How to install and remove an air conditioner unit

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner unit capable of being used in an open or large-scale space while being compact enough to be mounted on an elevator and having portability.SOLUTION: An air conditioner unit comprises: an outdoor unit comprising a first heat exchanger, a compressor, and a first pressure regulator that constitute a first refrigerant circuit; an indoor unit comprising a second heat exchanger and a second pressure regulator that constitute a second refrigerant circuit; and first and second refrigerant pipes connecting between the first and second refrigerant circuits to form a refrigerant circuit. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit are each provided with casters to be movable, and at least one of them is provided with a joint part to which the first and second refrigerant pipes can be attached and detached.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner unit and a method for installing / removing the same, and is particularly suitable for use in temporary installations at construction sites and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Due to the recent extreme heat, construction sites and other facilities are faced with the need to strengthen measures against heatstroke. To address this issue, a highly portable air-conditioning unit has been proposed.

[0003] In the air conditioner unit described in Patent Document 1, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are arranged one above the other in a single unit frame, and the unit frame is provided with casters to improve portability.

[0004] In the air conditioner installation stand, air conditioner device, and temporary equipment with air conditioner described in Patent Document 2, an outdoor unit and a standing part and an indoor unit installed on the standing part are arranged on an air conditioner installation stand equipped with casters, and the standing part can be installed so that it is in contact with the partition wall of the temporary equipment, so that the flow of air between the inside and outside of the temporary equipment can be blocked. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-198023 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-193718 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As a result of the present inventors' investigation of Patent Documents 1 and 2, it was found that there existed the following new problems.

[0007] The air conditioners described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are not suitable for temporary installation in open or large spaces such as construction sites. At construction sites, work is required in open spaces such as outdoors, or in buildings and other structures before and after construction of walls and ceilings because they are not divided into small rooms. For this reason, temporary installation of air conditioners in such open or large spaces is required. On the other hand, it is also required to be compact enough to be loaded onto an elevator. In order to temporarily install air conditioners at a site on an upper floor, it is required that the air conditioner be transported and installed on the upper floor of the site by a construction elevator before construction, and that the air conditioner be transported out using a general passenger or freight elevator that has already been installed instead of the construction elevator that has already been removed after construction.

[0008] The air conditioners described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are compactly constructed on a cart with casters, making them portable and likely to be able to be placed in an elevator. The air conditioner in Patent Document 1 is designed to be installed in a tent, with the air outlet of the indoor unit connected to the inside of the tent and a partition plate blocking the air flow inside and outside. The air conditioner in Patent Document 2 is an invention that can block the air flow inside and outside when installed in the partition wall that separates the inside and outside of the temporary facility. Both can block the air flow inside and outside, so the air conditioning capacity can be kept to a minimum. In other words, both the outdoor unit and the indoor unit can be constructed in a compact size.

[0009] However, the air conditioners described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are both required (prerequisite) to be installed on the wall that separates the indoors from the outdoors, and are not suitable for temporary installation in open or large spaces such as construction sites.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide an air-conditioning unit that is compact and portable enough to be loaded onto an elevator, that can be easily installed and removed repeatedly, and that can be used in open or large spaces, and to provide an installation / removal method that can prevent impurities from being mixed into the refrigerant when installing such an air-conditioning unit and prevent loss of refrigerant when removing it.

[0011] Means for solving these problems will be described below, but other problems and novel features will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The air conditioner unit of the present invention is an air conditioner unit comprising an outdoor unit having a first heat exchanger, a compressor, and a first pressure regulator which constitute a first refrigerant circuit, an indoor unit having a second heat exchanger and a second pressure regulator which constitute a second refrigerant circuit, and first and second refrigerant pipes which connect the first and second refrigerant circuits to form a refrigerant circuit, wherein the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are each provided with casters to make them movable, and at least one of them is provided with a joint portion which allows the first and second refrigerant pipes to be attached and detached.

[0013] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner unit of the present invention described above further includes, in the first refrigerant circuit, a first valve and a second valve capable of isolating the first heat exchanger and the first and second refrigerant pipes, a refrigerant recovery device on the first heat exchanger side of the first valve or the second valve, and an exhaust pump on the first and second refrigerant pipes side of the first valve or the second valve, and a method for installing the air conditioner unit sequentially performs the following steps.

[0014] First step: With the first valve and the second valve closed, the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit are connected by the first and second refrigerant pipes. Second step: The exhaust pump is operated to exhaust the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit of the indoor unit. Third step: The first valve and the second valve are opened to supply refrigerant into the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit.

[0015] The method for removing an air conditioner unit of the present invention involves sequentially carrying out the following steps.

[0016] Fourth step: With the first valve and the second valve open, the refrigerant recovery unit is operated to recover the refrigerant in the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit of the indoor unit. Fifth step: closing the first valve and the second valve. 6th step: Disconnect the first and second refrigerant pipes and separate the outdoor unit from the indoor unit. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The effects obtained by the present invention can be briefly explained as follows.

