Patent Application
20180195757
The present invention relates to an indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, and to an air-conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, to the structure for temporarily hanging a decorative panel on the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus.
In a related-art air-conditioning apparatus, for example, a four-way cassette-type indoor unit has the structure, in which an indoor unit body is suspended in a space above a ceiling, and in which a decorative panel is mounted to cover a surface of the indoor unit body facing an inside of a room. For example, in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, there is proposed that, when the decorative panel is mounted to the indoor unit body, temporary hanging levers arranged at two positions of edge portions of an air inlet of the decorative panel are hooked on L-shaped temporary hanging hooks formed on the indoor unit body. The decorative panel in a temporarily hung state is then fixed to the indoor unit body with screws. When the decorative panel fixed to the indoor unit body is dismounted, the decorative panel is released from screw fixation, thereby being brought into the temporarily hung state. After that, the decorative panel is dismounted from the indoor unit body by unhooking the temporary hanging levers while lifting up the decorative panel.
When the decorative panel is mounted to the indoor unit body positioned above the ceiling, under a state in which the decorative panel is temporarily hung, an inclination and a position of the decorative panel sometimes needs to be finely adjusted so as to be conformed to a hole and an orientation of the ceiling. When the position and other conditions of the decorative panel are finely adjusted under a state in which the decorative panel is temporarily hung by the temporary hanging levers proposed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, the temporary hanging levers are also moved along with movement of the decorative panel so that a positional relationship between the temporary hanging levers and the temporary hanging hooks is changed. As a result, the temporary hanging hooks are liable to unintentionally slip out of the temporary hanging levers. Accordingly, when, for example, fine adjustment is performed, it is necessary to carefully perform work so as not to cause the temporary hanging to be cancelled. Further, when fixing screws are unfastened in order to dismount the decorative panel that is fixed and remains under the state in which the temporary hanging is cancelled, the decorative panel is dismounted under a state in which the decorative panel is not temporarily hung. Consequently, safety of a worker is impaired.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, and an air-conditioning apparatus capable of keeping a decorative panel temporarily hung even when a position of the panel is finely adjusted during mounting of the decorative panel and when the decorative panel is dismounted.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, including a casing having an opening portion formed on a side being a lower surface side when the indoor unit is installed, a decorative panel mounted on the lower surface side of the casing, and having an air inlet formed into a rectangular shape at a position corresponding to the opening portion, levers so as to be opposed to each other on opposed two sides among four sides forming edges of the air inlet of the decorative panel, and hooks mounted at the opening portion of the casing to allow the levers to be hooked thereon, respectively. The decorative panel includes an insertion hole portion formed in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the decorative panel at a position at which each of the levers is to be mounted, and bearing groove portions formed in a lower surface portion of the decorative panel so as to extend in parallel with the plane of the decorative panel and extend in directions away from each other with respect to the insertion hole portion. The each of the levers is movable in the insertion hole portion, and includes a hook portion to be hooked on each of the hooks, and shaft portions formed at both ends of the each of the levers, respectively. The hook portion protruding upward from the insertion hole portion of the decorative panel, the shaft portions are received in the bearing groove portions of the decorative panel, respectively.
According to the indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention, the pair of levers is mounted to the opposed two sides of edge portions of the air inlet of the decorative panel. Further, each lever is turned through the insertion hole portion of the decorative panel through which the lever is inserted so that the lever is oriented perpendicular to the decorative panel. Subsequently, the lever is moved by the gravity to fall in the insertion hole portion of the decorative panel, and then is hooked on each hook of the casing, and kept hooked. Accordingly, the decorative panel can be easily and temporarily hung while being supported by hand. When the hung decorative panel is moved up and down, the lever is moved in the insertion hole portion, but a positional relationship between the lever and the hook is not changed. Thus, the decorative panel can be kept temporarily hung, for example, even when a position of the decorative panel is finely adjusted and when the decorative panel is dismounted. Therefore, a temporary hanging lever can be prevented from unintentionally slipping out of the hanging hook which is used for temporary hanging.
