This application is a U.S. national stage application of PCT/JP2015/075688 filed on Sep. 10, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an air conditioner.
PTL 1 discloses a horizontal blade of an air conditioner, in which recesses for holding dew condensation water are provided respectively on front and back surfaces of the horizontal blade.
[PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H10-246502
A blade provided in an air conditioner to control wind direction has a problem in that, when flow separates from the blade during operation, wind direction controllability declines. In addition, since air conditioners are often installed in a living space and a space in which service is provided, maintaining superior design thereof is an important issue.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioner capable of achieving both superior design and wind direction controllability.
In order to achieve the object described above, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes: a main body having an air outlet; a fan provided in the main body; a heat exchanger provided in the main body; and a first member rotatably supported on the main body and opening and closing the air outlet, wherein the first member includes a first casing having a first surface facing an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped and a second casing attached to the first casing; on the first casing, a recess is formed on the first surface and a protrusion protruding toward the second casing is formed, and the recess is positioned on an opposite side to the protrusion.
According to the present invention, both superior design and wind direction controllability can be achieved.
Hereinafter, embodiments of an air conditioner (an indoor unit) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that same reference signs in the drawings denote same or corresponding portions. In addition, existing products can be used as outdoor units.
Moreover,
As illustrated in
The main body 1 has a box shape and includes a back surface 1c opposing the wall 11a of the room 11, a front surface 1a on an opposite side to the back surface 1c, an upper surface 1b, a lower surface 1d, and a pair of left and right side surfaces 1e.
A grill-like suction port 2b for sucking indoor air into the air conditioner 100 is formed on the upper surface 1b that constitutes an upper part of the main body 1. In addition, a front grill 6 is attached to the front surface 1a, and a suction port 2a opens at a central part of the front grill 6 in a height direction of the main body. The suction port 2a extends in a lateral width direction of the front grill 6. An air guide wall 6a is provided on a downstream side of the suction port 2a. A front surface side of a flow passage on the downstream side of the suction port 2a is formed by a back surface of the front grill 6, and a back surface side of the flow passage on the downstream side of the suction port 2a is formed by the air guide wall 6a. The air guide wall 6a extends toward a back surface side from the front grill 6 above the suction port 2a and also extends downward.
An air outlet 3 for supplying conditioned air into a room is formed on the lower surface 1d that constitutes a lower part of the main body 1. More precisely, the air outlet 3 is formed so as to straddle an area between an area of a front part of the lower surface 1d and an area of a lower part of the front surface 1a. The lower part of the front surface 1a is a surface which faces the front in approximately the same manner as a central part and an upper part of the front surface 1a, which occupy a major portion of the front surface 1a, and the lower part of the front surface 1a is inclined slightly more downward than the central part and the upper part of the front surface 1a.
A cross-flow fan (an air blowing section) 8 having an impeller 8a and a guide wall 10 are arranged inside the main body 1. The cross-flow fan 8 is arranged between a suction-side air passage E1 and an outlet-side air passage E2, and sucks in air from the suction ports 2a and 2b and blows air to the air outlet 3. The guide wall 10 extends from behind to below the cross-flow fan 8 and guides air discharged from the cross-flow fan 8 to the air outlet 3.
In addition, inside the main body 1, a filter (a ventilation resistor) 5 that removes dust and the like in air sucked in from the suction ports 2a and 2b, a heat exchanger (a heat exchanging section, a ventilation resistor) 7 that transmits hot heat or cold heat of a refrigerant to air and generates air-conditioned air, and a stabilizer 9 that partitions the interior of the main body 1 into the suction-side air passage E1 and the outlet-side air passage E2 are also arranged.
The guide wall 10 constitutes the outlet-side air passage E2 together with a lower surface-side of the stabilizer 9. The guide wall 10 forms a spiral surface from the cross-flow fan 8 to the air outlet 3.
The filter 5 is, for example, mesh-patterned and removes dust and the like in the air that is sucked in from the suction ports 2a and 2b. The filter 5 is provided on a downstream side of the suction ports 2a and 2b and an upstream side of the heat exchanger 7 in an air passage from the suction ports 2a and 2b to the air outlet 3. In addition, the filter 5 extends from above to front of the heat exchanger 7.
The heat exchanger 7 (an indoor heat exchanger) functions as an evaporator to cool air during a cooling operation and functions as a condenser (a radiator) to heat air during a heating operation. The heat exchanger 7 is provided on a downstream side of the filter 5 and an upstream side of the cross-flow fan 8 in the air passage (a central part of the inside of the main body 1) from the suction ports 2a and 2b to the air outlet 3. Moreover, while the heat exchanger 7 is shaped in
The heat exchanger 7 constitutes a refrigerating cycle by being connected to an outdoor unit that may be in a known mode having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a diaphragm apparatus, and the like. In addition, for example, a cross fin-type fin and tube heat exchanger constituted by a heat transfer tube and a large number of fins is used as the heat exchanger 7.
