BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a method
for assembling the indoor unit.
Description of Related Art
[0002] In the related art, an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a blowout port
for blowing air from a blowing fan into a room is covered with a protective member
such as a fan guard capable of ventilation to prevent a contact to the blowing fan
has been known. Such a protective member is disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents
1 and 2. The fan guard (protective member) disclosed in Patent Document 1 is mounted
to a left and right wind direction plate bases that support left and right wind direction
plates for changing the wind direction. The fan guard of Patent Document 2 comprises
steel wires extending in a horizontal direction and spaced apart in a vertical direction.
Document D2 discloses an indoor unit according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method
according to the preamble of claim 4.
[0003] As a conventional protective member, for example, a structure in which a plurality
of holes penetrating in a horizontal direction are provided in a pillar vertically
bridging a blowout port and a plurality of rod-like members are inserted and assembled
through the holes has been known.
[Patent Documents]
[0004]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
2005-188871
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
H11-83070
[0005] However, in the conventional indoor unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, after the
protective member is mounted to another member such as the left and right wind direction
plate bases, another member to which the protective member is mounted is installed
at the blowout port. Therefore, the number of working steps for assembling increases,
and there is a problem that labor is required for assembling the protective member.
[0006] Further, even in the case of a structure in which a rod-like member is inserted into
the hole penetrating the pillar to constitute the protective member, it is necessary
to insert the rod-like members into the holes of the pillar one by one. Therefore,
even in the case of such a structure, there is a problem in that it takes labor to
assemble the protective member. Finally, fixing the fan guard disclosed in Patent
Document 2 also requires the assembly to the steel wires of two locking parts and
one spacer, which is relatively laborious.
[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an indoor unit of an
air conditioner in which it is possible to directly assemble a protective member covering
a blowout port to allow ventilation directly to the blowout port and in which assembling
properties of the protective member can be improved, and a method for assembling the
indoor unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present
invention includes a housing; a blowing fan and a heat exchanger accommodated in the
housing; a blowout port extending in a horizontal direction and provided in a lower
portion of the housing to blow air from the blowing fan into a room; a fixing portion
provided to cross the blowout port; a groove portion provided in the fixing portion
to be recessed from an end portion on a downstream side of the air flow toward an
upstream side; a protective member which is disposed on the downstream side of the
fixing portion, covers the blowout port allowing ventilation, and has a plurality
of rod-like horizontal rails having elasticity and capable of being inserted into
the groove portion; and a locking member which is locked to the fixing portion from
the downstream side of the protective member to restrict movement of the rail inserted
into the groove portion.
[0009] According to such an indoor unit, the groove portion recessed from the downstream
side to the upstream side is provided in the fixing portion provided in the blowout
port, and the rail of the protective member can be inserted into the groove portion.
Therefore, by disposing the protective member covering the blowout port to allow ventilation
at the downstream side of the blowout port, and by inserting the rail into the groove
portion of the fixing portion from the downstream side of the blowout port, the protective
member can be easily directly disposed at a predetermined position on the downstream
side of the blowout port.
[0010] Further, the locking member can be locked to the fixing portion from the downstream
side of the protective member to restrict the movement of the rail inserted into the
groove portion. For this reason, in the state in which the protective member is disposed
on the downstream side of the blowout port and the rail is inserted into the groove
portion, by locking the locking member to the fixing portion, the protective member
can be easily supported by the blowout port.
[0011] In the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect, the plurality
of rod-like horizontal rails extend in the horizontal direction and are disposed to
be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction intersecting with the horizontal
direction, and the protective member further has a rod-like vertical rail which is
disposed to extend in the vertical direction at a position of a louver provided at
the blowout port so as to extend in the vertical direction, and connects and fixes
the plurality of horizontal rails.
[0012] In this way, when a plurality of horizontal rails are connected and fixed by the
vertical rail, the plurality of horizontal rails are disposed at predetermined intervals
and are moderately elastically deformable. Therefore, it is possible to insert the
horizontal rail into the groove portion of the fixing portion, while moderately elastically
deforming the horizontal rail, and it is possible to improve workability at the time
of mounting the protective member.
