air conditioning unit

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner which can clean a guide surface part.SOLUTION: An air conditioner (10) has a case (40) in which there are opened an air intake port (41) which can take in air from the exterior, and an air blow-out port (42) which can blow out the taken-in air to the exterior, and a fan (33) which is rotatably supported by the case (40) and rotates to blow out the air. In the case (40), a guide surface part (45) for guiding the air blown out by the fan (33) toward the air blow-out port (42) is formed along the fan (33). A sweep-away mechanism (50) which can sweep away dust attached on the guide surface part (45) is provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning device for adjusting the temperature in a room. [Background technology]

[0002] Air conditioners are widely used to adjust the temperature inside a house, etc. Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional technique related to air conditioners.

[0003] The air conditioning device shown in Patent Document 1 has a case fixed to a wall, a fan housed in the case that rotates to blow air into the room, and a brush that is arranged to be able to come into contact with the fan and to clean the fan.

[0004] According to the air conditioner, dust adhering to the fan can be removed by rotating the fan with the brush in contact with the fan. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-143961 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Generally, the case is formed with a guide surface that guides the air blown by the fan toward the air outlet. Dust can also adhere to this guide surface, but the space between the guide surface and the fan is narrow, making it difficult for air conditioner users to reach in and clean it.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner in which the guide surface portion can be cleaned. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, first, in an air conditioning device having a case in which an air intake port that can take in air from outside and an air outlet port that can blow the taken-in air to the outside are opened, and a fan that is rotatably supported on the case and rotates to blow air, The case has a guide surface portion formed along a direction in which an axis of the fan extends, the guide surface portion guiding the air blown by the fan toward the air outlet, The air conditioner is characterized by having a wiping mechanism capable of wiping off dust adhering to the guide surface portion.

[0009] Secondly, in the air conditioning device described in paragraph 1, it is preferable that the wiping mechanism has a drive unit and a wiping unit that is driven by the drive unit, is movable along the guide surface portion, and is capable of wiping away dust adhering to the guide surface portion.

[0010] Third, in the air conditioning device according to the second aspect, the drive unit includes a motor that is activated by energizing the motor, and a drive force transmission unit that is connected to the motor and transmits the drive force of the motor to the wiping unit; It is preferable that the driving force transmission portion extends substantially parallel to the axis of the fan.

[0011] Fourth, in the air conditioning device according to the third aspect, a transmission unit housing section in which the driving force transmission unit is housed is formed in the case, It is preferable that a cover portion be provided between the driving force transmission portion and the fan, the cover portion covering the transmission portion housing portion and constituting a part of the guide surface portion.

[0012] Fifth, in the air conditioning device according to the fourth aspect, a gap portion of a predetermined interval facing the transmission unit storage portion is formed along an end portion of the cover portion, It is preferable that a portion of the wiping portion is inserted into the gap and supported by the driving force transmission portion in the transmission portion housing portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The present invention can provide an air conditioner in which the guide surface portion can be cleaned. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. 2 with the fan removed from the case. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the right side. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the wiping mechanism shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a wiping mechanism. [Figure 7] 7A is a cross-sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment as viewed from the right side, and 7B is a perspective view illustrating a drive unit of a wiping mechanism shown in 7A. [Figure 8] 8A is a perspective view illustrating the main parts of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment, and 8B is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the indoor unit shown in 8A as viewed from the right side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fr indicates front, Rr indicates rear, Le indicates left, Ri indicates right, Up indicates top, and Dn indicates bottom.

[0016] Example 1 Please refer to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows an air conditioner 10 according to the present invention. The air conditioner 10 has a cooling function for cooling the indoor space In and a heating function for heating the indoor space In.

[0017] The air conditioner 10 comprises an outdoor unit 20 installed outdoors (Ou) and an indoor unit 30 installed indoors (In). The outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30 are connected to each other so that a refrigerant can circulate. Unless otherwise specified below, the direction of refrigerant circulation is based on the cooling operation.

