Air conditioner

Abstract

An air condition, comprising: a housing (1), a first refrigerant detection area (151) being provided in the housing (1), a second refrigerant detection area (152) being provided outside the housing (1), and the first refrigerant detection area (151) being communicated with the second refrigerant detection area (152); an indoor heat exchanger (2) arranged in the housing (1), the input port and output port of the indoor heat exchanger (2) being located in the first refrigerant detection area (151); a refrigerant input pipe (31) and a refrigerant output pipe (32) respectively connected to the input port and output port of the indoor heat exchanger (2), the ends of the refrigerant input pipe (31) and the refrigerant output pipe (32) distant from the indoor heat exchanger (2) being both provided with a pipe fitting connector (33), the pipe fitting connectors (33) passing through the housing (1) and being configured to be connected to indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipes (34) located outside the housing (1), and connection parts between the pipe fitting connectors (33) and the indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipes (34) being located in the second refrigerant detection area (152); and a refrigerant detection sensor (4), at least one of the first refrigerant detection area (151) and the second refrigerant detection area (152) being provided with the refrigerant detection sensor (4).

Description

An air conditioner

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application with application number 202311121844.7 filed on August 31, 2023, with invention name “An air conditioner”, and the Chinese patent application with application number 202322370692.6 filed on August 31, 2023, with invention name “An air conditioner”, the contents of which should be understood as incorporated into this application by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This article relates to but is not limited to electrical equipment technology, especially an air conditioner. Background Art

[0003] Currently, some air conditioners cannot detect refrigerant leaks. After a period of refrigerant leakage, the concentration of the leaked refrigerant may be high. Some refrigerants are flammable, leading to the risk of flammability and explosion.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following is a summary of the subject matter described in detail herein. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0006] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air conditioner, comprising: a casing, a first refrigerant detection area is provided inside the casing, a second refrigerant detection area is provided outside the casing, and the first refrigerant detection area is connected to the second refrigerant detection area; an indoor heat exchanger is provided in the casing, and the input port and the output port of the indoor heat exchanger are located in the first refrigerant detection area; a refrigerant input pipe and a refrigerant output pipe are respectively connected to the input port and the output port of the indoor heat exchanger, and a pipe joint is provided at one end away from the indoor heat exchanger; the pipe joint is passed through the casing and is configured to be connected to the internal and external unit connecting pipe located outside the casing, and the connection part between the pipe joint and the internal and external unit connecting pipe is located in the second refrigerant detection area; a refrigerant detection sensor, at least one of the first refrigerant detection area and the second refrigerant detection area is provided with the refrigerant detection sensor.

[0007] Still other aspects will become apparent upon reading and understanding the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

[0008] Summary of the Figures

[0009] The accompanying drawings are used to provide an understanding of the technical solution of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present disclosure, they are used to explain the technical solution of the present disclosure and do not constitute a limitation to the technical solution of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of an indoor unit of an air conditioner provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a partial bottom view of the structure of an indoor unit provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the structure shown in FIG2 , the connecting pipes of the internal and external units, and the sealing box;

[0013] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the structure shown in FIG3 without the sealing box;

[0014] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a partial three-dimensional structure of the indoor unit shown in FIG2 ;

[0015] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a sealed box in an open state provided by some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of the sealing box shown in FIG6 in a closed state.

[0017] 1 , a first connecting hole, a second connecting hole, a third connecting hole, a fourth connecting hole, a fifth ... 61 water tray, 62 water pump, 63 drain pipe; 71 motor, 72 wind wheel, 73 guide ring; 8 electric control box.

[0018] Details

[0019] The present disclosure describes a plurality of embodiments, but the description is exemplary rather than restrictive, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there may be more embodiments and implementations within the scope of the embodiments described in the present disclosure. Although many possible feature combinations are shown in the drawings and discussed in the embodiments, many other combinations of the disclosed features are also possible. Unless specifically limited, any feature or element of any embodiment may be used in combination with any other feature or element in any other embodiment, or may replace any other feature or element in any other embodiment.

