AIR CONDITIONING INDOOR UNIT

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air conditioning indoor unit.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, wall-mounted air conditioning indoor units have been required to blow out conditioned air more widely in the right and left direction from the air outlet because the position where the air outlet can be disposed is limited in comparison to ceiling-suspended air conditioners.

For example, the air conditioner described in patent document 1 (JP-A No. S62-10553) employs a structure where, focusing on the point that the right and left side walls of the air outlet obstruct the conditioned air from being blown out more widely in the right and left direction, the right and left side walls of the air outlet are curved in such a way that the right and left direction width of the air outlet expands in the direction in which the conditioned air is blown out. This air conditioner employing a shape in which the right and left side walls of the air outlet are expanded keeps the flow of air toward the right and left side walls of the air outlet from colliding with the right and left side walls and makes it possible to spread the conditioned air in the right and left direction in a state in which the air conditioner blows out the conditioned air broadly in the right and left direction. Furthermore, because the side wall sections with the expanded width in the right and left direction employ surfaces that are formed so as to curve gently in the right and left direction, the Coanda effect is obtained so that the outflow of the conditioned air can be made to follow the curved surfaces and can be further spread in the right and left direction. Thus, the air conditioner can blow out the conditioned air more widely in the right and left direction.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem

In the air conditioner described in patent document 1, wide spaces are ensured. between the right and left side walls of the air outlet and the vertical flaps, so even in a state in which the air conditioner blows out the conditioned air broadly in the right and left direction, the flows of the conditioned air passing between the vertical flaps and the right and left side walls maintain a fast air speed. These flows of the conditioned air are difficult to abruptly bend in the right and left direction because of their fast air speed. For this reason, in order to utilize the Coanda effect to gradually spread the flows of the conditioned air with the fast air speed in the right and left direction, the air conditioner employs a curved shape that is formed so as to gradually spread in the right and left direction toward the room side (the traveling direction in a case where the air flows are allowed to travel straightly). This curved shape is a shape extended long toward the room side in order to ensure as long of a length (a length with which the Coanda effect can be obtained) as possible for the air flows to flow along the surfaces.

However, in a case where the air conditioner employs a shape in which the right and left side walls of the air outlet are extended tong toward the room side in this way, the device ends up increasing in size.

The present invention has been made in view of the point described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning indoor unit that can deliver a flow of outlet air more widely in aright and left direction without increasing the size of the device.

Solution to Problem

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a first aspect is a wall-mounted air conditioning indoor unit comprising a casing and an air flow direction adjustment unit. The casing has an outlet air passage for conditioned air. The air flow direction adjustment unit is placed in the neighborhood of an exit of the outlet air passage and has plural air flow direction guide blades that adjust the direction of air flow. The plural air flow direction guide blades are positioned between right and left side walls of the outlet air passage. The air flow direction guide blade positioned closest to a predetermined side wall that is either side wall of the right and left side walls has, in a state in which it is postured closer to the predetermined side wall the further it is on a downstream side of an air flow of the conditioned air, a section in which a gap between a first section that is part of an end portion on the downstream side and the predetermined side wall is equal to or less than 10 mm and in which gap between second section that is outside the first section of the end portion on the downstream side and the predetermined side wall is greater than 10 mm.

Here, the “state in which it is postured closer to the predetermined side wall the further it is on a downstream side of an air flow of the conditioned air” may be a state in which the air flow direction guide blade is structurally closest to the predetermined side wall because of regulating means such as stoppers or may be a state in which the air flow direction guide blade is closest to the predetermined side wall in a case where the state of inclination of the air flow direction guide blade is controlled.

Furthermore, the state in which “the gap between the first section and the predetermined side wall is equal to or less than 10 mm” is not particularly limited provided that the distance of closest approach between the first section and the predetermined side wall is equal to or less than 10 mm and may include, for example, a state in which the first section and the predetermined side wall are in contact with one another, a state in which the distance of closest approach is equal to or less than 8 mm, a state in which the distance of closest approach is equal to or less than 5 mm, a state in which the distance of closest approach is equal to or less than 4 mm, and a state in which the first section and the predetermined side wall are in contact with one another.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, it is difficult for the conditioned air that is blown out to pass through the section in which the gap between the predetermined side wall and the first section of the air flow direction guide blade is equal to or less than 10 mm, and the conditioned air mainly passes through the sections in which the gaps between the air flow direction guide blade and the predetermined side wall is greater than 10 mm. For this reason, when the conditioned air that is blown out passes between the predetermined side wall and the air flow direction guide blade, it is difficult for the phenomenon of the “flow speed being sped up as a result of the conditioned air passing through the section in which the gap between the first section of the air flow direction guide blade and the predetermined side wall is narrowly firmed equal to or less than 10 mm” to occur. Rather, the conditioned air to be blown out avoids the section in which the gap between the first section of the air flow direction guide blade and the predetermined side wall is narrowly formed equal to or less than 10 mm and passes between the second sections and the predetermined side wail, whereby the flow volume of the conditioned air passing through the section between the first section and the predetermined side wall is kept low. Because of this, the air flow that has passed through the gap between the predetermined side wall and the first section of the air flow direction guide blade has its air speed kept low. For this reason, the flows of the conditioned air trying to spread in the right and left direction and formed by the air flow direction guide blades positioned inside the air flow direction guide blades positioned on the right and left direction end portions of the plural air flow direction guide blades are more difficult to be affected by the air flow that has passed through the gap between the predetermined side wall and the first section of the air flow direction guide blade, and the extent to which the spread in the right and left direction is blocked is kept small. Because of this, the conditioned air can be delivered widely in the right and left direction even without employing a shape in which the right and left side walls of the air outlet are extended long on the room side (the traveling direction in a case where the air flow is allowed to travel straightly) like conventionally, and an increase in the size of the device can be avoided. Moreover, because the gaps between the predetermined side wall and the second sections of the air flow direction guide blade are widely formed greater than 10 mm near the narrow section in which the gap between the predetermined side wall and the first section of the air flow direction guide blade is equal to or less than 10 mm in this way, the conditioned air is guided to these wide sections and pressure loss of the conditioned air passing between the predetermined side wall and the air flow direction guide blade can be controlled.

