Indoor unit of air conditioner and heat insulating member

Abstract

To provide a technical proposal for an indoor unit of an air conditioner comprising a box-shaped heat insulating member having side surface wall parts and an upper surface wall, and for the box-shaped heat insulating member provided in the indoor unit of this type of air conditioner, which is capable of reducing a height when laminating a plurality of heat insulating members.SOLUTION: An indoor unit of an air conditioner comprises: a housing having side surface wall parts and an upper surface wall part; and a heat insulating member having a heat-insulated side surface wall part along the side surface wall parts of the housing and a heat-insulated upper surface wall part along the upper surface wall part of the housing. A corner part formed by the heat-insulated side surface wall part and the heat-insulated upper surface wall part has a fitting part into which a part of another heat insulating member can be fitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an indoor unit of a ceiling-embedded air conditioner that is embedded in a ceiling of a room, and a heat insulating member provided in the indoor unit of a ceiling-embedded air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] When air conditioning a large space such as a store, for example, the indoor unit of an air conditioner tends to be a ceiling-mounted indoor unit, which can blow conditioned air in multiple directions and reduces the feeling of oppression felt by the occupants, rather than a wall-mounted indoor unit, which is attached to a wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-85002 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A ceiling-mounted indoor unit has a housing that forms the outer shell of the unit and is box-shaped, with side walls and a top wall. The insulating member placed inside the housing also has a box-shaped configuration, with side walls and a top wall. When transporting insulating members as components, for example, by truck, there is a demand for reducing transportation costs by stacking as many insulating members as possible within the height limitations of loading platforms and containers. However, with box-shaped insulating members, the height of the cargo increases by the height of each insulating member stacked. Therefore, it is not easy to increase the number of box-shaped insulating members stacked, making it difficult to reduce transportation costs.

[0005] Therefore, this embodiment provides a technical proposal for an indoor unit of an air conditioner equipped with a box-shaped insulating member having side wall portions and a top wall portion, and for a box-shaped insulating member equipped in an indoor unit of this type of air conditioner, which makes it possible to reduce the height when multiple insulating members are stacked. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to this embodiment comprises a housing having a side wall portion and a top wall portion, and an insulating member having an insulated side wall portion that follows the side wall portion of the housing and an insulated top wall portion that follows the top wall portion of the housing, and an insertion portion is formed in the corner formed by the insulated side wall portion and the insulated top wall portion, into which a part of another insulating member can be inserted.

[0007] The insulating member of this embodiment is an insulating member provided in an indoor unit of an air conditioner whose outer shell is formed by a housing having side wall portions and a top wall portion, and has an insulating side wall portion that follows the side wall portion of the housing and an insulating top wall portion that follows the top wall portion of the housing, and an insertion portion is formed in the corner formed by the insulating side wall portion and the insulated top wall portion so that a part of another insulating member can be inserted into it. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration example of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of a heat insulating member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of a heat insulating member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional side view of the heat insulating member according to the present embodiment, illustrating a fitting step portion and its surrounding area. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of a heat insulating member and a drain pan according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a drain pan is assembled to the heat insulating member according to the embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a state in which a plurality of heat insulating members according to the present embodiment are stacked; [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional side view illustrating a state in which a plurality of heat insulating members according to the present embodiment are stacked. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a comparison of the height when the heat insulating members according to the present embodiment are stacked with the height when conventional heat insulating members are stacked. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a plurality of heat insulating members according to the present embodiment are stacked; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a heat insulating member will be described below with reference to the drawings. The indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 is an indoor unit that is embedded in the ceiling of a room, which is the space to be air-conditioned, that is, a so-called ceiling-embedded indoor unit. The indoor unit 10 includes a housing 11 and a decorative panel 12. The housing 11 is inserted from the indoor side into a rectangular opening (not shown) provided in the ceiling. The housing 11 is then fixed in a suspended state above the ceiling by means of hanging bolts (not shown) or the like. The decorative panel 12 is attached below the housing 11 in a state where it is exposed to the indoor side.

