Indoor unit of air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner for allowing safe attachment / detachment of a fan.SOLUTION: The indoor unit of the air conditioner in one embodiment of this invention includes an indoor unit body having an air inlet and an air outlet, and a transverse fan supported by the indoor unit body and extending in a first direction, the transverse fan being constructed to be separable into a first fan located on one side in the first direction and a second fan located on the other side in the first direction and fixed to a motor, the first fan being provided attachable / detachable to / from the indoor unit body in the state that the second fan is mounted to the indoor unit body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an indoor unit for an air conditioner in which a cap is placed on the fan support member on the side opposite the motor through which the fan passes, so that the fan can be inserted and removed from the side of the indoor unit opposite the motor, and the cap and fan are rotatably connected and integrated on the fan shaft, and even when the fan is removed, the cap and fan do not separate but are always connected and integrated, and the cap of the fan unit is fixed so that it can be removed and attached freely, thereby supporting the cap side of the fan for free rotation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-134683 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the indoor unit of the air conditioner described above, when attaching or detaching the fan, the motor that rotates the fan becomes a live part and needs to be prevented from touching it with the user's fingers, etc. However, in the indoor unit of the air conditioner described above, when the fan is removed, the output shaft of the motor is exposed inside the indoor unit, which may cause the user's fingers to come into contact with the output shaft, which is dangerous.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide, for example, an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a fan can be safely attached and detached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an indoor unit main body having an intake port and an exhaust port, and a cross-flow fan supported by the indoor unit main body and extending in a first direction, the cross-flow fan being configured to be separable into a first fan located on one side in the first direction and a second fan located on the other side in the first direction and fixed to a motor, the first fan being detachably mounted on the indoor unit main body when the second fan is attached to the indoor unit main body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the indoor unit body showing a state in which the blow-out side frame has been removed. [Figure 4] 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the indoor unit body showing a state in which the blow-out side frame has been removed. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a perspective view of the outlet side frame as viewed from the outside. FIG. [Figure 6] 4 is a perspective view of the blowing side frame as viewed from the inside. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the indoor unit body showing a state in which the blow-out side frame is rotatably supported. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a support portion of a main body frame. [Figure 9] 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing a support portion of the main body frame. FIG. [Figure 10] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a claw portion of the outlet side frame. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a third wall of the main body frame. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit showing the fan. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit showing a state in which the first fan has been removed. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a first surface of the first fan. [Figure 15]FIG. 11 is a side view showing the second surface of the second fan. [Figure 16] 11 is a side view showing a state in which the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate are connected. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. [Figure 18A] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the indoor unit body showing a state in which the first fan is attached. [Figure 18B] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of the indoor unit body showing a state in which the first fan is pushed in one direction with the connection between the first fan and the second fan released. [Figure 18C] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the indoor unit body showing a state in which one end of the first fan is tilted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification and drawings, the same or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid repetitive explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention may be omitted. Furthermore, the forms of the components shown in the embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these forms.

[0009] The air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention is a separate type, and is composed of an indoor unit 100 and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit 100 is equipped with an indoor heat exchanger 115 and a fan 200, and the outdoor unit is equipped with a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a fan, and a throttling device. The indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit are connected by refrigerant piping to form a refrigeration cycle, and various operating modes such as cooling, heating, and dehumidification are performed.

[0010] An overview of an indoor unit 100 of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the indoor unit 100. Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 100. In Fig. 2, the illustration of the air guide plate 114 is omitted. The indoor unit 100 heats, cools, and dehumidifies the air in the space in which the indoor unit 100 is installed. In the following, the indoor unit 100 will be described by defining the wall side in the room where the indoor unit 100 is installed as the rear side and the opposite side as the front side, the ceiling side of the space where the indoor unit 100 is installed as the upper side and the opposite side as the lower side.

[0011] The indoor unit 100 has an indoor unit body 110 in which various structures are housed. The indoor unit body 110 has a generally box-shaped external shape with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction. The indoor unit body 110 has an air inlet 111 formed on the upper surface. The indoor unit body 110 is provided with a filter 112 that covers the air inlet 111 from the inside. The filter 112 is, for example, a dust collection filter that collects dust in the air passing through.

[0012] The indoor unit body 110 has an air outlet 113 formed on its bottom surface. The air outlet 113 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with the left-right direction as its longitudinal direction. The indoor unit body 110 is provided with an air guide plate 114 that covers the air outlet 113 from the outside. The air guide plate 114 is configured to be rotatable, and is capable of opening and closing the air outlet 113.

[0013] The air guide plate 114 has a first air guide plate 114a that opens and closes the front part of the air outlet 113, and a second air guide plate 114b that opens and closes the rear part of the air outlet 113. The first air guide plate 114a is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis S1 located at the front end by driving a motor (not shown). The first air guide plate 114a can change the direction of air blown out from the air outlet 113 back and forth by rotating around the rotation axis S1. The second air guide plate 114b is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis S2 by driving a motor (not shown). The second air guide plate 114b can change the direction of air blown out from the air outlet 113 back and forth by rotating around the rotation axis S2. The first air guide plate 114a and the second air guide plate 114b are configured to be detachable from the indoor unit main body 110.

[0014] An air passage P that connects the inlet 111 and the outlet 113 is formed inside the indoor unit body 110. In the air passage P, a heat exchanger 115 and a fan 200 are arranged in this order from the inlet 111 toward the outlet 113.

[0015] Heat exchanger 115 is disposed upstream in the air flow direction of fan 200. Heat exchanger 115 is disposed in an arched shape so as to surround the upper side of fan 200. Heat exchanger 115 functions as a condenser during heating operation and as an evaporator during cooling operation.

[0016] Fan 200 is, for example, a cross-flow fan. Fan 200 is disposed with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction. Fan 200 drives motor 210 (see FIG. 12) and rotates about output shaft 210a (see FIG. 12) of motor 210, thereby generating an airflow from air inlet 111 toward air outlet 113.

[0017] In the above configuration, in the indoor unit 100, air is sucked in from the air inlet 111 by rotating the fan 200 by the motor 210, passes through the filter 112, and then undergoes heat exchange in the heat exchanger 115, where it is heated or cooled, and is then blown out from the air outlet 113. The air blown out from the air outlet 113 is guided in a desired direction by the air guide plate 114.