[0018] That is, it is possible to provide an air conditioner unit that is compact and portable enough to be loaded onto an elevator, while being capable of being used in an open or large space. It is also possible to provide an installation / removal method that can prevent impurities from being mixed into the refrigerant when installing an air conditioner unit whose outdoor unit and indoor unit can be separated, and that can prevent loss of refrigerant when removing the unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates a schematic configuration example of an air conditioner unit of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mounting the indoor unit from above. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a cart on which the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are mounted. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a refrigerant circuit for implementing an air conditioner unit having a function of switching between cooling and heating. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner unit configured so that two outdoor units can be connected to one outdoor unit. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a method for installing an air conditioner unit of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of a method for removing an air conditioner unit according to the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of one configuration example of a joint portion and a refrigerant pipe. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of another example of the configuration of the joint portion and the refrigerant pipe. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure for mounting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit on the dolly. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a drainage mechanism of an air-conditioning unit of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the attachment of an airflow direction guide to a fan of an indoor unit. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the attachment of an exhaust duct to an outdoor unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] 1. Overview of the embodiment First, a summary of representative embodiments disclosed in the present application will be described. In the summary of the representative embodiments, reference numerals in parentheses in the drawings are used only to illustrate components included in the concept of the components to which they are attached.

[0021] [1] The outdoor unit and indoor unit can be separated and moved (Figure 1) A representative embodiment disclosed in the present application is an air conditioner unit including an outdoor unit (10) having a first heat exchanger (1), a compressor (2), and a first pressure regulator (4) that constitute a first refrigerant circuit, an indoor unit (20) having a second heat exchanger (21) and a second pressure regulator (24) that constitute a second refrigerant circuit, and first and second refrigerant pipes (11, 12) that connect the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit to form a refrigerant circuit, and is configured as follows.

[0022] The outdoor unit and the indoor unit are each provided with casters (13) to make them movable.

[0023] At least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit includes a joint portion (6) to which the first and second refrigerant pipes can be detached.

[0024] This makes it possible to provide an air conditioner unit that is compact and portable enough to be loaded onto an elevator, yet can be used in open or large spaces. Even if the outdoor unit and indoor unit are made larger to enable use in open or large spaces, the refrigerant piping is made detachable and each unit is equipped with casters so that they can be moved independently, so the size of each unit can be kept compact enough to be loaded onto an elevator.

[0025] [2] Recovery / supply of refrigerant when separating / connecting (installing) the outdoor unit and indoor unit (Figure 1) In the air conditioner unit of item [1], the outdoor unit includes, in the first refrigerant circuit, a first valve (V1) and a second valve (V2) capable of isolating the first heat exchanger from the first and second refrigerant pipes, a refrigerant recovery device (3) on the first heat exchanger side of the first valve or the second valve, and an exhaust pump (5) on the first and second refrigerant pipe sides of the first valve or the second valve.

[0026] In addition, the "valve" in this specification, such as the first valve (V1) and the second valve (V2), can be replaced with the foreign word "valve" and can be realized in various forms such as a check valve, a check valve, a solenoid valve, a gate valve, a globe valve, etc. Also, it is optional to replace the two valves with a multi-function valve such as a three-way valve or a four-way valve.

[0027] This reduces the loss of refrigerant when the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are separated, and reduces the mixing of impurities into the refrigerant when they are connected (installed) and the refrigerant is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit.

[0028] [3] Outriggers (Fig. 1, Fig. 2) In the air conditioner unit of item [1] or [2], at least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit further includes a fixing mechanism (14) that can raise the casters from the floor surface and fix the outdoor unit or the indoor unit when the outdoor unit or the indoor unit is installed. (In FIG. 1, an example of the fixing mechanism 14 is shown only at the far right of each of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20, and illustrations of other locations are omitted.) An example of the fixing mechanism (14) is an outrigger as shown in FIG. 2.

[0029] This allows at least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to be stabilized on the floor surface when installed.

[0030] [4] Bottom reinforcement (Fig. 3) In the air conditioner unit according to any one of items [1] to [3], at least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit has a member having sufficient rigidity to support its own weight in the longitudinal direction, at least in two locations in a substantially horizontal position in the lateral direction (cart (30) in FIG. 3, etc.).

[0031] As a result, at least one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit has a strength at its bottom surface that enables it to be moved by a forklift.

[0032] [5] Control section (Fig. 1) In the air conditioner unit according to any one of items [1] to [4], the outdoor unit is provided with a control unit (8), and the indoor unit is provided with a pressure sensor (P1) that detects the pressure of at least a portion of the refrigerant in the second refrigerant circuit, and the control unit controls the output of the compressor based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

[0033] This makes it possible to appropriately control the refrigerant discharge pressure from the outdoor unit according to the lengths of the first and second refrigerant pipes connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, i.e., the resistance to the refrigerant flow, and increases the freedom in the installation location of the air conditioner unit. In other words, it is possible to configure the system so that refrigerant pipes of an appropriate length can be selected depending on the installation location of the air conditioner unit.