[0013] Moreover, since the vertical rail is disposed at the position of the louver of the
blowout port, the vertical rail does not hinder the flow of air from the blowing fan
and then blown out of the blowout port.
[0014] Further, in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect
of the present invention, the groove portion further has a narrowing portion having
a pair of inclined guide surfaces in which a width gradually decreases from the downstream
side toward the upstream side; and an expanded accommodating portion provided to be
wider than the narrowing portion on the upstream side of the narrowing portion and
capable of locking and accommodating the horizontal rails, wherein the width of the
expanded accommodating portion in the vertical direction equals the sum of the widths
of two adjacent horizontal rails accommodated in the expanded accommodating portion
and the interval between them.
[0015] In such an indoor unit, when the protective member is inserted from the downstream
side, since the plurality of horizontal rails are gradually elastically deformed and
moved by the inclined guide surface, and thereafter, the plurality of horizontal rails
are restored by the expanded accommodating portion to enlarge the interval, the plurality
of horizontal rails are accommodated and stably disposed in the expanded accommodating
portion. Therefore, the assembling property of the protective member can be further
improved.
[0016] Further, in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to a second aspect of
the present invention, in the first aspect, the vertical rail may be disposed on the
upstream side of the horizontal rail.
[0017] In such an indoor unit of the air conditioner, since the vertical rail is not disposed
on the outer side (downstream side) of the horizontal rail, it is possible to suppress
the protruding portion of the protective member to the outer side to be small, and
to improve the aesthetic appearance.
[0018] In the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present
invention, in any one of the first or second aspects, the fixing portion may be a
pillar which extends in a vertical direction intersecting with the horizontal direction
at the blowout port to reinforce the blowout port.
[0019] In such an indoor unit, the protective member can be mounted using a pillar for
reinforcing the blowout port. Therefore, since it is not necessary to separately provide
a fixing member, complication of the structure of the blowout port can be suppressed
and it becomes difficult to inhibit the flow of the air blown out of the blowout port.
[0020] Furthermore, a method for assembling an indoor unit of an air conditioner according
to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes providing a fixing portion in
a vertical direction intersecting with a horizontal direction, at a blowout port extending
in the horizontal direction and provided in a lower portion of a housing to blow air
from a blowing fan into a room, and providing a groove portion in the fixing portion
to be recessed from an end portion on a downstream side of the flow of air toward
an upstream side; disposing a protective member configured to cover the blowout port
to allow the ventilation on the downstream side of the fixing portion and inserting
a plurality of rod-like horizontal rails of the protective member from the downstream
side into the groove portion; and locking the locking member to the fixing portion
from the downstream side of the protective member to restrict movement of the plurality
of rod-like horizontal rails inserted into the groove portion. The plurality of rod-like
horizontal rails have elasticity, extend in the horizontal direction and are disposed
to be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction intersecting with the horizontal
direction, and the protective member further has a rod-like vertical rail which is
disposed to extend in the vertical direction at a position of a louver provided at
the blowout port so as to extend in the vertical direction, and connects and fixes
the plurality of horizontal rails. The groove portion has a narrowing portion having
a pair of inclined guide surfaces in which a width gradually decreases from the downstream
side toward the upstream side; and an expanded accommodating portion provided to be
wider than the narrowing portion on the upstream side of the narrowing portion and
capable of locking and accommodating the horizontal rails, wherein the width of the
expanded accommodating portion in the vertical direction equals the sum of the widths
of two adjacent horizontal rails accommodated in the expanded accommodating portion
and the interval between them.
[0021] According to such a method for assembling the indoor unit, the fixing portion is
provided in the middle of the blowout port, the groove portion recessed from the downstream
side toward the upstream side is provided in the fixing portion, the protective member
is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing portion, and the rail of the protective
member is inserted into the groove portion. Therefore, the protective member covering
the blowout port to allow ventilation can be easily directly disposed at a predetermined
position on the downstream side of the blowout port.
[0022] Further, the locking member is locked to the fixing portion from the downstream side
of the protective member to restrict the movement of the rail inserted in the groove
portion. Therefore, the protective member disposed at a predetermined position on
the downstream side of the blowout port can be easily installed in the blowout port.
