Indoor unit and air conditioner

Abstract

This application provides an indoor unit and an air conditioner. The indoor unit includes: a housing with an upper air outlet and an upper air inlet at its top, and a lower air outlet and a lower air inlet at its bottom; a fan rotatably disposed within the housing to drive airflow into the housing through the lower air inlet in cooling mode and out through the upper air outlet to the outside of the housing, and into the housing through the upper air inlet in heating mode and out through the lower air outlet to the outside of the housing; and a heat exchanger disposed within the housing and located to one side of the fan to exchange heat with the airflow in both cooling and heating modes. The heat exchanger includes a first section, a second section, and a third section, which are connected sequentially, and both the first and third sections bend towards the side where the fan is located from the second section. This improves the air conditioning's airflow comfort and heat exchange efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to an indoor unit and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] As living standards improve, air conditioners are becoming increasingly popular, leading to higher demands on them. For example, air conditioners are required to have not only good airflow comfort but also high heat exchange efficiency. However, both airflow comfort and heat exchange efficiency of air conditioners still need to be improved.

[0003] The above statements are for the purpose of providing background information in relation to this application only, and do not necessarily constitute prior art. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application aims to provide an indoor unit and an air conditioner to improve the airflow comfort and heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the indoor unit provided in this application is characterized by comprising:

[0006] The housing has an upper air outlet and an upper air inlet at its top, and a lower air outlet and a lower air inlet at its bottom.

[0007] A fan, rotatably mounted within the housing, drives airflow into the housing through the lower air inlet in cooling mode and out through the upper air outlet to the outside of the housing; and into the housing through the upper air inlet in heating mode and out through the lower air outlet to the outside of the housing.

[0008] A heat exchanger is disposed in the housing and located on one side of the fan to exchange heat with the airflow in cooling and heating modes. The heat exchanger includes a first section, a second section and a third section, which are connected in sequence. The first section and the third section are both bent from the second section toward the side where the fan is located.

[0009] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger is configured as at least one of the following:

[0010] The first, second, and third segments are connected sequentially along the direction from the top to the bottom of the shell;

[0011] The first, second, and third sections are formed as a single piece;

[0012] The heat exchanger is located upstream of the fan along the air inlet direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, the indoor unit further includes an air duct switching component, which is disposed in the housing and can rotate between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the air duct switching component guides the airflow from the lower air inlet to the upper air outlet, and when in the second position, the air duct switching component guides the airflow from the upper air inlet to the lower air outlet.

[0014] In some embodiments, the air duct switching component includes an air duct housing and a volute tongue, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the fan and rotate together between a first position and a second position; and / or, the indoor unit further includes a first air duct component located between the fan and the upper air outlet for contacting the air duct switching component in the first position to guide airflow from the fan to the upper air outlet together with the air duct switching component in the first position.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first air duct component includes a first baffle and a second baffle, the first baffle being located in front of the second baffle, and the first baffle and the second baffle respectively abutting against the volute tongue and the air duct shell of the air duct switching component located at the first position.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first baffle is at least partially rotatable to rotate between an abutting position and a blocking position. When in the abutting position, the first baffle abuts against the volute tongue of the air duct switching component located in the first position. When in the blocking position, the first baffle abuts against the second baffle to block the upper air outlet.

[0017] In some embodiments, the housing includes a cover and a panel, with an upper air outlet and a lower air outlet located at the top and bottom of the cover, respectively. The panel is disposed at the front end of the cover, with a lower air inlet located between the panel and the bottom of the cover, and an upper air inlet located between the panel and the top of the cover. The panel is rotatably disposed so that one of the lower air inlet and the upper air inlet can be switched to open and the other closed by rotation; and / or, the fan is a cross-flow fan.

[0018] In some embodiments, the indoor unit further includes a drip tray disposed below the heat exchanger to collect water falling from the heat exchanger, wherein the drip tray is configured to be at least one of the following:

[0019] The water tray is detachably connected to the housing;

[0020] The water receiving tray is equipped with reinforcing ribs;

[0021] The water receiving tray is equipped with support ribs, which support the heat exchanger.