[0034] [6] Remote control (Fig. 1) In the air conditioner unit of item [5], the control unit is a first control unit (8), and the indoor unit is equipped with a second control unit (28), a temperature sensor (not shown), and a user interface (not shown), and the second control unit transmits to the first control unit the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and control information input from the user interface, and the first control unit controls the operation of the compressor based on the pressure value, the temperature, and the control information input from the second control unit.

[0035] This allows the outdoor unit to be controlled from the indoor unit side. The second control unit (28) is provided in the indoor unit (20) and may be connected to the outdoor unit (10) by wire or wirelessly. Alternatively, the second control unit may be composed of a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from the first control unit, and a remote control that has a user interface wirelessly connected to the communication unit.

[0036] [7] How to install / remove the outdoor unit and indoor unit that can be separated and moved (Fig. 1, Fig. 6, Fig. 7) A representative embodiment disclosed in the present application is a method for installing and removing an air-conditioning unit including an outdoor unit (10) and an indoor unit (20), each of which is equipped with casters (13) for movement, and first and second refrigerant pipes (11, 12) connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and enabling attachment and detachment, the air-conditioning unit being configured as follows.

[0037] The outdoor unit includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first heat exchanger (1), a compressor (2), and a first pressure regulator (4), and the indoor unit includes a second refrigerant circuit including a second heat exchanger (21) and a second pressure regulator (24).

[0038] The air conditioner unit includes first and second refrigerant pipes (11, 12) that connect the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit to form a refrigerant circuit.

[0039] The outdoor unit further includes, in the first refrigerant circuit, a first valve (V1) and a second valve (V2) capable of isolating the first heat exchanger from the first and second refrigerant pipes, a refrigerant recovery device (3) on the first heat exchanger side of the first valve or the second valve, and an exhaust pump (5) on the first and second refrigerant pipe sides of the first valve or the second valve.

[0040] To install the air conditioning unit, follow the steps below in sequence (Figure 6).

[0041] First step (S1): With the first valve and the second valve closed, the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit are connected by the first and second refrigerant pipes.

[0042] Second step (S2): The exhaust pump is operated to exhaust the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit.

[0043] Third step (S4): The first valve and the second valve are opened to supply refrigerant into the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit.

[0044] To remove the air conditioning unit, follow the steps below in order (Figure 7).

[0045] Fourth step (S5): With the first valve and the second valve open, the refrigerant recovery device is operated to recover refrigerant into the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit.

[0046] Fifth step (S6): The first valve and the second valve are closed.

[0047] Sixth step (S7): The first and second refrigerant pipes are removed to separate the outdoor unit from the indoor unit.

[0048] This makes it possible to provide an installation / removal method that prevents impurities from mixing into the refrigerant when installing an air conditioning unit whose outdoor unit and indoor unit are separable, and that prevents loss of refrigerant when removing the unit.

[0049] 2. Details of the embodiment The embodiment will now be described in further detail.

[0050] [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates a schematic configuration example of an air conditioner unit of the present invention.

[0051] The air conditioner unit of the present invention is configured with an outdoor unit 10 and an indoor unit 20 connected by refrigerant pipes 11, 12, each equipped with a caster 13. When connected, it functions as an air conditioner, but when the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 are removed and the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are separated, each can be moved freely. The outdoor unit 10 is equipped with a refrigerant circuit (first refrigerant circuit) consisting of a heat exchanger 1, a compressor 2, an accumulator 3, and a pressure regulator 4, and the indoor unit 20 is equipped with a refrigerant circuit (second refrigerant circuit) consisting of a heat exchanger 21 and a pressure regulator 24. The heat exchanger 1 of the outdoor unit 10 and the heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 20 are preferably equipped with fans 7, 27 that help exchange heat with the outside air, respectively. The first refrigerant circuit on the outdoor unit 10 side and the second refrigerant circuit on the indoor unit 20 side are connected by refrigerant pipes 11, 12 to form an integrated refrigerant circuit. In order to make the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 detachable, a joint portion 6 is provided on one or both of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20.

[0052] The joint part 6 is preferably configured so that it has a structure (e.g., a cone-shaped structure) that fits tightly against the ends of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 after flaring the ends of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, and can be fixed by pressing the ends of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 against the structure, and can be attached and detached manually or using a simple tool.

[0053] On the other hand, it would be more preferable if the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 could be attached and detached without processing the ends thereof. Figures 8 and 9 show examples of the configuration of the joint part 6 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12. To make the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 detachable and capable of being attached and detached repeatedly, it is preferable to provide a fixing member that can connect and fix the joint part 6 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 and can be removed, and a sealing member that seals between the joint part 6 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12.