[0018] The outdoor unit 20 has a four-way switching valve 21 that switches the direction of refrigerant circulation during cooling operation and heating operation, a compressor 22 that compresses the refrigerant that has passed through this four-way switching valve 21, an outdoor heat exchanger 23 through which the refrigerant that has been compressed in this compressor 22 and has become high-temperature and high-pressure flows, an outdoor fan 24 that blows air toward this outdoor heat exchanger 23, and an expansion valve 25 that decompresses the refrigerant that has passed through the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

[0019] The indoor unit 30 is used by hanging it on a wall Wa inside the room In. A case 40 of the indoor unit 30 is fixed to the wall Wa via a support plate. The case 40, which extends in the left-right direction, houses a fan 33 that takes in air from the room In into the case 40 and blows it out into the room In, a heat exchanger 34 that exchanges heat with the air taken in by the fan 33, and a wiping mechanism 50 that can wipe away dust adhering to the inside of the case 40.

[0020] During cooling operation, the refrigerant, which has been heated to a high temperature and pressure by the compressor 22, exchanges heat with outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and releases heat. At this time, the outdoor fan 24 operates to force the outside air to flow around the periphery of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, promoting heat exchange. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and releasing heat, the refrigerant is decompressed by the expansion valve 25 and its temperature drops. The cooled refrigerant is sent to the indoor unit 30.

[0021] Air is introduced into the case 40 of the indoor unit 30 by operating the fan 33. The introduced air passes around the periphery of the heat exchanger 34 and is sent to the indoor space In. A refrigerant cooled in the outdoor unit 20 is supplied to the heat exchanger 34. The air passing around the periphery of the heat exchanger 34 exchanges heat with the refrigerant and is cooled. The cooled air is sent to the indoor space In.

[0022] During heating operation, the four-way switching valve 21 switches the flow path of the refrigerant, circulating the refrigerant in the opposite direction to that during cooling operation.

[0023] See Figure 2. An air intake 41 is opened on the top surface of the case 40, allowing air to be taken in from the outside (indoors In). An air outlet 42 is opened in the lower front part of the case 40, allowing air to be blown out to the outside (indoors In). The air outlet 42 is provided with up-and-down louvers 36 that can open and close the air outlet 42 and adjust the direction in which the air is blown out in the vertical direction.

[0024] See Figures 3 and 4. Behind the up / down louvers 36 (see Figure 2), left / right louvers 37 are provided that can adjust the direction in which air is blown out left / right. The case 40 has a case main body 43 that rotatably supports the fan 33, and a cover 44 that is fixed to the case main body 43 and covers a portion of the case main body 43.

[0025] A guide surface 45 is formed on the case 40 to guide the air blown by the fan 33 toward the air outlet 42 (see FIG. 2). The guide surface 45 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the case 40, in the direction in which the axis C of the fan 33 extends. Hereinafter, the space between the fan 33 and the guide surface 45 will be referred to as an air passage AP through which the blown air flows.

[0026] The guide surface portion 45 is formed by the front surface of the case main body portion 43 and the front surface of the cover portion 44. Hereinafter, the portion of the guide surface portion 45 formed by the case main body portion 43 may be referred to as the main body-side guide surface portion 43a, and the portion formed by the cover portion 44 may be referred to as the cover-side guide surface portion 44a. The guide surface portion 45 includes both the main body-side guide surface portion 43a and the cover-side guide surface portion 44a.

[0027] The case main body 43 is formed with a transmission part housing part 43b in which a part of the wiping mechanism 50 is housed.

[0028] 4 and 5, the transmission unit storage section 43b is a portion that protrudes rearward in a substantially U-shape at the bottom of the case main body 43, and is formed along the longitudinal direction of the case main body 43. The front of the transmission unit storage section 43b is covered by the cover section 44.

[0029] The cover portion 44 is formed with a rib 44b that projects from the rear surface of the cover-side guide surface portion 44a toward the transmission portion storage portion 43b and reinforces the cover portion 44.

[0030] A gap Sp, which is a gap with a predetermined interval, is formed between the case main body 43 and the cover 44. The gap Sp is formed with approximately the same width along the longitudinal direction of the case.

[0031] The wiping mechanism 50 has a drive unit 60 and a wiping unit 70 that is driven by the drive unit 60 to be movable along the guide surface unit 45 and that can wipe away dust adhering to the guide surface unit 45 .

[0032] See Fig. 6. The drive unit 60 has a motor 61 that is provided at the right end of the case 40 and is activated when energized, and a drive force transmission unit 62 that is connected to the motor 61 and transmits the drive force of the motor 61 to the wiping unit 70. The motor 61 may also be provided at the left end.

