US20170336092A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents
Air conditioner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170336092A1 US20170336092A1 US15/523,041 US201515523041A US2017336092A1 US 20170336092 A1 US20170336092 A1 US 20170336092A1 US 201515523041 A US201515523041 A US 201515523041A US 2017336092 A1 US2017336092 A1 US 2017336092A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- refrigerant gas
- gas sensor
- air conditioner
- refrigerant
- detecting element
- 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
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Classifications
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- F24F11/02—
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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
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/89—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
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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
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F11/32—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
- F24F11/36—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B1/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
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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
- F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
- F24F2110/50—Air quality properties
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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
- F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
- F24F2110/50—Air quality properties
- F24F2110/65—Concentration of specific substances or contaminants
- F24F2110/66—Volatile organic compounds [VOC]
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
- F25B2400/12—Inflammable refrigerants
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25B2500/22—Preventing, detecting or repairing leaks of refrigeration fluids
- F25B2500/222—Detecting refrigerant leaks
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
- Y02B30/70—Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an air conditioner using flammable refrigerant.
- Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-13348
- the refrigerant gas sensor is typically attached so that an opening for introducing leaked refrigerant gas into the inside faces upward.
- a small amount of a different gas such as propane and pesticide, which is sucked from the outside of the air conditioner, may be erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner in which a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner is not erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- an air conditioner uses flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigerant gas sensor inside the air conditioner, the refrigerant gas sensor including: a detecting element configured to detect leakage of refrigerant gas; and a casing member provided to surround the detecting element, the casing member having a first opening through which the refrigerant gas is introduced into an inside of the casing member, and the first opening being below the detecting element.
- the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas introduced into the casing member from below the casing member, it is extremely unlikely that the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas when an amount of the gas is small as in cases where the gas is propane or pesticide sucked from the outside of the air conditioner. It is therefore possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- the air conditioner of the first aspect is arranged such that the refrigerant gas sensor includes a printed board having a lower surface to which the detecting element is fixed, and the casing member is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board.
- the casing member is provided to surround the detecting element and is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- the air conditioner of the first or second aspect further includes a surrounding member surrounding circumferences of the printed board and the casing member, a second opening being formed in a bottom surface of the surrounding member.
- the surrounding member is provided to cover the circumferences of the printed board and the casing member, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- the air conditioner of the first aspect is arranged such that the refrigerant gas sensor includes a printed board having a lower surface to which the detecting element is fixed, the casing member covering a circumference of the printed board.
- the casing member is provided to cover the circumference of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board and the detecting element.
- the present invention provides the following advantageous effects.
- the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas introduced into the casing member from below the casing member, it is extremely unlikely that the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas when an amount of the gas is small as in cases where the gas is propane or pesticide sucked from the outside of the air conditioner. It is therefore possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- the casing member is provided to surround the detecting element and is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- the surrounding member is provided to cover the circumferences of the printed board and the casing member, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- the casing member is provided to cover the circumference of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board and the detecting element.
- FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner of an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an indoor unit shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a front view of the indoor unit.
- FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the IV-IV line in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the V-V line in FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the indoor unit from which a front grill and a front panel have been detached.
- FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the indoor unit from which the front grill and the front panel have been detached.
- FIG. 8A is a plan view of a drain pan shown in FIG. 6
- FIG. 8B is a front elevation of the drain pan
- FIG. 8C is a right profile of the drain pan.
- FIG. 9 shows a control block of the indoor unit.
- FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state that a lower housing is detached from a refrigerant gas sensor shown in FIG. 5
- FIG. 10B is a cross section of the refrigerant gas sensor.
- FIG. 11A is a front enlarged view of a part where the refrigerant gas sensor is provided
- FIG. 11B is identical with FIG. 11A except that a communication pipe is not shown
- FIG. 11C is identical with FIG. 11B except that the refrigerant gas sensor has been detached.
- FIG. 12A is a cross section showing a state that the refrigerant gas sensor is attached to a sensor mounting portion, whereas FIG. 12B explains how the refrigerant gas sensor is detached.
- FIG. 13 is a cross section of a refrigerant gas sensor of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a modification of the present invention.
- FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C are drawings for illustrating the positional relationship between a detecting element and the casing opening.
- FIG. 14A shows a case where the casing opening is horizontally provided below the detecting element.
- FIG. 14B shows a case where the casing opening is tilted in a predetermined direction.
- FIG. 14C shows a case where the casing opening is tilted in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction.
- an air conditioner of the present embodiment includes a compressor 1 , a four-pass switching valve 2 having one end connected with the discharging side of the compressor 1 , an outdoor heat exchanger 3 having one end connected with the other end of the four-pass switching valve 2 , an electric expansion valve 4 having one end connected with the other end of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 , an indoor heat exchanger 5 having one end connected with the other end of the electric expansion valve 4 via a stop valve 12 and a communication pipe L 1 , and an accumulator 6 .
- the accumulator 6 has one end connected with the other end of the indoor heat exchanger 5 via a stop valve 13 , a communication pipe L 2 , and the four-pass switching valve 2 and the other end connected with the sucking side of the compressor 1 .
- the compressor 1 , the four-pass switching valve 2 , the outdoor heat exchanger 3 , the electric expansion valve 4 , the indoor heat exchanger 5 , and the accumulator 6 form a refrigerant circuit.
- the air conditioner includes an outdoor fan 7 provided in the vicinity of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 , and an indoor fan 8 provided in the vicinity of the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- the compressor 1 , the four-pass switching valve 2 , the outdoor heat exchanger 3 , the electric expansion valve 4 , the accumulator 6 , and the outdoor fan 7 are provided in an outdoor unit 10
- the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the indoor fan 8 are provided in an indoor unit 20 .
- a refrigerating cycle is formed such that the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit constituted by the compressor 1 , the indoor heat exchanger 5 , the electric expansion valve 4 , the outdoor heat exchanger 3 , and the accumulator 6 .
- the room is warmed in such a way that room air is circulated by the indoor fan 8 through the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- a refrigerating cycle is formed such that the refrigerant circulates through the compressor 1 , the outdoor heat exchanger 3 , the electric expansion valve 4 , the indoor heat exchanger 5 , and the accumulator 6 in this order.