[0023] According to the indoor unit of the air conditioner and the method for assembling
the indoor unit of the air conditioner, the protective member covering the blowout
port to allow ventilation can be directly assembled to the blowout port, thus the
assembling property of the protective member can be improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024]
FIG. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a part of a protective member in an
indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A shown a general
overview, and FIG. 2B shown an enlarged view of a part X of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing a mounted state of the protective member
in the indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a partial side view for explaining the locked state of the protective member
and a locking member with respect to a fixing portion in the indoor unit according
to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fixing portion and the locking member
for explaining the locked state of the locking member with respect to the fixing portion
in the indoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a method for assembling the indoor unit
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] An air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 10 provided in a room, and an outdoor
unit (not shown) connected to the indoor unit 10 by piping and provided outside.
[0026] The indoor unit 10 suctions air, adjusts the temperature and humidity, and then blows
out air to perform indoor air conditioning.
[0027] Hereinafter, the indoor unit 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention
will be described.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit 10 is formed in a horizontally elongated shape
extending in a horizontal direction D1 (a direction orthogonal to the sheet). The
indoor unit 10 includes a housing 11, a blowing fan 14 and a heat exchanger 13 accommodated
inside the housing 11, and a blowout port 15 provided in a lower portion of the housing
11 and extending in the horizontal direction D1.
[0029] Further, for the purpose of preventing a contact to the blowing fan 14, the indoor
unit 10 further includes a protective member 20 which covers the entire opening end
15a of the blowout port 15 allowing ventilation, a fixing portion 25 which fixes the
protective member 20, a groove portion 26 which is provided in the fixing portion
25 and into which the protective member 20 can be inserted, and a locking member 30
which is locked to the fixing portion 25 in a state in which the protective member
20 is inserted into the groove portion 26.
[0030] The housing 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and can accommodate
various components.
[0031] The blowing fan 14 is a cross flow fan that extends in the horizontal direction D1.
[0032] The heat exchanger 13 is provided to surround the blowing fan 14 from the outer circumference.
[0033] As the blowout port 15, a horizontally long blowout port 15 for blowing air from
the blowing fan 14 into the room is opened downward, diagonally downward, or forward.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a louver 17 for adjusting the wind direction to the left
and right is provided on a side closer to an upstream side of the flow of air A blown
out of the blowout port 15 than the opening end 15a. In the louver 17, a plurality
of vanes 17a along a vertical direction D2 intersecting with the horizontal direction
D1 are disposed at intervals in the horizontal direction D1. Although it is not shown
in detail, a flap 12 is provided at the outside of the opening end 15a. The flap 12
closes the opening end 15a from the outer side at the time of stopping and turns outward
at the time of operation to open the opening end 15a or adjust the wind direction
up and down (see FIG. 1).
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the protective member 20 is disposed between the louver 17 and
the flap 12 on the downstream side of the blowout port 15. As shown in FIG. 2A, the
protective member 20 is a member in which a plurality of horizontal rails (crosspieces)
21 extending in the horizontal direction D1 are coupled with a plurality of vertical
rails 22 extending in the vertical direction D2 intersecting with the horizontal direction
D. In the protective member 20, the plurality of horizontal rails 21 are provided
substantially in parallel in the vertical direction D2 at predetermined intervals,
the plurality of vertical rails 22 are provided substantially in parallel at predetermined
intervals in the horizontal direction D1, and the plurality of horizontal rails 21
and the plurality of vertical rails 22 are orthogonal to each other and are connected
and fixed at the intersections of the horizontal rails 21 and the vertical rails 22.
Therefore, the protective member 20 is formed in a net shape (lattice shape) having
a large number of openings surrounded by the horizontal rails 21 and the vertical
rails 22. That is, since the protective member 20 is disposed in the blowout port
15, the protective member 20 is formed in a shape that does not hinder the flow of
the air A.
[0035] Further, each of the vertical rails 22 is disposed to extend in the vertical direction
D2 at a position corresponding to each vane 17a of the louver 17. That is, when viewed
from the downstream side, the vertical rail 22 is provided to overlap the end surface
of the vane 17a. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the vertical rail 22 is disposed adjacent
to the upstream side of the horizontal rail 21.