[0033] The driving force transmission unit 62 is housed in the transmission unit housing 43b. The driving force transmission unit 62 has a gear unit 62a made up of multiple gears and capable of transmitting the driving force of the motor 61, a driving pulley 62b that is integral with the gear unit 62a and rotates together with the rotation of the gear unit 62a, and a support transmission unit 62c that is displaced by the rotation of the drive pulley 62b and supports the wiping unit 70.

[0034] The driving force transmission unit 62 also has a driven pulley provided at the end of the case main body 43 opposite to the end where the driving pulley 62b is provided.

[0035] A toothed rope (synchro mesh rope) can be used for the support transmission part 62c. The support transmission part 62c is looped around a drive pulley 62b and a driven pulley provided at both left and right ends of the case main body 43. Both ends of the rope-like support transmission part 62c are connected to the wiping part 70, forming a loop.

[0036] 4, wiping unit 70 includes a driven unit 71 connected to support transmission unit 62c and driven to move left and right when drive unit 60 is activated, a first guide roller 72 rotatably supported by driven unit 71 and capable of contacting transmission unit housing unit 43b at its upper surface, a second guide roller 73 rotatably supported by driven unit 71 and capable of contacting rib 44b at its side, a wiping main body 74 formed integrally with the tip of driven unit 71 and shaped to conform to guide surface 45, a sheet 75 provided on wiping main body 74 and in contact with guide surface 45, and a brush unit 76 extending from wiping main body 74 toward fan 33 and capable of contacting fan 33 at its tip.

[0037] Both ends of the wire-shaped support transmission part 62c are connected to the driven part 71. This connects the wiping part 70 and the drive part 60. The tip of the driven part 71 passes through the gap part Sp and faces the air passage AP.

[0038] The wiping unit 70 and the drive unit 60 may be connected by a magnet with the guide surface unit 45 sandwiched therebetween.

[0039] The lower surface of the first guide roller 72 may abut against the transmission unit housing portion 43b. The right side surface of the second guide roller 73 may abut against the transmission unit housing portion 43b. If the rib 44b is formed in a position where it can abut against the second guide roller 73, the rib 44b, which reinforces the cover portion 44, can guide the second guide roller 73.

[0040] The sheet 75 can be made of nonwoven fabric, sponge, etc. The sheet 75 is provided to the wiping main body 74 so as to be detachable.

[0041] The brush part 76 is provided so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction relative to the wiping main body part 74 .

[0042] Next, cleaning of the guide surface portion 45 and the fan 33 by the wiping mechanism 50 will be described.

[0043] See Figure 6. For example, the air conditioner 10 starts cleaning after receiving an operation stop signal or a cleaning instruction signal from an operator. First, when the motor 61 operates, the gear portion 62a and the drive pulley 62b rotate. When the drive pulley 62b rotates, the wiping portion 70 provided on the support transmission portion 62c moves left and right.

[0044] 4 and 5, a sheet 75 is in contact with the guide surface 45, and a brush portion 76 is in contact with the fan 33. In this state, the wiping portion 70 moves along the gap Sp, whereby dust adhering to the guide surface 45 is wiped away by the sheet 75, and dust adhering to the fan 33 is also wiped away by the brush portion 76. At this time, by keeping the fan 33 rotating, all of the blades can be cleaned.

[0045] By providing both the sheet 75 and the brush portion 76 on the wiping main body 74, the sheet 75 and the brush portion 76 are arranged in close proximity to each other. Therefore, the brush portion 76 drops dust from the fan 33 onto the guide surface portion 45, and the sheet 75 can then wipe it away.

[0046] Since the left and right louvers 37 (see Figure 3) are installed downstream of the wiping mechanism 50 in the air flow, it is difficult to reach into the air passage AP between the fan 33 and the guide surface portion 45 to clean it. Therefore, by providing a wiping mechanism 50 that can move along the guide surface portion 45, dust adhering to the guide surface portion 45 can be easily removed.

[0047] Next, the effects of the air conditioner 10 will be described.