Thus, the conditioned air can be delivered more widely in the right and left direction while keeping the pressure loss of the conditioned air that is blown out low.

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a second aspect is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the first aspect, wherein the gap between the first section of the air flow direction guide blade and the predetermined side wall is equal to or less than 10 mm in a center section, or a neighboring section thereof, between a frontside edge and a backside edge of the exit of the outlet air passage. The “center section, or a neighboring section thereof” may be just the center section, or may be just a neighboring section of the center section, or may include both the center section and a neighboring section thereof. For example, the first section of the air flow direction guide blade may be any of just the central section, just a neighboring section of the central section, and both the central section and a neighboring section thereof, and it may be a width section less than 50% of the distance between the frontside edge and the backside edge of the exit of the outlet air passage, and it may be any of less than 40%, less than 30%, less than 20%, and less than 10%.

In air conditioning indoor units, the air speed of the conditioned air flowing through the vicinity of the center of the air outlet is faster, as a result of there being no friction, than the air speed of the conditioned air flowing through the sections along the wall surfaces.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, a narrow gap equal to or less than 10 mm between the first section of the air flow direction guide blade and the predetermined side wall is employed in the center section of the air outlet in this way. For this reason, the air speed of the conditioned air in the central vicinity of the air outlet can be effectively reduced. Because of this, the flows of the conditioned air trying to spread in the right and left direction and formed by the air flow direction guide blades positioned further inside among the air flow direction guide blades can be kept from being obstructed by the air flow traveling straightly at a fast air speed and which has passed through the gap between the predetermined side wall and the first section of the air flow direction guide blade. Because of this, the extent to which the spread in the right and left direction is blocked can be more effectively kept small and the spread of the conditioned air in the right and left direction can be more reliably ensured.

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a third aspect is the air conditioning indoor unit according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the plural air flow direction guide blades include long blades positioned on both ends in a right and left direction and short blades whose sections followed by the air flow are shorter in length than the long blades.

Here, the air conditioning indoor unit is not limited to a case where just the air flow direction guide blade on the left end and the air flow direction guide blade on the right end are long blades. For example, long blades may also be disposed between the air flow direction guide blade on the left end and the short blades and/or between the air flow direction guide blade on the right end and the short blades. Furthermore, air flow direction guide blades of an intermediate size between the long blades and the short blades may also be disposed between the air flow direction guide blade on the left end and the short blades and/or between the air flow direction guide blade on the right end and the short blades.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, the long blades whose sections followed by the air flow are longer in length than the short blades disposed inside are disposed on both ends in the right and left direction. For this reason, in a case where an air flow direction guide blade is disposed in such a way that it can make the gap between it and the predetermined side wall equal to or less than 10 mm, the total number of blades can be kept small in comparison to a case where all of the air flow direction guide blades are unified by the length of the short blades. Because of this, the total value of the pressure loss resulting from all of the air flow direction guide blades can also be kept low.

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a fourth aspect is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to any of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the casing has protruding curved surfaces with shapes that spread right and left from the neighborhood of the exit of the outlet air passage and gently protrude in a main flow direction of the air flow. The main flow direction is a main flow of the air flow arising in a case where air flow direction adjustment is not performed on the air flow arising along the outlet air passage.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, the flows of the conditioned air trying to spread in the right and left direction and formed by the air flow direction guide blades positioned further inside among the air flow direction guide blades can be spread even more in the right and left direction by the Coanda effect caused by the protruding curved surfaces.

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a fifth aspect is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the fourth aspect, wherein a protruding height of the protruding curved surfaces in the main flow direction of the air flow is equal to or less than half of a thickness between the right and left side walls of the outlet air passage and right and left side surfaces of the casing. The thickness between the right and left side walls of the outlet air passages and the right and left side surfaces of the casing here may be the thickness in the neighborhood of the exit of the outlet air passage, for example. Furthermore, the protruding height of the protruding curved surfaces is preferably equal to or less than 20 mm and more preferably equal to or less than 10 mm, for example.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, the protruding height is kept low, so the air on the room side can be kept from flowing in toward the right and left side walls of the air outlet.