- the room is cooled in such a way that room air is circulated by the indoor fan 8 through the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- This air conditioner uses flammable refrigerant.
- the term “flammable refrigerant” encompasses not only flammable refrigerant but also mildly flammable refrigerant. While the air conditioner uses R32 which is mildly flammable refrigerant, the air conditioner may use R290, for example.
- the air conditioner uses refrigerant having a higher specific gravity than air.
- the indoor unit 20 is a floor-mounted indoor unit and includes a bottom frame 21 which is substantially rectangular in shape, the back surface side of the bottom frame 21 being attached to a wall of the room, a front grill 22 which is attached to the front surface side of the bottom frame 21 and has a substantially rectangular opening 22 c in the front surface, and a front panel 23 attached to cover the opening 22 c of the front grill 22 .
- the bottom frame 21 , the front grill 22 , and the front panel 23 form a casing 20 a.
- An upper outlet port 22 a is formed at an upper part of the front grill 22
- a lower outlet port 22 b is formed at a lower part of the front grill 22 .
- a vertical flap 24 is provided to change, in the up-down direction, the direction of the air flow blown out from the upper outlet port 22 a .
- the vertical flap 24 is connected with a flap motor 24 a (see FIG. 9 ).
- the vertical flap 24 is rotatable about the rotational axis along the horizontal direction, by the driving of the flap motor 24 a .
- this vertical flap 24 rotates to a position where cool wind or warm wind is blown out forward and obliquely upward from the upper outlet port 22 a , and stops at this position.
- the upper outlet port 22 a is closed as shown in FIG. 2 .
- a shutter 30 configured to open and close the lower outlet port 22 b and a horizontal flap 31 configured to change, in the left-right direction, the direction of the air flow blown out from the lower outlet port 22 b are provided.
- the shutter 30 is connected with a shutter motor 30 b .
- the shutter 30 rotates about the axis 30 a extending along the horizontal direction, by the driving of the shutter motor 30 b .
- This shutter 30 stops at a position A indicated by a one dot chain line to open the lower outlet port 22 b , and stops at a position B indicated by a one dot chain line to close the lower outlet port 22 b .
- the direction of the horizontal flap 31 is manually adjusted.
- An upper inlet port 23 a is formed at an upper part of the front panel 23
- a lower inlet port 23 b is formed at a lower part of the front panel 23
- side inlet ports 23 c are formed through side faces of the front panel 23 .
- a fan motor 26 is fixed at a substantial center of the bottom frame 21 .
- the indoor fan 8 connected with the axis of the fan motor 26 is disposed in the bottom frame 21 so that the axis of the fan extends along the front-back direction.
- the indoor fan 8 is a turbofan which sucks air from the front surface side and blows the air radially outward with respect to the axis.
- the bottom frame 21 includes a bell-mouth 27 formed on the front surface side of the indoor fan 8 .
- the indoor heat exchanger 5 is provided on the front surface side of the bell-mouth 27 , and the front grill 22 is attached to the front surface side of the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- the front panel 23 is attached to the front surface side of the front grill 22 .
- a filter 25 is attached to the opening 22 c of the front grill 22 .
- the fan motor 26 is driven so that the indoor fan 8 rotates.
- the indoor fan 8 rotates, room air is sucked into the indoor unit 20 through the upper inlet port 23 a , the lower inlet port 23 b , and the side inlet ports 23 c .
- the room air sucked into the indoor unit 20 is subjected to the heat exchange by the indoor heat exchanger 5 , and is then blown out to the room through the upper outlet port 22 a and the lower outlet port 22 b .
- the lower outlet port 22 b is closed by the shutter 30 , the room air sucked into the indoor unit 20 is blown out only through the upper outlet port 22 a.
- a drain pan 28 is provided below the indoor heat exchanger 5 to receive and drain the condensed water from the air, which is generated on the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- This drain pan 28 is surrounded by a heat insulating material 40 .
- an electronic component box 50 is provided to the right of (outside in the longitudinal direction) and above the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- a sensor mounting portion 70 (see FIG. 11C ) is provided below the electronic component box 50 .
- a refrigerant gas sensor 9 is detachably attached. This refrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided to the right of (outside in the longitudinal direction) the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the drain pan 28 . As shown in FIG.
- the electronic component box 50 includes a harness connection portion 52 with which a harness 68 extending from the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is connected.
- the harness 68 is provided on the outer side of the indoor heat exchanger 5 as compared to refrigerant pipes 5 a and 5 b which extend from the indoor heat exchanger 5 and which are connected with communication pipes L 1 and L 2 .
- the drain pan 28 includes a bottom portion 41 and a peripheral wall portion 42 extending upward from the entire outline of the bottom portion 41 .
- This drain pan 28 has a discharge hole 43 at around the right end 28 R in the longitudinal direction (i.e., an end portion on the refrigerant gas sensor side) to discharge condensed water.
- the discharge hole 43 is connected with a drain hose 44 .
- This drain hose 44 extends to reach the outside of the room together with the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 .
- the bottom portion 41 of the drain pan 28 is tilted downward in the direction from the left end 28 L to the right end 28 R (i.e., tilted downward toward the refrigerant gas sensor in the longitudinal direction).
- the inclination of the bottom portion 41 of the drain pan 28 is exaggerated for easy understanding.
- a notch 45 is formed in the peripheral wall portion 42 of the drain pan 28 on the refrigerant gas sensor 9 side. To be more specific, the notch 45 is formed in a side face on the right end 28 R side of the drain pan 28 (i.e., the right side face of the peripheral wall portion 42 ).
- the peripheral wall portion on the refrigerant gas sensor side indicates a part of the peripheral wall portion 42 , which is on the refrigerant gas sensor 9 side of the center in the longitudinal direction of the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- the notch is therefore not always required to be formed in the right side face of the peripheral wall portion 42 , and may be formed in any part of the peripheral wall portion 42 , on condition that the part is on the refrigerant gas sensor 9 side.
- the refrigerant gas having the higher specific gravity than air flows downward and reaches the drain pan 28 .
- the refrigerant gas having reached the drain pan 28 flows from the left end 28 L side toward the right end 28 R side along the inclination of the drain pan 28 .
