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(11) | EP 0 730 124 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Heating/cooling unit used in room air conditioning system |
| (57) A heating/cooling unit (10) used in a room air conditioning system comprises a heat
medium conducting panel (11) into which a heat medium is selectively conducted from
a boiler (200) and a refrigerator (300), so that a room of a house or a compartment
of a office building is selectively warmed and cooled in response to demand. The heat
medium conducting panel (11) forms a front end of a casing (100) of the heating/cooling
unit (10). As a result, an increase in the outer dimensions of the heating/cooling
unit (10) is effectively prevented. |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a room air conditioning system, and more particular to a heating/cooling unit used in the room air conditioning system.
Description of the Prior Art
[0002] Various kinds of heating units of a room air conditioning system used for heating the rooms of a house or the compartments of an office building are known. For example, heating unit 500 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a heat medium conducting panel 501 which is formed by a pair of rectangular plate members 501a and a corrugated fin member 502 which is fixedly secured to an entire one side surface of panel 501. The rectangular plate members 501a are made of, for example, cast iron and the corrugated fin member 502 is made of, for example, steel. A plurality of passages 503 are defined between the plate members 501a in the direction of the height of panel 501, and are arranged to be aligned with one another in the direction of the width of panel 501 with equal intervals. A pair of passages 504 and 505 functioning as a header are also defined between the plate members 501a at an upper and lower end portions of panel 501, respectively. An upper and lower ends of each of passages 503 are linked to the pair of headers 504 and 505, respectively. The pair of headers 504 and 505 are provided with a heat medium inlet and outlet pipes (not shown), respectively. Generally, heating unit 500 is installed at a position which is adjacent to a wall of the room or the compartment while the corrugated fin member 502 faces to the wall.
[0003] In operation, the heat medium, such as a hot water heated at a boiler (not shown) is conducted to the upper header 504 through the inlet pipe, and then flows therethrough while distributingly flows into the passages 503. The hot water flowing into each of the passages 503 downwardly flows therethrough, and flows out to the lower header 505 while merges thereat. The hot water merged at the lower header 505 flows therethrough, and then returns to the boiler via the outlet pipe to be heated again thereat. This circulation is repeated during operation of the room air conditioning system.
[0004] As the hot water flows through the upper header 504, passages 503 and the lower header 505, the panel 501 is heated by virtue of exchanging heat with the hot water. A part of heat of the panel 501 is radiated therefrom to warm the room or the compartment. The remainder of heat of panel 501 is conducted to the corrugated fin member 502 to heat thereof. The heated corrugated fin member 502 exchanges heat with the air, which upwardly moves through a plurality of intervening spaces 502a defined in the corrugated fin member 502 by virtue of natural convection, to warm thereof. As a result, the room or the compartment is further warmed by the warm air moving from the corrugated fin member 502.
[0005] However, the above-mentioned heating unit 500 is used for purposes of heating only so that it is required to provide a separate cooling unit in order to cool the rooms or the compartments. As a result, a cost of equipment is increased, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be heated and cooled.
[0006] To resolve the above defect, as shown in Figures 3-5, a heating/cooling unit 600 which can selectively warm and cool the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building has been prepared.
[0007] With reference to Figures 3-5, the heating/cooling unit 600 includes a heat exchanger, for example, a cross finned tube type heat exchanger 610 as shown in Figure 5, a motor 620 and a pair of fans, for example, multiblade fans 630 operatively connected to the motor 620. The heat exchanger 610, the motor 620 and the fans 630 are contained in a casing 640 which is rectangular parallelpiped in shape. The heat exchanger 610 is located at a position which is upwardly spaced from the motor 620 and the fans 630. Generally, heating/cooling unit 600 is also installed at a position which is adjacent to a wall of the room or the compartment.
[0008] In heating operation, the heat medium, such as a hot water heated at a boiler (not shown) is conducted to the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610 through the inlet port 611a, and then flows therethrough. The hot water flowing through the conducting tube 611 returns to the boiler via the outlet port 611b to be heated again thereat. This circulation is repeated during heating operation of the room air conditioning system.
[0009] As the hot water flows through the conducting tube 611, the hot water exchanges heat with the air, which compulsively flows in the casing 640 by virtue of operation of fans 630, through fin plates 612 to warm thereof. The warm air compulsively flows out from the casing 640 through a rectangular opening 640a, which is formed at a top portion of the casing 640, by virtue of operation of fans 630. Furthermore, a plurality of louvers 640b are disposed at the opening 640a. The louvers 640b extend in the direction of the width of casing 640. The warm air flowing out from the heating/cooling unit 600 circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is warmed.
[0010] A manner of cooling operation of the heating/cooling unit 600 is similar to that of the above-described heating operation other than only one difference described below. A cold water cooled by a cooling apparatus, such as a refrigerator (not shown) is conducted to the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610, and exchanges heat with the air, which compulsively flows in the casing 640 by virtue of operation of fans 630, through fin plates 612 to cool thereof.
[0011] According to the heating/cooling unit 600, when the room or the compartment is required to be warmed, the hot water is conducted into the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610. On the other hand, when the room or the compartment is required to be cooled, the cold water is conducted into the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610. Accordingly, the room or the compartment is selectively warmed and cooled by means of selectively conducting the hot water and the cold water to the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610.
[0012] However, in this prior art embodiment, the outer dimensions of the heating/cooling unit 600 may be increased relative to those of the aforementioned heating unit 500 because that the heat exchanger 610 is contained in the casing 640 in order to carry out heat exchanging between the air and the heat medium under the condition where the air compulsively flows in the casing 640 by virtue of operation of the fans 630.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heating/cooling unit which can selectively warm and cool the rooms of a house or the compartments of an office building without increasing its outer dimensions.
[0014] According to the present invention, a heating/cooling unit used in a room air conditioning system comprises a heat medium conducting panel through which a heat medium flows. The heat medium conducting panel is provided with an inlet port through which the heat medium flows thereinto and an outlet port through which the heat medium flows out therefrom. The inlet port of the heat medium conducting panel is connected to both an outlet port of a heating source and an outlet port of a cooling source. The outlet port of the heat medium conducting panel is connected to both an inlet port of the heating source and an inlet port of the cooling source.
[0015] A first switching means, such as a three way valve selectively switches a connection of the inlet port of the heat medium conducting panel to the outlet port of the heating source with a connection of the inlet port of the heat medium conducting panel to the outlet port of the cooling source in response to demand. A second switching means, such as a three way valve selectively switches a connection of the outlet port of the heat medium conducting panel to the inlet port of the heating source with a connection of the outlet port of the heat medium conducting panel to the inlet port of the cooling source in response to demand,
[0016] A casing defines an inner hollow space therewithin. The casing includes a front portion and a rear portion which is rearwardly spaced from the front portion. The casing further includes a first opening formed at and a lower end of the front portion so as to conduct an outside air into the inner hollow space of the casing, and a second opening formed at a top portion of the casing so as to conduct the air in the inner hollow space of the casing to an outside casing.
