JP7799448B2 - air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

The spot cooler described in Patent Document 1 includes an evaporator and condenser for a refrigeration cycle, an intake air passage, a cold air duct, and an exhaust air passage. The evaporator cools the air drawn in through the intake air passage. The cold air cooled by the evaporator is supplied to the outside of the spot cooler through the cold air duct. The condenser transfers heat to the air drawn in through the intake air passage. The air from which heat has been transferred by the condenser is discharged to the outside of the spot cooler through the exhaust air passage.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-130744

However, the spot cooler described in Patent Document 1 requires that the heated air be discharged outdoors, so the exhaust duct must be opened to the outdoors. This means that it is difficult to install the spot cooler indoors.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an air conditioner that can suppress the temperature rise of the heat emitted.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a housing having an inlet through which air flows in and an outlet through which the air flows out. The housing has a first air duct that communicates with the inlet and the outlet, respectively, and a second air duct that communicates with the inlet and the outlet, respectively, and is different from the first air duct. The air conditioner further includes a suction machine that draws the air into the first air duct and the second air duct, a refrigeration cycle condenser that heats the air that has flowed into the second air duct, and an evaporator that cools the air that flows out of the second air duct using the heat of vaporization.

The air conditioner of the present invention can suppress the temperature rise of the heat being emitted.

1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above and rear. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 cut open from a central longitudinal section. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 taken along line III-III. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 taken along line IV-IV. FIG. 3 is a left side cross-sectional view showing the air flow on the left side of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 2 . 3 is a right-side cross-sectional view showing the air flow on the right side of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a left-side cross-sectional view showing a different air flow from that shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 10 is an exploded view of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention, cut open from a central longitudinal cross section. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the air conditioner as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air conditioner at the center in the front-to-rear direction, as viewed from the front. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating the principle of an evaporator provided in an air conditioner, showing a state in which the evaporator is not performing humidification. FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the vaporizer of FIG. 11 is humidifying. FIG. 11 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front. FIG. 10 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front. FIG. 10 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of an air conditioner according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front. FIG. 11 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of an air conditioner according to a fifth embodiment, as viewed from the front. FIG. 10 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of an air conditioner according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front. FIG. 11 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of an air conditioner according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front.

An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The air conditioner may be, for example, a spot cooler or an air purifier. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.
[Embodiment 1]

1 to 7, a first embodiment of an air conditioner 100 according to the present invention will be described. In FIGS. 1 to 7, the right side of the air conditioner 100 is the X-axis direction, the rear side of the air conditioner 100 is the Y-axis direction, and the upper side of the air conditioner 100 is the Z-axis direction. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment, viewed from above and rear. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 1, cut open from the central longitudinal plane L. FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross section III-III of the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a view showing a cross section IV-IV of the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a left-side cross-sectional view showing the flow of air A, W, and M on the left side of the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a right-side cross-sectional view showing the flow of air A and C on the right side of the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a left-side cross-sectional view showing the flow of air A, W, and M, which is different from that shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 includes a housing 10. The housing 10 has an inlet 12 through which air flows in and an outlet 13 through which air flows out. In FIG. 1, the upper left side of the page is the front side of the housing 10, the lower right side is the rear side of the housing 10, the lower left side is the right side of the housing 10, and the upper right side is the left side of the housing 10. The housing 10 has a wall 11 along a cross section L at the center in the left-right direction, i.e., the central longitudinal cross section L. The wall 11 divides the air path from the inlet 12 to the outlet 13 into two sections. The wall 11 is not shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the central longitudinal cross section L of the housing 10 cut open 90 degrees to the left and right from the front. In embodiment 1, the housing 10 has two outlets 13. Hereinafter, of the two outlets 13, the outlet 13 located on the front side of the housing 10 may be referred to as outlet 13f, and the outlet 13 located on the rear side of the housing 10 may be referred to as outlet 13r.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 has a first air passage 15, which is one of two divided air passages, and a second air passage 25, which is the other of the two divided air passages. In other words, the first air passage 15 and the second air passage 25 are different air passages. The first air passage 15 is connected to the inlet 12 and the outlets 13f and 13r, respectively. The second air passage 25 is connected to the inlet 12 and the outlets 13f and 13r, respectively. In FIG. 2, the closer to the left or right edge of the page, the further forward the position, and the closer to the center in the left-right direction of the page, the further rearward the position.

