WO2007020827A1

WO2007020827A1 - Indoor unit of air-conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2007020827A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/315544
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tetsuro Ozawa; Hideto Suzuki; Mitsukuni Sano; Takechika Mishima; Kaku Okada; Nobuyuki Takeya
Original assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
Priority date: 2005-08-12
Filing date: 2006-07-31
Publication date: 2007-02-22
Also published as: KR100917725B1; CN101243291B; JP5031729B2; JP2009505032A; CN101243291A; EP1922515A1; EP1922515B1; EP1922515A4; KR20080025206A

Abstract

Suction ports 4 and 6 and a blowoff port 9 are equipped on a ventilation passage between the suction ports 4 and 6 and blowoff port 9, a heat exchanger 10 and a blower 13 are arranged to an indoor unit proper 1, and air filters 11A and 11B are mounted between the suction port and the heat exchanger. In addition, a ventilation unit 15 which discharges indoor air to the outside is equipped, and air filters have a sweeping unit Z which removes dust adhering to the air filter surfaces and collects it in a dust box. The ventilation unit has a fan casing on which an intake port 31 and an exhaust port 32 are provided, an exhaust fan 35, and a connection hose 55 which communicates with a dust box of the sweeping unit and the ventilation unit, wherein the head end portion of the connection hose is connected to the outer circumferential portion upstream of the exhaust port of the fan casing.

Description

D E S C R I P T I O N

INDOOR UNIT OF AIR-CONDITIONER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air-conditioner, and more particularly, to a discharge structure which removes dust from an air filter and discharges the removed dust to the outside. Background Art

In an indoor unit of an air-conditioner, indoor air is drawn in from a suction port to the indoor unit proper, and dust contained in indoor air is caught by an air filter installed opposite to the suction port and indoor air alone is guided to a heat exchanger and heat-exchanged. As air-conditioning operation continues, the caught dust accumulates on the air filter and when it is left as it is, circulation of indoor air to the heat exchanger is interrupted and degraded heat exchange efficiency results.

Ideally, dust adhering to the air filter is periodically removed and the heat-exchange efficiency is improved. Consequently, the front panel which composes the front surface of the indoor unit proper is rotatably installed and when the front panel is opened, the air filter is exposed. Grasping the bottom end portion of the air filter and pulling down can easily remove the air filter from the indoor unit proper. After removing dust adhering to the air filter, pushing up the top end portion of the air filter with its top end portion pressed against the indoor unit proper can put it back into place.

However, in general, the indoor unit of the air-conditioners popularly used is of a so-called wall- mounted type and is mounted on the wall at high level in a room. Consequently, for example, for elderly people and women, opening and closing of the front panel and attaching and detaching of a filter are accompanied with difficulties, and it is likely to leave air-filters intact with dust adhering.

Therefore, as disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication Nos. 2004-138329 and 2004-278923, air- conditioners equipped with means for catching dust contained in indoor air by an air filter which is a dust-removing means, and which not only automatically remove dust .adhering to this air filter but also discharge the removed dust to the outside as it is have been presented.

According to the technique of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-138329 mentioned above, inside the indoor unit proper, exhaust means for discharging part of air in the main body to the outside is installed and on the exhaust channel of this exhaust means, a dust collection box which collects dust adhering to the air filter is installed. And the dust adhering to the air filter is collected into the dust collection box and the dust inside the dust collection box is arranged of to the outside by the exhaust means. To explain in further detail, it is desirable to divide the dust collection box in a plurality of boxes opposite to the air filter, and these dust collection boxes are communicated to each other in series from the upstream side to the downstream side of the exhaust channel of the exhaust means. By an exhaust fan which constitutes an exhaust means, dust accumulated in the dust collection box is guided to an exhaust pipe and further to the outside to be discharged.

However, by the above-described technique, dust accumulated in the dust collection box is blown out by air fed from the exhaust fan and is guided into the exhaust pipe. That is, because the air pressure of the exhaust fan is directly applied to the dust inside the dust collection box, it blows dust inside the dust collection box and is agitated. Under this condition, dust is unable to be smoothly guided to the exhaust pipe with a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the dust collection box and possibly clogs at the connections between the dust collection box and the exhaust pipe.

Once dust clogs at the connections, dust fed later accumulates as it is, and eventually, the connections are completely blocked. Because even under this condition, operation of the exhaust fan continues, the air pressure of the exhaust fan is applied to a brush, which is a dust removing means . This causes the dust removed by the brush to be blown back to the housing inside, and the housing inside is filled with dust which adheres to the heat exchanger and the exhaust fan, or dust is scattered from the suction port or exhaust port into a room. In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication

No. 2004-278923, in an indoor unit of an air conditioner which is at least composed with a heat exchanger and a blower, a suction-exhaust device that draws in and discharge air is arranged, and at the same time, a suction duct that communicates with the suction-exhaust device and an exhaust duct that discharges air from the suction-exhaust device to the outside are installed, and the suction-exhaust device is formed with a centrifugal blower with a built-in motor and a casing which surrounds this centrifugal blower.

By arranging the suction-exhaust device on the side surface of the indoor unit, the contaminated air inside the room can be exhausted to the outside by allowing the air to pass the suction duct, suction- exhaust device with the centrifugal blower incorporated, and exhaust duct, in that order, and at the same time, dust adhering to the filter can be removed and cleaning of this filter can be automatically carried out.

However, in the method to discharge dust using this kind of centrifugal blower, taking into consideration the intended use, it is impossible to think that a dedicated filter is installed on the suction side of the suction-exhaust device with a centrifugal blower equipped. Consequently, dust removed from the filter is guided to the suction- exhaust device inside and dust is likely to adhere to the inner wall surfaces of the device and the centrifugal blower.

