WO2006046409A1

WO2006046409A1 - Air conditioner having indoor unit with automatic cleaning function for air filter

Info

Publication number: WO2006046409A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/018871
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masaharu Ebihara; Akihiko Shimizu; Hideaki Nakagawa; Akemi Toda; Akira Nishida
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-10-26
Filing date: 2005-10-13
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Also published as: TW200626844A; TWI344531B; MY141325A; JP5240020B2; CN101040151A; JP4484875B2; JPWO2006046409A1; JP2009150648A

Abstract

An air conditioner having an indoor unit for blowing air that has been subjected to heat exchange by a heat exchanger into a room. The air conditioner has an air filter for removing dust in air that passes through the heat exchanger, a suction nozzle capable of being driven along the air filter, and a suction device connected to the suction nozzle. During the operation of the air conditioner, the suction nozzle is received at a position at which it does not lie on the air filter.

Description

Specification

Air conditioner with indoor unit with automatic air filter cleaning function

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a function of automatically cleaning an air filter provided in an air suction port of an indoor unit.

Background art

[0002] In a conventional air conditioner filter device, an air filter is provided in front of the heat exchanger to prevent the intrusion of dust into the interior of the indoor unit. It is configured to be detachable so that it can be cleaned by hand. The filter device with such a configuration requires frequent maintenance and the air filter gradually clogs until the maintenance is performed. As a result, the amount of air passing through the heat exchanger decreases, The air conditioning capacity will decrease, leading to an increase in power consumption.

[0003] For this reason, an automatic cleaning device that periodically cleans dust adhering to the air filter with a brush has been proposed for the purpose of reducing maintenance work of the air filter (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-99479

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] However, in the case of the automatic cleaning device described in Patent Document 1, the brush and the air filter are rubbed against each other, so that problems such as dust getting tangled in the brush, and the brush being worn or deformed to deteriorate its function. was there. Also, after a certain amount of time had passed, it was necessary to dispose of the dust collected by brushing, and the maintenance effort was not greatly reduced.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and reduces the maintenance by automatically sucking and cleaning the entire surface of the air filter and reducing the size of the indoor unit body. Providing an air conditioner that does not impair the original basic performance even if set The purpose is that.

Means for solving the problem

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an air conditioner having an indoor unit that blows out the air heat-exchanged by heat exchange into a room, and the dust of the air passing through the heat exchanger. An air filter for removing dust, a slidable suction nozzle having a suction hole facing the air filter, for sucking dust attached to the air filter, and a suction device connected to the suction nozzle And the suction nozzle is stored in a storage portion formed at a position not overlapping the air filter when the air conditioner is in operation.

[0007] The suction nozzle storage part can be provided in a filter frame constituting the air filter, and it is preferable that a positioning means for positioning the suction nozzle is provided in the suction nozzle storage part.

[0008] In addition, the storage portion of the suction nozzle can be provided in front of the refrigeration cycle piping portion, or between the air filter and the power supply box provided inside the indoor unit main body.

[0009] Further, a dust separation member can be attached to the suction nozzle along the suction hole, and dust adhering to the air filter can be sucked from the suction hole while being scraped off by the dust separation member.

In this case, when the suction nozzle is stored, it is preferable to set so that the dust separation member is not brought into contact with the surface of the opposing storage portion.

The invention's effect

[0011] According to the present invention, since the air filter is automatically cleaned by the suction nozzle, maintenance is reduced, and the suction nozzle must not overlap with the air filter during operation of the air conditioner. By storing in the position, the basic performance of the air conditioner can be fully demonstrated.

[0012] In particular, when the storage portion for the suction nozzle is provided in the air filter frame, the filter device can be easily assembled into the indoor unit main body, and the number of assembling steps can be reduced.

[0013] In addition, if the nozzle storage portion is provided with a suction nozzle positioning means, the suction nozzle can be securely stored at a predetermined position. [0014] In particular, if the nozzle storage part is provided in front of the refrigeration cycle piping part or between the air filter and the power supply box, the product space can be effectively used, and the indoor unit body can be downsized. Monkey.

