Indoor unit and air conditioner equipped with said indoor unit

Abstract

The indoor unit has a structure that ensures structural integrity while allowing easy access to the parts to be cleaned. [Solution] The system comprises an indoor heat exchanger 8 which is divided into a front indoor heat exchanger 8a located at the front of the housing and a rear indoor heat exchanger 8b located at the rear, and a base 13 which fixes the indoor heat exchanger 8, and a base assembly B which comprises an indoor fan 9 which blows out the air after heat exchange in the indoor heat exchanger 8 into the room, a fan motor 9b for driving the indoor fan 9, and a drain pan assembly D which is installed below the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and receives the drain water generated in the front indoor heat exchanger 8a, and the indoor heat exchanger 8 is fixed to the base 13 such that the distance between the lower end of the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the base 13 is greater than the diameter of the indoor fan 9, and the drain pan assembly D is detachably attached to the base assembly B.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an indoor unit and an air conditioner including the indoor unit.

Background Art

[0002] As a structure of an indoor unit of an air conditioner, a structure (base structure) in which a plurality of components arranged inside the indoor unit are assembled based on a base may be adopted. While this structure can ensure sufficient strength, since many components are assembled to the base, it is necessary to remove several components until reaching the target component, except when removing the component attached to the outermost side.

[0003] Here, the role of the indoor unit is to perform heat exchange between the indoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger, and warm or cool the room by blowing the heat-exchanged air into the room. When performing heat exchange between the indoor air and the refrigerant in the indoor unit, the indoor fan in the indoor unit takes in the indoor air and functions to blow the air after heat exchange into the room. However, the indoor air is not always clean, and it is conceivable that dust and the like contained in the sucked indoor air adhere to components arranged inside the indoor unit such as the indoor fan. Therefore, in recent years, it has been required to be able to keep the indoor unit clean by cleaning the inside of the indoor unit.

[0004] In Patent Document 1 shown below, a wall-mounted air conditioner is disclosed in which a fan motor can be attached and detached without removing the heat exchanger. In such a wall-mounted air conditioner in which the heat exchanger is arranged to surround the indoor fan (cross-flow fan) and the indoor fan connects the rotation axis of the indoor fan and the output axis of the fan motor to be coaxial, it is characterized by having a maintenance space on one end side of the fan motor where the fan motor can be pulled out in the axial direction.

[0005] Furthermore, according to the above configuration, a maintenance space is provided on one end of the fan motor that allows the fan motor to be pulled out in the axial direction. As a result, the fan motor can be attached and detached by axial movement, the maintenance space for the fan motor can be reduced, and consequently, the fan motor can be attached and detached without removing the heat exchanger. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-047590 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, in the case of the air conditioning system shown in Patent Document 1 mentioned above, the indoor fan is detachable, but it is unclear whether the other parts are detachable or not. As mentioned above, it is required to keep the indoor unit clean by cleaning the inside of the indoor unit, but cleaning is not limited to the indoor fan.

[0008] For example, when indoor air and a refrigerant exchange heat in an indoor heat exchanger, water droplets may form on the indoor heat exchanger due to the temperature difference between the air and the refrigerant. This water (hereinafter referred to as "condensate") falls to the bottom, and a drain pan collects this fallen condensate.

[0009] In other words, the drain pan receives the condensate water that falls from the indoor heat exchanger and functions as a pathway for draining the condensate water. If the drain pan could also be cleaned, the indoor unit could be kept in a cleaner state. For this purpose, it is desirable that the drain pan be removable, but in the air conditioning system disclosed in Patent Document 1, although the indoor fan can be removed, it is not envisioned that the drain pan will be removed for cleaning.

[0010] In particular, if the indoor unit employs a base structure, as described above, where components placed inside the indoor unit are assembled to a base, the order of assembly is predetermined. Therefore, even when it is necessary to remove the indoor fan for cleaning, or to replace the fan motor, many other components must be removed before reaching the indoor fan or other component to be removed.

[0011] Furthermore, since all the components placed inside the indoor unit are ultimately assembled onto the base, the components inevitably end up being assembled in a densely packed state. As a result, for example, it is not possible to provide a large space for the drainage path used to drain condensate water.

[0012] As a result, for example, if the drain for draining condensate water from the outside of the indoor unit becomes clogged, condensate water will accumulate in the drain pan, and there is a possibility that condensate water may unexpectedly leak from the indoor unit.

[0013] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an indoor unit having a structure that allows easy access to parts to be cleaned while ensuring the strength of the indoor unit, and an air conditioner equipped with said indoor unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] An indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base assembly comprising: an indoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and air and is divided into a front indoor heat exchanger located at the front of the housing and a rear indoor heat exchanger located at the rear of the housing; a base for fixing the indoor heat exchanger; an indoor fan that blows out air that has undergone heat exchange with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger into the room; a fan motor for driving the indoor fan; and a drain pan assembly installed below the front indoor heat exchanger to receive drain water generated in the front indoor heat exchanger. The base has an inner wall surface that forms part of the airflow path for the air blown into the room by the indoor fan,The indoor heat exchanger is fixed to the base such that the distance between the lower end of the indoor heat exchanger and the base is greater than the diameter of the indoor fan, and the drain pan assembly is detachably attached to the base assembly.

