Air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioner provided with: an indoor unit that is installed indoors and that has a first heat exchanger; an outdoor unit that is installed outdoors and that has a second heat exchanger; a refrigerant pipe that passes through a through hole in a wall separating the indoors and the outdoors and that connects the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and a ventilation device that ventilates indoor air. The ventilation device includes: a ventilation pipe that passes through the through hole from the indoors and is drawn out to the outdoors; and a ventilation device body that is fixed to an outdoor wall surface. The ventilation device body includes: a ventilation fan; an exhaust port that opens downward; an intake air passage that connects the ventilation pipe and the ventilation fan; an exhaust air passage that connects the ventilation fan and the exhaust port; a drain port that opens downward and drains water collected inside of the intake air passage; and a fixed surface that faces the wall surface and extends along the wall surface. The exhaust port is disposed farther from the fixed surface than the drain port.

Description

air conditioner

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner.

[0002] In recent years, air conditioners that maintain a comfortable indoor temperature by exchanging heat with indoor air using a heat exchanger inside the indoor unit and then supplying the air indoors have become common. However, since such air conditioners only circulate indoor air using the indoor unit and do not ventilate the air between the indoor unit and the outside, the indoor air becomes polluted if the room is left sealed for a long period of time. Therefore, air conditioners equipped with a ventilation unit that exhausts indoor air to the outside have been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent No. 3570260

[0004] To ensure quietness inside the room, it is preferable to place the ventilation fan of the ventilation device outdoors. In this case, for example, when the heater is turned on in winter, the air in the ventilation pipe connecting the room and the ventilation fan is cooled by the outside air, causing condensation to form inside the ventilation pipe. For this reason, it is preferable that the ventilation device be provided with a downward-facing drain outlet that drains the condensed water toward the ground outside. The ventilation device is also provided with an exhaust port for exhausting air. The exhaust port is preferably downward-facing to prevent rainwater from entering. If both the drain port and the exhaust port of the ventilation device are provided facing downward, there is a risk that the water drained from the drain port will be splashed by the air blown out from the exhaust port.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present disclosure has an object to provide an air conditioner that can suppress the scattering of water drained from a drain outlet.

[0006] One aspect of an air conditioner according to the present disclosure comprises an indoor unit installed indoors and having a first heat exchanger, an outdoor unit installed outdoors and having a second heat exchanger, refrigerant piping connecting the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger through a through hole in a wall separating the indoor space from the outdoor space, and a ventilation device for ventilating the air inside the room, wherein the ventilation device comprises ventilation piping that is drawn from the indoor space to the outdoor space through the through hole, and a ventilation device main body fixed to a wall surface outside the room, wherein the ventilation device main body has a ventilation fan, an exhaust port that opens downward, an intake air duct connecting the ventilation piping and the ventilation fan, an exhaust air duct connecting the ventilation fan and the exhaust port, a drain port that opens downward and drains water that accumulates in the intake air duct, and a fixed surface that faces the wall surface and extends along the wall surface, and the exhaust port is positioned farther from the fixed surface than the drain port.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an air conditioner that can suppress the scattering of water drained from a drain outlet.

[0008] 6. A schematic diagram showing a general configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. A schematic diagram showing the installation state of an air conditioner according to an embodiment as seen from the side. A schematic diagram showing the installation state of an air conditioner according to an embodiment as seen from an oblique direction. An exploded view of a ventilation device main body according to an embodiment. A front view of a first member according to an embodiment as seen from the front. A perspective view of a fan box and a duct member according to an embodiment. A cross-sectional view of the duct member taken along line VII-VII in Figure 6. A front view of a ventilation device main body according to an embodiment. A bottom view of a ventilation device main body according to an embodiment. A cross-sectional view of the ventilation device main body taken along line X-X in Figure 8.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments and can be modified as desired within the scope of the technical concept of the present disclosure. In addition, in the following drawings, the scale and number of each structure may differ from the scale and number of the actual structure in order to make each configuration easier to understand.

[0010] The drawings also show the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis as appropriate. The X-axis indicates one of the horizontal directions. The Y-axis indicates the other of the horizontal directions. The Z-axis indicates the vertical direction. In the following description, the horizontal direction along the X-axis is referred to as the "front-rear direction X," the horizontal direction along the Y-axis is referred to as the "left-right direction Y," and the vertical direction is referred to as the "vertical direction Z." The front-rear direction X, left-right direction Y, and vertical direction Z are perpendicular to each other. In the following description, the side of the vertical direction Z toward which the Z-axis arrow points (+Z direction) is referred to as the upside, and the side of the vertical direction Z opposite to the side toward which the Z-axis arrow points (-Z direction) is referred to as the downside. Furthermore, the side of the front-rear direction X toward which the X-axis arrow points (+X direction) is referred to as the front, and the side of the front-rear direction X opposite to the side toward which the X-axis arrow points (-X direction) is referred to as the rear. In addition, the side of the left-right direction Y toward which the Y-axis arrow points (+Y direction) is defined as the left, and the side opposite to the side toward which the Y-axis arrow points (-Y direction) is defined as the right.

[0011] <Overall Configuration> Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the air conditioner 100 includes an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, a circulation path section (refrigerant piping) 18, and a ventilation device 30. The outdoor unit 10 is disposed outdoors 7. The indoor unit 20 is disposed indoors 8. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are connected to each other by a circulation path section 18 through which a refrigerant 19 circulates. A portion of the ventilation device 30 is disposed indoors 8, and another portion is disposed outdoors 7. The ventilation device 30 exhausts air from the room 8 in which the indoor unit 20 is disposed to the outdoors 7.

[0012] The air conditioner 100 is capable of adjusting the temperature of the air in the room 8 by exchanging heat between the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path portion 18 and the air in the room 8 in which the indoor unit 20 is located. Examples of the refrigerant 19 include fluorine-based refrigerants and hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, which have a low global warming potential (GWP).