[0036] The fixing portion 25 bridges between facing parts such as inner walls facing each
other at the blowout port 15, and is provided to extend in the vertical direction
D2.
[0037] The fixing portion 25 may be a pillar for reinforcing the blowout port 15 to prevent
deformation, by bridging and being fixed between the facing parts. In the present
embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the fixing portion 25 is a pillar formed in
a flat plate shape. The pillars are disposed at intervals in the horizontal direction
D1 between the plurality of vanes 17a of the louver 17.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the groove portion 26 is provided by being recessed in
a notch shape from the end portion on the downstream side of the flow of the air A
blown out of the blowout port 15 toward the upstream side in the fixing portion 25.
A plurality of groove portions 26 are provided in each fixing portion 25 (pillar)
at intervals in the vertical direction D2. Further, the horizontal rails 21 of the
protective member 20 can be inserted into the respective groove portions 26.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 4, the groove portion 26 has a narrowing portion 27 in which a groove
width gradually reduces from the downstream end portion of the fixing portion 25 toward
the upstream side, and an expanded accommodating portion 28 in which a groove width
is widened in the vertical direction D2 and which is in communication with the narrowing
portion 27 at the upstream side of the narrowing portion 27.
[0040] In the narrowing portion 27 of a groove portion 26A located at the center in the
vertical direction D2, the opening at the downstream end portion is formed to be wider
than the dimension obtained by adding the interval between two adjacent horizontal
rails 21 inserted into one narrowing portion 27 and the width of these two horizontal
rails 21. Further, the narrowing portion 27 is formed by a pair of inclined guide
surfaces 29. The interval of the facing inclined guide surfaces 29 in the vertical
direction D2 is provided to gradually decrease from the opening of the groove portion
26A (narrowing portion 27) and to become narrower than the width of the adjacent horizontal
rail 21 at the inner portion of the groove portion 26A.
[0041] In this narrowing portion 27, the horizontal rail 21 can be elastically deformed
so that, when the horizontal rails 21 move from the downstream side toward the upstream
side, the interval between the adjacent horizontal rails 21 inserted into the same
groove portion 26A becomes narrower due to the pair of inclined guide surfaces 29.
[0042] The expanded accommodating portion 28 of the groove portion 26A located at the center
in the vertical direction D2 has the dimension in the vertical direction D2 formed
to be greater than the interval between the inclined guide surfaces 29 at the deepest
part (the end portion on the most upstream side) of the narrowing portion 27. That
is, the expanded accommodating portion 28 is provided to be continuous with the narrowing
portion 27 and to expand the groove width on both sides in the vertical direction
D2. The groove width dimension of the expanded accommodating portion 28 in the vertical
direction D2 is formed to be substantially the same as the dimension obtained by adding
the interval (the interval of the state of not being elastically deformed) between
the two adjacent horizontal rails 21 accommodated in the expanded accommodating portion
28 and the width of the two horizontal rails 21.
[0043] When the horizontal rails 21 are moved toward and accommodated in the expanded accommodating
portion 28, elastic deformation of the horizontal rails 21 of the protective member
20 is released, and the horizontal rails 21 of the protective member 20 are accommodated
and locked in the expanded accommodating portion 28.
[0044] Further, in a groove portion 26B (the groove portion 26B at both ends) other than
the groove portion 26A located at the center in the vertical direction D2, the inclined
guide surface 29 is provided in the narrowing portion 27 only on the groove portion
26A side, and the expanded accommodating portion 28 is provided only on the groove
portion 26A side. That is, the groove portion 26B has the same shape as the half portion
when the groove portion 26A is divided at the center in the vertical direction D2.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the locking member 30 is detachably provided in each of
the fixing portions 25, and restricts movement of the horizontal rail 21 of the protective
member 20 inserted into the groove portion 26 of the fixing portion 25 in the mounted
state.
[0046] The locking member 30 has a locking portion 31 protruding to the upstream side at
a position corresponding to the space between the groove portions 26 of the fixing
portion 25. As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of locking portions 31 are disposed to be spaced
apart from each other in the horizontal direction D1 so as to be sandwich both sides
of the fixing portion 25, and a locking claw 32 is provided on the leading end side.