- the refrigerant gas having reached the drain pan 28 tends to overflow the drain pan 28 on the refrigerant gas sensor 9 side in the longitudinal direction.
- the refrigerant gas tends to overflow through the notch 45 formed in the peripheral wall portion 42 .
- the overflow refrigerant gas stagnates at the bottom of the indoor unit 20 , and leaks out of the indoor unit 20 .
- the electronic component box 50 houses a controlling unit 51 therein for controlling components required for operations such as the cooling and warming operations of the air conditioner. As shown in FIG. 9 , this controlling unit 51 is connected with the fan motor 26 , the refrigerant gas sensor 9 , the flap motor 24 a , and the shutter motor 30 b , controls the indoor fan 8 , the vertical flap 24 , and the shutter 30 , and determines whether refrigerant leakage occurs based on a result of detection of the refrigerant gas by the refrigerant gas sensor 9 .
- the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is a sensor configured to detect leaked refrigerant gas, and is provided to be flush with or lower than the drain pan 28 as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided to the right of (outside in the longitudinal direction of) the drain pan 28 and to be rearward of (i.e., behind) the drain pan 28 and the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- this refrigerant gas sensor 9 includes a detecting element 61 configured to detect refrigerant gas, a hollow (e.g., cylindrical) casing member 62 provided to surround the detecting element 61 , a printed board 63 having a lower surface to which the detecting element 61 and the casing member 62 are fixed, and a housing (surrounding member) 64 surrounding the circumference of the printed board 63 .
- This casing member 62 is provided in the vicinity of the circumference of the detecting element 61 . The distance between the detecting element 61 and the inner circumferential surface of the casing member 62 is very short.
- the casing member 62 has, at its lower end, a casing opening (first opening) 62 a which is provided to introduce leaked refrigerant gas into the casing member 62 .
- a casing opening (first opening) 62 a which is provided to introduce leaked refrigerant gas into the casing member 62 .
- a meshed filter is attached to the casing opening 62 a .
- the casing opening 62 a is formed to be along the horizontal plane, and the entirety of the casing opening 62 a is provided below the detecting element 61 .
- the upper end of the casing member 62 is closed by the printed board 63 to prevent refrigerant gas from being introduced into the casing member 62 through an opening other than the casing opening 62 a .
- the housing (surrounding member) 64 includes a first housing 65 covering the circumference and the top of the printed board 63 and a second housing 66 covering the circumference and the bottom of the printed board 63 and the circumference of the casing member 62 .
- a second housing 66 covering the circumference and the bottom of the printed board 63 and the circumference of the casing member 62 .
- slits (second openings) 66 a are formed in the bottom surface of the second housing 66 .
- refrigerant gas sensor 9 refrigerant gas is taken into the housing 64 only through the slits 66 a .
- a hole 67 is formed to receive a later-described screw (fixing member) S.
- the refrigerant gas sensor is provided to be flush with the drain pan” indicates that, as shown in FIG. 11B , the casing opening 62 a of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided between the upper end 28 Ra and the lower end 28 Rb of the right end 28 R of the drain pan 28 .
- the sensor mounting portion 70 has: a screw hole (sensor fixing portion) 71 for attaching the refrigerant gas sensor 9 ; and a housing portion 72 in which a rear end portion of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is housed.
- a screw hole (sensor fixing portion) 71 for attaching the refrigerant gas sensor 9
- a housing portion 72 in which a rear end portion of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is housed.
- FIG. 12A when the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is attached to the sensor mounting portion 70 , the rear end portion of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is housed in the housing portion 72 and the screw (fixing member) S inserted into the hole 67 of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is screwed into the screw hole (sensor fixing portion) 71 .
- the screw (fixing member) S is taken out from the screw hole (sensor fixing portion) 71 in the forward direction (the direction in which the fixing member is taken out (see FIG. 12A ), and then the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is slid in the forward direction (the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (see FIG. 12A ) relative to the sensor mounting portion 70 , for a predetermined distance (predetermined sliding range). In this way, the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is detached.
- the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 do not allow the refrigerant gas sensor 9 to be easily detached, when he/she erroneously tries to detach the refrigerant gas sensor 9 .
- the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 are communication pipes (refrigerant pipes) connected with refrigerant pipes 5 a and 5 b extending from the indoor heat exchanger 5 .
- the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 are provided below the indoor unit 20 , behind the indoor unit 20 , and on the outdoor unit 10 side.
- the two communication pipes L 1 and L 2 are covered with, for example, a single heat insulating material H. As such, the two communication pipes L 1 and L 2 are covered with the heat insulating material H.
- a hand or a screwdriver is less likely to make contact with the refrigerant gas sensor 9 and the screw S . It is therefore further difficult to detach the refrigerant gas sensor 9 .
- the same effect is obtained when the two communication pipes are covered with different heat insulating materials, respectively.
- connecting portions L 1 a and L 2 a of the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 which are connected with the refrigerant pipes 5 a and 5 b , are provided above the refrigerant gas sensor 9 .
- a service technician, a user, or the like is allowed to detach the refrigerant gas sensor 9 only after the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit is removed and the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 are detached from the refrigerant pipes 5 a and 5 b.
- the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor indicates the direction in which the fixing member is detached, in cases where the refrigerant gas sensor is fixed to the sensor fixing portion via the fixing member.
- the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor indicates the direction in which the fixing member is detached, even if the refrigerant gas sensor drops down when the fixing member fixed to the sensor fixing portion is detached.
- the phrase “the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)” indicates the sliding direction.
- the phrase “the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)” indicates the direction in which the fixing member is taken out and the sliding direction of the refrigerant gas sensor.
- the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached) is the forward direction because the direction in which fixing member is taken out and the sliding direction of the refrigerant gas sensor are both the forward direction.
- these two directions are “the detaching directions of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)”.
- the regulating member is configured to regulate the detachment of the refrigerant gas sensor
- the regulating member is required to be provided at a position where the regulation of the detachment of the refrigerant gas sensor is possible.
- the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 which are the regulating members overlap the refrigerant gas sensor 9 in a front view and are in the sliding range of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 (see FIG. 12B ) when the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is attached to the sensor mounting portion 70 .