[0054] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of one configuration example of the joint part 6 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12. A thread is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the joint part 6, and is configured to engage with the thread of a nut 61 through which the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 pass, so that the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 can be connected and fixed to the joint part 6. That is, the thread on the outer circumferential surface of the joint part 6 and the nut 61 function as the fixing member described above. On the inside of the nut 61 (the side closer to the joint part, this is called the "front"), a front ferrule 62 and a rear ferrule 63, which are in contact with the outer periphery of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 through which they pass, are provided as sealing members. The joint part 6 is in contact with the outer circumferential surfaces of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 at the frontmost part, and the gap between the joint part 6 and the outer circumferential surfaces of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 widens as it moves rearward. The front ferrule 62 fits into the gap, and its front contacts the outer circumferential surfaces of the joint portion 6 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, and functions as a sealing member to prevent refrigerant from leaking from inside the pipes and to prevent outside air from entering inside the pipes. The rear end of the front ferrule 62 is widened to create a gap between it and the outer circumferential surfaces of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, and the front of the rear ferrule 63 fits into it, and a force is applied in a direction to further widen the gap. By tightening the nut 61, the rear ferrule 63 is pushed forward, widening the rear end of the front ferrule 62. By widening the rear end of the front ferrule 62, its outer circumferential surface is pressed into the gap of the joint portion 6, improving the sealing effect. At the same time, by pushing the front ferrule 62 forward, the inner circumferential surface of the front ferrule 62 is pressed against the outer circumferential surfaces of the pipes 11, 12, which also improves the sealing effect. The joint part 6, the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, the nut 61, and the front and rear ferrules 62, 63 are made of a metal such as stainless steel. When pressed against a metal, minute irregularities on the surface deform, providing a sealing effect, but because the deformation is minute, it does not become significantly large even if the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 are repeatedly attached and detached. Therefore, the refrigerant pipes can be used repeatedly a considerable number of times before they become so deformed that the sealing effect is lost.Furthermore, it is more preferable that the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 have the same inner diameter as the inner diameter of the internal pipes 16 of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 in which the joint portion 6 is provided, and are in contact with each other without any steps, because this keeps resistance to the flow of the refrigerant low.

[0055] FIG. 9(a) is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of another configuration example of the joint part 6 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12. As a sealing member, an O-ring 64 is provided instead of the front and rear ferrules 62, 63. The O-ring 64 is fitted into a groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the joint part 6, and exerts a sealing effect by contacting the outer peripheral surfaces of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12. As a fixing member, an example is shown in which the joint part 6 having a thread on the outer peripheral surface and the nut 61 are configured as in the configuration example of FIG. 8. The inner peripheral surface of the nut 61 is configured to be inclined so as to widen toward the front and to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the joint part 6 having an inclined surface that narrows toward the rear. By tightening the nut 61, the inclination of the inner peripheral surface of the nut 61 applies a force to the O-ring 64 to press the inclination of the outer peripheral surface of the joint part 6 toward the outer peripheral direction of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, thereby enhancing the sealing effect. As shown in FIG. 9(b), the O-ring 64 has a circular cross section, and can seal the refrigerant by contacting the groove formed in the joint portion 6 and the outer circumferential surface of the refrigerant pipes 11 and 12. As shown in FIG. 9(c), a ring having a D-shaped cross section (called a "D-ring") can be used instead of the O-ring 64. One side of the D-ring 65 is square to fit the groove formed in the joint portion 6, and the other side is circular. The D-ring 65 has a high sealing effect because it contacts the groove of the joint portion 6 with a surface, and further, the force pressing the circular surface against the outer circumferential surface of the refrigerant pipes 11 and 12 is also transmitted to a large extent, so that the sealing effect can be improved overall. As shown in FIG. 9(a), it is preferable to provide multiple O-rings 64, for example, two as shown in the figure. In addition, when two O-rings are provided, the sealing effect can be further improved by replacing one or both of them with the D-ring 65. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 have the same inner diameter as the inner diameter of the internal pipes 16 of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 in which the joint portion 6 is provided, and are in contact with each other without any steps, because this keeps resistance to the flow of the refrigerant low.

[0056] The O-ring or D-ring can be made of, for example, hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR) or ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM). When using, for example, R410A, which is widely used as a refrigerant for air conditioners, the pressure is about 0.5 to 3.2 MPa and the temperature is about -20°C to 60°C, but when the temperature is lower than this, ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) is more suitable. Also, when the pressure is high, a D-ring is more suitable than an O-ring.

[0057] In this way, since the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 can be separated, even if the size of each unit is increased to increase the air conditioning capacity of the entire air conditioner unit, it is possible to design them to be small enough to be loaded into an elevator. In addition, since each unit is equipped with casters 13, they can be moved separately. It is possible to provide an air conditioner unit that is compact and portable enough to be loaded into an elevator, can be easily installed and removed repeatedly, and can be used in an open or large space. In other words, even if the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are enlarged to enable use in an open or large space, the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 are detachable, and each unit is equipped with casters 13 so that they can be moved independently, so that the size of each unit can be kept compact enough to be loaded into an elevator.

[0058] The air conditioner unit of the present embodiment is configured so that the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit can be recovered before the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are separated.