[0020] This document includes and contemplates combinations of features and elements known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments, features, and elements disclosed in this disclosure may also be combined with any conventional features or elements to form a unique technical solution defined by the claims. Any features or elements of any embodiment may also be combined with features or elements from other technical solutions to form another unique technical solution defined by the claims. Therefore, any feature shown and / or discussed in this disclosure may be implemented individually or in any appropriate combination. Therefore, the embodiments are not subject to other limitations except for the limitations set forth in the appended claims and their equivalents. In addition, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

[0021] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air conditioner, which may be but is not limited to a ceiling unit, as shown in FIG1 .

[0022] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , the air conditioner includes: a casing 1 , an indoor heat exchanger 2 , a refrigerant input pipe 31 , a refrigerant output pipe 32 , a refrigerant detection sensor 4 and an indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipe 34 .

[0023] As shown in FIG2 , a first refrigerant detection area 151 (the area indicated by the large dashed box in FIG2 ) is provided inside the housing 1, and a second refrigerant detection area 152 (the area indicated by the small dashed box in FIG2 ) is provided outside the housing 1. The first refrigerant detection area 151 is connected to the second refrigerant detection area 152.

[0024] The indoor heat exchanger 2 is disposed in the casing 1 , and an input port and an output port of the indoor heat exchanger 2 are located in the first refrigerant detection area 151 .

[0025] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, the refrigerant inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 32 are connected to the inlet and outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 2, respectively (i.e., the refrigerant inlet pipe 31 is connected to the inlet of the indoor heat exchanger 2, and the refrigerant outlet pipe 32 is connected to the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 2). A pipe joint 33 is provided on each end of the refrigerant inlet pipe 31 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 32, located away from the indoor heat exchanger 2. The pipe joint 33 extends through the housing 1 and is configured to connect to an internal and external unit connecting pipe 34 located outside the housing 1, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The connection between the pipe joint 33 and the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34 is located within the second refrigerant detection area 152.

[0026] At least one of the first refrigerant detection area 151 and the second refrigerant detection area 152 is provided with a refrigerant detection sensor 4, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. In other words, the refrigerant detection sensor 4 may be provided only in the first refrigerant detection area 151, only in the second refrigerant detection area 152, or both.

[0027] The housing 1 is the housing 1 of the indoor unit. The air conditioner may also include an outdoor unit (not shown). The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected by two indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipes 34 to ensure that the refrigerant can circulate between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to form a refrigerant cycle.

[0028] After research and analysis, it was found that, as shown in Figure 2, there are two main locations where refrigerant leakage is likely to occur in the air conditioner: the first location is inside the indoor unit casing 1, which is the connection position between the indoor heat exchanger 2 and the refrigerant input pipe 31 and the refrigerant output pipe 32, as well as the U-shaped pipe position of the refrigerant input pipe 31 and the refrigerant output pipe 32; the second location is outside the indoor unit casing 1, which is the connection position between the pipe joint 33 and the indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipe 34.

[0029] Therefore, the embodiment of the present disclosure sets a first refrigerant detection area 151 inside the casing 1 and a second refrigerant detection area 152 outside the casing 1. As shown in FIG2 , the first refrigerant detection area 151 corresponds to the first location inside the casing 1 where refrigerant leakage is likely to occur, and the second refrigerant detection area 152 corresponds to the second location outside the casing 2 where refrigerant leakage is likely to occur. Moreover, the leaked refrigerant is usually in a gaseous state. Since the first refrigerant detection area 151 is connected to the second refrigerant detection area 152, the refrigerant in the first refrigerant detection area 151 can flow to the second refrigerant detection area 152, and the refrigerant in the second refrigerant detection area 152 can flow to the first refrigerant detection area 151. Therefore, at least one of the first refrigerant detection area 151 and the second refrigerant detection area 152 is provided with a refrigerant detection sensor 4, so that both the inside and outside of the casing 1 where refrigerant leakage is likely to occur can be detected, and the refrigerants in the two refrigerant detection areas can be collected to increase the refrigerant concentration, which is beneficial to improving the detection sensitivity of the refrigerant detection sensor 4, thereby facilitating the refrigerant detection sensor 4 to quickly detect refrigerant leakage and issue an alarm in time, and only one refrigerant detection sensor 4 can be used to achieve the effect of quickly detecting the two refrigerant detection areas inside and outside to save costs.

