WO2006098436A1

WO2006098436A1 - Indoor unit for air contitioner

Info

Publication number: WO2006098436A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/305424
Authority: WO
Inventors: Akihisa Sudo; Masaya Seito; Nobusuke Shirakawa
Original assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
Priority date: 2005-03-18
Filing date: 2006-03-17
Publication date: 2006-09-21

Abstract

An indoor unit for an air conditioner, having a heat exchanger (10) received in an indoor unit body (1) and constituted of fins (11) arranged side by side, heat exchanger pipes (13), and U-shaped pipes (14) for communicating end sections of the heat exchanger pipes (13) projecting from fin end plates (12) on both sides of the fins (11); an electronic part box (8) placed next to a side section of the heat exchanger (10) and provided with a control circuit board on which electronic control parts are mounted and other components; and a drain guide (20) disposed between the electric part box (8) and the fin end plates (12) of the heat exchanger (10), shielding front faces of U-shaped pipes (14), and receiving drain water produced by the heat exchanger (10) and scattered. The drain guide (20) has a first guide rib (23) and a second guide rib (24) that receive the drain water formed on the front face of the drain guide (20) and guiding the water to a predetermined direction. The drain guide (20) also has a drain guide hole (21) for guiding the drain water that is guided by the first guide rib (23) and the second guide rib (24) to the back face side of the drain guide (20).

Description

Specification

Air conditioner indoor unit

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and more particularly to an improvement of a treatment structure for drain water generated and scattered by a heat exchanger.

Background art

[0002] An air conditioner that is commonly used is composed of an indoor unit installed in an air-conditioned room and an outdoor unit arranged in an outdoor part of the building, and a refrigerant pipe is connected between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Wiring is erected. In the indoor unit, indoor air is sucked into the indoor unit main body from the suction port, heat exchange is performed to exchange heat with the refrigerant, and the blower is blown out for air conditioning in the room.

[0003] The heat exchanger condenses the moisture contained in the room air in association with the heat exchange action, so that drain water is generated. The drain water flows from the heat exchanger ^^ to the drain pan provided at the bottom and is collected. Then, it is drained to the outside of the building through a drain hose connected to the drain pan.

However, when the amount of drain water generated is extremely large, not all drain water necessarily flows down to the drain pan, and part of the drain water may be dripped outside the drain pan. The drain water dripped to the outside of the drain pan may leak to the outside of the indoor unit body as it is and wet the inner wall surface.

[0005] Therefore, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-159792, a special tool that is engaged with the lower part of the heat exchanger is provided. This special tool has an engagement part that engages with the heat exchange pipe that constitutes the heat exchanger, and a locking edge that comes into contact with the drain pan, so that the drain pan force prevents the heat exchanger from being lifted in any installation state. The drain water can be guided to the drain pan more reliably.

[0006] The heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins arranged side by side with a predetermined gap, and a plurality of heat exchange pipes penetrating through the fins and projecting at both ends from the end plate of the fin. The fin end plate force of the adjacent heat exchange pipe is also composed of U-shaped pipes that communicate with each other at the protruding ends. . The indoor air is circulated between the fins, and the refrigerant is guided in a meandering manner along a refrigerant flow path composed of a heat exchange pipe and a u-shaped pipe.

[0007] The special tool described in JP-A-11-159792 is attached to a heat exchange pipe, and the operation of receiving drain water flowing between fins and guiding it to a drain pan is permitted. . In practice, however, drain water is also generated and dripped in the U-shaped pipe that protrudes outward as the fin end plate force. Then, the drain water that also drops the upper U-shaped pipe hits the lower U-shaped pipe and scatters around.

[0008] Since the special tool is not intended for the treatment of drain water generated in the U-shaped pipe portion, the drain hydraulic power scattered by the U-shaped pipe is connected to the drain pan via the suction port provided in the front surface of the indoor unit main body. There is a risk of leakage to the outside. In addition, a terminal block for connecting lead wires and the like is provided on the front surface of the electrical component box placed adjacent to the side of the heat exchanger, and it is possible that the terminal block gets wet with drain water. . In this case, there is a possibility of causing a leakage accident.