[0015] Furthermore, the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base assembly consisting of an indoor heat exchanger which is divided into a front indoor heat exchanger located at the front of the housing and a rear indoor heat exchanger located at the rear of the housing and which performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and air, and a base which fixes the indoor heat exchanger, and an indoor fan which blows out the air which has undergone heat exchange with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger into the room, a fan motor for driving the indoor fan, and a drain pan assembly which is installed below the front indoor heat exchanger and receives the drain water generated in the front indoor heat exchanger. The base has an inner wall surface that forms part of the airflow path for the air blown into the room by the indoor fan, The indoor heat exchanger is fixed to the base such that the distance between the lower end of the internal heat exchanger and the base is greater than the diameter of the indoor fan, and the drain pan assembly comprises an indoor unit that is detachably attached to the base assembly and an outdoor unit that forms a refrigerant circuit by being connected to the indoor unit by piping. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an indoor unit having a structure that allows easy access to parts to be cleaned while ensuring the strength of the indoor unit, and an air conditioner equipped with said indoor unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an overall perspective view of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown by cutting it along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is an overall perspective view of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, with exterior parts such as the front panel removed. [Figure 5] It is an overall perspective view showing the state of the indoor unit in the state shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from below. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the base assembly in the indoor unit in the state shown in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the state of the base assembly in the state shown in FIG. 6 as viewed from below. [Figure 8] It is a perspective view showing the drain pan assembly in the indoor unit in the state shown in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a perspective view showing the state of the drain pan assembly in the state shown in FIG. 8 as viewed from below. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory view explaining the flow of attachment and detachment of the drain pan assembly with respect to the base assembly in the indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a right side view showing the state of the drain pan assembly attached to the base assembly as viewed from the right side. [Figure 12] It is a perspective view showing the state of further attaching the housing panel from the state where the drain pan assembly is attached to the base assembly. [Figure 13] It is a perspective view showing the drainage path in the indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] It is a B - B line cut - away perspective view showing the drainage path of the indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention as cut along the B - B line shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] It is a B - B line cut - away view of the drainage path of the indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed in the X direction of the B - B line cut - away perspective view shown in FIG. 14.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] The overall configuration of the air conditioner A according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the air conditioner A according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the refrigerant circuit diagram described here is merely an example of the air conditioner A. Therefore, the indoor unit 1 in the embodiment of the present invention may be used in, for example, a dual refrigeration cycle system, or it may be used in a heat pump cycle system in which the refrigerant that performs heat exchange between the air in the room where the indoor unit 1 is installed and the indoor heat exchanger is, for example, water.

[0019] Air conditioner A comprises an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 20 that is connected to the indoor unit 1 by piping to form a refrigerant circuit C. The internal configuration of the indoor unit 1 will be described later, but Figure 1 shows only the indoor heat exchanger 8 connected to the refrigerant circuit C.

[0020] On the other hand, the outdoor unit 20 is installed outdoors and contains a compressor 21, a pressure reducing mechanism 22, and an outdoor heat exchanger 23. However, the configuration of the outdoor unit 20 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 1, but only the configuration necessary to explain the configuration of air conditioner A is shown. Therefore, although the outdoor unit 20 is equipped with various components such as a four-way valve and an outdoor fan, these components are not shown in Figure 1.

[0021] The compressor 21 draws in the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit C, compresses it, and discharges it back into the refrigerant circuit C. The pressure reducing mechanism 22 is, for example, an expansion valve, which reduces the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger 8 or the outdoor heat exchanger 23. It is also responsible for adjusting the overall flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit C. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit C and the outside air.

[0022] The indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 20 are connected by refrigerant piping through which the refrigerant flows, forming the refrigerant circuit C described above. Specifically, in the refrigerant circuit C, the piping is connected such that the indoor heat exchanger 8 of the indoor unit 1 is located between the compressor 21 and the pressure reducing mechanism 22 of the outdoor unit 20, and the refrigerant flows in the order of compressor 21, indoor heat exchanger 8, pressure reducing mechanism 22, outdoor heat exchanger 23, or in the order of compressor 21, outdoor heat exchanger 23, pressure reducing mechanism 22, indoor heat exchanger 8.

[0023] Here, we will explain the operation of air conditioner A using refrigerant circuit C, taking cooling operation as an example. For example, when air conditioner A is in cooling operation, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit C in the following order: compressor 21, outdoor heat exchanger 23, pressure reducing mechanism 22, indoor heat exchanger 8, and compressor 21, all located in the outdoor unit 20.

[0024] In other words, the refrigerant, which has been compressed to a high temperature and pressure in the compressor 21 of the outdoor unit 20, is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 23. In the outdoor heat exchanger 23, it is cooled by outside air supplied by an outdoor fan (not shown), and the heat from the refrigerant is released into the outside air. Then, some or all of the refrigerant condenses.

[0025] The refrigerant that has released heat in this manner exits the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and then passes through the depressurization mechanism 22, where it is depressurized and becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant. Subsequently, the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 8, where heat exchange takes place with the indoor air.

[0026] Through heat exchange by the indoor heat exchanger 8, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air and evaporates, while the indoor air drawn into the indoor heat exchanger 8 is cooled. In Figure 1, an indoor fan (not shown) supplies cool air to the room, thus cooling the room. The refrigerant that has absorbed heat through heat exchange returns to the compressor 21.

[0027] On the other hand, during heating operation, the refrigerant circulates within the refrigerant circuit C in the reverse order of the arrows shown in Figure 1, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 8. In the indoor heat exchanger 8, heat exchange takes place between the refrigerant and the indoor air, causing the refrigerant to condense and the air to be heated. This heated air is then supplied to the room, providing heating.

[0028] Next, the configuration of the indoor unit 1 will be explained using Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is an overall perspective view of the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, cut along line AA shown in Figure 1.

[0029] The indoor unit 1 shown in Figure 2 is a wall-mounted indoor unit that is fixed to a high wall inside the room. However, the indoor unit may be attached to the wall in any way.

[0030] In this embodiment of the present invention, when viewing the indoor unit 1 mounted on a wall from the front, the left-right direction is defined as the X direction, and the depth direction from the front to the back of the indoor unit 1 is defined as the Y direction. The direction perpendicular to both the X and Y directions is defined as the Z direction. Therefore, the Z direction corresponds to the height direction when viewing the indoor unit 1 from the front.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the indoor unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is horizontally elongated in the X direction and is generally rectangular in shape, although its front surface is partially curved. The indoor unit 1 comprises a housing 6 formed by a front panel 2 positioned on the front side, a top panel 3 positioned on the top side, side panels 4, 4 positioned at both ends in the X direction when viewed from the front, and a bottom panel 5 positioned on the bottom side. In addition, a mounting plate 6a is provided on the back of the housing 6, which is attached to the housing 6 and also to the wall surface of the room.