When this is used over a long time, large quantities of dust adhere and are accumulated to blades of the centrifugal fan which composes a centrifugal blower. In particular, since the centrifugal fan is of a multi-blade type which has a large number of blades and narrow clearances between blades, it tends to cause clogging with dust accumulated between blades, giving rise to a problem in that the originally intended exhaust air volume and exhaust characteristics are unable to be secured by such influence.

Disclosure of Invention The present invention was made in light of the above-mentioned situation, and 'it is an object of the invention to provide an indoor unit of an air-conditioner which automatically removes dust adhering to the air filter, allows a ventilation unit to draw in and discharge the removed dust to the outside, thereby achieves smooth exhaust operation free of clogging in the middle of discharge, and prevents contamination by dust of the ventilation unit which includes a heat exchanger and a blower.

To achieve the above objects, an indoor unit of an air-conditioner according to the present invention comprises an indoor unit proper equipped with a suction port and blowoff port, air-filters which are arranged in a ventilation channel between the suction port and the blowoff port in the indoor unit proper and catch dust contained in indoor air, an exhaust unit which draws in indoor air into the indoor unit proper and discharges to the outside, and an air filter sweeping mechanism which removes dust adhering to the air filter surface. The exhaust unit comprises an intake port which draws in air for ventilation equipped on the side surface, a fan casing for which an exhaust port is equipped on the circumferential end portion, an exhaust fan which is housed in the casing, and a fan motor which is linked to the exhaust fan and drives to rotate the exhaust fan. The air filter sweeping mechanism comprises removing means for removing dust caught to the air filters from the air filters and a connection hose for discharging dust removed by this removing means, with the head end portion of the connection hose being connected to the outer circumferential surface portion upstream of the exhaust port installed on the fan casing of the exhaust unit. Further, an indoor unit of an air-conditioner according to the present invention comprises a suction port and a blowoff port, air filters mounted in a ventilation passage between the suction port and the blowoff port and catching dust contained in indoor air, an air filter sweeping mechanism which removes dust adhering to the air filter surfaces, and an exhaust unit which discharges the removed dust to the outside.

The exhaust unit comprises a fan casing having an exhaust port on the circumferential end portion and an opening provided on the surface portion other than the projection side surface of the exhaust fan, the fan casing being formed in a scroll shape along the circumferential surface, an exhaust fan which is composed with a centrifugal fan and housed in the fan casing, and a fan motor which is linked to the exhaust fan and drives to rotate the exhaust fan. The air filter sweeping mechanism comprises a connection hose for discharging dust which communicates with "the fan casing of the exhaust unit. According to the present invention, effects of removing dust adhering to the air filter, discharging the removed dust quickly and smoothly to the outside, preventing contamination by dust of the ventilation unit which has a heat exchanger and a blower as well as other effects can be achieved.

Advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

Brief Description of Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air-conditioner indoor unit related to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one side of the indoor unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the indoor unit related to the embodiment with the indoor unit proper removed; FIG. 4 is a perspective view with an enlarged view of connecting hose connections' of a sweeping unit related to the embodiment; FIG. 5 is a perspective view partially in cross section of one side portion of the sweeping unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exploded ventilation unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ventilation unit and its surrounding portion related to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one surface side of the ventilation unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the ventilation unit inside related to the embodiment when a secondary-side air ventilation mode is chosen;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the ventilation unit inside related to the embodiment when a ventilation damper totally closed mode is chosen (also when the sweeping unit is in operation) ;

FIG. HA is a schematic configuration drawing of a ventilation. unit related to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. HB is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of a fan casing of the ventilation unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ventilation unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration drawing of the ventilation unit related to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14A is a view that explains the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 14B is a comparison view that explains the operation of the embodiment;

FIG. 15A is a partial perspective view of the ventilation unit related to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15B is a perspective view with part of the ventilation unit omitted.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring now to the drawings, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinbelow. FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner with part shown diagrammaticalIy .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with the front panel 2 of the indoor unit proper 1 removed to show the inside, and FIG. 3 is a side view with the rear panel housing 3 of the indoor unit proper 1 removed. (Components with no reference numeral given in the description are not illustrated. The same principle applies hereinbelow. ) The indoor unit proper 1 is composed with a front panel 2 and a rear panel housing 3 and forms a horizontally long shape. On one part of the front side of the front panel 2, a front suction port 4 is opened and a movable panel supported to an open/close drive mechanism is fitted. When operation is stopped, the movable panel becomes flush to the front panel 2 and closes the front suction port 4. During operation, it is controlled to protrude and be displaced to the front side to form a clearance with the main body side, and open the front suction port 4.

An upper suction port 6 is provided over the ^"front panel 2 and the rear plate housing 3. To the upper suction port 6, a frame-form bar 7 is fitted, and by this bar 7, a plurality of open spaces are formed. At the bottom of the movable panel, two blowout louvers 8a and 8b are installed parallel. Each of the blowout louvers 8a and 8b opens and closes a blowout port 9 installed at the front bottom of the indoor unit proper 1 and sets the blowout direction of heat-exchanged air in accordance with the operating conditions.