- the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 are positioned to obstruct the screw S from being taken out by a screwdriver, i.e., are provided at around positions overlapping the screw S in a front view, and the distance between the screw S and each of the communication pipes L 1 and L 2 is arranged to be equal to or shorter than the length of the screwdriver.
- the air conditioner of the present embodiment has the following characteristics.
- the refrigerant gas sensor 9 detects gas introduced into the casing member 62 from below the casing member 62 , it is extremely unlikely that the refrigerant gas sensor 9 detects gas when an amount of the gas is small as in cases where the gas is propane or pesticide sucked from the outside (e.g., the air-conditioned space) of the air conditioner. It is therefore possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- the casing opening 62 a faces downward, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the detection accuracy of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 due to dust attached to the casing opening 62 a . Furthermore, in this air conditioner, when water is splashed onto the refrigerant gas sensor 9 , e.g., when a user or the like erroneously puts water into the indoor unit 20 or when condensed water spills over or is splashed from the drain pan 28 , because the casing opening 62 a faces downward, the water is less likely to attach to the detecting element 61 , and hence malfunction of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is avoided.
- the casing member 62 is provided to surround the detecting element 61 and is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board 63 , it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element 61 .
- the housing (surrounding member) 64 is provided to cover the circumferences of the printed board 63 and the casing member 62 , it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board 63 , and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element 61 .
- the “casing member” of the present invention is a cylindrical member (casing member 62 ) fixed to the lower surface of the printed board 63 , and the housing (surrounding member) 64 is provided to surround the circumferences of the printed board 63 and the casing member 62 . As shown in FIG.
- the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the modification is identical with the air conditioner of the embodiment above except that a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board 63 is not included, and a housing 64 a covering the circumference of the printed board 63 is the “casing member” of the present invention.
- the same reference symbols are used for members identical with those of the embodiment above.
- the housing 64 a (the “casing member” of the present invention) is provided to cover the circumference of the printed board 63 , it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner (e.g., the air-conditioned space) as the refrigerant gas, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board 63 and the detecting element 61 .
- the casing opening (first opening) 62 a for introducing refrigerant gas into the inside is horizontally provided below the detecting element 61 , i.e., as shown in FIG. 14A , the casing opening 62 a faces vertically downward.
- the casing opening 62 a may face obliquely downward on condition that the entirety of the casing opening 62 a is below the detecting element 61 .
- housing (surrounding member) 64 is provided to surround the circumferences of the printed board 63 and the casing member 62 and the slits (second openings) 66 a are formed in the bottom surface of the housing (surrounding member) 64
- a second opening may be formed in a part different from the bottom portion of the surrounding member.
- the surrounding member may not be provided.
- the refrigerant gas sensor 9 includes the printed board 63 , the refrigerant gas sensor may be differently arranged.
- the indoor unit is a floor-mounted indoor unit
- the indoor unit may not be floor-mounted, and may be wall-mounted.
- the refrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided inside the indoor unit 20
- the refrigerant gas sensor may be provided, for example, inside the outdoor unit.
- the present invention makes it possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
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- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an air conditioner using flammable refrigerant.
- An air conditioner using flammable refrigerant, to which a refrigerant gas sensor is attached to an indoor unit of the air conditioner, has been known.
- [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-13348
- The refrigerant gas sensor is typically attached so that an opening for introducing leaked refrigerant gas into the inside faces upward. With this arrangement, however, a small amount of a different gas such as propane and pesticide, which is sucked from the outside of the air conditioner, may be erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner in which a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner is not erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, an air conditioner uses flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigerant gas sensor inside the air conditioner, the refrigerant gas sensor including: a detecting element configured to detect leakage of refrigerant gas; and a casing member provided to surround the detecting element, the casing member having a first opening through which the refrigerant gas is introduced into an inside of the casing member, and the first opening being below the detecting element.
- In this air conditioner, because the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas introduced into the casing member from below the casing member, it is extremely unlikely that the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas when an amount of the gas is small as in cases where the gas is propane or pesticide sucked from the outside of the air conditioner. It is therefore possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- According to the second aspect of the invention, the air conditioner of the first aspect is arranged such that the refrigerant gas sensor includes a printed board having a lower surface to which the detecting element is fixed, and the casing member is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board.
- In this air conditioner, because the casing member is provided to surround the detecting element and is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- According to the third aspect of the invention, the air conditioner of the first or second aspect further includes a surrounding member surrounding circumferences of the printed board and the casing member, a second opening being formed in a bottom surface of the surrounding member.
- In this air conditioner, because the surrounding member is provided to cover the circumferences of the printed board and the casing member, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the air conditioner of the first aspect is arranged such that the refrigerant gas sensor includes a printed board having a lower surface to which the detecting element is fixed, the casing member covering a circumference of the printed board.
- In this air conditioner, because the casing member is provided to cover the circumference of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board and the detecting element.
- As described above, the present invention provides the following advantageous effects.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, because the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas introduced into the casing member from below the casing member, it is extremely unlikely that the refrigerant gas sensor detects gas when an amount of the gas is small as in cases where the gas is propane or pesticide sucked from the outside of the air conditioner. It is therefore possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
- According to the second aspect of the invention, because the casing member is provided to surround the detecting element and is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- According to the third aspect of the invention, because the surrounding member is provided to cover the circumferences of the printed board and the casing member, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detecting element.
- According to the fourth aspect of the invention, because the casing member is provided to cover the circumference of the printed board, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printed board and the detecting element.