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a sixth aspect is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect, wherein the predetermined side wall and the protruding curved surface are gently continuous with a larger degree of curvature than the degree of curvature of the protruding curved surface. Here, having a large degree of curvature includes having a small radius of curvature, for example.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, the predetermined side wall and the protruding curved surface are gently continuous, so it becomes difficult for the flow of the conditioned air to separate from the surface of the casing and the Coanda effect can be more reliably obtained. Furthermore, the degree of curvature of the section in which the predetermined side wall and the protruding curved surface are continuous is a larger degree of curvature than the degree of curvature of the protruding curved surface, so the exit of the outlet air passage can be sufficiently widened in the right and left direction. Because of this, the conditioned air can be supplied even more widely in the right and left direction while keeping the flow of the conditioned air from coming away from the protruding curved surface.

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a seventh aspect is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to any of the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect, further comprising ribs that project from the protruding curved surfaces and extend in the right and left direction.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, the conditioned air flowing out from the outlet air passage can be more reliably guided in the right and left direction.

An air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to an eighth aspect is the air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to any of the first aspect to the seventh aspect, further comprising guide plates that are placed on the downstream side of the exit of the outlet air passage, change the direction of flows along the right and left side walls of the outlet air passage, and guide the flows right and left.

In this air conditioning indoor unit, the conditioned air flowing out from the outlet air passage has its traveling direction forcibly adjusted by the guide plates so as to spread more in the right and left direction, so the conditioned air can be more reliably guided in the right and left direction.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the first aspect can deliver the conditioned air more widely in the right and left direction while keeping the pressure loss of the conditioned air that is blown out low.

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the second aspect can more reliably ensure the spread of the conditioned air in the right and left direction.

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the third aspect can keep the total number of the air flow direction guide blades small.

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the fourth aspect can spread the direction in which the conditioned air is supplied even more in the right and left direction.

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the fifth aspect can keep the air on the room side from flowing in toward the right and left side walls of the air outlet.

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the sixth aspect can supply the conditioned air even more widely in the right and left direction while keeping the flow of the conditioned air from coming away from the protruding curved surfaces.

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the seventh aspect can more reliably guide, in the right and left direction, the conditioned air flowing out from the outlet air passage.

The air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to the eighth aspect can more reliably guide the conditioned air in the right and left direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus pertaining to an embodiment.

FIG 2 is a schematic external perspective view of the neighborhood of an outlet air passage of an air conditioning indoor unit, as seen obliquely from below and from the front, in a state in which a horizontal flap has been removed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic external perspective view of the neighborhood of the outlet air passage of the air conditioning indoor unit, as seen from below and from the front, in a state in which the horizontal flap has been removed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the neighborhood of the outlet air passage of the air conditioning indoor unit as seen from a side surface side.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the an conditioning indoor unit as seen. from the direction of an axis of rotation of air flow direction guide blades.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view, as seen from above, of the air conditioning indoor unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view, as seen from above, of an air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to another embodiment (5-1).

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view, as seen from above, of an air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to another embodiment (5-2).

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view, as seen from the direction of the axis of rotation of the air flow direction guide blades, of an air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to another embodiment (5-3).

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view, as seen from above, of an air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to another embodiment (5-4).

FIG. 11 is a schematic external perspective view of the neighborhood of the outlet air passage of an air conditioning indoor unit, as seen obliquely from below and from the front pertaining to another embodiment (5-5).

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view, as seen from above, of a conventional air conditioning indoor unit in which the air flow direction guide blades are positioned on a downstream side.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view, as seen from above, of another conventional air conditioning indoor unit in which the air flow direction guide blades are positioned on an upstream side.

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view as seen from the direction of the axis of rotation of the air flow direction guide blades of an air conditioning indoor unit pertaining to a reference example.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An air conditioning apparatus 1 serving as an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioning apparatus 1.

(1) Schematic Configuration of Air Conditioning Apparatus 1

The air conditioning apparatus 1 has an air conditioning outdoor unit 2 serving as a heat source-side unit and an air conditioning indoor unit 4 serving as a utilization-side unit that are interconnected by refrigerant pipes, and the air conditioning apparatus 1 performs air conditioning of the space M which the utilization-side unit is placed. The air conditioning apparatus 1 has the refrigerant circuit 10, various types of sensors, and a control unit 70.

The refrigerant circuit 10 is equipped with a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, an outdoor electromagnetic expansion valve 24, an accumulator 25, outdoor fans 26, an indoor heat exchanger 41, and an indoor fan 42, and the refrigerant circuit 10 is configured as a result of these being interconnected. The compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 22, the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the outdoor electromagnetic expansion valve 24, the accumulator 25, and the outdoor fans 26 are housed inside the air conditioning outdoor unit 2, and the indoor heat exchanger 41 and the indoor fan 42 are housed inside the air conditioning indoor unit 4. Propeller fans are employed for the outdoor fans 26. A cross-flow fan is employed for the indoor fan 42. The details of the air conditioning indoor unit 4 will be described later.