[0018] Air passage P is formed, for example, so as to guide air sucked in from suction port 111 downward and then guide the air substantially downward and forward toward air outlet 113. Of air passage P, an upstream air passage formed from suction port 111 toward fan 200 is referred to as a first air passage P1, and a downstream air passage formed from fan 200 toward air outlet 113 is referred to as a second air passage P2.

[0019] The first airflow passage P1 is, for example, an upper space within the interior space of the indoor unit body 110, sandwiching the fan 200 therebetween. The filter 112 and the heat exchanger 115 are disposed in the first airflow passage P1. The second airflow passage P2 is, for example, a lower space within the interior space of the indoor unit body 110, sandwiching the fan 200 therebetween.

[0020] The second air passage P2 is a space surrounded by a rear guider 120 located on the rear side of the second air passage P2, a stabilizer 130 located on the front side of the second air passage P2, and a pair of side walls 140 provided on the left and right.

[0021] The rear guider 120 is a wall surface that guides air towards the air outlet 113. The rear guider 120 is provided behind the fan 200. The rear guider 120 is formed in a curved shape that gradually moves away from the outer circumferential surface of the fan 200 from the upstream side to the downstream side, except for the upstream end. The rear guider 120 is formed to extend in the left-right direction across approximately the entire width of the fan 200. The downstream end of the rear guider 120 is the rear edge of the air outlet 113.

[0022] The stabilizer 130 divides the first air passage P1 and the second air passage P2. The stabilizer 130 is provided so as to protrude from the front edge of the air outlet 113 toward the vicinity of the outer periphery of the fan 200 into the interior of the indoor unit body 110. The stabilizer 130 is formed so as to extend in the left-right direction across substantially the entire width of the fan 200. The downstream end of the stabilizer 130 is the front edge of the air outlet 113.

[0023] The stabilizer 130 has a guide portion 131 that guides the air flowing toward the air outlet 113 , and a tongue portion 132 that stabilizes vortexes generated near the outer periphery of the fan 200 .

[0024] Guide portion 131 is a wall surface that guides air toward air outlet 113. Guide portion 131 is, for example, a flat surface that extends diagonally downward and forward toward air outlet 113.

[0025] The tongue portion 132 includes an opposing portion 132a that faces the outer periphery of the fan 200, and a curved portion 132b that connects the opposing portion 132a and the upstream end of the guide portion 131.

[0026] The pair of side walls 140 are wall surfaces facing each other with a gap in the left-right direction. Each side wall 140 is an inner surface of the indoor unit body 110. The rear guider 120 and the stabilizer 130 are provided so as to extend from one side wall 140 toward the other side wall 140. The downstream end of each side wall 140 is a side edge of the air outlet 113.

[0027] The main body frame 150 and the outlet side frame 160 that constitute the indoor unit main body 110 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit main body 110 with the outlet side frame 160 removed. Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the indoor unit main body 110 with the outlet side frame 160 removed. Figures 3 and 4 show the indoor unit main body 110 with the air guide plate 114 removed. The upper part of the indoor unit main body 110 is not shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0028] 3 and 4, the indoor unit body 110 has a body frame 150 and a blowing side frame 160. The body frame 150 is a body side frame that houses the heat exchanger 115, the fan 200, etc. The blowing side frame 160 is a blowing side frame that is detachably provided on the body frame 150.

[0029] The main body frame 150 has an opening 150a. The opening 150a is an opening formed in the main body frame 150 facing a predetermined direction from the fan 200. The predetermined direction is a direction in which the air outlet 113 is located with respect to the fan 200, and in this embodiment, it is a substantially downward direction.

[0030] The blow-out side frame 160 is detachably provided in the opening 150a of the main body frame 150. The blow-out side frame 160 is, for example, a rectangular frame body. The blow-out side frame 160 has an air outlet 160a surrounded by the frame body. When the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the opening 150a of the main body frame 150, the air outlet 160a communicates with the opening 150a. The air outlet 160a is located inside the opening 150a, and constitutes a second air passage P2 together with the opening 150a. That is, the second air passage P2 is constituted by the opening 150a and the air outlet 160a.

[0031] 4, the air outlet 160a is formed to include at least the tongue portion 132 of the stabilizer 130 and the downstream portion 120a of the rear guider 120. In this embodiment, the air outlet 160a is formed to include the tongue portion 132 of the stabilizer 130, a portion (the upstream end portion) of the guide portion 131 of the stabilizer 130, the downstream portion 120a of the rear guider 120, and a portion of each side wall 140. That is, the air outlet 160a is formed continuously over the entire circumference of the second air passage P2 in the circumferential direction.

[0032] The downstream portion 120a of the rear guider 120 includes a portion that overlaps with the fan 200 when the fan 200 is viewed from the air outlet 113 side (below). The downstream portion 120a of the rear guider 120 is not limited to the above configuration, and may include at least the downstream end of the rear guider 120.

[0033] As described above, the indoor unit main body 110 is detachable from the main body frame 150 by making the blow-out side frame 160 constituting a part of the second air passage P2 detachable, so that the tongue portion 132 of the stabilizer 130 is detachable, and the downstream portion 120a of the rear guider 120 is detachable. Specifically, the blow-out side frame 160 has the tongue portion 132 of the stabilizer 130 and the downstream portion 120a of the rear guider 120, and the main body frame 150 has the guide portion 131 of the stabilizer 130 and the upstream portion 120b of the rear guider 120. As a result, by removing the blow-out side frame 160 from the main body frame 150, the opening area from the fan 200 to the air outlet 113 can be widened, and a member that is likely to be an obstacle when accessing the fan 200 from the air outlet 113 can be removed, so that the cleaning ability of the fan 200 can be improved.

[0034] The configuration of the main body frame 150 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the opening 150a has a first wall 151 located outside the tongue portion 132 of the blowing side frame 160 when the blowing side frame 160 is attached, a second wall 152 facing the first wall 151 and located outside the rear guider 120 (downstream portion 120a) of the blowing side frame 160, and a pair of third walls 153 facing each side wall 140 of the blowing side frame 160.

[0036] The first wall 151 is a wall surface extending substantially upward from the guide portion 131 of the main body frame 150. When the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150, the tongue portion 132 of the first wall 151 is positioned on the inside. In this state, the guide portion 131 of the main body frame 150 and the guide portion 131 of the blow-out side frame 160 are substantially flush with each other. A drain pan 115a that receives condensation water from the heat exchanger 115 is provided in the front upper portion of the first wall 151.