[0048] Referring to Figure 2, air conditioner 10 has a case 40 that is provided with air intake 41 that can take in air from outside and air outlet 42 that can blow the taken-in air to the outside, and fan 33 that is rotatably supported by case 40 and blows air by rotating.

[0049] See Fig. 5. Furthermore, case 40 is provided with guide surface 45 that guides the air blown by fan 33 toward air outlet 42 (see Fig. 2) along the direction in which axis C of fan 33 extends. Also, case 40 is provided with wiping mechanism 50 that can wipe away dust adhering to guide surface 45.

[0050] It is difficult to reach into the air passage AP between the fan 33 and the guide surface portion 45, making it difficult to clean, and dust tends to accumulate therein. By providing a wiping mechanism 50 that can move along the guide surface portion 45, it is possible to wipe away dust adhering to the guide surface portion 45, and it is possible to provide an air conditioner in which the guide surface portion 45 can be cleaned.

[0051] In particular, in the air conditioner 10 having the louvers 36, 37 (see FIG. 2), it is difficult to reach the front lower part of the air passage AP because the louvers 36, 37 are located there. The wiping mechanism 50 is particularly preferable for the air conditioner 10 having the louvers 36, 37.

[0052] 4, the wiping mechanism 50 has a drive unit 60 and a wiping unit 70 that is driven by the drive unit 60 to move along the guide surface unit 45 and can wipe away dust adhering to the guide surface unit 45.

[0053] 5 and 6. The drive unit 60 includes a motor 61 that operates when energized, and a drive force transmission unit 62 that is connected to the motor 61 and transmits the drive force of the motor 61 to the wiping unit 70. The drive force transmission unit 62 (support transmission unit 62c) extends substantially parallel to the axis C of the fan 33. Typically, the air conditioner 10 is long in the direction along the axis C of the fan 33 (left-right direction). By extending the drive force transmission unit 62 substantially parallel to the axis C, cleaning can be performed while the wiping unit 70 is moved in the longitudinal direction. When the wiping unit 70 is moved in the width direction (up-down direction), it is necessary to provide the wiping unit 70 along the longitudinal direction. This allows the wiping unit 70 to be made smaller than when the wiping unit 70 is moved in the width direction.

[0054] The case 40 is formed with a transmission unit housing section 43b in which the drive force transmission unit 62 is housed, and a cover section 44 is provided between the drive force transmission unit 62 and the fan 33, covering the transmission unit housing section 43b and constituting part of the guide surface section 45. By covering the drive force transmission unit 62 with a cover member, only the wiping section 70 can be exposed to the air passage AP. This prevents the drive force transmission unit 62 (support transmission section 62c) from interfering with the air flow, allowing air to be blown smoothly into the room.

[0055] A gap Sp of a predetermined interval facing the transmission unit storage section 43b is formed along the end of the cover section 44, and a part of the wiping mechanism 50 passes through the gap Sp. By utilizing the joint that is inevitably formed at the end of the cover section 44, a part of the wiping mechanism 50 can be stored in the transmission unit storage section 43b, and the remaining part can face the air passage AP.

[0056] <Example 2> Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0057] Please refer to Figures 7A and 7B. Figures 7A and 7B show the main parts of an indoor unit 30A of an air conditioner 10A according to Example 2. The same reference numerals will be used for parts common to Example 1, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0058] In the air conditioner 10A according to the second embodiment, the configuration of a wiping mechanism 50A is different from that of the wiping mechanism 50 according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 4). More specifically, a driving force transmission section 62A constituting a driving section 60A is different from the driving force transmission section 62 of the first embodiment (see FIGS. 4 and 6). In addition, a driven section 71A constituting a wiping section 70A is also different from the driven section 71 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 4).

[0059] The driving force transmission unit 62A includes a worm provided across the left and right sides of the transmission unit housing 43b. The driven unit 71A, which is driven in the left-right direction by the operation of the driving unit 60A, includes a rack gear that meshes with the worm.

[0060] When the motor 61 (see FIG. 6) is operated, a worm (driving force transmission unit 62A) disposed across the width of the case 40 rotates. The driven unit 71A has a rack gear that meshes with the worm, and thus moves left and right as the worm rotates. This causes the wiping body 74, sheet 75, and brush unit 76 to also move left and right, thereby wiping away dust adhering to the guide surface 45 and fan 33.

