TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner and, more particularly, to an
air conditioner having a front panel which is to be attached to and removed from the
indoor unit main body for conveniences of installation, relocation or the like.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As an air conditioner of this type, there has been known one in which, as shown in
Fig. 12, an arm 66 to be inserted into an indoor unit main body is protrusively provided
at an upper portion of the rear face of a front panel (not shown), with a shaft 65
provided on the arm so as to extend horizontally (see, e.g.,
JP H8-135994 A). In the indoor unit main body, on the other hand, is provided a bearing portion
63 for rotatably supporting the shaft 65. In this example, a round hole 64, a horizontal
recess 81 adjoining the round hole 64, and a chamfered portion 82 adjoining the recess
81 are provided in the bearing portion 63. Also, at an end of the shaft 65, a chamfer
91 is formed at such a site as to just confront the recess 81 with the front panel
opened to a certain angle with respect to the main body.
[0003] When the front panel is attached to the indoor unit main body, the operator, having
the front panel in his/her hand, pushes the front panel horizontally with the shaft
65 of the arm 66 aligned with the chamfered portion 82. By this operation, the shaft
65 of the arm 66 is guided and inserted along the chamfered portion 82 and the recess
81 so as to be fitted into the round hole 64. After that, the front panel is turned
around the shaft 65, thereby closed with respect to the indoor unit main body. On
the other hand, when the front panel is removed from the indoor unit main body, the
operator, holding a lower side portion of the front panel, lifts the front panel while
pulling it frontward, and then turns the front panel around the shaft 65 to open the
panel. With the front panel opened to a specified angle, the chamfer 91 of the shaft
65 just confronts the recess 81 while the arm 66 is elastically deformed in such a
direction that the shaft 65 is horizontally disengaged from the round hole 64 by a
protrusion 69. In this state, pulling the front panel frontward causes the chamfer
91 to ride on the recess 81 while, with the arm 66 elastically deformed, the shaft
65 is moved frontward along the recess 81, so that the front panel is removed from
the indoor unit main body. In addition, a protrusion 68 is for holding the front panel
at an angle halfway.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0004] Generally, workers engaged in installation, relocation or the like of air conditioners
treat with a wide variety of air conditioners. For this reason, the worker may, in
some cases, try to remove the front panel from the indoor unit main body without grasping
correct removal methods for individual machine types.
[0005] In this connection, with the prior-art air conditioner, removal of the front panel
involves different kinds of operations such as turning the front panel around the
shaft 65 and moving the front panel horizontally. Therefore, unless a correct removal
method is grasped beforehand, the worker will encounter a difficulty in removing the
front panel. As a result, there occurs a problem that the worker may exert excessive
force on the front panel to damage the arm 66.
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner
which allows the front panel to be easily removed without incurring damage thereon
in removal of the front panel from the indoor unit main body.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
[0007] In order to achieve the object, an air conditioner according to the present invention
comprises an indoor unit main body, and a front panel which is attached to and removed
from the indoor unit main body (1), wherein
the front panel includes an arm protrusively provided on a rear face so as to be inserted
into the indoor unit main body, the arm having a horizontally extending shaft,
the indoor unit main body includes a bearing portion serving for rotatably supporting
the shaft and having at least a peripheral edge curved so as to be recessed frontward,
and
a first chamfer is formed at such a site of a tip circumferential portion of the shaft
that when the front panel receives an external force in such a direction as to be
further opened beyond a fully opened state of a certain opening angle with respect
to the indoor unit main body, the first chamfer faces a lower portion of the peripheral
edge, so that the first chamfer is brought into contact with the lower portion of
the peripheral edge, whereby the arm is elastically deformed in such a direction that
the shaft is separated horizontally from the bearing portion.
[0008] In the air conditioner of this invention, when the front panel is opened from a closed
state to a fully opened state of a certain opening angle with respect to the indoor
unit main body, the front panel is turned around the shaft while the shaft keeps supported
on the bearing portion. When the front panel is further opened from the fully opened
state with respect to the indoor unit main body, the first chamfer formed at the tip
circumferential portion of the shaft is brought into contact with the lower portion
of the peripheral edge, by which the arm is elastically deformed in such a direction
that the shaft is disengaged horizontally from the bearing portion. Therefore, in
the fully opened state of the front panel, when the worker applies a little excessive
force to the front panel so as to remove the front panel, the shaft is easily disengaged
from the bearing portion. Thus, even if the worker does not know a correct removal
method beforehand, the worker is enabled to easily remove the front panel from the
indoor unit main body without causing any damage. As a result, the cost for servicing
replacement can be cut down.