In the indoor unit proper 1, a heat exchanger 10 formed by a front-side heat exchanger unit 1OA and a rear-side heat exchanger unit 1OB in a nearly inverted V-letter shape is arranged. The front-side heat exchanger unit 1OA is formed in a nearly curved shape parallel to the front panel 2 with a clearance formed in-between, and the rear-side heat exchanger unit 1OB is nearly formed upright and faces obliquely to the upper suction port 6. On the other hand, between the front suction port 4 and the front-side heat exchanger unit 1OA, a suction frame assembly Sa with a front air filter HA equipped is located. Between the upper suction port 6 and the upper-side heat exchanger unit 1OB, a top-frame assembly Sb with an upper air filter HB equipped is mounted. These frame assemblies Sa and Sb are formed with a main frame portion and an air filter retainer frame and are assembled to each other with the relevant air filters HA and 11B interposed.

On both end portions in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of each of the frame assemblies Sa and Sb, a pair of rolls 50 is rotatably supported along the longitudinal direction and over these rolls 50, a feed band mounted on both side end portions of air filters HA and HB is installed. To the one roll 50 side end portion in each of frame assemblies Sa and Sb, a drive mechanism is connected to rotate and drive the rolls 50 in response to control signals.

The above-mentioned feed band has a so-called belt-form and travels endlessly as rolls 50 rotate. Each of the air filters HA and HB is installed only half-round each with respect to the whole circumference of the feed band and forms an area shape that is opposed to each of suction ports 4 and 6. And along a clearance between the top end portion of the suction frame assembly Sa and the front end portion of the top frame assembly Sb, an air filter sweeping mechanism (hereinafter called the "sweeping unit") Z later discussed is installed. An electric dust collector is installed in such a manner as to come into close contact with part of the front surface side of the front-side heat exchanger unit 1OA of the heat exchanger 10. This electric dust collector is configured with a charge-side electrode which gives electric charge to dust in the circulating air and a dust-collection-side electrode which attracts and catches the charged dust.

Between front and rear side heat exchanger units 1OA and 1OB of the heat exchanger 10 formed in a shape of an umbrella, an indoor blower 13 is arranged. The indoor blower 13 is composed with a fan motor and a transverse fan with one spindle mechanically linked to the rotating shaft of this fan motor.

An exhaust unit (herein after called the "ventilation unit") 15 later discussed is installed adjacent to one side end of the indoor blower 13, with the center axis located on the extension of this center axis. (In FIG. 1, the ventilation unit 15 is diagrammatically indicated.) The bottom end portion of the front-side heat exchanger unit 1OA is located on a front drain pan lβa and the bottom end portion of the rear-side heat exchanger unit 1OB is located on a rear drain pan 16b to receive drain water trickling from relevant heat exchanger units 1OA and 1OB, and discharge the drain water to the outside via a drain hose (not shown) . The one part side-wall outer surface of the front and rear drain pans 16a and 16b is installed at the position close to the indoor blower 13, and with these, a nose to the transverse fan of the indoor blower 13 is formed. The clearance between the edges of the blow- out port 9 and the side wall portion of front and rear drain pans 16a and 16b which form the nose is connected by a bulkhead member 17. The space surrounded by the bulkhead member 17 forms a blow-out ventilating flue 18 which communicates the nose with the blow-out port 9. First of all, the ventilation unit 15 will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exploded ventilation unit 15 related to the embodiment, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ventilation unit 15 and its surrounding portion related to the embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one surface side of the ventilation unit 15 related to the embodiment.

The one side portion of the ventilation unit 15 is formed from a unit base 20, while the other side portion is formed from a blower mechanism 30. Between the unit base 20 and the blowe^'r mechanism 30, a damper 40 and a damper drive mechanism 45 is intermediately installed, and with these, the ventilation unit 15 is formed.

The above-mentioned unit base 20 is equipped with a vertical portion 20a, inclined portion 20b and a horizontal portion 20c. The vertical portion 20a is protrudably formed nearly in a triangle as viewed from the side and agrees with the umbrella-form assembly shape of the front-side heat exchanger unit 1OA and the rear-side heat exchanger side 1OB which compose the heat exchanger 10. Allowing the side-end portion of the heat exchanger 10 to be placed on the horizontal portion 20c forms a gap at the portion opposite to the inclined portion 20b.

Nearly at the center of the vertical portion 20a, a circular fixing opening 21 is provided and along the circumferential surface of this opening, ribs 22 which protrude to the inner surface side of the vertical portion 20a is mounted. On the outer surface side along the circumferential edge of the fixing opening 21, reinforcing ribs 23 are radially installed. On the inner surface side of the vertical portion 20a, along nearly a half circle of the fixing opening 21, a plurality (7 pieces) of fragment parts for total closure 24 are installed, with specified intervals provided. Part of fragment parts for total closure 24 is opened, and this opening is called a secondary ventilation port 25. To the fixing opening 21 of the vertical portion 20a^', a bearing 26 is fixed, and with these, a bearing portion 27 is configured. This bearing portion 27 pivotally supports one spindle h of the transverse fan 13F which configures the indoor blower 13. On the inner surface side of the vertical portion 20a, two stays 28a are protrudably mounted, and to these stays 28a, a pinion 46 is rotatably fitted, which composes a damper drive mechanism 45. In the vicinity of the stays 28a, a plurality of stays 28b are installed. From a protruded end face of each stay 28b, a threaded hole is mounted and a fixing screw m which mounts and fixes the blower mechanism 30 is driven. Only the stay 28b in the vicinity of the fragment parts for total closure 24 has a receiving portion 29 installed integrally adjacent to the circumferential portion. On the receiving portion 29, a drive motor 47 that composes the damper drive mechanism 45. is mounted and fixed, and a drive gear 48 which is linked to a rotating shaft of the drive motor is further rotatably supported.

