JP7584232B2 - Air conditioning equipment - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to air conditioning devices.

As an air conditioner (indoor unit) that is attached to the ceiling of a room, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. The ceiling-suspended air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 comprises a casing with an air outlet that opens horizontally, a blower provided within the casing, a heat exchanger provided downstream of the blower, and flaps provided above and below the air outlet.

The air compressed by the blower passes through the heat exchanger and becomes cool or warm air, which is then supplied to the room through the air outlet. At this time, the direction of the airflow can be changed by adjusting the angle of the flap.

JP 2010-112600 A

In recent years, however, there has been a demand to reduce the discomfort (draft feeling) caused by the air blown from the air conditioner directly hitting the human body. In the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 above, for example, if the flap is facing downward, the air blown may hit the user directly, causing a draft feeling.

This disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide an air conditioner that further reduces the feeling of a draft.

In order to solve the above problems, the air conditioning device of the present disclosure comprises a casing having an air outlet that opens horizontally, a blower provided within the casing and blowing air toward the front where the air outlet is, upper and lower louvers that rotate about a first axis extending in the width direction of the air outlet to transition between a closed position where the air outlet is blocked and a guide position where the air is guided forward by a downward-facing guide surface, and an air guide plate that rotates outside the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers about a second axis below the first axis to transition between a standby position where the air outlet is located above the air outlet and an air guide position that is located forward and below the upper and lower louvers and guides the air guided by the guide surface forward , wherein the surface of the air guide plate facing rearward in the standby position is an air guide surface, and a flow path that guides air horizontally is formed by being sandwiched between the guide surfaces of the upper and lower louvers and the air guide surface of the air guide plate.

The air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes a casing having an air outlet that opens in a horizontal direction, a blower that is provided within the casing and blows air toward the front where the air outlet is located, up-and-down louvers that transition between a closed position that closes the air outlet and a guide position that guides the air forward by a downwardly facing guide surface by rotating about a first axis that extends in the width direction of the air outlet, and a blower that is provided behind the up-and-down louvers and transitions between a closed position that closes the air outlet and a guide position that guides the air forward by a downwardly facing guide surface. The left and right louvers are further provided with a plurality of left and right louvers that guide the movement of the upper and lower louvers, and the left and right louvers are supported by shafts provided at the upper parts of the left and right louvers so that they can rotate around the third axis relative to the casing. The front edges of the left and right louvers are formed with recesses that are recessed rearward in an L-shape when viewed from the width direction to accommodate the rear edges of the upper and lower louvers in the guiding position, and the rear ends of the upper and lower louvers in the guiding position can be accommodated in the recesses of the left and right louvers which are in the position where they have been rotated the furthest in the left-right direction.

This disclosure makes it possible to provide an air conditioner that further reduces the feeling of a draft.

1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 11A to 11C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the upper and lower louvers and the air guide plate according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the upper and lower louvers are in a closed position and the air guide plate is in a standby position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the upper and lower louvers are in a guide position and the air guide plate is in a standby position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the upper and lower louvers are in a guide position and the air guide plate is in an air guide position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A cross-sectional view showing a state in which the up-down louvers are in a guide position and the left-right louvers have been rotated to the maximum in either the left or right direction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a left side view of an upper and lower louver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a right side view of an upper and lower louver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Configuration of Air Conditioner)
Hereinafter, an air conditioner 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment includes a casing 1, a blower 2, a heat exchanger 10, upper and lower louvers 3, an air guide plate 4, and left and right louvers 5.

(Casing Configuration)
The casing 1 has a rectangular box shape when viewed from the bottom. An air outlet 1A is formed in the front surface of the casing 1 (i.e., one surface facing the horizontal direction). Two air outlets 1A are provided with a gap in the width direction. An air intake 1B for taking air into the casing 1 is formed in the bottom surface of the casing 1.

