Air conditioners

Abstract

To shorten a length in a longitudinal direction of an air conditioner.SOLUTION: An air conditioner includes: a housing (11) having a suction port (21) and an air outlet (22); a fan (12); a heat exchanger (13) installed in front of the fan (12); an air outlet frame unit (23) installed adjacent to the heat exchanger (13) so as to be positioned along a front face of the heat exchanger (13) and including a frame member and a vertical louver installed to the frame member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a fan and a heat exchanger. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, there has been known an air conditioner in which a heat exchanger is placed in front of a fan, air is blown from the fan onto the heat exchanger, and the air that has passed through the heat exchanger is blown outside the unit through an air outlet.

[0003] Specifically, the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 is a ceiling-hung type, and has a thin box shape that is long from side to side and from front to back. This air conditioner draws air in from an intake port below the fan, and the fan blows the air that has passed through the heat exchanger out of an outlet in front of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is positioned in an inclined state, with the upper part positioned further forward than the lower part, and the outlet is provided with a flap to change the direction of airflow. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3791317 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-mentioned conventional air conditioner configuration is long in the front-to-rear direction as well as the left-to-right direction. On the other hand, there is a demand for air conditioners for general household use to be compact by shortening the length in the front-to-rear direction (depth). For this reason, the above-mentioned conventional air conditioner configuration has a problem in that it is difficult to adopt it for general household use.

[0006] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can be made compact by shortening the length in the front-to-rear direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing having an air inlet and an outlet, a fan provided inside the housing, a heat exchanger provided inside the housing in front of the fan and receiving air from the fan from the rear side, and an outlet frame unit provided adjacent to the heat exchanger along the front side of the heat exchanger and forming the outlet, the outlet frame unit having a frame member and vertical louvers that change the air outlet direction in the left-right direction, and the vertical louvers are provided on the frame member with the frame member aligned in the left-right direction. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the length of the air conditioner in the front-to-rear direction can be shortened. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a vertical section of the structure of the air conditioner shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blowing frame unit shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the outlet frame unit shown in FIG. 3 with a horizontal louver removed. [Diagram 5] 4 is a front view of the blowing frame unit shown in FIG. 3 and a BB cross-sectional view of the front view. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in the front view of the blowing frame unit shown in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an air conditioner 1 of this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a vertical cross section of the structure of the air conditioner 1 shown in Fig. 1.

[0011] (Configuration of Air Conditioner 1) As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the air conditioner 1 has a fan 12 at the rear inside a housing 11, and a heat exchanger 13 at the front.

[0012] Housing 11 has an intake port 21 on the top surface and an opening on the front surface. A filter 27 is provided at intake port 21, and an outlet frame unit 23 that forms outlet 22 is attached to the opening on the front surface.

[0013] The fan 12 is a sirocco fan that draws in air from the axial direction of the cylinder and blows it outward in the radial direction. The fan 12 is covered by a cover member 24 except for the area on the heat exchanger 13 side. Specifically, the front end of the cover member 24 located on the upper side reaches the position of the upper end of the heat exchanger 13, and extends rearward from this position, passing through a position above the fan 12, a position behind the fan 12, and a position below the fan 12, before reaching the rear surface of the heat exchanger 13.

[0014] The heat exchanger 13 is disposed in an inclined state with its upper portion positioned further forward than its lower portion, and its lower portion is disposed in close proximity to the fan 12. By disposing the heat exchanger 13 in an inclined state, the surface area can be increased while suppressing the height of the air conditioner 1 compared to when the heat exchanger 13 is disposed vertically. The inclined state of the heat exchanger 13 is not limited to the above state, and the heat exchanger 13 may be disposed in an inclined state with its lower portion positioned further forward than its upper portion. In this case as well, the surface area of ​​the heat exchanger 13 can be increased while suppressing the height of the air conditioner 1 compared to when the heat exchanger 13 is disposed vertically.

[0015] A drain pan 25 for receiving water generated by heat exchange in the heat exchanger 13 is provided below the heat exchanger 13.

[0016] The lower end of the outlet frame unit 23 is fixed to the drain pan 25, and the upper end is fixed to a filter guide (not shown) that holds the filter 27 of the intake port 21. As a result, the outlet frame unit 23 is inclined according to the inclination of the heat exchanger 13, and is disposed adjacent to (adjacent to) the heat exchanger 13 so as to be aligned along the front surface of the heat exchanger 13.

[0017] In this case, the blowing frame unit 23 may be in contact with the heat exchanger 13 or may be slightly separated from the heat exchanger 13. Therefore, the distance between the rear edge of the blowing frame unit 23 located closest to the heat exchanger 13 and the heat exchanger 13 may be in the range of 0 to 20 mm, and more preferably in the range of 0 to 10 mm. Considering the influence of the temperature that the blowing frame unit 23 receives from the heat exchanger 13, it is preferable that the blowing frame unit 23 is slightly separated from the heat exchanger 13.