Disclosure of the invention

[0009] An object of the present invention is to prevent the drain water from being scattered at the U-shaped pipe portion constituting the heat exchanger, and to ensure that the drain water is leaked to the outside and adversely affects the electrical component box. The aim is to provide an indoor unit for an air conditioner that can prevent and improve reliability.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an indoor unit main body comprising a housing, a plurality of fins housed in the indoor unit main body and arranged in parallel with a predetermined gap, and penetrating through these fins. Two heat exchange pipes with both end plate forces on the fins, fin end plate forces of adjacent heat exchange pipes, heat exchange pipes that communicate with each other Between the electric component box and the fin end plate of the heat exchanger. And a cover member that shields the front surface of the u-shaped pipe that protrudes from the fin end plate of the heat exchanger and receives the drain water that is generated by heat exchange and scattered by the refrigeration cycle operation. The member receives the drain water generated on the front surface of the cover member and plans in a predetermined direction. A rib comprises a hole for guiding the drain water this rib is guided to the back side of the cover member. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the indoor unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the indoor unit with the front cover removed according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a part of the heat exchanger and the electrical component box according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front side of the drain cover according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the back side of the drain cover according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the electrical component box and the drain guide according to the same embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an indoor unit constituting an air conditioner, FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the indoor unit, and FIG. 3 is an indoor unit body 1 with a decorative panel 4 and a front cover 3 removed. FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the decorative panel 4 and the electrical component box 8.

[0014] The indoor unit main body 1 having a casing force includes a rear plate main body 2 having an open front surface, a front cover 3 provided on the front surface of the rear plate main body 2, and a decorative pad attached to the front cover 3 so as to be freely opened and closed. Nel 4 and.

[0015] A suction port 5 is provided in the upper part and the front surface of the indoor unit main body 1, and a blow-out port 6 is provided in the lower part of the front surface. The suction port 5 is composed of an upper suction port 5a provided in the front cover 3, an upper suction port 5b provided in the upper portion of the decorative panel 4, and a front suction port 5c provided in the front surface. The air outlet 6 is formed in the lower part of the front surface of the rear plate body 2, and is provided with a louver 7 that allows the air outlet 6 to be opened and closed and sets the direction of the heat exchange air.

[0016] In particular, as shown in the figure, the opening provided in the front cover 3 and an electric component box 8- described later are aligned with the decorative panel 4 removed from the front cover 3. . Then, remove the dust collection filter, deodorization filter, and these filters from the opening. You can see the heat exchange 10 attached later.

In other words, the decorative panel 4 provided with the upper suction port 5b and the front suction port 5c closes the opening of the front cover 3, and also has a dust collection filter, a deodorizing filter, a heat exchanger 10, and an electrical component. Box 8 is shielded.

[0018] Inside such an indoor unit main body 1, the heat exchanger, the blower 9 and the electrical component box are provided.

8 is housed.

[0019] The heat exchanger 10 includes a plurality of fins 11 arranged in parallel along the width direction of the indoor unit body 1 with a predetermined gap, and through the fins 11, It consists of a plurality of heat exchange pipes 13 whose ends protrude from the end plate 12, and U-shaped pipes 14 and connection pipes connected to the ends of the heat exchange pipe 13 protruding from the fin end plate 12. Fin tube type. The heat exchange pipe 13 and the U-shaped pipe 14 form a refrigerant flow path that guides the refrigerant in a meandering manner.

[0020] Further, the heat exchange will be described. The front heat exchanger section 10A is bent in a plurality of stages so as to be convex toward the front side of the indoor unit body 1, and is bent in a side view, and the front heat exchange. The rear heat exchange part 10B is arranged so as to form an inverted V shape from the upper end part of the part 10A.

