflow port (unillustrated) is made open and connected to the air exhaust duct.
  • the fan motor 24 is driven thereby to rotate the fan 22 , and a stream of sucked air is produced accordingly inside the suction passage 25 .
  • Dust stuck on the filter is sucked through the nozzle, made to pass through the suction passage 25 as indicated by arrowed line A 1 , and then enters the housing 21 through the air inflow port 21 a .
  • the stream of air blown inside the housing 21 is then guided in the outer circumferential directions as indicated by arrowed lines A 2 and A 3 , and passes through the air exhaust duct via the air outflow port so as to be expelled together with exhausted air.
  • the filter is automatically cleaned, with the result that user-friendliness of the air conditioner is increased.
  • the blades 23 are formed such that side edges 23 a thereof, on an upper stream side, of the stream of air flowing inside the housing 21 extend in the axial direction of the fan 22 .
  • the stream of air flowing inside the housing 21 and guided in the outer circumferential directions as indicated by arrowed lines A 2 and A 3 , and the side edges 23 a of the blades 23 form a relationship substantially orthogonal to each other to collide with each other.
  • dust included in the stream of air is pressed against the side edges 23 a of the blades 23 , and is likely to be caught by the side edges 23 a of the blades 23 . Owing to this, dust tends to be accumulated on the side edges 23 a of the blades 23 and root portions of the blades 23 .
  • a rib is provided for scraping off dust accumulated on the inner circumferential side of the blades 23 .
  • provision of such a rib necessitates precisely maintaining an interval between the blades 23 and the rib, and accordingly, increases difficulty in manufacture.
  • a gap is formed between the rib and the bottom plate 22 a , preventing the dust accumulated on the root portions of the blades 23 from falling off. Accordingly, an interval in the vicinity of the root portions of the blades 23 is narrowed owing to the presence of dust, and the dust accumulated there fills the spaces between the blades 23 as it gradually grows, with the result that suction power is inconveniently decreased.
  • the present invention has an object to provide an air conditioner with which the amount of dust accumulated inside a cleaning apparatus is easily reduced.
  • the cleaning apparatus in an air conditioner equipped with a cleaning apparatus with which dust contained in air taken inside an indoor unit and accumulated on a component of the indoor unit is sucked and removed from the component, includes: a fan formed with a plurality of blades, and rotating; a housing accommodating the fan, and formed with an air inflow port thereof and an air outflow port thereof; and a suction passage formed with a suction port thereof facing the component, and connected to the air inflow port, wherein a stream of air is made to flow inside the housing along a rotation plane of the plurality of blades through the air inflow port, and the plurality of blades are formed such that side edges thereof, on an upper stream side, of the stream of air flowing through the air inflow port extend in a radius direction of the fan.
  • the fan is formed with a centrifugal fan.
  • the stream of air flowing through the suction passage is made to flow through the air inflow port, which is open in the axial direction of the fan, along the rotation plane of the fan, and is then exhausted in the radius direction of the fan.
  • the side edges of the blades are substantially parallel to the rotation plane of the fan, or descend from the inner circumferential side thereof to the outer circumferential side thereof with an increased distance from the air inflow port as observed in the axial direction of the fan.
  • the fan is formed with a boss around a rotation axis of the fan and in the vicinity of the air inflow port, and the plurality of blades are so formed as to extend from a circumferential surface of the boss to an outer edge of the air inflow port.
  • the housing is provided with a disk on an axial line of the fan to thereby form the air inflow port in a ring-like shape, and the plurality of blades are so formed as to extend from an inner edge of the air inflow port to an outer edge of the air inflow port.
  • the plurality of blades are interconnected to one another, at side surfaces thereof on a side opposite to a side where the air inflow port is present, by an annular ring.
  • the plurality of blades are reinforced by the ring with no space therebetween blocked on a bottom-surface side of the housing opposite to the air inflow port.
  • the component includes a filter that collects airborne dust taken inside the indoor unit. With this configuration, it is possible to automate cleaning of the filter.
