Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner of one aspect of the present disclosure includes an indoor unit of a wall-mounted type having a heat exchanger, a blower fan, and a frame body that houses the heat exchanger and the blower fan inside and is fixed to a wall surface, and a discharge unit disposed above the indoor unit outside the indoor unit, the frame body has a suction inlet that is open upward, the discharge unit has a discharge device disposed above the suction inlet, at least a portion of air sucked by the suction inlet passes through the discharge device, and in a left-right direction of the indoor unit, a center of the discharge unit is disposed to be offset to one side in the left-right direction with respect to a center of the indoor unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to air conditioners. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioners that have a discharge device inside the indoor unit are known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an air conditioner that has an electrostatic precipitator as a discharge device.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-131153

[0004] On the other hand, air conditioners that do not have a discharge device are also known. There is a desire to install a discharge device in such air conditioners in the future. However, if a discharge device is installed in the future, the control board and other components installed inside the indoor unit will need to be replaced, which will increase the labor time and time required for the installation of the discharge device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This disclosure was made to solve the aforementioned problems, and one of its objectives is to provide an air conditioner having a structure that allows for easy installation of a discharge device in the indoor unit.

[0006] One aspect of the air conditioner disclosed herein includes: a wall-mounted indoor unit having a heat exchanger, a blower, and a frame housing the heat exchanger and the blower, and fixed to a wall; and a discharge unit disposed above the indoor unit, the frame having an upwardly opening intake, the discharge unit having a discharge device disposed above the intake, at least a portion of the air drawn into the intake passing through the discharge device, and the center of the discharge unit being disposed offset to one side relative to the center of the indoor unit in the left-right direction.

[0007] According to this disclosure, a discharge device can be easily installed on the indoor unit. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the general structure of the air conditioner in the implementation method.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the indoor unit and discharge unit in the implementation method from the front.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing the indoor unit and the discharge unit in the embodiment, and is Figure 2 Section III-III in the diagram.

[0011] Figure 4This is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of the indoor unit and the discharge unit in the embodiment.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing the discharge unit in the implementation method.

[0013] Figure 6 This is an exploded perspective view of the discharge unit in the implementation method.

[0014] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge unit in the embodiment, and is Figure 5 Sectional view VII-VII in the figure.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the discharge unit in the embodiment, and is Figure 5 Sectional view VIII-VIII in the middle.

[0016] Figure 9 This is an exploded perspective view showing the second control unit in the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing a portion of the second control unit in the embodiment, viewed from above.

[0018] Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing a portion of the second control unit in the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing the state of the second mounting component in the embodiment being fixed to the wall surface, viewed from the front.

[0020] Figure 13 This is a perspective view showing the state when the second mounting component in the embodiment is fixed to the wall.

[0021] Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional view showing the state when the second mounting component in the embodiment is fixed to the wall.

[0022] Figure 15 This is a diagram illustrating an example of installing the discharge device cover in the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and modifications can be made arbitrarily within the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure. Additionally, in the following drawings, for ease of understanding of each structure, the scale and quantity in each structure are sometimes different from the scale and quantity in the actual structure.

[0024] Additionally, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are appropriately shown in the accompanying drawings. The X-axis represents the front-to-back direction of the indoor unit 20 in the air conditioner 100 of the following embodiment. The Y-axis represents the left-to-right direction of the indoor unit 20. The Z-axis represents the vertical direction. The front-to-back, left-to-right, and vertical directions are mutually orthogonal. In the front-to-back direction, the side pointed to by the arrow on the X-axis (+X side) is the front side, and the opposite side (-X side) is the rear side. In the left-to-right direction, the side pointed to by the arrow on the Y-axis (+Y side) is the left side, and the opposite side (-Y side) is the right side. In the vertical direction, the side pointed to by the arrow on the Z-axis (+Z side) is the upper side, and the opposite side (-Z side) is the lower side. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the left side corresponds to "one side in the left-to-right direction".

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the general structure of the air conditioner 100 in the embodiment. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioner 100 includes an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, and a circulation path section 18. The outdoor unit 10 is located outdoors. The indoor unit 20 is located indoors. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are interconnected via the circulation path section 18 for circulating refrigerant 19.

[0026] The air conditioner 100 can adjust the temperature of indoor air by exchanging heat between the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path section 18 and the indoor air in which the indoor unit 20 is located. Examples of refrigerants 19 include fluorinated refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) or hydrocarbon refrigerants.

[0027] The outdoor unit 10 includes an outdoor unit frame 11, a compressor 12, a heat exchanger 13, a flow regulating valve 14, a blower 15, a four-way valve 16, and a control unit 17. The compressor 12, heat exchanger 13, flow regulating valve 14, blower 15, four-way valve 16, and control unit 17 are housed inside the outdoor unit frame 11.

[0028] The compressor 12, heat exchanger 13, flow regulating valve 14, and four-way valve 16 are disposed in the portion of the circulation path section 18 located inside the outdoor unit frame 11. The compressor 12, heat exchanger 13, flow regulating valve 14, and four-way valve 16 are connected through the portion of the circulation path section 18 located inside the outdoor unit frame 11.

[0029] A four-way valve 16 is disposed in the portion of the circulation path section 18 connected to the discharge side of the compressor 12. The four-way valve 16 can reverse the direction of the refrigerant 19 flowing within the circulation path section 18 by switching a portion of the path. The path connected by the four-way valve 16 is... Figure 1 In the case of the path shown by the solid line in the four-way valve 16, the refrigerant 19 flows along the circulation path section 18. Figure 1 The solid arrow indicates the direction of flow. On the other hand, the path connected by the four-way valve 16 is... Figure 1 In the case of the path shown by the dashed line in the four-way valve 16, the refrigerant 19 flows along the circulation path section 18. Figure 1 The direction of flow is indicated by the dashed arrow.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 described later from the front. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30, and is Figure 2 Section III-III in the diagram. Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30.

[0031] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, indoor unit 20 is a wall-mounted indoor unit fixed to the wall surface Ws in the room. The wall surface Ws faces forward (+X direction). Indoor unit 20 is roughly rectangular in shape and elongates in the left-right direction. Figure 2 As shown, the indoor unit 20 includes an indoor unit frame (frame) 21, a heat exchanger 22, a blower 23, and a first control unit 24. Additionally, as... Figure 3 As shown, the indoor unit 20 has variable airflow blades 25, drain pans 26a and 26b, and an air conditioner filter 27.

[0032] The indoor unit frame 21 houses the heat exchanger 22, the blower 23, the first control unit 24, the drain pans 26a and 26b, and the air conditioner filter 27. The indoor unit frame 21 has a box-shaped main body 21a that opens forward (to the X direction) and a front surface panel 21b mounted on the front of the main body 21a. The front surface panel 21b is closable and can be opened and closed on the front of the main body 21a. When the front surface panel 21b is opened, the first control unit 24 and the air conditioner filter 27 are exposed to the outside of the indoor unit 20.

[0033] The indoor unit frame 21 has an upward-opening intake 21e and a downward-opening exhaust 21f. The intake 21e is formed in the upper part of the main body 21a, in the top wall portion 21c. The upper surface of the top wall portion 21c is the upper surface of the indoor unit 20. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the top wall portion 21c is a downward-sloping surface facing forward. Figure 4 As shown, multiple intake ports 21e are arranged in a matrix along the front-back and left-right directions. Thus, the portion of the top wall 21c in which the multiple intake ports 21e are located has a grid-like structure.

[0034] like Figure 3 As shown, the outlet 21f is located at the front (+X direction) of the lower end of the main body 21a. A variable-direction blade 25 is rotatably mounted on the outlet 21f. The variable-direction blade 25 can change the direction of the air blown from the outlet 21f in the vertical direction. Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, a variable-direction blade capable of changing the direction of the air blown from the outlet 21f in the left-right direction is also provided deep within the outlet 21f.

[0035] The blower 23 draws in indoor air AF through the intake 21e and blows the drawn-in air AF out through the outlet 21f. In this embodiment, the blower 23 is a crossflow fan. Figure 2 As shown, the blower 23 extends in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the blower 23 can be any type of blower.

[0036] A heat exchanger 22 is disposed in the circulation path section 18, and heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant 19 flowing inside the circulation path section 18 and the indoor air AF drawn into the indoor unit frame 21. The heat exchanger 22 is positioned within the airflow path formed by the blower 23. Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 22 has a first heat exchanger 22a, a second heat exchanger 22b, and a third heat exchanger 22c.

