BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning apparatus provided with a heat
exchanger and a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans in a housing having an inlet
and an upper outlet and a lower outlet, wherein air flowing from the inlet into the
housing is heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger, and is blown off from the upper and
lower outlets by means of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans.
Background Art
[0002] In a conventional air conditioning apparatus of this type, a pair of upper and lower
cross-flow fans are provided in a housing, the air flowing from an inlet into a housing
and heat-exchanged by a heat exchanger is blown off from both of an upper outlet and
a lower outlet or is blown off from either of them, enabling a plurality of airflow
controls (see Patent Document 1).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-59145
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problem(s) to Be Solved by the Invention
[0003] However, in the above-described conventional air conditioning apparatus, a motor
support portion and a bearing support portion are required for a respective one of
the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans, and thus, there is apprehension that:
the number of structural parts is increased; and dewdrops adhering to the structural
parts enter from a clearance of the structural parts into a ventilation trunk, and
are discharged and fly from the outlets into room together with cool air.
[0004] In addition, a drain pan is arranged downwardly of a heat exchanger in general, whereas
a drain hose connecting portion is formed downwardly or laterally. If the drain hose
connecting portion is thus formed downwardly or laterally, a circumstance that a trap
is obliged to be formed with the drain hose being bent in a limited space occurs and
a bending activity or a stress on a drain hose due to the bending occurs.
[0005] Further, in order to ensure safety of a user of the air conditioning apparatus, there
is a need to provide a wire netting for preventing finger insertion in the inlet.
However, a structure for mounting the wire netting is prone to be complicated, and
it is difficult to rigidly mount the wire netting.
[0006] Accordingly, it is a first object of the present invention to prevent entry of dewdrops
adhering to a motor support portion and a bearing support portion of a pair of the
upper and lower cross-flow fans as structural parts into a ventilation trunk, preventing
the dewdrops from being discharged and flying from an outlet into room together with
cool air.
[0007] In addition, it is a second object of the present invention to ensure that a bending
activity of a drain hose when it is connected to a drain hose connecting portion or
a stress on the drain hose due to this bending does not occur.
[0008] Further, it is a third object of the present invention to easily and rigidly mount
a wire netting for preventing finger insertion, which is to be provided at an outlet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Means for Solving the Problem(s)
[0009] A first aspect of the present invention is directed to an air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet,
comprising: a heat exchanger; and a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing
from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown
off from the upper outlet and the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and
lower cross-flow fans, wherein: a bearing support portion and a motor support portion
of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans are integrally formed, respectively.
[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is directed to an air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet,
comprising: a heat exchanger; and a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing
from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown
off from the upper outlet and the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and
lower cross-flow fans, wherein: a bearing support portion and a motor support portion
of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans are integrally formed, respectively,
on shield plates provided at a left and a right of the heat exchanger; and a drain
pan is installed downwardly of the heat exchanger and the left and right shield plates.
[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is directed to an air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet,
comprising: a heat exchanger; and a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing
from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown
off from the upper outlet and the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and
lower cross-flow fans, wherein: a drain pan is arranged downwardly of the heat exchanger;
and at a lower part of the drain pan, an obliquely downward drain hose connecting
portion is provided so as to be oriented in a downward-going outward direction of
either of a left and a right.
[0012] A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to an air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet,
comprising: a heat exchanger; and a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing
from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown
off from the upper outlet and the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and
lower cross-flow fans, wherein: a drain pan is arranged downwardly of shield plates
and the heat exchanger, the shield plates being provided at a left and a right of
the heat exchanger; and at a lower part of the drain pan, an obliquely downward drain
hose connecting portion is provided so as to be oriented in a downward-going outward
direction of either of the left and right.
[0013] A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to an air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet,
comprising: a heat exchanger; and a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing
from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown
off from the upper outlet and the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and
lower cross-flow fans, wherein: a drain pan is arranged downwardly of shield plates
and the heat exchanger, the shield plates being provided at a left and a right of
the heat exchanger; an oblique face is formed between a bottom face and one outer
face of the drain pan; and on the oblique face, an obliquely downward drain hose connecting
portion is provided so as to be oriented in a downward-going outward direction of
either of the left and right.