[0030] The refrigerant detection sensor 4 may be equipped with an alarm device, or the air conditioner may be additionally provided with an alarm device, so that when the refrigerant detection sensor 4 detects a refrigerant leak, the alarm device may promptly issue a detection alarm.

[0031] In some embodiments, only the first refrigerant detection area 151 is provided with a refrigerant detection sensor 4. Refrigerant detection sensor 4 is located within housing 1 to quickly detect refrigerant leaks within housing 1. This prevents dangerous refrigerant accumulation within housing 1 or leaked refrigerant from entering the room, potentially impacting the user. Testing has shown that when a refrigerant leak occurs in the air conditioner, refrigerant detection sensor 4 detects the refrigerant within 30 to 40 seconds, triggering an alarm.

[0032] Of course, the second refrigerant detection area 152 may be provided with a refrigerant detection sensor 4 .

[0033] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG3 , the air conditioner may further include a sealing box 5 . The sealing box 5 is mounted over the pipe joint 33 and the indoor / outdoor unit connecting pipe 34 to seal the connection between the pipe joint 33 and the indoor / outdoor unit connecting pipe 34 within the sealing box 5 . The interior space of the sealing box 5 forms a second refrigerant detection area 152 . The sealing box 5 is connected to the first refrigerant detection area 151 via a refrigerant guide pipe 35 , which is disposed through the housing 1 .

[0034] In this way, the refrigerant leaked from the connection between the pipe joint 33 and the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34 can be sealed in the sealing box 5, preventing the leaked refrigerant from spreading outward over a large range, which is conducive to quickly increasing the concentration of the refrigerant leaked in the second refrigerant detection area 152, thereby helping to improve the detection sensitivity of the refrigerant detection sensor 4.

[0035] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG6 , the sealed box 5 is provided with a first through-hole 531, a second through-hole 532, and a third through-hole 533. Two pipe joints 33 are respectively provided through the first through-hole 531 and the second through-hole 532. The refrigerant flow guide tube 35 is provided through the third through-hole 533, as shown in FIG3 . The first through-hole 531 and the second through-hole 532 are located at the end of the sealed box 5 closer to the housing 1. The end of the sealed box 5 farther from the housing 1 is provided with a fourth through-hole 534 and a fifth through-hole 535. Two internal and external unit connecting pipes 34 are respectively provided through the fourth through-hole 534 and the fifth through-hole 535.

[0036] This ensures that the connection parts of the two pipe joints 33 and the two internal and external machine connecting pipes 34 are both located in the sealing box 5, and the detection requirements can be met by using one sealing box 5 and one refrigerant guide pipe 35, which is conducive to reducing the number of parts, simplifying the structure, and improving assembly efficiency.

[0037] 6 and 7 , the first through hole 531 , the second through hole 532 , the third through hole 533 , the fourth through hole 534 , and the fifth through hole 535 can extend outward to form a tubular structure, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the fitting between the sealing box 5 and the pipe joint 33 , the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34 , and the refrigerant guide pipe 35 , and is beneficial to preventing refrigerant leakage.

