Air conditioning indoor unit

Abstract

To reduce the time needed for detection of a refrigerant.SOLUTION: An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the invention comprises an indoor heat exchanger, a housing, a refrigerant sensor, and a drain pan. The indoor heat exchanger has a first end portion to which a refrigerant pipe capable of connecting to an outdoor unit is connected. The housing includes: a heat exchange chamber in which the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant pipe are disposed; a surface portion including a blowout port / blowing port; and a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion positioned on both sides in a lateral direction of the surface portion. The refrigerant sensor is disposed inside the first side surface portion, and detects a refrigerant leaking from the indoor heat exchanger or the refrigerant pipe to the heat exchange chamber. The drain pan is disposed in the heat exchange chamber and has a dew receiving surface for receiving dew condensation water dripping from the indoor heat exchanger. The dew receiving surface inclines downward from the second side surface portion toward the first side surface portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner equipped with a refrigerant sensor for detecting refrigerant leakage. [Background technology]

[0002] Air conditioners that use slightly flammable or flammable refrigerants determine whether or not there is a refrigerant leak based on the output signal of a refrigerant sensor that detects the concentration of the refrigerant. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an indoor unit of an air conditioner that has a built-in refrigerant sensor that detects refrigerant leaks. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-86972 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The indoor unit described in Patent Document 1 utilizes the negative pressure created near the refrigerant sensor when the blower fan (indoor fan) is operating to guide refrigerant leaking from an area distant from the refrigerant sensor to the refrigerant sensor. However, this method has the problem that negative pressure cannot be created near the refrigerant sensor when the blower fan is stopped, making it impossible to guide refrigerant leaking from an area distant from the refrigerant sensor to the refrigerant sensor, which increases the time it takes to detect the refrigerant.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an indoor unit for an air conditioning system that can guide refrigerant leaking from an area away from the refrigerant sensor to the refrigerant sensor even when the blower fan is stopped, thereby shortening the time required to detect the refrigerant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to one aspect of the present invention includes an indoor heat exchanger, a housing, a refrigerant sensor, and a drain pan. The indoor heat exchanger has a first end to which a refrigerant pipe connectable to an outdoor unit is connected. The housing has a heat exchange chamber in which the indoor heat exchanger and part of the refrigerant piping are arranged, an air blowing surface having an air outlet, and a first side portion and a second side portion located on both sides of the air blowing surface in the left-right direction. The refrigerant sensor is disposed inside the first side surface portion and detects refrigerant leaking from the indoor heat exchanger or the refrigerant pipe into the heat exchange chamber. The drain pan is disposed in the heat exchange chamber and has a dew receiving surface that receives condensation water dripping from the indoor heat exchanger, the dew receiving surface sloping downward from the second side surface portion toward the first side surface portion.

[0007] This allows refrigerant that leaks from an area distant from the refrigerant sensor to be guided to the refrigerant sensor via the drain pan, thereby reducing the time required to detect the refrigerant.

[0008] The indoor heat exchanger may have a rear end that contacts the drain pan and a front end that faces the drain pan at a distance, and the dew receiving surface may have a flow path portion that accommodates the rear end of the indoor heat exchanger and extends in the left-right direction.

[0009] The dew receiving surface may further include a guide surface portion located above the flow path portion and inclined downward toward the flow path portion.

[0010] The indoor unit may further include a cover member that covers a second end of the indoor heat exchanger opposite the first end and guides refrigerant leaking from the second end toward the dew receiving surface.

[0011] The indoor unit may further include a blower fan that blows air through the indoor heat exchanger to the outlet air outlet, and the cover member may be arranged outside an air flow path in the indoor heat exchanger.

[0012] The drain pan may further have a peripheral wall portion surrounding the dew receiving surface, and at least a portion of the cover member may be located below an upper end of the peripheral wall portion.

[0013] The indoor unit may further include a guide member that is disposed between a first end of the indoor heat exchanger and the first side surface portion and that guides refrigerant that has overflowed from the drain pan to the refrigerant sensor.