The four-way switching valve 22 can switch between a cooling operation cycle and a heating operation cycle. In FIG. 1, the state of connection when performing the cooling operation is indicated by solid lines and the state of connection when performing the heating operation is indicated by dashed lines. During the heating operation, the indoor heat exchanger 41 functions as a refrigerant cooler and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a refrigerant heater. During the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a refrigerant cooler and the indoor heat exchanger 41 functions as a refrigerant heater.

The control unit 70 is configured as a result of an outdoor control unit 72 that controls the devices and instruments placed inside the air conditioning outdoor unit 2, an indoor control unit 74 that controls the devices and instruments placed inside the air conditioning indoor unit 4, a controller 71 that accepts the input of various types of settings from the user and outputs various types of displays, and the various types of sensors being interconnected by a communication line 70a. The control unit 70 performs various types of control of the air conditioning apparatus 1.

The control unit 70 accepts settings for various types of operations from the user via the controller 71 and performs various types of control.

(2) Details of Air Conditioning Indoor Unit 4

FIG. 2 is a schematic external perspective view of the air conditioning indoor unit 4, as seen obliquely from below and from the front, in a state in which a horizontal flap 45 has been removed. FIG. 3 is a schematic external perspective view of the air conditioning indoor 4 unit, as seen from below and from the front, in a state in which the horizontal flap 45 has been removed. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit 4 as seen from a side surface side. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit 4 as seen from the direction of an axis of rotation of air flow direction guide blades. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air conditioning indoor unit as seen from above (in FIG. 6, illustration of the horizontal flap 45 is omitted).

The air conditioning indoor unit 4 has, in addition to the indoor heat exchanger 41 and the indoor fan 42 described above, a body casing 5, outside vertical flaps 61, and inside vertical flaps 62.

(2-1) Body Casing 5

The body casing 5 has a front panel 5a that covers the front side, an undersurface panel 5b that covers the undersurface side, curved surface portions 80 that are disposed on the right and left sides of an air outlet, and an outlet air passage 8 that is surrounded and formed by these.

The lower side of the front panel 5a slopes and extends toward the back surface side and configures the upper edge of the air outlet of the outlet air passage 8.

The undersurface panel 5b is a panel that is wide in the substantial horizontal direction, and the front edge portion thereof configures the lower edge of the outlet air passage 8.

The outlet air passage 8 has the air outlet, which opens obliquely downward toward. the front side between the undersurface panel 5b and the front panel 5a of the body casing 5. As shown in FIG. 4, an outlet air passage back surface 8a. that configures the back surface of the outlet air passage 8 extends from the frontside edge portion of the undersurface panel 5b while extending toward the back surface side heading upward and curving in such a way as to become convex on the back surface lower side. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, an outlet air passage front surface 8b that configures the front surface of the outlet air passage 8 extends from the lower end edge portion of the front panel 5a while extending toward the back surface side heading upward and curving in such a way as to become convex on the back surface lower side.

The curved surface portions 80 are disposed on the right and left sides of the air outlet, which is the exit of the outlet air passage 8, and extend in such a way as to join the lower end edge portion of the front panel 5a. and the front end edge portion of the undersurface panel 5b. As shown in FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view cut by a plane extending in the right and left direction and in the depth direction of the outlet air passage 8, each curved surface portion 80 has a protruding curved surface 85 (part of which is indicated by along dashed. double-short dashed line in FIG. 5) configured to protrude toward the room side. Furthermore, the protruding curved surfaces 85 configure the right and left direction center sections of the curved surface portions 80 and are configured in such a way that their protruding apexes form continuous lines running from the lower end edge portion of the front panel 5a toward the front edge portion of the undersurface panel 5b. As for the extent to which the protruding curved surfaces 85 are curved, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the protruding curved surfaces 85 are formed in such a way that their radius of curvature R1 is approximately 100 mm. The protruding curved surfaces 85 are formed in such a way that their protruding height h1 (their width in a main flow direction when the conditioned air travels straightly without its air flow direction being adjusted) is equal to or less than half of a thickness h2 between first side walls 87 in the neighborhood of the exit of the outlet air passage 8 and side surface portions 5c of the body casing 5. The protruding height h1 is preferably equal to or less than 30% of the thickness 112 and, for example, is more (preferably equal to or less than 20 min and most preferably equal to or less than 10 mm. Furthermore, electrical parts and structural parts are placed very close to the surfaces on the backsides of the protruding curved surfaces 85 (the inside of the body casing 5).

The curved surface portions 80 have outside curved surfaces 84 that gently join the right and left direction outsides of the protruding curved surfaces 85 and the side surface portions 5c of the body casing 5. Furthermore, the curved surface portions 80 have inside curved surfaces 86 that gently join the right and left direction insides of the protruding curved surfaces 85 and the first side walls 87 configuring the side walls in the neighborhood of the exit of the outlet air passage 8. The inside curved surfaces 86 are formed in such a way that their radius of curvature R2 is smaller than the radius of curvature R1 of the protruding curved surfaces 85.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5, guide ribs 81, 82, and 83 that are perpendicular to the curved surface portions 80 and extend in the right and left direction are formed on the curved surface portions 80 on the right and left direction outer sides thereof. The guide ribs 81, 82, and 83 are formed in such a way as to extend parallel to one another from the right and left direction central neighborhoods of the curved surface portions 80 to vicinities just short of the outside curved surfaces 84. Furthermore, the guide ribs 81, 82, and 83 are placed at equidistant intervals in the front and back direction.

