Air conditioning unit

Abstract

To solve a problem that there is a possibility that dust might fall down in a room during a stop of operation, etc.SOLUTION: An indoor unit 30 for an air conditioner 10 includes: a box member 31 and a bottom plate member 32 that serve as a body casing; an air filter 39; and a flat panel 35 positioned below the air filter 39. A suction port 32b is formed on the lower surface of the bottom plate member 32. The air filter 39 collects dust included in air passing through the suction port 32b. In a plan view, the flat panel 35 is larger than the air filter 39. The flat panel 35 and the air filter 39 are disposed so that an outer edge of the air filter 39 is located at an inner side of an outer edge of the flat panel 35 in the plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning unit, and more particularly to an air conditioning unit having an air inlet formed on its underside. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication 2001-27428A) discloses an invention in which an air outlet duct is extended from an air conditioning unit installed above the ceiling of a room, and the position from which the conditioned air is blown is separated from the main body of the air conditioning unit. The air outlet duct extends from the side of the main body of the air conditioning unit. Meanwhile, the intake port is formed on the underside of the main body of the air conditioning unit. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] In such air conditioning units, an air intake panel is often provided under the main body. The air intake panel hides at least a part of the main body of the air conditioning unit, improving its appearance. The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication 2001-27428 A) has an air intake panel with many openings such as slits, which not only improves the appearance but also guides the air in the room to the air intake of the main body of the air conditioning unit. Then, when inspecting and maintaining the air conditioning unit, the air intake panel is removed.

[0004] However, if an opening such as a slit is formed in the center of the air intake panel, there is a risk that dirt and dust (hereinafter referred to as dust) may fall into the room through the opening when the air conditioner is stopped operating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The air conditioning unit of a first aspect comprises a main body casing, a filter, and a plate-shaped member. The main body casing is installed at or above the space to be air-conditioned. The main body casing houses a fan and a heat exchanger. An air inlet is formed on the underside of the main body casing. The filter collects dust contained in the air passing through the inlet. The plate-shaped member is located below the filter. In a plan view, the plate-shaped member is larger than the filter. The plate-shaped member and the filter are arranged such that, in a plan view, the outer edge of the filter is located inside the outer edge of the plate-shaped member.

[0006] Here, since the outer edge of the filter is located inside the outer edge of the plate-shaped member when viewed in a plane, even when dust captured by the filter falls, the falling dust can be received by the plate-shaped member.

[0007] An air conditioning unit according to a second aspect is the air conditioning unit according to the first aspect, wherein the plate-shaped member has a central portion and a non-central portion. The central portion is a portion that overlaps with the filter in a plan view. The non-central portion is a portion that does not overlap with the filter in a plan view. The central portion of the plate-shaped member does not have an opening that penetrates vertically. When dust falls from the filter, the central portion of the plate-shaped member receives the dust.

[0008] Here, the air conditioning unit is configured such that at least the center of the plate-shaped member is not provided with an opening, and even if dust falls from the filter, most of the dust can be received by the plate-shaped member, thereby preventing the dust captured by the filter from falling into the space to be air-conditioned.

[0009] An air conditioning unit according to a third aspect is the air conditioning unit according to the second aspect, wherein the plate-shaped member further has a wall portion, the wall portion of the plate-shaped member extending upward from an outer edge of a central portion of the plate-shaped member, or extending upward from a non-central portion of the plate-shaped member.

[0010] Here, since the wall portion is provided, dust that has fallen from the filter and is received by the center of the plate-like member is prevented from moving sideways and falling into the space to be air-conditioned.

[0011] An air conditioning unit according to a fourth aspect is the air conditioning unit according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the first angle is 5° to 60°. The first angle is an angle between an imaginary line in a vertical cross-sectional view and a vertical line passing through one end of the filter in a vertical cross-sectional view. The cutting surface of the vertical cross section is any vertical plane including the centroid of the filter in a planar view. The imaginary line in a vertical cross-sectional view is a line connecting one end of the filter in a vertical cross-sectional view and one end of a plate-shaped member in a vertical cross-sectional view that is close to the one end of the filter.

[0012] Here, the first angle is not less than 5° but is of a certain magnitude, so that even if dust that falls from the filter falls slightly diagonally downward rather than straight down, the dust can generally be received by the plate-shaped member.