A filter may be provided at the inlet 12. Filters 51 and 52 shown in Figure 2 are used for air purification. Filters 51 and 52 are arranged in this order from the rear. Filter 51 is, for example, a HEPA filter 51. Filter 52 is, for example, a deodorizing filter 52.

The air conditioner 100 is equipped with fans 16 and 26 that draw air into the first air duct 15 and the second air duct 25. Fans 16 and 26 are examples of "suction devices." Fan 16, which draws air into the first air duct 15, and fan 26, which draws air into the second air duct 25, may be separate fans or a single fan. In the example shown in Figure 2, fans 16 and 26 are separate. If fans 16 and 26 are separate, the function of drawing air in and out is enhanced. If fans 16 and 26 are a single fan, i.e., a double-intake fan (not shown), this is suitable for a small housing 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, fans 16 and 26 introduce air A into the first air duct 15 and the second air duct 25, respectively. The air conditioner 100 includes an evaporator 61 of the refrigeration cycle and a condenser 62 of the refrigeration cycle. The evaporator 61 of the refrigeration cycle is also called an evaporator and cools air A that has flowed into the first air duct 15. Hereinafter, air C cooled by the evaporator 61 may be referred to as "cold air C." The condenser 62 of the refrigeration cycle is also called a condenser and heats air A that has flowed into the second air duct 25. Hereinafter, air W heated by the condenser 62 may be referred to as "warm air W."

As shown in FIG. 4, the condenser 62 heats air to produce warm air W. The air conditioner 100 is equipped with an evaporator 70 that uses the heat of vaporization to cool the warm air W flowing out of the second air duct 25. The evaporator 70 cools and humidifies the warm air W by evaporating the moisture in the evaporator 70 into the warm air W. The evaporator 61 and the condenser 62 constitute a refrigeration cycle and are connected to each other (not shown) to allow the refrigerant to move. The air conditioner 100 is equipped with a compressor 63, a pressure reduction unit (not shown), and a dehumidification tank 64 as components necessary for the refrigeration cycle. When the refrigerant moves from the evaporator 61 to the condenser 62, it is pressurized by the compressor 63, which inevitably raises the temperature. Furthermore, when the refrigerant moves from the condenser 62 to the evaporator 61, it is depressurized in the pressure reduction unit (not shown), which inevitably lowers the temperature. As the air is cooled in the evaporator 61, water vapor emerges as droplets (not shown) from the air C, i.e., the cold air C. The dehumidification tank 64 receives the emerged droplets.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, air A flowing in through the inlet 12, which communicates with the second air duct 25, by the fan 26 is heated in the condenser 62 to become warm air W. The warm air W is cooled and humidified by the evaporator 70. Therefore, the air M flowing out through the outlet 13r, which communicates with the second air duct 25, has a lower temperature and higher humidity than the warm air W.

As shown in Figures 4 and 6, air A flowing in through the inlet 12 communicating with the first air duct 15 by the fan 16 is cooled in the evaporator 61 to become cool air C, which flows out through the outlets 13f and 13r communicating with the first air duct 15. Since cooling of the air A by the evaporator 61 is not essential, the air flowing out from the outlets 13f and 13r communicating with the first air duct 15 may simply be blown air rather than cool air C. Whether it is cool air C or blown air, the air provides a cooling sensation.