The first side walls 87 in the neighborhood of the exit of the outlet air passage 8 extend toward the upstream side of the outlet air passage 8 and thereafter become continuous, via step sections 88 rising inward in the right and left direction by a slight width (a width denoted by “d2” in FIG. 5), with second side walls 89 extending toward the upstream side of the outlet air passage 8. In this way, the side walls of the outlet air passage 8 are mainly configured by the first side walls 87 in the neighborhood of the exit and the second side walls 89 that extend in such a way as to exist in a substantially plane-parallel relationship with the first side walls 87 on the upstream side of the first side walls 87. Although it is not shown in the drawings, the first side walls 87 and the second side walls 89 on the right and left sides of the outlet air passage 8 are disposed in such a way as to have shapes that are symmetrical to one another. The air outlet, which is the exit of the outlet air passage 8, can be taken as a plane in which the downwind-side end portions of the right and left first side walls 87 are joined together.

The indoor fan 42, which is a cross-flow fan, is placed inside the body casing 5 on the upstream side of the outlet air passage 8, and an air flow is formed in the outlet air passage 8 as a result of the indoor fan 42 being driven and controlled by the control unit 70. Here, the outlet air volume can be adjusted in six stages; specifically, the outlet air volume can be selected by the user in the range of an air speed of 3 to 6 m/s if the indoor fan 42 is a low-capacity fan (or an air speed of 5 to 8 m/s if the indoor fan 42 is a high-capacity fan) in a state in which the horizontal flap 45, the outside perpendicular flaps 61, and the inside perpendicular flaps 62 are postured so as to create the least air flow resistance.

(2-2) Horizontal Flap 45

The horizontal flap 45 has its posture changed by a non-illustrated horizontal flap drive mechanism so that the horizontal flap 45 can change the traveling direction of the flow of the outlet air up and down. The control of the posture of the horizontal flap 45 is performed by the control unit 70 that has received the user settings. The horizontal flap 45 is formed curved in such a way that, in the state shown in FIG. 4, its surface on the air flow downstream side (the surface facing the room side) becomes slightly convex on the room side.

The horizontal flap 45 covers the air outlet, which is the exit of the outlet air passage 8, as shown in FIG. 4 in a state in which the air conditioning indoor unit 4 is shut down. In this state, the front edge portion of the horizontal flap 45 is substantially even with, is generally in contact with, and is gently continuous with the lower edge of the front panel 5a as seen from the side. The edge portion on the backside of the horizontal flap 45 is gently continuous with, while maintaining a slight gap between itself and, the frontside edge portion of the undersurface panel 5b as seen from the side.

(2-3) Outside Vertical Flaps 61 and Inside Vertical Flaps 62

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the outside vertical flap 61 is the vertical flap placed closest to the first side wall 87 and the second side wall 89 that are the right side surface of the outlet air passage 8. The outside vertical flap 61 is rotatably supported by a shaft member 61x whose lengthwise direction is along an oblique front and back direction (a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction (the main flow direction)). Although it is not shown in the drawings, an outside vertical flap 61 is also similarly placed closest to the first side wall 87 and the second side wall 89 that are the left side surface of the outlet air passage 8.

The inside vertical flaps 62 are plurally placed between the right-side outside vertical flap 61 and the left-side outside vertical flap 61. The inside vertical flaps 62 are rotatably supported by shaft members 62x whose lengthwise direction is along an oblique front and back direction.

The outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 are placed in such a way that the intervals between adjacent flaps in the right and left direction are all equal in a state in which the flaps are postured to allow the conditioned air to be blown out straightly into the room without adjusting the air flow direction (a state in which each of the outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 are substantially plane-parallel to the first side walls 87 and the second side walls 89 of the outlet air passage 8).

As shown in FIG. 2, the outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 are formed in such a way that central sections 61 a between the outlet air passage back surface 8a and the outlet air passage front surface 8b of the outlet air passage 8 extend the longest as far as the downwind side in a plane perpendicular to the air flow direction (the main flow direction) inside the outlet air passage 8. Upper sections 61b that are on the outlet air passage front surface 8b side of the central sections 61a of the downwind-side edges of the outside vertical flaps 61 are formed shorter so as to be positioned on the air flow direction upstream side of the central sections 61a. Lower sections 61c that are on the outlet air passage back surface 8a side of the central sections 61a of the downwind-side edges of the outside vertical flaps 61 are also similarly formed shorter so as to be positioned on the air flow direction upstream side of the central sections 61a.

The outside vertical flaps 61 are formed in such a way as to have a longer length in the air flow direction (the main flow direction) than the inside vertical flaps 62.

