Exhaust device

Abstract

Generation of abnormal sound is suppressed. The exhaust device (101) is an exhaust device that exhausts indoor air from inside to outside. The exhaust device (101) is provided with a housing (12) and a blower (13). A first suction inlet (12a) is formed in the upper surface of the housing (12). The blower (13) is housed within the housing (12). In a plan view, the first suction port (12a) is close to the first side surface (S1) side of the housing. The blower (13) is close to the second side surface (S2) side of the housing (12). The second side surface (S2) of the housing (12) is a surface facing the first side surface (S1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an exhaust device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an air conditioner having an exhaust function has been known. For example, in the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 7135241), an exhaust device is disposed adjacent to the side surface of the indoor unit. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the exhaust device is disposed indoors together with the indoor unit, there are cases where abnormal noise becomes a problem.

[0005] Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The exhaust device according to the first aspect is an exhaust device that discharges indoor air from the indoor to the outdoor. The exhaust device includes a housing and a blower. The housing has a first suction port formed on the upper surface. The blower is housed in the housing. In a plan view, the first suction port is close to the first side surface side of the housing. The blower is close to the second side surface side of the housing. The second side surface of the housing is a surface opposed to the first side surface.

[0007] If the first suction port is close to the blower, the sucked air hits the blower, generating abnormal noise.

[0008] In the exhaust device according to the first aspect, in a plan view, the first suction port is close to the first side surface side of the housing, and the blower is close to the second side surface side of the housing, and the second side surface side of the housing is a surface opposed to the first side surface. Therefore, generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.

[0009] The exhaust device according to the second aspect is the exhaust device according to the first aspect, and in a plan view, the first suction port does not overlap with the blower.

[0010] Here, generation of abnormal noise can be further suppressed.

[0011] The exhaust device according to the third aspect is the exhaust device according to the first or second aspect, and in a plan view, the entire first suction port is located at a position closer to the first side surface side than the center of the upper surface.

[0012] Here, in a plan view, the overlap between the first suction port and the blower can be reduced.

[0013] The exhaust device according to the fourth aspect is the exhaust device according to any one of the first to third aspects, and the housing of the blower has a bell mouth. The bell mouth is formed with a second suction port. The second suction port sucks the indoor air that has entered the housing from the first suction port. In a plan view, the bell mouth is disposed at a position closer to the second side surface side than the center of the upper surface.

[0014] Here, the inhaled air can be smoothly sent into the blower.

[0015] In the exhaust device of the fifth aspect, among the exhaust devices of any one of the first to fourth aspects, it is disposed adjacent to the air conditioner indoor unit that adjusts the temperature of the indoor air. The suction port is disposed on the side closer to the air conditioner indoor unit. The blower is disposed on the side farther from the air conditioner indoor unit.

[0016] Here, by separating the blower from the indoor unit, the influence of the blower vibration on the air conditioner indoor unit can be suppressed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is an external view of the air conditioner apparatus.

[0018] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the refrigerant circuit and the air flow of the air conditioner apparatus.

[0019] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the air conditioner indoor unit and the exhaust device.

[0020] Figure 4 is an exploded schematic view of the exhaust device.

[0021] Figure 5 is a front view of the blower.

[0022] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the blower. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] (1) Overall Structure

[0024] Figure 1 is an external view of the air conditioner apparatus 100 including the exhaust device 101 of one embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the refrigerant circuit 10 and the air flow of the air conditioner apparatus 100. In addition, Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram, and up, down, left, and right are not accurate.

[0025] The air conditioner apparatus 1 performs air conditioning of the interior of a building or the like, which is the target space SP, by a vapor compression type refrigerant cycle. As Figure 1 shown, the air conditioner apparatus 100 includes a heat source unit 2, an air conditioner indoor unit 3, a liquid refrigerant connection pipe 5, a gas refrigerant connection pipe 6, a remote controller 8, a control unit (not shown), and an exhaust device 101.

[0026] The liquid refrigerant connecting pipe 5 and the gas refrigerant connecting pipe 6 connect the heat source unit 2 and the air conditioner indoor unit 3. The equipment and refrigerant pipes in the heat source unit 2, the equipment and refrigerant pipes in the air conditioner indoor unit 3, the liquid refrigerant connecting pipe 5, and the gas refrigerant connecting pipe 6 are connected in a ring through the refrigerant pipes to form a refrigerant circuit 10. Refrigerant is sealed inside the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0027] (2) Detailed structure

[0028] (2-1) Heat source unit

[0029] The heat source unit 2 is installed outdoors (near the roof of the building, the outer wall surface of the building, etc.). As Figure 2 shown, the heat source unit 2 mainly includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 23, a heat source heat exchanger 24, a heat source expansion valve 25, and a heat source fan 26.

