JP6579826B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that discharges drain water generated in a heat exchanger to the outside through a drain pipe, and more particularly to an air conditioner that discharges drain water to the outside using a drain pump.

  During operation of the air conditioner, a large amount of condensed water is generated from the heat exchanger, and a drain pan is provided directly below the heat exchanger in order to temporarily store the condensed water. Condensation water stored in the drain pan contains a large amount of dust that has floated in the air, so that germs grow and viscous slime is generated. If it adheres to it, it may cause failure or poor drainage.

  For example, Patent Document 1 includes a drainage pipe connected to a drain pump, a second drainage pipe branched from the drainage pipe and returning to the drain pan, and a dirt collecting means provided directly below the second drainage pipe. And when the drain pump is stopped, the water remaining in the upstream drainage pipe is returned to the drain pan via the second drainage pipe, so that the water is filtered by the dirt collecting means and the generation of slime is suppressed. An air conditioner that can be used is disclosed.

JP2013-253711A

  However, the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that if the slime adheres to the drain pump blades and the like and does not move, the drain pump needs to be disassembled and cleaned, and maintenance is troublesome.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that can effectively clean a drain discharge system such as removing slime adhering from a drain pump without disassembling the drain pump.

An air conditioner according to the present invention includes a drain pan that stores drain water generated in a heat exchanger, a drain pump that drains drain water stored in the drain pan, and a control unit that controls the operation of the drain pump. The controller is capable of executing a cleaning operation in which the drain pump is operated in a direction opposite to the discharge, and the drain pan is provided with a gradient so that the drain portion and a downward slope toward the reservoir portion are provided. The drain portion includes a recessed portion that is recessed to increase the depth, and the drain pump is disposed substantially directly above the reservoir portion, and is a manual changeover switch for performing a cleaning operation. The drainage pipe is connected to the discharge port of the drain pump and through which drain water discharged from the discharge port flows. The drainage pipe is provided with a check valve for preventing the backflow of drainage and an open valve. , Dore Pump has a drive motor, control unit, when switched to the cleaning operation by the manual changeover switch, thereby opening the relief valve, the drive motor you rotated in the opposite direction to the direction to suck the drain water.

In the air conditioner according to the present invention, it is preferable that a discharge port into which a drain plug is detachably fitted is provided on the bottom surface of the recess . Also, the air conditioner according to the present invention, a drain pan for reserving the drain water generated in the heat exchanger, a drain pump for discharging drain water stocked in the drain pan, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the drain pump The control unit can execute a cleaning operation in which the drain pump is operated in a direction opposite to the discharge, and drain water discharged from the discharge port is connected to the discharge port of the drain pump. The drainage pipe includes a drainage pipe and a frame in which the heat exchanger is stored. The drainage pipe has a cleaning port for connecting a hose, and the cleaning port is branched obliquely upward from a portion extending substantially vertically in the drainage pipe. through the frame extends piping, and saw including a removable sealing plug to seal the pipe, the cleaning operation is performed in a state where the sealing plug is water pipe removed and cleaned port is poured Possible That.

According to the air conditioner according to the present invention, foreign matters such as slime accumulated in the drain pump can be removed by rotating the drain pump in the direction opposite to the discharge during maintenance. As a result, the drain discharge system can be effectively cleaned such that slime can be removed from the drain pump without the need for disassembling and cleaning the drain pump.

It is the perspective view which looked at the four-way ceiling cassette type indoor unit which is an embodiment concerning the present invention from the room. It is a top view which shows the arrangement configuration of the heat exchanger and drain pan of the four-way ceiling cassette type indoor unit shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the arrangement configuration of the heat exchanger and drain pan of the four-way ceiling cassette type indoor unit shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the drain pump periphery contained in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this description, specific shapes, materials, numerical values, directions, and the like are examples for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and can be appropriately changed according to the application, purpose, specification, and the like. In addition, when a plurality of embodiments and modifications are included in the following, it is assumed from the beginning that these characteristic portions are used in appropriate combinations.