  • the stream of air is made to flow inside the housing through the air inflow port along the rotation plane of the blades, and the blades are formed such that the side edges thereof, on the upper stream side, of the stream of air flowing through the air inflow port extend in the radius direction of the fan. Accordingly, a direction in which the stream of air advances and the side edges, on the upper stream side, of the blades intersect with each other at a small angle. As a result, a pressing force produced when the dust and the side edges of the blades collide with each other is reduced, thereby making it possible to reduce the amount of dust stuck on the blades.
  • the dust caught by the side edges of the blades are pushed toward the outer circumferential side by the stream of air and centrifugal force, thereby making it possible to further reduce the amount of dust stuck on the blades.
  • FIG. 1 A perspective view of an interior of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 A perspective view of an interior of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 A perspective view of a fan unit of a cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 A perspective view of the fan unit of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 A perspective view of a fan of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 A plan view of the fan of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 A side sectional view schematically showing the fan unit of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 A side sectional view schematically showing a fan unit of a cleaning apparatus of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 A side sectional view schematically showing a fan unit of a cleaning apparatus of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 A perspective view of a fan of a cleaning apparatus of an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 A side view of the fan of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 A side view showing another shape of the fan of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 A side view showing yet another shape of the fan of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 14 A side view showing yet another shape of the fan of the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 15 A sectional view illustrating an arrangement of a blade inside the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner embodying the present invention.
  • FIG. 16 A sectional view illustrating another arrangement of the blade inside the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner embodying the present invention.
  • FIG. 17 A sectional view illustrating another arrangement of a blade inside a cleaning apparatus of an air conditioner presented as a comparative example.
  • FIG. 18 A sectional view illustrating another arrangement of the blade inside the cleaning apparatus of the air conditioner presented as a comparative example.
  • FIG. 19 A side sectional view schematically showing a fan unit of a cleaning apparatus of a conventional air conditioner.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an interior of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment with an exterior panel removed therefrom.
  • An indoor unit 1 has a heat exchanger 3 so disposed as to face opening portions (unillustrated) formed at front and top surfaces of the exterior panel and through which air in a room is taken in.
  • a blowout port 5 is provided through which conditioned air from which heat has been rejected by the heat exchanger 3 is sent out.
  • the blowout port 5 is formed with a louver (unillustrated) with which a direction in which wind is blown out can be changed.
  • a filter rail 2 a is provided on which a filter 2 (see FIG. 2 ) is mounted.
  • a fan unit 20 is so provided as to form the cleaning apparatus 10 , and to remove dust collected by the filter 2 (see FIG. 2 ).
  • the cleaning apparatus 10 is equipped with a suction passage 25 and an air exhaust passage 28 .
  • the suction passage 25 has a front surface portion 25 a thereof disposed at a front portion of the indoor unit 1 and extending in a traverse direction of the indoor unit 1 , and a side surface portion 25 b thereof disposed at a side surface of the indoor unit 1 .
  • the front surface portion 25 a is covered by a cylindrical duct 25 c
  • the side surface portion 25 b is covered by a cover 25 d.
  • FIG. 2 shows the duct 25 c of the front surface portion 25 a and the cover 25 d (see FIG. 3 ) of the side surface portion 25 b are removed to expose the suction passage 25 .
  • the filter 2 is disposed that collects dust.
  • the filter 2 is made movable on the filter rail 2 a in up and down directions by a filter driving motor 4 that is provided at the left-side portion of the indoor unit 1 .
  • the duct 25 c (see FIG. 1 ) of the front surface portion 25 a of the suction passage 25 is formed with a suction port (unillustrated) facing the filter 2 , and inside the duct 25 c , a rotary brush 27 is so disposed as to extend in the traverse direction.
  • the rotary brush 27 is driven to rotate by a brush motor 26 provided at a right-side portion of the indoor unit 1 , and thereby beats out dust collected by the filter 2 .
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fan unit 20 of the cleaning apparatus 10
  • FIG. 4 shows the fan unit 20 with the cover 25 d removed therefrom.
  • the housing 21 accommodating the fan 22 is formed with an air inflow port 21 a circularly open in a vertical plane of the housing 21 .
  • the housing 21 is so formed in a cylindrical manner as to surround the fan 22 , and is provided with an air outflow port 21 c (see FIG. 5 ) open from a circumferential surface of the fan 22 in a tangential direction.
