Air conditioner indoor unit

By positioning the fan motor and motor box inward of the drain pan, the indoor unit's vertical dimension is reduced, addressing the challenge of interference and ensuring sufficient longitudinal width, thus optimizing the unit's design.

JP7758461B2Active Publication Date: 2025-10-22FUJITSU GENERAL LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2020064190
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-03-31
Publication Date
2025-10-22
Estimated Expiration
2040-03-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing indoor units of air conditioners face challenges in achieving sufficient longitudinal width due to the positioning of the motor box and fan motor, which results in a larger vertical dimension and potential interference with drainage channels.

Method used

The indoor unit design positions the fan motor and motor box inward of the drain pan, with the motor box attached to the outer surface of a motor bracket, allowing the fan motor to be located longitudinally inward of the drain pan, thus reducing vertical dimension and increasing the longitudinal width of the heat exchanger.

Benefits of technology

This configuration eliminates interference between the fan motor and drainage channel, enabling a reduction in the vertical dimension of the indoor unit while maintaining or enhancing the longitudinal width, thereby optimizing the unit's overall size and functionality.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide an indoor unit for an air conditioner which enables reduction of a vertical dimension of an indoor unit body.SOLUTION: A motor box 30 disposed on at least one of a left bottom surface and a right bottom surface of a drain pan 23 is disposed at the longitudinal inner side relative to a left end surface 23L and a right end surface 23R of the drain pan 23. A fan motor 22 is disposed at the longitudinal inner side of the drain pan 23 relative to a drain drainage passage 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6B
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and more particularly to the structure of an indoor unit that is attached to a wall surface of a room when used. [Background technology]

[0002] As an indoor unit of an air conditioner, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is known an indoor unit having a housing, a heat exchanger and a blower fan installed within the housing, the housing having a top surface, a rear surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and sides, the top surface of the housing having an intake port for drawing in indoor air and the bottom surface of the housing having an outlet port for blowing out conditioned air, the heat exchanger having a front portion and a rear portion of the heat exchanger, and a front drain pan arranged in the front portion of the heat exchanger and a rear drain pan arranged in the rear portion of the heat exchanger. The end face of the front drain receiver is provided with a drain drainage channel that extends toward the rear side of the indoor unit, and drain drainage outlets on the rear side of both sides of the drain drainage channel.In addition, below the front drain receiver, a front air duct wall is arranged approximately parallel to the bottom surface of the front drain receiver, and a motor box equipped with a motor for changing the angle of the air deflector arranged at the air outlet abuts against the end of the front air duct wall and is fixed with bolts or the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-83092 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the indoor unit shown in Patent Document 1, if the left-right direction of the indoor unit when viewed from the front is defined as the longitudinal direction, and the side facing the center of the indoor unit in the longitudinal direction when viewed from the front is defined as the inner side, and the side not facing the center is defined as the outer side, the motor box fixed to the end of the front wall of the air passage is located on the bottom side of the front drain receiver, but the outer surface of the motor box is located more inward in the longitudinal direction than the outer surface of the front drain receiver. In other words, because the outside of the front drain receiver is located more inward in the longitudinal direction of the indoor unit than the outer surface of the motor box, the front drain receiver cannot be made large (long), and there is a possibility that the longitudinal width of the heat exchanger will not be sufficient. Furthermore, the positional relationship between the fan motor that drives the blower fan and the drain drainage channel is not clear in the indoor unit shown in Patent Document 1, but in order to ensure sufficient longitudinal width between the front drain receiver and the heat exchanger, the fan motor must be positioned above the drain drainage channel so that it does not interfere with the fan motor, which results in the problem of the vertical dimension of the indoor unit body becoming larger. In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an indoor unit for an air conditioner that can reduce the vertical dimension of the indoor unit body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is an indoor unit for an air conditioner, comprising: a main body having a front panel disposed on the front side; side panels disposed at left and right ends in the left-right direction of the front panel; an air intake port; an air outlet; and an air deflector rotatably provided at the air outlet, the main body having an indoor heat exchanger disposed inside the main body; a drain pan disposed below the indoor heat exchanger with the left-right direction being the longitudinal direction and collecting condensation water generated on the indoor heat exchanger; a blower fan that draws air through the air intake port and blows it to the air outlet; a fan motor that drives the blower fan; and a motor box in which a motor that rotatably drives the air deflector is disposed. ,beforeThe drain pan includes a drain drainage channel disposed on at least one of the left and right sides of the drain pan in the left-right direction to guide condensed water to a drain outlet provided on the rear surface of the main body, and a drain drainage channel disposed on at least one of the bottom surface of the left side and the bottom surface of the right side of the drain pan. and disposed on the left and right bottom surfaces of the drain pan. and a motor bracket for mounting the motor box, the motor box attached to the outer surface of the motor bracket being located longitudinally inward of the left and right end faces of the drain pan, and the fan motor being located longitudinally inward of the drain pan relative to the drain discharge channel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, there is no need to position the fan motor above the drainage channel so that the fan motor does not interfere with the drainage channel, and the vertical dimension of the indoor unit can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the indoor unit of the indoor conditioning device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire indoor unit shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the indoor conditioning device. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the arrangement of components inside the indoor unit of the indoor conditioning device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of a drain pan and a fan motor. [Figure 6A] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state before the motor box is attached to the drain pan. [Figure 6B] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the motor box is attached to the drain pan. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Figure 1 is an oblique view showing the front of the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioning device in this embodiment, diagonally from the bottom right, Figure 2 is an oblique view of the indoor unit 1 in a disassembled state, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 1, Figure 4 is a top view showing the arrangement of the main parts inside the indoor unit, Figure 5 is an oblique view showing the arrangement of the drain pan and fan motor, Figure 6A is a front view showing the state before the motor box is attached to the drain pan, and Figure 6B is a front view showing the state after the motor box has been attached to the drain pan.