[0014] The peripheral wall portion facing the first side surface portion may be formed lower than the other peripheral wall portions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, even when the blower fan is stopped, for example, refrigerant leaking from an area distant from the refrigerant sensor can be guided to the refrigerant sensor, thereby shortening the time required to detect the refrigerant. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view seen from above of an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the internal structure of the indoor unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one side of the indoor unit as viewed from below. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing the internal structure of the indoor unit. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. [Figure 5B] 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5A. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a side view of the indoor heat exchanger and the drain pan as viewed from the second end of the indoor heat exchanger. [Figure 7] 7 is a side view of the second end portion of FIG. 6 with the cover member attached thereto removed. FIG. [Figure 8]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part of the indoor unit, showing a state in which the sensor unit has been removed. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer surface side of the sensor unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inner surface side of the sensor unit. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sensor support member in the sensor unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the indoor unit at the mounting portion of the sensor unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a main part of the indoor unit when the sensor unit is removed. [Figure 14A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a piping housing portion in the indoor unit. [Figure 14B] 14B is a perspective view of the pipe receiving portion in FIG. 14A with the guide member attached thereto removed. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pipe receiving portion to which a guide member is attached. [Figure 16] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating modified examples of the mounting position of the refrigerant sensor. [Figure 17] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating other modified examples of the mounting position of the refrigerant sensor. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between the indoor heat exchanger and the drain pan when the indoor unit is a vertically installed type. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] [Overall configuration of indoor unit] Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above showing an indoor unit 100 of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a top view showing the internal structure, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view from below showing one side of the indoor unit 100. For ease of explanation, the upper panel 11 is shown by a virtual line (two-dot chain line) in Fig. 1.

[0019] In each drawing, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction are three axial directions that are perpendicular to each other, and indicate directions as seen from the indoor unit 100.

[0020] The indoor unit 100 of this embodiment is, for example, an indoor unit of a ceiling-embedded duct type air conditioner, and is installed in the attic of a house. The indoor unit 100 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape so that it can be installed in the attic. Hanging hooks 101 (see FIG. 1) are attached to the four corners of the housing 10 to hang the housing 10 from, for example, a structural slab in the attic using hanging bolts (not shown).

[0021] (Housing) The housing 10 has a top panel 11, a pair of side surfaces, namely a left side surface panel 12L (first side surface) and a right side surface 12R (second side surface), a bottom cover panel 13, and an attachment panel 14. A front surface 15 and a rear surface 16 of the housing 10 are open as air circulation ports, with the front surface 15 formed as an air outlet surface having an outlet 15a, and the rear surface 16 formed as an air intake port.

[0022] The interior of the housing 10 is divided into front and rear sections by a partition plate 20, with a heat exchange chamber 30 formed on one side, the front surface 15, and a blower chamber 40 formed on the other side, the rear surface 16. The bottom of the heat exchange chamber 30 is closed by a bottom cover panel 13. The bottom of the blower chamber 40 is closed by an attachment panel 14. As will be described later, a sensor unit 50 equipped with a refrigerant sensor 55 that detects refrigerant leaking into the heat exchange chamber 30 is provided on the left side panel 12L.

[0023] The indoor unit 100 further includes an indoor heat exchanger 31, a drain pan 32, and a blower fan unit 41. The heat exchanger 31 and the drain pan 32 are disposed in the heat exchange chamber 30, and the blower fan 41 is disposed in the blower chamber 40.

[0024] (Blower fan unit) The blower fan unit 41 includes a blower fan 41a and a fan casing 41b that houses the blower fan 41a. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, four blower fan units 41 are arranged in the blower chamber 40 at intervals in the left-right direction. The blower chamber 40 is further provided with a motor 42 that commonly drives the plurality of blower fan units 41. A sirocco fan is used as the blower fan 41a. The number of blower fan units 41 is not limited to four, and may be one, two, three, five or more.

[0025] The air outlet of each blower fan unit 41 faces the heat exchange chamber 30 via the partition plate 20. When the blower fan unit 41 is operating, indoor air is drawn in from the rear surface 16 of the housing 10, and the conditioned air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 31 is blown out from the air outlet 15a on the front surface 15 of the housing 10. Note that a refrigerant such as R32, which has a specific gravity greater than that of air, is used as the refrigerant.