[0022] In some embodiments, the drip tray is configured as at least one of the following:

[0023] The water tray is connected to the housing by a snap-fit ​​and / or threaded connection;

[0024] The water receiving tray has reinforcing ribs on both the front and back sides.

[0025] In addition, the air conditioner provided in this application includes the indoor unit of any embodiment.

[0026] By having the indoor unit have an upper air outlet and an upper air inlet at the top of the casing, and a lower air inlet and a lower air outlet at the bottom of the casing, cold air is introduced from the bottom and exited from the top, and hot air is introduced from the top and exited from the bottom. The heat exchanger, which is set inside the casing for exchanging heat with the airflow, is configured to include a first section, a second section, and a third section connected in sequence, with the first and third sections both bent towards the side where the fan is located from the second section. This can effectively improve the comfort of the air conditioner's airflow and also effectively improve the heat exchange efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0027] Other features and advantages of this application will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments of this application and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the indoor unit operating in cooling mode in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the indoor unit operating in heating mode in an embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the heat exchanger, back plate, and water receiving pan in an embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the combined structure of the back plate and the water receiving tray in an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a first perspective view of the water receiving tray in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 6 This is a second perspective view of the water receiving tray in an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0036] 10. Indoor unit;

[0037] 1. Housing; 11. Cover; 12. Front panel; 13. Top panel; 14. Bottom panel; 15. Back panel; 16. Lower air inlet; 17. Upper air outlet; 18. Upper air inlet; 19. Lower air outlet;

[0038] 2. Fan;

[0039] 3. Heat exchanger; 31. First section; 32. Second section; 33. Third section; 34. First support; 35. Second support;

[0040] 4. Duct switching components; 41. Duct housing; 42. Volute; 43. Mounting cylinder;

[0041] 5. First air duct component; 51. First baffle; 52. Second baffle;

[0042] 6. Second air duct component; 61. Third baffle; 62. Fourth baffle;

[0043] 7. Drain tray; 71. Clip; 72. Screw; 73. Threaded hole; 74. Support rib; 75. Reinforcing rib; 76. Drain outlet;

[0044] 81. First air guide plate; 82. Second air guide plate. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit this application or its application or use.

[0046] In the description of this application, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0047] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer sides relative to the outline of each component itself; the directional terms such as "front," "back," "up," "down," "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "horizontal," and "top" and "bottom" indicate the orientation or positional relationship, which is usually based on the orientation or positional relationship when the indoor unit is normally wall-mounted. Among them, "up" and "down" refer to the direction opposite to and the same as gravity, respectively, and "back" and "front" refer to the direction closer to and farther from the wall, respectively. The top of the shell refers to the uppermost part of the shell, specifically the uppermost part of the cover, or the top plate, and the bottom of the shell refers to the lowermost part of the shell, specifically the lowermost part of the cover, or the bottom plate.

[0048] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0049] In order to improve the airflow comfort and heat exchange efficiency of air conditioners, this application provides an air conditioner and its indoor unit.

[0050] Figures 1-6 The structure of the indoor unit in this application is illustrated by way of example.

[0051] See Figures 1-6 In this application, the indoor unit 10 includes a housing 1, a fan 2, and a heat exchanger 3. The housing 1 has an upper air outlet 17 and an upper air inlet 18 at its top, and a lower air outlet 19 and a lower air inlet 16 at its bottom. The fan 2 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 to drive airflow into the housing 1 through the lower air inlet 16 in cooling mode and out through the upper air outlet 17 to the outside of the housing 1. In heating mode, the fan 2 enters the housing 1 through the upper air inlet 18 and out through the lower air outlet 19 to the outside of the housing 1. The heat exchanger 3 is disposed in the housing 1 and located to one side of the fan 2 to exchange heat with the airflow in both cooling and heating modes. The heat exchanger 3 includes a first section 31, a second section 32, and a third section 33, which are connected sequentially. Both the first section 31 and the third section 33 are bent from the second section 32 toward the side where the fan 2 is located.