[0009] The indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner in this embodiment is an indoor unit of a type in which the rear surface of the indoor unit 1 is fixed to a wall (not shown) in the room in which the indoor unit 1 is installed. In this embodiment, the left-right direction of the indoor unit 1 when viewed from the front is defined as the longitudinal direction, and the side facing the center of the indoor unit 1 in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction) when viewed from the front is defined as the inside, and the side not facing the center (opposite the inside) is defined as the outside. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the indoor unit 1 has a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes a main body 7 having a front panel 2 arranged on the front side, a top panel 3 arranged on the top side, a side panel 4L arranged on the left end 7L of the main body 7 in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, a side panel 4R arranged on the right end 7R, and a bottom panel 6 arranged on the bottom side, and an installation plate 8 attached to the rear of the main body 7 and attached to a wall surface in the room.

[0010] The top panel 3 is provided with an intake port 9 that draws in indoor air, and an opening 10 is provided between the bottom panel 6 and the front panel 2 so as to slope from the front panel 2 toward the bottom panel 6, and the opening 10 is open over the entire lengthwise (left-right) direction of the indoor unit 1. Bottom cover parts 31R and 31L of motor boxes 30R and 30L, which will be described later, are arranged on both ends of the opening 10, and an outlet 11 that blows out conditioned air is formed between the right-side bottom cover part 31R and the left-side bottom cover part 31L.

[0011] An upper and lower air deflector 12 that covers the air outlet 11 is rotatably attached to the main body 7, and the upper and lower air deflector 12 is a horizontally long rectangle that is approximately the same width as the opening 10. The upper and lower air deflector 12 opens the air outlet 11 when the indoor unit 1 is operating, and by changing its angle as desired, changes the vertical direction of the conditioned air flow that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger 20, which will be described later, and also functions as a lid that closes the air outlet 11 when the indoor unit 1 is not operating, and when the air outlet 11 is closed, it also covers the bottom covers 31R and 31L.

