EP3614064B1

EP3614064B1 - Indoor unit for air conditioner

Info

Publication number: EP3614064B1
Application number: EP18805432.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yasuhiro Ohishi; Hirokazu DOI; Daisuke FUKAHORI
Original assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-24
Filing date: 2018-04-13
Publication date: 2021-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-13
Also published as: CN110537059A; JP6409908B1; WO2018216392A1; ES2887855T3; EP3614064A1; AU2018271442A1; JP2018197637A; EP3614064A4; AU2018271442B2; CN110537059B

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an indoor unit for an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional indoor unit for an air conditioner includes a heat exchanger having a U shape, a partition with which an opening of the heat exchanger is covered, and a turbo fan surrounded with the heat exchanger and the partition and configured to suck in and blow out air in two directions via the heat exchanger (see, for example, JP 2015-81692 A ).
EP 0985889 A2 discloses a ceiling embedded type indoor unit which is reduced in height to provide a compact unit body size and which provides a large cooling/heating capability.
In the indoor unit for an air conditioner, the partition has a protrusion extending toward the turbo fan. This configuration achieves equalization of an airflow from the protrusion toward a first end of the partition and an airflow from the protrusion toward a second end of the partition.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

According to the conventional indoor unit for an air conditioner, air is guided in a rotation direction of the turbo fan in a region from the protrusion to the first end of the partition. On the other hand, air is guided in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the turbo fan in a region from the protrusion to the second end of the partition.
The conventional indoor unit for an air conditioner accordingly makes unusual noise at a high-pressure spot occurring near an end of the partition.
Hence, the present invention provides an indoor unit for an air conditioner, the indoor unit being capable of suppressing occurrence of a high-pressure spot near an end of a partition to thereby reduce unusual noise.

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEM

The present invention provides an indoor unit for an air conditioner,
the indoor unit including:

a casing;
a centrifugal fan disposed in the casing;
a heat exchanger disposed in the casing such that the centrifugal fan is surrounded by the heat exchanger on two or three sides;
a partition with which the centrifugal fan is surrounded in conjunction with the heat exchanger,
the partition being connected to a first end of the heat exchanger and a second end of the heat exchanger and configured to guide air blown out by the centrifugal fan from the first end of the heat exchanger to the second end of the heat exchanger,
wherein
a distance between the centrifugal fan and the partition at a position near the second end of the heat exchanger is longer than that at a position near the first end of the heat exchanger.

According to the configuration described above, the partition guides the air blown out by the centrifugal fan from the first end of the heat exchanger to the second end of the heat exchanger, so that air flowing along the partition flows in a rotation direction of the centrifugal fan. This configuration therefore reduces pressure near an end of the partition. This configuration thus suppresses occurrence of a high-pressure spot near the end of the partition to thereby reduce unusual noise.
In addition, the distance between the centrifugal fan and the partition at the position near the second end of the heat exchanger is longer than that at the position near the first end of the heat exchanger. This configuration therefore achieves reduction in pressure near a downstream end of the partition. This configuration thus achieves further reduction in pressure near the downstream end of the partition, which improves an effect of reducing unusual noise.
In the indoor unit for an air conditioner according to the invention, a part having the second end of the heat exchanger extends beyond the first end of the heat exchanger toward a wall of the casing.
According to the invention described above, the part having the second end of the heat exchanger extends beyond the first end of the heat exchanger toward the wall of the casing. This configuration therefore achieves increase in distance between the centrifugal fan and the second end of the heat exchanger. This results in pressure reduction near the second end of the second heat exchanger.
In the indoor unit for an air conditioner according to the invention, the air from the centrifugal fan is blown out through a blow-out port located on a side opposite from the partition with respect to the centrifugal fan.
According to the invention described above, air from the centrifugal fan is blown out through the blow-out port located on the side opposite from the partition with respect to the centrifugal fan. The air from the centrifugal fan therefore smoothly flows from the partition to the blow-out port. This configuration thus suppresses occurrence of turbulence of air from the centrifugal fan, at an air flow path from the partition to the blow-out port.
In the indoor unit for an air conditioner according to a further embodiment,
the distance between the centrifugal fan and the partition gradually increases from the first end of the heat exchanger toward the second end of the heat exchanger.
According to the embodiment described above, the distance between the centrifugal fan and the partition gradually increases from the first end of the heat exchanger toward the second end of the heat exchanger. This configuration therefore enables suppression of collision between air flowing from the centrifugal fan to the heat exchanger and air flowing along the partition. This configuration thus further improves the effect of reducing unusual noise.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF INVENTION