-
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner of an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an indoor unit shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a front view of the indoor unit. -
FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along the IV-IV line inFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 5 is a cross section taken along the V-V line inFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the indoor unit from which a front grill and a front panel have been detached. -
FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the indoor unit from which the front grill and the front panel have been detached. -
FIG. 8A is a plan view of a drain pan shown inFIG. 6 ,FIG. 8B is a front elevation of the drain pan, andFIG. 8C is a right profile of the drain pan. -
FIG. 9 shows a control block of the indoor unit. -
FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state that a lower housing is detached from a refrigerant gas sensor shown inFIG. 5 , whereasFIG. 10B is a cross section of the refrigerant gas sensor. -
FIG. 11A is a front enlarged view of a part where the refrigerant gas sensor is provided,FIG. 11B is identical withFIG. 11A except that a communication pipe is not shown, andFIG. 11C is identical withFIG. 11B except that the refrigerant gas sensor has been detached. -
FIG. 12A is a cross section showing a state that the refrigerant gas sensor is attached to a sensor mounting portion, whereasFIG. 12B explains how the refrigerant gas sensor is detached. -
FIG. 13 is a cross section of a refrigerant gas sensor of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a modification of the present invention. -
FIG. 14A toFIG. 14C are drawings for illustrating the positional relationship between a detecting element and the casing opening.FIG. 14A shows a case where the casing opening is horizontally provided below the detecting element.FIG. 14B shows a case where the casing opening is tilted in a predetermined direction.FIG. 14C shows a case where the casing opening is tilted in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. - The following will describe an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to drawings.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , an air conditioner of the present embodiment includes acompressor 1, a four-pass switching valve 2 having one end connected with the discharging side of thecompressor 1, anoutdoor heat exchanger 3 having one end connected with the other end of the four-pass switching valve 2, an electric expansion valve 4 having one end connected with the other end of theoutdoor heat exchanger 3, anindoor heat exchanger 5 having one end connected with the other end of the electric expansion valve 4 via astop valve 12 and a communication pipe L1, and anaccumulator 6. Theaccumulator 6 has one end connected with the other end of theindoor heat exchanger 5 via astop valve 13, a communication pipe L2, and the four-pass switching valve 2 and the other end connected with the sucking side of thecompressor 1. Thecompressor 1, the four-pass switching valve 2, theoutdoor heat exchanger 3, the electric expansion valve 4, theindoor heat exchanger 5, and theaccumulator 6 form a refrigerant circuit. - In addition to the above, the air conditioner includes an
outdoor fan 7 provided in the vicinity of theoutdoor heat exchanger 3, and anindoor fan 8 provided in the vicinity of theindoor heat exchanger 5. Thecompressor 1, the four-pass switching valve 2, theoutdoor heat exchanger 3, the electric expansion valve 4, theaccumulator 6, and theoutdoor fan 7 are provided in anoutdoor unit 10, whereas theindoor heat exchanger 5 and theindoor fan 8 are provided in anindoor unit 20. - In this air conditioner, in a warming operation, as the four-
pass switching valve 2 is switched to a position indicated by full lines and thecompressor 1 is activated, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 1 enters theindoor heat exchanger 5 through the four-pass switching valve 2. The refrigerant condensed in theindoor heat exchanger 5 is depressurized in the electric expansion valve 4 and then enters theoutdoor heat exchanger 3. The refrigerant evaporated in theoutdoor heat exchanger 3 returns to the sucking side of thecompressor 1 via the four-pass switching valve 2 and theaccumulator 6. In this way, a refrigerating cycle is formed such that the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit constituted by thecompressor 1, theindoor heat exchanger 5, the electric expansion valve 4, theoutdoor heat exchanger 3, and theaccumulator 6. The room is warmed in such a way that room air is circulated by theindoor fan 8 through theindoor heat exchanger 5. - In the meanwhile, in a cooling operation (including a dehumidification operation), as the four-
pass cooling operation 2 is switched to a position indicated by dotted lines and thecompressor 1 is activated, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 1 enters theoutdoor heat exchanger 3 through the four-pass switching valve 2. The refrigerant condensed in theoutdoor heat exchanger 3 is depressurized in the electric expansion valve 4 and then enters theindoor heat exchanger 5. The refrigerant evaporated in theindoor heat exchanger 5 returns to the sucking side of thecompressor 1 via the four-pass switching valve 2 and theaccumulator 6. In this way, a refrigerating cycle is formed such that the refrigerant circulates through thecompressor 1, theoutdoor heat exchanger 3, the electric expansion valve 4, theindoor heat exchanger 5, and theaccumulator 6 in this order. The room is cooled in such a way that room air is circulated by theindoor fan 8 through theindoor heat exchanger 5. - This air conditioner uses flammable refrigerant. In the present invention, the term “flammable refrigerant” encompasses not only flammable refrigerant but also mildly flammable refrigerant. While the air conditioner uses R32 which is mildly flammable refrigerant, the air conditioner may use R290, for example. The air conditioner uses refrigerant having a higher specific gravity than air.
- As shown in
FIG. 2 toFIG. 4 , theindoor unit 20 is a floor-mounted indoor unit and includes abottom frame 21 which is substantially rectangular in shape, the back surface side of thebottom frame 21 being attached to a wall of the room, afront grill 22 which is attached to the front surface side of thebottom frame 21 and has a substantiallyrectangular opening 22 c in the front surface, and afront panel 23 attached to cover theopening 22 c of thefront grill 22. Thebottom frame 21, thefront grill 22, and thefront panel 23 form acasing 20 a. - An
upper outlet port 22 a is formed at an upper part of thefront grill 22, whereas alower outlet port 22 b is formed at a lower part of thefront grill 22. In an upper outlet path P1 communicating with theupper outlet port 22 a, avertical flap 24 is provided to change, in the up-down direction, the direction of the air flow blown out from theupper outlet port 22 a. Thevertical flap 24 is connected with aflap motor 24 a (seeFIG. 9 ). Thevertical flap 24 is rotatable about the rotational axis along the horizontal direction, by the driving of theflap motor 24 a. During the cooling operation or the warming operation, thisvertical flap 24 rotates to a position where cool wind or warm wind is blown out forward and obliquely upward from theupper outlet port 22 a, and stops at this position. During the operation stop, theupper outlet port 22 a is closed as shown inFIG. 2 . - In the meanwhile, in a lower outlet path P2 communicating with the