[0021] The blower 9 is disposed between the front heat exchanger section 10A and the rear heat exchanger section 10B constituting the heat exchanger 10, and the front and rear heat exchanger sections 10A, 10B A cross-flow fan having an axial length opposed across the width direction, a fan motor disposed at one end of the cross-flow fan and connected via a force coupling, and a bearing fixture that supports both ends of the cross-flow fan. It consists of.

The electric component box 8 is arranged on the right side in the indoor unit body 1 along with the heat exchange 10. That is, the left side of the heat exchange is arranged so as to be almost in contact with the left side of the indoor unit body 1, and the electrical component box is placed in the space between the right side of the heat exchange and the right side of the indoor unit body 1 generated by the heat exchange. 8 intervenes.

[0023] Inside the electrical component box 8, a control board on which electrical control components are mounted is accommodated. The front part is provided with a terminal block T to which a terminal such as a communication line connected to the outdoor unit or commercial power source or a power line is connected, and these terminal blocks T are arranged on the terminal block substrate 8a. This end A part of the base board 8a joined by the force of the front part of the electrical component box 8 protrudes from the side end of the electrical component box 8 to the heat exchanger 10 side.

[0024] The rear plate body 2 is integrally provided with a front drain pan 15A positioned below the front heat exchanger section 10A and a rear drain pan 15B positioned below the rear heat exchange section 10B. . The left and right ends of the front drain pan 15A and the rear drain pan 15B are connected by a drain guide rod (not shown) so that drain water collected in the rear drain pan 15B can be guided to the front drain pan 15A.

[0025] A drain hose is connected to the front drain pan 15A. With this drain hose, drain water collected in the front drain pan 15A can be discharged from the interior of the indoor unit body 1 to the outdoor part of the building.

[0026] On the front side of the front drain pan 15A, a display unit 16 having a plurality of LEDs for informing the occupant of the operating status of the air conditioner by color, light, etc., and a remote control panel attached to the indoor unit A light receiving unit 17 that receives an operation setting signal oscillated from (hereinafter referred to as “remote controller”) is provided. These LEDs and the light receiving unit 17 constituting the display unit 16 are exposed from the front cover 3 so that the resident can easily check them.

[0027] A cover member is provided between the fin right end plate 12 of the front heat exchanger section 10A constituting the heat exchanger 10 and the terminal block substrate 8a from which the side end force of the electrical component box 8 protrudes. A drain guide 20 is installed. Hereinafter, the drain guide 20 will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front side of the drain guide 20, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the back side of the drain guide 20, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the electrical component box 8 and the drain guide 20-portion.

[0029] The drain guide 20 is curved so as to form a multi-stage bent shape that matches the multi-stage bent shape of the front heat exchanger section 10A, and is arranged in parallel along the lower end from the upper end of the front heat exchanger section 10A. Is done. As will be described later, the drain guide 20 is positioned on the front side of the U-shaped pipe 14 protruding from the fin right end plate 12 and is shielded from the U-shaped pipe 14 while being attached to a predetermined portion.

A drain guide hole 21, which is a hole, is provided in a portion of the drain guide 20 that protrudes to the foremost side and on the side of the heat exchanger 10 (left side in front view). This drain guide hole 21 particularly faces the ground wire connection portion 100 provided in the fin end plate 12 of the front heat exchanger portion 10A shown in FIG. The ground wire connection part 100 includes the heat exchanger 10 and the electrical component box 8. It is for attaching the edge part of the ground wire 101 wired between.

[0031] A drain receiving portion 22 that protrudes toward the front surface side of the drain guide 20 across the side portion and the lower portion of the drain guide hole 21 and is formed in a dish shape as a whole is provided in the body. One end portion of a first guide rib 23 provided integrally with the front surface side of the drain guide 20 is connected to the drain receiving portion 22. In the first guide rib 23, the connecting portion with the drain receiving portion 22 (that is, the connecting portion with the drain plan inner hole 21) is the inclined lower end, and the right end portion is the inclined upper end in the front view of the drain guide 20. It is inclined so as to rise to the right.