[0009] In the air conditioner of one embodiment, a second chamfer is formed at such a site
of the tip circumferential portion of the shaft that when the front panel is opened
further from the fully opened state with respect to the indoor unit main body, the
second chamfer faces a center portion of the peripheral edge, so that the second chamfer
is brought into contact with the center portion of the peripheral edge so as to make
the arm elastically deformed, whereby the shaft is separated off the bearing portion.
[0010] In the air conditioner of this one embodiment, when the front panel is further opened
from the fully opened state with respect to the indoor unit main body, the second
chamfer formed at the tip circumferential portion of the shaft is brought into contact
with the center portion of the peripheral edge so as to make the arm elastically deformed,
by which the shaft is separated off the bearing portion. That is, in this air conditioner,
only one kind of operation of turning the front panel in an opening direction with
respect to the indoor unit main body is required to remove the front panel from the
indoor unit main body. Therefore, removal of the front panel can be achieved even
more easily.
[0011] In the air conditioner of one embodiment, a third chamfer is formed at such a rearward-facing
site of the tip circumferential portion of the shaft that when the front panel, while
keeping a posture to form the fully opened state, is pushed from frontward to rearward
and attached to the indoor unit main body, the third chamfer keeps in contact with
a portion of the bearing portion located frontward of the peripheral edge until the
shaft reaches the peripheral edge, so that the arm is elastically deformed in one
same direction as the shaft is separated off the bearing portion.
[0012] In the air conditioner of this one embodiment, when the front panel, while keeping
a posture to form the fully opened state, is pushed from frontward to rearward and
attached to the indoor unit main body, the third chamfer formed at the tip circumferential
portion of the shaft keeps in contact with a portion of the bearing portion located
frontward of the peripheral edge until the shaft reaches the peripheral edge, so that
the arm is elastically deformed in one same direction as the shaft is disengaged from
the bearing portion. Thus, the front panel can be easily attached to the indoor unit
main body.
[0013] In the air conditioner of one embodiment, a length of the arm and a position of the
peripheral edge within the indoor unit main body are so set that when the front panel
is further opened beyond the fully opened state with respect to the indoor unit main
body, an upper edge of the front panel is brought into contact with a portion of the
indoor unit main body located upper than an edge of an opening, which is to be closed
in a closed state, so that the upper edge serves as a fulcrum by which a force responsive
to the external force is exerted on the shaft.
[0014] In the air conditioner of this one embodiment, when the front panel is further opened
beyond the fully opened state with respect to the indoor unit main body, the upper
edge of the front panel is brought into contact with a portion of the indoor unit
main body located upper than the edge of the opening, which is to be closed in a closed
state, so that the upper edge serves as a fulcrum on which a force responsive to the
external force is exerted on the shaft. Accordingly, when the worker applies a little
excessive force to the front panel in a front-panel opening direction to remove the
front panel, a force larger than that force is applied to the shaft, so that the shaft
is easily separated off the bearing portion. Thus, the front panel can be removed
even more easily. Moreover, when the front panel is further opened beyond the fully
opened state with respect to the indoor unit main body, there is no possibility that
the upper edge of the front panel and the edge of the opening may collide with each
other so as to be damaged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015]
Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a portion of an air conditioner according to an
embodiment of the present invention in relation to attachment and removal between
an indoor unit main body and a front panel;
Fig. 2 is a view showing the indoor unit (right half) as viewed from the front;
Fig. 3 is a view showing the indoor unit of Fig. 2 as viewed from the right side;
Fig. 4 is a view showing a shaft provided at an end of an arm extending from the front
panel;
Fig. 5 is a view showing a shaft in which parts equivalent to the first and second
chamfers are not formed, in contrast to Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a view showing a portion relating to attachment and removal between the
indoor unit main body and the front panel, as viewed from the front, with the shaft
fitted to the peripheral edge of the bearing portion;
Fig. 7 is a view showing a portion relating to attachment and removal between the
indoor unit main body and the front panel, as viewed from the front, with the shaft
removed from the peripheral edge of the bearing portion;
Fig. 8 is a view showing a state that a downward force responsive to an external force
applied to the front panel is acting on the shaft, with an upper edge of the front
panel serving as a fulcrum;
Fig. 9 is a view showing a state that a forward force responsive to an external force
applied to the front panel is acting on the shaft, with the upper edge of the front
panel serving as a fulcrum;
Fig. 10 is a view of the state of Fig. 9, as viewed from diagonal upward;
Fig. 11 is a view for explaining an action in case that the shaft of Fig. 5 is provided
in the arm; and
Fig. 12 is a view illustrating a portion relating to attachment and removal between
the indoor unit main body and the front panel in a conventional air conditioner.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Hereinbelow, the present invention will be described in detail by way of embodiment
thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0017] Fig. 2 shows a wall type indoor unit (right half) of an air conditioner according
to an embodiment, as viewed from the front (-X side). Fig. 3 shows the indoor unit
of Fig. 2 as viewed from the right side (-Y side). As can be seen from Figs. 2 and
3, this air conditioner includes an indoor unit main body 1, and a front panel 4 to
be attached to and removed from the indoor unit main body 1. In Figs. 2 and 3, the
front panel 4 is opened at an opening angle of about 90° with respect to the indoor
unit main body 1, being in a fully opened state of a generally horizontal posture.