[0061] The air conditioner 10A configured in this way also achieves the predetermined effects described above.

[0062] Example 3 Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0063] Please refer to Figures 8A and 8B. Figures 8A and 8B show the main parts of an indoor unit 30B of an air conditioner 10B according to Example 3. The same reference numerals will be used for parts common to Example 1, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0064] Guide holes 47B are formed on the left and right side surfaces of case 40B, and wiping body 74 is configured to move along guide holes 47B. Guide holes 47B are formed in a shape that follows guide surface 45B, which guides air generated by fan 33 to air outlet 42 (see FIG. 2).

[0065] Reference numeral 62d denotes a driven pulley, which is the same as the one provided on the left side surface of the case in the first and second embodiments.

[0066] In the wiping unit 70, a driven portion 71 is inserted into the guide hole 47B, and a wiping main body 74 is connected to the driven portion 71. The wiping main body 74, the sheet 75, and the brush portion 76 are provided along the axis of the fan 33 and in the longitudinal direction of the case 40B.

[0067] When the motor 61 is operated, the driving force transmission unit 62 is moved in conjunction with the motor 61. The driven unit 71 provided on the driving force transmission unit 62 moves along the guide hole 47B. Because the guide hole 47B has a shape that conforms to the guide surface 45, the wiping main body 74 can move along the guide surface 45. This allows the guide surface 45 and the fan 33 to be cleaned.

[0068] The air conditioner 10B can also wipe away dust adhering to the guide surface portion 45, and the guide surface portion 45 can be cleaned.

[0069] Although the air conditioner according to the present invention has been described as having both a cooling function and a heating function, it can also be applied to an air conditioner having only a cooling function or only a heating function. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to an air conditioner consisting of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, but also to an air conditioner in which these are integrated.

[0070] As long as the functions and effects of the present invention are exhibited, the present invention is not limited to the examples. [Industrial Applicability]

[0071] The present invention is suitable for use in home air conditioners. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 10, 10A, 10B…Air conditioner 33...Fan 40, 40B...Case 41...Air intake 42...Air outlet 43b...Transmission unit storage section 44...Cover part 45, 45B...Guide surface 50...wiping mechanism 60, 60A...Driver 61...Motor 62, 62A... Driving force transmission section 70, 70A...wiping section C…Axis line

Claims

1. An air conditioning device having a case in which an air intake port for taking in air from outside and an air outlet port for blowing the taken-in air to the outside are opened, and a fan that is rotatably supported by the case and rotates to blow air, The case has a guide surface portion formed along a direction in which an axis of the fan extends, the guide surface portion guiding the air blown by the fan toward the air outlet, a wiping mechanism capable of wiping off dust adhering to the guide surface portion, the wiping mechanism includes a drive unit and a wiping unit that is driven by the drive unit to move along the guide surface and to wipe away dust adhering to the guide surface, the drive unit includes a motor that is activated by energization, and a drive force transmission unit that is connected to the motor and transmits the drive force of the motor to the wiping unit, the driving force transmission portion extends substantially parallel to the axis of the fan, a transmission unit housing portion in which the driving force transmission unit is housed is formed in the case; An air conditioning device characterized in that a cover portion is provided between the driving force transmission portion and the fan, the cover portion covering the transmission portion storage portion and constituting a part of the guide surface portion.

2. A gap having a predetermined interval is formed along an end of the cover portion, facing the transmission portion storage portion, The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the wiping mechanism passes through the gap.

3. An air conditioning device having a case in which an air intake port for taking in air from outside and an air outlet port for blowing the taken-in air to the outside are opened, and a fan that is rotatably supported on the case and blows air by rotating, The case has a guide surface portion formed along a direction in which an axis of the fan extends, the guide surface portion guiding the air blown by the fan toward the air outlet, a wiping mechanism capable of wiping off dust adhering to the guide surface portion, the wiping mechanism includes a drive unit and a wiping unit that is driven by the drive unit to move along the guide surface and to wipe away dust adhering to the guide surface, the wiping unit has a driven unit that is driven by the operation of the drive unit, and a wiping main body that is formed at a tip of the driven unit and has a shape that follows the guide surface, a gap is formed in the case along the direction in which the wiping part moves, The air conditioning device, wherein the driven part passes through the gap.

Images