[0038] Of course, multiple sealing boxes 5 may be provided, for example, two sealing boxes 5 respectively sealing the connection parts between the two pipe joints 33 and the two internal and external unit connecting pipes 34, that is, one sealing box 5 seals the connection part between one pipe joint 33 and the corresponding internal and external unit connecting pipe 34, and the other sealing box 5 seals the connection part between the other pipe joint 33 and the other internal and external unit connecting pipe 34). Alternatively, each sealing box 5 may be connected to the first refrigerant detection area 151 via a refrigerant guide pipe 35. Alternatively, the two sealing boxes 5 are connected via a refrigerant guide pipe 35, and one of the sealing boxes 5 is connected to the first refrigerant detection area 151 via the other refrigerant guide pipe 35.

[0039] In some exemplary embodiments, the third through hole 533 is also located at one end of the sealing box 5 close to the housing 1 and between the first through hole 531 and the second through hole 532 , as shown in FIG. 6 .

[0040] This helps shorten the length of the refrigerant guide tube 35 (which can shorten the refrigerant flow path), and the refrigerant guide tube 35 can be a straight tube (which can reduce the refrigerant flow resistance), which is beneficial for the refrigerant in the second refrigerant detection area 152 to quickly enter the first refrigerant detection area 151, which is beneficial for improving the refrigerant detection sensitivity of the refrigerant detection sensor 4.

[0041] Moreover, this allows the refrigerant guide pipe 35 to be located between the two pipe joints 33, and to be very close to the two pipe joints 33. Therefore, when a refrigerant leak occurs at the connection point between any pipe joint 33 and the corresponding internal and external unit connecting pipe 34, it can quickly reach the refrigerant guide pipe 35, thereby quickly entering another refrigerant detection area (i.e., the first refrigerant detection area 151), which is also beneficial to improving the refrigerant detection sensitivity of the refrigerant detection sensor 4.

[0042] In addition, this can make the structure of the sealing box 5 relatively regular, and facilitate processing and forming.

[0043] Of course, the third through hole 533 may be provided at other positions of the sealing box 5 , such as on the bottom wall of the sealing box 5 .

[0044] In some exemplary embodiments, the sealed box 5 includes a box body 52 and a box cover 51, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The box body 52 and the box cover 51 are connected to each other and enclose a second refrigerant detection area 152.

[0045] This can simplify the structures of the box body 52 and the box cover 51, making it easier to process and form; it is also easier to first connect the piping joint 33 and the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34, and then open the sealing box 5 and install it on the piping joint 33, the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34 and the refrigerant guide pipe 35, so as to reduce the difficulty of connecting the piping joint 33 and the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34, improve the connection reliability of the piping joint 33 and the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34, and also help to reduce the difficulty of installing the sealing box 5.

[0046] In some exemplary embodiments, the box body 52 and the box cover 51 enclose a first through hole 531 , a second through hole 532 , a third through hole 533 , a fourth through hole 534 and a fifth through hole 535 , as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 .

[0047] Thus, the box body 52 and the box cover 51 can each be machined with five corresponding semicircular grooves, as shown in Figure 6. Ten corresponding semicircular grooves are then joined to form five through-holes, as shown in Figure 7. This eliminates the need to pass the pipe joint 33, the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34, and the refrigerant guide pipe 35 through the corresponding through-holes of the sealing box 5, thus simplifying the installation of the sealing box 5.

[0048] In some exemplary embodiments, one end of the box body 52 is rotatably connected to one end of the box cover 51 , and the other end of the box body 52 is detachably connected to the other end of the box cover 51 , as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 .

[0049] During assembly, the box cover 51 can be opened, and the box body 52 can be aligned with the pipe joint 33, the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34, and the refrigerant guide pipe 35 and snapped into place. The box cover 51 can then be closed and fixedly connected to the box body 52. ​​Since the box cover 51 will not be completely removed, it is only necessary to ensure that the other end of the box cover 51 is aligned with the other end of the box body 52, which helps to simplify the installation process of the sealed box 5.