[0032] For example, as shown in Figure 2, the top panel 3 is provided with an intake port 7 that draws indoor air into the housing 6. Also, as shown in Figure 3, inside the housing 6, the indoor heat exchanger 8 and indoor fan 9 are arranged in that order, relative to the intake port 7.

[0033] As shown in Figure 3, the indoor heat exchanger 8 is arranged in a roughly inverted V shape, and is divided into a front side in the Y direction and a rear side in the Y direction of the indoor fan 9. In other words, the indoor heat exchanger 8 is divided into a front indoor heat exchanger 8a, which is located at the front inside the housing 6, and a rear indoor heat exchanger 8b, which is located at the rear inside the housing 6.

[0034] Regarding the indoor heat exchanger 8, when describing the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b, they will be referred to individually as "front indoor heat exchanger 8a" or "rear indoor heat exchanger 8b". On the other hand, when describing the indoor heat exchanger as a whole, rather than these individual indoor heat exchangers, it will be referred to as "indoor heat exchanger 8" as appropriate, as before.

[0035] The indoor heat exchanger 8 performs heat exchange between the indoor air drawn into the casing 6 from the intake port 7 and the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 8. For example, when the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air drawn into the casing 6 and passing through the indoor heat exchanger 8. Conversely, when the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the refrigerant releases heat to the air drawn into the casing 6 and passing through the indoor heat exchanger 8.

[0036] The indoor fan 9 is housed inside the housing 6 and is mounted on the rotating shaft of a fan motor (not shown) so as to be able to rotate freely within the housing 6. For example, a cross-flow fan is used for the indoor fan 9. As shown in Figure 3, the indoor fan 9 is positioned so as to be surrounded by the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b.

[0037] Furthermore, a drain pan 10 is provided inside the housing 6 at the bottom of the indoor heat exchanger 8. The drain pan 10 collects the condensed water that drips down from the indoor heat exchanger 8. The collected condensed water is drained to the outside of the indoor unit 1 via a drain hose (not shown).

[0038] In the indoor unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a front drain pan 10a is positioned below the front indoor heat exchanger 8a, which is located on the front side of the housing 6 in the Y direction. A drain pan 10b is also positioned below the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b, which is located on the rear side of the housing 6.

[0039] When describing the drain pan 10, specifically the front drain pan 10a and the rear drain pan 10b, they will be referred to as "front drain pan 10a" or "rear drain pan 10b" respectively. On the other hand, when describing the drain pan as a whole, rather than these individual drain pans, it will be referred to as "drain pan 10" as appropriate, as before.

[0040] On the other hand, at the bottom of the housing 6, an air outlet 11 is provided in the center of the bottom panel 5 in the Y direction, from which air is blown out by the rotation of the fan 9. Furthermore, this air outlet 11 is open over almost the entire X direction of the indoor unit 1. Therefore, air is supplied to the room by passing through the space S where the indoor heat exchanger 8 and indoor fan 9 are located, connecting the intake port 7 and the air outlet 11.

[0041] The air outlet 11 is provided with horizontally elongated rectangular air deflectors 11a, which are approximately the same width (length in the X direction) as the air outlet 11. These vertical air deflectors 11a are mounted so as to be able to rotate around a rotation axis parallel to the X direction of the indoor unit 1. In Figures 2 and 3, the vertical air deflectors 11a are shown in a closed state.

[0042] In other words, the upper and lower air deflector plates 11a rotate to open the air outlet 11 when the indoor unit 1 is in operation, and by changing their angle, they perform heat exchange with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 8, changing (deflecting) the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 11 in the Z direction (up and down direction). On the other hand, when the indoor unit 1 is stopped, they function as a cover to close the air outlet 11.

[0043] Furthermore, multiple left and right air deflectors 12 are rotatably attached to the air outlet 11. When the indoor unit 1 is in operation, the left and right air deflectors 12 rotate the multiple blades (flaps) on the left and right air deflectors 12, which perform heat exchange with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 8, changing the direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 11 in the X direction (left and right direction).

[0044] As is also clear from Figure 4, the electrical components box EB for driving each part of the indoor unit 1 and the display unit V for displaying information to the user of the air conditioner A are located in front of the front indoor heat exchanger 8a in the Y direction, and between it and the front panel 2.

[0045] In an indoor unit 1 with this structure, the air drawn into the housing 6 from the intake port 7 passes through the indoor heat exchanger 8 in accordance with the rotation of the indoor fan 9. As a result, the indoor air that enters the interior of the indoor unit 1 from the intake port 7 undergoes heat exchange with the refrigerant through the indoor heat exchanger 8. Through heat exchange by the indoor heat exchanger 8, the air is cooled or heated and passes through the space S formed by the base 13 (described later) by the rotation of the indoor fan 9, and is sent out into the room from the outlet 11. At this time, the direction of the air supplied to the room can be changed by moving the upper and lower air deflectors 11a and the left and right air deflectors 12 which are located downwind.

[0046] Next, the assembly structure of the indoor unit 1 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 4 is an overall perspective view of the indoor unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention with exterior parts such as the front panel 2 removed. Figure 5 is an overall perspective view of the indoor unit 1 in the state shown in Figure 4, viewed from below.

[0047] In the indoor unit 1 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the exterior components, namely the front panel 2, top panel 3, side panel 4, and bottom panel 5, have been removed. The housing panel P, which will be described later, located beneath these exterior components, has also been removed. Therefore, the front indoor heat exchanger 8a is visible above it. However, as mentioned above, the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b are arranged in a roughly inverted V shape, so only a portion of the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b is visible.