As explained with reference to Figures 4 to 6, cool air C or blown air is supplied from the first air duct 15 through outlets 13f and 13r into the room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed. Air M, which is cooler than the warm air W, is supplied from the second air duct 25 through outlet 13r into the room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed. This prevents the temperature rise of the heat being discharged. The user can also feel cool. Furthermore, since the air M supplied from the second air duct 25 has been humidified by the evaporator 70, it can humidify the room. Furthermore, even if the heat from the air conditioner 100 is not discharged outdoors, it is possible to prevent the temperature rise in the room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed.

Next, the air conditioner 100 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 4 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 4, the evaporator 70 is located downstream of the condenser 62 in the direction in which the warm air W flows in the second air duct 25. Therefore, the warm air W that reaches the evaporator 70 is heated to a temperature at which the evaporator 70 functions efficiently. Therefore, the warm air W is efficiently cooled by the evaporator 70.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the vaporizer 70 has a water supply unit 71 and a humidifying filter 74. The water supply unit 71 has a humidifying tank 72 and a humidifying tray 73. The humidifying tank 72 supplies water to the humidifying tray 73. The humidifying tray 73 stores water supplied from the humidifying tank 72. The humidifying filter 74 is immersed in the water stored in the humidifying tank 72 and is exposed to the warm air W flowing out of the second air duct 25. Here, the humidifying filter 74 may be smaller than a configuration that sprays water, such as a mist. Therefore, by having the vaporizer 70 have a water supply unit 71 and a humidifying filter 74, it is possible to miniaturize the vaporizer 70. Ultimately, the air conditioner 100 as a whole can be miniaturized. It is preferable that the humidifying filter 74 be replaceable.

The second air passage 25 has a third air passage 35 and a fourth air passage 45 that branch off from each other. The third air passage 35 and the fourth air passage 45 both communicate with the outlet 13f and the outlet 13r. In the example shown in Figure 7, the third air passage 35 communicates with the outlet 13r, and the fourth air passage 45 communicates with the outlet 13f. Of course, the third air passage 35 and the fourth air passage 45 may communicate with the same portions of the outlet 13f and the outlet 13r.

The evaporator 70 is located in the third air duct 35. Therefore, the air M and air W supplied from the second air duct 25 through the outlet 13r and outlet 13f are a mixture of air M cooled and humidified by the evaporator 70 from the third air duct 35 and air W not cooled or humidified by the evaporator 70 from the fourth air duct 45. Therefore, the air M and air W supplied from the third air duct 35 and fourth air duct 45 in the second air duct 25 through the outlet 13r and outlet 13f can provide a cooling sensation to the user and reduce humidity in the room.

The housing 10 is equipped with a damper 27 that adjusts the proportion of warm air W passing through the third air passage 35 and the fourth air passage 45. The damper 27 is an example of a "flow rate adjustment mechanism." The damper 27 has a blade 28, a pivot 29, and a control device (not shown). The blade 28 rotates around the pivot 29 to adjust the ratio between the opening area of the third air passage 35 and the opening area of the fourth air passage 45. The control device controls the rotation of the blade 28 to adjust the ratio between the opening area of the third air passage 35 and the opening area of the fourth air passage 45. Therefore, the damper 27 adjusts the proportion of warm air W flowing into the third air passage 35 and the proportion of warm air W flowing into the fourth air passage 45. In other words, the damper 27 adjusts the ratio between the air M cooled and humidified by the vaporizer 70 and the warm air W that is not cooled and humidified by the vaporizer 70. Therefore, the damper 27 can adjust the cooling sensation and indoor humidification.

7, the housing 10 may have a louver 46 at the outlet 13f communicating with the fourth air passage 45. The louver 46 separates the warm air W supplied from the fourth air passage 45 through the outlet 13f into warm air W supplied from the top surface of the housing 10 and warm air W supplied from the front surface of the housing 10. The angle of the louver 46 adjusts the ratio of the warm air W supplied from the top surface of the housing 10 to the warm air W supplied from the front surface of the housing 10.
[Embodiment 2]

Next, a second embodiment of the air conditioner 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 12. Figure 8 is an exploded view of the air conditioner 100 cut open at the central longitudinal section L. Figure 9 is a view of the transverse section of the air conditioner 100 as seen from above. Figure 10 is a view of the longitudinal section at the center of the front-to-rear direction of the air conditioner 100 as seen from the front. Figure 11 is a schematic side view showing the principle of the vaporizer 70 provided in the air conditioner 100, showing a state in which the vaporizer 70 is not humidifying. Figure 12 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the vaporizer 70 of Figure 11 is humidifying.

Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 2 in embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 8, the second air duct 25 in embodiment 2 does not branch like the second air duct 25 in embodiment 1, and communicates with the outlet 13r. On the other hand, the first air duct 15 in embodiment 2 communicates with the outlet 13f.

The vaporizer 70 of embodiment 2 is not located near the outlet 13r (third air duct 35) like the vaporizer 70 of embodiment 1. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the humidifying filter 74 of the vaporizer 70 of embodiment 2 is located in the second air duct 25, between the condenser 62 and the fan 26. Furthermore, the humidifying tank 72 of the vaporizer 70 of embodiment 2 is located to the right of the evaporator 61 inside the housing 10. The humidifying filter 74 and humidifying tank 72 of embodiment 2 can be made larger because they effectively utilize the space inside the housing 10. A larger humidifying filter 74 cools and humidifies the warm air W more sufficiently. A larger humidifying tank 72 requires less frequent refilling with water than a smaller one. This reduces the user's effort to refill the humidifying tank 72 with water.

The humidifying filter 74 is preferably large, but it is also preferable that it be a rotating type. An evaporation unit 70 having a rotating type humidifying filter 74 will be described with reference to Figures 11 and 12.

As shown in Figure 11, the evaporation unit 70 having a rotary humidifying filter 74 includes a humidifying tank 72 and a humidifying tray 73 in addition to the rotary humidifying filter 74. The rotary humidifying filter 74 has a water-containing portion 75 and a non-water-containing portion 76. The water-containing portion 75 is a portion that contains water when immersed in water. The non-water-containing portion 76 is a portion that does not contain water even when immersed in water, and is made of, for example, resin. The water-containing portion 75 has a shape consisting of a major arc and a chord when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 77. The non-water-containing portion 76 has a circular shape that surrounds the water-containing portion 75 when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis 77. When the chord of the shape of the water-containing portion 75 is approximately horizontal below the rotation axis 77, the chord is located above the water surface in the humidifying tray 73. In other words, Figure 11 shows a state in which only the non-water-containing portion 76 is immersed in water in the humidifying tray 73, i.e., a state in which the rotary filter does not contain water. When the rotary humidifying filter 74 shown in Fig. 11 rotates around the rotation axis 77, for example, as shown in Fig. 12 , the major arc of the shape of the water-retaining portion 75 is located below the water surface in the humidifying tray 73. Fig. 12 shows a state in which the water-retaining portion 75 is immersed in the water in the humidifying tray 73, that is, a state in which the rotary humidifying filter 74 contains water. When the rotary humidifying filter 74 is not in use, the humidifying function of the air conditioner 100 is stopped by placing the humidifying filter 74 in the position shown in Fig. 11 . On the other hand, when the rotary humidifying filter 74 is used, the humidifying function of the air conditioner 100 is exerted by placing the humidifying filter 74 in the position shown in Fig. 12 or in a position in which the humidifying filter 74 alternates between Figs. 11 and 12 (a state in which the rotary humidifying filter 74 continues to rotate around the rotation axis 77). 11 and 12 show the water-retaining section 75 as having a shape consisting of a major arc and a chord, but as long as the rotary humidifying filter 74 can switch between stopping and starting the humidification function, the water-retaining section 75 may have a shape consisting of a minor arc and a chord, or some other shape. By allowing the rotary humidifying filter 74 to switch between stopping and starting the humidification function, water is not used in the humidifying tank 72 when humidification is not required. In other words, the loss of water in the humidifying tank 72 is suppressed, reducing the user's effort to refill the humidifying tank 72 with water.