[0050] Of course, the connection method between the box cover 51 and the box body 52 is not limited to this. For example, both ends of the box cover 51 can be detachably connected to the box body 52.

[0051] In some exemplary embodiments, one end of the box body 52 and one end of the box cover 51 are rotatable integral structures, as shown in Figure 6. The other end of the box body 52 and the other end of the box cover 51 are detachably connected via a buckle 513 and a first fastener.

[0052] The box cover 51 can be covered on the box body 52 by rotating 180 degrees along one end thereof, and can be opened by rotating 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

[0053] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the other end of the box cover 51 can be provided with a first connection hole 511, and the other end of the box body 52 can be provided with a second connection hole 521. A first fastener (such as a screw) can pass through the first connection hole 511 and be threadedly connected to the second connection hole 521 to achieve a fixed connection between the box cover 51 and the box body 52. ​​One of the box cover 51 and the box body 52 is provided with a buckle 513, and the other is provided with a slot 522. The buckle 513 engages with the slot 522 to achieve a snap connection and fixation between the box cover 51 and the box body 52 and align the first connection hole 511 of the box cover 51 with the second connection hole 521 of the box body 52, so as to facilitate the installation of the first fastener. The number of first fasteners and buckles 513 is not limited and can be reasonably set according to needs.

[0054] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the other end of the box cover 51 is provided with two buckles 513 and a lug 512. The two buckles 513 are symmetrically arranged on either side of the lug 512, and the first connection hole 511 is provided in the lug 512. The other end of the box body 52 is provided with an extension plate 523. The extension plate 523 is provided with two slots 522 and a second connection hole 521. The two slots 522 are symmetrically arranged on either side of the second connection hole 521. Two reinforcing ribs 516 may also be provided at each end of the lug 512, with the first connection hole 511 located between the two reinforcing ribs 516.

[0055] During assembly, the two clips 513 are first inserted into the two slots 522, so that the lugs 512 fit in contact with the extension plate 523 and the first connection hole 511 is aligned with the second connection hole 521. Then, the first fastener is screwed in. This can reduce the number of first fasteners and improve the installation efficiency of the sealing box 5.

[0056] The other end of the box cover 51 and the other end of the box body 52 can also be configured to cooperate with each other in a stopper manner, as shown in FIG6 , so as to improve the sealing performance of the sealing box 5 .

[0057] Of course, the other end of the box cover 51 and the other end of the box body 52 may be detachably connected to each other in other ways, such as being connected only by fasteners or only by the buckle 513 .

[0058] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the rotation axis of the box cover 51 is parallel to the central axis of the pipe joint 33, and one end of the box cover 51 and the other end of the box cover 51 are arranged opposite to each other along the arrangement direction of the two pipe joints 33.

[0059] In this way, the box body 52 can be directly placed under the two pipe joints 33 and snapped in, and then the box cover 51 can be closed. There is no need to carefully pass the pipe joints 33, the internal and external unit connecting pipes 34, and the refrigerant guide pipe 35 through the sealing box 5, which can reduce the difficulty of installation and improve assembly efficiency.

[0060] In some exemplary embodiments, the middle portion of the box cover 51 and the middle portion of the box body 52 are fixedly connected by a second fastener, and the second fastener is located between the two pipe joints 33 and locks the box cover 51 and the box body 52 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the box cover 51, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0061] The second fastener can lock and reinforce the middle portion of the sealing box 5 to prevent the sealing box 5 from leaking refrigerant due to local gaps caused by the refrigerant pressure or the like.

[0062] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, a third connecting hole 514 is provided in the middle of the box cover 51, and a connecting post 524 is provided on the inner wall of the box body 52. ​​A second fastener (such as a screw) passes through the third connecting hole 514 and is fixedly connected to the connecting post 524. A hollow connecting boss 515 is provided on the inner wall of the box cover 51. The connecting boss 515 abuts against the connecting post 524, thereby preventing the sealed box 5 from being excessively squeezed and deformed. The third connecting hole 514 can be a countersunk hole, which can conceal the head of the second fastener within the box cover 51 to avoid interference with other structures.