On the outer circumferential surface of the rib 22, a hole portion 41 installed at the center part of the damper 40 is rotatably fitted. This damper 40 is formed from the hole portion 41 along in the radial direction to have nearly disk-form cross section, and along the circular peripheral edge, a gear unit 42 is installed. To the gear unit 42, two pinions 46 and a drive gear 48 are engaged.

Between the hole portion 41 and the outer circumferential gear unit 42 in the damper 40, on part in the circumferential direction, a plurality of guide ventilation ports 43 are equipped. These guide ventilation ports 43 have the opening size and shape completely identical to the secondary ventilation port 25 mounted on the unit base vertical portion 20a. A bar n between relevant guide ventilation ports 43 has the interval between them set to be identical to the mutual interval of the fragmental part for total closure 24.

The damper 40 forms a clearance with the vertical portion 20a inner surface while it is fitted to the rib 22, and one side surface of the damper 40 is normally slidably in contact with the end edge of the fragmental part for total closure 24. Consequently, except the state in which the guide ventilation port 43 of the damper 40 faces against the secondary ventilation port 25 of the vertical portion 20a, each of the secondary ventilation ports 25 is blocked by the damper 40.

The blower mechanism 30 has an intake port 31 which is open to the side surface on the damper 40 side and at the same time, is composed with a fan casing 33 having a rectangular exhaust port 32 protrudably mounted along its circumferential end portion and a fan motor 34 mounted to the opposite side surface of the intake port 31 of this fan casing and a fan 35 which is mounted on this fan motor rotary shaft.

The fan 35 is a so-called centrifugal fan type (multiblade type) which draws in air from the center axis direction as it rotates and blows air in the circumferential direction, and the circumferential surface of the fan casing 33 is formed of scroll. Consequently, the fan 35 works to draw in air from the intake port 31 of the fan casing 33 and send air from the exhaust port 32.

Because the blower mechanism 30 is mounted on the vertical portion 20a of the unit base 20 via the damper 40 and the damper drive mechanism 45, a clearance exists between the blower mechanism 30 and the vertical portion 20a. Furthermore, the circumferential surface of the blower mechanism 30 is mounted on the inclined portion 20b and the horizontal portion 20c of the unit base 20 with clearances provided, and in particular, has a large clearance at the triangular protruded portion of the unit base 20.

On the other hand, the exhaust port 32 of the fan casing 33 is inserted into a ventilation nipple 51 protrudably mounted to the bottom-end back-side corner of the indoor unit proper 1 as shown in FIG. 2. To the outer circumferential surface of this ventilation nipple 51, a discharge hose (not shown) is connected, and this discharge hose is extended to the outside. In the vicinity of the ventilation nipple 51, a drain discharge nipple 52 is installed in parallel, to which a drain hose connected to the front drain pan 16a is inserted. To the drain discharge nipple 52, a drain hose extended to the outside is also connected.

Next, explanation will be made on the sweeping unit Z. FIGS. 2 and 3 show part of the sweeping unit Z. FIG. 4 is a perspective view with an enlarged view of connecting hose 55 and connections 56 of the sweeping unit Z, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view that shows the connections 56 in cross section.

The sweeping unit Z is composed with a rotary brush B linked to the rotation drive mechanism, a dust box 57 (partly illustrated) which is a dust housing unit surrounding this rotary brush B and the connection hose 55 installed across one side end portion of the dust box 57 and the ventilation unit 15.

The dust box 57 is formed by assembling divided parts which are divided into a plurality of pieces, and surrounds the suction frame assembly Sa top end portion and the top frame assembly Sb front end portion. In this dust box 57, the brush B is rotatably housed. The brush B comes into full contact with part of the air filter HA and the upper air filter HB in the whole lateral direction.

In the sweeping unit Z, the rotation drive mechanism that drives the rotary brush B is mounted to the side portion (right side portion) which is opposite to the portion shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. To the side portion shown in each drawing, one end portion of the connection hose 55 is connected.

That is, one side end bottom portion of the dust box 57 is protrudably installed in the longitudinal direction, and on this, a unit end-connector 58 and an end-connector fixture 59 are integrally installed. The unit end-connector 58 communicates with the dust box 57 inside, to which one end portion of the connection hose 55 is fitted. The end-connector fixture 59 is mounted and fixed to the unit base 20 of the ventilation unit 15 via a fixture. The connection hose 55 has a bend a at the midway, with the other end portion insertedly passed into the unit base 20 of the ventilation unit 15. By the way, in FIGS. 8 to 10, the position of the connection hose 55 to the unit base 20 is diagrammatically shown by chain double-dashed line. The connection hose 55 which insertedly passes the unit base 20 faces to the fan casing 33 of the blower mechanism 30. On part of the circumferential surface of this fan casing 33, a guide port is installed, and a discharge case 60 is mounted on the circumferential surface of the fan casing 33 while surrounding this guide port.

Because the discharge case 60 is equipped with a fixing part c which conforms to the circumferential shape of the fan casing 33, no air stream leaks from the clearance with the guide port . On the surface opposite to the fixing part c of the discharge case 60, an end-connector b is intergrally protrudably installed, to which the other end portion of the connection hose 55 is connected. Inside the discharge case 60, between the fixing part c and the end- connector b, a damper cover d is mounted, to which a backflow prevention damper 61 is mounted. This backflow prevention damper 61 allows the flow of an air stream from the connection hose 55 to the guide port (fixing part c) side, and the flow of the air stream from the guide port to the connection hose 55 side is hampered.

In an indoor unit of an air conditioner configured in this way, changing over the remote-controller operation switch to ON causes the movable panel to open the front suction port 4 and blowoff louvers 8a and 8b equipped to the blowoff port 9 are swung and the posture is set in response to the directions of cooling operation and heating operation. Simultaneously, the indoor blower 13 carries out air-distributing operation while a compressor of the outdoor unit is driven to start the refrigeration cycle operation.