[0052] Since the indoor unit 10 has an upper air outlet 17 located at the top of the casing 1 and a lower air outlet 19 located at the bottom of the casing 1, the airflow can be driven by the fan 2 to be discharged from the upper air outlet 17 in cooling mode and from the lower air outlet 19 in heating mode. Therefore, it can achieve upper air outlet when cooling and lower air outlet when heating. In this way, the indoor unit 10 no longer blows cold air downwards or horizontally, nor blows hot air upwards, but blows cold air upwards and hot air downwards, achieving a shower-like cooling and carpet-like heating effect. This prevents cold air from blowing directly on people when cooling and allows hot air to reach the ground when heating, preventing the phenomenon of cold feet and hot head when cooling and cold air blowing directly on the body, and hot ceiling but cold body feeling when heating. Therefore, it can effectively improve airflow comfort and enhance human comfort.

[0053] Furthermore, since the indoor unit 10 not only has an upper air outlet 17 and a lower air outlet 19, but also a lower air inlet 16 located at the bottom of the casing 1 and an upper air inlet 18 located at the top of the casing 1, air is drawn in through the lower air inlet 16 during cooling and through the upper air inlet 18 during heating. In this case, there are dedicated air inlets for both cooling and heating, instead of using another air outlet, which facilitates the relative positions of the lower air inlet 16 and the upper air outlet 17, as well as the relative positions of the upper air inlet 18 and the lower air outlet 19. The positions are designed such that the lower air inlet 16 and the upper air outlet 17 are roughly on opposite diagonals of the housing 1, and the upper air inlet 18 and the lower air outlet 19 are roughly on the other diagonal of the housing 1. This increases the distance between the air inlets and outlets during cooling and heating, preventing the airflow from being drawn back into the housing 1 before being fully processed by the fan 2 and the heat exchanger 3 due to the close proximity of the air inlets and outlets. Therefore, it helps to reduce airflow loss, improve airflow smoothness, increase heat exchange efficiency, and enhance cooling and heating effects.

[0054] Furthermore, since the heat exchanger 3, which is housed in the casing 1 and used for heat exchange with the airflow, comprises a first section 31, a second section 32, and a third section 33 connected in sequence, and both the first section 31 and the third section 33 bend from the second section 32 toward the side where the fan 2 is located, the heat exchanger 3 is approximately C-shaped. Compared with the traditional V-shaped heat exchanger, it has a larger surface area in the same space, thus increasing the heat exchange area and improving the heat exchange efficiency. In addition, the C-shaped heat exchanger 3 makes it easier to consider the upper and lower air inlet angles, improving airflow smoothness and enhancing the cooling and heating effects.

[0055] As can be seen, by having the indoor unit have an upper air outlet 17 and an upper air inlet 18 located at the top of the casing 1, and a lower air inlet 16 and a lower air outlet 19 located at the bottom of the casing 1, cold air is introduced from the bottom and exited from the top, and hot air is introduced from the top and exited from the bottom. The heat exchanger 3, which is set inside the casing 1 for exchanging heat with the airflow, is configured to include a first section 31, a second section 32, and a third section 33 connected in sequence. The first section 31 and the third section 33 are both bent from the second section 32 toward the side where the fan 2 is located. This can effectively improve the comfort of the air conditioner's airflow, as well as the heat exchange efficiency and heat exchange effect of the air conditioner, resulting in better airflow comfort, higher heat exchange efficiency, and better cooling and heating effects.

[0056] See Figures 1-3 In some embodiments, the first segment 31, the second segment 32, and the third segment 33 are connected sequentially along the direction from the top end of the housing 1 to the bottom end of the housing 1. In this case, the heat exchanger 3, which is roughly C-shaped, is vertically arranged, which can well take into account the upper and lower air inlet angles, improve the air inlet smoothness, and improve the cooling and heating effect.

[0057] In some embodiments, the first segment 31, the second segment 32, and the third segment 33 are integrally formed. This is more convenient to process and less costly than when the first segment 31, the second segment 32, and the third segment 33 are formed separately, and the structural reliability is also stronger.

[0058] Additionally, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 3 is located in front of the fan 2. In this case, the heat exchanger 3 is located on the air inlet side, upstream of the fan 2 along the air inlet direction, which can prevent the condensate after heat exchange from being blown out by the fan 2. During operation, the airflow entering the housing 1 through the air inlet can first flow through the heat exchanger 3, exchange heat, and then flow through the fan 2. After the fan 2 performs work, it flows to the air outlet and is blown into the room for cooling or heating.

