JP4350705B2 - Air conditioner with indoor unit with automatic air filter cleaning function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a function of automatically cleaning an air filter provided in an air suction port of an indoor unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the conventional air conditioner is provided with an air filter 5 for preventing dust from entering the inside of the main body 11 on the front surface of the heat exchanger 10. Is configured to be detachable so that attached dust can be cleaned by hand.

  In addition, as an air conditioner that facilitates cleaning of the air filter, a rotating brush, a brush cover that rotatably supports the rotating brush, and a filter brush that includes a pinion that is provided coaxially with the rotating brush are provided. The vacuum cleaner suction nozzle is connected to a suction port provided in the brush cover, moved on the air filter, and dust accumulated on the air filter is sucked while being scraped with a rotating brush (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, a collection device, a cleaning device, a suction mechanism, a carrier beam connected to the suction mechanism, a hose connected to the carrier beam, a vacuum generator, a separator disposed on the suction side of the vacuum generator, etc. There is also proposed an apparatus that automatically sucks dust adhering to an air filter and collects the dust with a separator (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, the drive shaft and driven shaft with belt-shaped air filters stretched, the servo motor that drives the drive shaft, the brush, the dust sensor and fan disposed in the exhaust pipe, and the continuous use time of the air filter. There is a calculation processing means for calculating and a control means for removing dust with a brush while rotating a belt-like air filter (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP-A-11-226331 (second page, FIGS. 1 to 4) JP-A-1-75020 (pages 1-9, FIG. 4) JP-A-6-74521 (second page, FIG. 1)

  However, the conventional air purifier with a detachable air filter removes the air filter from the air conditioner according to the frequency of use of the air conditioner, and performs maintenance such as washing with water or a vacuum cleaner. It was necessary to do regularly and was troublesome. If periodic maintenance is not performed, dust accumulates on the air filter and the ventilation resistance of the intake air increases, which causes problems such as a decrease in performance of the air conditioner and an increase in power consumption.

  Moreover, in what was disclosed by patent document 1, every time the air filter is cleaned, a vacuum cleaner is taken out, the suction nozzle must be connected to the suction port of the brush cover, and moved on the air filter. There was a problem that it took time and effort.

  Further, in the case of the filter device described in Patent Document 2, dust attached to the air filter is automatically sucked, but the sucked dust is collected by the separator. It is necessary to remove the accumulated dust, and it is troublesome. If it is neglected, the dust attached to the air filter will not be removed, the ventilation resistance of the intake air will increase and the performance of the air conditioner will deteriorate. There is also a problem that power consumption increases.

  Furthermore, in the case of the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 3, a long brush having substantially the same length as the entire width of the air filter is required, and the thickness is increased because the air filter has a belt shape. There was a problem that the depth size of the main body was increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and the air filter can be cleaned and maintained very easily, and sufficient performance can be maintained and an increase in power consumption can be prevented. It aims at providing the air conditioner provided with the indoor unit with the automatic cleaning function of an air filter.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an air conditioner having an indoor unit in which a heat exchanger and a fan that blows out the air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger are housed in a main body, the heat exchanger An air filter attached to the main body upstream of the air filter, a slidable suction nozzle having a suction port facing the air filter, for sucking dust adhering to the air filter, and air communicating with the suction nozzle And a suction / exhaust device for sucking and exhausting dust, and a retractable / flexible suction hose for communicating the suction / exhaust device and the suction nozzle, the suction hose extending substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the suction nozzle It is arranged to make a direction .

  With this configuration, the air filter can be automatically cleaned, the predetermined performance of the air conditioner can be maintained, and an increase in power consumption can be prevented.

  The flexible suction hose has one end connected to the suction / exhaust device and the other end connected to the side surface opposite to the suction nozzle as viewed from the suction / exhaust device. It is bent into a shape.

  Furthermore, a lead wire for supplying electric power to the electrical component can be provided along the longitudinal direction of the surface of the suction hose. In this case, a plurality of wires constituting the lead wire are formed in a flat shape, and the suction hose U If it is located on the outer periphery of the character-shaped bent portion, the lead wire is also bent according to the bending operation of the suction hose, and can be easily routed without applying excessive stress to the lead wire.

  In addition, if a gap is provided between the U-shaped bent portion of the suction hose and the lead wire, the U-shaped bent portion of the suction hose does not make frictional contact with the suction hose and it is difficult to disconnect.

  Further, if a guide groove for guiding the lead wire is provided below the suction hose, the lead wire is not displaced from the suction hose, and a stable bending operation and storage can be ensured.