[0013] An air conditioning unit according to a fifth aspect is the air conditioning unit according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein an air outlet is formed on a side surface of the main body casing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a refrigerant piping system of an air conditioning apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a duct extending from an indoor unit and an air outlet unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of a duct extending from an indoor unit and an air outlet unit. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] 6A and 6B are diagrams comparing the sizes of a flat panel and an air filter when viewed from below. [Figure 6] 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the flat panel and the air filter taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of a side wall panel and a filter of an indoor unit according to Modification 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] (1) Overall configuration of air conditioning system FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a refrigerant piping system of an air conditioner 10 having a plurality of indoor units and outdoor units. The air conditioner 10 is a device that cools and heats rooms in a building by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation. The air conditioner 10 is equipped with an outdoor unit 20 as a heat source unit, a number of indoor units 30 as utilization units, and a first refrigerant connection pipe 6 and a second refrigerant connection pipe 7 that connect the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30. The refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner 10 is formed by connecting the outdoor unit 20, the indoor unit 30, and the refrigerant connection pipes 6 and 7. A refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant circuit, and a refrigeration cycle operation is performed in which the refrigerant is compressed, cooled, decompressed, heated and evaporated, and then compressed again. As the refrigerant, for example, one selected from R410A, R407C, R32, R134a, carbon dioxide, etc. is used.

[0016] Moreover, the conditioned air (cold air or hot air) blown out from the indoor unit 30 is supplied from the blowing unit 55 through the duct 53 to the space to be air-conditioned SP1 in the room, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.

[0017] (1-1) Outdoor unit The outdoor unit 20 is installed outside a building or in the basement of a building. The outdoor unit 20 mainly has a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, an outdoor expansion valve 26, and an accumulator 29. Cooling operation and heating operation are switched by switching the four-way switching valve 22. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 is a heat exchanger that functions as a radiator or evaporator of the refrigerant.

[0018] The outdoor unit 20 also has an outdoor fan 27 for drawing outdoor air into the unit and discharging it to the outside again. The outdoor fan 27 exchanges heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

[0019] (1-2) Indoor unit The indoor units 30 are installed on the ceiling (including the space above the ceiling) of each floor in the building. Each indoor unit 30 mainly has an indoor expansion valve 41, which is a pressure reducer, and an indoor heat exchanger 42, which is a user-side heat exchanger.

[0020] The indoor expansion valve 41 is a mechanism for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant and is an electrically operated valve whose opening degree can be adjusted. One end of the indoor expansion valve 41 is connected to the first refrigerant communication pipe 6, and the other end is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 42.

[0021] The indoor heat exchanger 42 is a heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator or a radiator of the refrigerant. One end of the indoor heat exchanger 42 is connected to the indoor expansion valve 41, and the other end is connected to the second refrigerant communication pipe 7.

[0022] The indoor unit 30 also includes an indoor fan 43 for drawing indoor air into the unit and supplying it back into the room, and causes heat exchange between the indoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 42.

[0023] (1-3) Blowing unit 2 and 3, the blow-out unit 55 is installed at a location away from the indoor unit 30, and blows out the conditioned air sent from the indoor unit 30 via the duct 53 into the target air-conditioned space SP1 of the room. The blow-out unit 55 is formed with one or more connection ports for connecting the duct 53, and an air outlet 55a exposed to the target air-conditioned space SP1.

[0024] In this embodiment, both the indoor unit 30 and the blowing unit 55 are disposed in an installation space SP2 located above the air-conditioned space SP1 of the room. This installation space SP2 is a space behind (above) a ceiling 90 of the room, which will be described later.

[0025] (2) Detailed configuration of the indoor unit Next, the detailed structure of the indoor unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0026] (2-1) Main casing and parts housed in the main casing As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor unit 30 is disposed above the ceiling 90 (space SP2) of the room including the air-conditioned space SP1. The indoor unit 30 has a metal box member 31 and a bottom plate member 32. The box member 31 and the bottom plate member 32 function as a main body casing. The above-mentioned indoor expansion valve 41, the indoor heat exchanger 42, and the indoor fan 43 are also housed in the box member 31. The indoor unit 30 also has a drain pan 46 for receiving condensed water in the indoor heat exchanger 42, a bell mouth 44 provided corresponding to the indoor fan 43, a connection member 33 used for connection to the duct 53, and the like. The drain pan 46 and the bell mouth 44 are housed in the box member 31. The connection member 33 is fixed to each of the four side surfaces of the box member 31. A blow-out opening 31a is formed on the side surface of the box member 31 at a position facing the opening of the cylindrical connection member 33. The bottom surface of the box member 31 is open.