[0048] Furthermore, the base 13 that holds the indoor heat exchanger 8 is visible further back in the Y direction than the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b. The indoor heat exchanger 8 is fixed to the base 13 in this manner, and fixing members 14 are used for this fixing. These fixing members 14 are a heat exchanger bracket 14a and a heat exchanger holder 14b.

[0049] The heat exchanger bracket 14a is mounted on the right side of the front of the indoor unit 1 (the front side when viewing Figure 4 in the X direction), where the fan motor 9b for rotating the indoor fan 9, which will be described later, is located. One end of this heat exchanger bracket 14a is fixed to the base 13 with screws, and the other end is fixed to a metal plate attached to the side of the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b with screws.

[0050] On the other hand, the heat exchange holders 14b are attached to both the left and right sides facing the front of the indoor unit 1. The heat exchange holders 14b fix both the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b at both ends in the X direction. The indoor heat exchanger 8 is then attached to the base 13 by fixing the heat exchange holders 14b to the base 13 with screws.

[0051] Furthermore, a mounting plate 6a is attached to the side opposite to the side to which the indoor heat exchanger 8 is attached using the fixing member 14 of the base 13, that is, further in the Y direction than the base 13. As described above, the indoor unit 1 is fixed to the wall via the mounting plate 6a.

[0052] Furthermore, a circular motor case 9a is visible on the right side of the indoor unit 1. The motor case 9a houses the motor for driving the indoor fan 9. Inside the housing 6, the motor case 9a, fan motor 9b, and indoor fan 9 are arranged in order from the motor case 9a toward the back in the X direction (see Figure 8). In Figure 4, the indoor fan 9 and fan motor 9b are hidden from view by the indoor heat exchanger 8.

[0053] Next, Figure 5 shows an overall perspective view of the indoor unit 1, viewed from the bottom in the Z direction to the top. In Figure 5, the air outlet 11, the upper and lower air deflectors 11a, and the left and right air deflectors 12, which were not visible in Figure 4, are visible.

[0054] Furthermore, further forward in the Y direction than the front indoor heat exchanger 8a, the electrical component box EB and display unit V, which were covered by the front panel 2 and not visible in Figure 2, are exposed and visible. The electrical component box EB and display unit V are mounted on the front side of the indoor unit 1 of the front drain pan 10a and are positioned between the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the front panel 2.

[0055] In this embodiment of the present invention, the indoor unit 1 employs the base structure described above, but also adopts a structure that allows the components constituting the indoor unit 1 and arranged inside the housing 6 to be divided into two main sets. This is to ensure the strength of the indoor unit while facilitating the cleaning and maintenance of the indoor fan 9 and drain pan 10, which are arranged inside the housing 6. Specifically, the indoor unit 1 is divided into base set B and drain pan set D, and each component constituting the indoor unit 1 and arranged inside the housing 6 is grouped into either base set B or drain pan set D.

[0056] Base assembly B mainly consists of a base 13 and an indoor heat exchanger 8 fixed to the base 13. On the other hand, drain pan assembly D is composed of an indoor fan 9, a fan motor 9b for driving the indoor fan 9 and other drive equipment, and a front drain pan 10a.

[0057] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the base assembly B of the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the state shown in Figure 4. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the base assembly B in the state shown in Figure 6, viewed from below.

[0058] As explained using the overall perspective view of the indoor unit 1 in Figure 4, the perspective view shown in Figure 6 shows the front indoor heat exchanger 8a on the near side and a part of the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b on the far side. The base 13 is visible further back in the Y direction behind the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b. The indoor heat exchanger 8 is fixed to the base 13 by two types of fixing members 14.

[0059] Furthermore, a portion of the inner wall surface IW is visible below the base 13. And even further below the end of the inner wall surface IW, at the very bottom of the base 13, a projection 15 is provided. In the indoor unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 6, the projection 15 is provided in three locations.

[0060] When assembling the indoor unit 1 by attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B, the receiving portion 16, which will be described later, formed on the front drain pan 10a, is fitted onto these protrusions 15. Therefore, the locations where the protrusions 15 are provided coincide with the locations where the receiving portion 16 is formed on the front drain pan 10a when the drain pan assembly D is attached to the base assembly B.

[0061] Figure 7 shows the base assembly B viewed from below, and it can be seen that the aforementioned projection 15 is provided at the lowest end of the base 13. Above this projection is the lower end of the inner wall surface IW, which is formed in a curved shape and continues to the upper part of the base 13 shown in Figure 6.

[0062] The inner wall surface IW of the base 13 is formed in a curved shape so as not to come into contact with the indoor fan 9, and to smoothly supply the heat-exchanged indoor air from the indoor unit 1 to the room.

[0063] Furthermore, a space S is formed between the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the base 13 (inner wall surface IW). This space S is the space in which the indoor fan 9 is positioned when the drain pan assembly D is fitted into the base assembly B, as will be described later.

[0064] Furthermore, when removing the drain pan assembly D from the base assembly B, or when attaching it to the base assembly B, it is necessary to ensure that the indoor fan 9 and other components attached to the drain pan assembly D do not come into contact with any part of the base assembly B.

[0065] Specifically, when the indoor heat exchanger 8 is fixed to the base 13, the indoor heat exchanger 8 is positioned in the base assembly B such that the shortest distance between the lower end of the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the base 13 in space S is greater than the diameter of the indoor fan 9.

[0066] That is, as shown in the cross-section view of Figure 3, the distance between the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the base 13 is L1, and the diameter of the indoor fan 9 is L2. In the indoor unit 1 in the embodiment of the present invention, the front indoor heat exchanger 8a is mounted on the base 13 inside the housing 6 such that these distances are L1 > L2.

[0067] This is to enable smooth attachment and detachment of the drain pan assembly D, including the indoor fan 9, to the base assembly B, and to ensure sufficient distance so that the indoor fan 9 does not come into contact with other parts when it rotates inside the housing 6. The procedure for attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B will be described later, but the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D cannot be attached and detached simply by moving the drain pan assembly D up and down in the Z direction toward the base assembly B.