Inside the casing 1, a blower 2 and a heat exchanger 10 are provided. The blower 2 pressurizes and sends out the air taken in from the air intake. The heat exchanger 10 is disposed in the space (air passage P) between the blower 2 and the air outlet 1A. The heat exchanger 10 is part of a refrigerant circuit (not shown), and exchanges heat between the air sent from the blower 2 and the refrigerant. As a result, the air that passes through the heat exchanger 10 becomes hot or cold air and is supplied into the room from the air outlet 1A. In the following explanation, the side where the air outlet 1A is located as viewed from the blower 2 is called the front, and the opposite side is called the rear.

(Configuration of the air outlet)
The air outlet 1A is provided with an upper and lower louver 3, an air guide plate 4, and a left and right louver 5. The upper and lower louvers 3 are plate-shaped members having dimensions capable of blocking the air outlet 1A. As will be described in detail later, the upper and lower louvers 3 are provided to change the flow direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 1A up and down. The air guide plate 4 is stored above the upper and lower louvers 3 and is flush with the air guide plate 4. The air guide plate 4 is provided to guide the air flow guided by the upper and lower louvers 3 forward. The left and right louvers 5 are provided behind the upper and lower louvers 3 at the air outlet 1A. The left and right louvers 5 are provided to change the flow direction of the air blown out from the air outlet 1A left and right.

(Configuration of upper and lower louvers)
As shown in Fig. 3, the upper and lower louvers 3 are rotatable about a first axis A1 extending in the width direction of the air outlet 1A. The upper and lower louvers 3 can transition their posture between a closed position P1 where they close the air outlet 1A, and a guide position P2 where they are rotated rearward from the closed position P1. The posture of the upper and lower louvers 3 is adjusted by an actuator (not shown).

More specifically, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, the upper and lower louvers 3 have a plate-shaped upper and lower louver body 31 and a tab 32 protruding from the back surface (guide surface 3S) of the upper and lower louver body 31. The tab 32 is supported so as to be rotatable about the first axis A1.

Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, protrusions 6A and 6B are provided on both widthwise sides of the upper and lower louvers 3 to support the upper and lower louvers 3 by the casing 1 so that they cannot fall off. The protrusions 6A and 6B protrude to the left and right from the ends of both widthwise sides of the upper and lower louvers 3. As shown in Fig. 8, the protrusions 6A and 6B are each approximately cylindrical, and a portion of the protrusion is cut out by 1/4 of the circumference to form the notches 61A and 61B. The circumferential positions at which the notches 61A and 61B are formed differ by 180° between the protrusions 6A and 6B. In other words, the protrusions 6A and 6B have shapes that are rotationally symmetrical to each other.

The cap 7 is fitted into these protrusions 6A, 6B while inserted into the holes in the casing 1. The cap 7 is cylindrical and covers the protrusions 6A, 6B from the outer periphery. The cap 7 has a cylindrical cap body 71 and a protrusion 72 that protrudes radially from a part of the outer periphery of the cap body 71. The protrusion 72 is provided to regulate the rotation range of the upper and lower louvers 3 by engaging with a groove formed in the casing 1. While the protrusions 6A, 6B have a rotationally symmetric shape, the cap 7 has the same shape on both sides in the width direction. In other words, the cap 7 is a common part on both sides in the width direction.

(Configuration of the air guide plate)
As shown in FIG. 3, the air guide plate 4 is rotatable around a second axis A2 extending in the width direction of the air outlet 1A. The air guide plate 4 can transition its posture between a standby position P3 located above the air outlet 1A and an air guide position P4 located in front of and below the upper and lower louvers 3. The posture of the air guide plate 4 is adjusted by an actuator (not shown). The second axis A2 is located below and rearward of the first axis A1. The rotation trajectory of the air guide plate 4 is located outside the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers 3. In other words, the rotation radius of the air guide plate 4 is larger than the rotation radius of the upper and lower louvers 3. In other words, the rotation trajectory of the air guide plate 4 does not overlap with the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers 3.