The present invention thus provides an indoor unit for an air conditioner, the indoor unit being capable of suppressing occurrence of a high-pressure spot near an end of a partition to thereby reduce unusual noise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the indoor unit.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the indoor unit.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the indoor unit from which a panel, a drain pan, and the like are detached.
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the indoor unit which is illustrated in FIG. 5 and to which a flap is attached.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the indoor unit from which the flap is detached.
FIG. 8 is a top view of a partition plate in the indoor unit.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the partition plate.
FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the partition plate.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A specific description will be given of an indoor unit for an air conditioner according to the present invention, based on embodiments illustrated in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, the indoor unit being seen obliquely from below. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the indoor unit seen obliquely from above.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the indoor unit according to this embodiment is designed to be embedded in a ceiling, and includes a casing main body 1, a panel 2 having a quadrilateral shape, the panel 2 being mounted to a lower side of the casing main body 1, and a grille 3 detachably mounted to the panel 2. The casing main body 1, the panel 2, and the grille 3 constitute an example of a casing.
The indoor unit also includes a pipe connection part 5, a pipe connection part 6, and a drain socket 7 each protruding from a sidewall of the casing main body 1. In the casing main body 1, each of the pipe connection parts 5 and 6 is connected to an external refrigerant pipe (not illustrated). Also in the casing main body 1, the drain socket 7 is connected to an external drain hose (not illustrated).
The indoor unit also includes an electrical component 8 disposed on the sidewall of the casing main body 1 and juxtaposed with the pipe connection parts 5 and 6 and the drain socket 7.
The panel 2 has a blow-out port 10. The blow-out port 10 is located on one of longitudinally opposite sides of the grille 3 so as to extend along a shorter side of an outer edge of the panel 2. The panel 2 also has a flap 20 pivotably mounted thereto and configured to open and close the blow-out port 10. In FIG. 1, the flap 20 closes the blow-out port 10.
The indoor unit according to this embodiment also includes hanger fittings 101, 102, 103, and 104 (the hanger fitting 104 is illustrated in FIG. 5). The hanger fittings 101, 102, 103, and 104 are secured to hanger bolts (not illustrated) suspended from, for example, a framework in a roof-space. The indoor unit is thus suspended from a ceiling.
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the indoor unit. In FIG. 3, the same constituent elements as those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted with the same reference signs as those for the constituent elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The flap 20 has a U shape in plan view, and is configured to control a direction of air blown out through the blow-out port 10.
More specifically, the flap 20 includes a flap main body 20a extending along a pivot axis 21, a first auxiliary flap 20b elongated from a first end of the flap main body 20a, and a second auxiliary flap 20c elongated from a second end of the flap main body 20a.
The first auxiliary flap 20b is elongated from the first end of the flap main body 20a so as to extend in a direction away from the blow-out port 10 in the casing main body 1. The first auxiliary flap 20b is linked to a stepping motor 80 with a link mechanism 90.
The second auxiliary flap 20c is elongated from the second end of the flap main body 20a so as to extend in the direction away from the blow-out port 10 in the casing main body 1. In other words, the second auxiliary flap 20c and the first auxiliary flap 20b extend in parallel.
The stepping motor 80 is disposed in a space defined by the casing main body 1, the panel 2, and the grille 3. The stepping motor 80 and the flap 20 are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of the flap 20. The stepping motor 80 is located on a side opposite from the blow-out port 10 with respect to the pivot axis 21 in the casing main body 1. The stepping motor 80 generates a driving force for turning the flap 20. The flap 20 receives the driving force from the stepping motor 80 through the link mechanism 90 to turn about the pivot axis 21. The stepping motor 80 may be closer to a blow-out port 10 side than the pivot axis 21 is in the casing main body 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the casing main body 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) has in its center a suction port 1a. A filter 4 (see FIG. 4) is disposed between the suction port 1a and the grille 3.
It should be noted that the blow-out port 10 in the casing main body 1 and a first wall 11 (see FIG. 5) of the casing main body 1 are on the same side.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the same constituent elements as those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted with the same reference signs as those for the constituent elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.
The casing main body 1 houses therein a turbo fan 30. The turbo fan 30 is driven by a motor 31 to rotate in a predetermined rotation direction. The predetermined rotation direction corresponds to a counterclockwise direction when the turbo fan 30 is seen from below. The turbo fan 30 is an example of a centrifugal fan.
The casing main body 1 also houses therein a bell mouth 32 at a position between the suction port 1a and the turbo fan 30. The turbo fan 30 sucks in indoor air via a space inside the bell mouth 32.
The casing main body 1 also houses therein a heat exchanger 40 and a partition plate 50 at a position around the turbo fan 30. Air from the turbo fan 30 is blown out via the heat exchanger 40 through the blow-out port 10 located opposite the partition plate 50 with respect to the turbo fan 30. At this time, the partition plate 50 guides to the heat exchanger 40 the air from the turbo fan 30. The partition plate 50 is an example of a partition. The partition may constitute a part of the casing main body 1.
The casing main body 1 also houses therein a drain pan 60 at a position below the heat exchanger 40 and partition plate 50. The drain pan 60 thus receives dew condensation water caused by condensation at each of the heat exchanger 40 and the partition plate 50.
The casing main body 1 has an air flow path P for guiding air from the turbo fan 30 to the blow-out port 10 in the panel 2.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the indoor unit from which the panel 2, the drain pan 60, and the like are detached.