[0068] For example, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the inner wall surface IW is formed in a curved shape on the base 13, protruding from the back in the Y direction to the front in the Y direction. This is because, as described above, when the indoor fan 9 rotates and blows the indoor air drawn in from the intake port 7 back into the room through the outlet port 11, the outlet port 11 is located on the front side in the Y direction of the indoor unit 1 in order to efficiently blow the air into the room.

[0069] Therefore, for example, when attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B, the drain pan assembly D is moved so as to rotate from the bottom to the top of the base assembly B and from the front to the back in the Y direction, so that the indoor fan 9 does not come into contact with the lower end of the curved inner wall surface IW. At this time, if the distance (L1) between the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the base 13 is smaller than the diameter (L2) of the indoor fan 9, the indoor fan 9 will come into contact with the front indoor heat exchanger 8a or the base 13 (inner wall surface IW), and the drain pan assembly D cannot be attached to the base assembly B.

[0070] Therefore, in the indoor unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the indoor heat exchanger 8 is fixed to the base 13 such that the distance between the lower end of the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the base 13 is greater than the diameter of the indoor fan 9.

[0071] Next, the drain pan assembly D will be described. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the drain pan assembly D in the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, in the state shown in Figure 4. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the drain pan assembly D in the state shown in Figure 8, viewed from below.

[0072] The drain pan assembly D consists of at least an indoor fan 9, a fan motor 9b for driving the indoor fan 9, and a front drain pan 10a installed below the front indoor heat exchanger 8a to receive the drain water generated by the front indoor heat exchanger 8a.

[0073] Then, the indoor fan 9 and all the parts necessary to drive the indoor fan 9, including the fan motor 9b, are fixed to the front drain pan 10a. By assembling the indoor fan 9 and all the parts necessary to drive the indoor fan 9 into the front drain pan 10a in this way, the entire assembly, including the indoor fan 9, can be removed together when the front drain pan 10a is removed from the base assembly B.

[0074] This "set" includes the indoor fan 9, motor case 9a, fan motor 9b, as well as all related parts such as the wires that supply power to the fan motor 9b, the motor cover, and other components necessary to drive the indoor fan 9. Since this entire set of indoor fan 9 and other components is fixed together to the front drain pan 10a to form a single unit, the entire set of indoor fan 9 and other components can be removed together simply by removing the drain pan assembly D from the base assembly B.

[0075] In the case of indoor units that previously used a base structure, for example, if you wanted to clean the indoor fan, you had to sequentially remove various parts attached to the base before removing the indoor fan.

[0076] However, as in the indoor unit 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, by adopting a structure in which the indoor fan 9 and other components are incorporated into the front drain pan 10a to form a drain pan assembly D, the entire indoor fan 9 and other components can be removed from the base 13 simply by removing the drain pan assembly D from the base assembly B. In other words, it is no longer necessary to remove many parts one by one when removing the indoor fan, as has been done in the past. Therefore, the working time can be significantly reduced.

[0077] Furthermore, since the drain pan assembly D can be removed from the base assembly B in the state shown in Figure 8, the removed drain pan assembly D can be lowered to the floor for cleaning of the indoor fan 9, etc. On the other hand, when the drain pan assembly D is removed from the base assembly B, the space S formed in the base 13 becomes open, as shown in Figure 7, for example, making it easy to clean the inner wall surface IW.

[0078] Furthermore, if, for example, any component necessary for driving the indoor fan 9 is attached to the base 13, then when attaching or detaching the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D, it becomes necessary not only to attach or detach the drain pan assembly D, but also to attach or detach any component connected to the indoor fan 9, etc.

[0079] As described above, when the components necessary to drive the indoor fan 9 are separated and arranged in the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D, attaching and detaching the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D takes time and effort. Therefore, the entire indoor fan 9 assembly is designed to be assembled together on the front drain pan 10a, making it easier to attach and detach the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D.

[0080] Furthermore, the drain pan assembly D includes not only the indoor fan 9 and other components as described above, but also the electrical components mounted on the indoor unit 1. Specifically, the electrical components include, for example, the electrical component box EB and display unit V shown in Figure 9, as well as components such as wires and terminal blocks that supply power to each component mounted on the indoor unit 1, and these components are also attached to the front drain pan 10a.

[0081] Furthermore, the front drain pan 10a is provided with receiving portions 16 for attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B. That is, as shown in Figure 9, three receiving portions 16 are provided at the lowest end of the front drain pan 10a.

[0082] The receiving portion 16 is formed so as to fit onto the projection 15 provided on the base 13 described above, and has an inverted U-shape with an open bottom. Because the receiving portion 16 is formed in this shape, when assembling the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B, the receiving portion 16 can be hooked onto the projection 15.

[0083] Furthermore, the drain pan assembly D is not only secured to the base assembly B by hooking the receiving part 16 onto the projection 15 of the base 13, but ultimately by screwing the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B. Therefore, hooking the receiving part 16 onto the projection 15 is for positioning and temporary fastening when attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B.

[0084] Next, the procedure for attaching and detaching the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D will be explained using Figures 10 to 12 as appropriate. Specifically, the procedure for attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B will be used as an example.

[0085] Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process of attaching and detaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B in the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is a right side view showing the state in which the drain pan assembly D is attached to the base assembly B, as seen from the right side. Figure 12 is a perspective view showing the state in which the housing panel P is further attached to the base assembly B after the drain pan assembly D has been attached.

[0086] In Figure 10, the drain pan assembly D is positioned below the base assembly B. From this state, in order to make it easier to insert the indoor fan 9 and other components into the space S of the base assembly B, the entire drain pan assembly D is tilted backward by raising the front side to which the electrical component box EB is attached and lowering the rear side to which the indoor fan 9 and other components are attached.