[0030] (2-1-1) Compressor

[0031] In the refrigerant circuit 10, the compressor 21 sucks the low-pressure refrigerant from the refrigerant pipe 21a on the suction side, compresses it until it becomes high-pressure, and discharges it to the refrigerant pipe 21b on the discharge side.

[0032] (2-1-2) Four-way switching valve

[0033] The four-way switching valve 23 switches the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. The four-way switching valve 23 has a first valve port P1, a second valve port P2, a third valve port P3, and a fourth valve port P4. The four-way switching valve 23 switches between a first state in which the first valve port P1 communicates with the fourth valve port P4 and the second valve port P2 communicates with the third valve port P3, and a second state in which the first valve port P1 communicates with the second valve port P2 and the third valve port P3 communicates with the fourth valve port P4 through the control unit.

[0034] The first valve port P1 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 21b on the discharge side of the compressor 21. The second valve port P2 is connected to the gas side of the heat source heat exchanger 24. The third valve port P3 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 21a on the suction side of the compressor 21. The fourth valve port P4 is connected to the gas refrigerant connecting pipe 6.

[0035] (2-1-3) Heat source heat exchanger

[0036] The heat source heat exchanger 24 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outdoor air in the refrigerant circuit 10. One end of the heat source heat exchanger 24 is connected to the heat source expansion valve 25. The other end of the heat source heat exchanger 24 is connected to the second valve port P2 of the four-way switching valve 23.

[0037] (2-1-4) Heat source expansion valve

[0038] The heat source expansion valve 25 is an expansion mechanism for decompressing the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. The heat source expansion valve 25 is provided between the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 5 and the liquid side of the heat source heat exchanger 24. The heat source expansion valve 25 is an electric expansion valve capable of controlling the opening degree. The opening degree of the heat source expansion valve 25 is controlled by the control unit.

[0039] (2-1-5) Heat source fan

[0040] The heat source fan 26 generates airflow and supplies outdoor air to the heat source heat exchanger 24. The heat source fan 26 supplies outdoor air to the heat source heat exchanger 24 to promote heat exchange between the refrigerant in the heat source heat exchanger 24 and the outdoor air. The heat source fan 26 is driven to rotate by a heat source fan motor 26a. The air volume of the heat source fan 26 is controlled by changing the rotation speed of the heat source fan motor 26a by the control unit.

[0041] (2-2) Air conditioner indoor unit

[0042] The air conditioning indoor unit 3 adjusts the temperature of the indoor air. The air conditioning indoor unit 3 is a wall-mounted air conditioning indoor unit installed on a wall in the room as the target space SP. The air conditioning indoor unit 3 mainly includes a heat exchanger 31 and a fan rotor 32.

[0043] (2-2-1) Using a heat exchanger

[0044] The heat exchanger 31 is used to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the indoor air in the refrigerant circuit 10. One end of the heat exchanger 31 is connected to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 5. The other end of the heat exchanger 31 is connected to the gas refrigerant communication pipe 6. The heat exchanger 31 is not limited, and for example, it is a cross-fin fin-tube heat exchanger composed of a heat transfer tube and heat transfer fins.

[0045] The heat exchanger 31 is arranged in the flow path of the airflow generated by the fan rotor 32. Specifically, Figure 2 As shown, it is arranged to cover the front and top of the heat exchanger 31.

[0046] (2-2-2) Using the fan rotor

[0047] The fan rotor 32 is an air supply device that generates airflow. The fan rotor 32 generates airflow, thereby causing indoor air to pass through the heat exchanger 31. The indoor air passes through the heat exchanger 31, thereby promoting heat exchange between the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 31 and the outdoor air.

[0048] The utilization fan rotor 32 is a cross-flow fan. The utilization fan rotor 32 is rotationally driven by the utilization fan motor 32a. The air volume of the utilization fan rotor 32 is controlled by changing the rotational speed of the utilization fan motor 32a by the control unit.

[0049] When the utilization fan rotor 32 operates, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown by the dotted arrows, the indoor air is sucked into the housing from the upper space of the air conditioner indoor unit 3 through the suction port 34a, and after heat exchange through the utilization heat exchanger 31, it flows into the room from the blow-out port 34b formed in the lower part of the housing.