  • a duct 28 a is so connected as to form the air exhaust passage 28 .
  • the housing 21 is formed integrally with a communication port 25 e for communication between the front surface portion 25 a (see FIG. 1 ) and the side surface portion 25 b of the suction passage 25 .
  • the front surface portion 25 a is formed by the duct 25 c (see FIG. 1 ) that is fitted into the communication port 25 e
  • the side surface portion 25 b is formed by the cover 25 d covering the air inflow port 21 a.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are a perspective view and a plan view of the fan 22 , respectively.
  • the fan 22 is driven to rotate by a fan motor 24 (see FIG. 7 ) mounted on a rear surface of a bottom plate 21 b of the housing 21 (see FIG. 3 ).
  • the fan 22 is formed with a turbo fan in which a number of blades 23 are arranged in a radial manner on a circumferential surface of a boss 22 b disposed at a center portion.
  • An axial direction of rotation of the fan 22 is arranged in the traverse direction of the indoor unit 1 , thereby reducing an increase in width in the traverse direction of the indoor unit 1 .
  • the boss 22 b is so disposed as to support a motor shaft 24 a (see FIG. 7 ) of the fan motor 24 , with a side surface thereof on an upper stream side arranged in the vicinity of the air inflow port 21 a (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the blades 23 extend from the circumferential surface of the boss 22 b outward relative to an outer edge of the air inflow port 21 a , and each have a pressed surface 23 c thereof formed into a curved surface perpendicular to a rotation plane.
  • the blades 23 may be formed with planar surfaces.
  • side edges 23 b , on an air-inflow-port 21 a side, of the blades 23 are each formed substantially parallel to the rotation plane of the fan 22 and, on a bottom-plate 21 b side, the blades 23 are interconnected to one another by an annular ring 22 c so as to be reinforced.
  • FIG. 7 is a side sectional view schematically showing the fan unit 20 .
  • the side surface portion 25 b of the suction passage 25 is so formed as to have a width W in an axial direction of the fan 22 sufficiently small compared with a diameter of the air inflow port 21 a , along an opening surface of the air inflow port 21 a of the housing 21 .
  • the side edges 23 b , on the air-inflow-port 21 a side, of the blades 23 are disposed in the vicinity of the air inflow port 21 a along the air inflow port 21 a.
  • the filter driving motor 4 When an instruction is issued to drive the cleaning apparatus 10 , the filter driving motor 4 , the brush motor 26 , and the fan motor 24 are driven accordingly.
  • the filter driving motor 4 By driving the filter driving motor 4 , the filter 2 is moved in the up and down directions on the filter rail 2 a .
  • the brush motor 26 By driving the brush motor 26 , the rotary brush 27 is rotated, and thereby dust collected by the filter 2 moving up and down is beat out.
  • the fan motor 24 By driving the fan motor 24 , the fan 22 is rotated, and thereby a sucked air stream is produced inside the suction passage 25 .
  • dust stuck on the filter 2 is taken in together with the air stream through the suction port of the duct 25 c , and is made to pass through the front surface portion 25 a of the suction passage 25 as indicated by arrowed line B 1 (see FIG. 1 ).
  • the air stream passing through the front surface portion 25 a is made to further pass through the side surface portion 25 b whose width W is small, as indicated by arrowed line B 2 (see FIG. 7 ), and then flows inside the housing 21 along the rotation plane of the fan 22 through the air inflow port 21 a as indicated by arrowed line B 3 .
  • part of the air stream is bent in the vicinity of the air inflow port 21 a , and reverses its traveling direction so as to flow inside the housing 21 as indicated by arrowed line B 4 .
  • the blades 23 are formed such that the side edges 23 b thereof, on the upper stream side, of the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a as indicated by arrowed line B 3 are arranged in parallel to the rotation plane and extend in the radius direction of the fan 22 . This permits the air stream flowing inside the housing 21 to come into contact with the blades 23 at a small intersecting angle. Thus, it is possible to reduce a pressing force produced when the dust included in the air stream and the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 collide with each other, and hence to reduce the amount of dust stuck on the blades 23 .