[0015] In addition, if a dust separation member is attached along the suction hole, and dust adhering to the air filter is sucked out by the dust separation member and sucked from the suction hole, the entire surface of the air filter is more efficient. Can be cleaned.

In this case, when the suction nozzle is stored, if the dust separation member is set so as not to contact the surface of the opposing storage portion, the dust separation member can be maintained in a desired shape for a long period of time.

The cleaning effect of the air filter is not reduced.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a filter device provided in an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention, and particularly shows the filter device when stopped.

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the filter device of FIG. 1, particularly showing the filter device during cleaning.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the suction nozzle along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the suction nozzle along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an air filter.

[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway front view of the indoor unit.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

[0018] 1 filter frame

la Nozzle compartment

2 Air filter

2a Filter bar

2b net

2c Horizontal cross

3 Suction Nozure

4 Guide rail 5 Suction duct

6 Suction device

7 Exhaust duct

8 nozzles

9 film

10 Nozzle opening

11 Suction hole

14 Gear

15a, 15b, 15c roller

16 opening

17 Finorem Guide

18 Nozzle positioning means

19 Refrigeration cycle piping

20 Power supply box

21 Indoor unit body

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a filter device of an air conditioner according to the present invention. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an air filter 2 for removing dust from air passing through a heat exchanger is shown. A suction nozzle 3 that is supported and fixed to the filter frame 1 and movable along the surface of the air filter 2 is provided. The suction nozzle 3 can be smoothly moved to the left and right with a very narrow gap from the air filter 2 by a pair of guide rails 4 installed at the upper and lower ends of the filter frame 1. Although the driving means for the suction nozzle 3 in the left-right direction is not shown, the driving force by the motor is constituted by a transmission means such as a gear.

[0020] One end of a suction duct 5 is connected to the suction nozzle 3, and the other end of the suction duct 5 is connected to a suction device 6. The suction duct 5 is formed of a duct that can be bent so as not to interfere with the movement of the suction nozzle 3. Further, an exhaust duct 7 is connected to the suction device 6 and is routed outside the room. Dust adhering to the air filter 2 is sucked by the suction nozzle 3 and then sucked in. It is discharged to the outside through the tatoo 5, the suction device 6, and the exhaust duct 7.

As shown in FIG. 5, the air filter 2 includes a filter bar 2a, a net 2b, and a horizontal bar 2c and a force.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the suction nozzle 3 includes a nozzle 8 constituting a flow path of sucked air, a film 9 slidably attached so as to surround the nozzle 8, It comprises a gear 14 that supports the film 9 and transmits the driving force, and rollers 15a, 15b, and 15c for supporting the film 9 and smoothly driving it. A slit-like nozzle opening 10 having a length corresponding to the vertical length of the air filter 2 is provided on the surface of the nozzle 8 on the air filter 2 side. On the other hand, the film 9 is formed in a loop shape and attached to the outer periphery of the nozzle 8 so as to cover the nozzle opening 10, and the opening 16 facing the nozzle opening 10 is formed on the surface of the air filter 2 side. Supported by the film guide 17! The film 9 is provided with a slit-like suction hole 11, and the film 9 is attached so that the suction hole 11 faces the nozzle opening 10 and the air filter 2. A large number of drive holes are formed on both sides of the film 9 at equal intervals, and the film 9 slides freely in the vertical direction by slipping into the gear 14 force drive hole connected to the stepping motor. Now that you can move!

[0023] With the configuration as described above, the air volume sucked by the suction device 6 is concentrated in the suction hole 11, so that a strong wind speed can be generated in the suction hole 11 portion even with a small air volume. Thus, a strong suction force can be demonstrated with a small output. Dust on the air filter sucked by this strong suction force enters the nozzle 8 from the suction hole 11 through the nozzle opening 10, and then discharges outside through the suction duct 5, the suction device 6, and the exhaust duct 7. Is done. Then, every time the suction nozzle 3 is driven left and right, the entire surface of the air filter 2 can be sucked and cleaned by changing the position of the suction hole 11 provided in the film 9 in the vertical direction.