[0012] In addition, a left and right airflow direction vane 13 is attached to the air outlet 11 so as to be rotatable relative to the main body 7, and when the indoor unit 1 is operating, the left and right airflow direction vane 13 changes the left and right direction of the conditioned air flow that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger 20 by arbitrarily changing its angle. Inside the main body 7, there are arranged an indoor heat exchanger 20 into which refrigerant sent from the outdoor unit of the air conditioner (not shown) flows and exchanges heat with the indoor air, a blower fan 21 that ventilates the indoor heat exchanger 20, a fan motor 22 that drives the blower fan 21, and a drain pan 23 that is located below the indoor heat exchanger 20 and collects condensation water generated in the indoor heat exchanger 20.

[0013] The drain pan 23 has a generally U-shape in top view, integrally formed with a front drain pan 24, whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction and whose width is generally the same as the left-right width direction of the indoor heat exchanger 20, and drain drainage channels 25R, 25L, which are located on the left and right sides of the front drain pan 24 and extend from the front side to the rear side of the main body 7. Drain drainage outlets 26R, 26L are provided on the rear side of the drain drainage channels 25R, 25L, and a hose for draining condensation water (not shown) is connected to one of the drain drainage outlets 26R, 26L. Condensation water generated in the indoor heat exchanger 20 is received by the front drain pan 24, and the condensation water received in the front drain pan 24 flows through the drain drainage channel 25 and drain drainage outlet 26 on the side to which the condensation water discharge hose is connected, and then flows from the condensation water discharge hose to the outside of the indoor unit 1. In addition, a drain pan insulation member 27 for preventing condensation is attached to the right end face of the right drain drain channel 25R. In the present invention, the longitudinal (left-right) width of the drain pan 24 refers to the distance from the outer end face of the left drain drain channel 25L to the outer end face of the drain pan insulation member 27 attached to the outer end face of the right drain drain channel 25R when viewed from the front. In the present invention, the drain pan insulation member 27 is not necessarily required, and in the absence of the drain pan insulation member 27, the longitudinal (left-right) width of the drain pan 24 refers to the distance from the outer end face of the left drain drain channel 25L to the outer end face of the right drain drain channel 25R when viewed from the front.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the blower fan 21, fan motor 22, indoor heat exchanger 20, and drain pan 23 as viewed from above, with the lower side of Fig. 4 showing the front side. The fan motor 22 is connected to the right end face of the blower fan 21, and the indoor heat exchanger 20, blower fan 21, and fan motor 22 are arranged, in a top view, between the drain drainage channel 25R arranged on the right side of the drain pan 23 and the drain drainage channel 25L arranged on the left side. Therefore, there is no interference in the height direction between the fan motor 22 and the drain drainage channel 25R arranged on the right side of the drain pan 23, and the height direction of the indoor unit 1 can be reduced.

[0015] As shown in Figures 6(A) and 6(B), on the right side of the bottom surface of the front drain pan 24, there is provided a motor bracket 33R to which a motor box 30R is attached, which is equipped with a motor 35 for the upper and lower air deflectors that drives the upper and lower air deflectors 12 and a motor 36 for the left and right air deflectors that drives the left and right air deflectors 13.Similarly, on the left side of the bottom surface of the front drain pan 23A, there is provided a motor bracket 33L to which a motor box 30L is attached, which is equipped with a motor 35 for the upper and lower air deflectors that drives the upper and lower air deflectors 12. The motor box 30R has a bottom cover portion 31R arranged on the bottom side and a mounting bracket 32R arranged at the end of the bottom cover portion 31R and attached to the motor bracket 33R.Similarly, the motor box 30L has a bottom cover portion 31L arranged on the bottom side and a mounting bracket 32L arranged at the end of the bottom cover portion 31L and attached to the motor bracket 33L.

[0016] 6(A) shows the state before the motor box 30R is attached to the motor bracket 33R on the bottom surface of the front drain pan 24, as viewed from the front. The motor box 30R is fixed to the motor bracket 33R from the right side with screws 40. The motor box 30R can be attached to the motor bracket 33R from the right end face of the indoor unit 1, which simplifies the attachment process. Similarly, the motor box 30L can be attached to the motor bracket 33L from the left end face of the indoor unit 1, which simplifies the attachment process.