[0017] A motor fan is disposed within the inner hollow space of the casing so as to operate to move the air in the inner hollow space of the casing from the first opening to the second opening. A fin member is disposed within the inner hollow space of the casing and is fixedly attached to an inner surface of the heat medium conducting panel. The heat medium conducting panel forms the front portion of the casing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] Figure 1 is a front view of a heating unit of a room air conditioning system in accordance with one prior art embodiment.
[0020] Figure 3 is a front view of a heating/cooling unit of a room air conditioning system in accordance with another prior art embodiment.
[0022] Figure 5 is an overall perspective view of a heat exchanger used in the heating/cooling unit shown in Figure 3.
[0023] Figure 6 is an overall perspective view of a heating/cooling unit used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] Figure 8 is an enlarged exploded view of a part of the heating/cooling unit shown in Figure 6.
[0026] Figure 9 is a front view of the heating/cooling unit shown in Figure 6. In the drawing, a top cover plate and a side plate are omitted from the heating/cooling unit.
[0027] Figure 10 is a schematic side view of the heating/cooling unit shown in Figure 6. In particular, a situation where the heating/cooling unit is installed is illustrated.
[0030] Figure 13 is a block diagram of the room air conditioning system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] Figures 14a and 14b are enlarged schematic partial side views of the heating/cooling unit used in the room air conditioning system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] Figures 15a and 15b are enlarged schematic partial side views of a heating/cooling unit used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] Figure 16 is a schematic side view of a heating/cooling unit used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] Figure 17 is a block diagram of the room air conditioning system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] Figure 18 is a transverse sectional view of a heating/cooling unit used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] Figure 20 is a transverse sectional view of a heating/cooling unit used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0039] Figure 22 is a block diagram of the room air conditioning system in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0040] Figure 23 is an overall perspective view of a heat medium conducting panel of a heating/cooling unit used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] Figure 26 is a view similar to Figure 25. In the drawing, another manner of fixedly attaching a pipe member to a plate member of the heat medium conducting panel of Figure 23 is illustrated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Figure 6 illustrates an overall perspective view of a heating/cooling unit 10 used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figure 6, the heating/cooling unit 10 includes a heat medium conducting panel 11, a side plate 12 and a top cover plate 13. The heat medium conducting panel 11 is made of, for example, aluminum alloy and is rectangular parallelpiped in shape. The side plate 12 and top cover plate 13 are made of, for example, steel. An upper surface of the top cover plate 13 is curved to generally be a quarter circle in a cross sectional view. A rectangular opening 131 is formed at a generally entire area of the upper surface of the top cover plate 13. A plurality of louvers 14 are disposed at the opening 131. The louvers 14 extend in the direction of the length of top cover plate 13.
[0045] With reference to Figure 7 additionally, both longitudinal end portions (to the left and right in Figure 7) of the side plate 12 are bent twice in right angle to form first bent portions 121 and second bent portions 122 which extend from the corresponding first bent portions 121. One longitudinal end portion of heat medium conducting panel 11 is fixedly connected to one end portion of a plurality of brackets 16 by, for example, brazing. The other end portion of the brackets 16 is fixedly connected to one of the first bent portions 121 of side plate 12 by fastening means, such as screws 15. Accordingly, one longitudinal end portion of heat medium conducting panel 11 is fixedly connected to one of the first bent portions 121 of side plate 12 through brackets 16. The other longitudinal end portion of heat medium conducting panel 11 is also fixedly connected to the other first bent portion 121 of side plate 12 in a manner similar to the above. When the longitudinal end portions of heat medium conducting panel 11 are fixedly connected to the corresponding first bent portions 121 of side plate 12, a front end surface (to the bottom in Figure 7) of the both longitudinal end portions of heat medium conducting panel 11 are in contact with a rear end surface (to the top in Figure 7) of the corresponding second bent portions 122 of side plate 12. Accordingly, rectangular parallelpiped hollow space 20 is defined by side plate 12 and heat medium conducting panel 11. A corrugated fin member 17 defining a plurality of intervening spaces 171 therein is disposed within hollow space 20. The intervening spaces 171 are parallel to one another and extend in the direction of the height of the heat medium conducting panel 11. The corrugated fin member 17 is made of, for example, aluminum alloy and extends along an entire area of a rear surface (to the top in Figure 7) of the heat medium conducting panel 11, and is fixedly connected thereto by, for example, brazing.
[0046] With reference to Figure 6 again, a top end portion of both the side plate 12 and a top end portion of the heat medium conducting panel 11 is fitly received within a bottom end portion of the top cover plate 13 in a fashion of faucet joint, and is fixedly secured thereto by fastening means, for example, a plurality of screws (not shown). Thus, the heat medium conducting panel 11, the side plate 12 and the top cover plate 13 substantially form a casing 100 of the heating/cooling unit 10. Hence, the heat medium conducting panel 11 forms a front portion (to the bottom in Figure 7) of the casing 100, and the aforementioned rectangular parallelpiped hollow space 20 becomes an inner hollow space of casing 100.
[0047] Drain pan 30 of rectangular in shape is disposed in the inner hollow space 20 of the casing 100 at a position which is downwardly spaced from the heat medium conducting panel 11, and is fixedly secured to a lower region of the first bent portions 121 of side plate 12 by well known securing means, for example, by screws (not shown). As a result, an opening 100a is defined between a lower end of the heat medium conducting panel 11 and the drain pan 30. A drain pipe 31 is provided at one corner region of drain pan 30, so that the drain gathered in the drain pan 30 is conducted to the outside of the heating/cooling unit 10 through drain pipe 31.
[0048] With reference to Figure 8 in addition to Figure 6, heat medium conducting panel 11 includes a plurality of, for example, four heat medium conducting members 110 which are rectangular parallelpiped in shape. The heat medium conducting members 110 are vertically aligned, and are fixedly stacked one another by, for example, brazing. Four heat medium conducting members 110 are referred to first through fourth heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d from the top in Figure 6. An inner hollow space of each of the heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d is divided into a plurality of, for example, seven longitudinally extending conduits 111 by six partition walls 112 which are integrally formed at an inner surface of each of the heat medium conducting member 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d.