[0010] The decorative panel 12 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape. The decorative panel 12 is provided with an air inlet 13 and an air outlet 14. The air inlet 13 is formed in a generally square shape in the center of the decorative panel 12. The air inlet 13 is configured as a so-called air intake grille that opens in a lattice pattern to allow ventilation. The air outlet 14 forms a long opening along each side of the air inlet 13. The air outlet 14 is provided with rotatable louvers 14a that adjust the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 14.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 11 forms the outer contours of the top and side surfaces of the indoor unit 10. The housing 11 is box-shaped and has side walls 11a, top wall 11b, and a bottom opening 11c. The side walls 11a are provided in a wall-like shape to close the side surfaces of the housing 11. The top wall 11b is provided in a wall-like shape to close the top surface of the housing 11. The bottom opening 11c is a roughly rectangular opening that opens the bottom surface of the housing 11. A decorative panel 12 covers the bottom opening 11c of the housing 11 from below. The housing 11 contains a blower 15, a heat exchanger 16, and the like.

[0012] The blower 15 is disposed in the center of the housing 11. The blower 15 is also disposed above the air inlet 13. The heat exchanger 16 is disposed so as to surround the periphery of the blower 15. The heat exchanger 16 is also disposed above the decorative panel 12, between the air inlet 13 and the air outlet 14. The heat exchanger 16, together with a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown), constitutes a well-known refrigeration cycle and is capable of heating and cooling air.

[0013] As shown by the dashed arrow W in Figure 2, the indoor unit 10 drives the blower 15 to draw in indoor air through the air inlet 13, exchange heat with the drawn-in air through the heat exchanger 16, and blow out the heat-exchanged air from the air outlet 14. This allows the indoor unit 10 to perform air conditioning control to adjust the indoor temperature to a predetermined set temperature.

[0014] The indoor unit 10 also includes a drain pan 17 inside the housing 11. The drain pan 17 is disposed between the decorative panel 12 and the heat exchanger 16. The drain pan 17 is disposed so as to fill the upper portion between the air inlet 13 and the air outlet 14. The drain pan 17 is disposed below the heat exchanger 16 and receives drain water generated from the heat exchanger 16.

[0015] The indoor unit 10 also includes a heat insulating member 100 within the housing 11. The heat insulating member 100 is made of a material with heat insulating properties, such as polystyrene foam. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heat insulating member 100 has a box-like shape with an insulated side wall 100a, an insulated top wall 100b, and an insulated bottom opening 100c. The insulated side wall 100a is provided in the form of a wall that closes the side of the heat insulating member 100. The insulated top wall 100b is provided in the form of a wall that closes the top surface of the heat insulating member 100. The insulated bottom opening 100c is a roughly rectangular opening that exposes the bottom surface of the heat insulating member 100.

[0016] The name "insulating lower surface opening 100c" is intended to refer to an opening provided in the insulating member 100, and is not intended to imply that the insulating lower surface opening 100c has insulating properties.

[0017] When the heat insulating member 100 is placed in the housing 11, the outer surface of the heat insulating side wall 100a is positioned along the inner surface of the side wall 11a of the housing 11. When the heat insulating member 100 is placed in the housing 11, the outer surface of the heat insulating top wall 100b is positioned along the inner surface of the top wall 11b of the housing 11. When the heat insulating member 100 is placed in the housing 11, the heat insulating bottom opening 100c of the heat insulating member 100 is positioned inside the bottom opening 11c of the housing 11.

[0018] A cutout 101 is formed in a portion of the lower end of the heat insulating member 100. The cutout 101 is cut out in a generally trapezoidal shape with the bottom side longer than the top side. The portion of the heat insulating member 100 other than the cutout 101 remains as a wall 102. In other words, the wall 102 extends downward so as to fill the gap between the cutouts 101. The wall 102 also extends downward from the height position of the upper end of the cutout 101.