Each of the outside vertical flaps 61 and each of the inside vertical flaps 62 are placed in such a way that, in a state in which they have been adjusted to an arbitrary angle inside the outlet air passage 8, they are all entirely positioned on the upwind side of the protruding curved surfaces 85. In a state in which each of the outside vertical flaps 61 and each of the inside vertical flaps 62 have been controlled so as to be inclined the most in the right and left direction as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 5, the outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 are also entirely positioned on the air flow direction upstream side of the air outlet of the outlet air passage 8 (the plane in which the downwind-side end portions of the right and left first side walls 87 are joined together). As described above, the outside vertical flaps 61 have shapes whose sections right in between the outlet air passage back surface 8a and the outlet air passage front surface 8b extend the longest, so in a state in which the outside vertical flaps 61 have been controlled so as to be inclined the most in the right and left direction, the downstream-side distal end sections come the closest to the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the positions of the outside vertical flaps 61 are adjusted in such a way that, in this state, a distance of closest approach d1 between the air flow direction downstream-side end portions of the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 is equal to or less than 10 mm.

As shown in FIG. 6, the outside vertical flaps 61 and each of the inside vertical flaps 62 are divided into a right-half group and a left-half group in the outlet air passage 8. Of these, the outside vertical flap 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 belonging to the right-half group are all coupled together by a shaft 69 so that their state of inclination can be integrally adjusted as shown in FIG. 2. When adjustment control of the blow-out angle in the right and left direction is performed by the control unit 70, the shaft 69 receives motive power from a non-illustrated drive motor, moves right and left, and integrally adjusts the state of inclination of the outside vertical flap 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 belonging to the right-half group. Furthermore, the same is also true of the left-half group. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the outside vertical flap 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 of the right-half group have had their blow-out direction adjusted to the right side and in which the outside vertical flap 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 of the left-half group have had their blow-out direction adjusted to the left side. In this way, an air flow direction adjustment unit 6 is configured by the outside vertical flaps 61, the shaft members 61x, the inside vertical flaps 62, the shaft members 62x, and the shafts 69.

(3) Air Flows

In the air conditioning indoor unit 4 having the above configuration, when the indoor fan 42 housed inside is driven, conditioned air is blown out toward the room side through the outlet air passage 8.

Here, in a case where, as shown in FIG. 6, the outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 are adjusted in such a way that the supply destination of the conditioned air spreads the most in the right and left direction, as shown in FIG. 5, air flows F9 flowing along the second side walls 89 of the outlet air passage 8 have the flow speed of their flows of conditioned air trying to pass through the sections right in between the outlet air passage back surface 8a and the outlet air passage front surface 8b reduced because the distance between the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 and the central sections 61a of the outside vertical flaps 62 is extremely narrow (adjusted to be equal to or less than 10 mm). Here, in a state in which the conditioned air travels straightly without its air flow direction being adjusted, the air speed of the air flows F9 becomes the fastest in the sections right in between the outlet air passage back surface 8a and the outlet air passage front surface 8b. The above-described structure can keep these air flows with the fastest air speed tow. Because of this structure, the flows of the air flows F9 whose passage through the sections right in between the outlet air passage back surface 8a and the outlet air passage front surface 8b has been limited are guided toward the gaps between the upper sections 61b of the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 and the gaps between the lower sections 61c and the first side walls 87, which are sections in which the gaps between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 are wider.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, air flows F3 whose traveling directions have been bent so as to spread in the right and left direction as a result of the air flowing between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 immediately adjacent thereto turn into air flows F5 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). For this reason, the flows spreading in the right and left direction are not blocked by the air flows F9. The traveling directions of the air flows F5 are greatly bent in directions already spreading outward in the right and left direction by the inside vertical flaps 62. Additionally, the air flows F5 can, because of the Coanda effect, follow the surfaces of the protruding curved surfaces 85, which are formed gently protruding toward the room side, without colliding with the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 and flow so as to further spread in the right and left direction. In this way, the conditioned air can be delivered widely in the right and left direction. For this reason, even if a high protruding height in the main flow direction is not ensured (even if a long length with which the Coanda effect can be obtained in order to spread the conditioned air in the right and left direction is not ensured) as in the conventional art, the conditioned air can be delivered widely in the right and left direction. Additionally, even in a case where the height of the protruding curved surfaces 85 in the main flow direction is kept low, the conditioned air can be delivered widely in the right and left direction and an increase in the size of the device can be avoided.

The flows trying to spread in the right and left direction of the air flows F5 are further guided in the right and left direction by the guide ribs 81, 82, and 83 disposed on the right and left direction outer sides of the curved surface portions 80.