[0049] With reference to Figure 9 in addition to Figures 8, a pair of first and second channel members 113 and 114 which are rectangular parallelpiped in shape and are made of, for example, aluminum alloy are fixedly connected to the both longitudinal end portions of the stacked heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d. Both longitudinal ends of each of the first and second channel members 113 and 114 is closed. An inner hollow space of the first channel member 113 (to the left in Figure 9) is divided into an upper and a lower portions 113a and 113b by a first rectangular partition plate 115 made of, for example, aluminum alloy. On the other hand, an inner hollow space of the second channel member 114 (to the right in Figure 9) is divided into an upper, an intermediate and lower portions 114a, 114b and 114c by a second and third rectangular partition plates 116 and 117 which are identical to the first rectangular partition plate 115. As illustrated in Figure 9, one end of an inlet pipe 40 made of, for example, aluminum alloy is fixedly connected to an outermost end of second channel member 114 by, for example, brazing at a position located in the upper portion 114a of the inner hollow space of the second channel member 114. Similarly, one end of an outlet pipe 50 made of, for example, aluminum alloy is fixedly connected to an outermost end of second channel member 114 by, for example, brazing, at a position located in the lower portion 114c of the inner hollow space of the second channel member 114.
[0050] With reference to Figures 8, 9 and 11, in an assembling process of the heating/cooling unit 10, one longitudinal end portion (to the left in Figure 9) of the stacked heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d is fitly inserted into first channel member 113 until one longitudinal end of the stacked heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d is in contact with the ridges 113c formed at the predetermined position of an interior surface of first channel member 113. Then, one longitudinal end portion of the stacked heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d is fixedly connected to the interior surface of first channel member 113 by, for example, brazing. In a manner similar to the above, second channel member 114 is fixedly connected to the other longitudinal end portion (to the right in Figure 9) of the stacked heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d.
[0051] With reference to Figures 8 and 12, first rectangular partition plate 115 is fitly inserted into first channel member 113 through slot 113d formed at an outermost end of the first channel member 113 until one longitudinal end of the first rectangular partition plate 115 is in contact with one longitudinal end of the stacked heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d at a location which is boundary between the second and third heat medium conducting members 110b and 110c. At this situation, the other longitudinal end of the first rectangular partition plate 115 is located to be generally flush with an exterior surface of the outermost end of the first channel member 113. Then, the first rectangular partition plate 115 is fixedly connected to the interior surface of first channel member 113 and one longitudinal end of the stacked heat medium conducting members 110b and 110c by, for example, brazing. In a manner similar to the above, second and third rectangular partition plates 116 and 117 are fixedly disposed within second header member 114 at a location which is boundary between the first and second heat medium conducting members 110a and 110b and a location which is boundary between the third and fourth heat medium conducting members 110c and 110d, respectively.
[0052] With reference to Figures 9 and 10, a pair of tangential fans 60 and a motor 70 disposed between the fans 60 are located at a position which is upwardly spaced from the heat medium conducting panel 11, and are disposed within the top cover plate 13. An axis of a drive shaft 71 of motor 70 is aligned with an axes of a shaft (not shown) of the fans 60, and the drive shaft 71 of motor 70 is operatively connected to the shaft of the fans 60. The fans 60 extend along the generally entire longitudinal length of heat medium conducting panel 11. As illustrated in Figure 6, an ON-OFF switch 301 is provided at an upper region of one of the first bent portions 121 of the side plate 12, and is electrically connected to the motor 70 so that the motor 70 is controlled to be rotated and to be not rotated by virtue of ON-OFF operation of switch 301.
[0053] As illustrated in Figure 10, heating/cooling unit 10 is fixedly installed to a floor "201" of the room or the compartment while the side plate 12 of the heating/cooling unit 10 is spaced from a wall "202" of the room or the compartment with a small distance.
[0054] Figure 13 illustrates a block schematic diagram of the room air conditioning system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. With reference to Figure 13, the room air conditioning system includes a plurality of, for example, three heating/cooling units, i.e., first, second and third heating/cooling units 10a, 10b and 10c each having heat medium conducting panel 11. A first pipe member 81 connects the inlet pipe 40 of heat medium conducting panel 11 to an outlet port 200a of boiler 200, which functions as a heating source. A second pipe member 82 connects the outlet pipe 50 of heat medium conducting panel 11 to an inlet port 200b of boiler 200. A first three way valve 810 is disposed in the first pipe member 81. A third pipe member 83 connects first three way valve 810 to an outlet port 300a of refrigerator 300, which functions as a cooling source. A second three way valve 820 is disposed in the second pipe member 82. A fourth pipe member 84 connects second three way valve 820 to an inlet port 300b of refrigerator 300. A first flow amount regulating valve 831 is disposed in first pipe member 81 at a position which is located between the first three way valve 810 and the inlet pipe 40 of heat medium conducting panel 11. The first flow amount regulating valve 831 is a well-known thermal responsive type regulating valve, which regulates a flow amount of the heat medium flowing through the first pipe member 81 in response to temperature of the air in the room or the compartment. The first flow amount regulating valve 831 is bypassed by fifth pipe member 85 in which a first valve 841 is disposed. The first valve 841 is operated to open the bypass pipe member 85 during a cooling operation of the room air conditioning system. Therefore, an operation of first flow amount regulating valve 831 is overridden by an operation of the first valve 841 during the cooling operation of the room air conditioning system. On the other hand, the first valve 841 is operated to close the bypass pipe member 85 during a heating operation of the room air conditioning system. Therefore, first flow amount regulating valve 831 only functions during the heating operation of the room air conditioning system.
[0055] A sixth pipe member 86 is diverged from the first pipe member 81 at a position between the first three way valve 810 and the first flow amount regulation valve 831, and is forked into two portions, which are linked to the inlet pipe 40 of heat medium conducting panel 11 of second and third heating/cooling units 10b and 10c, respectively. A second and third flow amount regulating valves 832 and 833 identical to the first flow amount regulating valve 831 are disposed in the forked portions of sixth pipe member 86, respectively. The second and third flow amount regulating valves 832 and 833 are also bypassed by a seventh and eighth pipe members 87 and 88, respectively as well as first flow amount regulating valve 831. A second and third valves 842 and 843 identical to the first valve 841 are disposed in the seventh and eighth pipe members 87 and 88, respectively.
[0056] A ninth pipe member 89 is diverged from the second pipe member 82 at a position between the second three way valve 820 and the outlet pipe 50 of heat medium conducting panel 11 of first heating/cooling unit 10a, and is forked to two portions, which are linked to the outlet pipe 50 of heat medium conducting panel 11 of second and third heat exchange units 10b and 10c, respectively.
[0057] An operation of the room air conditioning system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Furthermore, an operational manner of the room air conditioning system with respect to the first heating/cooling unit 10a will be only described, because that an operational manner of the room air conditioning system with respect to the other heating/cooling units is similar to that with respect to the first heating/cooling unit 10a.