In this way, in the air conditioner 100 of embodiment 2, the evaporator 70 has a large humidifying filter 74, so the warm air W is efficiently cooled by the evaporator 70. In other words, the temperature rise of the heat being emitted can be suppressed. In addition, the user can feel a cool sensation.

[Embodiment 3]
An air conditioner 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a view of a longitudinal cross section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of the air conditioner 100 according to the third embodiment, viewed from the front. In the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment, the vaporizer 70 is disposed downstream of the condenser 62 in the direction in which the air A flows in the second air duct 25, whereas in the air conditioner 100 according to the third embodiment, the vaporizer 170 is disposed upstream of the condenser 62 in the direction in which the air A flows in the second air duct 25.

As shown in FIG. 13, the air conditioner 100 includes an evaporator 170 that cools air A flowing into the second air duct 25 using the heat of evaporation, and a tray 173.

Tray 173 stores the water produced by evaporator 61. More specifically, as the air is cooled by evaporator 61, water vapor emerges from air C, i.e., cold air C, as water droplets (not shown). Tray 173 receives the water droplets.

The evaporation unit 170 has a humidifying filter 74. A portion of the humidifying filter 74 is placed in a tray 173. A portion of the humidifying filter 74 is immersed in water stored in the tray 173. The evaporation unit 170 cools and humidifies air A by evaporating the moisture in the evaporation unit 170 into air M.

The humidifying filter 74 of the vaporizer 170 in embodiment 3 is located upstream of the condenser 62 in the second air duct 25.

As a result, air A flowing in from the inlet 12, which is connected to the second air duct 25, by the fan 26 is cooled and humidified by the evaporator 170. The air A is heated by the condenser 62. Air M, which is at a lower temperature than the warm air that has not been cooled or humidified by the evaporator, is supplied from the second air duct 25 into the room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed.

In addition, air flowing in from the inlet 12, which communicates with the first air duct 15, by the fan 16 is cooled in the evaporator 61 to become cold air C, which then flows out from the outlets 13f and 13r, which communicate with the first air duct 15.

According to the air conditioner 100 of embodiment 3 of the present invention, cool air C is supplied from the first air duct 15 through the outlets 13f and 13r into the room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed. Air M, which is cooler than the warm air, is supplied from the second air duct 25 through the outlet 13r into the room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed. This prevents the temperature rise of the heat being discharged. The user can also feel cool. Furthermore, the temperature rise in the room in which the air conditioner 100 is installed can be prevented without discharging heat from the air conditioner 100 outdoors.

The tray 173 also stores the water produced by the evaporator 61. As a result, the water produced by the evaporator 61 can be used, eliminating the need for a humidification tank 72.

[Embodiment 4]
An air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 4 as viewed from the front. In the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 3, the condenser 62 is disposed outside the tray 173, whereas in the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 4, a portion of the condenser 62 is disposed inside the tray 173.

As shown in FIG. 14, a portion of the condenser 62 is placed in a tray 173. As a result, the condenser 62 is cooled by the water in the tray 173.

[Embodiment 5]
An air conditioner 100 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16. Figures 15 and 16 are longitudinal cross-sectional views of the air conditioner 100 according to the fifth embodiment at the center in the front-to-rear direction, as viewed from the front. Specifically, Figure 15 is a view showing a state in which the vaporizer 170 is humidifying. On the other hand, Figure 16 is a view showing a state in which the vaporizer 170 is not humidifying. In the air conditioner 100 according to the third embodiment, the tray 173 continuously stores water, whereas in the air conditioner 100 according to the fifth embodiment, the tray 273 has a discharge mechanism 274 capable of discharging water from the tray 273.

As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the air conditioner 100 includes a tray 273. The tray 273 has a discharge mechanism 274 that can discharge water from within the tray 273. The discharge mechanism 274 has a valve 274a, a control device (not shown), and a discharge tank 275. The discharge mechanism 274 stores water in the tray 273 by closing the valve 274a. On the other hand, the discharge mechanism 274 discharges water from within the tray 273 to the discharge tank 275 by opening the valve 274a.