[0059] To achieve the fixation of heat exchanger 3, see [link / reference]. Figure 3 In some embodiments, the indoor unit 10 includes a first bracket 34 and a second bracket 35. The first bracket 34 and the second bracket 35 are connected to both ends of the heat exchanger 3 along the axial direction (also the left-right direction) of the fan 2 and are connected to the housing 1. For example, the first bracket 34 and the second bracket 35 are connected to the back plate 15 of the housing 1 (mentioned below) by screws 72, etc., thereby fixing the heat exchanger 3 to the housing 1.

[0060] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the indoor unit 10 includes not only the housing 1, the fan 2 and the heat exchanger 3, but also the air duct switching component 4. The air duct switching component 4 is disposed in the housing 1 and can rotate between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the air duct switching component 4 guides the airflow from the lower air inlet 16 to the upper air outlet 17. When in the second position, the air duct switching component 4 guides the airflow from the upper air inlet 18 to the lower air outlet 19.

[0061] Based on the above settings, the airflow direction can be changed by rotating the air duct switching component 4, switching between the upper and lower air outlets to achieve upward blowing of cold air and downward blowing of hot air. Under the guidance of the air duct switching component 4, both cold and hot air can flow more accurately and smoothly along the preset path, effectively preventing airflow from running wildly and causing air volume loss, thus affecting the air output. During operation, simply placing the air duct switching component 4 in the first position in cooling mode and in the second position in heating mode will achieve a more accurate and smooth upward blowing of cold air and downward blowing of hot air with less air volume loss. Therefore, it is more conducive to improving air output comfort, heat exchange efficiency, and cooling and heating effects.

[0062] Specifically, see Figure 1 and Figure 2In some embodiments, the indoor unit 10 includes not only the air duct switching component 4, but also a first air duct component 5. The first air duct component 5 is located between the fan 2 and the upper air outlet 17, and is used to abut against the air duct switching component 4 in the first position, so as to guide the airflow from the fan 2 to the upper air outlet 17 together with the air duct switching component 4 in the first position. In this way, during cooling, the air duct switching component 4 can rotate to the first position and connect with the first air duct component 5 to form a more complete air outlet duct, guiding the airflow from the fan 2 to flow more fully to the upper air outlet 17 (e.g., Figure 1 (As shown by the arrowed curve in the image), this reduces airflow loss caused by turbulent airflow and prevents minimal or no airflow, thus further improving the cooling effect.

[0063] Additionally, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the indoor unit 10 includes not only the air duct switching component 4, but also a second air duct component 6. The second air duct component 6 is located between the fan 2 and the lower air outlet 19, and is used to abut against the air duct switching component 4 in the second position, so that together with the air duct switching component 4 in the second position, airflow is guided from the fan 2 to the lower air outlet 19. Thus, during heating, the air duct switching component 4 can rotate to the second position and engage with the second air duct component 6, forming a more complete air outlet duct, guiding the airflow from the fan 2 to flow more fully to the lower air outlet 19 (e.g., ...). Figure 2 (As shown by the arrowed curve in the image), this reduces airflow loss caused by turbulent airflow and prevents minimal or no airflow, thus further improving the heating effect.

[0064] As an example of the air duct switching component 4 in the foregoing embodiments, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The air duct switching component 4 includes an air duct housing 41 and a volute tongue 42, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the fan 2 and rotate together between a first position and a second position. For example, in some embodiments, the air duct switching component 4 includes not only the air duct housing 41 and the volute tongue 42, but also a mounting cylinder 43. The mounting cylinder 43 connects the air duct housing 41 and the volute tongue 42. Specifically, the mounting cylinder 43 is located radially outward of the fan 2 and extends circumferentially along the fan 2, covering a portion of the fan 2's circumference, while the air duct housing 41 and the volute tongue 42 are connected to the circumferential ends of the mounting cylinder 43. Thus, the air duct housing 41 and the volute tongue 42 are spaced apart circumferentially along the fan 2 and can rotate together between the first position and the second position.