The casing main body 1 includes a first wall 11 located near the blow-out port 10, a second wall 12 opposite to the first wall 11, a third wall 13 diagonally opposite to the first wall 11 and the second wall 12, and a fourth wall 14 diagonally opposite to the first wall 11 and the second wall 12 and opposite to the third wall 13. Each of the third wall 13 and the fourth wall 14 has an end near the blow-out port 10, the end being elongated from the first wall 11. Each of the third wall 13 and the fourth wall 14 has an end opposite to the blow-out port 10, the end being elongated from the second wall 12. The second wall 12 is an example of a wall of a casing.
The second wall 12 includes a third wall 13-side portion 12a and a fourth wall 14-side portion 12b. The fourth wall 14-side portion 12b is closer to the first wall 11 than the third wall 13-side portion 12a is. In the second wall 12, the fourth wall 14-side portion 12b where the pipe connection parts 5 and 6 are disposed is recessed toward the first wall 11. An intermediate portion 12c is located between the third wall 13-side portion 12a and the fourth wall 14-side portion 12b, and is tilted relative to each of the third wall 13-side portion 12a and the fourth wall 14-side portion 12b.
The heat exchanger 40 is disposed between the turbo fan 30 and the first wall 11, third wall 13, and fourth wall 14 of the casing main body 1.
More specifically, the heat exchanger 40 includes a first heat exchange part 41, a second heat exchange part 42, and a third heat exchange part 43. The first heat exchange part 41, the second heat exchange part 42, and the third heat exchange part 43 are formed integrally. The first heat exchange part 41, the second heat exchange part 42, and the third heat exchange part 43 may be formed separately. For example, the first heat exchange part 41, the second heat exchange part 42, and the third heat exchange part 43 may be spaced apart from one another.
The first heat exchange part 41 is disposed opposite the first wall 11 of the casing main body 1, and extends along the first wall 11.
The second heat exchange part 42 is disposed opposite the third wall 13 of the casing main body 1, and extends from the first wall 11 toward the second wall 12. The second heat exchange part 42 is located upstream of the first heat exchange part 41 in a rotation direction R of the turbo fan 30. The drain pump 70 is disposed between a distal end, or tip, of the second heat exchange part 42 and the third wall 13-side portion of the second wall 12.
The drain pump 70 sucks in dew condensation water and the like retained in the drain pan 60, and discharges the sucked dew condensation water and the like toward the drain socket 7. In other words, the drain pump 70 is a pump for discharging, from the casing main body 1, dew condensation water and the like in the casing main body 1.
The third heat exchange part 43 is disposed opposite the fourth wall 14 of the casing main body 1, and extends from the first wall 11 toward the second wall 12. The third heat exchange part 43 is located downstream of the first heat exchange part 41 in the rotation direction R of the turbo fan 30. The distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 is closer to the second wall 12 than a distal end, or tip, of the third heat exchange part 43 is. In other words, the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 is located at a place that is relatively far from the blow-out port 10, and the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 is located at a place that is relatively close to the blow-out port 10. The distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 is an example of a second end of a heat exchanger. The distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 is an example of a first end of the heat exchanger.
The distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 is connected to the pipe connection part 5 with a refrigerant pipe 85. The distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 is connected to the pipe connection part 6 with a refrigerant pipe 86.
The pipe connection parts 5 and 6 respectively connect the refrigerant pipes 85 and 86 inside the casing main body 1 to refrigerant pipes outside the casing main body 1. The pipe connection parts 5 and 6 allow a refrigerant to flow into the heat exchanger 40.
A distance between the second heat exchange part 42 and the third heat exchange part 43 gradually increases from the blow-out port 10 in a direction away from the blow-out port 10. Specifically, the heat exchanger 40 has a U shape in plan view. The distance between the second heat exchange part 42 and the third heat exchange part 43 may be fixed or may be substantially fixed. The heat exchanger 40 may have, for example, a V shape or a circular shape in plan view.
The partition plate 50 and the heat exchanger 40 surround the turbo fan 30. The partition plate 50 is connected to the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 and the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43. The partition plate 50 guides air blown out by the turbo fan 30 from the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 to the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42. A distance L between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50 at a position near the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 is longer than that at a position near the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43. More specifically, the distance L between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50 gradually increases from the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 toward the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42. The distance L between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50 may increase in a stepwise manner.
FIG. 6 illustrates the indoor unit which is illustrated in FIG. 5 and to which the flap 20 (diagonally shaded) is attached. FIG. 7 illustrates the indoor unit from which the flap 20 is detached. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the same constituent elements as those illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted with the same reference signs as those for the constituent elements illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the flap main body 20a, the first auxiliary flap 20b, and the second auxiliary flap 20c are located so as not to overlap the heat exchanger 40 in plan view. The flap main body 20a extends along the first wall 11 of the casing main body 1. The first auxiliary flap 20b extends along the third wall 13 of the casing main body 1. The second auxiliary flap 20c extends along the fourth wall 14 of the casing main body 1. Each of the first and second auxiliary flaps 20b and 20c has a distal end, or tip, located near the second wall 12 of the casing main body 1.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the blow-out port 10 includes a first blow-out port part 10a having a rectangular shape and extending along the first wall 11 of the casing main body 1, a second blow-out port part 10b, and a third blow-out port part 10c. The second blow-out port part 10b is elongated from a first end of the first blow-out port part 10a, and extends toward the third wall 13 of the casing main body 1. The second blow-out port part 10b is then bent to extend toward the second wall 12 of the casing main body 1. The third blow-out port part 10c is elongated from a second end of the first blow-out port part 10a, and extends toward the fourth wall 14 of the casing main body 1. The third blow-out port part 10c is then bent to extend toward the second wall 12 of the casing main body 1.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the partition plate 50. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the partition plate 50 seen obliquely from above. FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the partition plate 50.