[0037] The second wall 152 is a wall surface formed to be recessed rearward. When the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150, the rear guider 120 (downstream side portion 120a) is located inside the second wall 152. In this state, the upstream side portion 120b of the main body frame 150 and the downstream side portion 120a of the blow-out side frame 160 are approximately flush with each other.

[0038] The third wall 153 is a wall surface formed to be recessed outward. When the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150, the side wall 140 of the blow-out side frame 160 is located inside the third wall 153. In this state, the side wall 140 of the main body frame 150 and the side wall 140 of the blow-out side frame 160 are approximately flush with each other.

[0039] In a state in which the blow-out side frame 160 is removed from the main body frame 150, the distance between the first wall 151 and the second wall 152 facing each other is larger than the diameter of the fan 200. This allows the fan 200 to be taken out to the outside of the indoor unit main body 110 through the opening 150a.

[0040] Furthermore, first wall 151 and second wall 152 are provided in a direction in which air outlet 113 is located relative to fan 200 (in the vertical direction in this embodiment) so as not to overlap with fan 200, and therefore, when fan 200 is viewed through opening 150a, the front end and rear end of fan 200 are exposed, not hidden, and therefore accessibility to fan 200 can be improved. Therefore, for example, fan 200 can be held with one hand and rotated appropriately while cleaning the outer periphery of fan 200 with the other hand, thereby improving the cleanability of fan 200.

[0041] The configuration of the blowing side frame 160 will be described below with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blowing side frame 160 as viewed from the outside. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the blowing side frame 160 as viewed from the inside.

[0042] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the blowing side frame 160 has a tongue portion 132 (front frame), a downstream portion 120a (rear frame) of the rear guider 120, one side wall 140 (left frame), and the other side wall 140 (right frame).

[0043] An airflow direction changing unit 121 is provided on the air outlet frame 160. The airflow direction changing unit 121 changes the direction of air blown out from the air outlet 113 to the left and right. The airflow direction changing unit 121 changes the direction of air blown out from the air outlet 113 to the left and right by swinging a plurality of air direction plates 122 arranged side by side in the left-right direction on the rear guider 120 in a coordinated manner to the left and right.

[0044] The other side wall 140 (right frame) is provided with a flange 161 that covers the motor 210 of the fan 200 from the outside. The flange 161 is a plate-shaped member that extends rightward from the other side wall 140. When the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150, the flange 161 covers the motor 210 of the fan 200 from the outside, thereby dividing the blowing portion and the portion housing the motor 210 in the indoor unit main body 110, thereby improving the airtightness of the second air passage P2. In addition, when the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150, the flange 161 serves as a mark for positioning, improving the ease of attachment of the blow-out side frame 160.

[0045] The blowing side frame 160 has a reinforcing member 162 that connects the stabilizer 130 (the tongue portion 132) and the rear guider 120 (the downstream portion 120a) so as to divide the air outlet 160a in the left-right direction. The reinforcing member 162 is provided in the approximate center of the air outlet 160a in the left-right direction. This can increase the rigidity of the blowing side frame 160.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the reinforcing member 162 is provided with a support shaft 163 that supports the second air guide plate 114b rotatably around the rotation axis S2. The support shaft 163 is, for example, a shaft portion extending laterally from a side surface of the reinforcing member 162. The support shaft 163 is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis S2 in a state in which the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150 (see FIG. 2). The support shaft 163 can be attached to a bearing (not shown) formed inside the second air guide plate 114b. This can prevent the middle part of the second air guide plate 114b from bending due to its own weight. In addition, by providing the support shaft 163 to the blow-out side frame 160 with increased rigidity, the middle part of the second air guide plate 114b can be stably supported.

[0047] Although the support shaft 163 is preferably provided on the reinforcing member 162, it is sufficient if the support shaft 163 can support the middle part in the left-right direction of the second air guide plate 114b rotatably around the rotation axis S2, and may be provided on any of the tongue part 132 (front frame) of the blow-out side frame 160, the downstream part 120a (rear frame) of the rear guider 120, one side wall 140 (left frame), and the other side wall 140 (right frame). In addition, in this embodiment, the support shaft 163 that supports the second air guide plate 114b rotatably around the rotation axis S2 is provided, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a support shaft that supports the first air guide plate 114a rotatably around the rotation axis S1 may be provided.

[0048] The following describes a configuration for attaching and detaching the blowing side frame 160 to the main body frame 150.

[0049] In the indoor unit body 110, in a state where the rear guider 120 (downstream portion 120a) side of the blow-out side frame 160 is supported on the main body frame 150, the stabilizer 130 (tongue 132) side of the blow-out side frame 160 is locked to the main body frame 150, so that the blow-out side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150. The rear guider 120 (downstream portion 120a) side of the blow-out side frame 160 refers to the opposite side to the tongue 132 (front frame) with the air outlet 160a in between. The stabilizer 130 (tongue 132) side of the blow-out side frame 160 refers to the opposite side to the downstream portion 120a (rear frame) with the air outlet 160a in between.

[0050] First, a configuration for supporting the blow-out side frame 160 rotatably around the rotation axis S3 relative to the main body frame 150 will be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 9. Fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the indoor unit main body 110 showing a state in which the blow-out side frame 160 is rotatably supported. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit main body 110 cut along a vertical plane passing through the rotation axis S3. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the support portion 155 of the main body frame 150. Fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the support portion 155 of the main body frame 150. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view cut along a vertical plane passing through the support portion 155.

[0051] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the indoor unit main body 110 has a rotation axis S3 that is provided on the blowing side frame 160 and is parallel to the axial direction of the fan 200, and a support part 155 that is provided on the main body frame 150 and supports the blowing side frame 160 so that it can rotate around the rotation axis S3.

[0052] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the blowing side frame 160 has a rotation shaft S3 provided on the downstream portion 120a (rear frame) side of the rear guider 120. The rotation shaft S3 is provided so as to connect the tip portions of a pair of ribs 164 extending rearward from the downstream portion 120a (rear frame) of the rear guider 120. The pair of ribs 164 face each other with a gap in between in the left-right direction. Each rib 164 is provided so as to incline downward as it approaches rearward when the blowing side frame 160 is attached to the main body frame 150. In this embodiment, three rotation shafts S3 are provided on the left and right along the downstream portion 120a (rear frame) of the rear guider 120.