[0087] Then, the drain pan assembly D is moved diagonally upward as indicated by the arrow, and the indoor fan 9 is inserted into the space S of the base assembly B. As described above, the distance L1 between the front indoor heat exchanger 8a and the base 13 is longer than the diameter L2 of the indoor fan 9. Therefore, when attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B, it is possible to avoid contact between any of the components of the drain pan assembly D, especially the indoor fan 9 and the rest of the assembly, and any of the components of the base assembly B.

[0088] Then, after inserting the indoor fan 9 and other components into space S, the drain pan assembly D is raised to a position slightly higher than where the indoor fan 9 is positioned in space S. By moving the drain pan assembly D to this position, the receiving portion 16 formed on the front drain pan 10a can be hooked onto the projection 15 of the base 13.

[0089] After hooking the receiving portion 16 onto the projection portion 15, the drain pan assembly D is screwed and fixed to the base assembly B. This state is shown in Figure 11. Figure 11 is a right side view of the indoor unit 1 shown in Figure 4, viewed from the right side. As shown in Figure 11, the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D can be combined by attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B following the procedure described above.

[0090] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 12, the housing panel P is attached so as to cover the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D. A frame bracket 18 is used when attaching the housing panel P. The frame bracket 18 is located on the right side facing the front of the indoor unit 1, as shown in Figures 4, 6, or 11, and is installed on the upper part of the front indoor heat exchanger 8a of the base assembly B.

[0091] When attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B, the two are fixed together with screws at fixing points located near the area where the projection 15 and the receiving portion 16 are fitted together. For example, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, there are three such fixing points in the base assembly B in the embodiment of the present invention. Fixing points may be provided in other locations, but to avoid increasing the number of assembly steps, they are provided in the locations shown in Figures 6 and 7, as in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] However, this is the only point of attachment between base assembly B and drain pan assembly D. Furthermore, given the weight of drain pan assembly D, these attachment points alone may not be sufficient to support it, and after attaching drain pan assembly D to base assembly B, it may tilt forward.

[0093] Therefore, after attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B, the housing panel P is attached. When attaching the housing panel P, in the indoor unit 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, the frame bracket 18 is used to fix it between the housing panel P and the base assembly B. Of course, the housing panel P is also attached to the drain pan assembly D and supports the drain pan assembly D from below.

[0094] By using the housing panel P in this way, the forward tilting of the drain pan assembly D can be prevented, and the base assembly B and the drain pan assembly D can be fixed in a more favorable position. Furthermore, by attaching exterior parts such as the front panel 2 on top of the housing panel P, the indoor unit 1 can be configured as shown in Figure 2.

[0095] The above describes the procedure for attaching the drain pan assembly D to the base assembly B. Conversely, the procedure for removing the drain pan assembly D from the base assembly B is the reverse of the above procedure. That is, first, remove the exterior parts such as the front panel 2 from the indoor unit 1, which is in the state shown in Figure 2. This state is shown in Figure 12. After this, remove the housing panel P, which is attached to the base assembly B via the frame bracket 18 and the drain pan assembly D. This state is shown in Figures 4, 5, and 11.

[0096] From here, remove the screws connecting base assembly B and drain pan assembly D. Then, lift drain pan assembly D upward and detach the receiving part 16 that is hooked onto the projection 15 from the projection 15. Then, remove drain pan assembly D from base assembly B by moving it diagonally downward in the opposite direction to the arrow shown in Figure 10. By following these steps, the indoor unit 1 can be separated into base assembly B and drain pan assembly D.

[0097] Thus, the drain pan assembly D is detachable from the base assembly B, but when the drain pan assembly D is removed from the base assembly B and then reattached to the base assembly B, the indoor unit 1 is required to operate without any problems as before. As mentioned above, the indoor fan 9 and other components, as well as the electrical components, are all attached to the front drain pan 10a to form the drain pan assembly D, so it is unlikely that there will be any installation errors in the parts when attaching and detaching them from the base assembly B, and it is unlikely that there will be any problems with the operation of the indoor unit 1.

[0098] On the other hand, as mentioned above, the drain pan 10, which is located below the front indoor heat exchanger 8a, constitutes drain pan assembly D, while the rear drain pan 10b, which is located below the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b, is formed on the base 13 and is therefore incorporated into base assembly B. Thus, the drain pan 10 is divided into base assembly B and drain pan assembly D.

[0099] Here, the condensate that falls into the front drain pan 10a and the rear drain pan 10b is not drained independently to the outside of the indoor unit 1 (for example, to the outside). That is to say, the condensate that falls from the front indoor heat exchanger 8a is received by the front drain pan 10a, and the condensate that falls from the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b is received by the rear drain pan 10b.

[0100] However, ultimately, both the drain water received by the front drain pan 10a and the drain water received by the rear drain pan 10b are drained to the outside of the indoor unit 1 through a single drain channel 17, which will be described later. Therefore, the drainage path formed in the rear drain pan 10b ultimately becomes the same as the drainage path formed in the front drain pan 10a. For this reason, if the drainage path of the rear drain pan 10b is not securely connected to the drainage path of the front drain pan 10a when the drain pan assembly D is attached to the base assembly B, drain water may leak to the outside of the indoor unit 1 (for example, into the room) from an unexpected location.

[0101] Therefore, in the indoor unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the drain pan assembly D is configured such that the drainage path of the front drain pan 10a and the drainage path of the rear drain pan 10b reliably overlap when the drain pan assembly D is attached to the base assembly B, in order to prevent leakage from the drain water drainage channel received by the rear drain pan 10b until it is drained to the outside of the indoor unit 1.

[0102] Figure 13 is a perspective view showing the drainage path DR in the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 13, only the components necessary to show the drainage path DR of the drain water are shown inside the indoor unit 1, and other parts are omitted from the drawing.