(4) Characteristics of Embodiment
(4-1) Conventional Problem

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in a conventional air conditioning indoor unit 901, in a case where the right and left side walls of the air outlet extend long on the downstream side (in a case where the right and left side walls of the air outlet are long on the downstream side by a distance d91 from the downstream-side end portion of an indoor fan 942), space for housing housed components 909 (electrical components such as a motor, a terminal block, and wires for changing the posture of air flow direction adjustment blades) can be ensured in the right and left downstream-side neighborhoods of the air outlet. However, air flows F7 whose traveling directions have been adjusted so as to spread in the right and left direction by the inside vertical flaps end up colliding with the right and left side walls extending long as far as the downstream side and become unable to spread in the right and left direction. Furthermore, because the spaces between the right and left side walls of the air outlet and the vertical flaps are wide, air flows F91 flowing along the right and left side walls of the outlet air passage have a faster air speed because the passing air volume is larger. For this reason, the air flows F7 whose traveling directions have been adjusted so as to spread in the right and left direction by the inside vertical flaps end up having their spread in the right and left direction obstructed b the air flows F91 with the faster air speed and end up turning into air flows F95 with no spread in the right and left direction.

With respect to this, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, in another conventional air conditioning indoor unit 902, the right and left side walls of the outlet air passage are formed. curved so as to spread in the right and left direction heading toward the exit side (the distance from the downstream-side end portion of the indoor fan 942 is shorter than the distance d91 in FIG. 12, and the right and left side walls are formed spreading in the right and left direction from the position of a distance d92, which is a position inside the outlet air passage). In this other conventional example, as shown on the right side of FIG 13, the problem of the side walls ending up obstructing the spread in the right and left direction can be alleviated when the vertical flaps are inclined so as to generate air flows spreading in the right and left direction. Furthermore, the curved surfaces in the neighborhoods of the exit of the outlet air passage are formed so as to spread gradually in the right and left direction heading toward the downstream side (the room side) of the main flow direction, and long lengths that the air flows can follow are ensured. For this reason, a long distance is ensured even for air flows F92, whose air speed is fast and which have passed through the wide spaces between the right and left side walls and the vertical flaps, to flow along the curved surfaces, and a greater Coanda effect is obtained. For this reason, air flows F93 can be spread further in the right and left direction while being caused to follow the curved surfaces because of a sufficient Coanda effect. However, in this case, as shown in FIG. 13, the housing space for the housed components 909 ends up being limited because the side walls of the outlet air passage spread right and left from the upstream side. Furthermore, if one were to try to form curved surfaces of an extent with which the Coanda effect can be obtained while ensuring housing space for the housed components 909, the device would end up increasing in size toward the room side. On the other hand, as shown on the left side of FIG. 13, in a state in which the vertical flaps are not inclined and the conditioned air is allowed to travel straightly, air flows F8 traveling straightly toward the room side and air flows F96 traveling straightly between the vertical flaps and the side surfaces arise, and it becomes difficult for flows spreading right and left along the curved surfaces to arise. For this reason, in the neighborhoods of the surfaces of the curved surfaces, the pressure becomes low, it becomes easier for the unconditioned air on the room side to flow in (it becomes easier for air flows F97 to arise), and this ends up causing surging and dew condensation during cooling.

(4-2) Solution to Problem by Air Conditioning Indoor Unit 4 of Embodiment

With respect to this, in the air conditioning indoor unit 4 of the embodiment, of the air flows F9 flowing along the second side walls 89 of the outlet air passage 8, the flows passing through the central section of the outlet air passage 8, which is the section in which the air speed becomes the fastest when the air travels straightly, are adjusted in such a way that the gaps through which they pass become narrower (in such a way that the gaps between the first side walls 87 and the central sections 61a of the outside vertical flaps 61 approach mm or less), so the flows flow in avoidance of these narrow sections and have their speed reduced as a result of their passing air volume being controlled. For this reason, it is difficult for the air flows F9 to obstruct the air flows F3 whose traveling directions have been spread in the right and left direction by the inside vertical flaps 62. For this reason, the air flows F3, whose traveling directions have been bent so as to spread in the right and left direction by the inside vertical flaps 62, can spread as is in the right and left direction. Furthermore, in this case also, wider gaps between the upper sections 61b and tower sections 61c of the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 are ensured, so the pressure loss does not increase too much.

Furthermore, by generating these air flows that spread in the right and left direction, the unconditioned air described in the example of FIG. 13 can be kept from flowing in from the room side and surging and dew condensation can be kept from occurring.

Additionally, the curved surface portions 80 of the above embodiment extend as far as the downwind-side end portions of the outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62. Furthermore, because the conditioned air can be spread in the right and left direction by the structure described above, there is no need to dispose long curved surfaces for the air flows to flow along in order to ensure a sufficient Coanda effect as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 13, and the protruding height h1 can be shortened. For this reason, space for housing the housed components can be ensured and a situation where the device ends up overly increasing in size can be avoided.

The outside vertical flaps 61 are configured in such a way as to be longer in length in the air flow direction (the main flow direction) than the inside vertical flaps 62. Because of this, the total number of vertical flaps needed to keep the gaps between the vertical flaps and the first side walls 87 small can be kept small in comparison to a case where all of the vertical flaps are unified by flaps that are the same as the inside vertical flaps 62.