  Alternatively, a plurality of wires constituting the lead wire may be bundled into a substantially circular shape, and the center line of the lead wire and the center line of the suction hose may be matched. In this case, depending on the bending operation of the suction hose Since the lead wire bends in the same manner, it can be safely routed without applying excessive force to both.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 3 show an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of the indoor unit, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are lines I-I in FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main body 11 of the indoor unit includes a heat exchanger 10, a fan 14 for taking in indoor air through the heat exchanger 10 and blowing out the heat-exchanged air, and the heat exchanger 10. The filter apparatus 1 arrange | positioned upstream is installed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the filter device 1 includes a filter frame 2 provided between the main body 11 and the heat exchanger 10, and dust contained in air that is detachably attached to the filter frame 2 and flows into the main body. An air filter 5 for removing air, a suction nozzle 4 provided between the air filter 5 and the main body 11 and slidable left and right (in the direction of arrow A), and one end being the lower end of the suction nozzle 4 A suction hose 3 having a telescopic bellows structure coupled to the suction hose 3, a suction exhaust device 6 coupled to the other end of the suction hose 3, and one end connected to the exhaust side of the suction exhaust device 6 and the other end opened to the outdoor The exhaust duct 7 is provided. The lower end of the suction nozzle 4 is connected to a drive motor 9 via a drive wire 8. The suction nozzle 4 has an upper rail 12 whose upper end and lower end are formed integrally with the filter frame 2. And in sliding contact with the lower rail 13.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the suction nozzle 4 is bent at an intermediate portion so as to match the shape of the air filter 5, and the suction nozzle 4 is opened in a slit shape so as to face the air filter 5. The suction port 4a is formed.

  The operation of the filter device 1 having the above configuration will be described below.

  When the suction / exhaust device 6 starts operation after the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, air starts to be sucked from the suction port 4a of the suction nozzle 4 communicating with the suction hose 3. The suction nozzle 4 located on one end side of the air filter 5 slides in the direction of arrow A toward the other end side of the air filter 5 by the drive wire 8 connected to the drive motor 9. Dust adhering to the surface of the air filter 5 is sucked and discharged from the exhaust duct 7 to the outside. When the suction nozzle 4 cleans the entire surface of the air filter 5 and reaches the other end of the air filter 5, when the drive motor 9 is rotated in the reverse direction, the suction nozzle 4 moves in a direction to return to the initial position, It becomes possible to clean the surface of the air filter 5 again.

  Since the suction hose 3 connecting the suction nozzle 4 and the suction exhaust device 6 is configured to be extendable and retractable, the suction hose 3 expands and contracts as the suction nozzle 4 slides. Regardless of the position, it always communicates with the suction / exhaust device 6.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the filter device 1 provided in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The filter device 1 connects the suction nozzle 4 and the suction exhaust device 6. A flexible suction hose 3 is provided. One end of the suction hose 3 is connected to the suction / exhaust device 6, and the other end is connected to the opposite side surface of the lower end of the suction nozzle 4 when viewed from the suction / exhaust device 6. Is bent in a substantially U shape.

  In the filter device 1 having the above configuration, when the suction / exhaust device 6 starts operation, the suction nozzle 4 located on one end side of the air filter 5 is moved in the direction of arrow A by the drive wire 8 connected to the drive motor 9. However, since the suction hose 3 connecting the suction nozzle 4 and the suction / exhaust device 6 is configured to be bendable, the suction hose 3 bends as the suction nozzle 4 slides. The nozzle 4 is always in communication with the suction / exhaust device 6 regardless of its position.

  The length of the suction hose 3 is set so that when the suction nozzle 4 is positioned on the other end side of the air filter 5, the suction hose 3 can be bent with some clearance.

  FIG. 7 shows a modification of the filter device 1, and FIG. 8 shows the suction hose 3 provided in the filter device 1 of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the suction hose 3 is provided with a lead wire 15 for supplying electric power to an electrical component (not shown) provided in the suction nozzle 4. A plurality of wires 15 a constituting the lead wire 15 are integrally formed in a flat shape, and are positioned along the longitudinal direction of the suction hose 3 and on the outer peripheral portion of the U-shaped bent portion 3 a of the suction hose 3.

  Although electrical components are not particularly shown, in order to scrape off dust adhering to the motor that drives the opening / closing adjustment means provided to change the size of the suction port 4a so that dust can be sucked in efficiently, and the air filter 5. The motor etc. which rotationally drive the rotating brush provided in.

  In the filter device 1 configured as described above, when the suction / exhaust device 6 starts operation, the suction nozzle 4 located on one end side of the air filter 5 is moved in the direction of arrow A by the drive wire 8 connected to the drive motor 9. Slide. At this time, since the lead wires 15 for electrical components are provided so as to contact the suction hose 3, the lead wires 15 are also bent according to the bending operation of the suction hose 3.