When the front panel 4 is closed and postured generally vertical to the indoor unit
main body 1, an opening 9 of an indoor unit front 3 is closed by the front panel 4.
A grille (not shown) for intake of the indoor air is formed in a top face 2 of the
indoor unit main body 1.
[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, the front panel 4 has an arm 20 which is protrusively provided
on a rear face 40 so as to be inserted into the indoor unit main body 1. It is noted
that Fig. 1 corresponds to a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 2. This
arm 20 is composed of a tapered first arm portion 21 extending generally vertical
to the rear face 40 of the front panel 4, and a second arm portion 22 which is bent
about 90° with respect to the first arm portion 21 and which extends up to a position
generally corresponding to an upper edge 41 of the front panel 4. A horizontally extending
shaft 30 is provided at an end of the second arm portion 22.
[0019] As shown under magnification in Fig. 4, the shaft 30 basically has an outer shape
obtained by forming a first chamfer 31, a second chamfer 32 and a third chamfer 33
on a short cylinder defined by a circumferential surface 30s and an end face 30e,
each of the chamfers being composed of a flat surface inclined with respect to a center
axis. Rounds 35 are provided at boundaries between the end face 30e and the chamfers
31, 32, 33, respectively, rounds 36 are provided at boundaries between the circumferential
surface 30s and the chamfers 31, 32, 33, respectively, and rounds 37 are provided
at boundaries between each two of the chamfers 31, 32, 33.
[0020] The arm 20 and shaft 30 are provided in one pair in left-and-right symmetry at an
upper portion of the rear face of the front panel 4. The front panel 4 and the one
pair of arm 20 and shaft 30 are made of integrally molded resin.
[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, the indoor unit main body 1 has a bearing portion 10 for rotatably
supporting the shaft 30. This bearing portion 10 includes a guide plate 12 having
a semicircular peripheral edge 13 curved so as to be recessed frontward (-X direction),
and a restraining member 11 (see Fig. 10) placed rearward of the guide plate 12 and
extending horizontally (Y direction). As shown in Fig. 6 (corresponding to a sectional
view taken along the line B-B in Fig. 3), the guide plate 12 has a sloped surface
12f sloped in such a direction as to approach the arm 20 toward the rearward (+X direction).
The peripheral edge 13 is located rearward of the sloped surface 12f of the guide
plate 12. As shown in Fig. 1, with the front panel 4 attached to the indoor unit main
body 1, the peripheral edge 13 of the guide plate 12 rotatably supports the shaft
30. The restraining member 11 restrains a fore end of the second arm portion 22 from
moving rearward (+X direction), thereby restraining the shaft 30 from separating off
rearward (+X direction) from the position in which the shaft 30 is fitted to the peripheral
edge 13 of the guide plate 12.
[0022] The bearing portion 10 is provided in one pair in left-and-right symmetry at an upper
portion within the indoor unit main body 1, in correspondence to the one pair of arm
20 and shaft 30 of the front panel 4.
[0023] The first chamfer 31 of the shaft 30 is formed at such a site of the tip circumferential
portion of the shaft 30 that the first chamfer 31 faces a lower portion 13b of the
peripheral edge 13, while the front panel 4 is in the fully opened state as shown
in Fig. 1. Also, the second chamfer 32 of the shaft 30 is formed at such a site of
the tip circumferential portion of the shaft 30 that the second chamfer 32 faces a
center portion 13a of the peripheral edge 13, while the front panel 4 is in the fully
opened state. The third chamfer 33 of the shaft 30 is formed at such a site of the
tip circumferential portion of the shaft 30 that the third chamfer 33 faces the rearward
(+X direction), while the front panel 4 is in the fully opened state.