[0037] The first heat exchanger 22a is located in front of the blower 23 (+X direction). The second heat exchanger 22b is connected above the first heat exchanger 22a. When viewed from the left and right, the second heat exchanger 22b extends upward and diagonally backward (-X direction) from the upper end of the first heat exchanger 22a. The third heat exchanger 22c is located behind the second heat exchanger 22b. When viewed from the left and right, the third heat exchanger 22c extends downward and diagonally backward from the upper end of the second heat exchanger 22b. The second heat exchanger 22b and the third heat exchanger 22c are located above the blower 23. The first heat exchanger 22a, the second heat exchanger 22b, and the third heat exchanger 22c are arranged around the blower 23 in the air path from the suction port 21e to the discharge port 21f.

[0038] Air AF, drawn into the indoor unit frame 21 by the blower 23 through the suction port 21e, exchanges heat with the refrigerant 19 through the heat exchanger 22. The heat-exchanged air AF is then blown out of the indoor unit 20 through the discharge port 21f. Thus, the air AF, having exchanged heat with the refrigerant 19 through the heat exchanger 22, is blown into the room through the discharge port 21f.

[0039] Furthermore, the heat exchanger 22 can be of any construction as long as it is capable of heat exchange between the refrigerant 19 and the indoor air AF. For example, the heat exchanger 22 may not include the third heat exchanger 22c and may consist only of the first heat exchanger 22a and the second heat exchanger 22b.

[0040] Drain tray 26a is positioned below the first heat exchanger 22a. Drain tray 26b is positioned below the third heat exchanger 22c. Drain trays 26a and 26b are components used for recovering condensate.

[0041] The air conditioner filter 27 is configured to cover the entire intake 21e between the intake 21e and the second heat exchanger 22b and the third heat exchanger 22c. Air AF drawn into the indoor unit housing 21 from the intake 21e passes through the air conditioner filter 27 and then through the heat exchanger 22. The air conditioner filter 27 is a pre-filter capable of capturing relatively large dust particles such as fibers mixed in with the air AF. By providing the air conditioner filter 27, it is possible to prevent relatively large dust particles such as fibers mixed in with the air AF from becoming stuck between the fins of the heat exchanger 22. Although not shown in the figure, in this embodiment, two air conditioner filters 27 are arranged side-by-side in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the fibers mixed in with the air AF include, for example, relatively long fibers from bedding.

[0042] The first control unit 24 is the control unit for the indoor unit 20. The first control unit 24 controls, for example, the air supply fan 23 and the variable vane 25. Figure 2 As shown, the first control unit 24 is located on the left side (+Y side) relative to the heat exchanger 22 and the blower 23 inside the indoor unit frame 21. A connection portion 24a, which connects to the signal wiring 81 described later, is provided on the left side of the first control unit 24. Although not shown in the figure, the first control unit 24 includes a control board.

[0043] In this embodiment, the indoor unit 20 is capable of cooling the indoor air in which the indoor unit 20 is installed, and heating the indoor air in which the indoor unit 20 is installed.

[0044] When the indoor unit 20 is operating in cooling mode, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path section 18 is directed towards... Figure 1The refrigerant 19 flows in the direction indicated by the solid arrow. That is, when the indoor unit 20 is operating in cooling mode, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path section 18 circulates sequentially through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10, the flow regulating valve 14, and the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20, before returning to the compressor 12. During cooling operation, the heat exchanger 13 in the outdoor unit 10 functions as a condenser, and the heat exchanger 22 in the indoor unit 20 functions as an evaporator.

[0045] On the other hand, when the indoor unit 20 is operating in heating mode, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path section 18 is directed towards... Figure 1 The refrigerant 19 flows in the direction indicated by the dashed line. That is, when the indoor unit 20 is operating in heating mode, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path section 18 circulates sequentially through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20, the flow regulating valve 14, and the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10, before returning to the compressor 12. During heating operation, the heat exchanger 13 in the outdoor unit 10 functions as an evaporator, and the heat exchanger 22 in the indoor unit 20 functions as a condenser.

[0046] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the air conditioner 100 includes a discharge unit 30 disposed above the indoor unit 20, outside the indoor unit 20. In this embodiment, the discharge unit 30 is a device that functions to purify indoor air AF. The discharge units 30 are disposed separately above the indoor unit 20, separated by a predetermined gap G. The vertical dimension H of the gap G is, for example, 5 mm or more and 50 mm or less. The vertical dimension H of the gap G is preferably, for example, 5 mm. In this embodiment, the gap G increases in the vertical direction as it faces forward. The dimension H is the vertical dimension of the gap G at its rear (-X side) end, and is the minimum vertical dimension of the gap G.

[0047] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional view representing the discharge unit 30. Figure 6 This is an exploded perspective view of the discharge unit 30. Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the discharge unit 30, and is Figure 5 Sectional view VII-VII in the figure. Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the discharge unit 30, and is Figure 5 Sectional view VIII-VIII in the middle.

[0048] like Figure 5 As shown, the discharge unit 30 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends in the left-right direction and is flat in the vertical direction. Figure 2As shown, in the left-right direction of the indoor unit 20, the center of the discharge unit 30 is offset to the left (+Y side) relative to the center of the indoor unit 20. The left-right dimension of the discharge unit 30 is smaller than the left-right dimension of the indoor unit 20. In this embodiment, the left-right dimension of the discharge unit 30 is more than half the left-right dimension of the indoor unit 20. The left end of the discharge unit 30 is positioned in the same left-right direction as the left end of the indoor unit 20. The phrase "the left end of the discharge unit 30 is positioned in the same left-right direction as the left end of the indoor unit 20" also includes cases where the left-right position of the left end of the discharge unit 30 is slightly offset relative to the left-right position of the left end of the indoor unit 20 due to dimensional tolerances, assembly tolerances, etc.

[0049] like Figure 6 As shown, the discharge unit 30 includes a housing 31, a pre-filter 35, a second control unit 40, a discharge device 50, a signal wiring 81, and a power supply wiring 82.

[0050] The housing 31 internally houses the second control unit 40 and the discharge device 50. The housing 31 extends in the left-right direction. The housing 31 is made of resin, for example. The housing 31 has a base member 32, a control unit cover 33 mounted on the top of the base member 32, and a discharge device cover 34. The base member 32 has a generally rectangular bottom wall portion 32a that is long in the left-right direction, a rear wall portion 32b that protrudes upward from the rear edge (-X side) of the bottom wall portion 32a, a right wall portion 32c that protrudes upward from the right edge (-Y side) of the bottom wall portion 32a, and a left wall portion 32d that protrudes upward from the left edge (+Y side) of the bottom wall portion 32a.

[0051] The bottom wall portion 32a is plate-shaped with its surface facing vertically. The bottom wall portion 32a has a first fixed portion 32g for fixing the second control unit 40 and a second fixed portion 32h for fixing the discharge device 50. The first fixed portion 32g supports the second control unit 40 from below. The second fixed portion 32h supports the discharge device 50 from below.

[0052] The first fixed portion 32g is the left side (+Y side) of the bottom wall portion 32a. No through hole is provided in the first fixed portion 32g. Therefore, air AF cannot pass through the first fixed portion 32g in the vertical direction.

[0053] The second fixed portion 32h is the front (+X) side portion of the right (-Y side) portion of the bottom wall portion 32a. A ventilation hole 32f is provided in the second fixed portion 32h, penetrating the second fixed portion 32h in the vertical direction. Multiple ventilation holes 32f are arranged in a matrix along the front-back and left-right directions. Thus, the portion of the second fixed portion 32h with multiple ventilation holes 32f has a grid-like structure. Air AF can pass through the multiple ventilation holes 32f in the vertical direction in the second fixed portion 32h.

[0054] A ventilation hole 32e is provided on the right side (-Y side) of the bottom wall portion 32a, located rearward (-X side) than the second fixed portion 32h. Multiple ventilation holes 32e are arranged in a matrix pattern along the front-back and left-right directions. Thus, the portion of the bottom wall portion 32a with the multiple ventilation holes 32e has a grid-like structure. The opening area of ​​each ventilation hole 32e is larger than the opening area of ​​each ventilation hole 32f provided in the second fixed portion 32h. That is, the opening area of ​​each ventilation hole 32f provided in the second fixed portion 32h is smaller than the opening area of ​​each ventilation hole 32e. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user's fingers from entering the housing 31 from below the bottom wall portion 32a through the ventilation holes 32f. This also prevents the user's fingers from contacting the discharge device 50 supported on the second fixed portion 32h.