[0058] With reference to Figure 13, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be warmed, first three way valve 810 is operated to link the outlet port 200a of the boiler 200 to the inlet pipe 40 of the heat medium conducting panel 11 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, second three way valve 820 is operated to link the inlet port 200b of the boiler 200 to the outlet pipe 50 of the heat medium conducting panel 11 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, and first valve 841 is operated to close the bypass pipe member 85. As a result, as indicated by the solid line arrows in Figure 13, the hot water heated at boiler 200 flows therefrom to heat medium conducting panel 11 through first pipe member 81 via the first three way valve 810 and first flow amount regulating valve 831.
[0059] With reference to Figure 9, as indicated by the solid line arrows, the hot water flowing from the boiler 200 is conducted into the upper portion 114a of the inner hollow space of second channel member 114 through inlet pipe 40, and distributingly flows through conduits 111 of first heat medium conducting member 110a from the right hand side to the left hand side. Then, the hot water distributingly flowing through conduits 111 of first heat medium conducting member 110a flows into and merges at an upper region of the upper portion 113a of the inner hollow space of first channel member 113. The hot water at the upper region of the upper portion 113a of the inner hollow space of first channel member 113 downwardly flows through the upper portion 113a of the inner hollow space of first channel member 113, and distributingly flows through conduits 111 of second heat medium conducting member 110b from the left hand side to the right hand side.
[0060] Next, the hot water distributingly flowing through conduits 111 of second heat medium conducting member 110b flows into and merges at an upper region of the intermediate portion 114b of the inner hollow space of second channel member 114. The hot water at the upper region of the intermediate portion 114b of the inner hollow space of second channel member 114 downwardly flows through the intermediate portion 114b of the inner hollow space of second header member 114, and distributingly flows through conduits 111 of third heat medium conducting member 110c from the right hand side to the left hand side. And then, the hot water distributingly flowing through conduits 111 of third heat medium conducting member 110c flows into and merges at an upper region of the lower portion 113b of the inner hollow space of first channel member 113. The hot water at the upper region of the lower portion 113b of the inner hollow space of first channel member 113 downwardly flows through the lower portion 113b of the inner hollow space of first channel member 113, and distributingly flows through conduits 111 of fourth heat medium conducting member 110d from the left hand side to the right hand side.
[0061] Finally, the hot water distributingly flowing through conduits 111 of fourth heat medium conducting member 110d flows into and merges at the lower portion 114c of the inner hollow space of second channel member 114. As indicated by the solid line arrows in Figure 13, the hot water at the lower portion 114c of the inner hollow space of second channel member 114 returns to boiler 200 to be heated again thereat through second pipe member 82 via outlet pipe 50 of the heat medium conducting panel 11, second three way valve 820 and the inlet port 200b of the boiler 200. This circulation of the hot water is repeated during the heating operation of the room air conditioning system.
[0062] As the hot water flows through the heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d as a manner described above, the heat medium conducting panel 11 is heated by virtue of exchanging heat with the hot water flowing through the heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d. A part of heat of the heat medium conducting panel 11 is radiated therefrom to warm the room or the compartment. The remainder of heat of the heat medium conducting panel 11 is conducted to the corrugated fin member 17 to heat thereof. The heated corrugated fin member 17 exchanges heat with the air, which flows into the inner hollow space 20 of the casing 100 through opening 100a and upwardly moves through a plurality of intervening spaces 171 defined in the corrugated fin member 17 by virtue of natural convection, to warm thereof. Then, the warm air flows out from the heating/cooling unit 10a through the rectangular opening 131, which is formed at the top cover plate 13. The warm air flowing out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is warmed.
[0063] Furthermore, the ON-OFF switch 301 shown in Figure 6 may be turned on to rotate the motor 70 and hence to operate the fans 60 in some situation during the heating operation of the room air conditioning system.
[0064] With reference to Figure 13 again, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be cooled, first three way valve 810 is operated to link the outlet port 300a of the refrigerator 300 to the inlet pipe 40 of the heat medium conducting panel 11 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, second three way valve 820 is operated to link the inlet port 300b of the refrigerator 300 to the outlet pipe 50 of the heat medium conducting panel 11 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, first valve 841 is operated to open the bypass pipe member 85, and the ON-OFF switch 301 shown in Figure 6 is turned on to rotate the motor 70 and hence to operate the fans 60. As a result, as indicated by the dashed line arrows in Figure 13, the cold water cooled at refrigerator 300 flows therefrom to heat medium conducting panel 11 through first pipe member 81 and bypass pipe member 85 via the first three way valve 810 and the first valve 841.
[0065] The cold water flowing from the refrigerator 300 is conducted into the upper portion 114a of the inner hollow space of second channel member 114 through inlet pipe 40. The cold water conducted into the upper portion 114a of the inner hollow space of second channel member 114 flows into the lower portion 114c of the inner hollow space of second header member 114 via flow paths which are similar to the aforementioned flow paths of the hot water in the heating operation of the room air conditioning system. As indicated by the dashed line arrows in Figure 13, the cold water at the lower portion 114c of the inner hollow space of second header member 114 returns to refrigerator 300 to be cooled again thereat through second and fourth pipe members 82 and 84 via second three way valve 820. This circulation of the cold water is repeated during the cooling operation of the room air conditioning system.
[0066] With reference to Figures 6, 9 and 10, as the cold water flows through the heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d as a manner described above, the heat medium conducting panel 11 is cooled by virtue of exchanging heat with the cold water flowing through the heat medium conducting members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d. As indicated by solid line arrows in Figure 10 or large arrows in Figure 6, by virtue of operation of fans 60, an air outside the heating/cooling unit 10a is compulsively taken into the inner hollow space 20 of the casing 100 of the heating/cooling unit 10a through the opening 100a defined between the lower end of the heat medium conducting panel 11 and the drain pan 30, and then compulsively flows upwardly through the intervening spaces 171 defined in the corrugated fin member 17. The air compulsively flowing upwardly through the intervening spaces 171 of the corrugated fin member 17 exchanges heat with the cooled heat medium conducting panel 11 through the corrugated fin member 17 to be cooled. Then, the cool air compulsively flows out from the heating/cooling unit 10a through the rectangular opening 131, which is formed at the top cover plate 13, by virtue of operation of fans 60. The cool air flowing out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is cooled. The water droplets (not shown) dewed at an exterior surface of the heat medium conducting panel 11 and the corrugated fin member 17 are received by drain pan 30, and are gathered thereat, and then are conducted to the outside of the heating/cooling unit 10a through drain pipe 31.