[0026] (indoor heat exchanger) The indoor heat exchanger 31 has a first end 311, which is its left end, provided with a refrigerant pipe 341 connected to an outdoor unit (not shown) (see FIG. 4), and a second end 312, which is its right end, provided with a folded-back pipe section 342 (see FIG. 7). The folded-back pipe section 342 is formed by bending the refrigerant pipe into a U-shape, but may also be a U-shaped pipe joined to the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 by welding or the like. The heat exchange chamber 30 has a pipe housing section 30P that houses the refrigerant pipe 341 located between the first end 311 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 and the left side panel 12L of the housing 10 (see FIG. 2).

[0027] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the main parts showing the internal structure of the indoor unit 100, Fig. 5A is a schematic side cross-sectional view as viewed from the left, and Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 5A. Fig. 6 is a side view of the indoor heat exchanger 31 and the drain pan 32 as viewed from the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31, and Fig. 7 is a side view as viewed with the cover member 33 attached to the second end 312 in Fig. 6 removed.

[0028] The indoor heat exchanger 31 is a rectangular heat exchanger with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction, and is arranged in the heat exchange chamber 30 slanting downward from a front end 313 to a rear end 314 as shown in Fig. 5A. The front end 313 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 faces the drain pan 32 at a distance, and the rear end 314 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 is in contact with the drain pan 32. In this embodiment, if the cross-sectional shape of the heat exchange chamber 30 when the indoor unit 100 is viewed from the side is approximately rectangular, the indoor heat exchanger 31 is arranged along the diagonal of this rectangle.

[0029] The refrigerant piping 341 connected to the first end 311 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 includes a liquid refrigerant piping and a gas refrigerant piping. One end of each of the liquid refrigerant piping and the gas refrigerant piping is connected to the first end 311 of the indoor heat exchanger 31. The other end of each of the liquid refrigerant piping and the gas refrigerant piping is formed as connecting piping sections 341L, 341G that protrude a predetermined length from the heat exchange chamber 30 through the left side panel 12L of the casing 10 to the outside of the casing 10. Pipe connectors VL, VG that are fastened to piping that communicates with the outdoor unit are attached to the ends of these connecting piping sections 341L, 341G, respectively.

[0030] (Drain pan) The drain pan 32 receives condensation water dripping from the indoor heat exchanger 31 and is disposed below the indoor heat exchanger 31 (above the bottom cover panel 13). The drain pan 32 is formed with a length (width) greater than the length (width) of the indoor heat exchanger 31 in the left-right direction, and in this embodiment, the drain pan 32 is disposed across almost the entire width of the heat exchange chamber 30, including the piping housing portion 30P.

[0031] The drain pan 32 has a rectangular dew receiving surface 32A with the longitudinal direction extending in the left-right direction, and a peripheral wall portion 32B that surrounds the dew receiving surface 32A. The peripheral wall portion 32B forms the outer peripheral wall of the drain pan 32, and its upper end is located above the dew receiving surface 321.

[0032] The height of the peripheral wall portion 32B varies depending on the position of the outer periphery of the drain pan 32, and the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 32B that forms the rear end portion 324 of the drain pan 32 is located higher than the upper ends of the other peripheral wall portions (the peripheral wall portions 32B that form the left end portion 321, the right end portion 322, and the front end portion 323 of the drain pan 32) (see FIG. 4). In addition, the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 32B that forms the left end portion 321 of the drain pan 32 that faces the left side panel 12L to which the sensor unit 50 is attached is formed lower than the other peripheral wall portions (the peripheral wall portions 32B that form the right end portion 322, the front end portion 323, and the rear end portion 324 of the drain pan 32).

[0033] 5A and 5B, the dew receiving surface 32A has a guide surface portion 32A1 and a flow path portion 32A2. The guide surface portion 32A1 is formed as an inclined surface that slopes downward from the front end portion 323 toward the rear end portion 324 of the drain pan 32. The flow path portion 32A2 is formed in an area of ​​the dew receiving surface 32A on the rear end portion 324 side of the drain pan 32 so as to extend in the left-right direction of the drain pan 32.

[0034] Guide surface portion 32A1 is located above flow path portion 32A2 and is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward flow path portion 32A (see FIG. 5A). As a result, condensation water dropping from indoor heat exchanger 31 and refrigerant (which has a specific gravity greater than that of air) leaking from indoor heat exchanger 31 are guided along guide surface portion 32A1 to flow path portion 32A.