[0063] In some exemplary embodiments, sealing sponges (not shown) are provided between the sealing box 5 and the refrigerant flow guide tube 35, between the sealing box 5 and the pipe joint 33, and between the sealing box 5 and the internal and external unit connecting pipe 34. The sealing sponges can improve the sealing reliability of the sealing box 5 and help alleviate pipeline vibration noise.

[0064] In some exemplary embodiments, the sealing box 5 may be a plastic part, such as a PP (polypropylene) part, which is easy to process and shape, and has high processing precision and low cost.

[0065] In some exemplary embodiments, the housing 1 includes a pipe pressing plate 111 , as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 . The refrigerant guide pipe 35 and the pipe joint 33 are passed through the pipe pressing plate 111 .

[0066] The inner diameter of the refrigerant guide tube 35 is greater than or equal to 8 mm, which is conducive to ensuring the guiding effect of the refrigerant guide tube 35.

[0067] Of course, the inner diameter of the refrigerant flow guide tube 35 is not limited to the above range and can be adjusted according to needs.

[0068] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in Figures 1 and 5 , the indoor heat exchanger 2 is disposed along the circumferential direction of the casing 1. The indoor heat exchanger 2 is spaced apart at both ends of the circumferential direction of the casing 1 (i.e., the indoor heat exchanger 2 is not a complete annular structure along the circumferential direction of the casing 1, but rather has spaced apart ends). At least a portion of the first refrigerant detection area 151 is located between the two ends of the indoor heat exchanger 2 along the circumferential direction of the casing 1. The casing 1 can be generally in the shape of a quadrangular prism. As shown in Figure 1 , the circumferential direction of the casing 1 is the circumferential direction of the side panels 11 of the casing 1.

[0069] The input and output ports of the indoor heat exchanger 2 are usually located at one end of the indoor heat exchanger 2 along the circumferential direction of the casing 1, and the refrigerant input pipe 31 and the refrigerant output pipe 32 are usually arranged in this area, so at least a part of the first refrigerant detection area 151 is located between the two ends of the indoor heat exchanger 2 along the circumferential direction of the casing 1.

[0070] A certain gap may be provided between the indoor heat exchanger 2 and the side panel 11 of the casing 1, and a portion of the first refrigerant detection area 151 may be located within the gap between the two ends of the indoor heat exchanger 2 along the circumferential direction of the casing 1 and the pipe pressure plate 111. The pipe pressure plate 111 may be part of the side panel 11 of the casing 1.

[0071] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , the housing 1 includes a chassis 13 and a panel 12 disposed opposite each other, and side panels 11 connected to the chassis 13 and the panel 12. The indoor heat exchanger 2 is fixedly connected to the chassis 13 via a heat exchanger connecting plate 14. The refrigerant detection sensor 4 is disposed in a first refrigerant detection area 151 and fixed to the heat exchanger connecting plate 14, as shown in FIG1 .

[0072] In this way, the heat exchanger connecting plate 14 can be reasonably utilized to fix the refrigerant heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger connecting plate 14 can be easily processed into a desired shape according to needs.

[0073] Of course, the refrigerant detection sensor 4 may be fixed on other components, such as the chassis 13 or the side panel 11, as long as it can detect the refrigerant.

[0074] In some exemplary embodiments, the air conditioner may further include a water pump 62 disposed within the first refrigerant detection area 151, as shown in Figures 1 and 5. The water pump 62 is fixed to the heat exchanger connection plate 14, and the water pump 62 and the refrigerant detection sensor 4 are arranged along the height direction of the side panel 11 (i.e., the vertical direction in Figure 1).

[0075] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG5 , the heat exchanger connecting plate 14 includes: a first end plate 141 , a side plate 143 , a second end plate 142 and two flanges (not shown in the figure).