[0014] A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to an air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an outlet, comprising: a heat exchanger;
and a cross-flow fan, air flowing from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged
by the heat exchanger and blown off from the outlet by means of the cross-flow fan,
wherein: a wire netting for preventing finger insertion is interposed on a bottom
plate of an opening-forming body forming the outlet; and a mount frame body having
a drooping piece which is coupled to an air trunk guide arranged forwardly of the
cross-flow fan coupled so as to sandwich a lower part of the wire netting.
[0015] A seventh aspect of the present invention is directed to an air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an outlet, comprising: a heat exchanger;
and a cross-flow fan, air flowing from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged
by the heat exchanger and blown off from the outlet by means of the cross-flow fan,
said apparatus including: an opening-forming body forming the inlet; and a mount frame
body for turnably mounting a plurality of longitudinal blades on a top face in a state
in which the blades can be geared via a gear member, the mount frame body having a
drooping piece which is coupled to an air trunk guide arranged forwardly of the cross-flow
fan, wherein: a wire netting for preventing finger insertion is interposed on a bottom
plate of the opening-forming body, coupling a top face of the mount frame body so
as to sandwich a lower part of the wire netting; and the drooping piece of the mount
frame body is coupled to the air trunk guide.
Advantageous Effect(s) of the Invention
[0016] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a bearing support portion
and a motor support portion of a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans are integrally
formed, respectively, so that the dewdrops adhering to the bearing support portion
and the motor support portion of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans as
structural parts can be precluded from entering a ventilation trunk from a clearance
between these structural parts and can be prevented from being discharged and flying
from an inlet into room together with cool air. In addition, the number of parts is
reduced, assembling can be easily performed, and an inexpensive equipment configuration
can be realized.
[0017] In addition, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a bearing support
portion and a motor support portion of a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans are
integrally formed, respectively, on shield plates provided at the left and right of
a heat exchanger, and a drain pan is installed downwardly of the heat exchanger and
the left and right shield plates, so that the dewdrops adhering to the motor support
portion or the bearing support portion are guided to the drain pan along the shield
plates, and can be discharged to the outside without entry into a ventilation trunk.
[0018] Further, according to the third to fifth aspects of the present invention, there
can be provided an air conditioning apparatus such that there does not occur a bending
activity of a drain hose when it is connected to a drain hose connecting portion or
a stress on the drain hose due to this bending.
[0019] Moreover, according to the sixth and seventh aspects of the present invention, there
can be provided: an air conditioning apparatus which is capable of easily and rigidly
mounting a wire netting for preventing finger insertion, which is to be provided at
an outlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020]
FIG 1 is a front view of indoor equipment constituting an air conditioning apparatus.
FIG 2 is a perspective view of the indoor equipment constituting the air conditioning
apparatus.
FIG 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG 1.
FIG 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the indoor equipment when a front panel
is removed.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the indoor equipment when it is seen from a rightward
direction, similarly.
FIG 6 is a perspective view of the indoor equipment when it is seen from a leftward
direction, similarly.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of essential parts of a drain pan.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of essential parts at the periphery
of an upper outlet.
FIG 9 is an exploded perspective view of an opening-forming body of the upper outlet
and a mount frame body mounting a longitudinal blade.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the periphery of the upper outlet
in a state before the mount frame body is mounted, the body mounting the longitudinal
blade on the opening-forming body of the outlet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT(S)
[0021] Hereinafter, the specific embodiment of the present invention will be described referring
to FIGS. 1 to 10. Reference numeral 1 designates floor placement indoor equipment
constituting an air conditioning apparatus together with outdoor equipment (not shown)
as heat source equipment, and a heat exchanger 3 and a pair of upper and lower cross-flow
fans 4, 5 are provided in a housing 2. The cross-flow fans 4, 5 are made of: fan main
bodies 4A, 5A, each of which is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape; shaft
bearings 4B, 5B, a bearing or the like for rotatably retaining a shaft at one side
of the fan main bodies 4A, 5A; and a drive motors 4C, 5C, an output shaft of which
is rotatably mounted on the other side of the fan main bodies 4A, 5A.
[0022] The housing 2 is made of a front panel 6 and a main body casing 7; a front inlet
8, a side inlet 9, an upper outlet 10, and a lower outlet 11 are provided on the front
panel 6; and an upper-inlet flap 12 opening during operation is provided at the upper
outlet 10.