[0035] Flow path portion 32A2 is formed at the lowest position on dew-receiving surface 32A and accommodates rear end portion 314 of indoor heat exchanger 31. Flow path portion 32A2 is further formed as an inclined surface that slopes downward from right end portion 322 (right side panel 12R of housing 10) of drain pan 32 to left end portion 321 (left side panel 12L of housing 10) (see FIG. 5B). As a result, the condensed water and refrigerant (which has a specific gravity greater than that of air) leaking from indoor heat exchanger 31 pass through flow path portion 32A2 and are guided to the left side panel 12L on which sensor unit 50 is provided.

[0036] A drain opening 325 communicating with the flow path 32A2 is provided on the rear end 324 side of the left end 321 of the drain pan 32 (see FIG. 4). The drain opening 325 is connected to a drain port DP provided in the left side panel 12L of the housing 10 via a drain pipe (not shown), and drain water is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 via this drain port DP (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0037] (Cover member) The indoor unit 100 further includes a cover member 33 that covers the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the cover member 33 covers the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 as well as the return piping portion 342 provided at this second end 312. The cover member 33 is positioned inside (on the dew-receiving surface 32A side) the peripheral wall portion 32B of the drain pan 32 (see Figure 6).

[0038] For example, if the turn-back piping section 342 is formed by welding to the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31, there is a risk of refrigerant leaking from the welded section. Also, even if the turn-back piping section 342 is formed by folding back the refrigerant piping, the piping itself may be accidentally hit and scratched by a tool or the like during work, which may cause cracks to grow larger due to minute vibrations during operation, resulting in leakage.

[0039] In this embodiment, the interior of the cover member 33 functions as a guide path that guides refrigerant leaking from the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 or the refrigerant piping (return piping portion 342) connected thereto toward the dew-receiving surface 32A of the drain pan 32. The lower end of the cover member 33 is provided with an opening that guides the refrigerant flowing through the guide path onto the drain pan 32 (flow path portion 32C). Because the cover member 33 is attached to the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31, which is disposed at an angle relative to the drain pan 32, the guide path is formed by an inclined surface that guides the leaked refrigerant toward the interior of the drain pan 32 (dew-receiving surface 32A). The refrigerant guided from the cover member 33 to the interior of the drain pan 32 passes through the flow path portion 32A2 and is guided to the left side panel 12L on which the sensor unit 50 is provided.

[0040] Furthermore, the cover member 33 is disposed outside the air flow path in the indoor heat exchanger 31. The air flow path is the path through which air sent out from the indoor fan 31 passes through the indoor heat exchanger 31, and corresponds to the shaded area W in Fig. 2. By disposing the cover member 33 outside the air flow path (area W), it is possible to prevent noise and ventilation resistance that may be generated by the cover member 33 being located inside the air flow path.

[0041] Furthermore, at least a portion of the cover member 33 is positioned below the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 32B. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, the lower end portion 33B of the cover member 33 is positioned below the upper end 32U of the peripheral wall portion 32B at the right end portion 322 of the drain pan 32. This allows leaked refrigerant to be reliably guided to the drain pan 32. The region of the cover member 33 positioned below the upper end 32U of the peripheral wall portion 32B is not particularly limited, as long as at least the lower end portion 33B is positioned below the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 32B.

[0042] (sensor unit) The indoor unit 100 further includes a sensor unit 50 that detects refrigerant leaking into the heat exchange chamber 30 from the indoor heat exchanger 31, the refrigerant pipe 341, or the return pipe section 342. The sensor unit 50 is attached to the left side panel 12L of the housing 10, as shown in FIG.

[0043] 8 is a perspective view of the left side panel 12L of the housing 10, showing the state when the sensor unit 50 is removed. The left side panel 12L has an opening 12w that opens the heat exchange chamber 30 to the outside, at a location where the sensor unit 50 is attached. The size and shape of the opening 12w are not particularly limited, and in this embodiment, it is formed as an opening large enough to accommodate the sensor support 52 (see FIG. 12) that supports the refrigerant sensor 55.

[0044] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the outer surface of the sensor unit 50, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the inner surface, Figure 11 is a perspective view of the sensor support 52 in the sensor unit 50, Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the indoor unit 100 at the mounting portion of the sensor unit 50, and Figure 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the opening 12w when the sensor unit 50 is removed.