[0055] The control cover 33 is located above the first fixed portion 32g in the bottom wall portion 32a. The control cover 33 is located above the second control portion 40, covering it from above. The control cover 33 is fixed to the base member 32, for example, by screws. The control cover 33 has a top wall portion 33a that is approximately square when viewed vertically, a front wall portion 33b that protrudes downward from the front edge (+X side) of the top wall portion 33a, and a left wall portion 33c that protrudes downward from the left edge (+Y side) of the top wall portion 33a. No through hole is provided in the top wall portion 33a. Therefore, air AF cannot pass through the top wall portion 33a in the vertical direction. The left wall portion 33c is configured to contact the left wall portion 32d of the base member 32 in the vertical direction. The front surface of the front wall portion 33b constitutes the left side portion of the front surface of the housing 31. The front side of the front wall 33b is the exterior design surface.

[0056] The discharge device cover 34 is located above the portion of the bottom wall 32a that includes the right side (-Y side) of the second fixed portion 32h. The discharge device cover 34 is located above the discharge device 50. Figure 5As shown, the discharge device cover 34 is adjacent to the right side (-Y side) of the control unit cover 33. The left-right dimension of the discharge device cover 34 is larger than that of the control unit cover 33. The discharge device cover 34 has a top wall portion 34a that is approximately rectangular when viewed vertically, a front wall portion 34b that protrudes downward from the front edge (+X side) of the top wall portion 34a, and a finger hook portion 34g provided on the front edge of the upper surface of the top wall portion 34a.

[0057] A ventilation hole 34c is provided in the top wall portion 34a, penetrating the top wall portion 34a in the vertical direction. Multiple ventilation holes 34c are arranged in a matrix pattern along the front-back and left-right directions. Thus, the portion of the top wall portion 34a with the multiple ventilation holes 34c has a grid-like structure. Air AF can pass through the multiple ventilation holes 34c in the vertical direction in the top wall portion 34a. The front surface of the front wall portion 34b constitutes the right side (-Y side) of the front surface of the housing 31. The front surface of the front wall portion 34b is the surface with an aesthetic design.

[0058] The discharge device cover 34 is detachably mounted to the base component 32. In this embodiment, the discharge device cover 34 is detached from the base component 32 by sliding forward (+X direction). The discharge device cover 34 can be easily removed by a user, for example, by grasping the finger hook portion 34g and pulling the discharge device cover 34 forward.

[0059] An outlet hole 32p is provided at the left (+Y side) end of the housing 31. In this embodiment, the outlet hole 32p is located at the rear (-X side) end of the left side of the housing 31. The outlet hole 32p is provided on the base member 32. The outlet hole 32p connects the interior of the housing 31 and the exterior of the housing 31.

[0060] like Figure 6 As shown, the pre-filter 35 is a generally rectangular plate-shaped component. The pre-filter 35 is located above the discharge device 50. The pre-filter 35 is positioned vertically between the discharge device 50 and the discharge device cover 34. Figure 7 As shown, the pre-filter 35 is installed on the lower surface of the top wall portion 34a in the discharge device cover 34.

[0061] Air AF flowing into the interior of housing 31 from above discharge unit 30 through ventilation holes 34c in top wall portion 34a flows into discharge device 50 after passing through pre-filter 35. Pre-filter 35 is a filter capable of capturing relatively large dust particles such as fibers mixed in with the air AF.

[0062] Although the illustration is omitted, guide rails are provided on the left and right edges of the lower surface of the top wall 34a, which support the pre-filter 35 so that it can move in the front-back direction. Users can insert the pre-filter 35 from the rear (-X direction) towards the bottom of the top wall 34a to install the pre-filter 35 on the discharge device cover 34.

[0063] The discharge unit 30 includes rectifier filters 37a and 37b. Rectifier filter 37a is located vertically between the pre-filter 35 and the discharge device 50. Rectifier filter 37b is located vertically between the bottom wall portion 32a and the discharge device 50. Rectifier filters 37a and 37b are, for example, filters with honeycomb-shaped ventilation holes. Each ventilation hole provided in the rectifier filters 37a and 37b is, for example, a regular hexagon with an opposing side distance of approximately 6 mm. The rectifier filters 37a and 37b appropriately allow air AF to pass through these ventilation holes in the vertical direction.

[0064] The honeycomb-shaped rectifier filters 37a and 37b are, for example, formed of sheet-like aluminum alloy. Because they are made of metal, the rectifier filters 37a and 37b are fire-resistant. Here, for example, all components constituting the discharge device 50 are made of flame retardant or metal. By clamping the discharge device 50 with the metal honeycomb-shaped rectifier filters 37a and 37b, even in the event of a fire in the discharge device 50, it is difficult for the fire to reach surrounding components, ensuring sufficient time for the discharge device 50 to extinguish the fire itself. The rectifier filter 37b, positioned below the discharge device 50 and downstream of the airflow AF, exerts the aforementioned effect more effectively when the indoor unit 20's fan 23 draws in air AF from the intake port 21e. The rectifier filter 37a, positioned above the discharge device 50 and upstream of the airflow AF, exerts the aforementioned effect more effectively when the fan 23 stops.

[0065] like Figure 6 As shown, the discharge unit 30 has a plurality of hook portions (mounting portions) 36. In this embodiment, a pair of hook portions 36 are provided at intervals in the left-right direction. The hook portions 36 are mounted on the rear side (-X side) of the base member 32. One hook portion 36 is mounted across the first fixed portion 32g and the rear wall portion 32b. The other hook portion 36 is mounted across the portion of the bottom wall portion 32a located behind the second fixed portion 32h and the rear wall portion 32b.

[0066] In this embodiment, the hook portion 36 is an L-shaped metal plate component. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the hook portion 36 has a support portion 36a extending in the front-rear direction, an extension portion 36b extending upward from the rear end (-X side) of the support portion 36a, and a claw portion 36c protruding rearward from the extension portion 36b.

[0067] The support portion 36a is screwed to the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 32a. The support portion 36a protrudes forward from the engaging portion 62 (described later) and supports the housing 31 from below. The portion of the bottom wall portion 32a in which the support portion 36a is fixed is recessed upward. The support portion 36a is located above the lower end face of the housing 31.

[0068] The upper portion of the extension 36b is inserted from below into the slit 32i of the rear wall portion 32b of the base member 32, and then into the interior of the housing 31. The upper portion of the extension 36b contacts the front surface of the rear wall portion 32b from the front (+X direction). A protrusion 36f protruding rearward (-X direction) is provided in the portion of the extension 36b located below the claw portion 36c. The protrusion 36f is formed by bending a portion of the extension 36b rearward. The rear end of the protrusion 36f contacts the front surface of the engaging portion 62, which will be described later.

[0069] The claw portion 36c has a base portion 36d protruding rearward (to the -X direction) from the extension portion 36b and a claw body portion 36e protruding downward from the rear end of the base portion 36d. The base portion 36d protrudes rearward from a portion of the extension portion 36b located below the portion inserted into the housing 31. The claw body portion 36e is inserted from above into the hole portion 64 (described later) and hooked onto the engaging portion 62 from the rear. In this embodiment, the claw portion 36c is formed by cutting a portion of the extension portion 36b rearward and erecting it.

[0070] The upper end of the hook portion 36 is located below the upper end of the housing 31. The lower end of the hook portion 36 is located above the lower end of the housing 31. That is, the hook portion 36 is configured to fall within the dimensions of the housing 31 in the vertical direction.

[0071] The second control unit 40 is the control unit for controlling the discharge device 50. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the second control unit 40 is located on the left side (+Y side) of the discharge device 50. At least a portion of the second control unit 40 overlaps and is disposed above the first control unit 24. In this embodiment, the left side portion of the second control unit 40 is located above the first control unit 24.

[0072] Figure 9 This is an exploded perspective view of the second control unit 40. Figure 10 This is a view of a portion of the second control unit 40 from above. Figure 11 This is a perspective view showing a portion of the second control unit 40. (Example) Figure 9 As shown, the second control unit 40 includes a substrate housing 40a, a control substrate 45 housed inside the substrate housing 40a, a boost substrate 46, and a terminal unit 47.

[0073] The substrate housing 40a has an upwardly opening, box-shaped lower resin cover 41, an upper resin cover 42 fixed above the lower resin cover 41, a lower metal plate cover 43 located below the lower resin cover 41, and an upper metal plate cover 44 located above the upper resin cover 42. The lower metal plate cover 43 is an upwardly opening, box-shaped cover that covers the lower resin cover 41. The upper metal plate cover 44 is fixed above the lower metal plate cover 43 and covers the upper resin cover 42.

[0074] The lower resin cover 41 has a control substrate fixing part 41a for fixing the control substrate 45 and a boost substrate fixing part 41b for fixing the boost substrate 46. The boost substrate fixing part 41b is connected to the right side (-Y side) of the front side (+X side) of the control substrate fixing part 41a.