[0059] The outdoor unit 10 is equipped with a first valve V1 and a second valve V2 capable of isolating the first refrigerant circuit from the first and second refrigerant pipes 11, 12, and a third valve V3 and an exhaust pump 5 located closer to the first and second refrigerant pipes 11, 12 than the first valve V1 and the second valve V2. By adopting an installation / removal method described in the third embodiment described below, it is possible to reduce the loss of refrigerant when the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are separated, and to reduce the mixing of impurities into the refrigerant when they are connected (installed) and the refrigerant is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit.

[0060] It is more preferable that the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 each have a fixing mechanism that can fix the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 to the floor surface when installed. In FIG. 1, a simple stopper using a rubber foot screw is exemplified as the fixing mechanism 14. When fixing, the caster 13 is raised from the floor by adjusting the length of the rubber foot screw. The fixing mechanism 14 is provided at least at four corners of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20, but in FIG. 1, it is only shown at the right rear of each, and the other parts are not shown. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mounting the indoor unit 20 from above. Instead of a simple stopper using a rubber foot screw, an outrigger is provided as the fixing mechanism 14. The outdoor unit 10 should also be provided with an outrigger as the fixing mechanism 14. This allows the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 to be stabilized against the floor surface when installed. Instead of the fixing mechanism 14 shown as an example, a stopper that stops the rotation of the wheels of the caster 13 may be provided.

[0061] The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 should have at least two members with sufficient rigidity to support their own weight in the longitudinal direction, at approximately horizontal positions in the transverse direction. This allows the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 to have strength on their bottom surfaces that allows them to be moved by a forklift. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a dolly 30 on which the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are mounted. A support frame (frame) 31 on which the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 can be fixed is attached to the top of the dolly 30, which is strong enough to withstand movement by a forklift. This makes it easy to change the mounting position and fixing method according to the size of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. It is preferable to use a standard flatbed dolly, for example, 800 mm wide x 1200 mm long x 330 mm high, as the dolly 30. Because it is standard, it is compatible with many peripheral equipment including the forklift mentioned above, and its versatility can be enhanced by storing it when not in use, or by removing the support part 31 and reusing it for other purposes.

[0062] On the other hand, the size of the outdoor unit and indoor unit of the air conditioning system may exceed the width and length described above depending on the output. In such a case, the width, length, and strength of the support frame 31 are adjusted to deal with the problem. In addition, in such a case, the size of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 including the dolly 30 may exceed the loadable size of the elevator. Although the construction elevator assumed when installing the air conditioning system is usually large enough, the normal passenger / freight elevator assumed to be used when removing the system may not be wide or long enough.

[0063] In order to solve such problems, the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 can be configured to rotate in the longitudinal direction on the cart 30. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mounting structure for the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 on the cart 30. The figure shows a schematic view of the longitudinal surface of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 as viewed from the horizontal front, where (a) shows the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 in a horizontally elongated state in which they are operable, and (b) shows the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 in a vertically elongated state. When the width (horizontal direction in FIG. 10) of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 is wide and exceeds not only the width of the cart 30 but also the load capacity of a passenger / freight elevator, it is preferable to configure the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 to be rotated around an axis in the longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 10). A fulcrum support frame 32 is provided on the support frame 31 of the dolly 30, and supports a rotation support frame 33 that supports the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 and rotates around a rotation fulcrum 34. For example, the rotation fulcrum 34 can be configured by a shaft arranged on the underside of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20, and a bearing that supports the shaft can be arranged on the fulcrum support frame 32. By arranging the shaft on the rotation fulcrum in this way, sufficient strength can be maintained with a simple structure. Fig. 10(a) shows the installed state, and Fig. 10(b) shows the state for moving. In Fig. 10(a), the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are installed in their original horizontal orientation and are ready to operate. In Fig. 10(b), the width is kept within the width of the dolly 30, and they can be loaded into a passenger / freight elevator.

[0064] Although not shown in the drawings, according to another example, the fulcrum support frame 32 can be disposed on both sides of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 so that the rotation fulcrum 34 becomes an axis passing through the center of gravity of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. Since the center of gravity becomes the rotation axis, the force required for rotation can be kept small.

[0065] In this way, by configuring the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 so that they can be rotated in the longitudinal direction on the dolly 30, the degree of freedom during transportation can be increased.

[0066] Returning to the explanation of Fig. 1, it is preferable that the outdoor unit 10 is equipped with a control unit 8, the indoor unit 20 is equipped with a pressure sensor P1 that detects the pressure of at least a part of the refrigerant in the second refrigerant circuit, and the control unit 8 is configured to be able to control the output of the compressor 2 based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor P1. This makes it possible to appropriately control the discharge pressure of the refrigerant from the outdoor unit 10 depending on the length of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 connecting the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20, i.e., the resistance to the flow of the refrigerant, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in the installation location of the air conditioner unit. This is because the refrigerant pipes 11, 12 of an appropriate length can be selected depending on the installation location of the air conditioner unit.