[0045] The sensor unit 50 has a cover portion 51 and a sensor support 52 .

[0046] The lid portion 51 is attached to the left side panel 12L to form a part of the housing 10 (left side panel 12L). The lid portion 51 has a case portion 511 that forms a space portion 51s that communicates with the heat exchange chamber 30 through the opening portion 12w, and a flange portion 512 provided around the periphery of the case portion 511.

[0047] Case 511 is a rectangular parallelepiped box with an open surface facing left side panel 12L. Flange 512 is provided parallel to the up-down and front-rear directions of housing 10 along the open surface of case 511, and screw insertion holes 51a are provided at any position of flange 512, through which screws for fixing lid 51 to left side panel 12L are inserted.

[0048] Sensor supporter 52 is housed in space 51s of case 511 and supports sensor board 56 on which refrigerant sensor 55 and its peripheral components (electronic components) 57 are mounted. As shown in FIG. 11 , sensor supporter 52 has a housing portion 521 that houses sensor board 56 and a pair of holding claws 522, 523, and 526 that hold sensor board 52 housed in housing portion 521. Sensor supporter 52 is provided on both sides facing each other in the front-to-rear direction of housing 10 with a pair of engaging claws 524 that engage with engaging holes 514 (see FIG. 9) provided in case 511. Sensor supporter 52 is fixed to lid 51 by the engagement between these engaging claws 524 and engaging holes 514.

[0049] The sensor board 56 is connected via wiring (not shown) to a control unit 70 (see FIG. 8) installed inside the housing 10. The control unit 70 controls the operation of each part of the indoor unit 100, such as the motor 42 that drives the blower fan unit 41, and determines whether or not there is a refrigerant leak based on the detection signal of the refrigerant sensor 55.

[0050] 11, the sensor support 52 has a hook portion 525 that hooks a portion of the wiring connecting the control unit 70 and the sensor substrate 56. The hook portion 525 is formed, for example, in a clamp shape that can clamp the wiring. The hook portion 525 functions as a trap that captures dew that flows along the wiring to the sensor substrate 56, and also stably holds the wiring connected to the sensor substrate 56.

[0051] Providing the hook portion 525 on the sensor support body 52 in this manner prevents dew from flowing along the wiring onto the sensor board 56 and prevents excessive tension from acting on the sensor board 56. Note that the hook portion 525 may be provided in the vicinity of the sensor board 56, or may be attached to the case portion 511 as a separate part from the sensor support body 52.

[0052] The left side panel 12L of the housing 10 has a fitting hole 121 and a hook member 122 provided at positions facing each other in the vertical direction with the opening 12w in between. The fitting hole 121 and the hook member 122 correspond to a first engagement portion that engages with the cover portion 51. The fitting hole 121 is a slot that extends along the front-to-rear direction of the housing 10, and the hook member 122 is L-shaped and is attached to the outer surface of the left side panel 12 (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

[0053] The flange portion 512 has a protrusion 53 and an engagement piece 54. The protrusion 53 and the engagement piece 54 correspond to the second engagement portion that engages with the first engagement portion. The protrusion 53 is provided on the inner surface (the surface facing the left side panel 12L; the same applies below) of the flange portion 512 located at the top of the case portion 51, and is formed in a plate shape that can be fitted into the fitting hole 121. The engagement piece 54 is an end (lower end) of the flange portion 512 located at the bottom of the case portion 51, and is a plate portion that can be engaged with the hook member 122.

[0054] A seal member 58 for tightly fitting the lid 51 to the left side panel 12L is attached to the inner surface of the flange 512. The seal member 58 is a plate- or sheet-shaped member made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber or a synthetic resin material such as urethane foam. In this embodiment, the seal member 58 is divided and arranged at multiple locations on the inner surface of the flange 512, but this is not limiting and the seal member 58 may be integrally formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the inner surface of the flange 512.

[0055] The engagement between the first and second engagement portions allows the cover 51 to be temporarily fixed to the left side panel 12L before being fixed with the screws. This prevents excessive tension from acting on the wiring connected between the control unit 70 and the sensor board 56 even if the cover 51 is accidentally dropped during the installation or removal of the cover 51.

[0056] Furthermore, since the first and second engagement portions are located in positions that face each other in the vertical direction across the opening 12w, the same effect as described above can be obtained even when the indoor unit 100 is manufactured with the indoor unit 100 upside down.