[0050] (2-3) Remote controller

[0051] The remote controller 8 receives execution instructions for air conditioner operations such as heating operation, cooling operation, and humidifying operation, stop instructions for the air conditioner device 100, and set values such as set humidity from the user, and transmits the received results as control signals to the control unit. The control unit records the received set values in the storage device.

[0052] (2-4) Control unit

[0053] The control unit is mainly connected to the compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 23, the heat source expansion valve 25, the heat source fan motor 26a, the utilization fan motor 32a, and the remote controller 8.

[0054] By respectively controlling the operations of the compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 23, the heat source expansion valve 25, the heat source fan motor 26a, and the utilization fan motor 32a, the control unit controls the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0055] The control unit is typically implemented by a computer having a control arithmetic unit and a storage device (both not shown). The control arithmetic unit is a processor such as a CPU or a GPU. The control arithmetic unit reads the control program stored in the storage device and performs operation control according to the control program. Moreover, the control arithmetic unit can write the operation result into the storage device or read the information stored in the storage device according to the control program.

[0056] In addition, the control unit is composed of an outdoor control unit provided inside the heat source unit 2 and an indoor control unit provided inside the air conditioner indoor unit 3, which are connected by a communication line capable of mutually transmitting and receiving control signals.

[0057] (3) Exhaust device

[0058] The exhaust device 101 discharges indoor air from the indoor to the outdoor.

[0059] As Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, when observing the air conditioner indoor unit 3 from the front, the exhaust device 101 is disposed adjacent to the right side surface. The exhaust device 101 is connected to the air conditioner indoor unit 3 via a cable (not shown). The exhaust device 101 is powered by the air conditioner indoor unit 3.

[0060] The exhaust device 101 has a housing 12 and a blower 13.

[0061] Hereinafter, a top view means observing the housing 12 of the exhaust device 101 from directly above. The center C of the upper surface means the center in the horizontal direction of the housing 12, that is, the center in the width direction of the housing 12.

[0062] (3-1) Housing

[0063] The housing 12 has a first side surface S1, a second side surface S2, a first suction port 12a, and an exhaust port 12b. The first side surface S1 is a surface that extends in the vertical direction with a gap from the side surface of the air conditioner indoor unit 3. The second side surface S2 is a surface opposed to the first side surface S1.

[0064] The first suction port 12a is formed on the upper surface of the housing 12. Indoor air is taken into the exhaust device 101 through the first suction port 12a.

[0065] In a top view, the first suction port 12a is close to the first side surface S1 side of the housing 12. In a top view, the whole of the first suction port 12a is located at a position closer to the first side surface S1 than the center C of the upper surface. Therefore, the first suction port 12a is disposed at a position closer to the air conditioner indoor unit 3 than the blower 13.

[0066] A filter (not shown) is disposed at the first suction port 12a. The filter is, for example, a mesh made of PE (polyethylene). The filter traps dust in the air sucked through the first suction port 12a.

[0067] The exhaust port 12b is disposed on the rear surface of the housing 12.

[0068] The exhaust port 12b, a hose 46 extending from the exhaust port 12b to the outside, and an outdoor exhaust port 43c form an exhaust flow path 51.

[0069] (3-2) Blower

[0070] The blower 13 is housed in the housing 12.

[0071] In a top view, the blower 13 is close to the second side surface S2 side of the housing 12. In a top view, the blower 13 is disposed at a position closer to the second side surface S2 than the center C of the upper surface. Therefore, the blower 13 is disposed at a position farther from the air conditioner indoor unit 3 than the first suction port 12a. In a top view, the blower 13 does not overlap with the first suction port 12a.

[0072] The blower 13 is, for example, a sirocco fan. However, the blower 13 is not particularly limited thereto. The blower 13 may also be, for example, a turbo fan, a cross-flow fan, or the like. Hereinafter, the case where the blower 13 is a sirocco fan will be described.

[0073] As Figure 5 and Figure 6 shown, the blower 13 includes a housing 131, a fan rotor 132, and a motor 50.

[0074] The top of the housing 131 is located near the upper surface of the outer shell 12. The housing 131 has a bell mouth 139, a second suction port 137, a protrusion 136, a blowout port 138, a fan housing portion 135, and a vortex surface 131a. The material of the housing 131 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a metal plate.

[0075] The bell mouth 139 is formed on the side surface of the fan housing portion 135 on the side of the first side surface S1. The bell mouth 139 is integrally formed with the housing 131. A second suction port 137 is formed inside the bell mouth 139. The inner peripheral portion of the second suction port 137 is configured in a trumpet shape in which the inner diameter expands in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 141 as it goes from the second side surface S2 side toward the first side surface S1 side. In a plan view, the bell mouth 139 is disposed at a position closer to the second side surface side than the center C of the upper surface. The bell mouth 139 promotes the inhalation of air into the fan rotor 132.