Here, a locking hole 33 is provided on a further upstream side (upper part) than the
end portion on the upstream side of the groove portion 26 between the adjacent groove
portions 26 of the fixing portion 25. When the pair of locking portions 31 are elastically
deformed to separate from and approach each other in the horizontal direction D1,
the locking claw 32 can be locked in the locking hole 33.
[0047] The locking member 30 also has a support portion 34 for supporting the horizontal
rail 21 of the protective member 20 accommodated in the expanded accommodating portion
28, at a position corresponding to the groove portion 26 of the fixing portion 25.
The support portion 34 is provided in a shape corresponding to the groove portion
26. In addition, the support portion 34 is integrally provided with the pair of locking
portions 31, while supporting the pair of locking portions 31 from the downstream
side.
[0048] Further, in a state in which the locking portion 31 is locked to the fixing portion
25, the support portion 34 has a shape which comes into contact with the horizontal
rail 21 of the protective member 20 accommodated in the groove portion 26 and can
restrict the movement. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a substantially semicircular
recessed portion 34a that is recessed toward the downstream side is provided in the
support portion 34 continuously to the downstream end portion of each locking portion
31. Further, by sandwiching the horizontal rails 21 accommodated in the groove portion
26 and disposed in the expanded accommodating portion 28 between the inner surface
of the recessed portion 34a and the fixing portion 25, movement of the horizontal
rails 21 is restricted.
[0049] Here, the indoor unit 10 of such an air conditioner 100 can be assembled by an assembling
method (see FIG. 6) having a process of assembling the aforementioned protective member
20 to the blowout port 15.
[0050] First, a process S1 of providing the groove portion 26 is performed. That is, a fixing
portion 25 (or a fixing portion 25 other than a pillar) as a pillar is provided in
the blowout port 15, and a groove portion 26 is provided in each fixing portion 25
so as to be recessed from the downstream side to the upstream side. The groove portion
26 may be provided by notching an existing pillar or a pillar provided with the groove
portion 26 in advance may be mounted in place of the existing pillar.
[0051] In this state, a process S2 of inserting the rail is executed. That is, the protective
member 20 is disposed on the downstream side of the fixing portion 25 to cover the
blowout port 15. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the vertical rail 22 is disposed
at the position of the louver 17 so that the horizontal rail 21 between the adjacent
vertical rails 22 is disposed at the position of the groove portion 26 of the fixing
portion 25. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the protective member 20 is moved to the
upstream side to insert the horizontal rails 21 of the protective member 20 into the
respective groove portions 26.
[0052] In the process S2 of inserting the rail, by further pressing the protective member
20 to the upstream side, the horizontal rails 21 are moved to the upstream side within
the narrowing portion 27 of the groove portion 26. At this time, the horizontal rails
21 of the protective member 20 are guided by the inclined guide surfaces 29 and are
elastically deformed, and the interval between the adjacent horizontal rails 21 is
reduced. Further, when the horizontal rails 21 of the protective member 20 are further
moved to the upstream side and the horizontal rails 21 reach the expanded accommodating
portion 28, the elastic deformation of the horizontal rails 21 due to the narrowing
portions 27 is released, the interval between the horizontal rails 21 widens, and
each horizontal rail 21 is accommodated in the expanded accommodating portion 28.
[0053] Finally, a process S3 of locking the locking member is executed. That is, after inserting
the horizontal rails 21 of the protective member 20 into the respective groove portions
26, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking member 30 is opposed so as to be locked to the
fixing portion 25 from the downstream side of the protective member 20, and is moved
upward. As a result, the movement of the horizontal rails 21 of the protective member
20 inserted in the groove portions 26 of the fixing portion 25 is restricted by the
locking member 30.
[0054] According to the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner 100 and the method for assembling
the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment as described above, in
the fixing portion 25 provided in the blowout port 15 to extend in the vertical direction
D2, the groove portion 26 recessed from the downstream side to the upstream side is
provided so that the horizontal rails 21 of the protective member 20 are inserted
into the groove portions 26. Therefore, by disposing the protective member 20 covering
the blowout port 15 to allow ventilation on the downstream side of the blowout port
15, and by inserting the horizontal rails 21 into the groove portion 26 of the fixing
portion 25 from the downstream side of the blowout port 15, the protective member
20 can be easily and directly disposed at a predetermined position of the blowout
port 15.