[0053] 8 and 9, the main body frame 150 has support parts 155 that support the blowing side frame 160 rotatably around the rotation axis S3. The support parts 155 are provided on the second wall 152 of the main body frame 150. The support parts 155 are grooves that are recessed toward the rear. In this example, three support parts 155 are provided corresponding to the number of the rotation axes S3.

[0054] The support portion 155 has an opening 155a for inserting the rotating shaft S3, a guide portion 155b for guiding the rotating shaft S3 to the support position, and a protrusion portion 155c for preventing the rotating shaft S3 from moving out of the support position.

[0055] The opening 155a opens substantially forward. The guide portion 155b is an inclined surface that slopes obliquely downward from an upper opening end that defines the opening 155a toward the rear. A lower opening edge that defines the opening 155a slopes downward toward the front. The guide portion 155b is provided in the center of the support portion 155 in the left-right direction. The protrusion portion 155c is provided so as to protrude downward from the upper wall of the support portion 155. The protrusion portion 155c is provided further rearward than the guide portion 155b. The protruding end of the protrusion portion 155c is provided so that the distance between the protruding end and the lower wall that defines the support portion 155 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the rotation axis S3.

[0056] In the above configuration, when the rotating shaft S3 is inserted into the support portion 155, the rotating shaft S3 is guided along the guide portion 155b to the lower and rear side of the support portion 155. Then, when the rotating shaft S3 is pushed rearward, it passes through the protrusion 155c and is rotatably supported in an area surrounded by the protrusion 155c and the rear wall (bottom wall) and lower wall of the support portion 155. This area is referred to as the support position (holding position). As described above, the protrusion 155c is provided so as to have a width slightly smaller than the diameter of the rotating shaft S3, so that a clicking sensation can be obtained when the rotating shaft S3 fits into the support position (holding position).

[0057] Next, a locking mechanism that locks the blow-out side frame 160 to the main body frame 150 will be described with reference to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the claw portion 166 of the blow-out side frame 160. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view cut along a vertical plane passing through the axis of the claw portion 166. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the third wall 153 of the main body frame 150.

[0058] The indoor unit main body 110 has, as a locking mechanism, an operation unit 165 (see FIG. 5) provided on the blowing side frame 160 and accepting a sliding operation by the user, a claw portion 166 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 10) provided on the blowing side frame 160 and moving in conjunction with the sliding operation of the operation unit 165, a biasing member 167 (see FIG. 10) that biases the operation unit 165 and the claw portion 166 in a predetermined direction, and a locking portion 156 (see FIG. 11) provided on the main body frame 150 and capable of locking the claw portion 166.

[0059] The operation unit 165 is, for example, a knob that allows a user to perform a sliding operation in the left-right direction. The operation unit 165 is provided on the guide portion 131 of the blowing side frame 160. Specifically, the operation unit 165 is provided on each end of the guide portion 131 in the left-right direction.

[0060] The claw portion 166 is, for example, a shaft portion whose axial direction is the left-right direction. The outer end surface of the claw portion 166 has a shape that is obliquely cut out so that the axial length becomes shorter from the lower side to the upper side. The claw portion 166 is provided on one side wall 140 (left frame) and the other side wall 140 (right frame) of the blowing side frame 160, respectively.

[0061] The claw portion 166 moves in the left-right direction in conjunction with a sliding operation of the operation portion 165. In this embodiment, the claw portion 166 is molded integrally with the operation portion 165. The claw portion 166, together with the operation portion 165, is supported on one side wall 140 (left frame) and the other side wall 140 (right frame) of the blowing side frame 160 so as to be movable in the left-right direction.

[0062] 10, the biasing member 167 biases, for example, the operation unit 165 and the claw portion 166 outward. This state is also referred to as the initial state. In the initial state, each claw portion 166 protrudes outward from each side wall 140. When the user slides the operation unit 165 inward from the initial state, each claw portion 166 is moved against the biasing force of the biasing member 167 so as to be positioned more inward than each side wall 140. Then, when the user's sliding operation of the operation unit 165 is released, the biasing force of the biasing member 167 causes the claw portion 166 to return to the initial state again.

[0063] 11, the locking portions 156 are provided, for example, on one third wall 153 and the other third wall 153 of the main body frame 150, respectively. Each locking portion 156 is, for example, a groove recessed outwardly provided on the corresponding third wall 153. Each locking portion 156 is provided at an appropriate position on the third wall 153 (above the front end portion of the third wall 153 in this embodiment) so that the blowing side frame 160 can be locked at a predetermined position. The position at which the blowing side frame 160 is locked is also referred to as a locking position.

[0064] The following describes a method of attaching the blowing side frame 160 to the main body frame 150. First, the blowing side frame 160 is supported rotatably around the rotation axis S3 relative to the main body frame 150. Then, when the tongue portion 132 (front frame) side of the blowing side frame 160 is rotated upward to the locking position, the claw portion 166 is locked to the locking portion 156, and the blowing side frame 160 is attached (locked) to the main body frame 150.

[0065] In addition, the outer end surfaces of the claws 166 have a shape that is obliquely cut out so that the axial length becomes shorter from the bottom to the top, so that when the blow-out side frame 160 is rotated upward, the outer end surfaces of the claws 166 can abut against a step portion that forms the lower edge portion of the third wall 153. As a result, when the blow-out side frame 160 is rotated upward, the outer end surfaces of the claws 166 can be pushed inward by the step portion, so that the blow-out side frame 160 can be rotated upward to the locking position without sliding the operating unit 165.

[0066] Furthermore, when the claw portions 166 are engaged with the locking portions 156, the outer end faces of the claw portions 166 do not abut against the step portions that form the lower edge of the locking portions 156, but the outer circumferential surfaces of the claw portions 166 abut against the step portions that form the lower edge of the locking portions 156, thereby maintaining the locked state between the locking portions 156 and the claw portions 166. This makes it possible to prevent the blowing side frame 160 from coming off the main body frame 150.