When the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 5 is used as a dryer, the exhaust mechanism 274 opens the valve 274a. As a result, the air M is not cooled or humidified by the evaporator 170, and is supplied from the second air duct 25 in a dry state.

[Embodiment 6]
An air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 6 of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 17. Fig. 17 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 6, viewed from the front. While the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 3 does not include a humidification tank, the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 6 includes a humidification tank 376.

As shown in FIG. 17, the air conditioner 100 is equipped with a humidification tank 376. The humidification tank 376 supplies water to the tray 173. As a result, water can be stored in the tray 173 before the water generated by the evaporator 61 accumulates. Therefore, air A can be cooled immediately after the air conditioner 100 starts operating.

[Embodiment 7]
An air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a view of a longitudinal section at the center in the front-to-rear direction of the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 7 as viewed from the front. The air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 6 is provided with one tray 173, whereas the air conditioner 100 according to embodiment 7 is provided with trays 473 and 474.

As shown in FIG. 18, the air conditioner 100 is equipped with tray 473 and tray 474.

Tray 474 stores the water produced by evaporator 61. More specifically, as the air is cooled by evaporator 61, water vapor emerges from air C, i.e., cold air C, as water droplets (not shown). Tray 474 receives the water droplets.

The humidification tank 376 supplies water to the tray 473.

The evaporation unit 170 has a humidifying filter 74. A portion of the humidifying filter 74 is placed in a tray 473. A portion of the humidifying filter 74 is immersed in water stored in the tray 473. The evaporation unit 170 cools and humidifies air A by evaporating the moisture in the evaporation unit 170 into air A.

As shown in FIG. 18, the air conditioner 100 is equipped with a humidification tank 376. The humidification tank 376 supplies water to the tray 473. As a result, water can be stored in the tray 473. Therefore, air A can be cooled immediately after the air conditioner 100 starts operating.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner to facilitate understanding, and the thickness, length, number, spacing, etc. of each component shown may differ from the actual components due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the speed, material, shape, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible without substantially departing from the configuration of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, the third air passage 35 and the fourth air passage 45 that branch off from the second air passage 25 were described. However, the configuration of the first air passage 15, which corresponds to the third air passage 35 and the fourth air passage 45, was not described. Of course, as shown in FIG. 6 , the first air passage 15 may also have two air passages 83 and 84 that branch off from each other. The two air passages 83 and 84 that branch off from each other in the first air passage 15 are connected to the outlet 13r and the outlet 13f, respectively. Furthermore, the vaporizer 70 may be disposed in the rear air passage 83 of the two air passages 83 and 84 that branch off from each other in the first air passage 15. Furthermore, a damper 87 equivalent to the damper 27 disposed in the second air passage 25 may also be disposed in the first air passage 15. The damper 87 in the first air passage 15 adjusts the proportion of air C flowing into each of the two air passages 83 and 84 that branch off from each other in the first air passage 15. The damper 27 arranged in the second air passage 25 and the damper 87 arranged in the first air passage 15 may rotate in the same manner, or may rotate independently.

In the first air duct 15, as explained above, air A is cooled in the evaporator 61, causing water vapor to appear as droplets from the cold air C, which are then received in the dehumidification tank 64. That is, in the first air duct 15, air A is cooled in the evaporator 61, causing the cold air C to be dehumidified. If the warm air W is humidified by the evaporation unit 70 in the second air duct 25 by the amount dehumidified in the first air duct 15, the humidity in the room can be maintained constant.

When the air conditioner 100 of embodiment 1 is used as a dryer, the blades 28 of the damper 27 shown in FIG. 7 may be rotated to a position that blocks the third air duct 35 (not shown). When the third air duct 35 is blocked, the warm air W is not cooled or humidified by the evaporator 70 arranged in the third air duct 35, and is supplied in a dry state from the fourth air duct 45 through the outlet 13f.