More specifically, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the air guide plate 4 has a plate-shaped air guide plate body 41 and a rotating arm 42 attached to the edge of the air guide plate body 41. The surface of the air guide plate body 41 that faces rearward in the standby position P3 is the air guide surface 4S. The rotating arm 42 is supported so as to be rotatable about the second axis A2.

(Configuration of left and right louvers)
As shown in Fig. 4 to Fig. 6, the left and right louvers 5 are rotatable around a third axis A3 extending in the vertical direction. The left and right louvers 5 have a plate-shaped left and right louver body 51 that extends in the vertical direction, and a columnar shaft portion 52 that supports the left and right louver body 51 rotatably relative to the casing 1. The shaft portion 52 is rotatable around the third axis A3. A recess R that is recessed toward the rear side is formed on the front edge of the left and right louver body 51. As a result, as shown in Fig. 7, when the up and down louvers 3 are in the guide position P2 and the left and right louvers 5 are in a state of being rotated to the maximum in either the left or right direction, the rear end t of the up and down louvers 3 is accommodated in the recess R. In other words, there is no interference between the end t and the left and right louvers 5.

(Action and Effect)
Next, the operation of the air conditioner 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 4, when the air conditioner 100 is in a stopped state, the upper and lower louvers 3 are in a closed position P1, and the air guide plate 4 is in a standby position P3. In other words, the air outlet 1A is closed by the upper and lower louvers 3, and the air guide plate 4 is stored above the upper and lower louvers 3.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when only the upper and lower louvers 3 are rotated to transition to the guide position P2, the air is guided forward (horizontally) by the downward-facing guide surface 3S of the upper and lower louver body 31.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper and lower louvers 3 may be rotated slightly downward from the guide position P2 to the downward position P2'. In this case, the air flows forward and downward along the guide surface 3S. As a result, the wind may directly blow on users near the air conditioner 100, causing a feeling of draft.

Therefore, in the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the air guide plate 4 is transitioned to the air guide position P4. As a result, the air guided by the upper and lower louvers can be guided by the air guide surface 4S of the air guide plate 4, and can be guided forward without being directed downward. This can reduce the drafty feeling caused by the air being blown downward.

Furthermore, with the above configuration, the rotational trajectories of the upper and lower louvers 3 and the air guide plate 4 do not overlap, so the position of one can be adjusted independently of the other. This allows air to be supplied in various directions without a feeling of draft.

In addition, with the above configuration, the upper and lower louvers 3 and the air guide plate 4 are stored in a flush state, improving the aesthetic appearance of the entire device.

In addition, with the above configuration, the rotation radius of the air guide plate 4 is larger than that of the upper and lower louvers 3, so that the air guide plate 4 can be extended further forward than the upper and lower louvers 3 when in the air guide position P4. This allows the air guided by the upper and lower louvers 3 to be stably received by the air guide plate 4 and guided forward more smoothly.

Furthermore, according to the above configuration, the recesses R are formed on the front edges of the left and right louvers 5, so that interference between the upper and lower louvers 3 at the guide position P2 and the left and right louvers 5 can be avoided. As a result, the dimensions and size of the device in the front-rear direction can be kept small.

In addition, with the above configuration, the protrusions 6A, 6B of the upper and lower louvers 3 have rotationally symmetric shapes on both sides in the width direction, so the shape of the caps 7 can be made the same on both sides in the width direction. In other words, only one type of cap 7 can be prepared to accommodate the protrusions 6A, 6B on both sides in the width direction. This reduces the number of parts and reduces manufacturing costs.

Other Embodiments
The above describes the embodiment of the present disclosure. Various changes and modifications can be made to the above configuration without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. For example, in the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the rotation trajectory of the air guide plate 4 does not overlap with the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers 3. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the operations of the air guide plate 4 and the upper and lower louvers 3 are exclusively controlled in a state in which the rotation trajectories of these louvers 4 and the upper and lower louvers 3 partially overlap, thereby avoiding interference between the two.