[0055] Further, the locking member 30 is locked to the fixing portion 25 from the downstream
side of the protective member 20 to restrict the movement of the horizontal rails
21 inserted in the groove portions 26. Therefore, in the state in which the protective
member 20 is disposed on the downstream side of the blowout port 15 and the horizontal
rails 21 are inserted into the groove portions 26, by locking the locking member 30
to the fixing portion 25, the protective member 20 can be easily supported by the
blowout port 15 and the protective member 20 can be easily and directly assembled
to the blowout port 15, and thus the assembling property can be improved.
[0056] Here, even when the horizontal rail 21 does not reach the expanded accommodating
portion 28 and is located within the narrowing portion 27, by locking the locking
members 30 to the fixing portions 25, while pushing the horizontal rails 21 toward
the upstream side by the locking member 30, it is possible to easily accommodate the
horizontal rails 21 in the expanded accommodating portions 28.
[0057] Further, in the present embodiment, since the horizontal rail 21 having a rod shape
is connected and fixed by the vertical rails 22 at a predetermined position, it is
possible to dispose a plurality of horizontal rails 21 at predetermined intervals
or to elastically deform a plurality of horizontal rails 21 with moderate strength.
Therefore, since the horizontal rails 21 can be moderately elastically deformed and
inserted into the groove portions 26 of the fixing portion 25, workability at the
time of mounting can be improved.
[0058] Since the vertical rail 22 is disposed at a position corresponding to the louver
17 of the blowout port 15, it is possible to suppress hindrance of the flow of air
A from the blowing fan 14 and then blown out of the blowout port 15.
[0059] In the indoor unit 10 of the present embodiment, the vertical rails 22 are disposed
on the upstream side of the horizontal rail 21, and the vertical rails 22 are not
disposed outside the horizontal rails 21. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the
protruding portion of the protective member 20 to the outside (downstream side) to
be small and to improve the aesthetic appearance of the indoor unit 10.
[0060] In the indoor unit 10 of the present embodiment, when the fixing portion 25 is a
pillar that reinforces the blowout port 15, the protective member 20 of the blowout
port 15 can be mounted, using a member that reinforces the blowout port 15. Therefore,
it is not necessary to newly provide the fixing portion 25 additionally provided with
the groove portion 26 in the blowout port 15. Therefore, it is possible to prevent
the structure of the blowout port 15 from becoming complicated, and it is difficult
to hinder the flow of the air blown out of the blowout port 15.
[0061] In the indoor unit 10 of the present embodiment, the groove portion 26 has a narrowing
portion 27 and the expanded accommodating portion 28 which is wider than the narrowing
portion 27 on the upstream side of the narrowing portion 27. Therefore, when the horizontal
rail 21 of the protective member 20 is inserted into the groove portion 26 from the
front side (downstream side, lower side), the horizontal rail 21 is supported by the
fixing portion 25 from the downstream side (lower side) by the expanded accommodating
portion 28, and the protective member 20 does not fall by gravity or the like. That
is, the protective member 20 can be stably installed in the blowout port 15.
[0062] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above,
it is possible to make some design changes within a range that does not depart from
the technical idea of the present invention.
[0063] For example, the protective member 20 may include a plurality of divided members.
[0064] Further, each of the horizontal rails 21 and the vertical rails 22 is in the shape
of a round rod which is elastically deformable. However, as long as the protective
member 20 can be inserted into the groove portion 26, the protective member 20 is
not limited to the above-mentioned shape. For example, each of the horizontal rails
21 and the vertical rails 22 may have a square bar shape, or only a plurality of horizontal
rails 21 may be provided (in this case, a fixing member for fixing the plurality of
horizontal rails 21 instead of the vertical rails 22 is required).