[0032] Above the first guide rib 23, a plurality of second guide ribs 24 are inclined so as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and to be substantially parallel to the first guide rib 23. Provided. Almost most of these second guide ribs 24 are substantially the same in the position of the lower end of the slope along the vertical line L drawn substantially upward at the substantially central portion of the drain guide hole 21.

It should be noted that the protruding width of the first guide rib 23 to the front side is formed larger than the protruding width of the second guide rib 24 to the front side. A third guide rib 25 is provided on the body below the first guide rib 23. The third guide rib 25 is inclined downwardly to the right so that the end contacting the bottom of the drain receiving portion 22 is an inclined upper end and the right side of the drain guide 20 is the inclined lower end in front view. That is, the inclination direction is opposite to that of the first and second guide ribs 23 and 24 described above.

[0034] The drain guide 20 is formed so that the upper end of the first guide rib 23 along the right side of the first guide rib 23 protrudes toward the back side, and a drain guide hole 26 is opened at the lower end of the protrusion 20a. Further, auxiliary guide ribs 27 having the same inclination as the first and second guide ribs 23 and 24 are provided on the lower side of the drain guide hole 26 and on the front side and the back side of the drain guide 20. Is provided.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of fixing claws 28 are provided at predetermined intervals along the right edge in the drain guide 20. These fixed claw portions 28 are set to a distance dimension that can be locked to the U-shaped pipe 14 that constitutes the heat exchanger 10.

A sensor holding part 29 is provided on the body at the lower end of the drain guide 20 on the fixed claw part 28 side. In the sensor holding portion 29, the side end force of the drain guide 20 is also extended to the side, and the front side is closed and the back side is opened. Rear opening force A temperature sensor (not shown) can be inserted and installed inside. [0037] A wiring fixing claw 30 is provided on the body at the side end opposite to the sensor holding portion 29. This wiring fixing claw 30 is connected to the temperature sensor and is routed along the back side of the drain guide 20 to releasably hold the middle part of the lead wire connected to a predetermined part in the electrical component box 8. it can.

[0038] The drain guide 20 is configured such that the plurality of fixed claws 28 are engaged with the U-shaped pipe 14 constituting the heat exchanger 10, so that, as described above, the fin end plate 12 of the heat exchanger 10 and the electrical component It is interposed between the box 8 and shields the front surface of the U-shaped pipe 14.

In this state, particularly as shown in FIG. 7, a part of the terminal block substrate 8a provided in the electrical component box 8 is located on the front side of the protruding portion 20a protruding to the back side of the drain guide 20. Auxiliary guide ribs 31 are provided on the back side of the terminal board 8a so as to be inclined obliquely. The inclined lower end of the auxiliary guide rib 31 is positioned immediately above the drain guide hole 26 provided in the drain guide 20.

[0040] With the drain guide 20 attached to a predetermined portion, the lower end of the drain guide 20 and the terminal block substrate 8a are in a position facing the upper portion of the front drain pan 15A, and the sensor holding portion to which the temperature sensor is attached 29 is opposed to a part of the front surface of the fin 11 constituting the heat exchange 10.

[0041] Since the drain guide 20 has a multi-stage bent shape that matches the multi-stage bent shape of the front heat exchanger section 10A, the drain guide 20 can be easily positioned and the front cover Good aesthetic with 3 removed.

[0042] In such an indoor unit of an air conditioner, the operating condition is set for the remote controller and the operation button is turned on, whereby the compressor of the outdoor unit is driven and the refrigeration cycle operation is started. At the same time, the blower 9 is driven, and the indoor air is sucked into the indoor unit body 1 from the suction port 5 and led to the heat exchanger 10.

[0043] The refrigerant meanders through the heat exchange pipe 13 and the U-shaped pipe 14 constituting the heat exchange, and exchanges heat with the indoor air flowing between the fins 11. Heat exchanged indoor air is guided by the louver 7 and blown into the room through the air outlet 6 to adjust the air in the room.

