air conditioning unit

Abstract

To improve system efficiency of a refrigerant circuit by securely guiding, to a heater, drain water generated in a connection part between a cooler and refrigerant piping without causing the drain water to drop onto a control device, etc. and effectively using cold of the drain water.SOLUTION: In an air conditioner, a refrigerant circuit formed by connecting a compressor, a heater, a decompression part and a cooler by using refrigerant piping and a control device that controls the refrigerant circuit and is located on one side of the cooler are accommodated in a casing. The air conditioner is configured, so that the cooler has a connection part of the cooler and the refrigerant piping on the upper surface and drain water generated on the upper surface of the cooler is guided to an opposite side of the control device sandwiching the cooler.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a compact air conditioner in which a set of devices necessary for air conditioning, such as a refrigerant circuit (compressor, condenser, evaporator, pressure reducer, etc.), a blower, and a control device for controlling these devices, are housed in a housing. Among such air conditioners, there is one in which an evaporator and a condenser are arranged in this order from top to bottom, and drain water generated in the evaporator is guided to the condenser (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-001799 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In air conditioners, drain water can be generated not only in the evaporator but also at the connection between the refrigerant pipe and the evaporator and in the vicinity of the connection. In this case, depending on the location of the connection, the drain water generated at the connection may not necessarily be introduced into the condenser, which may result in insufficient evaporation. Furthermore, for example, if the air conditioner is installed in a vehicle, the air conditioner may become unlevel when the vehicle accelerates, decelerates, or goes up or down a slope. This may cause drain water generated at the connection to drip onto the control device or the compressor terminals or leak from the air conditioner housing to the outside.

[0005] The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to reliably guide drain water generated at the connection between the cooler (evaporator) and the refrigerant piping to the heater without allowing it to drip onto a control device, etc., and to improve the system efficiency of the refrigerant circuit by effectively utilizing the cold energy of the drain water. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An air conditioning device according to one aspect of the present invention is an air conditioning device that houses, within a housing, a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heater, a pressure reducing section, and a cooler are connected by refrigerant piping, and a control device that controls the refrigerant circuit and is located on one side of the cooler, wherein the cooler has a connection part between the cooler and the refrigerant piping on its top surface, and is configured to guide drain water generated on the top surface of the cooler to the opposite side of the control device across the cooler. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, drain water generated at the connection between the cooler and the refrigerant piping can be reliably guided to the heater without dripping onto the control device, etc., and the cold energy of the drain water can be effectively utilized to improve the system efficiency of the refrigerant circuit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a rear perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a reference diagram showing the inside of an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the flow of drain water from the top surface of a cooler. [Figure 3] 1 is a rear view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a reference diagram illustrating the inside of an air conditioning device according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention, and explains the flow of drain water from the top surface of the cooler. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote parts having the same functions, and duplicated descriptions in the drawings will be omitted as appropriate.

[0010] 1 shows a schematic configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment. The air conditioner 1 includes a housing (not shown), a compressor (not shown) housed in the housing, a cooler (evaporator) 30, a heater (condenser) 40, a first blower 50, a second blower 60, a pressure reducer 70, and a control device 80. The compressor, cooler 30, heater 40, and pressure reducer 70 are connected by refrigerant pipes 91 to 94 to form a refrigerant circuit through which the refrigerant circulates. Note that Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the air conditioner 1, with the first blower section 50 located closer to the rear of the air conditioner 1 than the cooler 30, and the heater 40 located closer to the rear than the second blower section 60.

[0011] The cooler 30 is composed of a cooler body and a cooler case that houses the cooler body, but in the following explanation, when there is no need to distinguish between the cooler body and the cooler case, they will be described as cooler 30.

[0012] Similarly, the heater 40 is composed of a heater body and a heater case that houses the heater body, but in the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the heater body and the heater case, they will be described as heater 40.

[0013] The first blower 50 and the second blower 60 are each composed of a fan and a fan case, but the fans included in the first blower 50 and the second blower 60 are not shown in the drawings.

[0014] (Regarding the layout inside the case) Next, the layout of each device within the housing of the air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, within the housing of the air conditioner 1, a compressor, a heater 40, and a second blower 60 are arranged on a bottom plate 15, and above these (vertically upward) are arranged a cooler 30, a first blower 50, a pressure reducer 70, and a control device 80. In other words, in the air conditioner 1, the cooler 30 and the heater 40 are arranged in order from top to bottom (vertically downward).