[0027] The indoor heat exchanger 42 has a generally rectangular cylindrical shape. The indoor fan 43 is a turbo fan that draws in air from below and blows it out to the side. The air blown out from the indoor fan 43 flows through the indoor heat exchanger 42 into the duct 53.

[0028] The drain pan 46 is a resin member. A bottom plate member 32 is disposed below the drain pan 46. The bottom plate member 32 is a member having a rectangular outer edge in a plan view, and has a circular opening formed in the center. This circular opening of the bottom plate member 32 serves as an intake port 32b that guides air from below to the indoor fan 43. The upper end of a canvas member 95, which will be described later, is removably attached to the bottom plate member 32. The bottom plate member 32 also has a holding portion 32a that removably holds a flat air filter 39.

[0029] The box member 31 is suspended from a beam (not shown) in the space SP2 above the ceiling. In this state, a large gap G1 (see FIG. 4) is formed in the height direction between the box member 31 and the bottom plate member 32 constituting the main body casing and the ceiling 90.

[0030] (2-2) Lower part of the main casing Furthermore, the indoor unit 30 has a flat panel 35, an annular frame 60, and a frame member 80 at positions spaced downward from the box member 31 and the bottom plate member 32 that constitute the main casing. In addition, an air filter 39 is disposed immediately below the bottom plate member 32.

[0031] (2-2-1) Air filter The air filter 39 is a roughly square member in a plan view, and is fixed to the flange 38. The air filter 39 is attached parallel to the horizontal plane. Specifically, the flange 38 located on the outer side of the air filter 39 is supported by the holding portion 32a of the bottom plate member 32 described above (see FIG. 4). The flange 38 and the air filter 39 can be removed from the holding portion 32a by shifting the flange 38 from the holding portion 32a in a plan view.

[0032] (2-2-2) Frame members The frame member 80 is fixed to the box member 31 via a support member (not shown). The flat panel 35 and the annular frame 60 are supported by the frame member 80 in a detachable manner.

[0033] (2-2-3) Flat Panel and Ring Frame The flat panel 35 and the annular frame 60 are separate members, but are integrated together via a connecting member (not shown). As shown in Figures 2 to 4, an annular gap SL1 is formed between the two integrated members, the flat panel 35 and the annular frame 60. This gap SL1 becomes part of the path that guides air in the air-conditioned space SP1 to the air inlet 32b of the bottom plate member 32 (see the intake air flow FL indicated by the dotted line in Figure 4).

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the flat panel 35 is located below the suction port 32b of the bottom plate member 32 and an air filter 39 that covers the suction port 32b.

[0035] The annular frame 60 is a four-sided annular member. As shown in Fig. 4, the outer edge of the annular frame 60 is disposed adjacent to the inner edge of the frame member 80. The annular frame 60 is attached to the frame member 80 by an attachment / detachment mechanism (not shown) made of claws and spring members.

[0036] The flat panel 35 is a resin plate member having a substantially square shape in a plan view. The flat panel 35 has no slits or holes. As shown in FIG. 6, the flat panel 35 has a central portion 35a located directly below the air filter 39 in an installed state, and an outer peripheral portion (non-central portion) 35b surrounding the central portion 35a. However, there is no structural difference between the central portion 35a and the outer peripheral portion 35b, and the central portion 35a and the outer peripheral portion 35b are a continuous, integrated resin member. In other words, the central portion 35a is a portion of the flat panel 35 that overlaps with the air filter 39 in a plan view. The outer peripheral portion 35b is a portion of the flat panel 35 that does not overlap with the air filter 39 in a plan view.

[0037] (2-3) Canvas material The canvas member 95 is a thick woven fabric in a rectangular tube shape that opens at the top and bottom. The top end of the canvas member 95 is fixed to the outside of the holding portion 32a of the bottom plate member 32. The bottom end of the canvas member 95 is connected to the top end of the inner periphery of the frame member 80. The top and bottom openings of the canvas member 95 are both square. As shown in FIG. 4, the top opening of the canvas member 95 is smaller than the bottom opening of the canvas member 95.