[0019] The heat insulating member 100 is also configured such that a fitting step 103 is formed at the corner formed by the heat insulating side wall 100a and the heat insulating top wall 100b. The fitting step 103 is an example of a fitting portion. The fitting step 103 is located above the wall 102. In other words, the heat insulating member 100 is configured such that the wall 102 and the fitting step 103 form a pair in the up-down direction. The fitting step 103 also extends in a direction perpendicular to the height direction of the heat insulating member 100.

[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 5 , the fitting step 103 is recessed to form a step toward the inside of the heat insulating member 100. Furthermore, the thickness D1 of the portion of the heat insulating member 100 where the fitting step 103 is formed is exactly or almost the same as the thickness D2 of the portion of the heat insulating member 100 other than the fitting step 103. That is, the portion of the heat insulating member 100 where the fitting step 103 is formed is not thinner than the portions other than the fitting step 103. The portions of the heat insulating member 100 other than the fitting step 103 include, for example, the portions where the insulating side wall 100a is formed and the portions where the insulating top wall 100b is formed. Furthermore, the inner surface N of the portion of the heat insulating member 100 where the fitting step 103 is formed is not stepped, due to the recessed shape of the fitting step 103, but is formed as a smoothly curved surface.

[0021] The recess amount A of the fitting step 103 is determined taking into consideration the thickness of the lower end of the heat insulating member 100 and the thickness of a portion of the drain pan 17. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, an extending wall portion 17a extending upward is provided at a corner of the drain pan 17. The shape of the notch 101 of the heat insulating member 100 corresponds to the shape of this extending wall portion 17a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the drain pan 17 is assembled to the heat insulating member 100, the extending wall portion 17a is fitted into the notch 101 of the heat insulating member 100.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 7, when the drain pan 17 is attached to the heat insulating member 100, the outer surface of the extension wall portion 17a and the outer surface of the heat insulating side wall portion 100a are completely or substantially flush with each other.

[0023] 8 and 9, when the insulating members 100 are transported as parts, for example, by truck, a plurality of the insulating members 100 are stacked vertically. In this case, the insulating members 100 are stacked with the closed insulating top wall 100b facing downward, rather than the open insulating bottom opening 100c. By placing the closed insulating top wall 100b facing downward, the insulating members 100 can be stacked in a more stable state than when the open insulating bottom opening 100c is facing downward.

[0024] When multiple insulating members 100 are stacked, the wall portion 102, which is part of the lower insulating member 100, fits into the fitting step portion 103 of the upper insulating member 100, and the insulating upper wall portion 100b of the upper insulating member 100 is housed within the insulating lower opening portion 100c of the lower insulating member 100. Therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the height Ha when multiple insulating members 100 are stacked can be reduced compared to the height Hz when conventional box-shaped insulating members Z, that is, insulating members Z that do not have a component equivalent to the fitting step portion 103 of the present disclosure, are stacked.

[0025] That is, according to the heat insulating member 100, the fitting step 103 functions as a so-called "overlap margin." Therefore, according to the heat insulating member 100, the number of stacks can be increased even when there are height restrictions, for example, on the loading platform of a truck or a container, and in other words, the number of heat insulating members 100 that can be transported at one time can be increased. Therefore, according to the heat insulating member 100 of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce transportation costs compared to transporting conventional heat insulating members Z.

[0026] 11, when a plurality of insulating members 100 are stacked, the notch 101 of the lower insulating member 100 is not completely filled, and an opening K is formed in part of it. In other words, the length of the fitting step 103 in the height direction of the insulating member 100 is such that when a plurality of insulating members 100 are stacked, not the entire wall portion 102 of the lower insulating member 100 is fitted in, but only a part of the wall portion 102 of the lower insulating member 100, in this case the part that becomes the upper side when stacked, is fitted in.