[0015] In a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of air passing through the cooler 30 and in the horizontal direction of the cooler 30, a control device 80 is disposed on one side of the cooler 30 (left side in FIG. 1), and a pressure reducer 70 is disposed on the other side of the cooler 30 (right side in FIG. 1). A compressor and an accumulator (neither shown) are disposed below the control device 80. A first blower 50 is disposed upstream of the cooler 30 in the air flow direction, and a duct 38 having an outlet opening 31 connected to an outlet provided in the housing is disposed downstream of the cooler 30 in the air flow direction.

[0016] That is, on the bottom plate 15, a compressor is arranged on one side of the heater 40, and a second blower 60 is arranged in front of the heater 40. The cooler 30 is arranged above the heater 40 and slightly in front of the heater 40 so as to partially overlap the heater 40 in the vertical direction.

[0017] A refrigerant inlet 32 ​​is provided on the other side (right side in FIG. 1) of the cooler 30, i.e., on the pressure reducer 70 side, of the upper surface of the cooler 30, through which the refrigerant that has passed through the pressure reducer 70 flows into the cooler 30. The refrigerant inlet 32 ​​and the pressure reducer 70 are connected by a refrigerant piping 93. Furthermore, on the upper surface of the cooler 30, a refrigerant outlet 33 for the refrigerant that passes through the cooler 30 and returns to the compressor is provided upstream in the air flow direction (left side in FIG. 1) of the refrigerant inlet 32. The refrigerant outlet 33 and the compressor are connected by a refrigerant pipe 94.

[0018] That is, in the cooler 30, the refrigerant inlet 32 ​​is provided so that the refrigerant flows in from the top surface of the cooler 30, and the refrigerant outlet 33 is provided so that the refrigerant flows out from the top surface of the cooler 30. The refrigerant inlet 32 ​​is a connection part between the refrigerant pipe 93 and the cooler 30, and the refrigerant outlet 33 is a connection part between the refrigerant pipe 94 and the cooler 30.

[0019] Because a low-pressure refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipes 93, 94, the periphery of the refrigerant pipes 93, 94 is usually protected with insulation or the like to prevent drain water from adhering to the refrigerant pipes 93, 94. However, the refrigerant inlet 32, which is the connection between the refrigerant pipe 93 and the cooler 30, and the refrigerant outlet 33, which is the connection between the refrigerant pipe 94 and the cooler 30, may not be sufficiently protected by insulation, and drain water may be generated. In particular, drain water is likely to be generated at the refrigerant outlet 33, and the drain water may accumulate on the upper surface of the cooler 30.

[0020] For this reason, in the air conditioner according to this embodiment, the upper surface of the cooler 30 is made entirely or partially inclined so as to prevent drain water from dripping onto the control device 80 or the compressor. Furthermore, by providing the cooler 30 with a drain guide portion 100, drain water that may be generated at least from the refrigerant outlet 33 is guided to the heater without dripping onto the control device 80 or the compressor. The shape of the upper surface of the cooler 30 and the drain guide portion 100 will be described in detail later.

[0021] A refrigerant inlet 42, through which high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows, is provided on the top surface of the heater 40, on the other side (the right side in FIG. 1 ) of the heater 40 and on the rear side of the heater 40. Furthermore, a refrigerant outlet 43, through which the refrigerant passes through the heater 40 and flows out toward the pressure reducer 70, is provided on the top surface of the heater 40, forward of the refrigerant inlet 42.

[0022] That is, in the heater 40, the refrigerant inlet 42 is provided so that the refrigerant flows in from the upper surface of the heater 40, and the refrigerant outlet 43 is provided so that the refrigerant flows out from the upper surface of the heater 40. The compressor and the refrigerant inlet 42 of the heater 40 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 91 , and the refrigerant outlet 43 and the pressure reducer 70 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 92 .

[0023] (Refrigerant flow) In the refrigerant circuit connected as described above, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor and discharged as high-pressure gas refrigerant. The high-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the refrigerant pipe 91 and flows into the heater 40 via the refrigerant inlet 42, where it dissipates heat by exchanging heat with air blown from the second blower section 60 and passing through the heater 40.

[0024] The high-pressure refrigerant flowing out from the refrigerant outlet 43 of the heater 40 passes through the refrigerant pipe 92 and flows into the pressure reducer 70, where it is decompressed and expanded to become a low-pressure refrigerant. The refrigerant that has become low-pressure in the pressure reducer 70 passes through the refrigerant pipe 93 and flows into the cooler 30 from the refrigerant inlet 32.