[0076] The second suction port 137 sucks the indoor air that has entered the inside of the outer shell 12 from the first suction port 12a.

[0077] The protrusion 136 constitutes the blowout port 138.

[0078] The blowout port 138 is connected to the exhaust port 12b of the outer shell 12. The blowout port 138 faces the rear surface side, or faces the rear surface side and obliquely downward. The blowout port 138 blows out the inhaled indoor air.

[0079] The fan housing portion 135 houses the fan rotor 132.

[0080] The vortex surface 131a is a curved surface along the circumferential direction of the fan rotor 132.

[0081] The fan rotor 132 includes a plurality of blades 140, a circular plate (not shown) that supports the plurality of blades 140, and a rotation shaft 141.

[0082] The plurality of blades 140 are arranged at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the circular plate. The outer shape of the plurality of blades 140 is formed in a cylindrical shape.

[0083] One end of the rotation shaft 141 is disposed at the center of the circular plate. The other end of the rotation shaft 141 is connected to the axial center portion of the motor 50.

[0084] The motor 50 is disposed at the radially inner part of the fan rotor 132. The motor 50 is disposed so as to face the second side surface S2 of the housing 12.

[0085] (4) Operating operation

[0086] Next, the heating operation, the cooling operation, and the exhaust operation of the air conditioner operation executed by the control unit will be described.

[0087] (4-1) Heating operation

[0088] When the control unit receives a control signal for an execution instruction for the heating operation from the remote controller 8, the control unit starts the heating operation. During the heating operation, the control unit switches the four-way switching valve 23 to the first state (refer to the dotted line in Figure 2 ). In addition, the control unit sets the heat source expansion valve 25 to an opening degree corresponding to the set temperature received from the remote controller 8, operates the compressor 21, and rotationally drives the fan rotor 32. As a result, the heat source heat exchanger 24 functions as an evaporator of the refrigerant, and the utilization heat exchanger 31 functions as a condenser of the refrigerant.

[0089] (4-2) Cooling operation

[0090] When the control unit receives a control signal for an execution instruction for the cooling operation from the remote controller 8, the control unit starts the cooling operation. During the cooling operation, the control unit switches the four-way switching valve 23 to the second state (refer to the solid line in Figure 2 ). In addition, the control unit sets the heat source expansion valve 25 to an opening degree corresponding to the set temperature received from the remote controller 8, operates the compressor 21, and rotationally drives the fan rotor 32. As a result, the heat source heat exchanger 24 functions as a condenser of the refrigerant, and the utilization heat exchanger 31 functions as an evaporator of the refrigerant.

[0091] (4-3) Exhaust operation

[0092] The control unit starts the exhaust operation when it receives a control signal for an execution instruction for the exhaust operation from the remote controller 8.

[0093] As shown in Figure 1As shown, an exhaust device 101 is disposed beside the air conditioner indoor unit 3. An air flow is generated by driving the fan rotor 132 of the exhaust device 101. The fan rotor 132 rotates about the rotation axis 141, sucking indoor air into the housing from the first suction port 12a. The fan rotor 132 also sucks air into the housing 131 from the second suction port 137. The air sucked from the second suction port 137 by the rotation of the fan rotor 132 flows along the inner wall of the spiral surface 131a of the housing 131 and is guided to the air outlet 138. The guided air is discharged through the exhaust flow path 51 formed by the exhaust port 12b, the hose 46, and the outdoor exhaust port 43c. In this way, the indoor air is taken into the exhaust device 101 and discharged outdoors.

[0094] The ventilation operation can be performed by the exhaust device 101 alone. Therefore, even during the exhaust operation, the refrigerant circuit 10 can perform the heating operation or the cooling operation.

[0095] (5) Features

[0096] (5-1)

[0097] In the conventional exhaust device before the present invention was made, there was a case where the suction port of the exhaust device was blocked by the blower when viewed from above. In this case, the sucked air hits the blower, generating abnormal noise.

[0098] Here, the farther the blower 13 is from the first suction port 12a, the more the air resistance is suppressed, and the more smoothly the air is sucked into the blower 13. In the exhaust device 101 of the above embodiment, when viewed from above, the blower 13 is close to the second side surface S2 side of the housing 12, and the first suction port 12a is close to the first side surface S1 side of the housing 12. Therefore, the blower 13 can be made far from the first suction port 12a. As a result, the blower 13 can be prevented from becoming a resistance to the sucked air. As a result, the generation of abnormal noise can be suppressed.