The indoor air is guided from the upper suction port 6 and the front suction port 4 to the inside of the indoor unit proper 1, and passes through the front 'air filter 11A and the upper air filter 11B. Dust contained in the indoor air is caught by these air filters HA and HB, the indoor air with dust removed passes the heat exchanger 10 where heat exchanging operation takes place. Thereafter, the heat-exchanged air is guided along the blowoff ventilation passage 18, then, guided from the blowoff port 9 to blowoff louvers 8a and 8b, and allowed to blow off into the room, and highly efficient air-conditioning operation is continued.

The ventilation unit 15 is designed to change over to three kinds of modes: "secondary-side air ventilation mode", "primary-side air ventilation mode", and "ventilation damper totally closed mode". It shall be rated that the secondary side and primary side are designated with the heat exchanger 10 used as a reference and the secondary-side air means the air which has passed the heat exchanger 10 and the primary- side air means the air before it circulates into the heat exchanger 10.

Selecting the cleaning operation mode when air- conditioning operation is finished allows the "secondary-side air ventilation mode" to automatically function. That is, right after cooling operation or dehumidifying operation is carried out and stopped, moisture (drain water) adheres to the heat exchanger 10 and the inside of the indoor unit proper 1 becomes the high-humidity atmosphere. Leaving the indoor unit proper as it is causes the moisture content adhering to the heat exchange 10 as well as to other components to stay without evaporating, forming causes of corrosion or mold generation. Therefore, by choosing the cleaning operation mode, drying and sterilization operation of the inside of the indoor unit proper 1 are carried out. As shown in FIG. 9, the damper drive mechanism 45 of the ventilation unit 15 operates to swing the damper 40 and to bring the guide ventilation port 43 of the damper 40 to face to the secondary ventilation port 25 of the unit base 20. Then, the blower mechanism 30 of the ventilation unit 15 operates, draws in secondary- side air into the ventilation unit 15 via the secondary ventilation port 25 and guide ventilation port 43 and intake port 31, and blows off from the exhaust port 32. Specifically, as shown in alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 7, the secondary-side air circulates the secondary ventilation port 25 and the guide ventilation port 43 from a clearance between the outer surface of the inclined portion 20b of the unit base 20 and the heat exchanger 10, via the gap between the external surface of the vertical portion 20a and the end face of the transverse fan ^'13F, and is drawn in through the intake port 31 of the fan casing 33 and blown off from the exhaust port 32.

Selecting the ventilation mode equipped to the remote controller allows the "primary-side air ventilation mode" to automatically take place. The above-mentioned ventilation mode may be chosen in parallel with the air-conditioning operation or may be chosen when air-conditioning operation is stopped. That is, the ventilation mode is chosen when the room inside is ventilated while cooling operation or heating operation is being carried out.

The damper drive mechanism 45 rockably drives the damper 40 and when the guide ventilation port 43 is located at the position not opposite to the secondary ventilation port 25 of the unit base 20, it stops operation of the damper drive mechanism 45. The damper 40 surface comes into contact with the end of the fragment parts for total closure 24 of the unit base 20, and the secondary ventilation port 25 is closed by the damper. . On the other hand, between the circumferential surface of the blower mechanism 30 and each of the inner surfaces of the unit base 20 facing the side surface of the damper 40, gaps are formed, and the guide ventilation port 43 communicates with these gaps . Then, the blower mechanism 30 operates and draws indoor air from the upper suction port 6 in the normally open state into the indoor unit proper 1. The indoor air passes air filters HA and 11B and after dust is caught, as shown in the broken-line arrow mark and solid-line arrow mark in FIG. 7, it is directly guided to the ventilation unit 15 as the primary air before it passes the heat exchanger 10 and is discharged from the exhaust port 32 to the outside.

It shall be rated that in the "secondary-side air ventilation mode" and the "primary-side ventilation mode", even when blast pressure is applied from the fan casing 33 that composes the blower mechanism 30 to the discharge case 60, the backflow prevention damper 61 equipped to the discharge case 60 prevents the air stream from flowing to the connection hose 55 side. Consequently, there is no backflow of air stream from the connection hose 55 to the dust box 57.

It shall be rated that the ventilation unit 15 communicates directly with the outside via a hose connected to the ventilation nipple 51. In the event that extremely large quantities of dust are released into the outside or large noises are generated in the nighttime, these dusts intrude into the ventilation unit 15 via the hose, and there is a possibility that dust enters indoor environment via the indoor unit proper 1. In such an event, the "ventilation damper totally closed mode" is chosen which brings the ventilation unit 15 into the totally closed condition. FIG. 10 indicates the condition of the damper 40 when the ventilation damper totally closed mode is chosen. That is, the damper drive mechanism 45 swings the (damper 40 as a blocking means and stops the damper swinging at the position where bars n between guide ventilation ports 43 face against the end edge of the fragment parts for total closure 24 of the unit base vertical portion 20a. All the guide ventilation ports 43 are surrounded by the fragment parts for total closure 24 of the unit base 20 and the rib 22 and are totally closed and the secondary ventilation port 25 of the unit base 20 is totally closed by the damper 40. That is, the intake port 31 of the fan casing 33 is blocked.

Under this condition, outdoor dust, noise, etc., can be definitely prevented from entering the room via the ventilation unit 15 and the indoor unit proper 1 and comfort can be improved. After the completion of the cleaning operation mode inside the main body described previously and after the completion of the regular air-conditioning operation, the air-conditioner is set to automatically achieve the totally closed mode described above. In addition, selecting the totally closed mode during the air-conditioning operation achieves the state equivalent to the regular air- conditioning operation.