[0018] The air conditioner 1 is provided with a front panel (main panel) 26 on the front portion that opens and closes the air outlet 22. The front panel 26 is formed in a plate shape that is gently curved between its upper edge and lower edge as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The front panel 26 is curved in a direction that creates a concave shape when viewed from the front.

[0019] Front panel 26 is driven by a conventionally known drive mechanism (not shown) having, for example, two arms, one on the left and one on the right, that support front panel 26, and a motor. Front panel 26 closes air outlet 22 when air conditioner 1 is stopped, and opens when air conditioner 1 is operating. In this case, horizontal louvers (sub-panel) 42 are also open. Front panel 26 is normally open at the top (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2) during cooling, and normally open at the bottom during heating.

[0020] (Configuration of blow-out frame unit 23) Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the air outlet frame unit 23. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the state where the horizontal louvers 42 of the air outlet frame unit 23 have been removed. Fig. 5 is a front view of the air outlet frame unit 23 shown in Fig. 3, and a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in the front view. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in the front view of the air outlet frame unit 23 shown in Fig. 5.

[0021] In the air conditioner 1, a filter with high air purification function is used as the filter 27 in order to enhance the air purification function. When such a filter 27 is used, if the fan 12 is placed downstream of the heat exchanger 13, the suction function of the fan 12 from the intake port 21 decreases. Therefore, in the air conditioner 1, the fan 12 is placed upstream of the heat exchanger 13. On the other hand, if the fan 12 is placed upstream of the heat exchanger 13, the wind speed of the wind blown out from the outlet 22 decreases, and the function of changing the blowing direction of the wind also decreases. Therefore, the air outlet frame unit 23 is configured as follows, taking these points into consideration.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the air outlet frame unit has a frame member 41, horizontal louvers , vertical louvers 43, and a plasma cluster ion unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a PCI unit) .

[0023] The frame member 41 has a rectangular frame shape, and the inside of the frame member 41 forms the air outlet 22. The frame member 41 has the same left-right width as the heat exchanger 13, and its height reaches the upper end of the heat exchanger 13. As a result, the opening height of the air outlet 22 in the frame member 41 is high.

[0024] 6, the lower frame portion 41a, which is the lower frame of the frame member 41, is horizontal, while the upper frame portion 41b, which is the upper frame, has a downstream portion lower than an upstream portion of the air flow, and is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side. As a result, the vertical height of the air outlet 22 is narrowed in the air outlet direction.

[0025] The horizontal louvers 42 are provided on the front surface of the air outlet frame unit 23. The horizontal louvers 42 are driven to rotate vertically around their upper edges to open and close the area in which the vertical louvers 43 are provided. As a result, the horizontal louvers 42 change the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 22 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the horizontal louvers 42 function as a sub-panel for the front panel 26.

[0026] The vertical louvers 43 have a vertically long shape, and a large number of them are provided inside the frame member 41 at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the frame member 41. The vertical louvers 43 are attached to support shafts 45 (see FIG. 5) extending in the width direction of the frame member 41, and rotate left and right by the left and right movement of the support shafts 45. This changes the direction of the air blown out from the vertical louvers 43 and the air outlet 22 left and right.

[0027] Here, in the air conditioner 1, by arranging the fan 12 upstream of the heat exchanger 13 as described above, the wind speed of the wind blown out from the air outlet 22 is lower than when the fan 12 is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 13. When the wind speed is slow, the function of changing the wind direction by the vertical louvers 43 is lower than when the wind speed is fast. For this reason, it is required that the vertical louvers 43 have an improved function of changing the wind direction.

[0028] In order to improve the function of changing the wind direction, it is preferable that the vertical louvers 43 have a wide width in the front-to-rear direction. However, the width of the air outlet frame unit 23 in the front-to-rear direction is limited to a narrow width in order to reduce the size of the air conditioner 1. This makes it difficult to widen the width of the vertical louvers 43 in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, in the air outlet frame unit 23, the arrangement pitch of the vertical louvers 43 is narrower and the number of vertical louvers 43 is increased compared to conventional techniques in order to ensure the function of changing the wind direction.

[0029] Furthermore, the frame member 41 has widened portions 41c1 at the front edges of the left and right horizontal frame portions 41c that widen the inner width of the frame member 41 in the left-right direction. The widened portions 41c1 are shaped to reduce the thickness of the inner surface side of the horizontal frame portions 41c. Because the frame member 41 has the widened portions 41c1, the left-right width W2 of the front edge portions (widened portions 41c1) of the horizontal frame portions 41c is wider than the width W1 of the portion rearward of the widened portions 41c1.

[0030] The PCI units 44 are attached to the lower surface of the upper frame portion 41b of the frame member 41, and a plurality of PCI units 44 are arranged in the width direction of the frame member 41. The PCI units 44 provide the generated plasma cluster ions to the air blown out from the outlet 22.

[0031] (Advantages of Air Conditioner 1) In the air conditioner 1, the air outlet frame unit 23 is provided adjacent to the heat exchanger 13 so as to be along the front surface of the heat exchanger 13, so that the length in the front-rear direction can be shortened to make the air conditioner compact.