[0076] Among them, the first end plate 141 is fixedly connected to the chassis 13. One end (upper end) of the side plate 143 in the height direction is connected to the first end plate 141, and the refrigerant detection sensor 4 is fixed to the plate surface of the side plate 143 close to the second refrigerant detection area 152. The second end plate 142 is connected to the other end (lower end) of the side plate 143 in the height direction, and is arranged opposite to the first end plate 141. The water pump 62 is fixed to the plate surface (lower plate surface) of the second end plate 142 away from the first end plate 141. The two flanges are respectively connected to the two ends in the width direction of the side plate 143, and are respectively connected to the two ends of the indoor heat exchanger 2 along the circumferential direction of the casing 1.

[0077] This is equivalent to dividing the heat exchanger connecting plate 14 into two layers, one layer is installed with the refrigerant detection sensor 4, and the other layer is installed with the water pump 62, which is conducive to saving space.

[0078] Of course, the heat exchanger connecting plate 14 is not limited to the above shape, for example, it can be a straight up and down shape.

[0079] In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the air conditioner may further include a water pan 61, which is disposed between the indoor heat exchanger 2 and the panel 12 and along the circumference of the indoor heat exchanger 2. A water pump 62 is connected to the water pan 61. A drain pipe 63 is connected to the water pump 62. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the drain pipe 63 extends through the side panel 11 and out of the casing 1 to drain condensed water from the water pan 61.

[0080] The panel 12 can be provided with an air intake, and the side panels with air outlets. As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the housing 1 can also be equipped with components such as a fan 72, a motor 71, a water tray 61, an electrical control box 8, and a guide ring 73. The fan 72 can be a centrifugal fan, and the motor 71, centrifugal fan, and guide ring 73 can be located within the space enclosed by the indoor heat exchanger 2. The electrical control box 8 can be fixed to the guide ring 73.

[0081] During pre-factory installation, the chassis 13 can be positioned at the bottom with the panel 12 at the top. During post-factory installation, the chassis 13 is positioned at the top with the panel 12 at the bottom, with air flowing downward. The refrigerant detection sensor 4 is located at the top of the first refrigerant detection area 151, the water collection pan 61 is located below the indoor heat exchanger 2, and the outlet of the drain pipe 63 is located above the two pipe joints 33. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the water collection pan 61 can collect condensed water dripping from the indoor heat exchanger 2, and the water pump 62 can pump the condensed water in the water collection pan 61 upward to the drain pipe 63 for discharge. The up and down directions in Figures 1 to 5 are based on the orientation of the completed factory assembly.

[0082] In summary, the air conditioner provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure can quickly detect refrigerant leakage in at least one of the inside and outside of the indoor unit casing, so that the air conditioner can issue a detection alarm in time to reduce the flammable and explosive risks caused by refrigerant leakage.