[0067] With reference to Figures 14a and 14b, the direction of the air which flows out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a is adjusted by a guide member 61 which is associated with the fans 60. In the cooling operation of the room air conditioning system, the guide member 61 is actuated by, for example, an actuating motor (not shown) to be located at a position as shown in Figure 14a. As a result, as indicated by a solid line arrow in Figure 14a, the cool air flows out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a in the generally forward direction through the rectangular opening 131 formed at the top cover plate 13. On the other hand, in the heating operation of the room air conditioning system, the guide member 61 is actuated to be located at a position as shown in Figure 14b. As a result, as indicated by a solid line arrow in Figure 14b, the warm air flows out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a in the generally upward direction through the rectangular opening 131 formed at the top cover plate 13. Accordingly, the room or the compartment is efficiently warmed and cooled by the heating/cooling unit 10a of the room air conditioning system.
[0068] Alternatively, the guide member 61 shown in Figures 14a and 14b can be replaced with a guide member 61' shown in Figures 15a and 15b. The guide member 61' is actuated to be pivoted around a lower end thereof. As a result, as indicated by a solid line arrow in Figure 15a, the cool air flows out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a in the generally forward direction through the rectangular opening 131 in the cooling operation of the air conditioning system. On the other hand, as indicated by a solid line arrow in Figure 15b, the warm air flows out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a in the generally upward direction through the rectangular opening 131 in the heating operation of the air conditioning system.
[0069] Furthermore, if a plurality of louvers 14 are pivotably provided at the opening 131, the direction of the air which flows out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a can be adjusted by means of pivoting the louvers 14.
[0070] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the room or the compartment is selectively warmed and cooled by means of selectively conducting the hot water and the cold water to the heat medium conducting panel 11, which forms the front portion of the casing 100 of the heating/cooling unit 10 of the air conditioning system. Therefore, an increase in the outer dimensions of the heating/cooling unit 10 can be effectively prevented while the air conditioning system can operate to selectively warm and cool the room or the compartment.
[0071] Figures 16 and 17, Figures 18 and 19, Figures 20-22 and Figures 23-26 illustrate a third, fourth, fifth and sixth embodiments of the present invention, respectively. In Figures 16-26, identical reference numerals are used to denote elements which are identical to the similarly numbered elements shown in Figures 6-14 of the first embodiment.
[0072] With reference to Figure 16, a heating/cooling unit 10 used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of first and second heat medium conducting panels 11a and 11b. The first and second heat medium conducting panels 11a and 11b are vertically aligned such that the second heat medium conducting panel 11b is located below the first heat medium conducting panel 11a, and are fixedly connected to each other by, for example, brazing.
[0073] With reference to Figure 17, the room air conditioning system in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of, for example, two heating/cooling units, i.e., first and second heating/cooling units 10a and 10b each having the first and second heat medium conducting panels 11a and 11b. A first pipe member 211 connects the inlet pipe 40 of first heat medium conducting panel 11a to an outlet port 200a of boiler 200. A second pipe member 212 connects the outlet pipe 50 of the first heat medium conducting panel 11a to an inlet port 200b of boiler 200. A third pipe member 311 connects the inlet pipe 40 of second heat medium conducting panel llb to an outlet port 300a of refrigerator 300. A fourth pipe member 312 connects the outlet pipe 50 of second heat medium conducting panel 11b to an inlet port 300b of refrigerator 300. First flow amount regulating valve 831 is disposed in first pipe member 211.
[0074] A fifth pipe member 213 is diverged from the first pipe member 211 at a position between the outlet port 200a of boiler 200 and the first flow amount regulation valve 831, and is linked to the inlet pipe 40 of first heat medium conducting panel lla of second heating/cooling units 10b. Second flow amount regulating valve 832 is disposed in the fifth pipe member 213. A sixth pipe member 214 is diverged from the second pipe member 212, and is linked to the outlet pipe 50 of first heat medium conducting panel 11a of second heat exchange units 10b.
[0075] A seventh pipe member 313 is diverged from the third pipe member 311, and is linked to the inlet pipe 40 of second heat medium conducting panel 11b of second heating/cooling units 10b. An eighth pipe member 314 is diverged from the fourth pipe member 312, and is linked to the outlet pipe 50 of second heat medium conducting panel llb of second heat exchange units 10b.
[0076] An operation of the room air conditioning system in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Furthermore, an operational manner of the room air conditioning system with respect to the first heating/cooling unit 10a will be only described, because that an operational manner of the room air conditioning system with respect to the second heating/cooling unit 10b is similar to that with respect to the first heating/cooling unit 10a
[0077] With reference to Figure 17, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be warmed, the hot water heated at boiler 200 flows therefrom to the first heat medium conducting panel 11a through first pipe member 211 via first flow amount regulating valve 831 as indicated by the solid line arrows in Figure 17. Then, the hot water flows through first heat medium conducting panel 11a, and returns to the boiler 200 through the second pipe member 212 as also indicated by the solid line arrows in Figure 17.
[0078] As the hot water flows through the first heat medium conducting panel 11a, the first heat medium conducting panel 11a is heated by virtue of exchanging heat with the hot water flowing therethrough. A part of heat of the first heat medium conducting panel 11a is radiated therefrom to warm the room or the compartment. The remainder of heat of the first heat medium conducting panel 11a is conducted to the corrugated fin member 17 to heat thereof. The heated corrugated fin member 17 exchanges heat with the air, which upwardly moves through a plurality of intervening spaces 171 defined in the corrugated fin member 17 by virtue of natural convection, to warm thereof. Then, the warm air flows out from the heating/cooling unit 10a through the rectangular opening 131, which is formed at the top cover plate 13. The warm air flowing out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is warmed.
[0079] On the other hand, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be cooled, the cold water cooled at refrigerator 300 flows therefrom to the second heat medium conducting panel 11b through third pipe member 311 as indicated by the dashed line arrows in Figure 17. Then, the cold water flows through second heat medium conducting panel 11b, and returns to the refrigerator 300 through the fourth pipe member 312 as also indicated by the dashed line arrows in Figure 17.
[0080] As the cold water flows through the second heat medium conducting panel 11b, the second heat medium conducting panel 11b is cooled by virtue of exchanging heat with the cold water flowing through the second heat medium conducting panel 11b. The air, which compulsively flows upwardly through the intervening spaces 171 of the corrugated fin member 17 by virtue of operation of fans 60, exchanges heat with the cooled second heat medium conducting panel 11b through the corrugated fin member 17. As indicated by the dashed line arrow in Figure 17, the cool air compulsively flows out from the heating/cooling unit 10a through the rectangular opening 131, which is formed at the top cover plate 13, by virtue of operation of fans 60. The cool air flowing out from the heating/cooling unit 10a circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is cooled.
[0081] Furthermore, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be dehumidified, the hot water and the cold water are simultaneously conducted to the first and second heat medium conducting panels lla and 11b from the boiler 200 and the refrigerator 300, respectively by the manners similar to those described above. As a result, the air compulsively flows through the heating/cooling unit 10a is cooled and dehumidified by the second heat medium conducting panel 11b, and then is warmed by the first heat medium conducting panel 11a. After this operation, the dehumidified air compulsively flows out from the heating/cooling unit 10a through the rectangular opening 131 by virtue of operation of fans 60. The dehumidified air flowing out from the heating/cooling unit 10a circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is appropriately dehumidified.