  The air conditioner 10 is a four-way ceiling cassette type indoor unit, and includes a frame 16 in which the heat exchanger 12 and the fan 14 are stored, a drain pan 20 provided in the decorative panel 18, a drain pump 24 that discharges drain water, And the control part 40 (refer FIG. 4) is provided. The heat exchanger 12 is arranged in a substantially annular shape so as to surround the fan 14, and more precisely, is arranged in a substantially C shape with one end cut off. The heat exchanger 12 constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with a compressor (not shown) that compresses the refrigerant. The indoor air sucked from the panel suction port 18a provided in the decorative panel 18 by the fan 14 and the refrigeration cycle. Heat is exchanged with the refrigerant that constitutes, and cool air or warm air is generated. The cool air or the warm air generated by the heat exchanger 12 is supplied into the room from the air outlet 18b provided in the decorative panel 18.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the drain pump 24 in the reservoir 20 a provided at one corner of the drain pan 20. The drain pan 20 is a recess formed like a substantially rectangular frame on the upper surface side of the decorative panel 18 as shown in FIG. 2, and is disposed opposite to the lower end of the heat exchanger 12 as shown in FIG. The drain (condensation) water generated in the heat exchanger 12 is temporarily stored. The reservoir 20a of the drain pan 20 is provided with a recess 20d formed deeper than the other parts so that the water depth is deepest. A discharge port 20c into which a drain plug 20b is detachably fitted is provided on the bottom surface of the recess 20d. Further, the bottom surface of the other part of the drain pan 20 is provided with a gradient so as to be a gentle downhill toward the reservoir 20a. For this reason, the drain water generated in the heat exchanger 12 is collected in the reservoir 20 a of the drain pan 20.

  The drain pump 24 is disposed immediately above the recess 20 d provided in the reservoir 20 a and has a function of sucking up drain water stored in the drain pan 20. The funnel-shaped housing 26 and the housing 26 And the drive motor M that rotationally drives the impeller 28. The housing 26 has a circular suction port 26a formed at the lower end portion, and a discharge port 26b connected to the drain pipe 30 on the side surface on the upper end side. The impeller 28 is rotationally driven by the drive motor M, and discharges drain water sucked up from the suction port 26a to the downstream drainage pipe 30 from the discharge port 26b by the negative pressure generated by the rotation.

  One end of the drainage pipe 30 is connected to the discharge port 26b of the housing 26. The drainage pipe 30 rises substantially vertically and then extends horizontally behind the ceiling, and the other end is connected to an outdoor drainage pipe. . The drainage pipe 30 is provided with a cleaning port 32 for connecting a hose during maintenance, a check valve 34a for preventing the backflow of drainage, and an open valve 34b in the drainage path. The cleaning port 32 includes a pipe 35 that branches from a joint portion 30a provided in a portion where the drain pipe 30 extends substantially vertically and extends obliquely upward through the frame 16, and a detachable seal that seals the pipe 35. And a sealing plug 36. By extending the pipe 35 obliquely upward, water can be prevented from dripping from the cleaning port 32.

  The check valve 34a is disposed in a joint portion 30b provided at a portion where the drainage pipe 30 on the downstream side of the cleaning port 32 extends substantially horizontally, and has a function of preventing the backflow of drainage.

  The release valve 34b is provided on the upper surface portion of the joint portion 30b and immediately upstream of the check valve 34a, and has a role of communicating the drainage pipe 30 upstream of the check valve 34a to the outside. Yes.

  The joint portion 30b may be formed of a transparent resin material. Thereby, it can be visually confirmed from the outside whether or not dirt such as slime is accumulated inside the joint portion 30b.

The control unit 40 is a control board that controls the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 10 by rotationally driving the fan 14 and the compressor (not shown). Further, when the control unit 40 detects that the water level of the drain water stored in the drain pan 20 has reached a predetermined reference water level during the air-conditioning operation and when the air-conditioning operation is stopped, the control unit 40 detects the drive motor M. A drain operation is performed in which the drain water is sucked up and discharged to the drain pipe 30 by being rotationally driven in a predetermined rotation direction.
The controller 40 has a manual changeover switch 40a. The manual changeover switch 40a has a role of switching the rotation direction of the drive motor M in order to perform a cleaning operation, and the control unit 40 which is a control board of the indoor unit so that the user does not operate it by mistake during normal use. Is provided. In the present embodiment, the manual changeover switch 40a is provided in the control unit 40. However, for example, a back setting screen for maintenance is provided on a remote controller for operating the indoor unit, and this back setting screen is displayed via an operation button or the like. May be operated. However, in this case, you can set the settings so that they cannot be operated without entering a password, etc., so that the user will not accidentally operate the back settings screen, or start the back settings screen that only the manufacturer and maintenance personnel know. A hidden button etc. should be provided inside the remote control.
When the operation mode is switched from the drain operation to the cleaning operation by the manual changeover switch 40a during the maintenance inspection, the control unit 40 opens the release valve 34b provided on the upper surface portion of the joint unit 30b and drives the drive motor M to the predetermined value. Drives in the direction opposite to the rotation direction. As a result, outside air is introduced from the open valve 34b, so that even if the check valve 34a is closed, dirt such as slime adhering to the drainage pipe 30 and the impeller 28 is directed toward the drain pan 20 on the upstream side of the drainage path. Can be sucked out. The dirt discharged to the drain pan 20 is discharged into a bucket or the like installed immediately below by opening the opened discharge port 20c. In this embodiment, the manual changeover switch 40a is set to rotate in the opposite direction only when it is switched to the cleaning operation mode.