[0075] like Figure 10 as well as Figure 11 As shown, terminal blocks 45a and 45b are mounted on the control board 45. Signal wiring 81 is connected to terminal block 45a. Power supply wiring 82 is connected to terminal block 45b. Terminal block 45b is located to the right (-Y side) and behind (-X side) of terminal block 45a.

[0076] like Figure 11 As shown, the signal wiring 81 is hooked onto the protrusion 41c inside the substrate housing 40a. The protrusion 41c protrudes upward from the bottom of the lower resin cover 41. The protrusion 41c is located to the right (-Y side) and rear (-X side) of the terminal block 45a. The signal wiring 81 extends to the right from the terminal block 45a, hooks onto the protrusion 41c from the right, and folds back to the left (+Y side). The signal wiring 81 that folds back to the left extends to the left and is led out from the through portion 40b provided on the left side wall of the substrate housing 40a to the outside of the substrate housing 40a.

[0077] Thus, the signal wiring 81 is connected to the second control unit 40 from the left side (+Y side) via the through portion 40b. The through portion 40b penetrates the left wall of the lower resin cover 41 and the left wall of the lower metal plate cover 43 in the left-right direction. The through portion 40b opens upward. A portion of the signal wiring 81 is fixed from above by the clamping member 83a inside the substrate housing 40a.

[0078] The signal wiring 81, which is led out of the substrate housing 40a, extends rearward (-X direction) in the gap between the substrate housing 40a and the housing 31 in the left-right direction, and is led out to the outside of the discharge unit 30 through the lead-out hole 32p. For example... Figure 2As shown, the signal wiring 81, which is led out to the outside of the discharge unit 30, passes between the indoor unit 20 and the wall surface Ws, and is inserted into the interior of the indoor unit frame 21, and is electrically connected to the connection part 24a of the first control unit 24 from the left (+Y side). Thus, the signal wiring 81 electrically connects the discharge device 50 to the first control unit 24.

[0079] Although the diagram is omitted, power supply wiring 82 includes a power line and a ground line. For example... Figure 11 As shown, the power supply wiring 82 extends to the left (+Y direction) from the terminal block 45b, and is led out to the outside of the substrate housing 40a from the through-port 40c provided on the left side wall of the substrate housing 40a. Thus, the power supply wiring 82 is connected to the second control unit 40 from the left side via the through-port 40c. The through-port 40c penetrates the left side wall of the lower resin cover 41 and the left side wall of the lower metal plate cover 43 in the left-right direction. The through-port 40c opens upwards. The through-port 40c is located at a position separated from the through-port 40b from the rear (-X direction). A portion of the power supply wiring 82 is fixed from above by the clamping member 83b inside the substrate housing 40a.

[0080] The power supply wiring 82, which is led out of the substrate housing 40a, extends rearward (-X direction) in the gap between the substrate housing 40a and the housing 31 in the left-right direction, and is led out to the outside of the discharge unit 30 through the lead-out hole 32p. Figure 2 As shown, a portion of the power supply wiring 82, which is led out to the outside of the discharge unit 30, passes between the indoor unit 20 and the wall surface Ws. The power supply wiring 82 is connected to a power source different from the power source of the indoor unit 20, for example, via a socket (not shown) provided on the wall surface Ws.

[0081] The control board 45 and the boost board 46 are electrically connected via wiring. The control board 45, for example, converts an AC voltage of 200V or higher and 240V or lower applied from the power supply line of the power supply wiring 82 to a relatively low DC voltage of approximately 12V. The boost board 46, for example, converts the DC voltage converted by the control board 45 to a relatively high DC voltage of approximately 6000V. Although not shown in the figure, the boost board 46 is connected to a pair of wirings that are electrically connected to a pair of terminals 48c and 48d provided on the terminal section 47.

[0082] like Figure 9As shown, the terminal portion 47 has a generally L-shaped form, having a first extension 47a extending to the right (-Y) from the rear (-X direction) of the boost substrate 46 and a second extension 47b extending forward (+X direction) from the right end of the first extension 47a. The terminal portion 47 has a pair of wiring components 48a, 48b, a pair of terminals 48c, 48d electrically connected to the pair of wiring components 48a, 48b respectively, and a holding member 47c holding the pair of wiring components 48a, 48b. The holding member 47c is composed of a pair of resin components that clamp the pair of wiring components 48a, 48b in the vertical direction.

[0083] Terminal 48c is electrically connected to the boost substrate 46 via wiring member 48a. Terminal 48d is electrically connected to the boost substrate 46 via wiring member 48b. One of the pair of terminals 48c and 48d is a high-voltage terminal, and the other is a low-voltage terminal. The low-voltage terminal is grounded. The pair of terminals 48c and 48d are formed, for example, from spring steel. The pair of terminals 48c and 48d are disposed at the end of the front side (+X side) of the second extension 47b.

[0084] like Figure 3 As shown, the discharge device 50 is positioned above the suction inlet 21e of the indoor unit 20. Figure 6 As shown, the discharge device 50 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped that extends in the left-right direction and is flat in the vertical direction. Figure 8 As shown, in this embodiment, the discharge device 50 is an electrostatic precipitator having a discharge section 50a and a dust collection section 50b.

[0085] The discharge section 50a has a discharge electrode 56 and a counter electrode 55. The discharge electrode 56 is a metal wire. The counter electrode 55 is composed of a plurality of flat plates 55a. The plurality of flat plates 55a are arranged at intervals in the front-to-back direction. The discharge electrode 56, which is a wire, passes between adjacent flat plates 55a. In this embodiment, the number of flat plates 55a is 3. The discharge electrode 56 passes between the foremost flat plate 55a and the middle flat plate 55a, then folds back, and passes between the middle flat plate 55a and the rearmost flat plate 55a. The number of flat plates 55a can be appropriately varied. The number of times the discharge electrode 56 folds back can be varied depending on the number of flat plates 55a.

[0086] In the discharge section 50a, a discharge and an electric field are generated by applying different voltages to the discharge electrode 56 and the counter electrode 55. This discharge and electric field charge particles in the air AF passing through the discharge section 50a. These particles include, for example, dust, bacteria, mold, viruses, and allergens. Furthermore, the discharge and electric field generated in the discharge section 50a act on the bacteria, mold, viruses, etc., in the air AF passing through the discharge section 50a, thereby inactivating them.

[0087] The voltage applied to the discharge electrode 56 is a relatively high voltage. Specifically, a DC voltage of 4000V or higher and 6000V or lower is applied to the discharge electrode 56. The voltage applied to the counter electrode 55 is a relatively low voltage. Specifically, a voltage of 0V or lower is applied to the counter electrode 55. That is, in this embodiment, the counter electrode 55 is grounded.

[0088] The dust collection unit 50b is positioned below the discharge unit 50a, downstream of the discharge unit 50a in the airflow direction AF. The dust collection unit 50b has a first electrode 57a and a second electrode 57b. The first electrode 57a is formed by connecting a plurality of first plate-shaped electrodes 57c via a connecting member (not shown). The second electrode 57b is formed by connecting a plurality of second plate-shaped electrodes 57d via a connecting member (not shown). The plurality of first plate-shaped electrodes 57c and the plurality of second plate-shaped electrodes 57d are arranged at intervals in the front-rear direction. The first plate-shaped electrodes 57c and the second plate-shaped electrodes 57d are arranged alternately in the front-rear direction.

[0089] The dust collection unit 50b generates electrostatic force by applying different voltages to the first electrode 57a and the second electrode 57b from the second control unit 40 via a pair of terminals (not shown). The dust collection unit 50b can collect charged particles in the discharge unit 50a through this electrostatic force.

[0090] The voltage applied to the first electrode 57a is a relatively high voltage. Specifically, a DC voltage of 4000V or higher but less than 6000V is applied to the first electrode 57a. The voltage applied to the second electrode 57b is a relatively low voltage. Specifically, a voltage of 0V is applied to the second electrode 57b. That is, in this embodiment, the second electrode 57b is grounded.

[0091] The first electrode 57a has an electrical conductivity and a resistance of 10 ohms. 12 Ω / cm 2 The second electrode 57b is formed by applying a metal plating layer to the resin to prevent the formation of a charge below (ohms per square centimeter). Alternatively, the second electrode 57b can be formed from a metal plate such as stainless steel, or from a metal plate with a resistivity of 10 ohms per square centimeter mixed with carbon. 4 Ω / cm2 It is formed from conductive resin with a strength of less than ohms per square centimeter.

[0092] The discharge device 50 has a discharge device housing 51, which internally houses the discharge section 50a and the dust collection section 50b. The discharge device housing 51 has an upper housing 52 and a lower housing 53 located below the upper housing 52. The upper housing 52 and the lower housing 53 are fixed to each other.