Furthermore, the protruding curved surfaces 85 disposed so as to spread right and left from the neighborhood of the exit of the outlet air passage 8 are formed protruding toward the downstream side of the air flow direction (the main flow direction) and are continuous from the first side walls 87 via the gentle inside curved surfaces 86, an the air flows whose air flow directions have been guided in the right and left direction can be further spread in the right and left direction because of the Coanda effect without causing them to come away from the curved surfaces. Moreover, the spread of the air flows in the right and left direction can be more reliably guided in the right and left direction by the guide ribs 81, 82, and 83.

(5) Other Embodiments

(5-1)

In the above embodiment, a case where the outside vertical flaps 61 and the inside vertical flaps 62 had different lengths in the air flow direction was taken as an example and described.

However, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention is not limited to this and may also, as shown in FIG. 7 for example, be an air conditioning indoor unit 204 in which the outside vertical flaps 61 and inside vertical flaps 262 have the same length in the air flow direction.

(5-2)

In the above embodiment, a case where the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention had the outside curved surfaces 84 formed as a result of the right and left direction outside end portions of the curved surface portions 80 of the body casing 5 gently curving was taken as an example and described.

However, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention is not limited to this and may also, as shown in FIG. 8 for example, be an air conditioning indoor unit 304 that is not disposed with outside curved surfaces but employs corner shapes 384 configured as a result of the protruding curved surfaces 85 continuing to extend in the right and left direction all the way to the right and left side surfaces.

(5-3)

In the above embodiment, a case where the spread of the conditioned air in the right and left direction was realized, for example, by narrowing the distance between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 was taken as an example and described.

However, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention is not limited to this and may also, as shown in FIG. 9 for example, be an air conditioning indoor unit that is equipped with guide plates 404, as members apart from the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87, that forcibly guide in the right and left direction the air flows flowing out from the exit to generate air flows F405.

Here, it is preferred that the guide plates 409 be placed in such a way that parts of them lie on extension lines L of the planes of the second side walls 89 of the outlet air passage 8.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, in the case of an air conditioning indoor unit 903 in which guide plates 919 are entirely positioned on the right and left direction outsides of the extension lines L of the planes of the second side walls 89 of the outlet air passage 8, the effect of spreading the air flows in the right and left direction cannot be sufficiently obtained.

(5-4)

In the above embodiment, a case where the gaps between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 were adjusted to be equal to or less than 10 mm in the posture that guides the air flows so as to spread in the right and left direction was taken as an example and described.

However, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention is not limited to this, and the value of the gaps between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 is not particularly limited provided that it is equal to or less than 10 ram; for example, the gaps may also be adjusted to be equal to or less than 8 mm, or adjusted to be equal to or less than 6 mm, or adjusted to be equal to or less than 4 mm, and the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 may also come into contact with one another.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention may also be an air conditioning indoor unit 504 configured in such a way that the downstream-side end portions of outside vertical flaps 561 come into contact with the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 at points P.

(5-5)

In the above embodiment, a case where the guide ribs 81, 82, and 83 were disposed extending straightly in the right and left direction was taken as an example and described.

However, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention is not limited to this and may also, as shown in FIG. 11 as an example, be an air conditioning indoor unit 604 that has guide ribs 681, 682, and 683 that are formed curving so as to further enhance their guiding function in the right and left direction and to generate air flows F605 guided also slightly to the back surface side white spreading in the right and left direction.

(5-6)

In the above embodiment, a case where the gaps between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 of the outlet air passage 8 were controlled as a result of the positions of the shafts 69 being controlled by the control unit 70 was taken as an example and described.

However, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention is not limited to this and may also be configured in such a way that the user manually adjusts the state of inclination of the outside vertical flaps 61 so that the gaps between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 become equal to or less than 10 mm.

Moreover, physical stoppers or positioning means may also be disposed so that the gaps between the outside vertical flaps 61 and the first side walls 87 become equal to or less than 10 mm in the maximum state of inclination of the outside vertical flaps 61 in the right and left direction.

(5-7)

In the above embodiment, a case where the air conditioning indoor unit spread the flow of the outlet air in the right and left direction was taken as an example and described.

However, the air conditioning indoor unit of the present invention is not limited to this and may also be similarly applied to a case where the air conditioning indoor unit directs the air flows only in the left direction or a case where the air conditioning indoor unit directs the air flows only in the right direction, for example.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This air conditioning indoor unit is particularly useful in a case where it is applied to a device trying to supply conditioned air widely in a right and left direction.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

4 Air Conditioning Indoor Unit

5 Body Casing (Casing)

5
c Side Surface Portions (Side Surfaces)

6 Air Flow Direction Adjustment Unit

8 Outlet Air Passage

61 Outside Vertical Flaps (Air Flow Direction Guide Blades, Long Blades)

61
a Central Sections (First Sections)

61
b Upper Sections (Second Sections)

61
c Lower Sections (Second Sections)

62 Inside Vertical Flaps (Short Blades)

85 Protruding Curved Surfaces

86 Inside Curved Surfaces (Curved Surfaces)

81, 82, 83, 681, 682, 683 Guide Ribs (Ribs)

409 Guide Plates

CITATION LIST
Patent Literature

Patent Document 1: JP-A. No. S62-10553

AIR CONDITIONING INDOOR UNIT

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

CPC

US Classifications

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

PCT Information