[0038] (3) Size and arrangement of flat panels and air filters Fig. 5 is a diagram for comparing the sizes of the flat panel 35 and the air filter 39 when viewed from below. Since the air filter 39 is hidden by the flat panel 35 when viewed from below, in Fig. 5, the flat panel 35 is shown by a two-dot chain line and is viewed through the flat panel 35 in order to show the air filter 39.

[0039] 5, the flat panel 35 and the air filter 39 are arranged such that, in bottom view, the outer edge of the air filter 39 is located inside the outer edge of the flat panel 35. Naturally, in a plan view, the flat panel 35 is larger than the air filter 39. Therefore, when looking up at the indoor unit 30 from directly below, the air filter 39 is completely hidden by the flat panel 35.

[0040] When the distance between the outer edge of the flat panel 35 and the outer edge of the air filter 39 is measured in a bottom view on each of the four sides, the distance varies depending on the cross section, as shown by the first distance L1 and the second distance L2 in Fig. 5. Among the vertical cross sections cut along any vertical plane including the centroid 39M of the air filter 39 in a plan view, the vertical cross section in which this distance is smallest is the vertical cross section cut along the vertical plane VP shown in Fig. 5. A vertical cross section cut along this vertical plane VP is shown in Fig. 6.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 6, an imaginary line IML connecting one end 39e of the air filter 39 and one end 35e of the flat panel 35 close to the one end 39e of the air filter 39 is inclined with respect to the vertical plane. Specifically, the imaginary line IML is inclined by a first angle A1 with respect to a vertical line VL passing through the one end 39e of the air filter 39 in the vertical cross-sectional view of Fig. 6. In this embodiment, the indoor unit 30 is designed so that the first angle A1 is 5° to 60°. In consideration of the miniaturization of the indoor unit 30 and the ventilation resistance value (size) of the air filter 39, a preferable range of the first angle A1 is 5° to 40°.

[0042] If the first angle A1 is at least 5°, even if dust DU1 collected by the air filter 39 and attached to the lower surface of the air filter 30 falls while the indoor fan 43 is stopped, most of the dust DU1 will be received by the flat panel 35. The dust received by the flat panel 35 will accumulate on the flat panel 35 (see dust DU2 in FIG. 6).

[0043] (4) Features (4-1) As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor unit 30 of the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment includes a box member 31 and a bottom plate member 32 that function as a main body casing, an air filter 39, and a flat panel 35. The box member 31 and the bottom plate member 32 are installed above the air-conditioned space SP1 and house an indoor fan 43 and an indoor heat exchanger 42. An air inlet 32b is formed on the lower surface of the bottom plate member 32. The air filter 39 collects dust contained in the air passing through the inlet 32b. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the flat panel 35 is located below the air filter 39. In a plan view, the flat panel 35 is larger than the air filter 39. As shown in FIG. 5, the flat panel 35 and the air filter 39 are arranged so that the outer edge of the air filter 39 is located inside the outer edge of the flat panel 35 in a plan view.

[0044] Here, since the outer edge of the air filter 39 is located inside the outer edge of the flat panel 35 when viewed in a plan view, even when dust DU1 (see Figure 6) captured by the air filter 39 falls, the falling dust can be received by the flat panel 35.

[0045] (4-2) In the indoor unit 30 of the air conditioning apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the flat panel 35 has a central portion 35a and an outer peripheral portion 35b. The central portion 35a is a portion that overlaps with the air filter 39 in a plan view. The outer peripheral portion 35b is a portion that does not overlap with the air filter 39 in a plan view. The central portion 35a of the flat panel 35 does not have an opening that penetrates vertically. When dust falls from the air filter 39, the central portion 35a of the flat panel 35 mainly receives the dust.

[0046] Here, the indoor unit 30 is configured such that at least the central portion 35a of the flat panel 35 has no opening, and even if dust falls from the air filter 39, most of the dust can be received by the flat panel 35. This prevents the dust DU1 collected by the air filter 39 from falling into the air-conditioned space SP1.