lower outlet port 22 b, ashutter 30 configured to open and close thelower outlet port 22 b and ahorizontal flap 31 configured to change, in the left-right direction, the direction of the air flow blown out from thelower outlet port 22 b are provided. Theshutter 30 is connected with ashutter motor 30 b. As shown inFIG. 4 , theshutter 30 rotates about theaxis 30 a extending along the horizontal direction, by the driving of theshutter motor 30 b. Thisshutter 30 stops at a position A indicated by a one dot chain line to open thelower outlet port 22 b, and stops at a position B indicated by a one dot chain line to close thelower outlet port 22 b. The direction of thehorizontal flap 31 is manually adjusted. - An
upper inlet port 23 a is formed at an upper part of thefront panel 23, alower inlet port 23 b is formed at a lower part of thefront panel 23, andside inlet ports 23 c (only the right one is shown inFIG. 2 ) are formed through side faces of thefront panel 23. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , afan motor 26 is fixed at a substantial center of thebottom frame 21. Theindoor fan 8 connected with the axis of thefan motor 26 is disposed in thebottom frame 21 so that the axis of the fan extends along the front-back direction. Theindoor fan 8 is a turbofan which sucks air from the front surface side and blows the air radially outward with respect to the axis. Thebottom frame 21 includes a bell-mouth 27 formed on the front surface side of theindoor fan 8. Theindoor heat exchanger 5 is provided on the front surface side of the bell-mouth 27, and thefront grill 22 is attached to the front surface side of theindoor heat exchanger 5. Furthermore, thefront panel 23 is attached to the front surface side of thefront grill 22. To theopening 22 c of thefront grill 22, afilter 25 is attached. - As the driving of the air conditioner starts, the
fan motor 26 is driven so that theindoor fan 8 rotates. As theindoor fan 8 rotates, room air is sucked into theindoor unit 20 through theupper inlet port 23 a, thelower inlet port 23 b, and theside inlet ports 23 c. The room air sucked into theindoor unit 20 is subjected to the heat exchange by theindoor heat exchanger 5, and is then blown out to the room through theupper outlet port 22 a and thelower outlet port 22 b. When thelower outlet port 22 b is closed by theshutter 30, the room air sucked into theindoor unit 20 is blown out only through theupper outlet port 22 a. - As shown in
FIG. 5 toFIG. 7 , adrain pan 28 is provided below theindoor heat exchanger 5 to receive and drain the condensed water from the air, which is generated on theindoor heat exchanger 5. Thisdrain pan 28 is surrounded by aheat insulating material 40. Furthermore, anelectronic component box 50 is provided to the right of (outside in the longitudinal direction) and above theindoor heat exchanger 5. Below theelectronic component box 50, a sensor mounting portion 70 (seeFIG. 11C ) is provided. To thissensor mounting portion 70, arefrigerant gas sensor 9 is detachably attached. Thisrefrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided to the right of (outside in the longitudinal direction) theindoor heat exchanger 5 and thedrain pan 28. As shown inFIG. 5 , theelectronic component box 50 includes aharness connection portion 52 with which aharness 68 extending from therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is connected. As shown inFIG. 5 , in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of theindoor heat exchanger 5, theharness 68 is provided on the outer side of theindoor heat exchanger 5 as compared torefrigerant pipes indoor heat exchanger 5 and which are connected with communication pipes L1 and L2. - As shown in
FIG. 8A , thedrain pan 28 includes abottom portion 41 and aperipheral wall portion 42 extending upward from the entire outline of thebottom portion 41. Thisdrain pan 28 has adischarge hole 43 at around theright end 28R in the longitudinal direction (i.e., an end portion on the refrigerant gas sensor side) to discharge condensed water. Thedischarge hole 43 is connected with adrain hose 44. Thisdrain hose 44 extends to reach the outside of the room together with the communication pipes L1 and L2. As shown inFIG. 8B , thebottom portion 41 of thedrain pan 28 is tilted downward in the direction from theleft end 28L to theright end 28R (i.e., tilted downward toward the refrigerant gas sensor in the longitudinal direction). The condensed water having fallen onto thedrain pan 28 from theindoor heat exchanger 5 flows on thedrain pan 28 from theleft end 28L side to theright end 28R side and is then discharged from thedischarge hole 43. InFIG. 8B , the inclination of thebottom portion 41 of thedrain pan 28 is exaggerated for easy understanding. Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 8C , anotch 45 is formed in theperipheral wall portion 42 of thedrain pan 28 on therefrigerant gas sensor 9 side. To be more specific, thenotch 45 is formed in a side face on theright end 28R side of the drain pan 28 (i.e., the right side face of the peripheral wall portion 42). The phrase “the peripheral wall portion on the refrigerant gas sensor side” indicates a part of theperipheral wall portion 42, which is on therefrigerant gas sensor 9 side of the center in the longitudinal direction of theindoor heat exchanger 5. The notch is therefore not always required to be formed in the right side face of theperipheral wall portion 42, and may be formed in any part of theperipheral wall portion 42, on condition that the part is on therefrigerant gas sensor 9 side. - In this air conditioner, when refrigerant gas accidentally leaks out due to a reason such as the breakage of a refrigerant pipe in the
indoor heat exchanger 5, the refrigerant gas having the higher specific gravity than air flows downward and reaches thedrain pan 28. The refrigerant gas having reached thedrain pan 28 flows from theleft end 28L side toward theright end 28R side along the inclination of thedrain pan 28. On this account, the refrigerant gas having reached thedrain pan 28 tends to overflow thedrain pan 28 on therefrigerant gas sensor 9 side in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the refrigerant gas tends to overflow through thenotch 45 formed in theperipheral wall portion 42. The overflow refrigerant gas stagnates at the bottom of theindoor unit 20, and leaks out of theindoor unit 20. - The
electronic component box 50 houses a controllingunit 51 therein for controlling components required for operations such as the cooling and warming operations of the air conditioner. As shown inFIG. 9 , this controllingunit 51 is connected with thefan motor 26, therefrigerant gas sensor 9, theflap motor 24 a, and theshutter motor 30 b, controls theindoor fan 8, thevertical flap 24, and theshutter 30, and determines whether refrigerant leakage occurs based on a result of detection of the refrigerant gas by therefrigerant gas sensor 9. - The
refrigerant gas sensor 9 is a sensor configured to detect leaked refrigerant gas, and is provided to be flush with or lower than thedrain pan 28 as shown inFIG. 5 . Therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided to the right of (outside in the longitudinal direction of) thedrain pan 28 and to be rearward of (i.e., behind) thedrain pan 28 and theindoor heat exchanger 5. - As shown in