[0093] The upper housing 52 has a top wall portion 52a located at the top, an inclined wall portion 52b extending forward and obliquely downward from the front edge (+X side) of the top wall portion 52a, and a front wall portion 52c extending downward from the front edge of the inclined wall portion 52b. An opening 52d is provided in the top wall portion 52a. (The text abruptly ends here.) Figure 6 As shown, multiple openings 52d are arranged in a matrix along the front-back and left-right directions. Thus, the portion of the top wall 52a with the multiple openings 52d forms a grid pattern. A pre-filter 58 is installed on the upper surface of the top wall 52a. The pre-filter 58 covers the openings 52d from above. A handle 54 protruding forward is provided at the center of the left-right direction in the front (+X side) portion of the upper housing 52.

[0094] like Figure 8 As shown, an opening 53a is provided in the lower housing 53. Air AF flows into the discharge device housing 51 from the opening 52d of the upper housing 52, passes sequentially through the discharge section 50a and the dust collection section 50b, and flows out from the opening 53a to the outside of the discharge device housing 51. Thus, the air AF purified by the dust collection section 50b is discharged from below the discharge device 50. The purified air AF discharged from below the discharge device 50 is discharged to below the discharge unit 30 through the ventilation hole 32f of the housing 31, and is drawn into the interior of the indoor unit 20 through the intake port 21e.

[0095] In this embodiment, the discharge device 50 is supported from below by a support protrusion 32k of a base member 32 disposed in the housing 31 of the discharge unit 30. The support protrusion 32k protrudes upward from the bottom wall portion 32a. The support protrusion 32k supports the front (+X side) end of the discharge device 50 from below.

[0096] The discharge device 50 is pressed from above and in front (+X direction) by a protrusion 34d on the discharge device cover 34. The protrusion 34d protrudes downward from the top wall portion 34a of the discharge device cover 34. The protrusion 34d is located above and in front of the front portion of the discharge device 50. When viewed in the left-right direction, the protrusion 34d is approximately triangular in shape.

[0097] The protrusion 34d has an inclined surface 34e and a rear surface 34f. The inclined surface 34e faces downward and rearward (-X direction) and is disposed opposite to the upper part of the inclined wall portion 52b. The inclined surface 34e runs along the outer surface of the inclined wall portion 52b and contacts the outer surface of the inclined wall portion 52b. The rear surface 34f extends downward from the front end of the inclined surface 34e. The rear surface 34f faces rearward and is disposed opposite to the front of the upper part of the front wall portion 52c. The rear surface 34f runs along the outer surface of the front wall portion 52c and contacts the outer surface of the front wall portion 52c.

[0098] like Figure 10 As shown, the left (+Y side) end of the discharge device 50 overlaps with the front (+X side) end of the second extension 47b in the terminal portion 47 of the second control unit 40. Although not shown in the figure, a pair of terminals are provided on the lower surface of the left end of the discharge device 50. The pair of terminals are electrically connected to a pair of terminals 48c, 48d provided in the terminal portion 47 by disposing the discharge device 50 inside the housing 31. As a result, a high voltage can be applied to the discharge device 50 from the second control unit 40 via the terminal portion 47.

[0099] In this embodiment, the discharge device 50 is housed within the housing 31 in a manner that allows it to be detached when the discharge device cover 34 is removed. Although not shown in the figure, the two ends of the discharge device 50 in the left and right directions are supported by a pair of guide rails separately provided in the left and right directions within the housing 31, allowing it to slide in the front and back directions. With the discharge device cover 34 removed, the discharge device 50 is exposed to the outside of the discharge unit 30. With the discharge device cover 34 removed from the housing 31, the discharge device 50 can slide forward. After removing the discharge device cover 34, the user or other personnel can grasp the handle 54 and pull the discharge device 50 forward (+X direction), thereby detaching the discharge device 50 from the housing 31. Alternatively, the discharge device 50 can be inserted by sliding it from front to back along the guide rails provided within the housing 31, thereby installing the discharge device 50 within the housing 31. By inserting the discharge device 50 deeply, a pair of terminals of the discharge device 50 (not shown) are electrically connected to a pair of terminals 48c, 48d of the second control unit 40.

[0100] Thus, since the discharge device 50 is detachable, users can easily remove the dust collected in the dust collection section 50b by cleaning it with water or other means. Unlike air cleaning filters, the discharge device 50 does not need to be replaced and can be reused repeatedly by cleaning as described above. By cleaning the dust collection section 50b, the performance of the discharge device 50 can be maintained at its initial performance, preventing deterioration of its electrical characteristics due to voltage and current changes.

[0101] The discharge device 50 is driven based on a signal from the first control unit 24. The discharge device 50 is driven in conjunction with the blower 23 of the indoor unit 20. The first control unit 24 sends the signal to drive the discharge device 50 and the signal to drive the blower 23 to the second control unit 40 of the discharge unit 30. Thus, when air AF begins to be drawn into the indoor unit 20 by the blower 23, power is also supplied to the discharge device 50 from the second control unit 40.

[0102] like Figure 3 As shown, at least a portion of the air AF drawn into the intake port 21e by driving the blower 23 is drawn into the intake port 21e after passing through the discharge device 50. In this embodiment, a portion of the air AF drawn into the intake port 21e is drawn into the intake port 21e after passing through the discharge device 50, while another portion of the air AF is drawn into the intake port 21e without passing through the discharge device 50. The air AF can be purified as described above by passing through the discharge device 50. Therefore, by continuing to operate the indoor unit 20, the indoor air AF can be purified.

[0103] The air conditioner 100 includes a first mounting component 28 and a second mounting component 60. Both the first mounting component 28 and the second mounting component 60 are fixed to a wall surface Ws. The first mounting component 28 and the second mounting component 60 are distinct components. The first mounting component 28 is the backplate for mounting the indoor unit 20. The second mounting component 60 is the backplate for mounting the discharge unit 30. The first mounting component 28 is fastened to the wall surface Ws, for example, with screws. The indoor unit 20 is mounted to the wall surface Ws via the first mounting component 28.

[0104] The second mounting component 60 is fixed above the first mounting component 28 in the wall surface Ws. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the second mounting member 60 is a generally rectangular plate extending in the left-right direction. The second mounting member 60 has a back plate portion 61 that is a generally rectangular plate extending in the left-right direction, a plurality of engaging portions 62 that protrude forward (+X direction) from the back plate portion 61, and a positioning protrusion 63 that protrudes downward from the center portion in the left-right direction of the back plate portion 61 and extends in the left-right direction.

[0105] The backplate portion 61 faces the front-rear direction. The rear (-X side) surface of the backplate portion 61 contacts the wall surface Ws. In this embodiment, the two ends and the central portion in the left-right direction of the backplate portion 61 are fixed to the wall surface Ws by screws 70. The backplate portion 61 has an elongated hole 61a that extends through the backplate portion 61 in the front-rear direction. The elongated hole 61a extends in the left-right direction. The elongated holes 61a are arranged in pairs at intervals in the left-right direction. A pair of elongated holes 61a are provided on the right side (-Y side) portion of the backplate portion 61. Screws 72 for fixing the rear wall portion 32b of the housing 31 of the discharge unit 30 to the wall surface Ws are inserted into the elongated holes 61a respectively.

[0106] The screw 72 is screwed into the wall surface Ws from the front through the through hole 32j provided in the rear wall portion 32b and through the elongated hole 61a. The through holes 32j are circular holes arranged in pairs at intervals in the left-right direction. A pair of through holes 32j are provided on the right side of the rear wall portion 32b. The housing 31 is fixed to the back plate portion 61 by the screw 72. Thus, the periphery of the through hole 32j in the rear wall portion 32b is the screw fastening part (mounting part) 32r for the screw to be fastened to the second mounting member 60. The through hole 32j and the screw fastening part 32r are exposed to the front when the discharge device cover 34 and the discharge device 50 are removed from the base member 32. Therefore, when the discharge device cover 34 and the discharge device 50 are removed from the base member 32, the operator or other personnel can easily fix the screw fastening part 32r to the second mounting member 60 by the screw 72.

[0107] Alternatively, a through hole, similar to the through hole 32j provided in the rear wall portion 32b, can be provided in the back plate portion 61 instead of the elongated hole 61a. In this case, an elongated hole, similar to the elongated hole 61a, can also be provided in the rear wall portion 32b instead of the through hole 32j.