[0027] Therefore, according to the heat insulating members 100 of the present disclosure, when multiple members are stacked, an opening K can be formed in the cutout 101 of the lower heat insulating member 100. Then, for example, when removing the upper heat insulating member 100 from the lower heat insulating member 100, a worker can insert his or her fingers into this opening K to easily lift and separate the upper heat insulating member 100 from the lower heat insulating member 100. In other words, the opening K can be used as a so-called "handhold."

[0028] Furthermore, the fitting step 103 has a shape that is recessed inward of the heat insulating member 100, but the thickness of the portion of the heat insulating member 100 where the fitting step 103 is formed is completely or almost the same thickness as the thickness of the portion of the heat insulating member 100 other than the fitting step 103. Therefore, even though the fitting step 103 is formed by recessing a portion of the heat insulating member 100 inward, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the heat insulating performance and strength of the portion where the fitting step 103 is formed and the surrounding area.

[0029] Furthermore, the fitting step 103 is recessed inwardly of the heat insulating member 100, but the inner surface N of the portion of the heat insulating member 100 where the fitting step 103 is formed is not stepped in accordance with the recessed shape of the fitting step 103, but is formed as a smoothly curved surface. As a result, even though the fitting step 103 is formed by recessing a portion of the heat insulating member 100 inward, it is possible to ensure smooth airflow inside the portion where the fitting step 103 is formed, and to prevent the air flow from being turbulent, weakened, or blocked. Therefore, even if the fitting step 103 is formed in the heat insulating member 100, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the air blowing performance of the indoor unit 10.

[0030] Note that this embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and extensions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the position, size, recess depth, length, etc. of the fitting step 103 in the thermal insulation member 100 can be appropriately modified as long as it is configured to allow at least a portion of the lower thermal insulation member 100 to be fitted therein. In other words, the fitting step 103 can be appropriately modified as long as it is configured to allow the wall portion 102 or a portion other than the wall portion 102 of another thermal insulation member 100 to be fitted therein. Note that it is preferable that the portion of the thermal insulation member 100 that is fitted into the fitting step 103 of another thermal insulation member 100 be the lower portion of the thermal insulation member 100 as much as possible.

[0031] Furthermore, the fitting portion does not have to be recessed so as to form a step toward the inside of the heat insulating member 100, but may be, for example, recessed smoothly toward the inside of the heat insulating member 100.

[0032] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc. can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The present embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] In the drawing, 10 indicates an indoor unit of an air conditioner, 11 indicates a housing, 11a indicates a side wall portion, 11b indicates an upper wall portion, 100 indicates an insulating member, 100a indicates an insulating side wall portion, 100b indicates an insulating upper wall portion, and 103 indicates an insertion step portion (insertion portion).

Claims

1. a housing having a side wall and a top wall; a heat insulating member having a heat insulating side wall portion along the side wall portion of the housing and a heat insulating top wall portion along the top wall portion of the housing; Equipped with An indoor unit for an air conditioner, wherein a fitting portion is formed in a corner formed by the insulating side wall portion and the insulating top wall portion, into which a part of another insulating member can be fitted.

2. The fitting portion has a recessed shape on the inside of the heat insulating member, The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the portion of the heat insulating member where the fitting portion is formed is the same as the thickness of the portion of the heat insulating member other than the fitting portion.

3. The fitting portion has a recessed shape on the inside of the heat insulating member, The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the heat insulating member where the fitting portion is formed is formed into a curved surface.

4. An insulating member provided in an indoor unit of an air conditioner, the outer shell of which is formed by a housing having a side wall portion and a top wall portion, a heat-insulating side wall portion along the side wall portion of the housing and a heat-insulating top wall portion along the top wall portion of the housing, A heat insulating member in which a fitting portion is formed at a corner formed by the heat insulating side wall portion and the heat insulating top wall portion, into which a part of another heat insulating member can be fitted.

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