[0024] When the front panel 4 is attached to the indoor unit main body 1, the worker, holding
the front panel 4 horizontally postured in his/her hand, pushes the front panel 4
horizontally from front to rear with the shaft 30 aligned with the sloped surface
12f of the guide plate 12 as shown in Fig. 7. By this operation, the third chamfer
33 of the shaft 30 (see Fig. 1) is guided and inserted along the sloped surface 12f
of the guide plate 12 so as to be fitted to the peripheral edge 13 as shown in Fig.
6.
[0025] For a duration until the shaft 30 reaches the peripheral edge 13, the third chamfer
33 formed at the tip circumferential portion of the shaft 30 makes the arm 20 elastically
deformed in the same direction as the shaft 30 is separated from the bearing portion
10. Thus, the front panel 4 can be easily attached to the indoor unit main body 1.
[0026] After that, with the shaft 30 supported on the bearing portion 10, the front panel
4 is turned around the shaft 30, so that the front panel 4 is closed with respect
to the indoor unit main body 1.
[0027] On the other hand, when the front panel 4 is removed from the indoor unit main body
1, the worker, holding the front panel 4 at its lower side portion 42, exerts an external
force F so as to pull frontward and lift the front panel 4 as shown in Fig. 1, by
which the front panel 4 is opened from a closed state to a fully opened state with
respect to the indoor unit main body 1. In this operation, with the shaft 30 supported
on the bearing portion 10, the front panel 4 is easily turned around the shaft 30.
[0028] In the fully opened state, the upper edge 41 of the front panel 4 is in contact with
a portion 2a of the top face 2 of the indoor unit main body 1 located upper than the
opening 9. This is because the length of the arm 20 and the position of the peripheral
edge 13 within the indoor unit main body 1 are so set as to yield such a result. Between
the arm 20 and an edge 2e that defines the opening 9 is a gap 9a to be left. Accordingly,
there is no possibility of collision or resultant damage between the upper edge 41
or the arm 20 of the front panel 4 and the edge 2e defining the opening 9.
[0029] In this fully opened state, the front panel 4 is supported by an engaging portion
formed of an unshown rib provided between the indoor unit main body 1 and the arm
20. Accordingly, even if the worker releases his/her hand off the front panel 4, the
posture of the front panel 4 is maintained in the fully opened state.
[0030] When the worker attempts to open the front panel 4 further beyond the fully opened
state with respect to the indoor unit main body 1, a downward force F1 responsive
to an external force F applied to the front panel 4 acts on the shaft 30 while the
upper edge 41 of the front panel 4 serves as a fulcrum, as shown in Fig. 8. Thus,
the first chamfer 31 formed at the tip circumferential portion of the shaft 30 is
brought into contact with the lower portion 13b of the peripheral edge 13. As a result
of this, the arm 2C is elastically deformed in such a direction that the shaft 30
is horizontally separated from the bearing portion 10. To an extent that first chamfer
31 slightly crawls into the lower portion 13b of the peripheral edge 13, the front
panel 4 is slightly opened from the fully opened state.
[0031] From this state, when the worker attempts to further open the front panel 4 with
respect to the indoor unit main body 1, a frontward force F2 responsive to the external
force F applied to the front panel 4 acts on the shaft 30 while the upper edge 41
of the front panel 4 serves as a fulcrum, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 (equivalent to
Fig. 9, as viewed from diagonal upward). Thus, the second chamfer 32 formed at the
tip circumferential portion of the shaft 30 is brought into contact with the center
portion 13a of the peripheral edge 13. As a result of this, the arm 20 is further
elastically deformed in such a direction that the shaft 30 is horizontally separated
from the bearing portion 10, with a result that the shaft 30 is separated off the
bearing portion 10.
[0032] As shown above, in the fully opened state of the front panel 4, when the worker applies
a little excessive force to the front panel 4 so as to remove the front panel 4, the
shaft 30 is easily separated off the bearing portion 10. Also, since a force larger
than the external force F is applied to the shaft 30 with the upper edge 41 of the
front panel 4 serving as a fulcrum, the shaft 30 is even more easily removed from
the bearing portion 10. Accordingly, it is easily achievable to remove the front panel
4 from the indoor unit main body 1. Yet, only one kind of operation to turn the front
panel 4 in an opening direction with respect to the indoor unit main body 1 is enough
to remove the front panel 4 from the indoor unit main body 1. Therefore, removal of
the front panel 4 can be achieved even more easily. Still more, when the front panel
4 is further opened from the fully opened state with respect to the indoor unit main
body 1, there is no possibility of collision or resultant damage between the upper
edge 41 or the arm 20 of the front panel 4 and the edge 2e defining the opening 9.