In the embodiment, one air inlet 12 is described as communicating with the first air duct 15 and the second air duct 25. Specifically, the right half of one air inlet 12 communicates with the first air duct 15, and the left half of one air inlet 12 communicates with the second air duct 25. This means that only one air purifying filter 51 and one filter 52 need be placed at the air inlet 12. Of course, the air conditioner 100 may have two air inlets, one of which communicates with the first air duct 15 and the other of which communicates with the second air duct 25. In this case, for example, two filters 51 and two filters 52 may be placed in the air conditioner 100.

In the air conditioners 100 according to embodiments 3 to 7, the vaporizer 170 includes a humidifying filter 74, but this is not limited to this. The vaporizer 170 may also include a rotary filter.

The present invention provides an air conditioner and has industrial applicability.

10 Housing 11 Wall 12 Inlet 13 Outlet 13f Outlet 13r Outlet 15 First air passage 16 Fan (arranged in the first air passage)
25 Second air duct 26 Fan (arranged in the second air duct)
27 Damper 28 Blade 29 Rotating shaft 35 Third air duct 45 Fourth air duct 46 Louver 51 Filter 52 Filter 61 Evaporator 62 Condenser 63 Compressor 64 Dehumidifying tank 70 Evaporation section 71 Water supply section 72 Humidifying tank 73 Humidifying tray 74 Humidifying filter 75 Water-containing section 76 Non-water-containing section 77 Rotating shaft 100 Air conditioner

Claims (8)

a housing having an inlet through which air flows in and an outlet through which the air flows out,
The housing includes:
a first air passage communicating with the inlet and the outlet;
a second air passage different from the first air passage, the second air passage communicating with the inlet and the outlet,
a suction device that causes the air to flow into the first air passage and the second air passage;
a condenser of a refrigeration cycle that heats the air that has flowed into the second air passage;
an evaporation unit that cools the air flowing out from the second air passage by evaporation heat ,
the second air passage has a third air passage and a fourth air passage branching from each other and both communicating with the outlet,
the vaporizing unit is disposed in the third air passage,
The housing has a flow rate adjustment mechanism that adjusts the ratio of the air passing through the third air passage and the fourth air passage . The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the vaporizer is disposed in the second air duct downstream of the condenser in the air flow direction. The vaporization unit is
a humidifying filter exposed to the air flowing out from the second air passage;
a water supply unit that supplies water to the humidifying filter;
The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a housing having an inlet through which air flows in and an outlet through which the air flows out,
The housing includes:
a first air passage communicating with the inlet and the outlet;
a second air passage different from the first air passage, the second air passage communicating with the inlet and the outlet,
a suction device that causes the air to flow into the first air passage and the second air passage;
a condenser of a refrigeration cycle that heats the air that has flowed into the second air passage;
an evaporation unit that cools the air flowing out from the second air passage by evaporation heat;
an evaporator that cools the air that has flowed into the first air passage;
Furthermore,
the evaporator is disposed in the second air passage upstream of the condenser in the air flow direction ,
the outlet has a first outlet and a second outlet,
the first air passage and the second air passage branch off from each other so as to communicate with the first outlet and the second outlet, respectively;
The air that has passed through the evaporation section and the condenser in the second air passage can flow out through the second outlet together with a portion of the air that has passed through the evaporator in the first air passage . Further comprising a tray for storing water produced by the evaporator;
the vaporizing unit has a humidifying filter exposed to the air flowing into the second air passage,
The air conditioner according to claim 4 , wherein a portion of the humidifying filter is disposed within the tray. The air conditioner according to claim 5 , wherein a portion of the condenser is disposed within the tray. The air conditioner according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the tray has a discharge mechanism capable of discharging the water inside the tray. The vaporization unit is
a humidifying filter exposed to the air flowing out from the second air passage;
The air conditioner according to claim 4 , further comprising: a water supply unit that supplies water to the humidifying filter.