[0013] The outdoor unit 10 includes an outdoor unit housing 11, a compressor 12, a heat exchanger 13, a flow rate adjustment valve 14, a blower 15, a four-way valve 16, and a control unit 17. The outdoor unit housing 11 houses the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13, the flow rate adjustment valve 14, the blower 15, the four-way valve 16, and the control unit 17.

[0014] The compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13, the flow rate adjustment valve 14, and the four-way valve 16 are provided in a portion of the circulation path 18 that is located inside the outdoor unit housing 11. The compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13, the flow rate adjustment valve 14, and the four-way valve 16 are connected by a portion of the circulation path 18 that is located inside the outdoor unit housing 11.

[0015] The four-way valve 16 is provided in a portion of the circulation path section 18 that is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 12. The four-way valve 16 can reverse the direction of the refrigerant 19 flowing through the circulation path section 18 by switching a portion of the path of the circulation path section 18. When the path connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path shown by the solid line on the four-way valve 16 in Fig. 1, the refrigerant 19 flows through the circulation path section 18 in the direction shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 1. On the other hand, when the path connected by the four-way valve 16 is the path shown by the dashed line on the four-way valve 16 in Fig. 1, the refrigerant 19 flows through the circulation path section 18 in the direction shown by the dashed arrow in Fig. 1.

[0016] The indoor unit 20 includes an indoor unit housing 21, a heat exchanger 22, a blower 23 as a blower, and a control unit 24. The indoor unit housing 21 houses the heat exchanger 22, the blower 23, and the control unit 24. The indoor unit 20 is capable of cooling operation to cool the air in the room 8 in which the indoor unit 20 is located, and heating operation to warm the air in the room 8 in which the indoor unit 20 is located. Note that the blower 23 is illustrated in FIG. 1 .

[0017] When the indoor unit 20 is in cooling operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path portion 18 flows in the direction shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is in cooling operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path portion 18 circulates through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10, the flow control valve 14, and the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20 in that order, before returning to the compressor 12. During cooling operation, the heat exchanger 13 in the outdoor unit 10 functions as a condenser, and the heat exchanger 22 in the indoor unit 20 functions as an evaporator.

[0018] On the other hand, when the indoor unit 20 is in heating operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path portion 18 flows in the direction shown by the dashed line in Fig. 1. In other words, when the indoor unit 20 is in heating operation, the refrigerant 19 flowing in the circulation path portion 18 circulates through the compressor 12, the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20, the flow control valve 14, and the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10 in that order, before returning to the compressor 12. In heating operation, the heat exchanger 13 in the outdoor unit 10 functions as an evaporator, and the heat exchanger 22 in the indoor unit 20 functions as a condenser.

[0019] 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams showing the installation state of the air conditioner 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 2, the indoor unit 20 is a wall-mounted indoor unit that is fixed to an upper region of a wall surface 9a of the room 8. The indoor unit 20 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the left-right direction Y.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the blower 23 is housed in the indoor unit housing 21. The blower 23 extends in the left-right direction Y. The blower 23 rotates around its rotation axis by a fan motor 23a. The heat exchanger 22 is disposed inside the indoor unit housing 21, between the blower 23 and the indoor unit air inlet 20a. The heat exchanger 22 extends in the left-right direction Y.

[0021] The indoor unit housing 21 has an outer shell member 21b and an air passage member 21d. The outer shell member 21b is a member that constitutes part of the outer shell of the indoor unit housing 21. The outer shell member 21b improves the design of the exterior of the indoor unit 20. The outer shell member 21b is a substantially rectangular box-shaped member that opens on the wall surface 9a side. The opening of the outer shell member 21b on the wall surface 9a side is closed by the air passage member 21d. The air passage member 21d is a member that constitutes part of the air passage through which air drawn into the indoor unit housing 21 by the blower 23 passes. The air passage member 21d is hooked onto an installation plate (not shown) that is fixed to the wall surface 9a on the room 8 side. This fixes the indoor unit 20 to the wall surface 9a.

[0022] The indoor unit housing 21 has an indoor unit inlet 20a and an indoor unit outlet 20b. In this embodiment, the indoor unit inlet 20a and the indoor unit outlet 20b are formed in an outer shell member 21b. The indoor unit inlet 20a opens upward and extends in the axial direction. A filter (not shown) is disposed in the indoor unit inlet 20a. On the other hand, the indoor unit outlet 20b opens toward the room 8 and extends in the axial direction. A wind direction control vane 25 is disposed in the indoor unit outlet 20b.

[0023] Air from the room 8 is drawn into the indoor unit housing 21 through the indoor unit inlet 20a by driving the blower 23. The air drawn into the indoor unit housing 21 through the indoor unit inlet 20a passes through the heat exchanger 22 and is blown out into the room 8 from the indoor unit outlet 20b. The air passing through the indoor unit outlet 20b is blown by the air direction control vane 25 in the vertical direction Z and the left-right direction Y of the room 8.

[0024] A control unit 24 is provided inside the indoor unit housing 21. The control unit 24 is disposed inside the indoor unit housing 21 at one end in the left-right direction Y. The control unit 24 controls the fan motor 23 a, the airflow direction control vane 25, the heat exchanger 22, etc.

[0025] The external shape of the indoor unit housing 21 is a rectangular pillar extending in the left-right direction Y. The indoor unit housing 21 has an upper surface 21p facing upward and a lower surface 21q facing downward. The indoor unit air inlet 20a is provided on the upper surface 21p. The indoor unit air outlet 20b is provided on the lower surface 21q.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 3, a drain hose 20d is provided to the indoor unit 20. The tip of the drain hose 20d extends to the outside 7. The drain hose 20d discharges drain water that condenses on the heat exchanger 22 to the outside 7 during cooling.

