Leakage detection device

Abstract

To provide a leakage detection device capable of suppressing overflow of water from an air conditioner from being left for a long time so as to prevent mold growth and damage to wood.SOLUTION: In a water leak detection device, a rise of water level is detected by a level sensor in a water level detection unit 6, an error signal indicating a drainage abnormality is transmitted to a whole-building air-conditioning controller 8 from an extra small radio device capable of communicating with the whole-building air-conditioning controller 8, and the drainage abnormality is displayed on a display unit 8A thereof. As a result, the water leakage detection device can notify a user before condensed water overflows from an air conditioner 2, and can also stop the air conditioner 2 normally.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to Air conditioner a water leakage detection device in which it is necessary to perform drainage piping as a means for discharging condensed water outdoors Air conditioner

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a whole-house air-conditioning unit installed in a house is disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

[0003] Hereinafter, the drainage piping of the conventional whole-house air-conditioning unit will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0004] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a house showing the installation state of a conventional whole-house air-conditioning system.

[0005] The air-conditioning room 101 is provided in the attic 102 away from the outer wall 106 of the house. An air conditioner 103 is installed on the inner wall of the air-conditioning room, and the drain hose 104 of the air conditioner is connected to a drainage pipe 105 that communicates outdoors, so that the condensed water 108 generated during the cooling operation of the air conditioner is drained outdoors.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] ​In such a conventional building-wide air-conditioning system, since the air conditioner is stored inside the building-wide air-conditioning unit or an air-conditioning room is provided in the attic and the air conditioner is installed in the air-conditioning room, a drain pipe is required to drain the condensed water from the air conditioner. In the installation of the drain pipe, a horizontally drawn portion occurs, and since the gradient towards the outside becomes small, water remains in the drain pipe. If slime is generated there and the flow of water is obstructed, for example, the condensed water cannot be drained. And when the condensed water accumulates and overflows from the drain pan of the air conditioner through the drain pipe, the floor of the area where the building-wide air-conditioning unit is installed and the floor of the air-conditioning room get wet.

[0008] Furthermore, since the air conditioner is hidden inside the building-wide air-conditioning unit or in the air-conditioning room, it is expected that the user will not notice that water is overflowing from the air conditioner, and problems such as the growth of mold and damage to wood can be expected if it is left unattended for a long time.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and even in a situation where the flow of condensed water is obstructed, it safely stops the air conditioner before the condensed water overflows from the air conditioner and can notify the user that a drainage abnormality has occurred. The purpose is to provide a water leakage detection device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] And in order to achieve this object, the water leakage detection device according to the present invention is a water leakage detection device provided in an air conditioner, and includes a drain hose that discharges the condensed water discharged from the air conditioner to the outside of the air conditioner, a drain pipe provided at the tip of the drain hose that guides the condensed water to the outside, a branch pipe that branches from the drain pipe, a water level detection unit that detects the water level of the branch pipe, and a notification unit that notifies a drainage abnormality of the condensed water based on the water level detected by the water level detection unit. The drain pipe has a vertical portion that rises substantially perpendicular to the floor surface, the branch pipe branches from below the upper end of the vertical portion of the drain pipe, and the end on the side opposite to the drain pipe is located below the upper end and is open at the top.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, Air conditionerIt is possible to provide a water leakage detection device that can notify a user that a drainage abnormality has occurred before condensed water overflows from the drain pan.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] Note that the following embodiments are an example of embodying the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Also, throughout all the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description after the second time is omitted or simplified.

[0015] (Embodiment 1) First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a water leakage detection device for a whole-building air conditioning unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the drainage pipe of the whole-building air conditioning unit according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the water leakage detection part of the whole-building air conditioning unit.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, an air conditioner 2 is mounted on the whole-house air-conditioning unit 1 arranged indoors away from the outer wall of the house. A drain hose 3 for draining the condensed water generated by the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation is drawn out from the back side of the whole-house air-conditioning unit 1 to the air conditioner 2. At the tip of the drain hose 3, a drain pipe 4 standing substantially vertically from the floor surface is provided, and it is connected by inserting the drain hose 3 into the opening thereof.

[0017] Also, at a position below the downstream end 10 of the drain hose 3 in the vertical portion where the drain hose 3 and the drain pipe 4 are connected, a branch pipe 5 branching in an L shape is provided from the drain pipe 4. The tip of the branch pipe 5 is located below the air conditioner 2 and its upper part is open. The branch pipe 5 branched in a substantially L shape has a water level detection part 6 arranged in a range parallel to the drain pipe 4, and a signal transmission part 7 for communicating the detected information is provided in the water level detection part 6.

[0018] The water level detection part 6 is, for example, a float switch or an electrode type level sensor. Also, the signal transmission part 7 is a very small wireless device capable of communicating with a whole-house air-conditioning controller 8 described later and is provided with a wired connection to the water level detection part 6.

[0019] The above is the configuration of the water leakage detection device.

[0020] With such a configuration, the change in the water level in the drain pipe when the water flow stagnates somewhere inside the drain pipe 4 and drainage becomes impossible will be described.