The stabilizer 9 partitions the interior of the main body 1 into the suction-side air passage E1 and the outlet-side air passage E2 and is provided below the heat exchanger 7 as illustrated in
The stabilizer 9 includes a tongue section 9a that separates the suction-side air passage E1 and the outlet-side air passage E2 from each other, a drain pan 9b that temporarily stores water droplets dripped from the heat exchanger 7, and a diffuser 3a1 constituting an upper wall surface (a front surface-side wall surface) of an outlet air passage 3a of the air outlet 3.
The outlet air passage 3a is provided with a vertical wind direction vane 4a and a horizontal wind direction vane 4b. The horizontal wind direction vane 4b is rotatably provided between the vertical wind direction vane 4a and the cross-flow fan 8. The vertical wind direction vane 4a is for adjusting a vertical direction from among directions of air blown out from the cross-flow fan 8, and the horizontal wind direction vane 4b is for adjusting a horizontal direction from among the directions of air blown out from the cross-flow fan 8.
The vertical wind direction vane 4a includes a first blade 4a1 as a first member and a second blade 4a3 as a second member. The first blade 4a1 and the second blade 4a3 each have a separate drive source and are individually rotated. Specifically, the second blade 4a3 is rotatably supported on the main body by a rotary shaft that differs from a rotary shaft of the first blade 4a1.
While operation is stopped, the first blade 4a1 closes the area of the front part of the lower surface 1d in the air outlet 3 and constitutes an outer surface of an apparatus body. In other words, the first blade 4a1 doubles as a wind direction control section and a main-body outer-housing design section. An upper surface (an air passage-side surface) of the first blade 4a1 while operation is stopped is formed in a protruding surface shape.
While operation is stopped, the second blade 4a3 closes the area of the lower part of the front surface 1a in the air outlet 3 and constitutes an outer surface of the apparatus body. In other words, the second blade 4a3 also doubles as a wind direction control section and a main-body outer-housing design section.
Next, details of the first blade 4a1 will be described.
The first blade 4a1 includes a first casing 4a1U and a second casing 4a1L. An outer surface of the first casing 4a1U includes a first surface 52a and an outer surface of the second casing 4a1L includes a second surface 51a. The first surface 52a is a surface that faces an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped and the second surface 51a constitutes a part of the outer surface of the main body (a part of a design surface of the main body) while operation is stopped. A hollow region 53 is formed between an inner surface 52b of the first casing 4a1U and an inner surface 51b of the second casing 4a1L. A plurality of protrusions 41 are provided on the inner surface 52b of the first casing 4a1U. Recesses 42 are provided on the first surface 52a of the first casing 4a1U. The recesses 42 are positioned on opposite sides to the protrusions 41 in an inward-outward direction of the first casing 4a1U.
The first blade 4a1 is formed in a wing shape with a blade chord length of Lf. The first blade 4a1 has an inlet end 40a that is a front edge and an outlet end 40b that is a rear edge. For example, the inlet end 40a and the outlet end 40b are both provided on the second casing 4a1L. The first blade 4a1 has a pair of fitting lines 43 that constitutes a boundary between the second casing 4a1L and the first casing 4a1U. The pair of fitting lines 43 is positioned further toward a side of the first surface 52a than a blade chord as viewed in a cross section shown in
The first blade 4a1 has a hollow integrated structure in which the second casing 4a1L and the first casing 4a1U are fitted, bonded, or welded to each other at the fitting lines 43. In addition, the first blade 4a1 has a shape that tapers toward each of the inlet end 40a and the outlet end 40b.
Each of the protrusions 41 is a reinforcement rib extending in a front-back direction of the paper surface of
In addition, the plurality of protrusions 41 are arranged in a blade chord direction at intervals and in the blade chord direction as viewed in the cross section shown in
Each of the plurality of recesses 42 is arranged at a position corresponding to a root section 41a of a corresponding protrusion 41.
The air conditioner according to the present first embodiment configured as described above attains the following advantages. First, a blade provided in an air conditioner to control wind direction has a problem in that, when flow separates from the blade during operation, wind direction controllability declines. Therefore, the blade that controls wind direction may be configured so as to have a certain thickness and a curve to which flow readily conforms. Furthermore, since the blade that controls wind direction moves frequently during operation, weight reduction is favorably achieved while retaining a thick configuration. In addition, since air conditioners are often installed in a living space and a space in which service is provided, maintaining superior design is an important issue. In consideration of the above, from the perspective of preventing separation, by providing recesses over an entire blade that controls wind direction, generation of negative pressure by the recesses can be expected, thereby reducing occurrences of separation and preventing a decline in wind direction controllability. In addition, from the perspective of thickly forming the blade that controls wind direction and reducing weight of the blade, making the blade hollow allows both prevention of separation due to securing thickness and a reduction in weight to be achieved.