[0027] <Outdoor unit> The outdoor unit 10 is placed outdoors 7. The outdoor unit housing 11 has an outdoor unit inlet 11b and an outdoor unit outlet 11a. Inside the outdoor unit housing 11, a blower 15 (see FIG. 1) sends air from the outdoor unit inlet 11b side through a heat exchanger 13 (see FIG. 1) toward the outdoor unit outlet 11a, thereby promoting heat exchange in the heat exchanger 13.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 3, the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 are connected by a circulation path 18 and a first electrical wiring 10e. The circulation path 18 is configured in a loop shape between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. Therefore, the circulation path 18 connects the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 with a pair of pipes. The first electrical wiring 10e includes a power supply line that supplies power to the outdoor unit 10 via the indoor unit 20, and a signal line for controlling the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 in cooperation with each other. The circulation path 18 and the first electrical wiring 10e pass through a through-hole 9h provided in the wall 9 that separates the indoor space 8 from the outdoor space 7. As a result, the circulation path 18 and the first electrical wiring 10e are drawn from the indoor space 8 to the outdoor space 7.

[0029] <Ventilation Device> The ventilation device 30 is a device that ventilates the room 8 by discharging the air from the room 8 to the outside 7, and keeps the air in the room 8 clean. The ventilation device 30 may be driven in conjunction with the driving of the indoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 10, or may be driven independently of these.

[0030] The ventilation device 30 has a ventilation intake section 32, ventilation piping 31, and a ventilation device main body 50. The ventilation intake section 32 is attached to the indoor unit 20 in the room 8. The ventilation device main body 50 is installed on a wall surface 9b of the outdoor room 7. The ventilation piping 31 extends across the indoor room 8 and the outdoor room 7.

[0031] The ventilation intake section 32 draws in air from the room 8. The ventilation intake section 32 is provided on the surface of the indoor unit housing 21. In the present embodiment, the ventilation intake section 32 is located on the lower surface 21q of the indoor unit housing 21.

[0032] The ventilation pipe 31 is a tubular pipe. The ventilation pipe 31 connects the ventilation device main body 50 and the ventilation intake section 32. Therefore, one end of the ventilation pipe 31 is located inside the room 8, and the other end is located outside the room 7. The ventilation pipe 31 passes through the inside of the indoor unit housing 21 and the through-hole 9h in the wall 9, and is drawn out to the outside the room 7.

[0033] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the ventilation device main body 50. In the following description of the ventilation device main body 50, the direction perpendicular to the wall surface 9b on which the ventilation device main body 50 is attached is the front-to-rear direction X, and the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction Z and the front-to-rear direction is the left-to-right direction Y. Furthermore, in the following description, the direction perpendicular to the wall surface 9b, away from the wall surface 9b, is referred to as the forward (+X direction), and the direction approaching the wall surface 9b is referred to as the rear (-X direction). In the following description of the ventilation device main body 50, left and right are defined based on the position of an observer facing forward (+X direction). That is, the left-hand side of an observer facing the opposite side of the wall surface 9b (+X direction) is referred to as the left side (+Y direction), and the right-hand side is referred to as the right side (-Y direction). In this embodiment, the left-to-right direction Y of the ventilation device main body 50 and the left-to-right direction of the outdoor unit 10 coincide with each other, but these left-to-right directions Y do not necessarily have to coincide with each other.

[0034] The ventilation device main body 50 has a base 80 , a joint member 75 , a backflow check valve 53 , a ventilation fan 51 , a duct member 52 , and a case 40 .

[0035] The case 40 is box-shaped and opens to the rear. The case 40 is supported by a base 80. The case 40 covers the base 80 of the ventilation device main body 50, the joint member 75, the backflow check valve 53, the ventilation fan 51, and the duct member 52. In this way, the case 40 protects each part of the ventilation device main body 50.

[0036] The base 80 is fixed to the wall surface 9b with fixing screws (not shown). The base 80 supports other components of the ventilation device main body 50. The ventilation piping 31 (see FIG. 3) is connected to the base 80. The base 80 has the base main body 60, the mounting plate 70, and the drain valve 69.

[0037] The mounting plate 70 is a plate-shaped member made of sheet metal. The mounting plate 70 protects the wall surface 9b. The mounting plate 70 has a plate main body 70a and a lower end plate portion 70c. The plate main body 70a is arranged along the wall surface 9b. The plate main body 70a is arranged between the base main body 60 and the wall surface 9b. The upper end of the case 40 is engaged with the upper end of the plate main body 70a. The plate main body 70a has a fixing surface 70f facing the wall surface 9b. The fixing surface 70f is a flat surface. The mounting plate 70 is fixed to the wall surface 9b at the fixing surface 70f. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the fixing surface 70f directly contacts the wall surface 9b. However, a gap may be provided between the fixing surface 70f and the wall surface 9b, for example, by interposing a washer between the fixing surface 70f and the wall surface 9b.

[0038] The lower end plate portion 70c is formed by bending the lower end portion of the mounting plate 70 forward. The lower end plate portion 70c is connected to the lower end of the plate body 70a. The lower end plate portion 70c is screwed to the case 40. A notch portion 70d is provided in the lower end plate portion 70c. The notch portion 70d extends rearward from the front end of the lower end plate portion 70c.

[0039] The base body 60 is fixed to a surface of the mounting plate 70 facing forward (+X direction). An intake air passage F is provided inside the base body 60. The base body 60 has a first member 61 and a second member 62 that are assembled to each other in the front-to-rear direction X. The intake air passage F is formed mainly between the first member 61 and the second member 62.