[0067] Furthermore, the indoor unit 20 may be provided with a control unit 28, a temperature sensor (not shown), and a user interface (not shown). The temperature sensor may be installed at a position where it detects the temperature of the air conditioning target of the indoor unit 20. The user interface is an interface for inputting the temperature that is the control target, or for inputting the air conditioning mode (cooling, heating, ventilation, etc.) from the user. The control unit 28 of the indoor unit 20 transmits the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor P1, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and control information input from the user interface to the control unit 8 of the outdoor unit 10, and controls the operation of each component of the outdoor unit 10, such as the compressor 2, based on the control information. This allows the outdoor unit 10 to be controlled from the indoor unit 20 side. The control unit 28 is provided in the indoor unit 20 and may be connected to the outdoor unit 10 by wire or wirelessly. Alternatively, the control unit 28 may be composed of a remote control having a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from the control unit 8 of the outdoor unit 10, and a user interface wirelessly connected to the communication unit.

[0068] [Embodiment 2] The refrigerant circuit can be configured to be dedicated to either cooling or heating, or can be configured to be switchable between cooling and heating.

[0069] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a refrigerant circuit for implementing an air conditioner unit having a function of switching between cooling and heating. In addition to the refrigerant circuit in the air conditioner unit shown in FIG. 1, a four-way valve VX and a receiver 9 are provided.

[0070] During cooling operation, the gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 is sent to the heat exchanger 1 by the four-way valve VX. The heat exchanger 1 functions as a condenser and condenses and liquefies the gaseous refrigerant. The heat generated by the heat exchange is discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit 10 by the fan 7. The liquefied refrigerant is sent to the receiver 9 via the pressure regulator 4 functioning as an expansion device. The receiver 9 stores the surplus refrigerant. At this time, a non-condensable gas adsorbent 99 may be provided to remove impurity gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. The refrigerant is then sent to the indoor unit 20 via the second valve V2 and the refrigerant piping 12, and sent to the heat exchanger 21 functioning as an evaporator via the pressure regulator 24 (expansion device). In the heat exchanger 21, the refrigerant vaporizes and cools the outside air sent by the fan 27. The vaporized refrigerant passes through the refrigerant piping 11 and the first valve V1, is sent to the accumulator 3 by the four-way valve VX, and returns to the compressor 2.

[0071] During heating operation, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 by the four-way valve VX is sent to the heat exchanger 21 on the indoor unit 20 side through the first valve V1 and the refrigerant pipe 11. The heat exchanger 21 on the indoor unit 20 side functions as a condenser and generates heat in the process of liquefying the refrigerant. The generated heat is used for heating by the fan 27. The liquefied refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger 21 is decompressed by the pressure regulator 24 (expansion device) and then sent to the outdoor unit 10 through the refrigerant pipe 12. In the outdoor unit 10, the refrigerant is sent to the heat exchanger 1 through the pressure regulator 4 via the receiver 9 through the second valve V2, where it is evaporated and gasified. The function of the receiver 9 is to store surplus refrigerant, as in the cooling operation, and the function is the same when the non-condensable gas adsorbent 99 is provided. The refrigerant gasified by the heat exchanger 1 returns to the compressor 2.

[0072] The configuration common to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, including the attachment and detachment of the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, operates in the same manner as described in the first embodiment, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0073] As described above, the refrigerant circuit of the present invention can be modified as desired. For example, in this embodiment, the four-way valve VX is introduced to enable dual use of heating and cooling, and a receiver 9 is added. In addition, the mounting positions of the third valve V3 and the exhaust pump 5 may be changed to the second valve V2 side, or to the indoor unit 20 side.

[0074] The drainage mechanism of the air conditioner unit of the present invention will be described. The refrigerant circuit in the air conditioner unit of the present invention has two heat exchangers 1 and 21, one of which releases heat and the other absorbs heat as described above. The side that absorbs heat may need to be drained due to condensation.

[0075] FIG. 11 shows an example of the configuration of the drainage mechanism of the air conditioner unit of the present invention. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are supported on the dolly 30 from the side. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are supported on the dolly 30 by a support frame 31. However, in FIG. 11, the support frame 31 on the outdoor unit 10 side is omitted. A drain pan 40 is provided on the dolly 30 on the outdoor unit 10 side, and drainage pipes 41 from the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are introduced, so that the drainage water from each of them can be stored. A drainage pump 42 is further provided on the dolly 30, and the drainage water is sucked up from the drain pan 40 through a water supply pipe 43 and discharged to the outside through a drain pipe 44. It is preferable to configure the drain pan 40 to have a water level sensor 45-1 to control the operation of the drainage pump 42. When a predetermined water level is reached, the drainage pump 42 is operated to discharge the water. The water level sensor 45-1 is a water level sensor for detecting the water level at which drainage by the drainage pump 42 should begin, but it is more preferable to further provide a second water level sensor 45-2 capable of detecting a higher water level. If the water level does not drop despite the drainage pump 42 being operated and a higher water level is detected by the second water level sensor 45-2, the heat exchange operation is stopped. This makes it possible to prevent the drainage from overflowing from the drain pan 40 even when the amount of drainage exceeds the drainage capacity due to abnormally high humidity or the like. The drain pan 40 may be replaced with a drainage tank.