[0025] The low-pressure refrigerant that has flowed into the cooler 30 absorbs heat by exchanging heat with the air that has been blown by the first blower section 50 and is passing through the cooler 30, and then flows out through the refrigerant outlet 33 of the cooler 30. The refrigerant that has flowed out of the cooler 30 flows through the refrigerant pipe 94 and returns to the compressor via the accumulator. The refrigerant that has flowed into the compressor is compressed again, and the above circulation is repeated.

[0026] 1, air passing through the inside of the cooler 30 and the heater 40 flows in the front-to-rear direction of the air conditioner 1. That is, in the air conditioner 1, air flows from the back to the front through the cooler 30, and air flows from the front to the back through the heater 40, thereby performing heat exchange between the air passing through the cooler 30 and the heater 40 and the refrigerant.

[0027] (Regarding the shape of the top surface of the cooler and the drainage guide section) 1 and 2, the cooler 30 is provided with a drainage guide portion 100 extending from the top surface to the side surface. The drainage guide portion 100 includes a first guide portion 101, a second guide portion 102, a third guide portion 103, and a fourth guide portion 104.

[0028] The first guide portion 101 is arranged along the air flow direction of the cooler 30, from one end side to the other end side of the upper surface of the cooler 30, and functions as a wall portion that prevents drain water that may be generated from the refrigerant inlet 32 ​​and the refrigerant outlet 33 from dripping into the control device 80 or the compressor.

[0029] The second guide portion 102 includes a first wall portion 102A, one end of which is connected to the vicinity of the center of the first guide portion 101 and which separates the refrigerant inlet 32 ​​from the refrigerant outlet 33, and a second wall portion 102B, which is continuous with the first wall portion 102A and is provided from the upper end to the lower end of the side surface of the cooler 30 facing the pressure reducer 70. The second wall portion 102B has a bent portion 102C that bends toward the first blower portion 50 on the side surface of the cooler 30, and extends vertically below the bent portion 102C to the lower end of the side surface of the cooler 30 facing the pressure reducer 70, and is formed so as to reach the vicinity of the refrigerant outlet 43 on the upper surface of the heater 40.

[0030] The third guide portion 103 is provided, for example, along the horizontal direction, on the side surface of the cooler 30 facing the pressure reducer 70, between the first blower portion 50 and the second wall portion 102B of the second guide portion 102. The second wall portion 102B and the third guide portion 103 are not in contact with each other, and a gap is formed between the second wall portion 102B and the end of the third guide portion 103, allowing drain water to pass through.

[0031] The fourth guide portion 104 is provided, for example, along the horizontal direction, on the side surface of the cooler 30 facing the pressure reducer 70, between the duct 38 and the second wall portion 102B of the second guide portion 102. One end of the fourth guide portion 104 contacts the second wall portion 102B, and the fourth guide portion 104 reinforces the second wall portion 102B, thereby suppressing distortion and damage.

[0032] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, an inclined surface S1 is formed on the upper surface of the cooler 30, which is inclined at an angle of α° so that the height increases from the end on the pressure reducer 70 side toward the base end of the first guide part 101.

[0033] In this way, even if drain water is generated at the refrigerant outlet 33 and leaks onto the upper surface of the cooler 30, the drain water will not leak out from the area surrounded by the first guide portion 101, the first wall portion 102A of the second guide portion 102, and the refrigerant outlet 33 on the upper surface of the cooler 30 to other areas, but will flow to the side of the cooler 30 on the pressure reducer 70 side due to the inclined surface S1.

[0034] That is, the drain water flows to the opposite side of the control device 80 and the compressor across the cooler 30 due to the first guide portion 101 and the inclined surface S1 formed on the upper surface of the cooler 30. Furthermore, the drain water that has flowed to the side of the cooler 30 is guided by the second wall portion 102B, runs down the side of the cooler 30, and is led to the vicinity of the refrigerant outlet 43 on the upper surface of the heater 40. By directing the drain water above the heater 40, the drain water can be sufficiently evaporated in the heater 40, and the system efficiency of the refrigerant circuit can be improved.

[0035] Furthermore, the first guide portion 101, the second guide portion 102, the third guide portion 103, and the fourth guide portion 104 function not only as drainage guides for drain water but also as ribs, thereby improving the strength of the cooler case.