[0044] In the sensor holder 29 provided integrally with the drain guide 20, the temperature sensor is a freezer. The temperature change of the heat exchanger 10 due to the cycle action can be detected reliably, and a detection signal is sent to the electric control component housed in the electric component box 8. Based on the result, the operation frequency of the compressor and the blower 9 is controlled, and the optimum air conditioning action is performed.

[0045] On the other hand, in the heat exchanger 10, the moisture contained in the room air is condensed and converted into drain water with the heat exchange action. The drain water is generated on the surfaces of the fins 11, the heat exchange pipes 13 and the U-shaped pipes 14 constituting the heat exchange 10 and adheres in the form of water droplets. And as time goes on, the drain water droplets enlarge and eventually flow down.

[0046] The drain water flowing down from the fin 11 and the heat exchange pipe 13 is led to the front drain pan 15A in the front heat exchanger section 10A, and is led to the rear drain pan 15B in the rear heat exchanger section 10B. It is burned. The drain water collected in the rear drain pan 15B is guided to the front drain pan 15A via the guide rod and drained to the outdoor part of the building via the drain hose.

[0047] The drain water generated in the U-shaped pipe 14 is also enlarged and dripped. The drain water that also drops the force of the upper U-shaped pipe 14 hits the lower U-shaped pipe 14 and scatters around. Part of the scattered drain water is received and adhered to the back of the drain guide 20 provided on the front side of the U-shaped pipe 14. Then, it flows down along the back surface of the drain guide 20 and is guided to the front drain pan 15A.

[0048] Since the drain guide 20 is attached to the U-shaped pipe 14 via the fixed claw 28 and is in close contact with each other, the cold heat of the U-shaped pipe 14 is transmitted to the drain guide 20, and the front surface of the drain guide 20 and Drain water is generated on the back. As described above, the drain water generated on the back surface of the drain guide 20 also scatters the U-shaped pipe 14 force and joins the drain water received and flows down to the front drain pan 15A.

The drain water generated on the front surface of the drain guide 20 is received by the second internal rib 24 immediately after flowing down from the upper part, and flows along the inclination of the guide rib 24. The inclined lower end force of the second internal rib 24 also flows down along the vertical line L and is received by the drain receiving portion 22 provided in the lower part. The drain water is guided from the drain receiving portion 22 to the drain guide hole 21, travels to the back of the drain guide 20, and flows down to the front drain pan 15 A as it is.

[0050] When the amount of drain water generated is large, the drain water received and received by the second guide rib 24 flows down from the front projecting edge through the lower surface before reaching the inclined lower end. Can is there. The drain water that has flowed down is guided from the front surface of the drain guide 20 to the second guide rib 24 provided on the lower side, and merges with the drain water guided here.

[0051] In this second guide rib 24 as well, there is already a lot of drain water guided along the slope, and since the drain water is newly guided directly from the upper guide rib 24, it also joins the bottom end of the slope. Flow down from the front protruding edge before reaching.

In this way, the drain water sequentially flows down to the second guide rib 24 on the lower side, and is finally guided onto the first guide rib 23. The front protrusion width of the first guide rib 23 is the second guide rib.

Since it is formed larger than the front protrusion width of 24, the amount of drain water received and guided is large.

Therefore, most of the drain water flowing down from the second guide rib 24 to the first guide rib 23 is guided along the inclination of the first guide rib 23. The drain water is guided to the drain receiving portion 22, and further, from the drain guide hole 21 to the back surface of the drain guide 20, and is guided to the front drain pan 15A.

In particular, since the first guide rib 23 and the drain receiving portion 22 are provided at the portion of the drain guide 20 that protrudes to the foremost side, the drain water that is generated on the front surface of the drain guide 20 and flows down is surely captured. Then, it can be smoothly guided to the back side of the drain guide 20 and guided to the front drain pan 15A.

[0054] Further, when the amount of drain water generated is extremely large, even in the first guide rib 23, the drain water is continued along the slope, that is, connected to the lower end of the slope. Before reaching the drain receiving portion 22 to be installed, it is considered that the first guide rib 23 flows down from the front protruding edge.