And after the user operates the remote controller (remote control panel) and selects the "air filter sweeping mode", after completion of air-conditioning operation at specified intervals, at the preset time, or in the predetermined time zone, etc., "air filter sweeping mode" takes place. To match timing to the start of this air filter sweeping mode, the ventilation damper totally closed mode is selected. That is, the upper air filter HB is driven to travel towards the sweeping unit Z and at the same time, the brush B drives to swing as if the brush surface swings in the direction same as that of the traveling surface of the upper air filter HB. The rotating speed of the brush B is set to be faster than the traveling speed of the upper air filter HB.

Because the brush B rotates faster than the upper air filter HB and the contact surfaces of the two are rotated (travel) to swing in the same direction, no resistance is generated between the two and dust adhering to the upper air filter HB is smoothly scraped off. When removal of dust from the upper air filter HB is finished, then, the brush B is reversely driven and at the same time, the front air filter HA is driven to travel in the same direction as the mobile surface of the brush, and the dust adhering to the front air filter HA is removed. In this event, too, because the brush B rotates faster than the front air filter HA and the contact surfaces of the two are rotated (travel) to swing in the same direction, no resistance is generated between the two and dust is smoothly scraped off.

When removal of dust from both air filters HA and HB is finished, the blower mechanism 30 operates and the exhaust fan 35 is driven to rotate. In the meantime, since the intake port 31 of the fan casing 33 is blocked by the ventilation damper totally closed mode, the inside of the fan casing 33 is brought to the negative pressure state.

By this influence, the inside of the discharge case 60 mounted via the guide port of the fan casing 33 is brought to the negative pressure state. The backflow prevention damper 61 mounted inside the discharge case 60 allows the air stream to be guided from the end-connector b to guide port side and negative pressure is applied to the dust collected in the dust box 57. Dust inside the dust box 57 moves to the connection hose 55 side in the dust box 57 and is guided from one side end portion to the connection hose 55.

Dust inside the connection hose 55 passes the backflow prevention damper 61, is guided from the discharge case 60 into the fan casing 33 via the guide port, and is blown off from the exhaust port 32. All the dust is discharged to the outside smoothly via the ventilation nipple 51 and discharge hose. In this way, the dust which the sweeping unit Z removed from the front and the upper air filters HA and HB and collected into the dust box 57 is discharged by the use of exhaust fan 35 of the ventilation unit 15. In other words, the ventilation unit 15 is able to carry out indoor ventilation operation and operation to discharge collected dust to the outside and can be effectively utilized.

The connection position of the connection hose 55 equipped to the sweeping unit Z to the ventilation unit 15, that is, the position of the discharge case 60 is set to the blowoff side of the exhaust fan 35 and to the upstream position from the exhaust port 32 of the fan casing 33. Consequently, dust that moves by negative pressure of the blast generated as the ventilation fan 35 rotates does not come directly in contact with the exhaust fan 35 and is attracted and guided by the flow of an air stream.

In the .fan casing 33, dust flows along the centrifugal side of the exhaust fan 35 and does not adhere to blades which compose the exhaust fan 35. Consequently, it is possible to prevent dust from reducing the exhaust fan capacity or from causing troubles, and dust can be efficiently discharged. It shall be rated that in the exhaust fan 35 which is a centrifugal fan housed in 'a scroll-form fan casing 33, with a regular centrifugal fan, the exhaust fan 35 is rotated with the channel connected to a bell mouth, which is the sole intake port 31 totally closed. In such an event, no centrifugal air stream is generated which heads off from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the original exhaust fan 35, but around the exhaust fan 35, an induction air stream which rotates with the exhaust fan 35 is generated.

The induction air stream on the outer circumferential side of the exhaust fan 35 has the majority kept away from the exhaust fan 35 at the nose portion of the fan casing 33 and an exhaust air stream is generated. Then, the inside of the fan casing 33 is brought to the negative pressure by this exhaust stream and the discharge case 60 and connection hose 55 installed on the scroll circumferential surface 33a of the fan casing 33 can obtain air intake capacity.

Making the best of this phenomenon, by dropping dust removed from the front air filter HA and the upper air filter HB into the connection hose 55 connected to the discharge case 60, exhaust air can be discharged to the outside without bringing dust into contact with the blades which compose the ventilation fan 35. That is, even when the exhaust fan 35 is limited to the dust exhaust discharge application only, no dust clogging is generated at the blade, and the air delivery performance as a ventilation fan 35 can be maintained over a long period of time. Furthermore, the ventilation unit 15 is equipped with a means to block the intake port 31 of the fan casing 33 (damper drive mechanism 45 that drives the damper 40), while the sweeping unit Z is being operated to remove dust adhering to the front and upper air filters 11A and HB and discharge outside, the intake port 31 is blocked. Consequently, the degree of negative pressure of the backflow prevention damper 61 and the connection hose 55 linked to the outer circumferential surface on the upstream side than the exhaust port 32, the dust suction capacity is increased and still more effective dust discharge is enabled.

It shall be rated that in the embodiment mentioned above, the front air filter HA and the upper air filter HB are formed into a roll form, respectively, and a sweeping unit Z that drives the relevant air filters HA and HB, respectively, and rotates a brush B, respectively, when the air filter is cleaned to remove dust, but the invention shall not be limited to this.