[0067] Next, a method for removing the blow-out side frame 160 from the main body frame 150 will be described. First, the user slides the pair of left and right operation parts 165 inward, thereby releasing the engagement between the claw parts 166 and the engagement parts 156, and it becomes possible to rotate the tongue part 132 (front frame) side of the blow-out side frame 160 downward. Then, by rotating the tongue part 132 (front frame) side of the blow-out side frame 160 downward and pulling the blow-out side frame 160 out forward and downward relative to the main body frame 150, the blow-out side frame 160 can be removed from the main body frame 150.

[0068] As described above, by fixing the tongue portion 132 (front frame) side of the blowing side frame 160 to the main body frame 150, the tongue portion 132, which requires accurate positioning relative to the fan 200, can be fixed in the desired position, thereby effectively stabilizing the vortex generated near the outer periphery of the fan 200.

[0069] The indoor unit body 110 is provided with a guide mechanism that guides the tongue portion 132 (front frame) side of the blow-out side frame 160 toward a locking position where it can be locked relative to the main body frame 150 when the blow-out side frame 160 is supported rotatably around the rotation axis S3.

[0070] The guide mechanism will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 11. The indoor unit body 110 has, as a guide mechanism, claw portions 168 (see Figures 5 and 6) provided on the blow-out side frame 160, and groove portions 157 (see Figure 11) provided on the body frame 150, into which the claw portions 168 can be inserted.

[0071] The claw portion 168 is, for example, a shaft portion whose axial direction is the left-right direction. The outer end surface of the claw portion 168 is a surface that is approximately perpendicular to the axial direction. The claw portion 168 is provided on one side wall 140 (left frame) and the other side wall 140 (right frame) of the blowing side frame 160. The claw portion 168 always protrudes outward from each side wall 140.

[0072] The groove portion 157 is provided, for example, in one third wall 153 and the other third wall 153 of the main body frame 150. Each groove portion 157 is, for example, a groove recessed outwardly provided in the corresponding third wall 153. The groove portion 157 has a first groove portion 157a extending along the direction in which the blow-out side frame 160 rotates around the rotation axis S3 from the locking position as viewed in the axial direction of the rotation axis S3, and a second groove portion 157b continuing from the first groove portion 157a and extending in a direction intersecting the first groove portion 157a and away from the support portion 155 as viewed in the axial direction of the rotation axis S3.

[0073] The first groove portion 157a is a groove having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the claw portion 168. The first groove portion 157a is formed along the rotation trajectory of the claw portion 168 rotating around the rotation axis S3.

[0074] The second groove 157b is a groove that extends in a direction intersecting with the first groove 157a and in a direction away from the support 155. In this embodiment, the end of the second groove 157b opposite the connection portion with the first groove 157a is open. The second groove 157b has a shape that widens from the connection portion with the first groove 157a toward the open end. In this example, the direction away from the support 155 is a diagonally downward front direction, which refers to the direction in which the lower open end that defines the opening 155a of the support 155 is inclined.

[0075] As described above, by forming the first groove portion 157a and the second groove portion 157b in different directions, a step is generated between the end portion of the first groove portion 157a and the start end portion of the second groove portion 157b, so that even if the hand is accidentally released while rotating the blow-out side frame 160 along the first groove portion 157a, the blow-out side frame 160 is likely to get caught on the step, and it is possible to prevent the blow-out side frame 160 from falling. Therefore, it is possible to improve safety when attaching and detaching the blow-out side frame 160.

[0076] It should be noted that although the claw portions 168 are provided on the blowing side frame 160, this is not limiting and they may be provided on the main body frame 150. In this case, it is sufficient that the groove portions 157 are provided on the blowing side frame 160.

[0077] Next, the overall configuration of the fan 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 100 showing the fan 200. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view cut along a vertical plane passing through the center line L1 of the fan 200. The fan 200 is a cross-flow fan. The fan 200 is supported by the indoor unit body 110 and extends in the left-right direction.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 12, the fan 200 has, for example, a pair of end plates 201, one or more support plates 202 arranged at a predetermined interval between the pair of end plates 201, and a plurality of blades 203 respectively spanning between the end plate 201 and the support plate 202 adjacent to the end plate 201, and between adjacent support plates 202.

[0079] Each end plate 201 and each support plate 202 is a flat plate with a circular outer shape. Each end plate 201 and each support plate 202 are arranged so that their centers are aligned on the same straight line. The straight line connecting the centers of each plate is the center line L1 of the fan 200. Hereinafter, the end plate 201 located on one side (in this embodiment, the left side) will also be referred to as the first end plate 201L, and the end plate 201 located on the other side (in this embodiment, the right side) will also be referred to as the second end plate 201R.

[0080] Each end plate 201 is, for example, a flat plate formed in a circular shape. The first end plate 201L has a shaft portion 201a that protrudes outward (leftward in this embodiment). The shaft portion 201a is arranged on the center line L1 of the fan 200. The shaft portion 201a is rotatably supported by a bearing member 141 formed on the inner side surface of the indoor unit body 110. The second end plate 201R is provided with a boss portion 201b for fixing the output shaft 210a of the motor 210. The boss portion 201b is provided so as to protrude inward from the inner side surface of the second end plate 201R. The output shaft 210a of the motor 210 and the second end plate 201R are fixed by fastening a screw into a screw hole formed in the boss portion 201b.

[0081] Each support plate 202 is, for example, a flat plate formed in an annular shape. Each support plate 202 has, for example, at least a circular opening (not shown) centered on the center line L1 and an annular portion (not shown) surrounding the periphery of the opening (not shown).

[0082] The blades 203 are bridged between adjacent plates. The blades 203 are supported between the adjacent plates, for example, by being fitted into grooves formed in the corresponding plates. The blades 203 are arranged side by side at intervals in the circumferential direction around the center line L1 of the fan 200. Each blade 203 is a plate-like member extending parallel to the center line L1. Each blade 203 is curved in an arc that bulges out in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the fan 200 from the end located on the central side toward the end located on the outer periphery side.

[0083] In the above configuration, the fan 200 receives power from the motor 210 and rotates about the center line L1, thereby generating an airflow from the air inlet 111 toward the air outlet 113.

[0084] The separated configuration of the fan 200 will be described with reference to Figure 13. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 100 showing a state in which the first fan 200a has been removed. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane passing through the center line L1 of the fan 200.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 13, the fan 200 can be separated into multiple fan pieces. The fan 200 is configured as a cross-flow fan by combining multiple fan pieces. The fan 200 has, for example, a first fan 200a and a second fan 200b that can be separated in the longitudinal direction (in this example, the left-right direction). The first fan 200a is a fan piece located on one side in the left-right direction (in this embodiment, the left side). The second fan 200b is a fan piece located on the other side in the left-right direction (in this embodiment, the right side) and fixed to the output shaft 210a of the motor 210.