  • the air stream flowing inside the housing 21 is thus guided in an outer circumferential direction of the fan 22 , and is then made to pass through the air exhaust passage 28 via the air outflow port 21 c so as to be exhausted to outdoor together with the dust.
  • cleaning of the filter 2 is automated.
  • the air stream flows inside the housing 21 along the rotation plane of the fan 22 through the air inflow port 21 a , and the blades 23 are formed such that the side edges 23 b thereof, on the upper stream side, of the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a extend in the radius direction of the fan 22 ; this makes the intersecting angle formed by the advancing direction of the air stream and the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 small.
  • it is possible to reduce a pressing force produced when the dust and the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 collide with each other, and hence to reduce the amount of dust stuck on the blades 23 .
  • the dust caught by the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 is pushed toward the outer circumferential side of the blades 23 thanks to the air stream and centrifugal force, thereby making it possible to further reduce the amount of dust stuck on the blades 23 .
  • the fan 2 is formed with a turbo fan. This makes it possible to easily make the air stream inside the housing 21 flow in the outer circumferential direction along which the air outflow port 21 c is formed. Accordingly, it is possible to easily reduce the amount of dust accumulated.
  • the fan 2 is not limited to a turbo fan; the same effect can be offered by a centrifugal fan such as a radial fan.
  • forming of the fan 2 using a turbo fan leads to a reduced number of blades 23 . This makes it possible to further reduce the amount of dust accumulated between the blades 23 .
  • a speed of rotation is increased compared with a sirocco fan for blowing out the same amount of wind. Thus, it is possible to increase the centrifugal force, and hence to reduce the amount of dust stuck on the blades 23 .
  • the fan 22 is provided with the boss 22 b around its rotation center in the vicinity of the air inflow port 21 a , and the blades 23 are so formed as to extend from the circumferential surface of the boss 22 b outward relative to the outer edge of the air inflow port 21 a ; accordingly, the blades 23 are formed such that the side edges 23 b thereof substantially parallel to the rotation plane of the fan 22 are arranged on the upper stream side of the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a .
  • the blades 23 have simply to extend at least to the outer edge of the air inflow port 21 a.
  • the blades 23 on the bottom-plate 21 b side opposite to a side on which the air inflow port 21 a is present are interconnected to one another by the annular ring 22 c so as to be reinforced.
  • the blades 23 may be reinforced with the blades 23 on the bottom-plate 21 b side interconnected to one another by a supporting member such as a plate-shaped disk.
  • a plate-shaped supporting member leads to an interior of the housing 21 separated into an air-inflow-port 21 a side and a bottom-plate 21 b side.
  • the air stream passing through the air inflow port 21 a flows along the rotation plane of the fan 22 , and its inflow direction and the rotation axis of the fan 22 are substantially perpendicular to each other.
  • the side edges 23 b , on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 and the rotation axis of the fan 22 are substantially perpendicular to each other as seen from the side.
  • the inflow direction in which the air stream flows through the air inflow port 21 a and the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 are substantially parallel to each other as seen from the side.
  • the blades 23 are so disposed as to be perpendicular to the rotation plane of the fan 22 , and the end portions on the upper stream side are not inclined forward in the rotation direction of the fan 22 .
  • FIG. 8 is a side sectional view schematically showing a fan unit 20 of a cleaning apparatus 10 of an air conditioner according to this embodiment.
  • the air conditioner of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in shape of the blades 23 of the cleaning apparatus 10 .
  • the other parts are the same as in the first embodiment.
  • the blades 23 of the fan 22 are so formed as to extend from the circumferential surface of the boss 22 b outward relative to the outer edge of the air inflow port 21 a , and each have a pressed surface 23 c formed into a curved surface perpendicular to the rotation plane of the fan 22 .
  • the blades 23 have simply to be formed up to the outer edge of the air inflow port 21 a , and may be formed with planar surfaces.
  • the blades 23 are formed such that the side edges 23 b thereof on the air-inflow-port 21 a side are arranged on the upper stream side of the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a , and that the side edges 23 b descend from the inner circumferential side thereof to the outer circumferential side thereof with an increased distance from the air inflow port 21 a as observed in the axial direction of the fan 22 .