  According to the air conditioner 10 according to the present embodiment, foreign matters such as slime accumulated in the drain pump 24 can be removed by rotating the drain pump 24 in the direction opposite to the discharge during maintenance. As a result, the drain discharge system can be effectively cleaned, for example, slime can be removed from the drain pump 24 without the need to disassemble and clean the drain pump 24.

In the above-described embodiment, an example is described in which the opening valve 34b is opened when the control unit 40 rotates the drive motor M in the opposite direction. However, instead of opening the opening valve 34b, the cleaning port 32 is sealed. The stopcock 36 may be removed.
Further, by removing the sealing plug 36 and inserting the hose into the pipe 35 of the cleaning port 32 and driving the drive motor M in the opposite direction while pouring water, the hose is accumulated in the drain pipe 30 more efficiently. Foreign matter such as slime can be swept away into the drain pan 20. However, it should be noted that in this case, it is necessary to remove the drain plug 20b from the discharge port 20c in advance and receive water discharged from the discharge port 20c with a bucket or the like.
In addition, when the dirt inside the drain pipe 30 is severe, the dirt may be removed by connecting the suction port of the wet cleaner to the pipe 35 of the cleaning port 32 and sucking it.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning port 32 is provided in the joint portion 30a. Instead of providing the joint portion 30a, the cleaning port 32 is provided in the upstream portion of the drainage path from the check valve 34a of the joint portion 30b. May be.

  The air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment and its modifications, and various improvements can be made within the scope of matters described in the claims of the present application and their equivalents. Needless to say, it can be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Air conditioning apparatus, 12 Heat exchanger, 18 Cosmetic panel, 20 Drain pan, 24 Drain pump, 28 Impeller, 30 Drain piping, 40 Control part, 40a Manual changeover switch, M motor.

Claims (3)

An air conditioner having a drain pan for storing drain water generated in a heat exchanger, a drain pump for discharging drain water stored in the drain pan, and a controller for controlling the operation of the drain pump,
The control unit can perform a cleaning operation for operating the drain pump in a direction opposite to the discharge,
The drain pan includes a reservoir portion and a bottom surface portion provided with a gradient so as to become a downward slope toward the reservoir portion,
The reservoir portion includes a recessed portion that is recessed to increase the depth,
The drain pump is disposed substantially directly above the reservoir ;
A manual changeover switch for performing the cleaning operation;
A drain pipe connected to the discharge port of the drain pump and through which the drain water discharged from the discharge port flows;
The drainage pipe is provided with a check valve for preventing the backflow of drainage and an open valve,
The drain pump has a drive motor,
Wherein, when switched by the manual selector switch to the cleaning operation, as well as opening the open valve, rotated the drive motor in the direction opposite to the direction to suck the drain water, the air conditioning apparatus. In the air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1 ,
The air conditioner, wherein a discharge port into which a drain plug is detachably fitted is provided on the bottom surface of the recess. An air conditioner having a drain pan for storing drain water generated in a heat exchanger, a drain pump for discharging drain water stored in the drain pan, and a controller for controlling the operation of the drain pump,
The control unit can perform a cleaning operation for operating the drain pump in a direction opposite to the discharge,
A drain pipe connected to a discharge port of the drain pump and through which the drain water discharged from the discharge port flows, and a frame in which the heat exchanger is stored,
The drainage pipe has a cleaning port for connecting a hose,
The cleaning opening is seen including piping, and a removable sealing plug to seal the pipe extending through the frame extends obliquely upward branches from a substantially vertically extending portion in the drain pipe,
The cleaning operation can be performed in a state where the sealing plug is removed and water is poured into the piping of the cleaning port .

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