[0108] Multiple engaging portions 62 are spaced apart in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, one engaging portion 62 is provided at each end of the back plate portion 61 in the left-right direction. The engaging portion 62 is formed, for example, by cutting a portion of the back plate portion 61 forward (+X direction) and erecting it. By forming it in this way, an upward-opening hole 64 is provided at the rear (-X direction) of the engaging portion 62. The hole 64 also opens downward. By inserting the claw body portion 36e of the hook portion 36 into the hole 64 from above, the claw portion 36c hooks onto the engaging portion 62. The upper end of the engaging portion 62 is located below the upper end of the back plate portion 61. The lower end of the engaging portion 62 is located at the same position as the lower end of the back plate portion 61 in the vertical direction. That is, the engaging portion 62 is configured to fall within the dimensions of the back plate portion 61 in the vertical direction.

[0109] In this embodiment, the two hook portions 36 are respectively hooked onto the two engaging portions 62, and the screw fastening portion 32r is fixed to the back plate portion 61 by screws 72, thereby the discharge unit 30 is mounted on the second mounting member 60. That is, in this embodiment, the discharge unit 30 is mounted on the second mounting member 60 via the screw fastening portion 32r and the hook portions 36, which serve as mounting portions mounted on the wall surface Ws.

[0110] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing the state when the second mounting component 60 is fixed to the wall surface Ws from the front. Figure 13 This is a perspective view showing the state when the second mounting component 60 is fixed to the wall surface Ws. Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional view showing the state when the second mounting component 60 is fixed to the wall surface Ws.

[0111] like Figures 12 to 14 As shown, the air conditioner 100 includes an isolation member 90 for positioning the second mounting member 60 in the vertical direction. The isolation member 90 is a generally rectangular plate-shaped member that extends in the left-right direction and has its plate surface facing the vertical direction. The material constituting the isolation member 90 is, for example, expanded polystyrene foam. The isolation member 90 has a generally rectangular plate-shaped isolation body portion 91 that extends in the left-right direction and a protrusion 92 that protrudes downward from the isolation body portion 91.

[0112] A positioning recess 91a, recessed forward (+X direction), is provided at the center of the rear (-X side) edge of the isolating main body 91 in the left-right direction. The positioning recess 91a opens to both sides in the vertical direction. The positioning recess 91a extends in the left-right direction. The left-right dimension of the positioning recess 91a is almost the same as the left-right dimension of the positioning protrusion 63 of the second mounting member 60. A generally rectangular recess 91c, recessed downward, is provided on the upper surface of the isolating main body 91. The recesses 91c are arranged in pairs, sandwiching the positioning recesses 91a in the left-right direction. For example, when the isolating member 90 and the second mounting member 60 are packaged together, the pair of recesses 91c can respectively accommodate a pair of engaging portions 62 inside.

[0113] The isolating main body 91 has a mounting portion 91b. The mounting portion 91b comprises portions of the rear (-X side) edge of the isolating main body 91 that sandwich a positioning recess 91a in the left-right direction. The mounting portion 91b is recessed downwards from the portion of the isolating main body 91 located forward of the mounting portion 91b. The mounting portion 91b extends in the left-right direction. A second mounting member 60 is mounted on the mounting portion 91b from above. A protrusion 92 protrudes downwards from the rear portion of the left (+Y side) end of the isolating main body 91.

[0114] After the installer of the air conditioner 100 has fixed the indoor unit 20 to the wall surface Ws, such as... Figure 12 As shown, an isolation member 90 is disposed on the upper surface of the indoor unit 20. An operator places the isolation body 91 of the isolation member 90 on the rear edge (-X side) of the upper surface of the indoor unit 20, and makes the rear surface of the isolation body 91 contact the wall surface Ws. This allows the isolation member 90 to be positioned relative to the indoor unit 20 in both the vertical and longitudinal directions. Furthermore, the operator hooks the protrusion 92 from the left side onto the left side (+Y side) wall of the indoor unit frame 21 of the indoor unit 20. This allows the isolation member 90 to be positioned relative to the indoor unit 20 in the left-right direction.

[0115] The operator or other personnel place the second mounting component 60 from above onto the mounting portion 91b of the isolation component 90. This allows the second mounting component 60 to be positioned vertically relative to the isolation component 90. Figure 13 As shown, at this time, the operator or other personnel engage the positioning protrusion 63 of the second mounting component 60 with the positioning recess 91a. This allows the second mounting component 60 to be positioned relative to the isolation component 90 in the left-right direction. Therefore, with the isolation component 90 positioned relative to the indoor unit 20 as described above, by placing the second mounting component 60 relative to the isolation component 90, the second mounting component 60 can be positioned relative to the indoor unit 20 in both the vertical and left-right directions. In this state, the operator or other personnel fix the second mounting component 60 to the wall surface Ws. After fixing the second mounting component 60 to the wall surface Ws, the operator or other personnel remove the isolation component 90 from the upper surface of the indoor unit 20.

[0116] According to this embodiment, the discharge unit 30, which has a discharge device 50, is configured as a separate unit from the indoor unit 20 and is located outside the indoor unit 20, while the discharge unit 30 is positioned above the indoor unit 20. Therefore, the discharge unit 30 can be installed on the indoor unit 20 without altering its internal structure. Thus, the discharge unit 30 can be easily installed on any indoor unit 20 that has an upward-opening intake vent 21e, regardless of its internal structure. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the discharge device 50 can be easily installed on the indoor unit 20.

[0117] Furthermore, the discharge device 50 is positioned above the intake 21e of the indoor unit 20, and at least a portion of the air AF drawn in by the intake 21e passes through the discharge device 50. Therefore, the air AF can be passed through the discharge device 50 using the fan 23 of the indoor unit 20. Thus, it is unnecessary to install the fan 23 within the discharge device 50. Therefore, the vertical dimension of the discharge device 50 can be reduced. Additionally, the number of components in the discharge device 50 can be reduced, thereby lowering the manufacturing cost of the discharge device 50.

[0118] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the discharge device 50 is driven based on a signal from the first control unit 24 of the indoor unit 20. Therefore, the discharge device 50 can be driven appropriately according to the driving status of the blower 23. As a result, the discharge device 50 can be driven efficiently. In addition, for example, unlike the case where the discharge device 50 is driven by detecting the flow of air AF generated by the blower 23, it is not necessary to install a sensor for detecting the flow of air AF in the discharge unit 30. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of components in the discharge unit 30. In addition, it is also possible to suppress adverse conditions such as the discharge device 50 failing to drive due to sensor failure.

[0119] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the discharge unit 30 has a signal wiring 81 that electrically connects the discharge device 50 to the first control unit 24. Therefore, compared to the case where the signal of the first control unit 24 is transmitted to the discharge unit 30 wirelessly, it is not necessary to provide a transmitting unit and a receiving unit for wireless communication, thus suppressing the increase in the number of components in the discharge unit 30.

[0120] Furthermore, the shape of the upper surface of the indoor unit 20 varies depending on the model of the indoor unit 20. Therefore, for example, in the case of a configuration where the discharge unit 30 is placed on the upper surface of the indoor unit 20 and installed, it is sometimes difficult to install the discharge unit 30 due to the shape of the upper surface of the indoor unit 20. In addition, the vibration of the motor that rotates the fan 23 of the indoor unit 20 is directly transmitted to the discharge unit 30, which may cause abnormal noise from the discharge unit 30, and the components inside the discharge unit 30 may resonate with each other.

[0121] In contrast, according to this embodiment, the discharge unit 30 is separately arranged above the indoor unit 20, separated by a predetermined gap G. Therefore, the discharge unit 30 can be easily installed on the indoor unit 20 regardless of the shape of its upper surface. Furthermore, since the discharge unit 30 does not directly contact the indoor unit 20, the vibration of the motor that rotates the blower 23 is suppressed from being transmitted to the discharge unit 30. This suppresses abnormal noises from the discharge unit 30 and the resonance of components within the discharge unit 30. Therefore, the evaluation of vibration transmission sound between the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 can be omitted, and the discharge unit 30 can be installed safely and easily without concern for quality.

[0122] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the discharge unit 30 has a hook portion 36 and a screw fastening portion 32r as a mounting portion for installation on the wall surface Ws. Therefore, the discharge unit 30 can be fixed to the wall surface Ws. Thus, the discharge unit 30 can be easily positioned at a position separating it from the indoor unit 20 upwards. Additionally, compared to fixing the discharge unit 30 to the indoor unit 20, it is easier and more stable to fix the discharge unit 30. Therefore, compared to fixing the discharge unit 30 to the indoor unit 20, it is possible to appropriately suppress the discharge unit 30 from falling. Therefore, it is easy to omit the evaluation of fixing and falling of the discharge unit 30, making it safer and easier to install the discharge unit 30 without worrying about quality.