[0040] The first member 61 constitutes the rear portion of the base body 60. Meanwhile, the second member 62 constitutes the front portion of the base body 60. The second member 62 supports the ventilation fan 51. The second member 62 is provided with an opening 62a that penetrates the second member 62 in the front-to-rear direction X. The downstream end of the intake airflow path F opens forward at the opening 62a. The opening 62a is covered by the ventilation fan 51.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a front view of the first member 61. As shown in FIG. 5, the intake airflow path F is U-shaped when viewed from the front-rear direction X. The intake airflow path F includes an inlet portion 60p, an upstream region 60a, a folded-back region 60c, a downstream region 60b, a forward bent portion 60q, and an opening 62a. The inlet portion 60p is connected to the ventilation pipe 31. Air flows into the inlet portion 60p from the ventilation pipe 31. The upstream region 60a extends downward from the inlet portion 60p. The folded-back region 60c extends in the left-right direction Y. The folded-back region 60c connects the lower end of the upstream region 60a to the lower end of the downstream region 60b. The right end (-Y direction) of the folded-back region 60c connects to the upstream region 60a. The left end (+Y direction) of the folded-back region 60c connects to the downstream region 60b. The downstream region 60b extends upward from the folded-back region 60c. A forward bent portion 60q is provided at the upper end of the downstream region 60b. The forward bent portion 60q bends forward (in the +X direction). An opening 62a is provided in front of the forward bent portion 60q. The opening 62a opens forward.

[0042] Air flowing into the intake airflow duct F from the inlet portion 60p flows downward (in the negative Z direction) in the upstream region 60a. This air changes direction to the left (in the positive Y direction) and upward (in the positive Z direction) in the turn-back region 60c. Furthermore, this air flows upward (in the positive Z direction) in the downstream region 60b. Air reaching the upper end of the downstream region 60b changes direction forward (in the positive X direction) at the forward bend portion 60q and is blown forward from the opening 62a. The ventilation fan 51 (see FIG. 4) is connected to the opening 62a. This allows the intake airflow duct F to connect the ventilation pipe 31 and the ventilation fan 51.

[0043] The base body 60 has a bottom 60d located below the intake airflow passage F. The bottom 60d forms a lower wall of the intake airflow passage F. The bottom 60d is provided with a drain hole 61h, a valve housing portion 61k, and an induction hole 61j.

[0044] The drain hole 61h is located below the intake airflow path F. The drain hole 61h opens to a bottom surface 61c located below the folded region 60c of the wall surface surrounding the intake airflow path F. The drain hole 61h extends downward from the folded region 60c to connect the folded region 60c to the valve accommodating portion 61k. The valve accommodating portion 61k is a space provided below the intake airflow path F to accommodate the drain valve 69. The guide hole 61j connects the valve accommodating portion 61k to the outside of the base body.

[0045] The drain valve 69 is disposed inside the valve housing portion 61k. The drain valve 69 faces the opening at the lower end of the drain hole 61h in the vertical direction Z. The drain valve 69 closes the drain hole 61h when the ventilation fan 51 is driven and negative pressure is created in the intake airflow duct F. The drain valve 69 opens the drain hole 61h when the ventilation fan 51 is stopped. Furthermore, even when the ventilation fan 51 is driven, if water accumulates in the turn-back region 60c of the intake airflow duct F, the drain valve 69 opens the drain hole 61h due to the weight of the water.

[0046] In this embodiment, the ventilation piping 31 and the ventilation device main body 50 are disposed outdoors 7. When the ventilation device 30 is operated while the air conditioner 100 is heating the room, for example in winter, heated air from the room 8 passes through the ventilation piping 31 and the ventilation device main body 50. This air is cooled by the outside air, causing condensation to form in the ventilation piping 31 and the ventilation device main body 50. The condensed water accumulates at the lower end of the folded region 60c in the intake air duct F. The condensed water in the intake air duct F flows into the valve housing portion 61k through the drain hole 61h. The condensed water in the valve housing portion 61k further flows downward through the guide hole 61j and is drained from the drain outlet 46h (see FIG. 9 ), which will be described later.

[0047] 4, the ventilation fan 51 is fixed to the base body 60 from the front (+X direction). The ventilation fan 51 is connected to the ventilation piping 31 via the intake airflow path F of the base body 60. The ventilation fan 51 may be directly connected to the ventilation piping 31. Alternatively, the ventilation fan 51 and the ventilation piping 31 may be connected via another separate member.

[0048] The ventilation fan 51 includes a cylindrical rotor 51a centered on a central axis O extending in the front-rear direction X, a fan motor 51b that rotates the rotor 51a, a fan box 59 that houses the rotor 51a and the fan motor 51b, and a terminal block 51e. The ventilation fan 51 in this embodiment is a so-called sirocco fan. The ventilation fan 51 rotates the rotor 51a to send air from the inner diameter side to the outer diameter side of the rotor 51a.

[0049] The fan box 59 is fixed to the surface of the base body 60 facing forward (+X direction). A rotor 51a and a fan motor 51b are disposed inside the fan box 59. The fan box 59 is provided with a fan suction port 59t (see FIG. 6 ) connected to an opening 62a of the base body 60. As the rotor 51a rotates, the ventilation fan 51 draws air from the intake airflow path F of the base body 60 at the fan suction port. The fan box 59 also has a fan duct portion 59d extending downward. The fan duct portion 59d is connected at its lower end to the duct member 52. The ventilation fan 51 sends air from the fan duct portion 59d into the duct member 52.

[0050] The terminal block 51e supports a plurality of terminal connectors (not shown) connected to the fan motor 51b. Terminals of electrical wiring (not shown) extending from the indoor unit 20 or the outdoor unit 10 are connected to these terminal connectors.

[0051] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the fan box 59, the check valve 53, and the duct member 52. As shown in Fig. 6, the fan box 59 has a cylindrical portion 59a, a frame portion 59b, an annular plate portion 59c, and a fan duct portion 59d.

[0052] The cylindrical portion 59a has a cylindrical shape centered on the central axis O of the rotor 51a (see FIG. 4). The cylindrical portion 59a surrounds the rotor 51a from the outside in the radial direction. A fan duct portion 59d is connected to the cylindrical portion 59a. The portion of the cylindrical portion 59a that connects to the fan duct portion 59d is open in the radial direction, and the space inside the cylindrical portion 59a is connected to the air passage inside the fan duct portion 59d.

[0053] The frame portion 59b is box-shaped and opens rearward (in the -X direction). The frame portion 59b constitutes the outer shell of the fan box 59. The frame portion 59b closes the opening in the front (in the +X direction) of the cylindrical portion 59a. The frame portion 59b is also formed in a frame shape when viewed from the front-rear direction X, and surrounds the cylindrical portion 59a from the radial outside of the central axis O. The frame portion 59b is provided with a plurality of fixing portions 59f for fixing the fan box 59 to the base main body 60 (see FIG. 4).