[0047] (4-3) In the indoor unit 30 of the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment, the inclination of an imaginary straight line IML connecting one end 39e of the air filter 39 and one end 35e of the flat panel 35 close to the end 39e of the air filter 39 is set to a certain degree. More specifically, a first angle, which is the inclination of the imaginary straight line IML with respect to the vertical plane, is set to a range of 5° to 60°. Here, since the first angle is not less than 5° but is set to a certain degree, even if dust that falls from the air filter 39 falls slightly diagonally downward rather than straight down, most of the dust can be received by the flat panel 35.

[0048] (5) Variations (5-1) Variation 1 In the indoor unit 30 of the air conditioner 10 in the above embodiment, a completely flat flat panel 35 is used, but instead of this, a panel 135 (see FIG. 7) having a wall may be used.

[0049] 7 has a wall portion 135c in addition to a central portion 135a corresponding to the central portion 35a of the above-described flat panel 35 and a peripheral portion 135b corresponding to the peripheral portion 35b of the above-described flat panel 35. The wall portion 135c extends outward and obliquely upward from the peripheral portion 135b.

[0050] Providing the wall portion 135c in this manner prevents dust that has fallen from the air filter 39 and been received by the central portion 135a of the panel 135 from moving laterally and falling into the space to be air conditioned.

[0051] The wall portion 135c may extend directly upward from the outer peripheral portion 135b. Also, the wall portion 135c may extend upward from the outer edge of the central portion 135a, and the outer peripheral portion 135b may be eliminated.

[0052] (5-2) Variation 2 In the above embodiment, the indoor unit 30 is disposed in the installation space SP2 (the space above the ceiling 90) located above the air-conditioned space SP1 of the room. Alternatively, the indoor unit 30 may be disposed in the air-conditioned space SP1, which is the space below the ceiling 90, and the indoor unit 30 may be configured so that the entire indoor unit 30 is suspended from the ceiling 90. In this way, when the indoor unit 30 is disposed above the air-conditioned space SP1 rather than in the space above the ceiling 90, the ceiling 90 is not present around (near) the flat panel 35, and therefore the size of the flat panel 35 in a plan view can be further increased.

[0053] (5-3) The indoor unit 30 of the air conditioning apparatus 10 has been described above, but it will be understood that various changes in form and details are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 30 Indoor unit (air conditioning unit) 31 Box material (main casing) 31a Air outlet 32 Bottom plate member (main casing) 32b Intake port 35 Flat panel (plate-shaped component) 35a Center of flat panel 35b Flat panel periphery (non-center) 35e One end of flat panel 39 Air filter (filter) 39e One end of the air filter 39M Air filter centroid 42 Indoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 43 Indoor fan (fan) 135 Panel (plate-shaped member) 135a Center of panel 135b Panel outer periphery (non-center) 135c Panel wall (non-center) A1 First angle DU1 Dust DU2 dust IML Imaginary straight line (straight line) SP1 Air-conditioned space VL vertical line VP vertical plane [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0055] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-27428 A

Claims

1. a main body casing (31, 32) that is installed at the upper part or above the space to be air-conditioned (SP1), that houses a fan (43) and a heat exchanger (42), and that has an air inlet (32b) formed on the lower surface; A filter (39) for collecting dust contained in the air passing through the suction port; A plate-like member (135) located below the filter; Equipped with In a plan view, the plate-like member is larger than the filter, and the plate-like member and the filter are arranged such that an outer edge of the filter is located inside an outer edge of the plate-like member, a straight line (IML) connecting one end (39e) of the filter in a longitudinal cross-sectional view and one end of the plate-like member in the longitudinal cross-sectional view close to the one end of the filter, the straight line (IML) being cut by any vertical plane (VP) including the centroid (39M) of the filter in a plan view, forms a first angle (A1) with a vertical line (VL) passing through the one end of the filter in the longitudinal cross-sectional view; The first angle (A1) is between 5° and 60°; The plate-like member has a central portion (135a) that overlaps with the filter in a plan view, and an outer peripheral portion (135b) that does not overlap with the filter in a plan view, The central portion does not have an opening penetrating vertically, and when dust (DU2) falls from the filter, the central portion receives the dust, The plate-like member (135) further has a wall portion (135c) extending upward from the outer periphery (135b), The wall portion prevents the dust that has fallen from the filter and been received by the central portion from moving laterally and falling into the target space to be air-conditioned. An air conditioning unit (30).

2. An air outlet (31a) is formed on the side surface of the main body casing.

2. An air conditioning unit according to claim 1.

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