[0065] The provided air duct shell 41 and volute tongue 42 can cooperate with the fan 2, especially the cross-flow fan 2, to better guide the cold air upward and the hot air downward, thus helping to further improve the comfort of the air outlet, heat exchange efficiency and cooling and heating effect.

[0066] For example, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the air duct shell 41 and the volute tongue 42 of the air duct switching component 4 are respectively connected to the first air duct component 5 and the second air duct component 6 at the first position and the second position, so as to better guide the cold air to blow upward and the hot air to blow downward.

[0067] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the first air duct component 5 includes a first baffle 51 and a second baffle 52. The first baffle 51 is located in front of the second baffle 52, and the first baffle 51 and the second baffle 52 abut against the volute tongue 42 and the air duct shell 41 of the air duct switching component 4 located at the first position, respectively. For example, the upper ends of the first baffle 51 and the second baffle 52 are both connected to the top of the housing 1, and the lower ends of the first baffle 51 and the second baffle 52 abut against the volute tongue 42 and the air duct shell 41 of the air duct switching component 4 located at the first position, respectively.

[0068] Based on the contact between the volute tongue 42 and the first baffle 51, and between the air duct shell 41 and the second baffle 52, the air duct switching component 4 and the first air duct component 5 can be connected, allowing the air duct switching component 4 and the first air duct component 5 to form a more complete cooling air outlet air duct together, guiding the airflow from the fan 2 to flow more fully to the upper air outlet 17 (e.g., Figure 1 (As shown by the arrowed curve in the image), this reduces airflow loss caused by turbulent airflow and prevents minimal or no airflow, thus further improving the cooling effect.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first baffle 51 is at least partially rotatable to rotate between an abutting position and a blocking position. When in the abutting position, the first baffle 51 abuts against the volute tongue 42 of the air duct switching component 4 located in the first position. When in the blocking position, the first baffle 51 abuts against the second baffle 52 to block the upper air outlet 17.

[0070] Based on the above configuration, the first baffle 51 can not only abut against the volute tongue 42 in cooling mode, guiding the airflow upward to the air outlet 17 (e.g.) Figure 1 As shown), it enables cold air to blow upwards, and in heating mode, it can also abut against the second baffle 52 to block the upper air outlet 17 (as shown). Figure 2 As shown, on the one hand, the upper air outlet 17 can be sealed to prevent air leakage during heating. On the other hand, it can also form a heating air inlet channel to avoid the airflow flowing in from the upper air inlet 18 and guide the airflow flowing in from the upper air inlet 18 to flow more fully and smoothly to the fan 2, reducing airflow loss caused by airflow turbulence. Therefore, it is more conducive to improving heating efficiency and heating effect.

[0071] Additionally, see Figure 1 and Figure 2In some embodiments, the second air duct component 6 includes a third baffle 61 and a fourth baffle 62. The third baffle 61 is located in front of the fourth baffle 62, and the third baffle 61 and the fourth baffle 62 abut against the air duct housing 41 and the volute tongue 42 of the air duct switching component 4 located in the second position, respectively. For example, the lower ends of the third baffle 61 and the fourth baffle 62 are both connected to the bottom end of the housing 1, and the upper ends of the third baffle 61 and the fourth baffle 62 abut against the air duct housing 41 and the volute tongue 42 of the air duct switching component 4 located in the second position, respectively.

[0072] Based on the contact between the duct shell 41 and the third baffle 61, and between the volute tongue 42 and the fourth baffle 62, the duct switching component 4 and the second duct component 6 can be connected, so that the duct switching component 4 and the second duct component 6 together form a more complete heating air outlet duct, guiding the airflow from the fan 2 to flow more fully to the lower air outlet 19 (e.g., Figure 2 (As shown by the arrowed curve in the image), this reduces airflow loss caused by turbulent airflow and prevents minimal or no airflow, thus further improving the heating effect.