[0017] 6(B) shows the front view of the motor boxes 30R and 30L attached to the motor brackets 33R and 33L, respectively, on the bottom surface of the front drain pan 24. When the motor boxes 30R and 30L are attached to the motor brackets 32R and 32R, respectively, on the bottom surface of the front drain pan 24, the right end face 30RE of the motor box 30R is located inside the right end face 23R of the drain pan 23. Similarly, the left end face 30LE of the motor box 30L is located inside the left end face 23L of the drain pan 23. The right end face 30RE of the motor box 30R and the left end face 30LE of the motor box 30L may be located on the same plane as the right end face 23R and left side 23L of the drain pan 23.

[0018] 6(B), the end faces 30RE, 30LE of the motor boxes 30R, 30L are positioned inside or flush with the right end face 23R and left end face 23L of the drain pan 23, so the longitudinal width of the drain pan 23 can be made approximately the same as the width from the inner surface of the left side panel 4L to the inner surface of the right side panel 4R of the main body 7. This allows the longitudinal width of the indoor heat exchanger 20 to be increased, thereby reducing the height of the indoor unit.

[0019] Furthermore, when the motor box 30R is attached to the motor bracket 33R, the bottom cover portion 31R is exposed on the bottom side of the main body 7 and functions as a decorative cover for the main body 7. Similarly, the bottom cover portion 31L is also exposed on the bottom side of the main body 7 and functions as a decorative cover. When the indoor unit 1 is not operating and the vertical air direction flare 12 is closing the air outlet 11, the bottom cover portions 31R and 31L are covered by the vertical air direction flare 12. Although the present invention has been described above with reference to a limited number of embodiments, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, and modifications of the embodiments based on the above disclosure will be obvious to those skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 1...air conditioner indoor unit, 2...front panel, 4R, 4L...side panels, 6...bottom panel, 7...main body, 9...intake port, 10...opening, 11...air outlet, 12...upper and lower air deflectors, 13...left and right air deflectors, 20...indoor heat exchanger, 21...blower fan, 22...fan motor, 23...drain pan, 23R...right end face of drain pan, 23L...left end face of drain pan, 24...front drain pan, 25R, 25L... Drain drainage channel, 26R, 26L...Drain outlet, 27...Drain pan insulation material, 30R, 30L...Motor box, 30RE...Right end face of right motor box, 30LE...Left end face of left motor box, 31R, 31L...Bottom cover, 32R, 32L...Mounting bracket, 33R, 33L...Motor bracket, 35...Up / down air deflector motor, 36...Left / right air deflector motor, 40...Screw

Claims

1. a main body having a front panel disposed at the front, side panels disposed at the left and right ends of the front panel in the left-right direction, an air intake, an air outlet, and an air direction plate rotatably provided at the air outlet, with the main body having a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction; an indoor heat exchanger disposed inside the main body; a drain pan disposed below the indoor heat exchanger with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction and configured to collect condensation water generated on the indoor heat exchanger; a blower fan that draws air through the air inlet and blows it to the air outlet; a fan motor that drives the blower fan; and a motor box in which a motor that rotatably drives the air direction plate is disposed. An indoor unit for an air conditioner comprising: The drain pan has a drain drainage channel arranged on at least one of the left and right sides of the drain pan in the left-right direction to guide condensed water to a drain drain outlet provided on the back surface of the main body, and a motor bracket arranged on at least one of the left and right bottom surfaces of the drain pan and arranged on the left and right bottom surfaces of the drain pan to attach the motor box, The motor box attached to the outer surface of the motor bracket is located inside in the longitudinal direction of the left end surface and the right end surface of the drain pan, The indoor unit for an air conditioner, wherein the fan motor is disposed inside the drain pan in the longitudinal direction of the drain pan relative to the drain discharge channel.

2. the motor box has a bottom cover exposed on the bottom side of the main body, The air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the bottom cover portion is covered by the air direction plate when the air direction plate closes the air outlet.

3. 3. The air conditioner indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the drainage channel is disposed at both left and right ends of the drain pan.

Citation Information

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