[0023] In addition, a stepped portion 7A is formed so that, on a top face of the main body
casing 7, a rear top face portion is lower than a front top face portion and, on both
side portions, a rear side portion is more inward than a front side portion. The stepped
portion 7A is formed in this manner, whereby when indoor equipment 1 is embedded and
installed in a house wall, a clearance between the indoor equipment 1 and the wall
becomes invisible and the indoor equipment 1 can be finely installed when it is seen
from the front.
[0024] In addition, an air filter 14 with an air cleaning filter 13 is removably installed
on a front face of the heat exchanger 3, and a drain pan 15 is provided downwardly
of the heat exchanger 3. A drain hose connecting portion 15B (equipped with a connecting
port) to which a drain hose is to be connected is provided obliquely downwardly at
a lower part of this drain pan 15. In other words, an oblique face 15A is formed between
a right side face and a bottom face of the drain pan 15, and a drain hose connecting
portion 15B is provided at a lower part of this oblique face 15A so as to be oriented
in an outwardly oblique downward direction, i.e., in an downward-going right-outward
direction.
[0025] An oblique face is formed between a left side face and a bottom face of the drain
pan 15, whereby a drain hose connecting portion may be provided at a lower part of
this oblique face so as to be oriented in an outwardly oblique downward direction,
i.e., in a downward-going left-outward direction. In addition, the drain hose connecting
portion may be formed integrally with the drain pan 15 or may be formed by being connected
to the drain pan 15.
[0026] The reason why the drain hose connecting portion 15B oriented obliquely downwardly
has been formed so as to be oriented in the downward-going right-outward direction
is that a stress on the drain hose can be reduced even in a case in which the drain
hose is pulled out in any direction. In other words, this is because, if this connecting
portion has been formed in a downward or lateral direction, a circumstance that a
trap is obliged to be formed with the drain hose being bent in a limited space occurs,
and a bending activity or a stress on the drain hose due to the bending occurs.
[0027] A heat insulation material 16 is mounted on a rear part of the main body casing 7.
Inside of this heat insulation material 16, there are arranged: a rear air trunk guide
plate 17 formed in an elbowed shape in a cross-sectional view, positioned between
a pair of cross-flow fans 4 and 5; an upper-side fan case 18 which is continuously
upward of this rear air trunk guide plate 17 and covers the upper cross-flow fan 4
with predetermined intervals; and a lower-side fan case 19 which is continuously downward
of the rear trunk air guide plate 17 and covers the lower cross-flow fan 5 with predetermined
intervals.
[0028] In addition, an upper-side blow-off passageway 20 is formed between the cross-flow
fan 4 and the upper outlet 10, and a lower-side blow-off passageway 21 is formed between
the cross-flow fan 5 and the lower outlet 11.
[0029] Shield plates 22, 23 forming a ventilation trunk together with the rear air trunk
guide plate 17 are provided at the left and right of the heat exchanger 3 in the housing
2. Bearing support portions 22A, 22B, for housing one end of the fan main bodies 4A,
5A, and for supporting the shaft bearings 4B, 5B, made of bearings or the like partially
embedded in a main body casing 7, are integrally formed at the upper and lower parts
of the shield plate 22. In addition, at the upper and lower parts of the shield plate
23, motor support portions 23A, 23B for supporting motors 4C, 5C are integrally formed
together with the main body casing 7. Further, the motors 4C, 5C are fixed to the
main body casing 7 by means of mount members 24, 25. The drain pan 15 is disposed
downwardly of the heat exchanger 3 and the shield plates 22, 23 so as to receive water
droplets such as drain water flowing down from this heat exchanger 3 or dewdrops adhering
to exterior faces of the shield plates 22, 23.
[0030] In the thus constituted indoor equipment 1 of the air conditioning apparatus, the
heat exchanger 3 acts as an evaporator (cooler) during cooling operation, and in general,
a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans 4, 5 operates. Indoor air flows from the
front inlet 8 and the side inlet 9 into the housing 2, and is cleaned by means of
an air filter 14. Afterwards, the cleaned air is cooled by means of the heat exchanger
3, and cool air is produced. The cool air is diverted upwardly and downwardly at the
air trunk guide 17 and the diverted airflows are guided to the cross-flow fans 4,
5. The guided airflows are passed through the upper-side blow-off passageway 20 and
the lower-side blow-off passageway 21, and are blown indoors from the upper outlet
10 and the lower outlet 11, respectively.