[0073] To form the lower air inlet 16, upper air outlet 17, upper air inlet 18, and lower air outlet 19 in the aforementioned embodiments, see [link to previous document]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the housing 1 includes a cover 11 and a panel 12. An upper air outlet 17 and a lower air outlet 19 are located at the top and bottom of the cover 11, respectively. The panel 12 is disposed at the front end of the cover 11. A lower air inlet 16 is located between the panel 12 and the bottom end of the cover 11. An upper air inlet 18 is located between the panel 12 and the top end of the cover 11. The panel 12 is rotatably disposed so that one of the lower air inlet 16 and the upper air inlet 18 can be switched to open and the other closed by rotation.

[0074] Specifically, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, in some embodiments, the housing 11 includes a top plate 13, a bottom plate 14, and a back plate 15. The top plate 13 and the bottom plate 14 are vertically opposite each other, the back plate 15 is connected to the rear end of the top plate 13 and the bottom plate 14, and the front panel 12 is connected to the front end of the top plate 13 and the bottom plate 14. Thus, the top plate 13 and the bottom plate 14 respectively form the top and bottom ends of the housing 11 and the shell 1, and the front panel 12 and the back plate 15 respectively form the front and rear ends of the shell 1. The upper air outlet 17 and the lower air outlet 19 are located on the top plate 13 and the bottom plate 14, respectively, so that the upper air outlet 17 and the lower air outlet 19 are located at the top and bottom ends of the housing 11 and the shell 1, respectively. The lower air inlet 16 is located between the front panel 12 and the top plate 13, and the upper air inlet 18 is located between the front panel 12 and the bottom plate 14. This positions the lower air inlet 16 and the upper air inlet 18 at the top and bottom of the housing 1, respectively. The distances between the lower air inlet 16 and the upper air outlet 17, and between the upper air inlet 18 and the lower air outlet 19, are approximately on two diagonal lines, resulting in minimal airflow loss. Simultaneously, the front panel 12 is connected to a drive motor (not shown, e.g., a stepper motor) and can swing under the drive of the motor, allowing for cooling. (See [reference needed]) Figure 1 The lower end of panel 12 can be located away from the base plate 14 (for example, at approximately 45° to the vertical direction) to form a lower air inlet 16, or in other words, the lower air inlet 16 is open, while the upper end is connected to the top plate 13, closing the upper air inlet 18. This allows air to enter through the lower air inlet 16 during cooling, and during heating, see [reference needed]. Figure 2 The upper end of the panel 12 can be away from the top plate 13 to form an upper air inlet 18, or in other words, the upper air inlet 18 is opened, while the lower end abuts against the bottom plate 14 and closes the lower air inlet 16, so that air is drawn in through the upper air inlet 18 when heating.

[0075] As can be seen, based on the above configuration, the upper air outlet 17 and the upper air inlet 18 are located at the top of the housing 1, and the lower air inlet 16 and the lower air outlet 19 are located at the bottom of the housing 1. The lower air inlet 16 and the upper air outlet 17, as well as the upper air inlet 18 and the lower air outlet 19, are roughly located on two diagonal lines, which are far apart and result in less airflow loss. At the same time, the lower air inlet 16 and the upper air inlet 18 can be easily controlled to open and close by rotating the control panel 12. This achieves cooling by lower air inlet and upper air outlet while preventing the heating air duct from affecting the cooling process, and heating by upper air inlet and lower air outlet while preventing the cooling air duct from affecting the heating process. Therefore, better cooling and heating effects can be achieved.

[0076] The panel 12 can be tilted to control the opening, closing, and switching of the two air inlets. In some embodiments, the opening angle of the panel 12 can be adjusted to adjust the air intake area according to user needs, thus more flexibly meeting different cooling and heating requirements.

[0077] In the aforementioned embodiments, air guide plates can be respectively installed at the upper air outlet 17 and the lower air outlet 19 to guide the airflow in cooling and heating modes, further improving airflow comfort and enhancing human comfort.

[0078] For example, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, a first air guide plate 81 is provided at the upper air outlet 17. The first air guide plate 81 is swayably configured to open and close the upper air outlet 17 to meet different air outlet requirements in cooling and heating modes. When open, the tilt angle of the first air guide plate 81 is adjustable to adjust the direction and volume of cold air outlet, improving the comfort of cold air outlet. In cooling mode, the first air guide plate 81 is open and can be opened at different angles according to user instructions to adjust the air outlet volume and direction. In heating mode, the first air guide plate 81 is closed to prevent air leakage from the upper air outlet 17.