As illustrated in
The decorative panel 3 is mounted on a lower surface of the casing 2 being an indoor side so as to cover the casing 2. A rectangular opening is formed in a center portion of the decorative panel 3 at a position corresponding to the opening of the casing 2, and forms an air inlet space 6 through which the air is sucked from the indoor space when the indoor fan is driven. The air inlet space 6 is covered with the air inlet grille 4. Four edges defining the air inlet space 6 form air inlet edge portions 7. An air outlet 11 is formed on an outer side of each of the air inlet edge portions 7. The air having passed through the indoor heat exchanger is blown into the indoor space through the air outlet 11.
Temporary hanging levers 8 are respectively mounted to any one pair of opposed sides among two pairs of opposed sides of the four air inlet edge portions 7. The temporary hanging levers 8 pass through the decorative panel 3, and protrude from an upper surface of the decorative panel 3. The temporary hanging levers 8 are arranged at opposed positions that are line-symmetric with respect to a line being parallel to the opposed two sides passing through a center of the air inlet space 6. The temporary hanging levers 8 are temporarily hung on the temporary hanging hooks 9 of the casing 2 arranged at positions opposed to the temporary hanging levers 8. The temporary hanging levers 8 and the temporary hanging hooks 9 correspond to levers and hooks according to the present invention.
An insertion hole portion 7c through which each temporary hanging lever 8 is inserted, and bearing groove portions 7a and 7b continuous with the insertion hole portion 7c are formed in each air inlet edge portion 7. The insertion hole portion 7c is a rectangular hole formed in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the decorative panel 3. The temporary hanging lever 8 can be moved upward and downward in the insertion hole portion 7c. The bearing groove portions 7a and 7b are grooves extending from the insertion hole portion 7c as a center and in directions in parallel with the plane of the decorative panel 3 and along the air inlet edge portion 7. The bearing groove portions 7a and 7b are formed in the lower surface of the decorative panel 3.
Each temporary hanging lever 8 includes a hook portion 8a to be hooked on the temporary hanging hook 9, shaft portions 8b and 8c respectively formed at both end portions of the temporary hanging lever 8, and an operating portion 8d connecting the hook portion 8a and the shaft portions 8b and 8c together. The temporary hanging lever 8 is formed by processing, for example, an iron wire. The temporary hanging lever 8 is mounted to the air inlet edge portion 7 of the decorative panel 3 by inserting an elastically deformed member through the insertion hole portion 7c of the decorative panel 3 and inserting the shaft portions 8b and 8c in the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b, respectively. The temporary hanging lever 8 is formed, for example, by bending a single iron wire. A center portion of the single iron wire, both end portions of the single iron wire, and a portion connecting the center portion and the both end portions function as the hook portion 8a, the shaft portions 8b and 8c, and the operating portion 8d, respectively.
The hook portion 8a has a U-shape, and has a space 8e through which the temporary hanging lever 8 is hooked on the temporary hanging hook 9 of the casing 2. The shaft portions 8b and 8c are formed at both end portions of the temporary hanging lever 8, respectively. The shaft portions 8b and 8c are received in the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b in a turnable manner, and equivalent of rotational axis when the temporary hanging lever 8 is turned. The operating portion 8d is formed of two iron wires connecting the hook portion 8a and the shaft portions 8b and 8c, and includes a widthwise narrow portion at a position corresponding to the insertion hole portion 7c. The operating portion 8d is formed to enable a worker to perform operation of turning or sliding the temporary hanging lever 8 with placing a finger on the operating portion 8d from the lower surface through the insertion hole portion 7c while supporting the decorative panel 3 by hand.
An example of a specific shape of the temporary hanging lever 8 is described. The single iron wire forming the temporary hanging lever 8 is bent, at a center portion thereof serving as the hook portion 8a, into a U-shape while defining the space 8e. The iron wire is bent at positions of both ends of the hook portion 8a so as to bring the both ends close to each other toward a center of the iron wire, thereby forming the operating portion 8d including the narrow portion. The operating portion 8d is continuous with the hook portion 8a. In addition, the iron wire is bent at the right angle from terminal end portions of the narrow portion of the operating portion 8d so that the bent portions extend in opposite directions, thereby forming the shaft portions 8b and 8c, The hook portion 8a and the operating portion 8d are inserted into the insertion hole portion 7c, and the shaft portions 8b and 8c are received in the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b, respectively. Thus, the temporary hanging lever 8 is mounted to the air inlet edge portion 7.