[0032] Moreover, the heat exchanger 13 is arranged in an inclined state with its upper portion positioned further forward than its lower portion, and the air outlet frame unit 23 is arranged in an inclined state according to the inclination of the heat exchanger 13. This allows the heat exchanger 13 to secure a large area within the housing 11, and even when the heat exchanger 13 is arranged in this manner, the air conditioner 1 can be made smaller in size.

[0033] Furthermore, the upper frame portion 41b of the frame member 41 is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the air outlet 22 has a height that narrows in the up-down direction toward the air outlet. This makes it possible to efficiently guide the air blown out from the air outlet 22 downward, and also makes it possible to increase the wind speed of the air blown out.

[0034] In addition, since the frame member 41 has the widened portion 41c1, the wind guided to the left and right by the vertical louvers 43 is less likely to be blocked by the horizontal frame portion 41c. Therefore, it is easy to change the blowing direction by rotating the vertical louvers 43 to the right or left.

[0035] Furthermore, since the air conditioner 1 has the horizontal louvers 42 in addition to the front panel 26, the vertical direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 22 can be easily adjusted by the horizontal louvers 42 and the front panel 26.

[0036] 〔summary〕 The air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, The air conditioner comprises a fan provided inside the housing, a heat exchanger provided inside the housing in front of the fan and receiving air from the fan from the rear side, and an air outlet frame unit provided adjacent to the heat exchanger along the front side of the heat exchanger and forming the air outlet, the air outlet frame unit having a frame member and vertical louvers that change the air outlet direction in the left-right direction, the air outlet frame unit being provided on the frame member with the vertical louvers aligned in the left-right direction of the frame member.

[0037] An air conditioner according to aspect 2 of the present invention may be configured in such a way that, in aspect 1 above, the heat exchanger is arranged in an inclined state where the upper portion is positioned further forward than the lower portion, or in an inclined state where the lower portion is positioned further forward than the upper portion, and the air outlet frame unit is arranged in an inclined state according to the inclined state of the heat exchanger.

[0038] An air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention may be configured in the above-mentioned first or second aspect such that an upper frame portion forming the upper part of the frame member is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side of the air flow.

[0039] An air conditioner according to aspect 4 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 3 above, may be configured so that the horizontal frame portions forming the left and right sides of the frame member have widening portions at their front edges which increase the inner width of the frame member in the left-right direction.

[0040] An air conditioner according to aspect 5 of the present invention, in any one of aspects 1 to 4 above, may be configured to include a sub-panel that is provided in front of the vertical louvers and rotates vertically around the upper part to change the vertical blowing direction of the air that has passed through the vertical louvers, and a main panel that is provided in front of the air outlet, has at least a vertical dimension larger than that of the sub-panel, and rotates vertically to change the vertical blowing direction.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The technical scope of the present invention also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Air conditioner 11. Cabinet 12 Fan 13 Heat exchanger 21 Intake port 22 Air outlet 23 Blowout Frame Unit 24 Cover member 25 Drain pan 26 Front panel (main panel) 27 Filters 41 Frame members 41a Lower frame part 41b Upper frame part 41c Horizontal frame part 41c1 Widening section 42 Horizontal louvers (sub-panel) 43 Vertical louvers 44 PCI units

Claims

1. A housing having an intake port provided on an upper surface side and an opening provided on a front surface side; A fan provided inside the housing; a heat exchanger provided in front of the fan inside the housing and receiving wind from the fan from a rear side; a frame member attached to the opening of the housing and having an air outlet therein; a vertical louver provided on the frame member and capable of changing the blowing direction of air blown out from the air outlet by rotating relative to the frame member; The frame member is provided adjacent to the heat exchanger so as to extend along a front surface of the heat exchanger when attached to the opening, and overlaps with the heat exchanger when viewed from above; The frame member has an upper frame portion including an upper portion of the air outlet, a lower frame portion including a lower portion of the air outlet, and a left frame portion and a right frame portion including left and right portions of the air outlet, When the vertical louvers are oriented parallel to a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction, the upstream ends of the vertical louvers in the air flow direction overlap the left frame portion and the right frame portion as viewed from the left-right direction, The air conditioner further comprises a reinforcing member that connects the left frame portion and the right frame portion and supports the vertical louvers so that they are rotatable.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the downstream end of the vertical louvers in the air flow direction overlaps the left frame portion and the right frame portion when viewed from the left-right direction when the vertical louvers are oriented parallel to a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vertical louvers are housed inside the air outlet.

4. A plurality of the vertical louvers arranged in the left-right direction; A support shaft extending in the left-right direction and rotating the vertical louvers together, The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the support shaft overlaps with the frame member when viewed in the left-right direction.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4 , wherein the support shaft overlaps with the reinforcing member when viewed from the front-rear direction.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is disposed inside the housing in an inclined state in which an upper portion is positioned forward of a lower portion, or in an inclined state in which a lower portion is positioned forward of an upper portion.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the fan is positioned upstream of the heat exchanger in a direction in which air flows.

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