  • the side edges 23 b , on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 are so formed as to descend in the radius direction of the fan 22 toward the circumferential side thereof with an increased distance from the rotation plane of the fan 22 . Accordingly, the air stream flowing inside the housing 21 comes into contact with the blades 23 at a further smaller intersecting angle as compared with the first embodiment. Thus, it is possible to further reduce the amount of dust accumulated on the blades 23 .
  • the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 may be so formed as to ascend from the inner circumferential side thereof to the outer circumferential side thereof as observed in the axial direction, with a decreased distance from the air inflow port 21 a .
  • the side edges 23 b are so made to extend in the radius direction, with the result that an angle formed by intersecting with the air stream is large compared with those in the first and second embodiments but small compared with the conventional art, thereby making it possible to reduce the amount of dust accumulated.
  • the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a passes along the rotation plane of the fan 22 , and its inflow direction and the rotational axis are substantially perpendicular to each other.
  • the side edges 23 b , on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 are made in a descending manner with respect to the rotation axis so that part, on the outer circumferential side, of the side edges 23 b are away from the air inflow port 21 a as observed in the axial direction from the side.
  • the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a is made to pass along the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 .
  • the blades 23 are provided perpendicularly to the rotation plane, and the end portions, on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 are not inclined forward in the rotation direction of the fan 22 .
  • FIG. 9 is a side sectional view schematically showing a fan unit 20 of a cleaning apparatus 10 of an air conditioner according to this embodiment.
  • the air conditioner of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in shape of the fan 22 and shape of the air inflow port 21 a inside the cleaning apparatus 10 .
  • the other parts are the same as in the first embodiment.
  • the housing 21 is provided with a disk 21 d coaxially with the fan 22 to thereby form the air inflow port 21 a in a ring-like shape.
  • the fan 22 is formed with a centrifugal fan, in which the blades 23 are provided perpendicularly to the rotation plane on the bottom plate 22 a .
  • the side edges 23 a , on the inner circumferential side, of the blades 23 are arranged inward relative to an inner edge of the air inflow port 21 a , so that the side edges 23 a do not come into contact with the air stream from the air inflow port 21 a.
  • the side edges 23 b facing the air inflow port 21 a are so formed as to extend in the radius direction substantially parallel to the rotation plane of the fan 22 .
  • the side edges 23 b are so formed as to extend from the inner edge of the air inflow port 21 a to the outer edge of the air inflow port 21 a .
  • the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 are arranged on the upper stream side of the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a.
  • a direction in which the air stream advances and the side edges 23 b , on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 intersect with each other at a small angle.
  • the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 may be made in a descending manner as in the second embodiment.
  • the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a passes along the rotation plane of the fan 22 , and its inflow direction and the rotation axis of the fan 22 are substantially perpendicular to each other.
  • the side edges 23 b , on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 and the rotation axis of the fan 22 are substantially perpendicular to each other as seen from the side.
  • the inflow direction in which the air stream flows through the air inflow port 21 a and the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 are substantially parallel to each other as seen from the side.
  • the blades 23 are provided perpendicularly to the rotation plane of the fan 22 , and end portions, on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 are not inclined forward in the rotation direction of the fan 22 .
  • FIGS. 10 and 11 are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, schematically showing the fan 22 of the cleaning apparatus 10 inside the air conditioner according to this embodiment.
  • the same parts as in the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 will be identified by the same reference signs.
  • FIGS. 10 and 11 only one blade 23 is drawn for the purpose of clarifying the shape of the blades 23 , and the other plurality of blades 23 are omitted from the drawings.
  • the air conditioner of this embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in shape of the blades 23 inside the cleaning apparatus 10 .
  • the other parts are the same as in the first embodiment.
  • the blades 23 of the fan 22 are so formed as to extend outward from the circumferential surface of the boss 22 b , and are formed into a curved surface inclined relative to the rotation plane of the fan 22 .
  • the blades 23 are inclined, on an air-inflow-port 21 a side thereof, backward in the rotation direction R of the fan 22 and, on a bottom-plate 21 b side thereof, forward in the rotation direction R of the fan 22 . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11 , an angle ⁇ formed by an inclination direction D in which the end portion, on the air-inflow-port 21 a side, of the blade 23 is inclined and the rotation direction R of the blade 23 results in an obtuse angle.