[0065] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and shown above,
it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be
considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications
can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly,
the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description,
and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES
[0066]
- D1
- Horizontal direction
- D2
- Vertical direction
- 10
- Indoor unit
- 11
- Housing
- 12
- Flap
- 13
- Heat exchanger
- 14
- Blowing fan
- 15
- Blowout port
- 15a
- Opening end
- 17
- Louver
- 17a
- Vane
- 20
- Protective member
- 21
- Horizontal rail
- 22
- Vertical rail
- 25
- Fixing portion
- 26 (26A, 26B)
- Groove portion
- 27
- Narrowing portion
- 28
- Expanded accommodating portion
- 29
- Inclined guide surface
- 30
- Locking member
- 31
- Locking portion
- 32
- Locking claw
- 33
- Locking hole
- 34
- Support portion
- 34a
- Recessed portion
- 100
- Air conditioner
- S1
- Process of providing groove portion
- S2
- Process of inserting rail
- S3
- Process of locking locking member
1. Innenraumeinheit (10) einer Klimaanlage (100), die Folgendes umfasst:
ein Gehäuse (11);
einen Gebläselüfter (14) und einen Wärmetauscher (13), die im Gehäuse (11) aufgenommen
sind;
einen Ausblasanschluss (15), der sich in eine horizontale Richtung (D1) erstreckt
und in einem unteren Abschnitt des Gehäuses (11) bereitgestellt ist, um Luft vom Gebläselüfter
(14) in einen Raum zu blasen;
einen Befestigungsabschnitt (25), der bereitgestellt ist, um den Ausblasanschluss
(15) zu durchqueren;
einen Nutabschnitt (26), der im Befestigungsabschnitt (25) bereitgestellt ist, um
von einem Endabschnitt auf einer Stromabwärtsseite des Luftstroms zu einer Stromaufwärtsseite
ausgenommen zu sein;
ein Schutzelement (20), das auf der Stromabwärtsseite des Befestigungsabschnitts (25)
angeordnet ist, den Ausblasanschluss (15) abdeckt, um eine Lüftung zu erlauben, und
eine Vielzahl von stangenähnlichen horizontalen Streben (21) mit einer Elastizität
aufweist, die sich in die horizontale Richtung (D1) erstrecken und angeordnet sind,
um in eine vertikale Richtung (D2), die die horizontale Richtung (D1) schneidet, voneinander
beabstandet zu sein, und in der Lage sind, in den Nutabschnitt (26) eingesteckt zu
werden; und
ein Verriegelungselement (30), das von der Stromabwärtsseite des Schutzelements (20)
am Befestigungsabschnitt (25) verriegelt ist, um eine Bewegung der Strebe, die in
den Nutabschnitt (26) eingesteckt ist, zu beschränken;
wobei die Innenraumeinheit (10) dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass das Schutzelement (20) ferner eine stangenähnliche vertikale Strebe (22) aufweist,
die angeordnet ist, um sich in einer Position einer Lamelle (17), die am Ausblasanschluss
(15) bereitgestellt ist, in die vertikale Richtung (D2) zu erstrecken, um sich in
die vertikale Richtung (D2) zu erstrecken, und die Vielzahl von horizontalen Streben
(21) verbindet und befestigt, dadurch, dass der Nutabschnitt (26) einen Verengungsabschnitt
(27) mit einem Paar von geneigten Führungsflächen (29), bei dem sich eine Breite von
der Stromabwärtsseite zur Stromaufwärtsseite allmählich verringert, und einen erweiterten
Aufnahmeabschnitt (28), der bereitgestellt ist, um auf der Stromaufwärtsseite des
Verengungsabschnitts (27) breiter zu sein als der Verengungsabschnitt (27), und in
der Lage ist, die stangenähnlichen horizontalen Streben (21) zu verriegeln und aufzunehmen,
beinhaltet, wobei die Breite des erweiterten Aufnahmeabschnitts (28) in der vertikalen
Richtung gleich der Summe der Breiten von zwei benachbarten horizontalen Streben (21),
die im erweiterten Aufnahmeabschnitt (28) aufgenommen sind, und des Intervalls zwischen
ihnen ist, wobei der erweiterte Aufnahmeabschnitt (28) bereitgestellt ist, um mit
dem Verengungsabschnitt (27) durchgehend zu sein und die Nutbreite in die vertikale
Richtung (D2) auf beiden Seiten zu erweitern.