[0079] It should be noted that, although in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the first air guide plate 81, the swing center is located between the front and rear ends of the upper air outlet 17. However, as a variation, the swing center of the first air guide plate 81 can also be located at one end in the front-rear direction of the upper air outlet 17.

[0080] For example, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, a second air guide plate 82 is provided at the lower air outlet 19. The second air guide plate 82 is swayable to open and close the lower air outlet 19 to meet different air outlet requirements in cooling and heating modes. When open, the tilt angle of the second air guide plate 82 is adjustable to adjust the direction of hot air outlet and improve the comfort of hot air outlet. In heating mode, the second air guide plate 82 is open and can be opened at different angles according to user instructions to adjust the air outlet size and direction. In cooling mode, the second air guide plate 82 is closed to prevent air leakage from the lower air outlet 19.

[0081] It should be noted that, although in Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the first case, the swing center of the second air guide plate 82 is located at one end of the lower air outlet 19 in the front-rear direction. However, as a variation, the swing center of the second air guide plate 82 can also be located between the front and rear ends of the lower air outlet 19.

[0082] As a further improvement to the foregoing embodiments, see Figures 1-6 The indoor unit 10 also includes a drip tray 7, which is located below the heat exchanger 3 to collect water falling from the heat exchanger 3, preventing leaks and ensuring a better user experience. The drip tray 7 has a drain outlet 76 (see...). Figure 5 The water collected in the water tray 7 can be discharged from the drain outlet 76.

[0083] Furthermore, such as Figures 3-6 As shown, in some embodiments, the water tray 7 is detachably connected to the housing 1. For example, in some embodiments, the water tray 7 and the housing 1 are connected by a snap-fit ​​and / or threaded connection to achieve a detachable connection between the water tray 7 and the housing 1. Specifically, as... Figures 3-6 As shown, in some embodiments, a buckle 71 is provided at each of the left and right ends of the water receiving tray 7. Correspondingly, a slot is provided on the back plate 15 of the housing 1. The buckle 71 is inserted into the slot, which enables a detachable connection between the water receiving tray 7 and the housing 1. At the same time, the water receiving tray 7 is provided with a screw 72 and a threaded hole 73. Correspondingly, the back plate 15 is provided with a threaded hole 73 and a screw 72. The water receiving tray 7 and the back plate 15 are connected by a threaded connection through the cooperation of the screw 72 and the threaded hole 73, making the water receiving tray 7 and the housing 1 detachable.

[0084] Because the drip tray 7 and the housing 1 are detachable rather than integrally formed, it is convenient to disassemble and repair the drip tray 7, preventing it from becoming clogged and causing the air conditioner to leak. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, after the air conditioner has been used for a period of time, the panel 12 and the top plate 13 can be removed, the screws 72 under the drip tray can be unscrewed, the clips 71 at both ends can be pushed out, and the drip tray 7 can be removed to clean the dust and dirt inside. This is simple, convenient, and quick, which can prevent the air conditioner from leaking due to a clogged drip tray and extend the service life of the air conditioner.

[0085] Additionally, see Figure 5 In some embodiments, the water receiving tray 7 is provided with reinforcing ribs 75. This can improve the strength of the water receiving tray 7 and reduce deformation of the water receiving tray 7 due to the weight of the collected water, etc. Figure 5 and Figure 6 Only one side of the water receiving tray 7 in the front-rear direction is shown to have a reinforcing rib 75. However, as a variation, the water receiving tray 7 may also have reinforcing ribs 75 on both the front and rear sides to further improve the strength of the water receiving tray 7 and reduce the deformation of the water receiving tray 7 due to the weight of the collected water.

[0086] In addition, see Figure 5 and combined Figure 1 In some embodiments, the water receiving tray 7 is provided with supporting ribs 74, which support the heat exchanger 3. This helps to improve the stability of the heat exchanger 3, thereby improving the structural reliability of the indoor unit 10 and the air conditioner.