However, providing recesses over the entire blade that controls wind direction may make the recesses provided on a surface constituting an outer surface of the main body visible to a user while operation is stopped and may impair superior design. In consideration thereof, in the present first embodiment, the blade that controls wind direction is provided with recesses only on a surface that faces an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped. Accordingly, both superior design and favorable wind direction controllability can be achieved. In addition, since providing recesses on a blade having a hollow structure causes a reduction in strength, problems of vibration and noise of the blade may arise due to pressure of outlet air and a drive force for changing attitude acting on the blade. In consideration thereof, in the present first embodiment, protrusions are provided in an inner part of the blade having a hollow structure and, at the same time, recesses provided only on a surface that faces an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped are arranged on an opposite side to root sections of the protrusions. Accordingly, with securing thickness, weight reduction, suppression of reduction in strength, prevention of decline in design superiority, and the like being able to be realized at the same time, suppression of vibration and noise, securing of wind direction controllability, and prevention of decline in design superiority can all be achieved.
In addition, the first blade is constituted by the second casing and the first casing to obtain a hollow structure without incurring excessive cost in the present first embodiment, and the pair of fitting lines is positioned further toward a side of the first surface than the blade chord. In other words, since the fitting lines are not visible from the outer side of the main body while operation of the air conditioner is stopped, design superiority is further improved. Furthermore, even in an unlikely event that dew condensation occurs on a side of the first surface of the first casing of the first blade, since water is held at the fitting lines, prevention of water dripping can be expected.
In the present first embodiment, since protrusions are provided not on the second casing but on the first casing, the protrusions not only contribute to securing strength of the hollow structure but are also capable of suppressing thermal deformation of the first casing that is exposed to temperature variation between heating and cooling.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
In the first embodiment described above, the protrusions 41 and the recesses 42 linearly extend parallel to the direction in which the rotary shaft 3c1 of the first blade 4a1 extends. In contrast, in the present second embodiment, protrusions 141 and recesses 142 of a first blade 104a1 extend so as to be inclined with respect to a direction in which the rotary shaft 3c1 extends as viewed in
In the present second embodiment as well, advantages similar to those of the first embodiment described above are attained. In addition, in the present second embodiment, since the recesses consecutively zigzag with respect to the rotary shaft in the direction in which the rotary shaft extends, even when there is a difference in wind velocity in the rotary shaft direction, flow is diffused by the recesses and wind velocity is uniformized, thereby making separation less likely to occur. Furthermore, due to the flow conforming to the first surface of the first casing, ingress of cool air to the first surface attributable to a separation vortex can be suppressed, dew condensation can be prevented, and a high-quality air conditioner can be obtained.
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
In the present third embodiment, a second blade 204a3 that is a second member is configured in a similar manner to the first blade 4a1 or 104a1. Specifically, the second blade 204a3 includes a first casing and a second casing, an outer surface of the first casing of the second blade 204a3 includes a first surface, and an outer surface of the second casing of the second blade 204a3 includes a second surface. The first surface of the second blade 204a3 is a surface that faces an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped and the second surface of the second blade 204a3 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the main body (a part of a design surface of the main body) while operation is stopped. A hollow region is formed between an inner surface of the first casing of the second blade 204a3 and an inner surface of the second casing of the second blade 204a3. Protrusions are provided on the inner surface of the first casing of the second blade 204a3 and recesses are provided on the first surface of the second blade 204a3. The recesses of the second blade 204a3 are positioned on an opposite side to the protrusions in an inward-outward direction of the first casing of the second blade 204a3. The recesses may extend in the direction, in which the rotary shaft 3c1 extends, in a similar manner to the first blade 4a1 or may extend so as to consecutively zigzag with respect to the rotary shaft 3c1 in the direction, in which the rotary shaft 3c1 extends, in a similar manner to the first blade 104a1.
In the present third embodiment as well, advantages similar to those of the first embodiment or the second embodiment described above are attained. In addition, since the first blade 4a1, 104a1 and the second blade 204a3 are all configured as described above in the present third embodiment, advantages of the first or second embodiment described above are attained in a more prominent manner.