[0123] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the air conditioner 100 includes: a first mounting member 28 fixed to the wall surface Ws for mounting the indoor unit 20; and a second mounting member 60 fixed to the wall surface Ws for mounting the discharge unit 30 via a hook portion 36 serving as a mounting part and a screw fastening portion 32r. The first mounting member 28 and the second mounting member 60 are different components. Therefore, even for an indoor unit 20 already mounted to the wall surface Ws, the discharge unit 30 can be fixedly mounted to the wall surface Ws using the second mounting member 60. This facilitates the stable installation of the discharge unit 30 on an already installed indoor unit 20 in the future.

[0124] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second mounting member 60 has a plurality of engaging portions 62 spaced apart in the left-right direction of the indoor unit 20. The mounting portion of the discharge unit 30 includes a plurality of hook portions 36 that hook onto the plurality of engaging portions 62. Therefore, by hooking the hook portions 36 onto the engaging portions 62, the discharge unit 30 can be easily mounted onto the second mounting member 60. As a result, the discharge unit 30 can be easily fixed to the wall surface Ws. In addition, by hooking the hook portions 36 onto the engaging portions 62, it is possible to prevent the discharge unit 30 from tilting downwards. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the discharge unit 30 from contacting the upper surface of the indoor unit 20. As a result, it is possible to further suppress abnormal noises from the discharge unit 30 and resonance between components within the discharge unit 30.

[0125] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the hook portion 36 has a support portion 36a that protrudes forward from the engaging portion 62 towards the interior unit 20 and supports the housing 31 of the discharge unit 30 from below. Therefore, the support portion 36a appropriately supports the housing 31 of the discharge unit 30 from below. Thus, it is possible to appropriately suppress the downward displacement of the installation position of the discharge unit 30.

[0126] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the mounting portion of the discharge unit 30 includes a screw-fastening portion 32r that is screwed to the second mounting member 60. Therefore, the discharge unit 30 can be more securely fixed to the second mounting member 60. Consequently, the discharge unit 30 can be more stably fixed to the wall surface Ws. In this embodiment, the through hole 32j and the screw-fastening portion 32r are exposed forward when the discharge device cover 34 and the discharge device 50 are detached from the base member 32. Therefore, when the base member 32 is mounted to the second mounting member 60 via the hook portion 36, it is easy to insert tools such as screwdrivers into the housing 31 from the front to tighten the screw-fastening portion 32r.

[0127] Furthermore, when the discharge unit 30 is separately arranged above the indoor unit 20 as in this embodiment, the further away the discharge unit 30 is from the top of the indoor unit 20, the lower the suction force of the air AF received from the blower 23, and the lower the flow rate of the air AF passing through the discharge unit 30. Therefore, the amount of air AF purified per unit time passing through the discharge device 50 decreases. That is, the cleaning ability of the air AF brought by the discharge unit 30 decreases. Therefore, the gap G between the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 is preferably as small as possible within the range where the discharge unit 30 and the indoor unit 20 do not contact each other.

[0128] In contrast, according to this embodiment, the air conditioner 100 includes an isolation member 90 for positioning the second mounting member 60 in the vertical direction. The isolation member 90 has a mounting portion 91b that supports the second mounting member 60 from above. The second mounting member 60 is positioned in the vertical direction by being mounted on the mounting portion 91b of the isolation member 90 disposed on the upper surface of the indoor unit 20. Therefore, the second mounting member 60 can be appropriately positioned at a position that is a distance from the upper surface of the indoor unit 20 that corresponds to the vertical dimension of the isolation member 90. Thus, by adjusting the vertical dimension of the isolation member 90, the gap G between the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 mounted on the second mounting member 60 can be adjusted. Therefore, the gap G can be easily adjusted to an appropriate size, and while fully separating the discharge unit 30 from the indoor unit 20, the reduction in the airflow velocity of the air AF passing through the discharge device 50 can be suppressed. Therefore, the reduction in the cleaning ability of the air AF caused by the discharge unit 30 can be suppressed.

[0129] Specifically, the vertical dimension H of the gap G between the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 is, for example, 5mm or more and 50mm or less. If the dimension H is 5mm or more, even if the installed discharge unit 30 is slightly tilted downwards due to its own weight, contact between the discharge unit 30 and the indoor unit 20 can be appropriately suppressed. Furthermore, if the dimension H is 50mm or less, a significant reduction in the air cleaning ability of the discharge unit 30 can be suppressed. If the dimension H is 50mm or less, compared to the case where the dimension H is 5mm, the reduction in the air cleaning ability of the discharge unit 30 can be suppressed to within 50%. By setting the dimension H to 5mm, contact between the discharge unit 30 and the indoor unit 20 can be appropriately suppressed, and the reduction in the air cleaning ability of the discharge unit 30 can be appropriately suppressed.

[0130] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the housing 31 has a control cover 33 located above the second control unit 40 and a discharge device cover 34 located above the discharge device 50. The discharge device cover 34 is installed in a way that allows it to be installed and removed. The discharge device 50 is housed within the housing 31 in a manner that allows it to be detached when the discharge device cover 34 is removed. Therefore, when cleaning the discharge device 50, users can remove the discharge device 50 from the discharge unit 30 by removing the discharge device cover 34. Thus, compared to the case where both the control cover 33 and the discharge device cover 34 of the discharge unit 30 need to be removed, users can more easily perform operations such as cleaning the discharge device 50. In addition, the discharge device 50 can be removed even when the control cover 33 is installed. Therefore, when users remove the discharge device 50, contact between users and the second control unit 40 can be prevented.

[0131] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the discharge device cover 34 has a protrusion 34d that presses against the discharge device 50 from above and in the front (+X direction). Therefore, for example, as... Figure 15 As shown, when the discharge device 50 is tilted relative to the base member 32 and the discharge device cover 34 is inserted from the front to the rear (-X direction), a rearward force and a downward force can be applied to the discharge device 50 via the protrusion 34d. Therefore, the protrusion 34d facilitates the correction of the discharge device 50's posture relative to the base member 32 to the correct posture. Figure 15 In the example, the angle of the inclined wall portion 52b and the front wall portion 52c is pushed backward and downward by the inclined surface 34e of the protrusion 34d, thereby correcting the posture of the discharge device 50 to the correct posture.

[0132] Therefore, even if the discharge device 50 is positioned at a slight angle when placed on the base component 32, the user can still correctly install the discharge device 50 into the housing 31 by installing the discharge device cover 34. Thus, the installation of the discharge device 50 into the housing 31 can be performed easily and appropriately. This prevents situations where the discharge device 50 is not electrically connected to the second control unit 40. Therefore, leakage current, noise, and abnormal sounds caused by short-gap discharge can be suppressed due to the discharge device 50 not being electrically connected to the second control unit 40.

[0133] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the discharge device 50 is an electrostatic precipitator having a discharge section 50a and a dust collection section 50b. Therefore, by installing the discharge unit 30 on an existing indoor unit 20 in the future, users can purify the indoor air AF through the discharge device 50.

[0134] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the discharge unit 30 has a pre-filter 35 located above the discharge device 50. Therefore, the pre-filter 35 can capture larger dust particles such as fibers mixed in with the air AF before passing through the discharge device 50. As a result, dust clogging in the discharge device 50 can be suppressed.

[0135] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the left-right direction of the indoor unit 20, the center of the discharge unit 30 is offset to the left (+Y side) relative to the center of the indoor unit 20. Therefore, for example, by placing the portion of the discharge unit 30 that the air AF cannot pass through above the portion of the indoor unit 20 that the air AF cannot pass through, it is possible to suppress the discharge unit 30 from blocking a portion of the intake 21e. As a result, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the amount of air AF drawn into the indoor unit 20 and to allow the air AF to pass through the discharge unit 30 efficiently. In addition, when the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 are connected via the signal wiring 81 as in this embodiment, it is possible to easily make an electrical connection between the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 at the same end in the left-right direction. As a result, it is possible to easily perform the connection operation between the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30 via the signal wiring 81. In addition, since the signal wiring 81 can be shortened easily, it is possible to suppress the signal wiring 81 from becoming an interference. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to align the left-right dimensions of the discharge unit 30 with the left-right dimensions of the indoor unit 20, the discharge unit 30 can be easily installed on various indoor units 20 with different left-right dimensions.

[0136] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the lateral dimension of the discharge unit 30 is smaller than the lateral dimension of the indoor unit 20. Therefore, without the discharge unit 30 protruding laterally relative to the indoor unit 20, the discharge unit 30 can be configured to be offset laterally relative to the indoor unit 20. This suppresses interference between the discharge unit 30 and indoor walls or similar surfaces. Additionally, by making the lateral dimension of the discharge unit 30 smaller than that of any existing indoor unit 20, it is possible to suppress the discharge unit 30 from protruding laterally from the indoor unit 20 regardless of which type of indoor unit 20 is installed with it.