Next, a step of temporarily hanging in which the temporary hanging lever 8 is engaged with the temporary hanging hook 9 and installing the decorative panel 3 on the casing 2 is described.
The decorative panel 3 in the temporarily hung state moves downward so that the shaft portions 8b and 8c of the temporary hanging lever 8 and the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b of the decorative panel 3 receiving the shaft portions 8b and 8c are engaged with each other. In this state, the decorative panel 3 is restrained from moving downward from a position at which the shaft portions 8b and 8c are engaged with the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b. As a result, an operator does not need to support the decorative panel 3. When the decorative panel 3 is moved upward from the engaged position, the temporary hanging lever 8 is moved in the insertion hole portion 7c, and the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b and the shaft portions 8b and 8c are disengaged from each other, with the result that the shaft portions 8b and 8c are moved downward in the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b. Thus, even when the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b are moved upward, the shaft portions 8b and 8c are not moved in conjunction with movement of the decorative panel thereby keeping a positional relationship between the temporary hanging lever 8 and the temporary hanging hook 9. For example, even in a case where the decorative panel 3 is moved upward and downward when a height or an arrangement position of the decorative panel 3 is adjusted, the temporarily hung state is kept so that the temporary hanging lever 8 is not disengaged from the temporary hanging hook 9.
After the decorative panel 3 is temporarily hung and adjusted, the casing 2 and the decorative panel 3 are fastened together with screws through the installation screw portions 10 of the decorative panel 3, to thereby fix the decorative panel 3 to the casing 2. When the installation screw portions 10 are fastened, the decorative panel 3 is brought close to the casing 2, and a position of the decorative panel 3 is moved upward. Also at this time, the temporary hanging lever 8 in the temporarily hung state is moved in the insertion hole portion 7c of the decorative panel 3, but is not in conjunction with movement of the decorative panel 3. Accordingly, the temporary hanging lever 8 is kept hooked on the temporary hanging hook 9.
When the decorative panel 3 is dismounted from the casing 2, the installation screw portions 10 are unfastened so that the decorative panel 3 is temporarily hung on the casing 2. In this state, the decorative panel 3 is lifted up, and the operating portion 8d is operated to turn the temporary hanging lever 8. Thus, the hook portion 8a is brought into the state illustrated in
As described above, the temporary hanging levers 8 are mounted to the opposed two sides of the air inlet edge portions 7 of the decorative panel 3. Accordingly, a worker and other persons can hold edge portions of the air inlet while operating the temporary hanging levers 8. Further, when the shaft portions 8b and 8c are turned through the insertion hole portion 7c of each air inlet edge portion 7 and then each inclined temporary hanging lever 8 is turned to the orientation perpendicular to the decorative panel 3, the entire temporary hanging lever 8 moves downward to fall into the insertion hole portion 7c of the air inlet edge portion 7, thereby being hooked on the temporary hanging hook 9. Thus, a worker can operate the temporary hanging lever 8 through the insertion hole portion 7c while supporting the decorative panel by hand, and can hook the temporary hanging lever 8 on the temporary hanging hook 9 by the gravity.
Under a state in which the shaft portions 8b and 8c are engaged with the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b, respectively, the decorative panel 3 is restrained from moving downward. When the decorative panel 3 is moved upward from the above-mentioned state, the temporary hanging lever 8 is moved downward so as to slide in the insertion hole portion 7c, with the result that the shaft portions 8b and 8c are moved downward in the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b. Thus, the temporary hanging lever 8 can be prevented from slipping out of the temporary hanging hook 9 in conjunction with movement of the decorative panel 3. Fine adjustment of the position of the decorative panel 3 can also be easily performed under the state in which the decorative panel 3 is temporarily hung, thereby being capable of performing work of fastening and fixing the decorative panel 3 and the casing 2 to each other with screws.