[0087] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and not to limit them; although this application has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the specific implementation of this application or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features, all of which should be covered within the scope of the technical solutions claimed in this application.

Claims

1. An indoor unit (10), characterized in that, include: The housing (1) has an upper air outlet (17) and an upper air inlet (18) at its top end, and a lower air outlet (19) and a lower air inlet (16) at its bottom end. A fan (2) is rotatably disposed in the housing (1) to drive airflow into the housing (1) through the lower air inlet (16) in the cooling mode and out through the upper air outlet (17) to the outside of the housing (1), and into the housing (1) through the upper air inlet (18) in the heating mode and out through the lower air outlet (19) to the outside of the housing (1); and A heat exchanger (3) is disposed in the housing (1) and located on one side of the fan (2) to exchange heat with the airflow in cooling and heating modes. The heat exchanger (3) includes a first section (31), a second section (32) and a third section (33), which are connected in sequence. The first section (31) and the third section (33) are both bent from the second section (32) toward the side where the fan (2) is located.

2. The indoor unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchanger (3) is configured as at least one of the following: The first segment (31), the second segment (32) and the third segment (33) are connected sequentially along the direction from the top end of the housing (1) to the bottom end of the housing (1); The first segment (31), the second segment (32), and the third segment (33) are integrally formed; The heat exchanger (3) is located upstream of the fan (2) along the air inlet direction.

3. The indoor unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The indoor unit (10) also includes an air duct switching component (4), which is disposed in the housing (1) and can rotate between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the air duct switching component (4) guides the airflow from the lower air inlet (16) to the upper air outlet (17). When in the second position, the air duct switching component (4) guides the airflow from the upper air inlet (18) to the lower air outlet (19).

4. The indoor unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air duct switching component (4) includes an air duct housing (41) and a volute (42), the air duct housing (41) and the volute (42) being spaced apart along the circumference of the fan (2) and rotating together between the first position and the second position; and / or, the indoor unit (10) further includes a first air duct component (5), the first air duct component (5) being located between the fan (2) and the upper air outlet (17), for contacting the air duct switching component (4) in the first position, so as to guide the airflow from the fan (2) to the upper air outlet (17) together with the air duct switching component (4) in the first position.

5. The indoor unit (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first air duct component (5) includes a first baffle (51) and a second baffle (52). The first baffle (51) is located in front of the second baffle (52). The first baffle (51) and the second baffle (52) respectively abut against the volute tongue (42) and the air duct shell (41) of the air duct switching component (4) located in the first position.

6. The indoor unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first baffle (51) is at least partially rotatable to rotate between an abutting position and a blocking position. In the abutting position, the first baffle (51) abuts against the volute tongue (42) of the air duct switching component (4) located in the first position. In the blocking position, the first baffle (51) abuts against the second baffle (52) to block the upper air outlet (17).

7. The indoor unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (1) includes a cover (11) and a panel (12). The upper air outlet (17) and the lower air outlet (19) are located at the top and bottom of the cover (11), respectively. The panel (12) is disposed at the front end of the cover (11). The lower air inlet (16) is located between the bottom end of the panel (12) and the cover (11). The upper air inlet (18) is located between the top end of the panel (12) and the cover (11). The panel (12) is rotatably disposed so that one of the lower air inlet (16) and the upper air inlet (18) can be switched to open and the other closed by rotation. And / or, the fan (2) is a cross-flow fan.

8. The indoor unit (10) according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The indoor unit (10) further includes a drip tray (7) disposed on the lower side of the heat exchanger (3) to collect water falling from the heat exchanger (3), wherein the drip tray (7) is configured to be at least one of the following: The water receiving tray (7) is detachably connected to the housing (1); The water receiving tray (7) is provided with reinforcing ribs (75); The water receiving tray (7) is provided with a support rib (74), which supports the heat exchanger (3).

9. The indoor unit (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The water receiving tray (7) is constructed as at least one of the following: The water receiving tray (7) is connected to the housing (1) by a snap-fit ​​and / or thread; The water receiving tray (7) is provided with reinforcing ribs (75) on both the front and rear sides.

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that, Including the indoor unit (10) as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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