[0054] The annular plate portion 59c is plate-shaped and extends radially inward from the rear end (-X direction) of the cylindrical portion 59a about the central axis O. A circular fan inlet 59t is provided in the annular plate portion 59c and is centered on the central axis O. A buffer member 59g is adhesively fixed to the surface of the annular plate portion 59c facing rearward (-X direction). The buffer member 59g has an annular shape that surrounds the fan inlet 59t. In this embodiment, the buffer member 59g is a sponge-like member. The buffer member 59g is sandwiched and compressed between the fan box 59 and the base main body 60. The buffer member 59g prevents air from leaking from the path from the base main body 60 to the fan inlet 59t.

[0055] The fan duct portion 59d extends in the vertical direction Z. The fan duct portion 59d also extends in a tangential direction to the cylindrical portion 59a. An upper end 59j of the fan duct portion 59d is connected to the cylindrical portion 59a. A lower end 59k of the fan duct portion 59d opens downward.

[0056] A swirling flow centered on central axis O, formed by rotor 51 a (see FIG. 4 ), flows along the inner surface of cylindrical portion 59 a in the circumferential direction of central axis O. The air forming the swirling flow flows into fan duct portion 59 d and flows downward within fan duct portion 59 d.

[0057] In this specification, the expression "extending in a specific direction" means that the direction in which the object (or space) extends has a component in that specific direction over its entire length, and is not to be interpreted in a restrictive sense as being parallel to that specific direction over its entire length.

[0058] The check valve 53 is rotatably supported by a valve support 58 provided in the fan duct portion 59d. The check valve 53 rotates around a rotation axis J extending in the left-right direction Y. The check valve 53 has a plate 53a disposed inside the fan duct portion 59d. The plate 53a is displaced while changing the angle of its plate surface as the check valve 53 rotates around the rotation axis J. When the ventilation fan 51 is stopped, the plate 53a is positioned intersecting the extension direction of the fan duct portion 59d and blocks the air passage within the fan duct portion 59d. When a downward airflow occurs in the air passage as the ventilation fan 51 is driven, the plate 53a is pushed downward by the air and opens the air passage. In this way, the check valve 53 opens the air passage when the ventilation fan 51 is driven and closes the air passage when the ventilation fan 51 is stopped. The backflow prevention valve 53 prevents wind, rain, or living things such as insects from entering the inside of the ventilation fan 51 when the ventilation fan 51 is stopped.

[0059] The duct member 52 is disposed below the fan duct portion 59d. The duct member 52 extends in the vertical direction Z. The duct member 52 defines an exhaust airflow duct E between the lower end 59k of the fan duct portion 59d and the exhaust port 46a. That is, the fan duct portion 59d is provided with the exhaust airflow duct E that connects the ventilation fan 51 and the exhaust port 46a. The exhaust airflow duct E extends in the vertical direction Z. The exhaust airflow duct E guides the air blown out from the ventilation fan 51 to the outside of the ventilation device 30.

[0060] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the duct member 52 taken along line VII-VII in Figure 6. The duct member as a whole extends in the vertical direction Z. The duct member 52 has a closure plate 52k, and a first duct portion 52b, an extension portion 52c, and a second duct portion 52d aligned in the vertical direction Z.

[0061] The first duct portion 52b, the extension portion 52c, and the second duct portion 52d are arranged in series in the vertical direction Z. An exhaust air passage E is provided inside the first duct portion 52b, the extension portion 52c, and the second duct portion 52d. The first duct portion 52b opens upward and connects to the fan duct portion 59d of the ventilation fan 51. Meanwhile, the second duct portion 52d opens downward and connects to the exhaust port 46a. The extension portion 52c connects the first duct portion 52b and the second duct portion 52d. The closing plate 52k is arranged perpendicular to the vertical direction Z. The closing plate 52k extends rearward (in the -X direction) from the lower opening edge of the second duct portion 52d.

[0062] The first duct portion 52b, the extension portion 52c, and the second duct portion 52d have a rectangular cross-sectional shape, but the cross-sectional lines are different from one another. Note that the "cross-section of the flow path" here means a cross-section perpendicular to the air flow in the exhaust airflow duct E, and is a cross-section perpendicular to the vertical direction Z in the first duct portion 52b, the extension portion 52c, and the second duct portion 52d.

[0063] The first duct portion 52b, the extension portion 52c, and the second duct portion 52d each have four side plates that surround the exhaust airflow duct E in the front-rear direction X and the left-right direction Y. The first duct portion 52b, the extension portion 52c, and the second duct portion 52d each have a pair of side plates that are arranged in the front-rear direction X of the exhaust airflow duct E, and these side plates are arranged perpendicular to the front-rear direction X.

[0064] The first duct portion 52b has a first left side plate 52f arranged to the left (+Y direction) of the exhaust air duct E, and a first right side plate 52e arranged to the right (-Y direction) of the exhaust air duct E. The extension portion 52c has an extension left side plate 52h arranged to the left (+Y direction) of the exhaust air duct E, and an extension right side plate 52g arranged to the right (-Y direction) of the exhaust air duct E. The second duct portion 52d has a second left side plate 52j arranged to the left (+Y direction) of the exhaust air duct E, and a second right side plate 52i arranged to the right (-Y direction) of the exhaust air duct E.

[0065] The first left side plate 52f, the extended left side plate 52h, and the second left side plate 52j are arranged on approximately the same plane and perpendicular to the left-right direction Y. That is, the first left side plate 52f, the extended left side plate 52h, and the second left side plate 52j extend in the vertical direction Z as a single plate.