[0031] The bearing support portions 22A, 22B and the motor support portions 23A, 23B of
a pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans 4, 5 are integrally formed, respectively,
on the shield plates 22, 23 provided at the left and right of the heat exchanger 3
in the housing 2, thus reducing the number of structural parts. In addition, in a
case where the shield plates 22, 23 were constituted after divided into up and down
respectively, water droplets such as dewdrops adhering to the bearing support portions
22A, 22B or the motor support portions 23A, 23B entered the ventilation trunk through
a clearance of the connecting portion, and flew into room; however, the entry can
be prevented since these shield plates are integrally formed.
[0032] In addition, the drain pan 15 was installed downwardly of the heat exchanger 3 and
the left and right shield plates 22, 23, so that the dewdrops adhering to the bearing
support portions 22A, 22B or the motor support portions 23A, 23B are guided to the
drain pan 15 along the exterior faces of the shield plates 22, 23, and are then discharged
to the outside without entry into the ventilation trunk. In particular, the dewdrops
can be prevented from being discharged and flying from the lower outlet 11 into room
together with cool air. Further, the number of parts is reduced, assembling can be
easily performed, and an inexpensive equipment configuration can be realized.
[0033] Moreover, if the drain hose connecting portion had been formed in a downward or lateral
direction, a circumstance that a trap is obliged to be formed with the drain hose
being bent in a limited space occurred, and the bending activity or the stress on
a drain hose due to the bending occurred. However, according to the embodiment, the
drain hose connecting portion 15B was provided so as to be oriented in an obliquely
downward direction, i.e., in a downward-going right-outward direction, at the lower
part of the oblique face 15A formed between the right side face and the bottom face
of the drain pan 15, so that the drain water flowing into the drain pan 15 can be
smoothly discharged to the outside without the occurrence of drain hose bending activity
or the stress on the drain hose due to the bending.
[0034] Next, referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, a structure of preventing a user from inserting
his or her finger(s) from the upper inlet 10 so as not to touch the upper cross-flow
fan 4 will be described below. First, an upper-inlet flap 12 opening during operation
is openably provided at the upper outlet 10. In other words, a support member 31,
which is fixed to an opening-forming body 30 forming an opening of the outlet 10,
and a support piece 32, which is provided at the back side of the upper outlet flap
12, are swingably supported via a support shaft 33.
[0035] The opening-forming body 30, as shown in FIG 9, is roughly made up of: a bottom plate
30A; double-sided plates 30B; and a narrow top plate 30C, and fixing pieces 30D are
formed on the double-sided plates 30B.
[0036] In addition, in front of the upper cross-flow fan 4 and the lower cross-flow fan
5, front trunk air guide plates 38A, 38B are provided with predetermined intervals
(see FIG 3). Reference numeral 35 designates a mount frame body. On a top face 35A
of this mount frame body 35, a plurality of longitudinal blades 36 are turnably mounted
with predetermined intervals. These longitudinal blades 36 are constituted to be geared
with each other via a gear shaft 37 and swung to the left and right so as to enable
adjustment of the blow-off directions to the left and right.
[0037] Further, a drooping piece 35B formed by bending a rear part of the mount frame body
35 (constituting a front air trunk guide together with the front air trunk guide plate
38A) is coupled to the front air trunk guide plate 38A from above, and a wire netting
40 for preventing finger insertion is interposed on a bottom plate 30A of the opening-forming
body 30. The top face 35A of the mount frame body 35 is coupled from the rear so as
to sandwich a lower part of the wire netting. Afterwards, a fixing piece 30D of the
opening-forming body 30 and the mount frame body 35 are fixed to each other by means
of a screw 34 (see FIGS. 8 and 10).
[0038] In this way, the wire netting 40 has been mounted by interposing it on the bottom
plate 30A of the opening-forming body 30 of the upper inlet 10, and coupling the upper
face 35A of the mount frame body 35 from the rear so as to sandwich a lower part of
the wire netting. This makes it possible to prevent a user from inserting his or her
finger(s) through the upper outlet 10 and touching the upper cross-flow fan 4. Therefore,
the wire netting 40 for preventing finger insertion, provided in the upper outlet
10, can be easily and rigidly mounted, and a mount frame body 35 equipped with the
drooping piece 35B (constituting a part of the front air trunk guide) is rigidly mounted,
thereby minimizing an influence on an airflow quantity and noise and disabling the
wire netting 40 from being easily removed.