The partition plate 50 includes a partition plate main body 50a having a curved shape, and a flange 50b disposed on an upper end of the partition plate main body 50a. A distance between an inner peripheral face of the partition plate main body 50a and an inner peripheral edge of the turbo fan 30 corresponds to the distance L between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50. More specifically, the distance L corresponds to a distance from an intersection A to an intersection B, the intersection A being an intersection of a ray that radially extends from a center of the turbo fan 30 toward the partition plate main body 50a and the outer peripheral edge of the turbo fan 30, the intersection B being an intersection of the ray and the inner peripheral face of the partition plate main body 50a. The flange 50b extends from an upstream end of the partition plate main body 50a toward a downstream end of the partition plate main body 50a. Specifically, the flange 50b extends by about two-thirds of the length of the partition plate main body 50a.
According to the indoor unit having the configuration described above, when the turbo fan 30 is driven, then the turbo fan 30 blows out air, and the air flows from the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 toward the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 in the region between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50. The air from the turbo fan 30 then passes through the heat exchanger 40, flows through the air flow path P, and reaches the blow-out port 10 in the panel 2.
As described above, the air in the region between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50 flows in the rotation direction R of the turbo fan 30. This configuration therefore achieves reduction in pressure near the upstream end of the partition plate 50 and pressure near the downstream end of the partition plate 50. The indoor unit having the configuration described above thus suppresses occurrence of a high-pressure spot near the upstream end of the partition plate 50 and a high-pressure spot near the downstream end of the partition plate 50 to thereby reduce unusual noise.
In addition, the distance L between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50 at the position near the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 is longer than that at the position near the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43. This configuration therefore achieves reduction in pressure near the downstream end of the partition plate 50. This configuration thus achieves further reduction in pressure near the downstream end of the partition plate 50, which further improves the effect of reducing unusual noise.
The distance L between the turbo fan 30 and the partition plate 50 gradually increases from the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 toward the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42. This configuration therefore enables suppression of collision between air flowing from the turbo fan 30 to the second heat exchange part 42 and air flowing along the partition plate 50. This configuration thus further improves the effect of reducing unusual noise.
A part having the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42 extends beyond the distal end of the third heat exchange part 43 toward the second wall 12 of the casing main body 1. This configuration therefore achieves increase in distance between the turbo fan 30 and the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42. This results in pressure reduction near the distal end of the second heat exchange part 42.
Air from the turbo fan 30 is blown out through the blow-out port 10 located on a side opposite from the partition plate 50 with respect to the turbo fan 30. The air from the turbo fan 30 therefore smoothly flows from the partition plate 50 to the blow-out port 10. This configuration thus suppresses occurrence of turbulence of air from the turbo fan 30, at an air flow path from the partition plate 50 to the blow-out port 10.
In this embodiment, the casing of the indoor unit has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is constituted of the casing main body 1, the panel 2, and the grille 3; however, the shape of the casing is not limited thereto.
Also in this embodiment, the indoor unit is designed to be embedded in a ceiling; however, the indoor unit is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the present invention is also applicable to an indoor unit designed to be suspended from a ceiling.
Also in this embodiment, the indoor unit has the blow-out port 10 through which air is blown out in one direction via the heat exchanger 40. Alternatively, the indoor unit may have blow-out ports through which air is blown out in two directions or in three directions via the heat exchanger 40.
Also in this embodiment, the casing main body 1 houses therein the heat exchanger 40 such that the turbo fan 30 is surrounded by the heat exchanger 40 on three sides. Alternatively, the casing main body 1 may house therein the heat exchanger such that the turbo fan 30 is surrounded by the heat exchanger on two sides. Specifically, the casing main body 1 may house therein a heat exchanger corresponding to the heat exchanger 40 from which the second heat exchange part 42 or the third heat exchange part 43 is removed, that is, a heat exchanger having an L shape in plan view. In this case, for example, the heat exchanger may be located between the turbo fan 30 and the first wall 11 and third wall 13 of the casing main body 1. Alternatively, the heat exchanger may be located between the turbo fan 30 and the first wall 11 and fourth wall 14 of the casing main body 1.
The foregoing description concerns specific embodiments of the present invention; however, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment, and various modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the present invention which is defined by the appending claims. For example, an appropriate combination of the configurations described in the foregoing embodiment may be regarded as an embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1: casing main body
1a: suction port
2: panel
3: grille
4: filter
5, 6: pipe connection part
7: drain socket
8: electrical component
10: blow-out port
11: first wall
12: second wall
13: third wall
14: fourth wall
20: flap
20a: flap main body
20b: first auxiliary flap
20c: second auxiliary flap
21: pivot axis
30: turbo fan
31: motor
32: bell mouth
40: heat exchanger
41: first heat exchange part
42: second heat exchange part
43: third heat exchange part
50: partition plate
50a: partition plate main body
50b: flange
60: drain pan
70: drain pump
80: stepping motor
90: link mechanism