  • the inclination direction D of the end portion, on the air-inflow-port 21 a side, of the blade 23 is, with respect to the rotation direction R, a direction permitting dust, which is being carried by the air stream, to be released when hitting the side edge 23 b .
  • dust is not pressed against the side edge 23 b.
  • the shape of the blades of this embodiment is not limited to that shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 .
  • the planar blades 23 may be inclined, on the air-inflow-port 21 a side thereof, backward in the rotation direction R and, on the bottom-plate 21 b side, forward in the rotation direction R.
  • the blades 23 may be formed with only the vicinity of the side edge 23 b inclined.
  • the side edge 23 b may be provided with an incline by forming a chamfered portion 23 d on the pressed surface 23 c on a side of the side edge 23 b.
  • the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a passes along the rotation plane of the fan 22 , and its inflow direction and the rotation axis of the fan 22 are substantially perpendicular to each other.
  • the side edges 23 b , on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 and the rotation axis of the fan 22 are substantially perpendicular to each other.
  • the inflow direction in which the air stream flows through the air inflow port 21 a and the side edges 23 b of the blades 23 are substantially parallel to each other as seen from the side.
  • the end portions, on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 are inclined backward in the rotation direction.
  • the first to fourth embodiments deal with arrangements in which a place to which dust is expelled is outdoor, it is not specifically limited to this.
  • a dust box disposed inside the room via the air outflow port 21 c . This makes it possible to reduce the trouble of cleaning the filter 2 regularly. From the viewpoint of satisfactory aesthetic appearance and installation space, it is more desirable that the dust box be disposed inside the indoor unit 1 .
  • the cleaning apparatus 10 is aimed at removing dust collected by the filter 2 and accumulated thereon, it is not specifically limited to this.
  • the cleaning apparatus 10 may clean the exterior panel, the heat exchanger 3 , a blower fan sending out conditioned air, and components, such as a louver, composing the air passages through which conditioned air passes. Dust stuck on the filter 2 and the exterior panel adsorbs a lot of oil present inside a room, dust stuck on the heat exchanger 3 , the blower fan, the louver and the like contains a lot of moisture produced by condensation in particular during air cooling. Either type of dust tends to be stuck on the blades 23 of the fan 22 inside the cleaning apparatus 10 . In either case, with the cleaning apparatus 10 as in any one of the embodiments described above, it is possible to reduce the amount of dust stuck on the blades 23 .
  • examples of the fan 22 may include not only a centrifugal fan, but also an axial-flow fan or a diagonal fan.
  • the side edges, on the upper stream side, of the blades 23 with which the air stream flowing through the air inflow port 21 a makes contact are so formed as to extend in the radius direction, thereby making it possible to reduce the amount of dust accumulated.
  • FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the blade 23 , covering the same arrangements as in the first to third embodiments.
  • FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the blade 23 , covering the same arrangement as in the fourth embodiment ( FIG. 12 ). Examples covered by these figures include not only arrangements of the blades 23 in the centrifugal fan but also the arrangements of the blades 23 in an axial-flow fan and a diagonal fan.
  • FIGS. 17 and 18 are sectional views each showing an arrangement of the blades 23 as a comparative example.
  • the angle ⁇ formed by the direction of the resultant force F and the direction E in which the side edge 23 e (corresponding to 23 b in FIG. 12 ), on the upper stream side, of the blade 23 extends is obtuse.
  • FIG. 17 covers the same configuration of the blade 23 as that of the conventional example shown in FIG. 19 , where the side edge 23 e , on the upper stream side, of the blade 23 corresponds to 23 a in FIG. 19 , and the angle ⁇ is sharp. Also in FIG. 18 , the angle ⁇ is sharp.
  • the ram pressure received by the side edge 23 e and the centrifugal force are positive pressures (forces acting in a direction in which dust is pressed against the side edge 23 e ); accordingly, dust tends to be accumulated on the side edge 23 e .
  • the angle ⁇ equal to or more than 90° ( FIGS. 15 and 16 )
  • the ram pressure received by the side edge 23 e , on the upper stream side, of the blade 23 and the centrifugal force are zero or negative pressures (forces acting in a direction in which dust is scraped off from the side edge 23 e ).