At this time, the drain water flows down along the front surface of the drain guide 20 from the front edge of the first guide rib 23 through the lower surface, and is received by the third guide rib 25 provided at the lower end of the drain guide 20. It can be stopped. Then, the drain water led to the third guide rib 25 is finally discharged to the front drain pan 15A. Alternatively, there is also drain water that is received by the auxiliary guide rib 27 from the first guide rib 23 and guided to the front drain pan 15A.

Further, drain water is also generated on the back surface of the terminal block substrate 8a, but is received by the auxiliary guide rib 31 on the back surface and flows along an inclination. Drain water is drained from the inclined edge of the auxiliary guide rib 31. The drain guide 20 flows down to the drain guide hole 26 and is guided by the auxiliary guide ring 27 from the back cover of the drain guide 20 to the front drain pan 15A.

[0056] A part of the drain water scattered by the U-shaped pipe 14 of the heat exchanger 10 also reaches the side surface portion of the electrical component box 8 that also has the metal plate strength. However, since the electrical component box 8 has a sealed structure, the scattered drain water does not penetrate into the interior and wet the electrical control components. Also, some electric control parts generate a large amount of heat, and the temperature of the side surface of the metal plate increases. Therefore, the scattered drain water evaporates quickly.

[0057] The drain water generated in the U-shaped pipe 14 of the heat exchanger 10 and scattered to the front side is received by the drain guide 20 and smoothly guided to the front drain pan 15A. Therefore, there is no drain water scattered from the upper suction port 5b and the front suction port 5c provided in the makeup panel 4 into the room. Furthermore, there is no drain water that wets the terminal block T provided on the front surface of the terminal block substrate 8a of the electrical component box 8, and safety and reliability can be improved.

[0058] Since the sensor holding part 29 having the temperature sensor attached to the lower part of the drain guide 20 is integrally formed, the temperature sensor can be easily attached and the number of parts can be reduced. The temperature sensor is inserted from the opening on the back side of the sensor holding unit 29, and the front side of the sensor holding unit 29 is closed. In the lead wire connected to the temperature sensor, the midway portion from the back side of the drain guide 20 is locked to the wiring fixing claw 30, and the other end portion is connected to the inside of the electrical component box 8.

[0059] For this reason, with the front cover 3 removed for maintenance work, it is possible to avoid touching the lead wires as well as the temperature sensor to prevent accidents such as electric shock. Improvements can be made. In addition, it is possible to reduce the cost because it is not necessary to insulate the protective member as a separate part.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, but can be specifically modified by modifying constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above-described embodiments.

Industrial applicability

[0061] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the drain water generated in the U-shaped pipe portion constituting the heat exchanger from being scattered, and to surely prevent the drain water from leaking outside and adversely affecting the electrical component box. Stop, Improved reliability

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An indoor unit body consisting of a housing,

A plurality of fins housed in the indoor unit main body and arranged side by side with a predetermined gap, a plurality of heat exchange pipes penetrating through these fins and projecting at both end plate forces of the fins; Heat exchange ^^ consisting of u-shaped pipes that communicate with each other at the ends where the fin end plate forces of adjacent heat exchange pipes also protrude

An electrical component box provided side by side with the heat exchanger and provided with a control board on which electrical control components are mounted;

It is interposed between this electrical component box and the fin end plate of the heat exchanger ^^, and the fin end plate force of the heat exchanger ^^ also projects the front of the u-shaped pipe and is used for refrigeration cycle operation. A cover member that receives the drain water that is generated and scattered by the heat exchange ^^,

A rib that receives drain water generated on the front surface of the cover member and guides it in a predetermined direction, and a hole that guides the drain water guided by the rib to the back side of the cover member

An indoor unit of an air conditioner characterized by comprising:

[2] The rib is provided such that a plurality of ribs are inclined so as to guide drain water to the hole, and an inclined lower end of at least one rib is connected to the hole. Item 1. An air conditioner indoor unit according to Item 1.

3. The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the cover member includes a drain receiving portion that is formed to bulge in opposition to the hole.