[0057] The refrigerant sensor 55 is attached to the space 51s of the lid 51 via the sensor board 56 and the sensor support 52, and is thereby positioned inside the left side panel 12L. As shown in Fig. 2, the sensor unit 50 (lid 51) is positioned closer to the left side panel 12L than the pipe connections VL, VG. This prevents interference between the lid 51 and tools such as wrenches used when connecting the refrigerant pipes at the pipe connections VG, VL, ensuring ease of installation of the indoor unit.

[0058] The space 51s of the lid 51 communicates with the heat exchange chamber 30 through the opening 12w. Therefore, refrigerant leaking from the outdoor heat exchanger 31 or the refrigerant pipes 341, 342 into the heat exchange chamber 30 is detected by the refrigerant sensor 55 through the opening 12w.

[0059] When refrigerant leaks from the indoor heat exchanger 31, the refrigerant pipe 341, or the return pipe portion 342, the leaked refrigerant (hereinafter also referred to as leaked refrigerant) accumulates inside the drain pan 32. When the amount of leaked refrigerant exceeds the height of the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 32B of the drain pan 32, the leaked refrigerant flows over the peripheral wall portion 32B of the drain pan 32 and flows onto the bottom cover panel 13 that forms the bottom of the heat exchange chamber 30. In this embodiment, the height of the peripheral wall portion 32B of the drain pan 32 that faces the left side panel 12L is formed lower than the other parts of the peripheral wall portion 32B, so that the refrigerant that overflows from the drain pan 32 is collected on the left side panel 12L side (pipe accommodating portion 30P).

[0060] 12, the refrigerant sensor 55 is mounted on the sensor board 56 so as to face the opening 12w provided in the left side panel 12L in the space 51s of the lid 51. The refrigerant sensor 55 is installed at a height lower than the upper end of the peripheral wall 32B of the drain pan 32 that faces the left side panel 12L. This allows the refrigerant sensor 55 to quickly detect leaking refrigerant that has overflowed from the drain pan 32 into the heat exchange chamber 30.

[0061] Furthermore, refrigerant sensor 55 is mounted on lid 51 such that sensor support 53 is positioned below opening 12w. This allows for faster refrigerant detection when a refrigerant with a higher specific gravity than air, such as R32, is used, as the refrigerant concentration below opening 12w is higher.

[0062] Furthermore, the sensor unit 50 is provided with a seal member 58 that fits tightly against the left side panel 12L. This prevents the refrigerant that flows out from the heat exchange chamber 30 to the opening 12w from leaking out from the connection with the sensor unit 50, allowing the refrigerant that reaches the opening 12w to be reliably detected by the refrigerant sensor 55. This also prevents dust and condensed water from entering the sensor unit 50 from outside, ensuring the reliability of the refrigerant sensor 55.

[0063] According to this embodiment, the refrigerant sensor 55 is attached to the cover 51, and therefore, by removing the cover 51 from the left side panel 12L, the refrigerant sensor 55 can be removed from the housing 10. This makes it easy to replace the refrigerant sensor 55, improving workability in limited spaces such as above the ceiling.

[0064] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the flow path section 32A2 of the drain pan 32 is inclined downward from the right side panel 12R side toward the left side panel 12L side of the housing 10, so that leaking refrigerant from an area away from the refrigerant sensor 55 (the second end 312 of the indoor heat exchanger 31) can be guided to the refrigerant sensor 55 via the flow path section 32A2, thereby shortening the time required to detect the leaking refrigerant.

[0065] The indoor unit 100 further includes a guide member 35 that guides refrigerant overflowing from the drain pan 32 to the sensor unit 50. Fig. 14A is a perspective view of the pipe accommodating portion 30P, Fig. 14B is a perspective view of the pipe accommodating portion 30P in Fig. 14A with the guide member 35 attached to it removed, and Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the pipe accommodating portion 30P with the guide member 35 attached, as viewed from the left side panel 12L side.

[0066] The guide member 35 is positioned between the first end 311 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 and the left side panel 12L (piping accommodating section 30P) and is intended to guide leaked refrigerant overflowing from the drain pan 32 to the refrigerant sensor 55 in the opening 12w.