[0083] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms "upper", "lower", "one side", "the other side", "one end", "the other end", "side", "relative", "four corners", "periphery", ""mouth"-shaped structure", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the structure referred to has a specific orientation, is constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0084] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "connection", "direct connection", "indirect connection", "fixed connection", "installation", and "assembly" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integral connection. The terms "installation", "connection", and "fixed connection" can refer to direct connection, indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or internal communication between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this document can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0085] Although the embodiments disclosed in this disclosure are as described above, the contents described are merely embodiments adopted to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. It should be noted that the above embodiments or implementations are merely exemplary and not restrictive. Therefore, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the contents specifically shown and described herein. Various modifications, substitutions, or omissions may be made to the forms and details of the implementation without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising: a housing, a first refrigerant detection area is provided inside the housing, a second refrigerant detection area is provided outside the housing, and the first refrigerant detection area is communicated with the second refrigerant detection area; an indoor heat exchanger, which is arranged inside the housing, and the input port and the output port of the indoor heat exchanger are located in the first refrigerant detection area; a refrigerant input pipe and a refrigerant output pipe, which are respectively connected to the input port and the output port of the indoor heat exchanger, and piping connectors are provided at one ends far away from the indoor heat exchanger; the piping connectors penetrate through the housing and are configured to be connected to an indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipe located outside the housing, and the connection part of the piping connector and the indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipe is located in the second refrigerant detection area; a refrigerant detection sensor, and the refrigerant detection sensor is provided in at least one of the first refrigerant detection area and the second refrigerant detection area.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a sealing box, which is sleeved on the piping connector and the indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipe to seal the connection part of the piping connector and the indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipe in the sealing box, and the internal space of the sealing box forms the second refrigerant detection area; the sealing box is communicated with the first refrigerant detection area through a refrigerant diversion pipe, and the refrigerant diversion pipe penetrates through the housing.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein, The sealing box is provided with a first through hole, a second through hole and a third through hole, and the two piping connectors respectively penetrate through the first through hole and the second through hole, and the refrigerant diversion pipe penetrates through the third through hole, and the first through hole and the second through hole are located at one end of the sealing box close to the housing; The sealing box is provided with a fourth through hole and a fifth through hole at one end far away from the housing, and the two indoor and outdoor unit connecting pipes respectively penetrate through the fourth through hole and the fifth through hole.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein, The third through hole is also located at one end of the sealing box close to the housing and is located between the first through hole and the second through hole.

5. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, The sealing box includes a box body and a box cover, the box body is connected to the box cover and encloses the second refrigerant detection area.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein, One end of the box body is rotatably connected to one end of the box cover, and the other end of the box body is detachably connected to the other end of the box cover.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein, One end of the box body and one end of the box cover are of an integrally rotatable structure, and the other end of the box body and the other end of the box cover are detachably connected through a buckle and a first fastener.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein, The rotation axis of the box cover is parallel to the central axis of the piping connector, and one end of the box cover and the other end of the box cover are arranged oppositely along the arrangement direction of the two piping connectors; The middle part of the box cover is fixedly connected to the middle part of the box body through a second fastener, and the second fastener is located between the two piping connectors and locks the box cover and the box body along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the box cover.

9. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, The housing includes a piping pressing plate, the refrigerant diversion pipe and the piping connector penetrate through the piping pressing plate, and the inner diameter of the refrigerant diversion pipe is greater than or equal to 8 mm.

10. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The indoor heat exchanger is arranged along the circumferential direction of the housing, and both ends of the indoor heat exchanger in the circumferential direction of the housing are arranged at intervals. At least a part of the first refrigerant detection area is located between both ends of the indoor heat exchanger in the circumferential direction of the housing.

11. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The housing includes a chassis and a panel arranged oppositely, and side enclosing plates connected to the chassis and the panel. The indoor heat exchanger is fixedly connected to the chassis through a heat exchanger connecting plate. The refrigerant detection sensor is arranged in the first refrigerant detection area and fixed to the heat exchanger connecting plate. The air conditioner further includes a water pump arranged in the first refrigerant detection area. The water pump is fixed to the heat exchanger connecting plate, and the water pump and the refrigerant detection sensor are arranged along the height direction of the side enclosing plate.

12. The air conditioner according to claim 11, wherein, The heat exchanger connecting plate includes: A first end plate fixedly connected to the chassis; A side plate, one end in the height direction of the side plate is connected to the first end plate, and the refrigerant detection sensor is fixed to the plate surface of the side plate close to the second refrigerant detection area; A second end plate connected to the other end in the height direction of the side plate and arranged oppositely to the first end plate. The water pump is fixed to the plate surface of the second end plate away from the first end plate; Two flanges, respectively connected to both ends in the width direction of the side plate and respectively connected to both ends of the indoor heat exchanger in the circumferential direction of the housing.

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