[0103] In other words, both base assembly B and drain pan assembly D are shown, but the indoor heat exchanger 8 of base assembly B is omitted, while the base 13 is drawn. In this state, with drain pan assembly D attached to base assembly B, the front drain pan 10a and the rear drain pan 10b are visible.

[0104] As described above, both the front drain pan 10a and the rear drain pan 10b are equipped with drainage paths DR for receiving drain water that falls from the indoor heat exchanger 8 and draining it to the outside of the outdoor unit 20. Here, the drainage path in the front drain pan 10a will be referred to as the first drainage path DR1, and the drainage path in the rear drain pan 10b will be referred to as the second drainage path DR2.

[0105] The drain water that falls into the front drain pan 10a flows through the first drainage path DR1, from the front to the rear in the Y direction of the indoor unit 1, as shown by arrow M. On the other hand, the drain water that falls into the rear drain pan 10b flows through the second drainage path DR2, from the rear to the front in the Y direction of the indoor unit 1, as shown by arrow N.

[0106] Here, Figure 14 is a perspective view of the drainage path DR of the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown cut along the line BB shown in Figure 13. Note that in Figure 14, a portion of the first drainage path DR1 in the front drain pan 10a is shown with diagonal hatching, and a portion of the second drainage path DR2 in the rear drain pan 10b is shown with dot hatching.

[0107] In the first drainage path DR1, a drain channel 17 is formed at a position where the drain water flowing from the drainage path DR2 of the rear drain pan 10b and the drain water flowing from the first drainage path DR1 meet. The drain channel 17 is formed with a slope that decreases from the front side in the Y direction to the rear side in the Y direction of the indoor unit 1, and by connecting a drain hose to the drain channel 17, the drain water is drained from the inside of the indoor unit 1 to the outside.

[0108] As shown in Figure 14, the drain water flowing through the first drainage path DR1 of the front drain pan 10a flows toward the drain channel 17 in the direction of arrow M. Furthermore, the first drainage path DR1, like the drain channel 17, is formed with a slope that decreases from the front to the rear in the Y direction of the indoor unit 1, thus guiding the drain water flowing in the direction of arrow M toward the drain channel 17.

[0109] On the other hand, the second drainage path DR2 of the rear drain pan 10b is formed to follow the path indicated by the dot hatching in Figure 14. In particular, the second drainage path DR2 is formed to fall towards the first drainage path DR1 of the front drain pan 10a at a different angle than the previous second drainage path DR2 and with a greater slope than the first drainage path DR1 near the rotation axis of the indoor fan 9. This is to ensure that the drain water flowing through the second drainage path DR2 avoids the rotation axis of the indoor fan 9 and passes underneath it.

[0110] Because the second drainage path DR2 is formed in this shape, the drain water that falls from the rear indoor heat exchanger 8b first flows, for example, from the left side in the X direction to the right side. Then, as shown by arrow N, it changes direction and flows from the rear side in the Y direction to the front side in the Y direction, enters the first drainage path DR1 from the second drainage path DR2, and finally flows into the drainage channel 17.

[0111] The portion where the drain water received in the rear drain pan 10b enters the first drain path DR1 from the second drain path DR2, that is, the portion enclosed by the dashed circle in Figure 14, is the connection point J between the drain pan assembly D and the base assembly B. When the drain pan assembly D is attached to the base assembly B, the second drain path DR2 is positioned above the first drain path DR1 at the connection point J between the second drain path DR2 and the first drain path DR1.

[0112] In other words, as explained using Figure 10, when the drain pan assembly D is attached to the base assembly B, the drain pan assembly D is moved from bottom to top and attached to the base assembly B. Therefore, the first drainage path DR1 is positioned below the second drainage path DR2.

[0113] As a result, even if the drain pan assembly D is removed from the base assembly B and then reattached to the base assembly B, the first drainage path DR1 and the second drainage path DR2 will reliably overlap, allowing the drain water received by the rear drain pan 10b to be drained to the outside of the indoor unit 1 via the drain channel 17 without leaking into the room.

[0114] Thus, as described above, drain water from both the first drainage path DR1 and the second drainage path DR2 flows into the drain channel 17. However, it is possible that the drain channel 17 may become clogged with debris. In this case, the drain water collected in the drain channel 17 will have nowhere to go and will accumulate, for example, in the first drainage path DR1, which is shown by the hatched area in Figure 14.

[0115] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the drainage path DR of the indoor unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line BB as seen in the X direction from the perspective cross-sectional view of the line BB shown in Figure 14. Figure 15 shows the drain pan assembly D attached to the base assembly B, and the first drainage path DR1 and the second drainage path DR2 are visible. It is also shown that the second drainage path DR2 is positioned to overlap the first drainage path DR1 (connection part J).

[0116] As mentioned above, if the drain channel 17 becomes clogged, the drain water will have nowhere to go and will accumulate in the first drainage path DR1. In this case, we want to avoid as much as possible water leakage in the front drain pan 10a near the rear drain pan 10b.

[0117] In other words, even if drain water were to leak into the room from the front drain pan 10a, the damage would likely be less severe if the leak occurred from the front in the Y direction than from the rear in the Y direction. This is because, although an air outlet 11 is provided at the bottom of the front drain pan 10a on the front in the Y direction, basically no components other than the upper and lower air deflectors 11a and the left and right air deflectors 12 are located there.

[0118] On one side, various components such as the indoor fan 9 and refrigerant pipes are arranged on the rear side in the Y direction. If the drain water leaks, the influence is not only that the water leaks into the room, but also that the influence on the inside of the indoor unit 1 is significant.

[0119] Therefore, from such a perspective, in the indoor unit 1 in the embodiment of the present invention, the height of the weir for preventing the drain water from leaking from the front drain pan 10a is changed between the front side and the rear side in the Y direction. Specifically, as shown in the cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 15, when the lowest position in the Z direction of the first drainage path DR1 is used as a reference, the height of the first weir F provided on the front side in the Y direction is lower than the height of the second weir G provided on the rear side in the Y direction.