[0036] In addition, a gap may be formed between the fourth guide portion 104 and the second wall portion 102B so that drain water that adheres to the refrigerant inlet 32 ​​and drips down the wall surface of the cooler 30 can be guided to the heater 40.

[0037] (Variation) An air conditioner 2 according to a modified example of this embodiment will be described below. Fig. 5 shows a reference diagram for explaining the flow of drain water from the upper surface of the cooler 30 of the air conditioner 2 according to a modified example of this embodiment.

[0038] In this modification, the entire upper surface of the cooler 30 is an inclined surface S2. The inclined surface S2 is inclined so that the height increases from the end of the upper surface of the cooler 30 on the pressure reducer 70 side toward the end on the control device 80 side, and preferably has an inclination angle similar to that of the inclined surface S1. The first guide portion 101 is provided midway along the inclined surface S2.

[0039] In this modified example, even if drain water generated at the refrigerant outlet 33 leaks onto the upper surface of the cooler 30, the inclined surface S2 prevents the drain water from leaking out from the area surrounded by the first guide portion 101, the first wall portion 102A of the second guide portion 102, and the refrigerant outlet 33 on the upper surface of the cooler 30 to other areas, and instead flows to the side of the cooler 30 on the pressure reducer 70 side.

[0040] The drain water that has flowed down the side surface of the cooler 30 is guided by the second wall portion 102B, runs down the side surface of the cooler 30, and is led to the vicinity of the refrigerant outlet 43 on the top surface of the heater 40. By directing the drain water above the heater 40, the drain water can be sufficiently evaporated in the heater 40, and the system efficiency of the refrigerant circuit can be improved.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment and its modified examples, even if drain water is generated and leaks at the connection between the cooler and the refrigerant piping, at least a portion of the upper surface of the cooler 30 is made into an inclined surface so that the drain water flows to the opposite side of the position of the control device as viewed from the cooler.

[0042] Furthermore, by providing the first guide portion 101 of the drain guide portion 100 on the upper surface of the cooler, it functions as a wall that prevents the drain water from flowing toward the control device 80. Furthermore, the drain guide portion 100 is configured to guide the drain water from the upper surface of the cooler 30, along the side surface of the cooler 30, and from above the heater 40 to the heater main body.

[0043] Therefore, the drain water generated at the connection between the cooler 30 and the refrigerant pipes 93, 94 can be reliably guided to the heater 40 without dripping onto the control device, etc., and the cold energy of the drain water can be effectively utilized to improve the system efficiency of the refrigerant circuit.

[0044] It is preferable to provide a notch or a groove at the corner between the top surface of the cooler 30 and the side surface on the pressure reducer 70 side, near the drain guide portion 100. By doing so, even if drain water accumulates on the top surface of the cooler 30, the effect of the surface tension of the drain water can be reduced, and the drain water can be smoothly flowed to the side surface of the cooler 30 on the pressure reducer 70 side.

[0045] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1, 2: air conditioning unit, 15: base plate, 30: cooler (evaporator), 31: outlet opening 32: refrigerant inlet, 33: refrigerant outlet, 38: duct, 40: heater (condenser), 42: refrigerant inlet, 43: refrigerant outlet 70: Pressure reducer, 80: Control device, 91 to 94: Refrigerant piping 100: drainage guide portion, 101: first guide portion, 102: second guide portion, 103: third guide portion, 104: fourth guide portion 102A: First wall part, 102B: Second wall part, 102C: Bent part S1, S2: Inclined surface, α: Angle

Claims

1. An air conditioning device that houses, in a housing, a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heater, a decompression unit, and a cooler are connected by refrigerant piping, and a control device that controls the refrigerant circuit and is located on one side of the cooler, the cooler has a connection portion on an upper surface between the cooler and the refrigerant pipe, An air conditioner configured to guide drain water generated on an upper surface of the cooler to the opposite side of the control device across the cooler.

2. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a drain guide portion for guiding the drain water to the heater.

3. the heater has a heater body and a heater case that houses the heater body, The air conditioner according to claim 2 , wherein the drain guide guides the drain water from above the heater case to the heater body.

4. the cooler has a cooler body and a cooler case that houses the cooler body, 3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the drain guide portion is provided along an outer top surface and a side surface of the cooler case.

5. The pressure reducing unit is disposed on the other side of the cooler, with the cooler sandwiched between them; 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is provided on the other side of the upper surface of the cooler.

6. 6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the upper surface of the cooler is an inclined surface whose height increases from the pressure reducing portion side toward the control device side.

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