Claims

An indoor unit for an air conditioner, comprising:
a casing (1, 2, 3);

a centrifugal fan (30) disposed in the casing (1, 2, 3) ;

a heat exchanger (40) disposed in the casing (1, 2, 3) such that the centrifugal fan (30) is surrounded by the heat exchanger (40) on two or three sides; and

a partition (50) with which the centrifugal fan (30) is surrounded in conjunction with the heat exchanger (40), the partition (50) being connected to a first end of the heat exchanger (40) and a second end of the heat exchanger (40) and configured to guide air blown out by the centrifugal fan (30) from the first end of the heat exchanger (40) to the second end of the heat exchanger (40),

wherein

a distance (L) between the centrifugal fan (30) and the partition (50) at a position near the second end of the heat exchanger (40) is longer than that at a position near the first end of the heat exchanger (40),

a part having the second end of the heat exchanger (40) extends beyond the first end of the heat exchanger (40) toward a wall (12) of the casing (1, 2, 3),

characterized in that

the air from the centrifugal fan (30) is blown out through a blow-out port (10) located on a side opposite from the partition (50) with respect to the centrifugal fan (30) .
The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein
the distance (L) between the centrifugal fan (30) and the partition (50) gradually increases from the first end of the heat exchanger (40) toward the second end of the heat exchanger (40).