[0067] 15, the guide member 35 is composed of two members, a first guide member 351 and a second guide member 352, but it may also be composed of a single member. The guide member 35 covers the first end 311 of the indoor heat exchanger 31 from its front end to its rear end. The second guide member 352 has a side wall portion 352a that guides leaking refrigerant that has overflowed from the peripheral wall portion 32B of the drain pan 32 toward the sensor unit 50. This guides the leaking refrigerant to the opening 12w where the sensor unit 50 is installed, allowing the refrigerant sensor 55 to quickly detect the leaking refrigerant.

[0068] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and that various modifications can be made.

[0069] For example, in the above embodiments, an indoor unit of a ceiling-embedded duct type air conditioning device has been described as an example, but this is not limited to this and the invention can also be applied to other indoor units such as ceiling-suspended indoor units and duct type indoor units that are exposed to the indoor space.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the refrigerant sensor 55 was positioned opposite the opening 12w in the left side panel 12L (see FIG. 12), but the position of the refrigerant sensor 55 is not particularly limited as long as it is in a position that communicates with the opening 12w, and the refrigerant sensor 55 may be positioned above the opening 12w, for example, as shown in FIG. 16. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 17, the refrigerant sensor 55 may be positioned inside the housing 10 (toward the heat exchange chamber 30) relative to the opening 12w.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the indoor unit 100 has been described as a horizontally installed type, but this is not limited thereto. For example, the indoor unit may be used as a vertically installed indoor unit installed vertically on the floor. In this case, the air outlet 15a is formed on the top surface of the housing 10. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18 , the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 32B4 at the bottom of the drain pan 32 functions as a flow path portion 32A2 that guides leaking refrigerant to the refrigerant sensor 55. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 10...Housing 12L...Left side panel (first side part) 12R...Right side panel (second side part) 12w…opening 15a…Air outlet 30...Heat exchange room 31…Indoor heat exchanger 32...Drain pan 32A…Exposed surface 32A1...Guide surface 32A2...flow path section 32B…Peripheral wall part 33...Cover member 35...Guide member 41...Ventilation fan 50...Sensor unit 51...lid body 52...Sensor support 55...Refrigerant sensor 100...Indoor unit

Claims

1. an indoor heat exchanger having a first end connected to a refrigerant pipe connectable to an outdoor unit; a housing having a heat exchange chamber in which the indoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant piping are disposed, an air blowing surface having an air outlet, and a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion located on both sides of the air blowing surface in a left-right direction; a refrigerant sensor disposed inside the first side surface portion and configured to detect refrigerant leaking from the indoor heat exchanger or the refrigerant pipe into the heat exchange chamber; a drain pan disposed in the heat exchange chamber and having a dew receiving surface for receiving condensation water dripping from the indoor heat exchanger, the dew receiving surface being inclined downward from the second side surface portion toward the first side surface portion; Equipped with the first side surface portion has an opening and a lid portion that covers the opening, The refrigerant sensor is attached to the lid and detects refrigerant leaking into the heat exchange chamber through the opening. Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

2. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1, the indoor heat exchanger has a rear end portion in contact with the drain pan and a front end portion facing the drain pan with a gap therebetween, The dew receiving surface has a flow path portion that accommodates a rear end portion of the indoor heat exchanger and extends in the left-right direction. Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

3. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 2, The dew receiving surface further includes a guide surface portion located above the flow path portion and inclined downward toward the flow path portion. Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

4. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 2, a cover member that covers a second end of the indoor heat exchanger opposite to the first end and guides refrigerant leaking from the second end toward the dew-receiving surface; Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

5. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 4, Further provided is a blower fan that blows air through the indoor heat exchanger to the air outlet, The cover member is disposed outside the air flow path of the indoor heat exchanger. Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

6. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 4, The drain pan further has a peripheral wall portion surrounding the dew receiving surface, At least a portion of the cover member is located below the upper end of the peripheral wall portion. Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

7. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1, a guide member disposed between the first end of the indoor heat exchanger and the first side surface portion, the guide member guiding the refrigerant overflowing from the drain pan to the refrigerant sensor; Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

8. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1, The refrigerant sensor is located below an upper end of the drain pan facing the first side portion. Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

9. The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 6, The peripheral wall portion facing the first side surface portion is formed lower than the other peripheral wall portions. Indoor unit of an air conditioning unit.

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