[0120] That is, the height h1 of the first weir F provided on the front side in the Y direction shown in FIG. 15 and the height h2 of the second weir G provided on the rear side in the Y direction are formed so as to satisfy the relationship h1 < h2. By forming the height of the first weir F and the height of the second weir G in such a relationship, even if drain water accumulates in the first drainage path DR1, it is possible to prevent the drain water from leaking from the rear side in the Y direction.

[0121] As described above, by dividing the various devices arranged inside the indoor unit into a base set and a drain pan set and incorporating them into each respectively, and making the drain pan set detachable from the base set, it is possible to provide an indoor unit having a structure that can easily reach the parts to be cleaned while ensuring the strength of the indoor unit, and an air conditioner including the indoor unit.

[0122] Note that this invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and is merely an example of the present invention. At the implementation stage, the components can be deformed and embodied without departing from the gist thereof, and various changes or improvements can be made to the above-described embodiment. Also, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining the plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiment.

[0123] For example, some components may be removed from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, components from different embodiments may be combined as appropriate, and such modified or improved forms may also be included in the present invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and essence of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents.

[0124] Furthermore, the technology described in the embodiments of the present invention may also employ the following configurations. (1) A base assembly comprising: (1) an indoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and air and is divided into a front indoor heat exchanger located at the front of the housing and a rear indoor heat exchanger located at the rear of the housing, and a base for fixing the indoor heat exchanger, The system comprises at least an indoor fan that blows the air, which has undergone heat exchange with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger, into the room; a fan motor for driving the indoor fan; and a drain pan assembly that is installed below the front indoor heat exchanger and receives the drain water generated in the front indoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger is fixed to the base such that the distance between the lower end of the front indoor heat exchanger and the base is greater than the diameter of the indoor fan. The indoor unit is characterized in that the drain pan assembly is detachably attached to the base assembly. (2) The indoor unit according to (1) above, characterized in that the drain pan assembly includes electrical components mounted on the indoor unit. (3) The indoor unit according to (2) above, characterized in that the electrical components include a terminal block. (4) The front drain pan is provided with a first drainage path through which the drain water flows, The base is provided with a second drainage path formed integrally with a rear drain pan that receives the drain water generated in the rear indoor heat exchanger, through which the drain water flows. The indoor unit according to any one of (1) to (3) above, characterized in that when the drain pan assembly is attached to the base assembly, the connection portion of the second drainage path to the first drainage path is positioned above the first drainage path. (5) A projection is provided at the mounting location of the base to the front drain pan, and a receiving portion is provided at the mounting location of the front drain pan to the base that can be fitted into the projection, The indoor unit according to any one of (1) to (4) above, characterized in that when attaching the drain pan assembly to the base assembly, the receiving portion is fitted onto the projection from above to below. (6) An indoor unit as described in any of (1) to (5) above, An outdoor unit which constitutes a refrigerant circuit by being connected to the indoor unit by piping, An air conditioner characterized by having the following features. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0125] 1...Indoor unit, 2...Front panel, 3...Top panel, 4...Side panel, 5...Bottom panel, 6...Housing, 6a...Mounting plate, 7...Intake port, 8...Indoor heat exchanger, 8a...Front indoor heat exchanger, 8b...Rear indoor heat exchanger, 9...Indoor fan, 9a...Fan case, 9b...Fan motor, 10...Drain pan, 10a...Front drain pan, 10b...Rear drain pan, 11...Air outlet, 11a...Up / down air deflector, 12...Left / right air deflector, 13...Base S, 14... Fixing member, 14a... Heat exchange bracket, 14b... Heat exchange holder, 15... Projection, 16... Receiving part, 17... Drain groove, 20... Outdoor unit, 21... Compressor, 22... Pressure reducing mechanism, 23... Outdoor heat exchanger, A... Air conditioner, B... Base assembly, C... Refrigerant circuit, D... Drain pan assembly, DR... Drainage route, DR1... First drainage route, DR2... Second drainage route, EB... Electrical component box, F... First weir, G... Second weir, S... Space, V... Display section

Claims

1. A base assembly comprising, at least, an indoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and air and is divided into a front indoor heat exchanger located at the front of the housing and a rear indoor heat exchanger located at the rear of the housing, and a base for fixing the indoor heat exchanger, The system comprises at least an indoor fan that blows the air, which has undergone heat exchange with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger, into the room; a fan motor for driving the indoor fan; and a drain pan assembly that is installed below the front indoor heat exchanger and receives the drain water generated in the front indoor heat exchanger. The base has an inner wall surface that constitutes part of the air passage for the air blown into the room by the indoor fan, The indoor heat exchanger is fixed to the base such that the distance between the lower end of the front indoor heat exchanger and the base is greater than the diameter of the indoor fan. The indoor unit is characterized in that the drain pan assembly is detachably attached to the base assembly.

2. The indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the drain pan assembly includes electrical components mounted on the indoor unit.

3. The indoor unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the aforementioned electrical components include a terminal block.

4. The base is provided with a first drainage path formed integrally with a front drain pan that receives the drain water generated in the front indoor heat exchanger, through which the drain water flows. The base is provided with a second drainage path formed integrally with a rear drain pan that receives the drain water generated in the rear indoor heat exchanger, through which the drain water flows. The indoor unit according to claim 1, characterized in that when the drain pan assembly is attached to the base assembly, the second drainage path is positioned above the first drainage path at the connection point between the second drainage path and the first drainage path.

5. A projection is provided at the mounting location of the base to the front drain pan, and a receiving portion is provided at the mounting location of the front drain pan to the base that can be fitted into the projection. The indoor unit according to claim 4, characterized in that when attaching the drain pan assembly to the base assembly, the receiving portion is fitted onto the projection from above downwards.

6. An indoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, An outdoor unit which constitutes a refrigerant circuit by being connected to the indoor unit by piping, An air conditioner characterized by having the following features.

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