[0099] Moreover, the area of the first suction port 12a on the upper surface of the exhaust device 101 can be reduced, so that the area of the filter disposed at the first suction port 12a can be reduced.

[0100] (5-2)

[0101] Here, the first suction port 12a does not overlap with the blower 13. Therefore, the housing 131 of the blower 13 can be further prevented from becoming a resistance to the sucked air. As a result, the generation of abnormal noise can be further suppressed.

[0102] Moreover, the height of the housing 131 can be increased so that the top of the housing 131 reaches near the upper surface of the housing 12. Thereby, the diameter of the fan rotor 132 can be increased.

[0103] (5-3)

[0104] Here, when viewed from above, the entirety of the first suction port 12a is located on the side of the first side surface S1 with respect to the center C of the upper surface. Therefore, when viewed from above, the overlap between the first suction port 12a and the blower 13 can be reduced.

[0105] (5-4)

[0106] Here, the housing 131 of the blower 13 has a flaring portion 139. The flaring portion 139 is formed with a second suction port 137. The second suction port 137 sucks the indoor air that has entered the housing 12 from the first suction port 12a. When viewed from above, the flaring portion 139 is disposed on the side of the second side surface S2 with respect to the center C of the upper surface. Therefore, the sucked air can be smoothly sent into the blower 13.

[0107] (5-5)

[0108] Here, it is disposed adjacent to the air conditioner indoor unit 3 that adjusts the temperature of the indoor air. The first suction port 12a is disposed on the side closer to the air conditioner indoor unit 3. The blower 13 is disposed on the side farther from the air conditioner indoor unit 3. Therefore, by disposing the blower 13 farther from the air conditioner indoor unit 3, the influence of the vibration of the blower 13 on the air conditioner indoor unit 3 can be suppressed.

[0109] (6) Modification

[0110] (6-1) Modification A

[0111] The exhaust device 101 of the above-described embodiment is disposed on the right side of the air conditioner indoor unit 3 when viewed from the front. However, it is not particularly limited thereto. The exhaust device 101 may also be disposed on the left side of the air conditioner indoor unit 3 when viewed from the front.

[0112] (6-2) Modification B

[0113] In the exhaust device 101 of the above-described embodiment, the exhaust device 101 is powered by the air conditioner indoor unit 3, and the exhaust device 101 can also be started during air conditioner operation. However, it is not particularly limited thereto. The exhaust device 101 may also have a dedicated power source for the exhaust device 101. The exhaust device 101 may also be operated independently of the operation of the air conditioner indoor unit 3. In this case, the exhaust device 101 may also include a remote controller for the exhaust device 101 that is separate from the remote controller 8.

[0114] The above has described the embodiments of the present disclosure, but it should be understood that various changes in the manner and details can be made without departing from the gist and scope of the present disclosure recited in the claims.

[0115] Reference Numeral Explanation

[0116] 3 Air conditioner indoor unit

[0117] 12 Housing

[0118] 12a First suction port

[0119] 13 Blower

[0120] 101 Exhaust device

[0121] 131 Housing

[0122] 137 Second suction port

[0123] 139 Bell mouth

[0124] S1 First side

[0125] S2 Second side

[0126] Prior art documents

[0127] Patent documents

[0128] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 7135241 Gazette

Claims

1. An exhaust device (101) that discharges indoor air from indoors to outdoors, wherein, The exhaust device (101) includes: a housing (12) having a first suction port (12a) formed on its upper surface; and a blower (13) housed in the housing, in a plan view, the first suction port is close to the first side surface (S1) side of the housing, the blower is close to the second side surface (S2) side of the housing, and the second side surface (S2) of the housing is a surface opposed to the first side surface.

2. The exhaust device according to claim 1, wherein, In a plan view, the first suction port and the blower do not overlap.

3. The exhaust device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, In a plan view, the whole of the first suction port is located at a position closer to the first side surface than the center of the upper surface.

4. The exhaust device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The housing (131) of the blower has a bell mouth (139), and a second suction port (137) is formed in the bell mouth (139). The second suction port (137) sucks indoor air that has entered the housing from the first suction port. In a plan view, the bell mouth is arranged at a position closer to the second side surface than the center of the upper surface.

5. The exhaust device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The exhaust device is disposed adjacent to an air conditioner indoor unit (3) that adjusts the temperature of indoor air. The first suction port is disposed on the side close to the air conditioner indoor unit. The blower is disposed on the side far from the air conditioner indoor unit.

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