  • the air stream flows through the air inflow port 21 a at an angle as close to the right angle as possible with respect to the rotation axis of the fan 22 .
  • the inflow direction form an angle as small as possible with respect to the rotation plane of the blades 23 .
  • the fan 22 is formed with a diagonal fan or an axial-flow fan, it is possible to eliminate a restriction like that.
  • Any one of the embodiments described herein is applicable to an air conditioner equipped with a cleaning apparatus cleaning a filter thereof.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
  • Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)
  • Air-Conditioning Room Units, And Self-Contained Units In General (AREA)
US13/063,368 2008-10-31 2009-08-05 Air conditioner Abandoned US20110167859A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008281421A JP4411359B1 (ja) 2008-10-31 2008-10-31 空気調和機
JP2008-281421 2008-10-31
PCT/JP2009/063847 WO2010050284A1 (ja) 2008-10-31 2009-08-05 空気調和機

Publications (1)

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US20110167859A1 true US20110167859A1 (en) 2011-07-14

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US13/063,368 Abandoned US20110167859A1 (en) 2008-10-31 2009-08-05 Air conditioner

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US (1) US20110167859A1 (zh)
JP (1) JP4411359B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN102159896B (zh)
TW (1) TWI377323B (zh)
WO (1) WO2010050284A1 (zh)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100236268A1 (en) * 2009-03-19 2010-09-23 Fujitsu General Limited Air conditioner
EP2803915A1 (de) * 2013-04-23 2014-11-19 Kampmann GmbH Vorrichtung zur Klimatisierung von Räumen
CN111457533A (zh) * 2018-11-16 2020-07-28 杭州曼京科技有限公司 一种建筑厂房箱式通风装置

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US2424501A (en) * 1945-05-07 1947-07-22 Torrington Mfg Co Blower wheel bracing
US4968333A (en) * 1988-10-27 1990-11-06 Ellis James D Apparatus for cleaning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
US5829956A (en) * 1997-04-22 1998-11-03 Chen; Yung Fan blade assembly
US6004097A (en) * 1997-09-26 1999-12-21 Sure Alloy Steel Corp. Coal mill exhauster fan
US20050081556A1 (en) * 2003-08-22 2005-04-21 Lg Electronics Inc. Air cleaner

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KR101065965B1 (ko) * 2003-08-18 2011-09-19 파나소닉 주식회사 에어 필터의 자동 청소 기능이 부가된 실내 유닛을 구비한 공기 조화기
JP2006284136A (ja) * 2005-04-04 2006-10-19 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 空気調和機のフィルター装置
JP4866225B2 (ja) * 2006-12-12 2012-02-01 東芝キヤリア株式会社 空気調和機の室内機

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2424501A (en) * 1945-05-07 1947-07-22 Torrington Mfg Co Blower wheel bracing
US4968333A (en) * 1988-10-27 1990-11-06 Ellis James D Apparatus for cleaning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
US5829956A (en) * 1997-04-22 1998-11-03 Chen; Yung Fan blade assembly
US6004097A (en) * 1997-09-26 1999-12-21 Sure Alloy Steel Corp. Coal mill exhauster fan
US20050081556A1 (en) * 2003-08-22 2005-04-21 Lg Electronics Inc. Air cleaner

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100236268A1 (en) * 2009-03-19 2010-09-23 Fujitsu General Limited Air conditioner
US8813518B2 (en) * 2009-03-19 2014-08-26 Fujitsu General Limited Air conditioner
EP2803915A1 (de) * 2013-04-23 2014-11-19 Kampmann GmbH Vorrichtung zur Klimatisierung von Räumen
CN111457533A (zh) * 2018-11-16 2020-07-28 杭州曼京科技有限公司 一种建筑厂房箱式通风装置

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CN102159896B (zh) 2013-10-16
WO2010050284A1 (ja) 2010-05-06
JP2010107150A (ja) 2010-05-13
TW201020483A (en) 2010-06-01
CN102159896A (zh) 2011-08-17
TWI377323B (en) 2012-11-21
JP4411359B1 (ja) 2010-02-10

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