[0082] Figures 18 and 19 illustrate a heating/cooling unit 10 used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first and second heat medium conducting panels 11a and 11b are disposed within the hollow space 20 of the heating/cooling unit 10, and are horizontally spaced each other. The second heat medium conducting panel 11b is located at a position which rearwardly (to the top in Figure 18) spaced from the first heat medium conducting panel 11a so as to be in contact with a front surface (to the bottom in Figure 18) of the side plate 12, and is fixedly connected to the first bent portions 121 of the side plate 12 through a plurality of brackets 16. A pair of corrugated fin members 17 are disposed within hollow space 20, and are fixedly connected to the first and second heat medium conducting panels 11a and 11b, respectively, by, for example, brazing. The pair of corrugated fin members 17 are horizontally spaced each other, and are faced each other. The other constructional features of this embodiment are similar to those of the third embodiment so that an explanation thereof is omitted.
[0083] According to this embodiment, since the second heat medium conducting panel 11b through which the cold water flows is located at a position rear (to the top in Figure 18) to the first heat medium conducting panel 11a through which the hot water flows and forms the front portion of the casing 100, no water droplet is dewed at an exterior surface of the first heat medium conducting panel 11a. Therefore, the clothes do not get wet even when they touch the heating/cooling unit 10.
[0084] Figures 20 and 21 illustrate a heating/cooling unit 10 used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a heat exchanger 610' is fixedly disposed within the inner hollow space 20 of casing 100 of the heating/cooling unit 10 at a position which is rear (to the top in Figure 20) to the heat medium conducting panel 11 which forms the front portion of casing 100. The heat exchanger 610' is substantially similar to the heat exchanger 610 shown in the prior art Figure 5. Preferably, the heat exchanger 610' is designed such that the thickness relative to the height and length thereof is smaller than that of the heat exchanger 610 of Figure 5, and such that the number of fin plates 612 is smaller than that of the heat exchanger 610 of Figure 5. The other constructional features of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment so that an explanation thereof is omitted.
[0085] With reference to Figure 22 illustrating a block schematic diagram of the room air conditioning system of this embodiment, a third three way valve 830 is disposed in the first pipe member 81 between the first flow amount regulating valve 831 and the inlet pipe 40 of the heat medium conducting panel 11 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a. A tenth pipe member 90 connects the third three way valve 830 to an inlet port 611a of the heat exchanger 610' of first heating/cooling unit 10a. The second pipe member 82 connects the outlet port 611b of the heat exchanger 610' of first heating/cooling unit 10a to the inlet port 200b of boiler 200.
[0086] Sixth pipe member 86 is diverged from the first pipe member 81 at a position between the first three way valve 810 and the first flow amount regulation valve 831, and is linked to the inlet pipe 40 of the heat medium conducting panel 11 of second heating/cooling unit 10b via second flow amount regulating valve 832 and a fourth three way valve 840. Ninth pipe member 89 is diverged from the second pipe member 82 at a position between the second three way valve 820 and the outlet port 611b of heat exchanger 610' of first heating/cooling unit 10a, and is linked to the outlet port 611b of heat exchanger 610' of second heating/cooling unit 10b. An eleventh pipe member 91 connects the fourth three way valve 840 to an inlet port 611a of the heat exchanger 610' of second heating/cooling unit 10b.
[0087] An operation of the room air conditioning system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. Furthermore, an operational manner of the room air conditioning system with respect to the first heating/cooling unit 10a will be only described, because that an operational manner of the room air conditioning system with respect to the second heating/cooling unit 10b is similar to that with respect to the first heating/cooling unit 10a.
[0088] With reference to Figure 22, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be warmed, first and third three way valves 810 and 830 are operated to link the outlet port 200a of the boiler 200 to the inlet pipe 40 of the heat medium conducting panel 11 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, second three way valves 820 is operated to link the inlet port 200b of the boiler 200 to the outlet port 611b of the heat exchanger 610' of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, and first valve 841 is operated to close the bypass pipe member 85. As a result, as indicated by the solid line arrows in Figure 22, the hot water heated at boiler 200 flows therefrom to heat medium conducting panel 11 through first pipe member 81 via the first three way valve 810, the first flow amount regulating valve 810 and the third three way valve 830, and further flows through the heat exchanger 610'. Then, the hot water returns to the boiler 200 through the second pipe member 82 via the second three way valve 820.
[0089] As the hot water flows through the heat medium conducting panel 11, the heat medium conducting panel 11 is heated by virtue of exchanging heat with the hot water flowing therethrough. A part of heat of the heat medium conducting panel 11 is radiated therefrom to warm the room or the compartment. The remainder of heat of the heat medium conducting panel 11 is conducted to the corrugated fin member 17 to heat thereof. The heated corrugated fin member 17 exchanges heat with the air, which upwardly moves through a plurality of intervening spaces 171 defined in the corrugated fin member 17 by virtue of natural convection, to warm thereof. As a result, the room or the compartment is further warmed by the warm air moving from the corrugated fin member 17.
[0090] In addition, as the hot water flows through the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610', the hot water exchanges heat with the air, which flows through the inner hollow space 20 of casing 100 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a by virtue of natural convention, through fin plates 612 to warm thereof. The warm air flows out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a through a rectangular opening 131 by virtue of natural convection. The warm air flowing out from the first heating/cooling unit 10a circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is warmed. Accordingly, a warming efficiency of the room air conditioning system of this embodiment can be increased
[0091] On the other hand, when the rooms of the house or the compartments of the office building are required to be cooled, first and third three way valves 810 and 830 are operated to link the outlet port 300a of the refrigerator 300 to the inlet port 611a of the heat exchanger 610' of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, second three way valve 820 is operated to link the inlet port 300b of the refrigerator 300 to the outlet port 611b of the heat exchanger 610' of the first heating/cooling unit 10a, first valve 841 is operated to open the bypass pipe member 85, and the ON-OFF switch 301 shown in Figure 6 is turned on to rotate the motor 70 and hence to operate the fans 60. As a result, as indicated by the dashed line arrows in Figure 22, the cold water cooled at refrigerator 300 flows therefrom to the heat exchanger 610' of the first heating/cooling unit 10a through first pipe member 81, bypass pipe member 85 and the tenth pipe member 90 via first three way valve 810, first valve 841 and third three way valve 830. Then, the cold water flows through the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610', and returns to the refrigerator 300 through the second and fourth pipe members 82 and 84 via the second three way valve 820.