[0033] Thus, according to this air conditioner, even if the worker does not know a correct
removal method beforehand, the worker is enabled to easily remove the front panel
4 from the indoor unit main body 1 without incurring their damage. As a result, the
cost for servicing replacement can be cut down.
[0034] In addition, in contrast to the shaft 30 shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 shows a shaft 130
having no parts corresponding to the first and second chamfers. This shaft 130 basically
has an outer shape obtained by forming a chamfer 133 on a short cylinder defined by
a circumferential surface 130s and an end face 130e. The chamfer 133 corresponds to
the third chamfer 33 in the shaft 30 shown in Fig. 4. An round 135 is provided at
a boundary between the end face 130e and the chamfer 133, and an round 136 is provided
at a boundary between the a circumferential surface 130s and the chamfer 133. Without
parts corresponding to the above-described first and second chamfers as shown in this
shaft 130, if a frontward force F2 responsive to the external force F applied to the
front panel 4 acts on the shaft 130 as shown in Fig. 11 as an example, the shaft 130
is never separated off the peripheral edge 13. Thus, preferable functional effects
of the present invention cannot be obtained.
[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the first chamfer 31, the second chamfer 32 and
the third chamfer 33 are flat surfaces each inclined with respect to a center axis,
respectively, but of course, this is not limitative. The first chamfer 31 and the
second chamfer 32, or the first chamfer 31 and the second chamfer 32 and the third
chamfer 33, may be provided so as to form (part of) a conical surface that tapers
as becoming apart from the arm 20 for example, the individual chamfers continuously
adjoining one another over a certain angle range about the center axis.
1. An air conditioner comprising an indoor unit main body (1), and a front panel (4)
which is attached to and removed from the indoor unit main body (1), wherein
the front panel (4) includes an arm (20) protrusively provided on a rear face (40)
so as to be inserted into the indoor unit main body (1), the arm (20) having a horizontally
extending shaft (30),
the indoor unit main body (1) includes a bearing portion (10) serving for rotatably
supporting the shaft (30) and having at least a peripheral edge (13) curved so as
to be recessed frontward, and
a first chamfer (31) is formed at such a site of a tip circumferential portion of
the shaft (30) that when the front panel (4) receives an external force (F) in such
a direction as to be further opened beyond a fully opened state of a certain opening
angle with respect to the indoor unit main body (1), the first chamfer (31) faces
a lower portion (13b) of the peripheral edge (13), so that the first chamfer (31)
is brought into contact with the lower portion (13b) of the peripheral edge (13),
whereby the arm (20) is elastically deformed in such a direction that the shaft (30)
is separated horizontally from the bearing portion (10).
2. The air conditioner as claimed in Claim 1, wherein
a second chamfer (32) is formed at such a site of the tip circumferential portion
of the shaft (30) that when the front panel (4) is opened further from the fully opened
state with respect to the indoor unit main body (1), the second chamfer (32) faces
a center portion (13a) of the peripheral edge (13), so that the second chamfer (32)
is brought into contact with the center portion (13a) of the peripheral edge (13)
so as to make the arm (20) elastically deformed, whereby the shaft (30) is separated
off the bearing portion (10).
3. The air conditioner as claimed in Claim 1, wherein
a third chamfer (33) is formed at such a rearward-facing site of the tip circumferential
portion of the shaft (30) that when the front panel (4), while keeping a posture to
form the fully opened state, is pushed from frontward to rearward and attached to
the indoor unit main body (1), the third chamfer (33) keeps in contact with a portion
(12f) of the bearing portion (10) located frontward of the peripheral edge (13) until
the shaft (30) reaches the peripheral edge (13), so that the arm (20) is elastically
deformed in one same direction as the shaft (30) is separated off the bearing portion
(10).
4. The air conditioner as claimed in Claim 1, wherein
a length of the arm (22) and a position of the peripheral edge (13) within the indoor
unit main body (1) are so set that when the front panel (4) is further opened beyond
the fully opened state with respect to the indoor unit main body (1), an upper edge
(4) of the front panel (4) is brought into contact with a portion (2a) of the indoor
unit main body (1) located upper than an edge (2e) of an opening (9), which is to
be closed in a closed state, so that the upper edge (41) serves as a fulcrum by which
a force (F1, F2) responsive to the external force (F) is exerted on the shaft (30).