[0076] Although Fig. 11 shows an example in which the drain pan 40 and the drain pump 42 are provided on the outdoor unit 10 side, they may be provided on the indoor unit 20 side, or they may be provided on both the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. Also, Fig. 11 shows an example in which the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are arranged side by side, but the arrangement is arbitrary.

[0077] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. FIG. 12 is a top view, and fans 7 and 27 are also shown to indicate the direction of exhaust or intake. (a) shows an example in which the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are arranged side by side, and (b) shows an example in which they are arranged vertically. In both cases, the exhaust / intake directions are reversed so that the exhaust of one is not taken in by the other. In addition, the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 can be made more stable by connecting the dollies 30 when installing them. On the other hand, it is also possible to arrange the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 apart. Although the length of the refrigerant pipes 11 and 12 becomes longer, the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 is improved. In addition, it is also possible to devise an arrangement that prevents the exhaust of one from returning to the intake of the other.

[0078] It is also possible to configure the fan 27 of the indoor unit 20 to have an airflow direction guide 50 attached thereto, and the fan 7 of the outdoor unit 10 to have an exhaust duct 52 attached thereto. Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the attachment of the airflow direction guide 50 to the fan 27 of the indoor unit 20, and Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the attachment of the duct 52 to the outdoor unit 10.

[0079] As shown in Fig. 13, an airflow direction guide 50 can be attached to the outside of the fan 27 of the indoor unit 20 to guide the airflow to a location where workers or others need it. The airflow direction guide 50 can be configured, for example, from an iron bellows pipe, allowing the airflow direction to be freely adjusted. In an indoor unit 20 having two fans 27 as shown in Fig. 13, an airflow direction guide 50 can be attached to each of the fans 27, but it may also be attached to only one of the fans. When it is attached to only one of the fans, the fan 27 on the side where the airflow direction guide 50 is not attached blows air near the indoor unit 20, and the airflow from the other fan 27 is guided away by the airflow direction guide 50.

[0080] As shown in Fig. 14, an exhaust duct 52 can be attached to the outdoor unit 10. When a work location requiring air conditioning is far from a location suitable for exhaust, such as outdoors, the exhaust air can be guided to that location by the exhaust duct 52. More specifically, the duct 52 is preferably attached to the outdoor unit 10 via an exhaust hood 51 that covers the fan 7. Furthermore, when the total length of the duct 52 is long, it is more preferable to configure it so that a blower 53 can be installed in the middle, as exemplified in Fig. 14.

[0081] [Embodiment 3] A configuration in which a plurality of indoor units 20 can be connected to one outdoor unit 10 is also possible.

[0082] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner unit configured to allow two indoor units 20-1, 20-2 to be connected to one outdoor unit 10. In order to connect two indoor units to one outdoor unit 10, the refrigerant circuit of the outdoor unit 10 is divided into two systems, so that two systems of first valves V1-1 and V1-2, two systems of second valves V2-1 and V2-2, two systems of third valves V3-1 and V3-2, and two systems of joint parts 6 are provided, and the refrigerant pipes 11-1 and 11-2, 12-1 and 12-2 are independently detachable toward the indoor units 20-1 and 20-2. The other configurations are the same as those of embodiment 2 with reference to FIG. 4. Duplicate explanations will be omitted.

[0083] When the two indoor units 20-1, 20-2 are both connected and operated, the first valves V1-1 and V1-2 of the two systems and the second valves V2-1 and V2-2 of the two systems are all open and operated in the same manner as in embodiment 2. When only one system is connected and operated, the first and second valves of the system that is not connected, or the system that is connected but not operated, are closed.

[0084] When installing two indoor units 20-1, 20-2 connected together, the first valves V1-1 and V1-2 and the second valves V2-1 and V2-2 of the two systems are all closed, the third valves V3-1 and V3-2 of the two systems are opened, and impurity gases are exhausted from the two indoor units 20-1, 20-2 and the two systems of refrigerant pipes 11-1, 11-2, 12-1 and 12-2 by the exhaust pump 5, after which the third valves V3-1 and V3-2 are closed, and the first valves V1-1 and V1-2 and the second valves V2-1 and V2-2 are opened to begin cooling or heating operation. When disconnecting and removing the indoor units 20-1, 20-2, the first valves V1-1 and V1-2 and the second valves V2-1 and V2-2 of the two systems are all open, and the refrigerant is recovered in the accumulator 3. Then, the first valves V1-1 and V1-2 and the second valves V2-1 and V2-2 are closed, and the refrigerant pipes 11-1 and 11-2, 12-1 and 12-2 are removed.