<Additional Notes>
The air conditioner described in each embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

(1) The air conditioner 100 according to the first aspect includes a casing 1 having an air outlet 1A that opens in the horizontal direction, a blower 2 that is provided within the casing 1 and blows air toward the front where the air outlet 1A is located, an upper and lower louvers 3 that rotate about a first axis A1 that extends in the width direction of the air outlet 1A to transition between a closed position P1 that closes the air outlet 1A and a guide position P2 that guides the air forward using a guide surface 3S facing downward, and an air guide plate 4 that rotates outside the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers 3 about a second axis A2 that is lower than the first axis A1 to transition between a standby position P3 that fits above the air outlet 1A and an air guide position P4 that is located forward and below the upper and lower louvers 3 and guides the air guided by the guide surface 3S forward.

According to the above configuration, by shifting the air guide plate 4 to the air guide position P4, the air guided by the upper and lower louvers 3 can be guided forward without being directed downward. This reduces the drafty feeling caused by the air being blown downward.

(2) In the air conditioning device 100 according to the second aspect, the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers 3 and the rotation trajectory of the air guide plate 4 do not overlap with each other.

With the above configuration, the rotation trajectories of the upper and lower louvers 3 and the air guide plate 4 do not overlap, so the position of one can be adjusted independently of the other.

(3) In the air conditioning device 100 according to the third aspect, when the upper and lower louvers 3 are in the closed position P1 and the air guide plate 4 is in the standby position P3, the upper and lower louvers 3 and the air guide plate 4 are flush with each other.

The above configuration improves the overall aesthetic appearance of the device.

(4) In the air conditioner 100 according to the fourth aspect, the rotation radius of the air guide plate 4 is greater than the rotation radius of the upper and lower louvers 3.

The above configuration allows the air guide plate 4 to extend further forward than the upper and lower louvers 3 when in the air guide position P4.

(5) The air conditioning device 100 according to the fifth aspect further includes a plurality of left and right louvers 5 that are provided behind the upper and lower louvers 3 and rotate about a third axis A3 that extends in the height direction of the air outlet 1A to guide the direction of the air in the horizontal direction, and a recess R is formed on the front edge of the left and right louvers 5, which recesses forward to accommodate the rear edge of the upper and lower louvers 3 at the guide position P2.

The above configuration makes it possible to avoid interference between the upper and lower louvers 3 and the left and right louvers 5 at the guide position P2. As a result, the dimensions and size of the device in the front-rear direction can be kept small.

(6) In the air conditioning device 100 according to the sixth aspect, the upper and lower louvers 3 have protrusions 6A, 6B that protrude in the width direction from the upper and lower louvers 3 and are inserted into holes formed in the casing 1, and a cap 7 that is attached to the protrusions 6A, 6B to fix the upper and lower louvers 3 to the casing 1 so that they cannot fall off, and the protrusions 6A, 6B have rotationally symmetric shapes on both sides in the width direction, and the caps 7 have the same shapes on both sides in the width direction.

With the above configuration, the protrusions 6A and 6B have rotationally symmetric shapes on both sides in the width direction, so the shape of the cap 7 can be made the same on both sides in the width direction. In other words, by simply preparing one type of cap 7, it is possible to accommodate the protrusions on both sides in the width direction.

(7) The air conditioner according to the seventh aspect includes a casing 1 having an air outlet 1A that opens in the horizontal direction, a blower 2 that is provided within the casing 1 and blows air toward the front where the air outlet 1A is located, upper and lower louvers 3 that transition between a closed position P1 that closes the air outlet 1A by rotating about a first axis A1 that extends in the width direction of the air outlet 1A and a guide position P2 that guides the air forward using a downward-facing guide surface 3S, and a plurality of left and right louvers 5 that are provided behind the upper and lower louvers 3 and rotate about a third axis A3 that extends in the height direction of the air outlet 1A to guide the direction of the air in the horizontal direction, and a recess R is formed on the front edge of the left and right louvers 5 that recesses forward to accommodate the rear edge of the upper and lower louvers 3 at the guide position P2.