For example, the front air filter and the upper air filter are formed in a flat sheet to tailor to the cross-sectional shape of the suction port, and an air filter sweeping mechanism to reciprocatively drive each air filter successively with respect to the rotatably driven brush and remove dust may be equipped or any other configuration can be accepted. In short, any configuration may be used in which dust is removed from each air filter and is collected in the dust box 57, which is a dust storage part, and dust in this dust box 57 is guided to the ventilation unit 15 via the connection hose 55.

FIGS. HA and HB show the second embodiment in the present invention, and in particular, is a schematic configuration drawing of the ventilation unit 15 to explain the position of the connection hose 55 to be connected to the fan casing 33, and is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fan casing 33, respectively.

The above-mentioned fan casing 33 is formed in a shape of a scroll along the circumferential surface 33a, is equipped with an intake port 31 to draw in air for ventilation on the side surface, and has an exhaust port 32 on the circumferential end portion, which communicates with the outside. In this fan casing 33, the above-mentioned centrifugal fan type exhaust fan 35 is housed, and as shown in FIG. HB with the chain double-dashed line, air is drawn in from the center axis direction opposite to the intake port 31 and is discharged from the circumferential direction.

The sweeping unit Z and the ventilation unit 15 communicate with each other via the connection hose 55. By the way, in the first embodiment discussed above, to the fan casing 33 which composes the ventilation unit 15, the discharge case 60 is mounted, and to this discharge case 60, the connection hose 55 is connected, but in this case, for simplifying the explanation, the discharge case 60 is omitted. As shown in FIG. HA, dust removed from the front air filter HA and the upper air filter HB which are drawn side-by-side right and left by driving to rotate the exhaust fan 35 counterclockwise and collected in the dust box 57 goes out from the dust box 57, is guided to the connection hose 55, and then, drawn into the fan casing 33.

The dust is guided to the position kept away from the blade part of the exhaust fan 35 by the operation as described above and is discharged from the exhaust port 32 to the outside. Consequently, dust does not clog up the blade part of the exhaust fan 35 and high air-distributing performance can be maintained over a long time in the same manner as described before.

In this embodiment, to the circumferential surface 33a which is formed into a scroll shape of the fan casing 33, the connection hose 55 is connected. That is, since the intake port 31 is located on the side surface portion of the fan casing 33, it is unable to connect the head end portion of the connection hose 35 to this. Furthermore, the connection hose 35 shall not be connected to the side surface opposite to the intake port 31 or to a projection plane X of the exhaust fan 35 as shown by fine hatching in FIG. HB.

The connection position of the connection hose 55 to the fan casing 35 should be set to the fan casing 33 surface portion other than these intake port 31 and the projection plane X of the exhaust fan 35.

Consequently, dust guided from the sweeping unit Z to the ventilation unit 15 via the connection hose 55 is guided to the position kept away from the exhaust fan 35 in the fan casing 33 and does not adhere to the exhaust fan 35 nor clog the blade part.

FIG. 12 shows the third embodiment according to the present invention, and is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ventilation unit Z in order to establish the position of the connection hose 55 to be connected to the fan casing 33 of the ventilation unit 15.

As described in the second embodiment previously, the head end portion of the connection hose 55 to .the fan casing 33 should be connected to a surface portion other than the intake port 31 of the fan casing 33, the side surface opposite to the intake port 31 and the projection plane X of the exhaust fan 35. For this reason, in this case, the head end portion of the connection hose 55 is connected to one (right) side surface part 33b of the fan casing 33 which is away from the projection plane X of the exhaust fan 35. Or as shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure, it may be connect to the other (left) side surface part 33c. In either case, the working effect identical to the second embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 13 shows the fourth embodiment according to the present invention, and is a schematic configuration drawing of the ventilation unit 15 in order to establish the connection position of the connection hose 55 to the fan casing 33 of the ventilation unit 15. In this case, the head end portion of the connection hose 55 is connected to the circumferential surface 33a formed in a scroll shape of the fan casing 33 and at the same time, the connecting direction is headed out to go along in the flow direction K of air stream which is generated in the fan casing 33 as the exhaust fan 35 rotates.

That is, in the fan casing 33, basically, air can be drawn in from any portions but since it is not the intended use of the centrifugal fan, the negative pressure generated or the exhaust air volume is reduced even at the same rotating speed.

In order to improve the exhaust performance for dust, it is necessary to reduce pressure loss to a minimum at the time of confluent inflow into the fan casing 33. That is, the air should be allowed to flow in from nearly same direction in such a manner as to go along in the flow direction K of air stream which is generated in the fan casing 33, which is the rotating direction of the exhaust fan 35.

FIG. 14A is a view that explains the operation of the case in which the connection hose 55 is connected without considering the above-mentioned conditions, and FIG. 14B is a view that explains the operation of external force when the connection hose 55 is connected with the above-mentioned conditions taken into account.

First of all, FIG. 14A will be explained. While the removed dust is being guided in the connection hose 55, an air stream which is headed toward the exhaust port 32 is generated in the fan casing 33 as the exhaust fan 35 is driven to be rotated. As soon as the dust guided to the connection hose 55 enters the fan casing 33, it collides against the air stream which circulates in the fan casing 33.

That is, because the flow direction K of the air stream which circulates in the fan casing 33 with respect to the flow direction N of the dust guided to the connection hose 55 is the angle of about 90 degrees or nearly 90 degrees, collision cannot be avoided.

Consequently, the bend loss of the dust guided from the connection hose 55 to the fan casing 33 inside increases and at the same time, exfoliation of flow is generated and a large number of small eddy currents are generated, increasing pressure loss.