FIG. 10A and 10B , thisrefrigerant gas sensor 9 includes a detectingelement 61 configured to detect refrigerant gas, a hollow (e.g., cylindrical) casingmember 62 provided to surround the detectingelement 61, a printedboard 63 having a lower surface to which the detectingelement 61 and thecasing member 62 are fixed, and a housing (surrounding member) 64 surrounding the circumference of the printedboard 63. Thiscasing member 62 is provided in the vicinity of the circumference of the detectingelement 61. The distance between the detectingelement 61 and the inner circumferential surface of thecasing member 62 is very short. - The casing
member 62 has, at its lower end, a casing opening (first opening) 62 a which is provided to introduce leaked refrigerant gas into thecasing member 62. To the casing opening 62 a, for example, a meshed filter is attached. As shown inFIG. 10B , the casing opening 62 a is formed to be along the horizontal plane, and the entirety of the casing opening 62 a is provided below the detectingelement 61. The upper end of thecasing member 62 is closed by the printedboard 63 to prevent refrigerant gas from being introduced into thecasing member 62 through an opening other than the casing opening 62 a. The housing (surrounding member) 64 includes afirst housing 65 covering the circumference and the top of the printedboard 63 and asecond housing 66 covering the circumference and the bottom of the printedboard 63 and the circumference of thecasing member 62. In the bottom surface of thesecond housing 66, slits (second openings) 66 a are formed. In thisrefrigerant gas sensor 9, refrigerant gas is taken into thehousing 64 only through theslits 66 a. In thefirst housing 65, ahole 67 is formed to receive a later-described screw (fixing member) S. - The phrase “the refrigerant gas sensor is provided to be flush with the drain pan” indicates that, as shown in
FIG. 11B , the casing opening 62 a of therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided between the upper end 28Ra and the lower end 28Rb of theright end 28R of thedrain pan 28. The phrase “the refrigerant gas sensor is provided to be lower than the drain pan” indicates that the casing opening 62 a of therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided below the lower end 28Rb of theright end 28R of thedrain pan 28. - As shown in
FIG. 11 andFIG. 12 , thesensor mounting portion 70 has: a screw hole (sensor fixing portion) 71 for attaching therefrigerant gas sensor 9; and ahousing portion 72 in which a rear end portion of therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is housed. As shown inFIG. 12A , when therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is attached to thesensor mounting portion 70, the rear end portion of therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is housed in thehousing portion 72 and the screw (fixing member) S inserted into thehole 67 of therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is screwed into the screw hole (sensor fixing portion) 71. - In regard to this
refrigerant gas sensor 9, to detach therefrigerant gas sensor 9 from thesensor mounting portion 70, to begin with, the screw (fixing member) S is taken out from the screw hole (sensor fixing portion) 71 in the forward direction (the direction in which the fixing member is taken out (seeFIG. 12A ), and then therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is slid in the forward direction (the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (seeFIG. 12A ) relative to thesensor mounting portion 70, for a predetermined distance (predetermined sliding range). In this way, therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is detached. - In this
indoor unit 20, as shown inFIG. 5 toFIG. 7 andFIG. 11A , when thefront grill 22 and the front panel 23 (casing 20 a) provided on the side toward which therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is detached are open (detached), the communication pipes (regulating members) L1 and L2 are provided on the side toward which therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is detached, in order to regulate the detachment of therefrigerant gas sensor 9. When a service technician, a user, or the like detaches thefront grill 22 and the front panel 23 (casing 20 a) and performs maintenance of theindoor unit 20, the communication pipes L1 and L2 do not allow therefrigerant gas sensor 9 to be easily detached, when he/she erroneously tries to detach therefrigerant gas sensor 9. - The communication pipes L1 and L2 are communication pipes (refrigerant pipes) connected with
refrigerant pipes indoor heat exchanger 5. The communication pipes L1 and L2 are provided below theindoor unit 20, behind theindoor unit 20, and on theoutdoor unit 10 side. The two communication pipes L1 and L2 are covered with, for example, a single heat insulating material H. As such, the two communication pipes L1 and L2 are covered with the heat insulating material H. On this account, as compared to cases where the communication pipes L1 and L2 are naked, a hand or a screwdriver is less likely to make contact with therefrigerant gas sensor 9 and the screw S . It is therefore further difficult to detach therefrigerant gas sensor 9. The same effect is obtained when the two communication pipes are covered with different heat insulating materials, respectively. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , connecting portions L1 a and L2 a of the communication pipes L1 and L2, which are connected with therefrigerant pipes refrigerant gas sensor 9. A service technician, a user, or the like is allowed to detach therefrigerant gas sensor 9 only after the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit is removed and the communication pipes L1 and L2 are detached from therefrigerant pipes - The phrase “the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)” indicates the direction in which the fixing member is detached, in cases where the refrigerant gas sensor is fixed to the sensor fixing portion via the fixing member. On this account, “the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)” indicates the direction in which the fixing member is detached, even if the refrigerant gas sensor drops down when the fixing member fixed to the sensor fixing portion is detached. In cases where the refrigerant gas sensor is slid in the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor, the phrase “the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)” indicates the sliding direction. In cases where the refrigerant gas sensor is fixed to the sensor fixing portion via the fixing member and the refrigerant gas sensor is slid in the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor as in the present embodiment, the phrase “the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)” indicates the direction in which the fixing member is taken out and the sliding direction of the refrigerant gas sensor. In the present embodiment, “the detaching direction of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)” is the forward direction because the direction in which fixing member is taken out and the sliding direction of the refrigerant gas sensor are both the forward direction. When the direction in which the fixing member is taken out is different from the sliding direction of the refrigerant gas sensor, these two directions are “the detaching directions of the refrigerant gas sensor (the direction in which the refrigerant gas sensor is detached)”.