[0024] In the present invention, after the suction cleaning is completed, the suction nozzle 3 is set in a position that does not impair the basic performance of the air conditioner. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, after the suction nozzle I nozzle 3 sucks the air filter 2 and cleans it, the suction nozzle 3 is housed in a position where it does not overlap the air filter 2 (a position that does not oppose). The basic performance of the harmonic machine can be fully demonstrated. In other words, when the air conditioner is in operation, the suction nozzle 3 should not be overlapped with the air filter 2 and must be stored in a position so that the suction nozzle 3 is not obstructed during operation of the air conditioner. By setting so, the original basic performance of the air conditioner can be secured.

Hereinafter, a specific example of the nozzle storage space will be described.

1 and 2 show that the storage portion la of the suction nozzle 3 is provided in a part of the air filter frame 1 (the right end of the filter frame 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2), and this storage portion la is in operation of the air conditioner. The suction nozzle 3 is housed inside. This configuration can be easily incorporated into the indoor unit main body as a completed filter device shown in FIG. 1, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 6, the storage portion la of the suction nozzle 3 is provided with positioning means 18 for the suction nozzle 3, and the storage position of the suction nozzle 3 during operation of the air conditioner is set to a predetermined position. By setting to, stable nozzle storage becomes possible. The positioning means 18 is composed of, for example, a contact-type position sensor. After the air filter 2 is cleaned, the suction nozzle 3 moves to the storage portion 1a shown in FIG. An ON signal is output to a control device (not shown), and the control device stops the suction nozzle 3 at that position.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the storage portion la of the suction nozzle 3 is provided between the air filter 2 and the power supply box 20 located at the end of the indoor unit body 21, and in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is provided in front of the refrigeration cycle pipe 19, and this configuration can effectively use the product space and can reduce the size of the indoor unit main body 21.

In the above embodiment, dust attached to the air filter 2 is sucked into the suction hole 11 formed in the suction nozzle 3, but a dust separating member such as a brush is taken along the suction hole 11. When the air filter 2 is cleaned, dust may be sucked into the suction hole 11 while dust is being scraped off from the air filter 2 by the dust separating member. In this case, when the surface of the storage portion la facing the suction nozzle 3 is set behind the extended surface of the air filter 2 and the suction nozzle 3 is stored in the storage portion la, the dust separating member is in the storage portion la. It is preferable to configure so that it does not contact the surface!

Industrial applicability

[0029] The filter device of the air conditioner of the present invention can automatically suck and discharge dust adhering to the air filter, and can maintain the basic performance. Applicable to other uses

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An air conditioner having an indoor unit that blows out the air heat-exchanged by heat exchange ^^

An air filter that removes dust from the air passing through the heat exchanger, a suction nozzle that has a suction hole facing the air filter, and that is attached to the air filter to suck dust attached to the air filter; An air conditioner comprising: a suction device coupled to a suction nozzle; and the suction nozzle is housed in a housing portion formed at a position that does not overlap the air filter when the air conditioner is operated.

[2] The air conditioner according to [1], wherein the suction nozzle storage portion is provided in a filter frame constituting an air filter.

[3] The air conditioner according to [2], wherein a positioning unit that positions the suction nozzle is provided in the storage portion of the suction nozzle.

[4] The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the suction nozzle storage part is provided in front of the refrigeration cycle piping part.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the suction nozzle storage portion is provided between the air filter and a power supply box provided inside the indoor unit main body.

[6] A dust separation member is attached to the suction nozzle along the suction hole, and dust attached to the air filter is sucked through the dust separation member and sucked from the suction hole. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein when the suction nozzle is stored, the dust separation member is not brought into contact with the surface of the storage portion facing the dust nozzle.