[0092] As the cold water flows through the conducting tube 611 of the heat exchanger 610', it exchanges heat with the air, which compulsively flows in the inner hollow space 20 of casing 100 of the first heating/cooling unit 10a by virtue of operation of fans 60, through fin plates 612 to cool thereof. Then, as indicated by the solid line arrow in Figure 21, the cool air compulsively flows out from the heating/cooling unit 10a through the rectangular opening 131 by virtue of operation of fans 60. The cool air flowing out from the heating/cooling unit 10a circulates in the room or the compartment by natural convection, so that the room or the compartment is cooled.
[0093] Generally, a heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 610' is relatively superior to that of the heat medium conducting panel 11, and the greater part of the heat exchange operation between the air and the heat medium is carried out at the heat exchanger 610'. As a result, the air flowing through the inner hollow space 20 of the casing 100 of the heating/cooling unit 10a can be rapidly warmed and cooled during the respective heating and cooling operations of the room air conditioning system. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the room or the compartment can be rapidly warmed or cooled.
[0094] In addition, since the heat exchanger 610' is located at a position rear to the heat medium conducting panel 11 which forms the front portion of casing 100 of the heating/cooling unit 10a, no water droplet is dewed at an exterior surface of the heat medium conducting panel 11 in the cooling operation of the room air conditioning system. Therefore, the clothes do not get wet even when they touch casing 100 of the heating/cooling unit 10a in the cooling operation of the room air conditioning system.
[0095] Furthermore, since the greater part of the heat exchange operation between the air and the heat medium is carried out at the heat exchanger 610'. Therefore, the corrugated fin member 17 functioning as heat exchange enhancing means can be eliminated from the heat medium conducting panel 11.
[0096] Moreover, if the heat exchanger 610' shown in Figures 20-22 is replaced with another heat medium conducting panel 11, the heating/cooling unit 10 of this embodiment becomes identical to the heating/cooling unit 10 shown in Figure 19, but can operate in a substantial similar manner of this embodiment.
[0097] Figures 23-25 illustrate a heat medium conducting panel 11' of a heating/cooling unit 10 used in a room air conditioning system in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. A construction of the heating/cooling unit 10 of this embodiment is similar to that of the fifth embodiment other than only one difference where the heat medium conducting panel 11 is replaced with a heat medium conducting panel 11' shown in Figure 23.
[0098] With reference to Figures 23 and 24, the heat medium conducting panel 11' is formed by a rectangular plate member 410 and a separate circular pipe member 420 which is fixedly attached to an inner side surface of the plate member 410. The plate member 410 is made of, for example, aluminum alloy, and is prepared by extruding. The pipe member 420 is made of, for example, copper and, is prepared by serpentining plural times. Therefore, the plate member 410 and pipe member 420 are prepared in separate manufacturing process.
[0099] The pipe member 420 includes a plurality of straight portions 421 which are arranged to be parallel to one another with equal intervals, and a plurality of curved connecting portions 422 which are connected to the corresponding straight portions 421. One end (to the top in Figure 24) of the pipe member 420 is bent inwardly in right angle so as to be an inlet portion 420a thereof. Similarly, the other end (to the bottom in Figure 24) of the pipe member 420 is bent inwardly in right angle so as to be an outlet portion 420b thereof.
[0100] With reference to Figure 25 additionally, a plurality of projections 411 having a generally semicircular cross section are integrally formed at the inner side surface of plate member 410 by extruding at the same time when the plate member 410 is prepared. The projections 411 extend along the longitudinal axis of plate member 410, and are arranged to be parallel to one another with equal intervals. The interval between the adjacent projections 411 is designed to be equal to the interval between the adjacent straight portions 421 of pipe member 420.
[0101] The thickness of the plate member 410 is designed to be slightly greater than the thickness of the pipe member 420. For example, the plate member 410 is prepared to have the thickness of 1.0 mm, while the pipe member 420 is prepared to have the thickness of 0.6 - 0.8 mm. An exterior surface of plate member 410, in particular, an exterior surface of an outer side of plate member 410 is colored by, for example, painting. Preferably, cream colored paint is used in painting, so that the radiation from the plate member 410 is enhanced.
[0102] In a manufacturing process of the heat medium conducting panel 11', the pipe member 420 is laid on the inner side surface of plate member 410, such that the straight portions 421 are placed on the corresponding projections 411. Then, the straight portions 421 of pipe member 420 are forcibly inserted into an inner hollow space of the corresponding projections 411 with outwardly spreading the projecting end of the projections 421. Finally, the projecting end of the projections 421 is bent back by, for example, caulking so as to firmly secure the corresponding straight portions 421 of pipe member 420. Alternatively, the pipe member 420 may be fixedly secured to the inner side surface of plate member 410 by using thermal conductive adhesive (430), for example, epoxy system adhesive mixed with aluminum particles.
[0103] According to the sixth embodiment, since the plate member 410 and pipe member 420 are prepared by separate manufacturing process, the heat medium conducting panel 11' can be easily manufactured.
1. A heating/cooling unit (10) used in a room air conditioning system comprising;
a first heat medium conducting panel (11) through which a heat medium flows, said heat medium conducting panel (11) provided with an inlet port (40) through which the heat medium flows thereinto and an outlet port (50) through which the heat medium flows out therefrom,
said inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) connected to both an outlet port (200a) of a heating source (200) and an outlet port (300a) of a cooling source (300),
said outlet port (50) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) connected to both an inlet port (200b) of the heating source (200) and an inlet port (300b) of the cooling source (300),
first switching means (810) for selectively switching a connection of the inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) to the outlet port (200a) of the heating source (200) with a connection of the inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) to the outlet port (300a) of the cooling source (300) in response to demand,
second switching means (820) for selectively switching a connection of the outlet port (50) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) to the inlet port (200b) of the heating source (200) with a connection of the outlet port (50) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) to the inlet port (300b) of the cooling source (300) in response to demand,
a casing (100) defining an inner hollow space (20) therewithin, said casing (100) including a front portion and a rear portion which is rearwardly spaced from said front portion, and
said casing (100) further including a first opening (100a) formed at a lower end of said front portion of said casing (100), and a second opening (131) formed at a top portion of said casing (100),
characterized in that said first heat medium conducting panel (11) forms said front portion of said casing (100).