[0066] The first right side plate 52e and the second right side plate 52i are disposed perpendicular to the left-right direction Y. The second right side plate 52i is disposed to the right (in the -Y direction) of the first right side plate 52e. The extended right side plate 52g connects the first right side plate 52e and the second right side plate 52i. The extended right side plate 52g is inclined toward the right (in the -Y direction) as it extends downward. Therefore, the extended right side plate 52g gradually moves away from the extended left side plate 52h as it extends downward.

[0067] According to this embodiment, the extension portion 52c widens the exhaust airflow duct E in the left-right direction Y as it extends downward. As a result, the cross-sectional area of ​​the exhaust airflow duct E in the second duct portion 52d is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the exhaust airflow duct E in the first duct portion 52b. The speed of the air flowing through the exhaust airflow duct E gradually slows as it passes through the extension portion 52c. Therefore, the speed of the air passing through the exhaust airflow duct E in the second duct portion 52d is lower than the speed of the air passing through the exhaust airflow duct E in the first duct portion 52b.

[0068] Fig. 8 is a front view of the ventilation device main body 50. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the ventilation device main body 50. As shown in Fig. 9, the case 40 has a bottom plate 46. The bottom plate 46 covers the internal space of the case 40 from below. The bottom plate 46 is disposed perpendicular to the vertical direction Z. The bottom plate 46 is provided with an opening 46b that penetrates the bottom plate 46 in the vertical direction Z.

[0069] The opening 46b has a rectangular shape with its longitudinal direction extending in the left-right direction Y. An exhaust port 46a is disposed in an area of ​​the opening 46b away from the wall 9. That is, the exhaust port 46a is provided in the case 40. The area of ​​the opening 46b facing the wall 9 is closed by a closing plate 52k of the duct member 52. The lower surface of the closing plate 52k is exposed downward from the opening 46b. A label, such as a warning label, can be affixed to the lower surface of the closing plate 52k.

[0070] The exhaust port 46a opens downward. The exhaust port 46a is connected to an opening located at the lower end of the second duct portion 52d of the duct member 52. Air flowing downward through the exhaust airflow duct E of the duct member 52 is exhausted to the outside of the ventilation device main body 50 through the exhaust port 46a. The exhaust port 46a is covered by a mesh grill G. The grill G is fixed to the lower end of the second duct portion 52d. The grill G prevents living organisms or foreign objects from entering the interior of the ventilation device main body 50 through the exhaust port 46a.

[0071] The exhaust port 46a has a rectangular shape with its longitudinal direction in the left-right direction Y. The dimension w2 of the exhaust port 46a in the left-right direction Y is greater than the dimension w1 in the front-rear direction X. Furthermore, the exhaust port 46a is positioned biased toward the front (front) of the bottom plate 46 of the case 40, away from the fixing surface 70f. According to this embodiment, the opening area of ​​the exhaust port 46a can be ensured to be sufficiently wide in the left-right direction Y, while the exhaust port 46a can be spaced apart from the wall surface 9b. This makes it possible to prevent the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a from contaminating the wall surface 9b.

[0072] In this embodiment, the distance d1 between the fixing surface 70f and the exhaust port 46a is greater than the dimension w1 of the exhaust port 46a in the front-to-rear direction X. The distance d1 between the fixing surface 70f and the exhaust port 46a is greater than half the dimension d2 of the ventilation device main body 50 in the front-to-rear direction X. The distance d1 between the fixing surface 70f and the exhaust port 46a is greater than the diameter D of the ventilation piping 31. In this manner, by sufficiently separating the distance d1 between the fixing surface 70f and the exhaust port 46a from the wall surface 9b, contamination of the wall surface 9b can be suitably suppressed. Note that in this specification, the distance from the fixing surface 70f to the target location refers to the minimum distance from a point on an imaginary plane including the fixing surface 70f to the target location.

[0073] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the ventilator main body 50 taken along line X-X in Figure 8. As shown in Figure 10, the base main body 60 is disposed along the fixing surface 70f. Therefore, the intake airflow duct F within the base main body 60 also extends along the fixing surface 70f. On the other hand, although the exhaust airflow duct E extends in the vertical direction Z along the fixing surface 70f, it is disposed farther away from the fixing surface 70f than the intake airflow duct F. The intake airflow duct F and the exhaust airflow duct E overlap when viewed from the front-rear direction X.

[0074] According to this embodiment, the intake airflow duct F is disposed between the exhaust airflow duct E and the fixing surface 70f in the front-rear direction X. This makes it easier to align the ventilation pipe 31 connected to the intake airflow duct F along the wall surface 9b, and also enables the exhaust airflow duct E to be disposed away from the wall surface 9b, and the exhaust port 46a connected to the exhaust airflow duct E to be spaced away from the wall surface 9b.

[0075] As shown in Figure 9, the bottom plate 46 of the case 40 is provided with a pair of screw holes 46c aligned in the left-right direction Y. The pair of screw holes 46c penetrate the bottom plate 46 in the vertical direction Z. A lower end plate portion 70c of the mounting plate 70 overlaps the bottom plate 46. Fixing screws 46f are inserted into the pair of screw holes 46c. The fixing screws 46f screw the bottom plate 46 to the lower end plate portion 70c.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 9 , when the ventilation device main body 50 is fixed to the wall surface 9b, the fixing surface 70f of the mounting plate 70 faces the wall surface 9b. The fixing surface 70f also extends along the wall surface 9b. When the ventilation device main body 50 is fixed to the wall surface 9b, the rear end edge 46e of the bottom plate 46 faces the wall surface 9b with a gap therebetween. As described above, the lower end plate portion 70c of the mounting plate 70 is provided with a notch 70d. The opening surrounded by the rear end edge 46e of the bottom plate 46 and the notch 70d functions as a drain port 46h. In other words, the ventilation device main body 50 is provided with a drain port 46h that opens downward.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 10 , guide holes 61j are provided in the bottom 60d of the base main body 60. The guide holes 61j guide condensation water drained from the intake airflow duct F to the underside 60f of the bottom 60d. The condensation water flows downward along the underside 60f of the bottom 60d and the front-facing surface of the plate main body 70a of the mounting plate 70, reaches the drain outlet 46h, and is drained to the outside of the case 40. In this embodiment, the drain outlet 46h is located at the rear end of the ventilator main body 50 (the end closer to the fixing surface 70f in the front-rear direction X). Therefore, the condensation water drained from the drain outlet 46h flows downward along the wall surface 9b.