[0086] The fan 200 is divided into left and right halves at any one or more support plates 202. Of the divided support plates 202, the plate located on one side (in this embodiment, the left side) is referred to as a first connecting plate 204, and the plate located on the other side (in this embodiment, the right side) is referred to as a second connecting plate 205. In this embodiment, the fan 200 is divided into left and right halves at the support plate located on the rightmost side.

[0087] The first fan 200a has a first end plate 201L, a plurality of support plates 202 arranged at predetermined intervals along the other side from the first end plate 201L, a first connecting plate 204 located at the other end, and a plurality of blades 203 each spanning between adjacent plates.

[0088] The second fan 200b has a second end plate 201R, a second connecting plate 205 arranged at a predetermined interval along one side from the second end plate 201R, and a plurality of blades 203 bridged between the second end plate 201R and the second connecting plate 205.

[0089] The connection portion 220 that connects the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b will be described with reference to Figs. 14 and 15. Fig. 14 is a side view showing the first surface of the first fan 200a. Fig. 14 is a view of the first fan 200a as viewed from the outside (right side). Fig. 15 is a side view showing the second surface of the second fan 200b. Fig. 15 is a view of the second fan 200b as viewed from the outside (left side). Fig. 16 is a side view of the first connecting plate 204 and the second connecting plate 205 showing a state in which the first connecting plate 204 and the second connecting plate 205 are connected. Fig. 16 is a view of the first connecting plate 204 and the second connecting plate 205 as viewed from the left side.

[0090] The connection portion 220 connects a first surface of the first fan 200a that faces the second fan 200b (in this embodiment, the outer surface of the first connecting plate 204) to a second surface of the second fan 200b that faces the first fan 200a (in this embodiment, the outer surface of the second connecting plate 205).

[0091] The connection portion 220 has, for example, a plurality of first magnets 220a provided on the first connection plate 204 and a plurality of second magnets 220b provided on the second connection plate 205.

[0092] 14, the first connecting plate 204 is, for example, a flat plate formed in an annular shape. The first connecting plate 204 has, for example, an opening 204a that communicates between the inside and the outside of the first fan 200a, and an annular portion 204b that surrounds the periphery of the opening 204a.

[0093] The multiple first magnets 220a are provided on the outer surface of the first connection plate 204. Specifically, the multiple first magnets 220a are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the annular portion 204b of the first connection plate 204. In this embodiment, four first magnets 220a are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0094] 15, the second connecting plate 205 is, for example, a flat plate formed in a substantially annular shape. The second connecting plate 205 has, for example, an opening 205a that connects the inside and outside of the second fan 200b, an annular portion 205b that surrounds the periphery of the opening 205a, and a guard 205c that closes a part of the opening 205a. The specific shape of the guard 205c will be described later.

[0095] The second magnets 220b are provided on the outer surface of the second connection plate 205. Specifically, the second magnets 220b are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the annular portion 205b of the second connection plate 205. The number of the second magnets 220b is the same as the number of the first magnets 220a. That is, the interval at which the second magnets 220b are arranged in the circumferential direction is the same as the interval at which the first magnets 220a are arranged in the circumferential direction.

[0096] In the above configuration, the first magnet 220a and the second magnet 220b attract each other, thereby connecting the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b with the first surface (the outer surface of the first connecting plate 204) and the second surface (the outer surface of the second connecting plate 205) facing each other.

[0097] Moreover, the first magnet 220a and the second magnet 220b are disposed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the corresponding connecting plate so that the circumferential position of the second surface relative to the first surface is a predetermined position. As a result, the first magnet 220a and the second magnet 220b attract each other by magnetic force, so that the first surface and the second surface are connected, and the circumferential position of the second surface relative to the first surface is determined. Therefore, the positions of the multiple blades 203 constituting the first fan 200a and the multiple blades 203 constituting the second fan 200b can be connected at predetermined positions, so that resonance caused by the positions of the multiple adjacent blades 203 being shifted from the predetermined positions can be prevented.

[0098] Note that, although the connection portion 220 has a first magnet 220a and a second magnet 220b, this is not limited thereto, and for example, it is sufficient that the first surface (the outer surface of the first connecting plate 204) of the first fan 200a and the second surface (the outer surface of the second connecting plate 205) of the second fan 200b are connected opposite each other, and the circumferential position of the second surface (the outer surface of the second connecting plate 205) relative to the first surface (the outer surface of the first connecting plate 204) is connected at a predetermined position.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 16, the fan 200 has a restricting unit 230 that restricts the first fan 200a from rotating in a predetermined direction relative to the second fan 200b when the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b are connected. The rotation directions of the fan 200 include a first direction C1 and a second direction C2 that are opposite to each other (see FIG. 16). The first direction C1 is the direction in which the fan 200 rotates in various operation modes such as cooling, heating, and dehumidification. The second direction C2 is the direction opposite to the first direction C1. The restricting unit 230 restricts the first fan 200a from rotating in the first direction C1 relative to the second fan 200b.

[0100] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the regulating portion 230 has a plurality of protrusions 231 provided on one of the fan pieces, the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b, and a plurality of grooves 232 provided on the other fan piece that engages each of the protrusions 231.

[0101] 14, the multiple grooves 232 are provided on the outer surface of the first connecting plate 204. Specifically, the multiple grooves 232 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the annular portion 204b of the first connecting plate 204. The grooves 232 are, for example, through holes formed in the annular portion 204b. In this embodiment, four grooves 232 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Note that the grooves 232 are not limited to holes, and may be recesses.