- Because the “regulating member” is configured to regulate the detachment of the refrigerant gas sensor, the regulating member is required to be provided at a position where the regulation of the detachment of the refrigerant gas sensor is possible. In the present embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 11A , the communication pipes L1 and L2 which are the regulating members overlap therefrigerant gas sensor 9 in a front view and are in the sliding range of the refrigerant gas sensor 9 (seeFIG. 12B ) when therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is attached to thesensor mounting portion 70. Furthermore, when the screw S is screwed into thescrew hole 71, the communication pipes L1 and L2 are positioned to obstruct the screw S from being taken out by a screwdriver, i.e., are provided at around positions overlapping the screw S in a front view, and the distance between the screw S and each of the communication pipes L1 and L2 is arranged to be equal to or shorter than the length of the screwdriver. - The air conditioner of the present embodiment has the following characteristics. In this air conditioner, because the
refrigerant gas sensor 9 detects gas introduced into thecasing member 62 from below the casingmember 62, it is extremely unlikely that therefrigerant gas sensor 9 detects gas when an amount of the gas is small as in cases where the gas is propane or pesticide sucked from the outside (e.g., the air-conditioned space) of the air conditioner. It is therefore possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas. Furthermore, because in this air conditioner the casing opening 62 a faces downward, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the detection accuracy of therefrigerant gas sensor 9 due to dust attached to the casing opening 62 a. Furthermore, in this air conditioner, when water is splashed onto therefrigerant gas sensor 9, e.g., when a user or the like erroneously puts water into theindoor unit 20 or when condensed water spills over or is splashed from thedrain pan 28, because the casing opening 62 a faces downward, the water is less likely to attach to the detectingelement 61, and hence malfunction of therefrigerant gas sensor 9 is avoided. - In addition to the above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, because the
casing member 62 is provided to surround the detectingelement 61 and is a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printedboard 63, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detectingelement 61. - In addition to the above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, because the housing (surrounding member) 64 is provided to cover the circumferences of the printed
board 63 and thecasing member 62, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner as the refrigerant gas, the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printedboard 63, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the detectingelement 61. - Thus, the embodiment of the present invention is described hereinabove. However, the specific structure of the present invention shall not be interpreted as to be limited to the above described embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above embodiments but by claims set forth below, and shall encompass the equivalents in the meaning of the claims and every modification within the scope of the claims.
- The following will describe an indoor unit of an air conditioner of a modification of the present invention with reference to
FIG. 13 . In regard to therefrigerant gas sensor 9 attached to theindoor unit 20 of the air conditioner of the embodiment above, the “casing member” of the present invention is a cylindrical member (casing member 62) fixed to the lower surface of the printedboard 63, and the housing (surrounding member) 64 is provided to surround the circumferences of the printedboard 63 and thecasing member 62. As shown inFIG. 13 , the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the modification is identical with the air conditioner of the embodiment above except that a cylindrical member fixed to the lower surface of the printedboard 63 is not included, and ahousing 64 a covering the circumference of the printedboard 63 is the “casing member” of the present invention. InFIG. 13 , the same reference symbols are used for members identical with those of the embodiment above. - In this air conditioner, because the
housing 64 a (the “casing member” of the present invention) is provided to cover the circumference of the printedboard 63, it is possible to ensure the prevention of the erroneous recognition of the different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner (e.g., the air-conditioned space) as the refrigerant gas, and the prevention of the attachment of water or dust onto the printedboard 63 and the detectingelement 61. - In the embodiment above, the casing opening (first opening) 62 a for introducing refrigerant gas into the inside is horizontally provided below the detecting
element 61, i.e., as shown inFIG. 14A , the casing opening 62 a faces vertically downward. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 14B andFIG. 14C , the casing opening 62 a may face obliquely downward on condition that the entirety of the casing opening 62 a is below the detectingelement 61. - While in the embodiment above the housing (surrounding member) 64 is provided to surround the circumferences of the printed
board 63 and thecasing member 62 and the slits (second openings) 66 a are formed in the bottom surface of the housing (surrounding member) 64, a second opening may be formed in a part different from the bottom portion of the surrounding member. Furthermore, the surrounding member may not be provided. - While in the embodiment above the
refrigerant gas sensor 9 includes the printedboard 63, the refrigerant gas sensor may be differently arranged. - While in the embodiment above the indoor unit is a floor-mounted indoor unit, the indoor unit may not be floor-mounted, and may be wall-mounted.
- While in the embodiment above the
refrigerant gas sensor 9 is provided inside theindoor unit 20, the refrigerant gas sensor may be provided, for example, inside the outdoor unit. - The present invention makes it possible to prevent a different gas sucked from the outside of the air conditioner from being erroneously recognized as refrigerant gas.
-
- 9: refrigerant gas sensor
- 61: detecting element
- 62: casing member
- 62 a: casing opening (first opening)
- 63: printed board
- 64: housing (surrounding member)
- 64 a housing (casing member)
- 66 a: slit (second opening) CLAIMS
Claims (4)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2014223394A JP6248898B2 (en) | 2014-10-31 | 2014-10-31 | Air conditioner |
JP2014-223394 | 2014-10-31 | ||
PCT/JP2015/077567 WO2016067817A1 (en) | 2014-10-31 | 2015-09-29 | Air conditioner |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20170336092A1 true US20170336092A1 (en) | 2017-11-23 |
Family
ID=55857163
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US15/523,041 Abandoned US20170336092A1 (en) | 2014-10-31 | 2015-09-29 | Air conditioner |
Country Status (7)
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US (1) | US20170336092A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3214383B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6248898B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN107110540B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2015338332B2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2782085T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016067817A1 (en) |
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US11339987B2 (en) | 2017-07-21 | 2022-05-24 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Air-conditioning apparatus |
US20240035675A1 (en) * | 2020-09-25 | 2024-02-01 | Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Indoor unit of a heat pump |
US11927377B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2024-03-12 | Waterfurnace International, Inc. | Air conditioning system with vapor injection compressor |
US11953239B2 (en) | 2018-08-29 | 2024-04-09 | Waterfurnace International, Inc. | Integrated demand water heating using a capacity modulated heat pump with desuperheater |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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EP3214383A1 (en) | 2017-09-06 |
CN107110540B (en) | 2020-07-28 |
WO2016067817A1 (en) | 2016-05-06 |
AU2015338332A1 (en) | 2017-05-25 |
JP2016090108A (en) | 2016-05-23 |
JP6248898B2 (en) | 2017-12-20 |
AU2015338332B2 (en) | 2018-11-15 |
ES2782085T3 (en) | 2020-09-10 |
CN107110540A (en) | 2017-08-29 |
EP3214383B1 (en) | 2020-01-15 |
EP3214383A4 (en) | 2018-07-04 |
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