[0078] 9, in this embodiment, exhaust port 46a is positioned farther from fixed surface 70f than drain port 46h. As a result, even if exhaust air blown out from exhaust port 46a hits condensed water drained from drain port 46h, the condensed water flows toward wall 9 and runs along wall 9, making it less likely to scatter around.

[0079] Here, the comparison of the distance of the exhaust port 46a and the drain port 46h relative to the fixed surface 70f is performed by comparing the minimum distance from a point on an imaginary plane including the fixed surface 70f to the exhaust port 46a and the drain port 46h.

[0080] In this embodiment, the position of the drain outlet 46h in the left-right direction Y overlaps with the right end (-Y direction) of the exhaust outlet 46a. Furthermore, at least a portion of the drain outlet 46h is positioned offset in the left-right direction Y with respect to the exhaust outlet 46a. The wind speed of the exhaust air discharged from the exhaust outlet 46a is slower at the ends in the left-right direction Y than at the center in the left-right direction Y. By positioning the drain outlet 46h overlapping the end of the exhaust outlet 46a, the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust outlet 46a is less likely to come into contact with condensation water being drained from the drain outlet 46h.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 7 , the exhaust airflow duct E in this embodiment widens in the left-right direction Y toward the exhaust port 46a. This widens the opening area of ​​the exhaust port 46a in the left-right direction Y, reducing the wind speed of the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a. Reducing the wind speed of the exhaust air reduces the adhesion of dirt to the wall surface 9b. Furthermore, by widening the exhaust port 46a in the left-right direction Y, the distance between the exhaust port 46a and the wall surface 9b is ensured even if the opening area is large. That is, this embodiment can effectively reduce the dirt on the wall surface 9b caused by the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a. Additionally, reducing the wind speed of the exhaust air exhausted from the exhaust port 46a can effectively reduce the scattering of condensed water drained from the drain outlet 46h.

[0082] <Summary> The air conditioner 100 of this embodiment includes an indoor unit 20, an outdoor unit 10, a circulation path section (refrigerant piping) 18, and a ventilation device 30. The indoor unit 20 is installed in the room 8 and has a heat exchanger (first heat exchanger) 22. The outdoor unit 10 is installed in the outdoor space 7 and has a heat exchanger (second heat exchanger) 13. The circulation path section 18 passes through a through-hole 9h in a wall 9 separating the room 8 from the outdoor space 7, connecting the heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20 to the heat exchanger 13 of the outdoor unit 10. The ventilation device 30 ventilates the air in the room 8. The ventilation device 30 includes a ventilation pipe 31 and a ventilation device main body 50. The ventilation pipe 31 passes through the through-hole 9h from the indoor unit 20 and is drawn out to the outdoor space 7. The ventilation device main body 50 is fixed to the wall surface of the outdoor space 7. The ventilation device main body 50 has a ventilation fan 51, an exhaust port 46a, an intake airflow duct F, an exhaust airflow duct E, a drain port 46h, and a fixing surface. The exhaust port 46a opens downward. The intake airflow duct F connects the ventilation piping 31 and the ventilation fan 51. The exhaust airflow duct E connects the ventilation fan 51 and the exhaust port 46a. The drain port 46h opens downward. The drain port 46h drains water that accumulates in the intake airflow duct F. The fixing surface 70f faces the wall surface 9b and extends along the wall surface 9b. The exhaust port 46a is positioned farther from the fixing surface 70f than the drain port 46h.

[0083] According to the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 3 , the ventilation fan 51 is disposed inside the ventilation device main body 50 outside the room 7. This prevents noise caused by the operation of the ventilation fan 51 from reaching the room 8, thereby maintaining a quiet interior space. On the other hand, disposing the ventilation fan 51 outside the room 7 makes it easier for condensation to form in the intake air duct F (see FIG. 5 ), which guides air to the ventilation fan 51. According to the above-described configuration, the drain outlet 46h, which opens downward, is provided in the ventilation device main body 50, allowing condensation in the intake air duct F to be drained to the outside of the ventilation device main body 50, thereby suppressing abnormal noise and mold growth caused by condensation in the intake air duct F. According to the above-described configuration, the exhaust outlet 46a is opened downward, thereby suppressing rain from entering the interior of the ventilation device main body 50. According to the above-described configuration, the exhaust outlet 46a is disposed farther from the wall surface 9b than the drain outlet 46h. This separates the exhaust port 46a from the wall surface 9b, preventing dirt contained in the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a from adhering to the wall surface 9b. According to the above-described configuration, even if the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a hits condensed water drained from the drain port 46h, the exhaust air is directed toward the wall 9 and runs down the wall 9. This prevents condensed water from scattering around due to the wind pressure of the exhaust air.

[0084] In the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment, the dimension of the exhaust port 46a in the left-right direction Y is larger than the dimension in the front-rear direction X. This configuration allows the opening area of ​​the exhaust port 46a to be increased while ensuring the distance between the exhaust port 46a and the wall surface 9b. By increasing the opening area of ​​the exhaust port 46a, the wind speed of the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a can be reduced, thereby suppressing the scattering of condensed water caused by the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a. Furthermore, by reducing the wind speed of the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a, dirt contained in the exhaust air is less likely to adhere to the wall surface 9b, making it easier to keep the wall surface 9b clean.

[0085] In the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment, the distance d1 between the fixing surface 70f and the exhaust port 46a is greater than the dimension w1 of the exhaust port 46a in the front-to-rear direction X. With this configuration, the exhaust port 46a can be sufficiently spaced away from the wall surface 9b, making it difficult for the exhaust air to hit the wall surface 9b and preventing contamination of the wall surface 9b.