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
The present fourth embodiment further includes a third blade 4a4 that is a third member and a fourth blade 4a5 that is a fourth member. The third blade 4a4 is configured in a similar manner to the first blade 4a1 or 104a1 and the fourth blade 4a5 is configured in a similar manner to the second blade 4a3 or 204a3. The third blade 4a4 is arranged side by side with the first blade 4a1 or 104a1 in a direction in which the rotary shaft of the first blade 4a1 or 104a1 extends, and the third blade 4a4 is rotatably supported by the main body and opens and closes the air outlet. The fourth blade 4a5 is arranged side by side with the second blade 4a3 or 204a3 in a direction in which the rotary shaft of the second blade 4a3 or 204a3a extends, and the fourth blade 4a5 is rotatably supported by the main body and opens and closes the air outlet. In other words, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, or the third embodiment described above, the air conditioner according to the present fourth embodiment includes the third blade 4a4 which is rotatably supported by the main body and which opens and closes the air outlet. The third blade 4a4 includes a first casing and a second casing. An outer surface of the first casing of the third blade 4a4 includes a first surface and an outer surface of the second casing of the third blade 4a4 includes a second surface. The first surface of the third blade 4a4 is a surface that faces an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped and the second surface of the third blade 4a4 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the main body (a part of a design surface of the main body) while operation is stopped. A hollow region is formed between an inner surface of the first casing of the third blade 4a4 and an inner surface of the second casing of the third blade 4a4. Protrusions are provided on the inner surface of the first casing of the third blade 4a4 and recesses are provided on the first surface of the third blade 4a4. The recesses of the third blade 4a4 are positioned on an opposite side to the protrusions in an inward-outward direction of the first casing of the third blade 4a4. The air conditioner according to the present fourth embodiment further includes the fourth blade 4a5 which is rotatably supported by the main body and which opens and closes the air outlet. The fourth blade 4a5 includes a first casing and a second casing. An outer surface of the second casing of the fourth blade 4a5 includes a second surface and an outer surface of the first casing of the fourth blade 4a5 includes a first surface. The first surface of the fourth blade 4a5 is a surface that faces an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped and the second surface of the fourth blade 4a5 constitutes a part of the outer surface of the main body (a part of a design surface of the main body) while operation is stopped. A hollow region is formed between an inner surface of the second casing of the fourth blade 4a5 and an inner surface of the first casing of the fourth blade 4a5. Protrusions are provided on the inner surface of the first casing of the fourth blade 4a5 and recesses are provided on the first surface of the fourth blade 4a5. The recesses of the fourth blade 4a5 are positioned on an opposite side to the protrusions in an inward-outward direction of the first casing of the fourth blade 4a5. The third blade 4a4 is arranged side by side with the first blade 4a1 or 104a1 in a direction in which the rotary shaft 3c1 of the first blade 4a1 or 104a1 extends, and the fourth blade 4a5 is arranged side by side with the second blade 4a3 or 204a3 in a direction in which the rotary shaft 3c3 of the second blade 4a3 or 204a3 extends.
In the present fourth embodiment as well, advantages similar to those of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, or the third embodiment described above are attained. In addition, in the present fourth embodiment, since wind direction plates of the hollow structure are divided to the left and right, dew condensation does not occur during cooling even when a wind direction angle is increased and a vertical wind direction angle can be increased. Furthermore, a wind direction angle can also be increased during heating, air conditioning of a floor surface and air conditioning of an upper region of a room can be performed at the same time, and comfortability can be improved.
Although a mode including the first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member has been exemplified in the specific description of the fourth embodiment above, the present fourth embodiment is not limited thereto and may be implemented as a mode including only the first member, the second member, and the third member, a mode including only the first member, the second member, and the fourth member, or a mode including only the first member and the third member, among the first member, the second member, the third member, and the fourth member.
While contents of the present invention have been described specifically with reference to preferred embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art to implement various changes and modifications on the basis of basic technical concepts and teachings of the present invention.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2015/075688 | 9/10/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2017/042926 | 3/16/2017 | WO | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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203375632 | Jan 2014 | CN |
203533819 | Apr 2014 | CN |
104566893 | Apr 2015 | CN |
2 813 777 | Dec 2014 | EP |
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S64-041838 | Mar 1989 | JP |
H01-063923 | Apr 1989 | JP |
H10-246502 | Sep 1998 | JP |
H10246502 | Sep 1998 | JP |
H11-037536 | Feb 1999 | JP |
2000-205639 | Jul 2000 | JP |
2003-21387 | Jan 2003 | JP |
2003-139379 | May 2003 | JP |
2005-121306 | May 2005 | JP |
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2007-132578 | May 2007 | JP |
2007132578 | May 2007 | JP |
2009-014289 | Jan 2009 | JP |
2009014289 | Jan 2009 | JP |
2013-164218 | Aug 2013 | JP |
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2007012163 | Feb 2007 | WO |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180156491 A1 | Jun 2018 | US |