  Further, since the plurality of wires 15a constituting the lead wire 15 are integrally formed in a flat shape, the lead wire 15 can be made thin and can be routed in a small space.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, if a gap B is provided between the lead wire 15 and the U-shaped bent portion 3 a of the suction hose 3, the outer periphery of the U-shaped bent portion 3 a of the suction hose 3 is expanded and contracted. Rubbing can be prevented, and early deterioration of the lead wire 15 can be prevented.

  FIG. 10 shows another modification of the suction hose 3, in which a guide groove 16 for the lead wire 15 is provided below the suction hose 3. In this example, the lead wire 15 is not displaced laterally (in the front-rear direction of the indoor unit) with respect to the suction hose 3, and a stable bending operation and storage can be ensured. There is no disconnection due to mechanical parts.

  FIG. 11 shows still another modification of the suction hose 3, in which a plurality of wires 15 a constituting the lead wire 15 are bundled at a plurality of locations with a retaining ring 17 so as to be as close to a circle as possible. In this example, the lead wire 15 is provided on the side surface (front side) of the suction hose 3 so that the center line of the suction hose 3 coincides with the center line of the lead wire 15 when viewed from the front. Accordingly, the lead wire 15 also bends in the same manner, so that the lead wire 15 can be safely routed without applying an excessive force between the plurality of wires 15a.

  In the above embodiment, the air filter 5 is detachably attached to the filter frame 2. However, the filter frame 2 may be a part of the main body 11, and the air filter 5 is fixed to the main body 11. It can also be set as the structure which cannot be removed. However, if the air filter 6 is detachably attached to the main body 11, dust, oil, etc. that cannot be removed by the suction cleaning operation of the suction nozzle 4 can be easily cleaned.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the suction / exhaust device 6 starts operating after the operation of the air conditioner is stopped. However, the suction / exhaust device 6 may be operated before or during the operation of the air conditioner. Good.

  In the above embodiment, the exhaust duct 7 is connected to the suction / exhaust device 6 and the dust sucked by the suction / exhaust device 6 is discharged together with the air to the outside. However, the exhaust duct 7 is not necessarily provided. In this case, the suction / exhaust device 6 is provided with a detachable dust collection case having a dust collection net, and the dust sucked by the suction / exhaust device 6 is collected by the dust collection net, while the air sucked together with the dust is sucked and exhausted. The dust collected by the dust collection net can be removed by removing the dust collection case from the suction exhaust device 6.

It is a front view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing along line II in FIG. It is sectional drawing along line II-II in FIG. It is a perspective view of the filter apparatus provided in the indoor unit of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the suction nozzle provided in the filter apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional front view of the suction nozzle of FIG. 5A. It is a perspective view of the filter apparatus provided in the indoor unit of the air conditioner concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of a filter apparatus. It is a perspective view of the suction hose provided in the filter apparatus of FIG. It is a front view of the bending part of the suction hose of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of a suction hose. It is a perspective view which shows another modification of a suction hose. It is a front view of the indoor unit of the conventional air conditioner. It is sectional drawing along line III-III in FIG.

Claims (8)

An air conditioner having an indoor unit that houses a heat exchanger and a fan that blows out air heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger into the room, and is attached to the body on the upstream side of the heat exchanger. An air filter, a slidable suction nozzle for sucking dust adhering to the air filter having a suction port opposed to the air filter, and a suction exhaust device communicating with the suction nozzle and sucking and exhausting dust together with air And a retractable suction hose that allows the suction exhaust device and the suction nozzle to communicate with each other , and the suction hose is disposed so as to have a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the suction nozzle. Air conditioner to do. An air conditioner having an indoor unit that houses a heat exchanger and a fan that blows out air heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger into the room, and is attached to the body on the upstream side of the heat exchanger. An air filter, a slidable suction nozzle for sucking dust adhering to the air filter having a suction port opposed to the air filter, and a suction exhaust device communicating with the suction nozzle and sucking and exhausting dust together with air And a bendable suction hose that allows the suction exhaust device and the suction nozzle to communicate with each other , and the suction hose is disposed so as to have a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the sliding direction of the suction nozzle. Air conditioner to do. The suction hose has one end connected to the suction / exhaust device and the other end connected to the side surface on the opposite side of the suction nozzle as seen from the suction / exhaust device. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the air conditioner is bent. The air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a lead wire for supplying electric power to the electrical component along the longitudinal direction of the surface of the suction hose. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of wires constituting the lead wire are formed in a flat shape and are located on an outer peripheral portion of a U-shaped bent portion of the suction hose. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein a gap is provided between the U-shaped bent portion of the suction hose and the lead wire. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a guide groove for guiding the lead wire is provided below the suction hose. The air conditioning according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of wires constituting the lead wire are bundled in a substantially circular shape so that the center line of the lead wire and the center line of the suction hose are matched. Machine.

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