[0021] When drainage becomes impossible, when the water level in the drain pipe 4 rises and the water level rises up to the connection part of the branch pipe 5, water flows into the branch pipe 5 side and the water levels in the drain pipe 4 and the branch pipe 5 become the same.

[0022] When the water level further rises, the rise in the water level is detected by the level sensor of the water level detection part 6, and an error signal of drainage abnormality is transmitted from a very small wireless device capable of communicating with the whole-house air-conditioning controller 8 to the whole-house air-conditioning controller 8 (the whole-house air-conditioning controller 8 is shown in Fig. 3). ​

[0023] When the whole-building air conditioner controller 8 receives an error signal of drainage abnormality, it displays on the display unit 8A as the notification unit that drainage abnormality has occurred. Thereby, it becomes possible to notify the user before condensed water overflows from the air conditioner 2.

[0024] Because of this, it is possible to suppress the state where the condensed water continues to overflow from the air conditioner 2 and is left unattended for a long time, so that a water leakage detection device that does not cause mold growth or damage to wood can be obtained.

[0025] Next, a method for notifying water leakage abnormality will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the notification unit for water leakage detection of the whole-building air conditioning unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. When the whole-building air conditioner controller 8 receives an error signal of drainage abnormality, it displays on its own display unit 8A that drainage abnormality has occurred and notifies the user. However, since the whole-building air conditioner controller 8 and the display unit 8A are installed in the house, the user may not notice even if drainage abnormality notification is made. For this reason, in addition to the display unit 8A, the notification means may be extended to a tablet terminal 8B or a mobile terminal 8C communicably connected to the whole-building air conditioner controller 8.

[0027] Because of this, it is possible to surely notify and make the user recognize drainage abnormality, so that it is possible to suppress the state where the condensed water continues to overflow from the air conditioner 2 and is left unattended for a long time, so that a water leakage detection device that does not cause mold growth or damage to wood can be obtained.

[0028] Furthermore, the whole-building air conditioner controller 8 can communicate with the air conditioner 2, and at the stage of receiving an error signal of drainage abnormality, it is possible to stop the air conditioner 2 by a normal stopping means.

[0029] Means for detecting an abnormal water level and forcibly shutting off the electric circuit to stop the air conditioner 2 have been implemented since the past. However, in this case, the compressor of the air conditioner may be damaged, which may shorten the life of the air conditioner. By using the water leakage detection device of the first embodiment, the air conditioner is stopped by a proper stopping means, so that the life of the air conditioner is not affected.

[0030] In addition, since the generation of condensed water stops when the air conditioner 2 stops, the rise in the water level is surely stopped, and condensed water does not overflow from the air conditioner 2. Therefore, a water leakage detection device that does not cause mold growth or damage to wood can be obtained.

Industrial Applicability

[0031] The water leakage detection device according to the present invention suppresses water leakage from an air conditioner generated by a rise in the water level of condensed water caused by a clogged pipe, and is useful for detecting water leakage of air conditioning equipment that requires drainage piping.

Explanation of Signs

[0032] 1 Whole-building air conditioning unit 2 Air conditioner 3 Drain hose 4 Drain pipe 5 Branch pipe 6 Water level detection unit 7 Signal transmission unit 8 Whole-building air conditioning controller 8A Notification unit (whole-building air conditioning controller display unit) 8B Notification unit (tablet terminal communicable with 8) 8C Notification unit (portable terminal communicable with 8)

Claims

1. A water leakage detection device provided in an air conditioner, a drain hose for discharging condensed water discharged from the air conditioner to the outside of the air conditioner; a drain pipe provided at a tip of the drain hose for leading the condensed water to the outside; A branch pipe branching from the drainage pipe; A water level detection unit that detects a water level of the branch pipe; a notification unit that notifies the user of an abnormality in drainage of the condensed water based on the water level detected by the water level detection unit, The drainage pipe is A vertical portion is raised substantially perpendicular to the floor surface, The branch pipe includes: The drain pipe branches off from below the upper end of the vertical portion of the drain pipe, A water leakage detection device whose end opposite the drainage pipe is located lower than the upper end and whose top is open.

2. The water leakage detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a signal transmission unit that transmits a stop signal for stopping the air conditioner based on the water level detected by the water level detection unit.

3. The branch pipe includes:

2. The water leakage detection device according to claim 1, wherein the water leakage detection device is located below the downstream end of the drain hose.

4. 2. The water leakage detection device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the branch pipe opposite to the drain pipe is located higher than the connection portion with the drain pipe.

5. A water leakage detection device as described in claim 1, wherein the water level detection unit is provided with a water level detection sensor at the end of the branch pipe.

6. The water leakage detection device according to claim 2 , wherein the signal transmission unit transmits the stop signal to the air conditioner via a controller that is provided independently and capable of communicating with the air conditioner, based on the water level detected by the water level detection unit.

7. The water leakage detection device according to claim 6 , wherein the notification unit notifies the abnormality in the drainage on a display unit of the controller or a display unit of a mobile terminal communicably connected to the controller via the controller.

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