[0085] In this way, a configuration is also possible in which a plurality of indoor units 20 can be connected to one outdoor unit 10.

[0086] [Embodiment 4] The present invention can also be positioned as an invention relating to an installation method / removal method for an air conditioner unit as described in embodiments 1, 2, and 3. The target air conditioner unit is not limited to the embodiments described in embodiments 1, 2, and 3, but the installation method / removal method will be described by citing the air conditioner unit shown in Fig. 1.

[0087] An installation method for the air conditioner unit of the present invention will now be described with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG.

[0088] The air conditioner unit includes an outdoor unit 10 and an indoor unit 20, and the first and second refrigerant pipes are not yet connected. After the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are moved to the installation location and secured in place, first and second refrigerant pipes of appropriate lengths are selected, taking into consideration the distance and the layout of the pipes.

[0089] For installation, first, the first and second valves (valves V1 and V2) are closed and the first and second refrigerant pipes 11 and 12 are connected (S1). Next, the third valve (valve V3) is opened and the exhaust pump 5 is operated to exhaust the air from the first and second refrigerant pipes 11 and 12 and the refrigerant circuit in the indoor unit 20 (S2). Once the air has been sufficiently exhausted, the third valve (valve V3) is closed and the exhaust pump 5 is stopped (S3). The degree of exhaust may be detected by the pressure sensors P1 and P2, or it may be determined that the air has been sufficiently exhausted after a predetermined exhaust time has elapsed. After that, the first and second valves (valves V1 and V2) are opened to supply the refrigerant (S4). This completes the installation of the air conditioner unit.

[0090] This makes it possible to prevent impurities from being mixed into the refrigerant when installing an air conditioner unit in which the outdoor unit and indoor unit can be separated.

[0091] A method for removing the air conditioner unit will now be described with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG.

[0092] The first and second valves (valves V1 and V2) are opened and the compressor 2 is operated to recover the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit in not only the outdoor unit 10 but also the first and second refrigerant pipes 11, 12 and the indoor unit 20 into the accumulator 3 (S5). Next, the first and second valves (valves V1 and V2) are closed and the compressor 2 is stopped (S6). The first and second refrigerant pipes 11, 12 are disconnected to separate the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 (S7). After that, the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are each moved and removed.

[0093] This makes it possible to reduce loss of refrigerant when removing an air conditioner unit whose outdoor unit and indoor unit are separable.

[0094] The invention made by the inventor has been specifically described above based on an embodiment, but it goes without saying that the invention is not limited thereto and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1 1st heat exchanger 2. Compressor 3 Refrigerant recovery unit (accumulator) 4. First pressure regulator 5. Exhaust Pump 6 Joint 7,27 Fans 8,28 Control section 9 Receiver 99 Non-condensable gas adsorbent 10 Outdoor unit 11,12 Refrigerant piping 16 Internal piping 13 Caster 14 Fixing mechanism (outrigger) 20 Indoor unit 21 Second heat exchanger 24 Second pressure regulator 30 Carts 31 Support Frame 32 Support frame 33 Rotating support frame 34 Fulcrum 40 Drain pan, drainage tank 41, 44 Water pipe 42 Drainage pump 43 Drain pipe 45 Water level sensor 50 Wind Direction Guide 51 Exhaust hood 52 Duct 53 Blower 60 Fixing member 61 Nut 62 Front ferrule 63 Rear ferrule 64 O-ring 65 D-ring V1, V2, V3 valves VX four-way valve P1, P2 pressure sensor

Claims

[Claim 1] A method for installing and removing an air-conditioning unit including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, each of which is provided with casters and can be moved, and first and second refrigerant pipes that connect the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and can be attached and detached, comprising: the outdoor unit includes a first refrigerant circuit including a first heat exchanger, a compressor, and a first pressure regulator; The indoor unit includes a second refrigerant circuit including a second heat exchanger and a second pressure regulator. the air conditioner unit includes first and second refrigerant pipes that connect the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit to form a refrigerant circuit; the outdoor unit further includes, in the first refrigerant circuit, a first valve and a second valve capable of isolating the first heat exchanger from the first and second refrigerant pipes, a refrigerant recovery device located on the first heat exchanger side of the first valve or the second valve, and an exhaust pump located on the first and second refrigerant pipes side of the first valve or the second valve, When installing the air conditioner unit, a first step of connecting the first refrigerant circuit and the second refrigerant circuit by the first and second refrigerant pipes with the first valve and the second valve closed; a second step of evacuating the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit by operating the exhaust pump; a third step of supplying refrigerant into the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit by opening the first valve and the second valve; When removing the air conditioner unit, a fourth step of operating the refrigerant recovery unit while opening the first valve and the second valve to recover refrigerant into the first and second refrigerant pipes and the second refrigerant circuit; a fifth step of closing the first valve and the second valve; a sixth step of disconnecting the first and second refrigerant pipes to separate the outdoor unit from the indoor unit; How to install and remove an air conditioner unit.

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