2. Innenraumeinheit (10) der Klimaanlage (100) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die vertikale Strebe
(22) auf der Stromaufwärtsseite der horizontalen Strebe (21) angeordnet ist.
3. Innenraumeinheit (10) der Klimaanlage (100) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 oder 2, wobei
der Befestigungsabschnitt (25) eine Säule ist, die sich am Ausblasanschluss (15) in
eine vertikale Richtung (D2), die sich mit der horizontalen Richtung (D1) schneidet,
erstreckt, um den Ausblasanschluss (15) zu verstärken.
4. Verfahren zum Montieren einer Innenraumeinheit (10) einer Klimaanlage (100), wobei
das Verfahren Folgendes umfasst:
Bereitstellen eines Befestigungsabschnitts (25) in einer vertikalen Richtung (D2),
die sich mit einer horizontalen Richtung (D1) schneidet, an einem Ausblasanschluss
(15), der sich in die horizontale Richtung (D1) erstreckt, um Luft von einem Gebläselüfter
(14) in einen Raum zu blasen, und Bereitstellen eines Nutabschnitts (26) im Befestigungsabschnitt
(25), um von einem Endabschnitt auf einer Stromabwärtsseite des Luftstroms zu einer
Stromaufwärtsseite ausgenommen zu sein;
Anordnen eines Schutzelements (20), das dazu ausgelegt ist, den Ausblasanschluss (15)
abzudecken, um die Lüftung zu erlauben, auf der Stromabwärtsseite des Befestigungsabschnitts
(25) und Einstecken einer Vielzahl von stangenähnlichen horizontalen Streben (21)
des Schutzelements (20) von der Stromaufwärtsseite in den Nutabschnitt (26), wobei
die Vielzahl von stangenähnlichen horizontalen Streben (21) eine Elastizität aufweisen,
sich in die horizontale Richtung (D1) erstrecken und angeordnet sind, um in eine vertikale
Richtung (D2), die sich mit der horizontalen Richtung (D1) schneidet, voneinander
beabstandet zu sein; und
Verriegeln eines Verriegelungselements (30) von der Stromabwärtsseite des Schutzelements
(20) am Befestigungsabschnitt (25), um eine Bewegung der horizontalen Streben (21),
die in den Nutabschnitt (26) eingesteckt sind, zu beschränken;
wobei das Verfahren dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass der Ausblasanschluss in einem unteren Abschnitt des Gehäuses (11) bereitgestellt
ist, dadurch dass das Schutzelement (20) ferner eine stangenähnliche vertikale Strebe
(22) aufweist, die angeordnet ist, um sich in einer Position einer Lamelle (17), die
am Ausblasanschluss (15) bereitgestellt ist, in die vertikale Richtung (D2) zu erstrecken,
um sich in die vertikale Richtung (D1) zu erstrecken, und die Vielzahl von horizontalen
Streben (21) verbindet und befestigt, dadurch, dass der Nutabschnitt (26) einen Verengungsabschnitt
(27) mit einem Paar von geneigten Führungsflächen (29), bei dem sich eine Breite von
der Stromabwärtsseite zur Stromaufwärtsseite allmählich verringert, und einen erweiterten
Aufnahmeabschnitt (28), der bereitgestellt ist, um auf der Stromaufwärtsseite des
Verengungsabschnitts (27) breiter zu sein als der Verengungsabschnitt (27), und in
der Lage ist, die stangenähnlichen horizontalen Streben (21) zu verriegeln und aufzunehmen,
beinhaltet, wobei die Breite des erweiterten Aufnahmeabschnitts (28) in der vertikalen
Richtung gleich der Summe der Breiten von zwei benachbarten horizontalen Streben (21),
die im erweiterten Aufnahmeabschnitt (28) aufgenommen sind, und des Intervalls zwischen
ihnen ist, wobei der erweiterte Aufnahmeabschnitt (28) bereitgestellt ist, um mit
dem Verengungsabschnitt (27) durchgehend zu sein und die Nutbreite in die vertikale
Richtung auf beiden Seiten zu erweitern.