Even in a case where the decorative panel 3 is moved upward when the decorative panel 3 and the casing 2 are fixed to each other, the temporary hanging lever 8 is moved downward in the insertion hole portion 7c so that the shaft portions 8b and 8c are moved downward in the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b. Accordingly, the temporary hanging lever 8 is not moved in conjunction with movement of the decorative panel 3, thereby keeping the positional relationship between the temporary hanging lever 8 and the temporary hanging hook 9. Thus, even when the decorative panel 3 and the casing 2 are fastened together, the temporary hanging lever 8 can be kept hooked on the temporary hanging hook 9. Further, even in a case where the decorative panel 3 is moved downward when the screws configured to fasten the decorative panel 3 and the casing 2 together are removed, the temporary hanging lever 8 is kept temporarily hung without changing the positional relationship between the temporary hanging lever 8 and the temporary hanging hook 9. Accordingly, when the decorative panel 3 is dismounted, the temporary hanging hook 9 can be prevented from erroneously slipping off to cause a fall of the decorative panel 3.
In the above description, the hook portion 8a is formed into a U-shape, thereby stably maintaining the temporarily hung state. However, the shape of the hook portion 8a is not limited to a U-shape, and it is only necessary that the space 8e configured to hook the temporary hanging lever 8 on the temporary hanging hook 9 be defined. Further, the shape of the operating portion 8d is not limited either, and it is preferred that the operating portion 8d be shaped so as to be easily recognizable by finger touch, and to enable a worker to easily perform operation of turning the hook portion 8a or sliding the temporary hanging lever 8.
According to the above-mentioned indoor unit 20 for an air-conditioning apparatus of this embodiment, the temporary hanging lever 8 of the decorative panel 3 is turned from a lower surface of the insertion hole portion 7c, and then the temporary hanging lever 8 is moved by the gravity, to thereby cause the temporary hanging lever 8 to be hooked on the temporary hanging hook 9. Accordingly, the decorative panel can be temporarily hung easily while being supported by hand. When the decorative panel 3 in the temporarily hung state is moved upward, the temporary hanging lever 8 is moved downward in the insertion hole portion 7c so that the shaft portions 8b and 8c are moved downward in the bearing groove portions 7a and 7b. Thus, the positional relationship between the temporary hanging lever 8 and the temporary hanging hook 9 is kept without changing. Therefore, the decorative panel 3 can be kept temporarily hung even when fine adjustment of a mounting position of the decorative panel 3, dismounting of the decorative panel 3, or other operations are performed. In addition, the temporary hanging lever 8 can be prevented from unintentionally slipping out of the temporary hanging hook 9.
The shaft portions 8b and 8c of the temporary hanging lever 8 received in a turnable manner enable the temporary hanging lever 8 to be turned to the orientation perpendicular to the decorative panel 3, to thereby cause the temporary hanging lever 8 to fall into the insertion hole portion 7c. Accordingly, the temporary hanging lever 8 can be temporarily hung easily.
The operating portion 8d formed between the hook portion 8a and the shaft portions 8b and 8c of the temporary hanging lever 8 enables a worker to perform operation of turning or sliding the temporary hanging lever 8 by placing a finger on the operating portion 8d. Accordingly, a worker can easily perform the operation.
Under a state in which the temporary hanging levers 8 are hooked on the temporary hanging hooks 9, the installation screw portions 10 at the four corners of the casing 2 are fastened, to thereby fix the decorative panel 3 to the casing 2. Accordingly, the decorative panel 3 can be prevented from being dropped during installation work, and the work can be performed under a state in which the decorative panel 3 is stable.
The compressor 31 is configured to compress and discharge sucked refrigerant. Although the present invention is not particularly limited, the compressor 31 may change a capacity of the compressor 31 by changing an operating frequency as needed, for example, using an inverter circuit. Herein, the capacity of the compressor 31 refers to an amount of the refrigerant to be fed per unit time. The four-way valve 32, for example, is a valve configured to switch a flow of the refrigerant between the flow during cooling operation and the flow during heating operation.
The outdoor heat exchanger 33 is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air. For example, during the heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 33 functions as an evaporator, and evaporates and gasifies the refrigerant. Further, during the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 33 functions as a condenser, and condenses and liquefies the refrigerant.
The expansion valve 34 is configured to decompress and expand the refrigerant, and includes an expansion device, a flow rate control unit, and other component. When the expansion valve 34 is constructed by, for example, an electronic expansion valve, an opening degree is adjusted based on an instruction of a control unit (not shown) or other units.