[0086] In the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment, the distance between the fixing surface 70f and the exhaust port 46a is greater than half the dimension d2 in the front-to-rear direction X of the ventilation device main body 50. With this configuration, the exhaust port 46a can be positioned on the underside of the ventilation device main body 50 so as to be biased away from the wall surface 9b, making it less likely for the exhaust air to hit the wall surface 9b and reducing contamination of the wall surface 9b.

[0087] In the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment, the distance between the fixing surface 70f and the exhaust port 46a is greater than the diameter of the ventilation pipe 31. With this configuration, the exhaust port 46a can be positioned farther from the wall surface 9b than the ventilation pipe 31 that is arranged along the wall surface 9b, making it less likely for the exhaust air to hit the wall surface 9b and preventing the wall surface 9b from becoming dirty.

[0088] In the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment, the exhaust airflow duct E widens in the left-right direction Y as it moves downward. With this configuration, the wind speed of the air flowing through the exhaust airflow duct E can be reduced as it moves toward the exhaust port 46a, and the wind speed of the exhaust air blown out from the exhaust port 46a can be reduced. This makes it possible to suppress the scattering of condensation water caused by the exhaust and makes it difficult for dirt contained in the exhaust air to adhere to the wall surface 9b.

[0089] In the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment, the drain outlet 46h is located at the end closer to the fixing surface 70f of the ventilation device main body 50 in the front-to-rear direction X. This configuration allows the drain outlet 46h to be separated as far as possible from the exhaust outlet 46a in the front-to-rear direction X, preventing exhaust air from the exhaust outlet 46a from contacting the condensed water drained from the drain outlet 46h. This configuration also allows the condensed water drained from the drain outlet 46h to easily flow down the wall surface 9b. Therefore, compared to when condensed water drips from the drain outlet 46h, it is easier to prevent condensed water from scattering due to exhaust air from the drain outlet 46h. Additionally, allowing the condensed water to flow down the wall surface 9b prevents icicles from forming on the drain outlet 46h.

[0090] In the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment, the intake airflow duct F extends along the fixed surface 70f between the fixed surface 70f and the exhaust airflow duct E. With this configuration, since the intake airflow duct F is aligned with the fixed surface 70f, the ventilation pipe 31 connected to the intake airflow duct F can be easily aligned along the wall surface 9b. In addition, the exhaust airflow duct E can be positioned farther away from the wall surface 9b than the intake airflow duct F, and the exhaust port 46a connected to the exhaust airflow duct E can be positioned farther from the wall surface 9b. With this configuration, the intake airflow duct F and the exhaust airflow duct E are positioned overlapping each other when viewed from the front-to-rear direction X, and the ventilation device main body 50 can be made smaller in the vertical direction Z and the left-to-right direction Y.

[0091] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the exhaust port 46a is rectangular. However, the shape of the drain port 46h is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be, for example, elliptical. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the drain port 46h is configured by the case 40 and the mounting plate 70. However, the drain port 46h may be a through-hole provided in the case 40, the mounting plate 70, or another component. In the above-described embodiments, the exhaust air duct E extends in the vertical direction Z. However, as long as the exhaust port 46a at the downstream end faces downward, the direction of extension of the exhaust air duct E is not limited, and the exhaust air duct E may have a portion extending horizontally, for example. In the above-described embodiments, the ventilation fan 51 is a sirocco fan. However, the type of ventilation fan 51 is not limited.

[0092] 7...outdoor, 8...indoor, 9...wall, 9a, 9b...wall surface, 9h...through hole, 10...outdoor unit, 13...heat exchanger (second heat exchanger), 18...circulation path section (refrigerant piping), 19...refrigerant, 20...indoor unit, 22...heat exchanger (first heat exchanger), 30...ventilation device, 31...ventilation piping, 46a...exhaust port, 46h...drain port, 50...ventilation device body, 51...ventilation fan, 70f...fixing surface, 100...air conditioner, D...diameter, d1...distance, d2, w1, w2...dimensions, E...exhaust air duct, F...intake air duct, X...front-rear direction, Y...left-right direction, Z...vertical direction

Claims

1. an indoor unit installed indoors and having a first heat exchanger; an outdoor unit installed outdoors and having a second heat exchanger; a refrigerant pipe passing through a through hole in a wall separating the indoor space from the outdoor space and connecting the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; A ventilation device for ventilating the air in the room, The ventilation device includes: A ventilation pipe extending from the room through the through hole to the outside of the room; A ventilation device main body fixed to the outdoor wall surface, The ventilation device main body includes: Ventilation fans and An exhaust port that opens downward; an intake air duct connecting the ventilation pipe and the ventilation fan; an exhaust air duct connecting the ventilation fan and the exhaust port; a drain port that opens downward and drains water that accumulates in the intake air passage; a fixing surface facing the wall surface and extending along the wall surface, The exhaust port is disposed farther from the fixed surface than the drain port. Air conditioner.

2. A direction perpendicular to the fixing surface is defined as a front-rear direction, The vertical direction and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction are defined as the left-right direction, The exhaust port has a dimension in the left-right direction that is larger than a dimension in the front-rear direction. The air conditioner according to claim 1.

3. A distance between the fixing surface and the exhaust port is greater than a dimension of the exhaust port in the front-rear direction. The air conditioner according to claim 2.

4. The distance between the fixing surface and the exhaust port is greater than half the dimension of the ventilation device main body in the front-rear direction. The air conditioner according to claim 2.

5. The distance between the fixing surface and the exhaust port is greater than the diameter of the ventilation pipe. The air conditioner according to claim 2.

6. The exhaust air passage widens in the left-right direction as it goes downward. The air conditioner according to claim 2.

7. A direction perpendicular to the fixing surface is defined as a front-rear direction, The drain outlet is located at an end portion of the ventilation device body closer to the fixing surface in the front-rear direction. The air conditioner according to claim 1.

8. The intake airflow path extends along the fixed surface between the fixed surface and the exhaust airflow path. An air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7.