[0039] While the embodiment of the present invention has been described hereinabove, various
alternations, corrections, or modifications can occur to one skilled in the art, based
upon the above description. The present invention encompasses the aforementioned various
alternations, corrections, or modifications without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
Description of Reference Numerals
[0040]
- 1
- Indoor equipment
- 2
- Housing
- 3
- Heat exchanger
- 4
- Upper cross-flow fan
- 5
- Lower cross-flow fan
- 8
- Front inlet
- 9
- Side inlet
- 10
- Upper outlet
- 11
- Lower outlet
- 15
- Drain pan
- 15A
- Drain hose connecting portion
- 22, 23
- Shield plate
- 22A, 22B
- Bearing support portion
- 23A, 23B
- Motor support portion
- 30
- Opening-forming body
- 30A
- Bottom plate of opening-forming body
- 35
- Mount frame body
- 35A
- Top face of mount frame body
- 35B
- Drooping piece
- 36
- Longitudinal blade
- 38A
- Front air trunk guide plate
- 40
- Wire netting
1. An air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet, comprising:
a heat exchanger; and
a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing from the inlet into the housing
being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown off from the upper outlet and
the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans,
wherein: a bearing support portion and a motor support portion of the pair of the
upper and lower cross-flow fans are integrally formed, respectively.
2. An air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet, comprising:
a heat exchanger; and
a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing from the inlet into the housing
being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown off from the upper outlet and
the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans,
wherein: a bearing support portion and a motor support portion of the pair of the
upper and lower cross-flow fans are integrally formed, respectively, on shield plates
provided at a left and a right of the heat exchanger; and
a drain pan is installed downwardly of the heat exchanger and the left and right shield
plates.
3. An air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet, comprising:
a heat exchanger; and
a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing from the inlet into the housing
being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown off from the upper outlet and
the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans,
wherein: a drain pan is arranged downwardly of the heat exchanger; and
at a lower part of the drain pan, an obliquely downward drain hose connecting portion
is provided so as to be oriented in a downward-going outward direction of either of
a left and a right.
4. An air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet, comprising:
a heat exchanger; and
a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing from the inlet into the housing
being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown off from the upper outlet and
the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans,
wherein: a drain pan is arranged downwardly of shield plates and the heat exchanger,
the shield plates being provided at a left and a right of the heat exchanger; and
at a lower part of the drain pan, an obliquely downward drain hose connecting portion
is provided so as to be oriented in a downward-going outward direction of either of
the left and the right.
5. An air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an upper outlet and a lower outlet, comprising:
a heat exchanger; and
a pair of upper and lower cross-flow fans, air flowing from the inlet into the housing
being heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger and blown off from the upper outlet and
the lower outlet by means of the pair of the upper and lower cross-flow fans,
wherein: a drain pan is arranged downwardly of shield plates and the heat exchanger,
the shield plates being provided at a left and a right of the heat exchanger;
an oblique face is formed between a bottom face and one outer face of the drain pan;
and
on the oblique face, an obliquely downward drain hose connecting portion is provided
so as to be oriented in a downward-going outward direction of either of the left and
right.
6. An air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an outlet, comprising:
a heat exchanger; and
a cross-flow fan, air flowing from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged
by the heat exchanger and blown off from the outlet by means of the cross-flow fan,
wherein: a wire netting for preventing finger insertion is interposed on a bottom
plate of an opening-forming body forming the outlet; and
a mount frame body having a drooping piece which is coupled to an air trunk guide
arranged forwardly of the cross-flow fan coupled so as to sandwich a lower part of
the wire netting.
7. An air conditioning apparatus,
characterised by, in a housing having an inlet and an outlet, comprising:
a heat exchanger; and
a cross-flow fan, air flowing from the inlet into the housing being heat-exchanged
by the heat exchanger and blown off from the outlet by means of the cross-flow fan,
said apparatus including:
an opening-forming body forming the inlet; and
a mount frame body for turnably mounting a plurality of longitudinal blades on a top
face in a state in which the blades can be geared via a gear member, the mount frame
body having a drooping piece which is coupled to an air trunk guide arranged forwardly
of the cross-flow fan,
wherein: a wire netting for preventing finger insertion is interposed on a bottom
plate of the opening-forming body, coupling a top face of the mount frame body so
as to sandwich a lower part of the wire netting; and
the drooping piece of the mount frame body is coupled to the air trunk guide.