In contrast with this, as shown in FIG. 14B, setting the flow direction N of the dust guided to the connection hose 55, which is the connecting direction of the connection hose 55 to the fan casing 33, in such a manner as to go along in the flow direction K of the air stream generated in the fan casing 33 as the exhaust fan 35 rotates enables the dust guided from the connection hose 55 into the fan casing 33 to converge in a smooth condition to the air stream. Increased negative pressure and increased exhaust air volume can be obtained free of bend loss or exfoliation of flows as described above and with pressure loss kept to a minimum.

FIG. 15A is a partial perspective view of the ventilation unit 15 with part of the ventilation unit 15 enlarged in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 15B is a perspective view with the fan casing 33 side surface part of the ventilation unit 15 detached.

A backflow prevention damper 61A connected to a drive source (not shown) is mounted on the discharge case 60. The backflow prevention damper 61A has the drive source subject to drive control in accordance with drive signals from the control part, and works to open and close the discharge case 60 inside.

Selecting the primary-side air ventilation mode and the secondary-side air ventilation mode, which were described previously, causes the control part to send closing signals to the backflow prevention damper 61A and completely closes the connection hose 55. Consequently, backflow of air from the connection hose 55 to the sweeping unit Z is prevented.

In addition, when the air filter sweeping mode is selected, control is carried out by changing over the opening signals and closing signals to the backflow prevention damper 61. That is, during operation in which in the sweeping unit Z, dust is removed from the front and the upper air filters HA and HB and is collected into the dust box 57, the control part sends closing signals to the backflow prevention damper 61A and totally closes the connection hose 55.

When dust removal is completed for each air filter HA and HB and the exhaust fan 35 is driven to rotate, and the intake port 31 of the fan casing 33 is closed, opening signals are sent to the backflow prevention damper 61A. Consequently, the dust collected in the sweeping unit Z is smoothly guided from_ the connection hose 55 to the fan casing 33 inside via the backflow prevention damper 61A.

In this case, using the ventilation unit 15 which originally selects the primary-side air and the secondary-side air of the heat exchanger 10, guides, and ventilates, dust collected in the sweeping unit Z is discharged to the outside. Consequently, the backflow prevention damper 61A¹ which carries out open/close operations in accordance with drive signals is necessary in order to prevent any air for ventilation from back-flowing into the sweeping unit Z as well as in order to smoothly discharge dust from the sweeping unit Z to the outside via the ventilation unit 15.

It shall be rated that the discharge case 60 which houses the backflow prevention dampers 61 and 61A is configured with transparent material so that the operation of backflow prevention dampers 61 and 61A mounted inwards can be checked from the outside.

This is to make sure whether or not the backflow prevention dampers 61 and 61A operate properly in the manufacturing process of indoor units or at the time of after-sales-servicing inspection. In addition, the present invention shall not be limited to the above-mentioned embodiments as they are but in the implementation stages, the invention can be embodied with component elements changed and varied within the purview of the spirit and scope of the invention. By properly combining a plurality of component elements disclosed in the above-mentioned embodiments, various inventions can be formed.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. An indoor unit of an air-conditioner, comprising : an indoor unit proper equipped with a suction port and blowoff port; air-filters which are arranged in a ventilation channel between the suction port and the blowoff port in the indoor unit proper and catch dust contained in indoor air; an exhaust unit which draws in indoor air into the indoor unit proper and discharges to the outside; and an air filter sweeping mechanism which removes dust adhering to the air filter surface, wherein the exhaust unit comprises: ^' an intake port which draws in air for ventilation is equipped on the side surface and a fan casing for which an exhaust port is equipped on the circumferential end portion; an exhaust fan which is housed in the casing; and a fan motor which is linked to the exhaust fan and drives to rotate the exhaust fan, and the air filter sweeping mechanism comprises: removing means for removing dust caught to the air filters from the air filters; and a connection hose for discharging dust removed by this removing means, the head end portion of the connection hose being connected to the outer circumferential surface portion upstream of the exhaust port installed to the fan casing of the exhaust unit.

2. The indoor unit of an air-conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust unit comprises blocking means for blocking the intake port of the fan casing in such a manner as to be free to open and close, and during operation to discharge dust removed by the air filter sweeping mechanism to the outside, operates the blocking means to block the intake port and at the same time drives to rotate the exhaust fan of the exhaust unit.

3. The indoor unit of an air-conditioner according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a backflow prevention damper is equipped on the head end portion of the connection hose.

4. The indoor unit of an air-conditioner according to claim 3, wherein the backflow prevention damper is housed in an exhaust case which communicates with the fan casing, and the exhaust case is composed with transparent material.

5. An indoor unit of an air-conditioner, comprising: air filters comprising a suction port and a blowoff port, the air filters being mounted in a ventilation passage between the suction port and the blowoff port and catching dust contained in indoor air; an air filter sweeping mechanism which removes dust adhering to the air filter surfaces/ and an exhaust unit which discharges the removed dust to the outside, wherein the exhaust unit comprises: an exhaust fan composed with a centrifugal fan; a fan casing having an exhaust port on the circumferential end portion and an opening provided on the surface portion other than the projection side surface of the exhaust fan, the fan casing being formed in a scroll shape along the circumferential surface and housing the exhaust fan/ and a fan motor which is linked to the exhaust fan and drives to rotate the exhaust fan, and the air filter sweeping mechanism comprises: a connection hose for discharging dust, which communicates with the opening of the fan casing of the exhaust unit .

6. The indoor unit of an air-conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the head end portion of the connection hose is connected to the scroll circumferential surface of the fan casing, and at the same time, the connecting direction goes along in the flow direction of the air stream generated in the fan casing as the exhaust fan rotates.