In the indoor unit 20, an indoor heat exchanger 21 is accommodated in the casing 2, and is covered with the decorative panel 3. The decorative panel 3 is fixed under a state in which the temporary hanging levers 8 of the decorative panel 3 are temporarily hung on the temporary hanging hooks 9 of the casing 2. The indoor heat exchanger 21 is configured to exchange heat, for example, between the air in the indoor space 1 and the refrigerant. During the heating operation, the indoor heat exchanger 21 functions as a condenser, and condenses and liquefies the refrigerant. During the cooling operation, the indoor heat exchanger 21 functions as an evaporator, and evaporates and gasifies the refrigerant.
First, the cooling operation of the air-conditioning apparatus is described based on the flow of the refrigerant. During the cooling operation, the four-way valve 32 is switched to establish a connection relationship indicated by the solid lines. High-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 31 passes through the four-way valve 32, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 33. Then, liquid refrigerant, which is the refrigerant condensed and liquefied by passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 33 and exchanging heat with the outdoor air, flows into the expansion valve 34. The refrigerant brought into a two-phase gas-liquid state by being decompressed by the expansion valve 34 flows out of the outdoor unit 30.
The two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor unit 30 flows through the liquid refrigerant pipe 50 into the indoor unit 20, and passes through the indoor heat exchanger 21. Gas refrigerant, which is the refrigerant evaporated and gasified by exchanging heat, for example, with the air in the indoor space 1 flows out of the indoor unit 20.
The gas refrigerant flowing out of the indoor unit 20 flows through the gas refrigerant pipe 40 into the outdoor unit 30. The refrigerant then passes through the four-way valve 32, and is sucked into the compressor 31 again. As described above, the refrigerant of the air-conditioning apparatus is circulated, and cooling is performed by air-conditioning.
Next, the heating operation of the air-conditioning apparatus is described based on the flow of the refrigerant. During the heating operation, the four-way valve 32 is switched to establish a connection relationship indicated by the dotted lines. High-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 31 passes through the four-way valve 32, and flows out of the outdoor unit 30. The gas refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor unit 30 flows through the gas refrigerant pipe 40 into the indoor unit 20. The refrigerant condensed and liquefied by exchanging heat, for example, with the air in the indoor space 1 while passing through the indoor heat exchanger 21 flows out of the indoor unit 20.
The refrigerant flowing out of the indoor unit 20 flows through the liquid refrigerant pipe 50 into the outdoor unit 30. The refrigerant brought into a two-phase gas-liquid state by being decompressed by the expansion valve 34 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 33. Then, liquid refrigerant, which is the refrigerant evaporated and gasified by passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 33 and exchanging heat with the outdoor air, passes through the four-way valve 32, and is sucked into the compressor 31 again. In the above-mentioned manner, the refrigerant of the air-conditioning apparatus is circulated, and heating is performed by air-conditioning.
In the above-mentioned embodiments, the ceiling-concealed indoor unit 20 of a four-way cassette type that blows out the air in four directions is described. However, the present invention is also applicable to the indoor unit 20 that blows out the air, for example, in two directions and three directions.
In the air-conditioning apparatus according to the above-mentioned embodiments, the casing 2 and the decorative panel 3 of the indoor unit 20 are fixed to each other under a state in which the decorative panel 3 is temporarily hung on the casing 2 by the temporary hanging hooks 9 and the temporary hanging levers 8. The temporary hanging levers 8 are turned to move downward by the gravity, thereby being hooked on the temporary hanging hooks 9. Accordingly, the temporary hanging levers 8 do not easily slip out of the temporary hanging hooks 9. Therefore, the decorative panel 3 is temporarily hung in a stable state. As a result, the air-conditioning apparatus enabling easy installation of the decorative panel 3 on the indoor unit can be obtained.
indoor space 2 casing 3 decorative panel 4 air inlet grille 5 bellmouth 6 air inlet space 7 air inlet edge portion 7a, 7b bearing groove portion 7c insertion hole portion 8 temporary hanging lever 8a hook portion 8b, 8c shaft portion 8d operating portion 8e space 9 temporary hanging hook 10 installation screw portion 11 air outlet 20 indoor unit 21 indoor heat exchanger 30 outdoor unit 31 compressor 32 four-way valve 33 outdoor heat exchanger 34 expansion valve 40 gas refrigerant pipe 50 liquid refrigerant pipe
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2015/074817 | 9/1/2015 | WO | 00 |