2. A heating/cooling unit (10) used in a room air conditioning system comprising;
a first heat medium conducting panel (11a) through which a heat medium flows, said first heat medium conducting panel (11a) provided with an inlet port (40) through which the heat medium flows thereinto and an outlet port (50) through which the heat medium flows out therefrom,
a second heat medium conducting panel (11b) through which a heat medium flows, said second heat medium conducting panel (11b) provided with an inlet port (40) through which the heat medium flows thereinto and an outlet port (50) through which the heat medium flows out therefrom,
said inlet port (40) of said first heat medium conducting panel (11a) connected to an outlet port (200a) of a heating source (200),
said outlet port (50) of said first heat medium conducting panel (11a) connected to an inlet port (200b) of the heating source (200),
said inlet port (40) of said second heat medium conducting panel (11b) connected to an outlet port (300a) of a cooling source (300),
said outlet port (50) of said second heat medium conducting panel (11b) connected to an inlet port (300b) of the cooling source (300),
a casing (100) defining an inner hollow space (20) therewithin, said casing (100) including a front portion and a rear portion which is rearwardly spaced from said front portion,
said casing (100) further including a first opening (100a) formed at a lower end of said front portion of said casing (100), and a second opening (131) formed at a top portion of said casing (100),
characterized in that at least said first heat medium conducting panel (11a) forms said front end of said casing (100).
3. The heating/cooling unit of claim 2 wherein said first and second heat medium conducting
panels (11a, 11b) are vertically aligned each other, preferably said second heat medium
conducting panel (11b) being located at a position below said first heat medium conducting
panel (11a),
said first and second heat medium conducting panels (11a, 11b) being fixedly connected to each other,
said second heat medium conducting panel (11b) being rearwardly spaced from said first heat medium conducting panel (11a), and/or
said second heat medium conducting panel (11b) being in contact with an inner surface of said rear portion of said casing (100).
4. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising regulating means
(831) for regulating a flow amount of the heat medium which flows from the heating
source (200) to the first heat medium conducting panel (11, 11a) in response to a
temperature of the air outside the heating/cooling unit (10) during heating operation
of the room air conditioning system.
5. A heating/cooling unit (10) used in a room air conditioning system comprising;
a heat medium conducting panel (11) through which a heat medium flows, said heat medium conducting panel (11) provided with an inlet port (40) through which the heat medium flows thereinto and an outlet port (50) through which the heat medium flows out therefrom, said inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) connected to an outlet port (200a) of a heating source (200),
a casing (100) defining an inner hollow space (20) therewithin, said casing (100) including a front portion and a rear portion which is rearwardly spaced from said front portion,
said casing (100) further including a first opening (100a) formed at a lower end of said front portion of said casing (100), and a second opening (131) formed at a top portion of said casing (100),
a heat exchanger (610') through which a heat medium flows, said heat exchanger (610') disposed within the inner hollow space (20) of the casing (100) at a position rearwardly spaced from the heat medium conducting panel (11), said heat exchanger (610') including an inlet port (611a) which is connected to both said inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) and said outlet port (50) of said heat medium conducting panel (11), and an outlet port (611b) which is connected to both an inlet port (200b) of said heating source (200) and an inlet port (300b) of a cooling source (300),
first switching means (810) for selectively switching a connection of the inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) to the outlet port (200a) of the heating source (200) with a connection of the inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) to the outlet port (300a) of the cooling source (300) in response to demand,
second switching means (820) for selectively switching a connection of the outlet port (611b) of said heat exchanger (610') to the inlet port (200b) of the heating source (200) with a connection of the outlet port (611b) of said heat exchanger (610') to the inlet port (300b) of the cooling source (300) in response to demand, and
third switching means (830) for selectively switching a connection of the inlet port (40) of said heat medium conducting panel (11) to the outlet port (200a) of said heating source (200) with the inlet port (611a) of said heat exchanger (610') to the outlet port (200a) of said heating source (200) in response to demand,
characterized in that said heat medium conducting panel (11) forms said front portion of said casing (100).
6. The heating/cooling unit of claim 5 wherein said heat exchanger is a cross finned
tube type heat exchanger (610'), or said heat exchanger is a heat medium conducting
panel (11).
7. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said first/second heat medium
conducting panel (11, 11a, 11b) is rectangular parallelpiped in shape.
8. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 7, further including a drain pan (30)
which is fixedly disposed within the inner hollow space (20) of the casing (100) at
a position located below said heat medium conducting panel (11, 11a, 11b).
9. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said heating source (200)
is a boiler and/or said cooling source is a refrigerator (300).
10. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said first, second or third
switching means (810, 820, 830) is a three way valve.
11. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 10 further comprising regulating means
(831) for regulating a flow amount of the heat medium which flows from the heating
source (200) to the heat medium conducting panel (11) in response to a temperature
of the air outside the heating/cooling unit (10) during heating operation of the room
air conditioning system.
12. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said heat medium conducting
panel (11, 11a, 11b) comprises a plurality of heat medium fluid passages (111) defined
therewithin, preferably extending along the longitudinal axis of said heat medium
conducting panel (11, 11a, 11b).
13. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said heat medium conducting
panel (11) comprises a plate member (410) and a pipe member (420) which is fixedly
secured to an inner side surface of said plate member (410), preferably comprising
a plurality of straight portions (421) which are arranged to be parallel to one another
with equal intervals, and a plurality of curved connecting portions (422) which are
connected to the corresponding straight portions (421), said pipe member (420) preferably
being fixedly secured to said plate member (410) by caulking or by thermal conductive
adhesive (430), said thermal conductive adhesive (430) preferably being epoxy system
adhesive mixed with aluminum particles.
14. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a fin member (17) preferably
being corrugated and disposed within the inner hollow space (20) of said casing (100)
and fixedly attached to an inner surface of said heat medium conducting panel (11),
preferably defining a plurality of intervening spaces (171) which are arranged to be parallel to one another and extend in the direction of the height of the heat medium conducting panel (11, 11a, 11b).
preferably defining a plurality of intervening spaces (171) which are arranged to be parallel to one another and extend in the direction of the height of the heat medium conducting panel (11, 11a, 11b).
15. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first opening (100a)
is for conducting an outside air into the inner hollow space (20) of said casing (100)
and the second opening (131) is for conducting the air in the inner hollow space (20)
of said casing (100) to the outside of said casing (100), and further comprising air
flow direction regulating means (60, 61') for regulating a direction of the air which
flows from the inner hollow space (20) of said casing (100) to the outside of said
casing (100) through said second opening (131), said air flow direction regulating
means preferably being a guide member (61, 61') which is associated with a motor fan
(60) disposed within the inner hollow space (20) of said casing (100) so as to operate
to move the air in the inner hollow space (20) of said casing (100) from the first
opening (100a) to the second opening (131), and being actuated to selectively guide
the air upwardly and forwardly in response to demand.
16. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a motor fan (60) disposed
within the inner hollow space (20) of said casing (100) so as to operate to move the
air in the inner hollow space (20) of said casing (100) from the first opening (100a)
to the second opening (131).
17. The heating/cooling unit of one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said heating/cooling unit
is installed in a room of a housing or a compartment of an office building such that
said front portion of the casing (100) faces an inner space of the room or an inner
space of the compartment while said rear portion of the casing (100) is adjacent to
a wall of the room or a wall of the compartment.