The above configuration makes it possible to avoid interference between the upper and lower louvers 3 and the left and right louvers 5 at the guide position P2. As a result, the dimensions and size of the device in the front-rear direction can be kept small.

Reference Signs List 100 Air conditioner 1 Casing 1A Air outlet 1B Air intake 2 Blower 3 Up-down louvers 3S Guide surface 4 Air guide plate 4S Air guide surface 5 Left-right louvers 6A, 6B Projecting portions 61A, 61B Notch portion 7 Cap 71 Cap body 72 Convex portion 10 Heat exchanger 31 Up-down louver body 32 Tab 41 Air guide plate body 42 Rotating arm 51 Left-right louver body 52 Shaft portion A1 First axis A2 Second axis A3 Third axis R Recessed portion

Claims (8)

a casing having an air outlet opening in a horizontal direction;
a blower provided in the casing and configured to blow air toward the front where the air outlet is located;
An upper and lower louver that transitions between a closed position that closes the air outlet and a guide position that guides the air forward by a guide surface facing downward by rotating about a first axis that extends in a width direction of the air outlet;
an air guide plate that transitions between a standby position located above the air outlet and an air guide position located forward and below the upper and lower louvers and that guides the air guided by the guide surface forward by rotating around a second axis that is lower than the first axis and outside the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers;
Equipped with
A surface of the air guide plate facing rearward in the standby position is defined as an air guide surface,
An air conditioner having a flow path for guiding air horizontally, the flow path being sandwiched between the guide surfaces of the upper and lower louvers and the air guide surface of the air guide plate. The air conditioner according to claim 1, in which the rotation trajectory of the upper and lower louvers and the rotation trajectory of the air guide plate do not overlap each other. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the upper and lower louvers are in the closed position and the air guide plate is in the standby position, the upper and lower louvers and the air guide plate are flush with each other. An air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotation radius of the air guide plate is greater than the rotation radius of the upper and lower louvers. Further, a plurality of left and right louvers are provided behind the upper and lower louvers and rotate around a third axis extending in a height direction of the air outlet to guide the direction of the air in the horizontal direction,
An air conditioning device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the front edges of the left and right louvers are formed with recesses that are recessed rearward to accommodate the rear edges of the upper and lower louvers in the guide position. The upper and lower louvers are
a protrusion protruding in a width direction from the upper and lower louvers and inserted into a hole formed in the casing;
a cap that is attached to the protruding portion to fix the upper and lower louvers to the casing so that they cannot fall off;
having
The protrusions have shapes that are rotationally symmetrical to each other on both sides in the width direction,
The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the cap has the same shape on both sides in the width direction. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, when viewed from the top-bottom direction, the air guide plate in the air guide position overlaps with a portion of the upper and lower louvers in the guide position, and the front end of the air guide plate is located further forward than the front end of the upper and lower louvers. a casing having an air outlet opening in a horizontal direction;
a blower provided in the casing and configured to blow air toward the front where the air outlet is located;
An upper and lower louver that transitions between a closed position that closes the air outlet and a guide position that guides the air forward by a guide surface facing downward by rotating about a first axis that extends in a width direction of the air outlet;
Further, a plurality of left and right louvers are provided behind the upper and lower louvers and rotate around a third axis extending in a height direction of the air outlet to guide the direction of the air in the horizontal direction,
The left and right louvers are supported by shafts provided at upper portions of the left and right louvers so as to be rotatable about the third axis with respect to the casing,
A recess is formed in the front edge of the left and right louvers so as to be recessed rearward in a U-shape when viewed from the width direction , thereby accommodating the rear edge of the upper and lower louvers in the guide position;
An air conditioning apparatus in which the rear ends of the up-down louvers in the guide position can be accommodated in the recesses of the left-right louvers in the position where they are rotated most to the left and right.

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