[0137] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the left (+Y side) end of the discharge unit 30 is positioned in the same left-right direction as the left end of the indoor unit 20. Therefore, the discharge unit 30 does not protrude left-right relative to the indoor unit 20, effectively suppressing interference between the discharge unit 30 and indoor walls, etc. Additionally, for example, compared to the case where the left end of the discharge unit 30 is located to the right (-Y side) of the left end of the indoor unit 20, it is easier to overlap the portion of the discharge unit 30 from which air AF cannot pass above the portion of the indoor unit 20 from which air AF cannot pass.

[0138] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the first control unit 24 of the indoor unit 20 is located on the left side (+Y side) relative to the heat exchanger 22 and the blower 23 inside the indoor unit frame 21. The second control unit 40 of the discharge unit 30 is located on the left side of the discharge device 50. That is, in the indoor unit 20 and the discharge unit 30, each control unit is disposed on the side of the discharge unit 30 offset relative to the indoor unit 20. Therefore, it is easy to arrange the second control unit 40 of the discharge unit 30 above the first control unit 24 of the indoor unit 20. In this embodiment, at least a portion of the second control unit 40 is overlapped and disposed above the first control unit 24. In each control unit, air AF cannot pass through in the vertical direction. Therefore, by overlapping and distributing at least a portion of the second control unit 40 above the first control unit 24, it is possible to appropriately arrange the portion of the discharge unit 30 that air AF cannot pass through above the portion of the indoor unit 20 that air AF cannot pass through. Furthermore, the first control unit 24 and the second control unit 40 can be positioned close to each other in the left-right direction, thereby allowing the first control unit 24 and the second control unit 40 to be easily connected to each other via signal wiring 81.

[0139] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a lead-out hole 32p for leading out the signal wiring 81 is provided at the left (+Y side) end of the housing 31. A connection portion 24a for connecting to the signal wiring 81 is provided on the left side of the first control unit 24. Therefore, it is easier to connect the signal wiring 81 led out from the discharge unit 30 to the first control unit 24.

[0140] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the discharge unit 30 has a power supply wiring 82 that is connected to a power source different from the power source of the indoor unit 20. Therefore, when the discharge unit 30 is installed on the indoor unit 20, it is not necessary to supply a portion of the power supplied to the indoor unit 20 to the discharge unit 30. Consequently, when the discharge unit 30 is installed, it is not necessary to change the power supply system or the like within the indoor unit 20. Therefore, it is easier to install the discharge device 50 on the indoor unit 20.

[0141] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the power supply wiring 82 is led out from the lead-out hole 32p of the signal wiring 81. Therefore, when the power supply wiring 82 is led out to the outside of the discharge unit 30, it is not necessary to provide a separate lead-out hole, thereby reducing the number of holes provided in the housing 31 of the discharge unit 30. In addition, it is easier to uniformly manage the wiring led out from the discharge unit 30.

[0142] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the power supply wiring 82 is connected to the second control unit 40 from the left side (+Y side). Therefore, compared to the case where the power supply wiring 82 is connected to the second control unit 40 from the rear side (-X side), the power supply wiring 82 is less likely to interfere with the wall surface Ws, and the operation of connecting the power supply wiring 82 to the second control unit 40 can be easily performed.

[0143] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a portion of the signal wiring 81 and a portion of the power supply wiring 82 pass between the indoor unit 20 and the wall surface Ws. Therefore, the indoor unit 20 can cover a portion of the signal wiring 81 and a portion of the power supply wiring 82 so that they are not visible from the front. Thus, compared to the case where the signal wiring 81 and the power supply wiring 82 are exposed along the side of the indoor unit 20, the appearance seen by users and other personnel is improved.

[0144] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the hook portion 36 is configured to fall within the dimensions of the housing 31 in the vertical direction. Therefore, even with the hook portion 36 provided, the size of the discharge unit 30 can be suppressed. As a result, packaging and other processing of the discharge unit 30 installed before the indoor unit 20 is easier. In addition, the engaging portion 62 on which the hook portion 36 is hooked is configured to fall within the dimensions of the back plate portion 61 in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is easy to position the vertical position of the hook portion 36 near the center of the back plate portion 61 in the vertical direction. As a result, the size of the second mounting member 60 in the vertical direction can be suppressed. Therefore, the vertical dimensions required to mount the discharge unit 30 on the wall surface Ws can be reduced. Therefore, even when the distance between the indoor unit 20 and the ceiling is relatively small, it is easy to position the discharge unit 30 above the indoor unit 20.

[0145] Although the embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to the structure of the above-described embodiments, and the following structures and methods may also be used.

[0146] The discharge unit can also be fixed to the upper surface of the indoor unit. The lateral dimensions of the discharge unit are not particularly limited. The lateral dimensions of the discharge unit can be larger than or the same as the lateral dimensions of the indoor unit. The discharge device can be any device that generates discharge. The discharge device can be an ozone generator.

[0147] The discharge device can be connected to the indoor unit in any way, as long as it is driven based on a signal from the first control unit of the indoor unit. The discharge device can also receive signals wirelessly from the first control unit of the indoor unit and be driven based on those received signals. In this case, the discharge unit has a terminal for connecting to a wireless adapter. With this structure, no wiring work is required. Therefore, the discharge unit can be more easily installed into the indoor unit. The discharge device can also be driven independently of signals from the first control unit of the indoor unit. In this case, for example, the discharge device can be driven based on a detector that detects air drawn in through the intake port.

[0148] The mounting component for mounting the discharge unit, namely the second mounting component 60 in the above embodiment, can also be equipped on the discharge unit. For example, the indoor unit and the discharge unit can be fixed to the wall by a mounting component, or they can be directly fixed to the wall.

[0149] The structures and methods described above can be appropriately combined within a range that do not contradict each other.

[0150] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0151] 22...Heat exchanger; 23...Blower; 20...Indoor unit; 21...Indoor unit frame; 21e...Intake port; 24...First control unit; 24a...Connection unit; 30...Discharge unit; 31...Housing; 32p...Outlet hole; 40...Second control unit; 50...Discharge device; 81...Signal wiring; 82...Power supply wiring; 100...Air conditioner; AF...Air; Ws...Wall surface.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, wherein, The air conditioner has the following features: A wall-mounted indoor unit has a heat exchanger, a blower, a first control unit, and a frame that houses the heat exchanger, the blower, and the first control unit, and is fixed to the wall. and The discharge unit is disposed outside the indoor unit, above the indoor unit. The frame has an upward-opening suction port. The discharge unit has: A discharge device is disposed above the inlet; The second control unit controls the discharge device; as well as The housing internally houses the discharge device and the second control unit. In the left-right direction of the indoor unit, the center of the discharge unit is configured to be offset to one side relative to the center of the indoor unit in the left-right direction. The left-right dimension of the discharge unit is smaller than the left-right dimension of the indoor unit. The first control unit is located inside the frame on one side relative to the heat exchanger and the blower. The second control unit is located inside the housing on one side relative to the discharge device, and at least a portion overlaps with and is positioned above the first control unit. The housing has: The first ventilation hole is located in the upper part of the wall of the housing, above the discharge device; and The second ventilation hole is located in the lower part of the wall of the housing, below the discharge device. At least a portion of the air flowing into the interior of the housing from above the discharge unit through the first vent is vertically passed through the discharge device, and the air after passing vertically through the discharge device is discharged through the second vent to the area below the discharge unit and drawn into the intake port. The housing has a base component and a control cover and a discharge device cover mounted on the base component. The control cover is located above the second control component, and the discharge device cover is located above the discharge device. The discharge device cover is installed to be removable, and the discharge device is housed in the housing in a manner that allows it to be detached when the discharge device cover is removed.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein, The end of one side of the discharge unit is positioned in the same left-right direction as the end of one side of the indoor unit.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The discharge device is driven based on signals from the first control unit.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein, The discharge unit has signal wiring that electrically connects the discharge device to the first control unit. A lead-out hole for leading out the signal wiring is provided at one end of the side of the housing. A connection portion for connecting to the signal wiring is provided on one side of the first control unit.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein, The discharge unit has a power supply wiring that is connected to a power source different from the power source of the indoor unit.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein, The power supply wiring is led out from the lead-out hole.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, The power supply wiring is connected to the second control unit from one side.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, A portion of the signal wiring and a portion of the power supply wiring pass between the indoor unit and the wall.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein, A portion of the signal wiring and a portion of the power supply wiring pass between the indoor unit and the wall.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein, The discharge unit has terminals that connect to the wireless adapter.

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