[0102] 15, the multiple protrusions 231 are provided, for example, on the outer surface of the second connecting plate 205. Specifically, the multiple protrusions 231 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the annular portion 205b of the second connecting plate 205. Each protrusion 231 protrudes outward. The number of protrusions 231 is the same as the number of grooves 232, and four protrusions 231 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 16, in a state in which the first connecting plate 204 and the second connecting plate 205 are connected, the protrusions 231 corresponding to the plurality of grooves 232 are inserted and locked, respectively.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 16, the groove 232 is a groove extending in the circumferential direction of the fan 200. In a state where the first connecting plate 204 and the second connecting plate 205 are connected, the protrusion 231 is engaged with an end of the groove 232 on the second direction C2 side. In this state, in the groove 232, there is no space on the second direction C2 side of the protrusion 231 in which the protrusion 231 can move, and there is a space S4 on the first direction C1 side of the protrusion 231 in which the protrusion 231 can move. The space S4 is set to a length such that when the protrusion 231 moves in the second direction C2 along the inside of the groove 232, the attraction between the first magnet 220a and the second magnet 220b due to the magnetic force disappears.

[0105] In the above configuration, when the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b are connected, the restriction portion 230 allows the first fan 200a to rotate relative to the second fan 200b only in the second direction C2. By rotating the first fan 200a relative to the second fan 200b in the second direction C2 and moving the protrusion 231 in the groove portion 232 toward the second direction C2, the attraction between the first magnet 220a and the second magnet 220b due to the magnetic force disappears, and the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b can be removed.

[0106] On the other hand, when the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b are connected, if an attempt is made to rotate the first fan 200a relative to the second fan 200b in the first direction C1, the protrusion 231 comes into contact with the end of the groove portion 232 on the second direction C2 side, thereby restricting the rotation of the first fan 200a in the first direction C1.

[0107] As described above, the connection between the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b can be released by rotating the first fan 200a relative to the second fan 200b in the direction opposite to the normal rotation direction of the fan 200. Furthermore, since the rotation of the first fan 200a relative to the second fan 200b in the first direction C1, which is the normal rotation direction of the fan 200, is restricted, even if a force that rotates the first fan 200a in the first direction C1 acts on the first fan 200a during normal operation of the fan 200, the connection between the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b can be prevented from being released.

[0108] Guard 205c of second connecting plate 205 will be described with reference to Fig. 15. Fig. 15 is a side view of second connecting plate 205 showing guard 205c.

[0109] The guard 205c has an annular portion 206 disposed within the opening 205a, and a plurality of ribs 207 that are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and bridge between the annular portion 206 and the annular portion 205b. Each of the plurality of ribs 207 extends from the inner side to the outer side in the radial direction and is inclined with respect to the radial direction.

[0110] As described above, the second fan 200b has the guard 205c that blocks a part of the opening 205a, which prevents a user from inserting a hand, finger, etc. into the inside of the second fan 200b through the opening 205a of the second fan 200b when the first fan 200a is detached from the indoor unit body 110. This prevents the user's hand, finger, etc. from touching the output shaft 210a of the motor 210.

[0111] Each of the ribs 207 extends from the inside to the outside in the radial direction and is inclined with respect to the radial direction. This makes it possible to stabilize a forced vortex of air that occurs between the inside of the first fan 200a and the inside of the second fan 200b when the fan 200 rotates while the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b are connected, thereby making it possible to suppress a decrease in performance of the fan 200.

[0112] Although the guard 205c has the annular portion 206 and the plurality of ribs 207, the present invention is not limited to this and may have, for example, a configuration including only the plurality of ribs 207.

[0113] Next, a method of attaching and detaching the first fan 200a to and from the indoor unit body 110 will be described with reference to Figs. 17 and 18. Fig. 17 is a front schematic diagram showing the bearing member 141. Fig. 18A is a schematic front view of the indoor unit body 110 showing a state in which the first fan 200a is attached. Fig. 18B is a schematic front view of the indoor unit body 110 showing a state in which the first fan 200a is pushed in one direction in a state in which the connection between the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b is released. Fig. 18C is a schematic front view of the indoor unit body 110 showing a state in which one end of the first fan 200a is tilted.

[0114] The first fan 200a is provided detachably to the indoor unit body 110 in a state in which the second fan 200b is attached to the indoor unit body 110.

[0115] 17, one end of the first fan 200a in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in this embodiment) is supported so as to be movable in the left-right direction relative to the indoor unit body 110. A bearing 201c is provided on the shaft portion 201a of the first fan 200a. The bearing 201c is positioned by a retaining ring 201d. The bearing 201c of the first fan 200a is supported so as to be movable in the left-right direction relative to a bearing member 141 provided on the inner surface of the indoor unit body 110.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 17, the bearing member 141 has a long hole extending in the left-right direction. The bearing member 141 is formed of a resin with high slidability, such as Polyslider (registered trademark). The bearing member 141 has a main body portion 141a that supports the bearing 201c so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and an expanded portion 141b that is formed so as to be able to tilt the first fan 200a with one end of the first fan 200a as a fulcrum. The main body portion 141a is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends open and a constant inner diameter. The expanded portion 141b is formed continuously inside the main body portion 141a, and is formed so that the inner diameter gradually expands. The main body portion 141a and the expanded portion 141b are provided so that their central axes coincide with each other.

[0117] A method for removing the first fan 200a will be described below with reference to Figure 18. As shown in Figure 18A, the first fan 200a is attached to the indoor unit body 110. Figure 18A shows a state in which the air guide plate 114 and the blow-out side frame 160 have been removed from the indoor unit body 110. In Figure 18A, by removing the blow-out side frame 160, an opening 150a through which the first fan 200a can be removed is provided on the bottom surface of the indoor unit body 110.

[0118] In the state shown in FIG. 18A, the first fan 200a is rotated in the second direction C2 relative to the second fan 200b to release the connection between the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b. After that, the first fan 200a is pushed leftward to create a gap between the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b (the state shown in FIG. 18B). Then, the first connecting plate 204 side of the first fan 200a is tilted downward with one end of the first fan 200a as a fulcrum, so that the first connecting plate 204 side is exposed to the outside of the indoor unit body 110 through the opening 150a (the state shown in FIG. 18C). Then, the shaft portion 201a of the first fan 200a is pulled out of the bearing member 141, so that the first fan 200a is removed from the indoor unit body 110 through the opening 150a. The method of mounting the first fan 200a to the indoor unit body 110 is the reverse of the above-mentioned removal method, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0119] As described above, the first fan 200a is detachably provided on the indoor unit body 110 in a state where the second fan 200b is attached to the indoor unit body 110, so that the first fan 200a can be removed while leaving the second fan 200b surrounding the output shaft 210a of the motor 210. This allows the removed first fan 200a to be sufficiently cleaned. In addition, since the output shaft 210a of the motor 210 is surrounded by the second fan 200b, the output shaft 210a is not exposed inside the indoor unit body 110, and the output shaft 210a is not exposed to the user's fingers, so that it is safe.

[0120] Furthermore, when the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b are disconnected, the fan 200 can be pushed to one side (left) in the first direction (left-right direction) so that the other end (right end) in the first direction (left-right direction) can be tilted with respect to the first direction (left-right direction) with one end (left end) in the first direction (left-right direction) as a fulcrum. This allows the first fan 200a to be removed from the opening 150a on the air outlet 113 side of the indoor unit body 110 even if the fan 200 is placed in a space with no space on the left or right.

[0121] In the above configuration, the fan 200 is separated into left and right halves at the support plate 202, but this is not limiting. For example, the fan 200 may be separated into left and right halves at a plurality of blades 203, or separated diagonally across the support plate 202. Even in this case, a connecting plate may be provided on each separation surface.

[0122] Also, while fan 200 is configured to be separable into two fan pieces, the present invention is not limited to this and fan 200 may be configured to be separable into three or more fan pieces. In this case, first fan 200a may be further configured to be separable into a plurality of fan pieces. In this case as well, the separated fan pieces may be configured to be connected to each other by connector 220.

[0123] In the above configuration, indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner includes indoor unit body 110 having inlet 111 and outlet 113, and cross-flow fan 200 supported by indoor unit body 110 and extending in a first direction (left-right direction). Cross-flow fan 200 is configured to be separable into first fan 200a located on one side in the first direction (left-right direction) and second fan 200b located on the other side in the first direction (left-right direction) and fixed to motor 210. First fan 200a is provided detachably to indoor unit body 110 in a state in which second fan 200b is attached to indoor unit body 110.

[0124] As described above, the first fan 200a is detachably provided on the indoor unit body 110 in a state in which the second fan 200b is attached to the indoor unit body 110, so that the first fan 200a can be removed while leaving the second fan 200b surrounding the output shaft 210a of the motor 210. This allows the first fan 200a to be sufficiently cleaned, and the output shaft 210a is not exposed inside the indoor unit body 110, so that it is safe as the user's fingers will not touch the output shaft 210a.

[0125] First fan 200a includes a first surface facing second fan 200b, and second fan 200b includes a second surface facing first fan 200a. Cross-flow fan 200 has connection part 220 that connects the first surface of first fan 200a to the second surface of second fan 200b and determines the circumferential position of the second surface relative to the first surface. This allows multiple blades 203 constituting first fan 200a and multiple blades 203 constituting second fan 200b to be connected at predetermined positions, preventing resonance caused by adjacent multiple blades 203 being misaligned from the predetermined positions.

[0126] In cross-flow fan 200, the connection between first fan 200a and second fan 200b is released by rotating first fan 200a in a predetermined direction relative to second fan 200b, the predetermined direction being opposite to the rotation direction of cross-flow fan 200 during normal operation. This makes it possible to prevent first fan 200a and second fan 200b from becoming disconnected even if a force acting to rotate first fan 200a in first direction C1 is applied to cross-flow fan 200 during normal operation.

[0127] One end of the first fan 200a in a first direction (left-right direction) is supported movably in the first direction (left-right direction) with respect to the indoor unit body 110, and when the first fan 200a and the second fan 200b are disconnected, the first fan 200a can be pushed to one side in the first direction (left-right direction) so that the other end in the first direction (left-right direction) can be tilted with respect to the first direction (left-right direction) with the one end in the first direction (left-right direction) as a fulcrum. This allows the first fan 200a to be removed from the opening 150a on the air outlet 113 side of the indoor unit body 110 even if the cross-flow fan 200 is arranged in a space with no space on the left and right.

[0128] The second surface has an opening 205a that connects the inside and outside of the second fan 200b, and a guard 205c that blocks a part of the opening 205a, thereby preventing a user from inserting a hand, finger, or the like into the inside of the second fan 200b through the opening 205a of the second fan 200b.

[0129] Guard 205c has a plurality of ribs 207 arranged in the circumferential direction on the second surface, each of which extends from the inside to the outside in the radial direction and is inclined relative to the radial direction. This makes it possible to stabilize a forced vortex of air that is generated between the inside of first fan 200a and the inside of second fan 200b when cross-flow fan 200 rotates while first fan 200a and second fan 200b are connected, thereby suppressing a decrease in performance of cross-flow fan 200.

[0130] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above-described embodiment may be replaced with a configuration that is substantially the same as the configuration shown in the above-described embodiment, a configuration that provides the same effect, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 100 Indoor unit, 110 Indoor unit body, 111 Intake port, 113 Outlet port, 200 Fan, 200a First fan, 200b Second fan, 205a Opening, 205c Guard, 207 Rib, 210 Motor, 220 Connection part

Claims

1. An indoor unit main body having an intake port and an exhaust port; a cross-flow fan supported by the indoor unit body and extending in a first direction, the cross-flow fan is configured to be separable into a first fan located on one side in the first direction and a second fan located on the other side in the first direction and fixed to a motor, The first fan is detachably provided in the indoor unit body in a state in which the second fan is attached to the indoor unit body.

2. the first fan includes a first surface facing the second fan; the second fan includes a second surface facing the first fan; 2. The indoor unit of an air conditioner as described in claim 1, wherein the cross-flow fan has a connection portion that connects a first surface of the first fan and a second surface of the second fan and determines the circumferential position of the second surface relative to the first surface.

3. By rotating the first fan in a predetermined direction relative to the second fan, a connection state between the first fan and the second fan is released, The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined direction is a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the cross-flow fan during normal operation.

4. One end of the first fan in the first direction is supported so as to be movable in the first direction relative to the indoor unit body, 4. The indoor unit of an air conditioner as described in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein when the connection between the first fan and the second fan is released, the first fan can be pushed to one side in the first direction, so that one end in the first direction can be used as a fulcrum and the other end in the first direction can be tilted relative to the first direction.

5. The second surface is an opening portion communicating an inside and an outside of the second fan; The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: a guard that covers a portion of the opening.

6. The guard has a plurality of ribs arranged side by side in a circumferential direction on the second surface, The air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs extends from the inside to the outside in the radial direction and is inclined with respect to the radial direction.

Images